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What the LCA wants political parties to prioritise
The Law Council of Australia has announced 18 legal areas that they want firmly on the agenda for the upcoming federal election.
Shandel McAuliffe
The Call to Parties: Improvements to laws and the administration of justice in a post-pandemic society details topic areas that the Law Council wants those running for the election to take action on.
The areas covered in the document are set out as follows:
- Access to justice;
- Federal courts and tribunals;
- Strengthening integrity measures;
- Ensuring the safety of women, children and families;
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;
- The law and vulnerable persons;
- Mandatory sentencing;
- Human rights;
- Asylum seekers, detention and offshore processing policies;
- Privacy and data;
- Workplaces and employment;
- Medicare processing;
- Class actions and litigation funding;
- Charities and not-for-profit sector;
- Modernising business practices;
- Anti-money laundering;
- Climate change and environmental laws; and
- Developing and strengthening legal professional associations in the Pacific region.
He added: “The legal profession has a long history of providing a voice for people in need and advocating for effective social change. The work of the legal profession upholds the rule of law in Australia and the rights of Australians.”
Emphasising how important law is for the Australian people, Mr Liveris continued: “Parties must not overlook the vital role the legal profession plays in underpinning our democracy, the proper functioning of the economy, and promoting an equitable and just society. Parties must recognise that legal services are as much an essential service as health or education.”
Mr Liveris concluded his comments on the Call to Parties by stating: “We believe these commitments will benefit our community, strengthen our society and help all Australians. The Law Council will not waver in advocating for the outcomes that the legal profession believes are critical to Australia’s future and will work with whoever forms government to deliver them.”
The needs of migrants are one of the 18 issues that the Law Council covers in their Call to Parties. Lawyers Weekly has been following the government’s commitments to help migrants and refugees, recently asking Is Australia doing enough to help Afghanistan?
Leading several recommendations, the Law Council asks successful election candidates to: “Establish long-term, durable solutions for all refugees and asylum seekers who have sought protection from Australia, including those in offshore processing and in transitory arrangements onshore, in line with Australia’s international obligations. This should include legislative changes to facilitate rights to family reunion.”
The Call to Parties also states, “the Law Council calls for a sustained increase to the Humanitarian Program …”. However, Lawyers Weekly notes that the commentary that follows this does not take into account the latest budget announcement as it relates to refugee places.
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