Concerns held for future of the state’s law reform institute

Matt Maloney | The Examiner | 23 July 2022

The state’s legal fraternity says the government needs to step up its funding commitment to the Tasmanian Law Reform Institute to ensure its survival.

A review of the institute, which was established in 2001 as the state’s chief law reform, was recently completed by the University of Adelaide, which returned 20 recommendations.

The review highlighted resource constraints for the institute, disparity of contributions and a reliance on grants.

It concluded that base funding of $50,000 from the state government should be increased to $200,000.

In a submission to the review, Community Legal Centres Tasmania policy officer Ben Bartl said it was clear the TLRI needed a more sustainable funding model.

“The government’s commitment to provide $50,000 per annum has not changed in 20 years with the TLRI observing recently that this amount leave the institute unable to undertake its role as the state’s peak independent law reform body,” he said.

“Expressed in another way, whilest the university is now providing more than twice as much resurcing to the TLRI as was originally agreed, the government’s commitment has gone backwards in real terms.

“Given that law reform ultimately benefits the community, it is clear that the Tasmanian Government needs to significantly increase its core funding of the TLRI.”

Law Society of Tasmania president Simon Gates said it was assumed that the institute had only been able to operate has it has done through the university’s support.

“It appears clear that a renewed commitment from government is needed for the TLRI to survive,” he said.

“The law society is strongly of the view that a well resourced TLRI is essential for the development of the law in Tasmania.”

Nelson independent MLC Meg Webb said the review raised concerns as to whether the institute was being deliberately run down.

“The review the TLRI is currently without a director or research staff, leaving this described jewel in the university’s crown struggling to function,” she said.

“It is now imperative that the TLRI’s founding partners, particularly UTAS and the Attorney-General, commit to accepting the review’s recommendations and provide a timeframe by which they will be delivered.”

Equality Tasmania spokesman Rodney Croome said the institute had made an invaluable contribution to a fairer Tasmania.

“To ensure it can continue to make our state a better place, the TLRI needs to be adequately funded and to have its independence guaranteed,” he said.

Attorney-General Elise Archer said the government would consider the review’s findings before the current funding agreement expired in November.

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