Question – Review of the Tasmanian Law Reform Institute

Questions asked by the Hon Meg Webb MLC on 5 May 2022 and answered by the Attorney General on 24 May 2022  

With regard to the ongoing involvement of the Tasmanian government in the Tasmanian Law Reform Institute (TLRI) as one of the three founding parties, and specifically the review currently undertaken by the South Australian Law Reform Commission:

Can the Government —                                                                                              

1. Clarify whether it will receive a copy of the final Review Report when it is provided to the University of Tasmania Vice-Chancellor who commissioned the review, and if not, will the government formally request a copy?

2. (a) Did the Government agree with the proposal that all stakeholder submissions to the review would be provided solely to the University of Tasmania; and

(b) Given the established public and community sector interest and involvement in the TLRI, will the government upon the review’s completion formally request copies of the stakeholder submissions made, and will those, exempting any confidentiality or sensitivity concerns, be made public in accordance with the government’s ‘Publication of Submissions Received by Tasmanian Government Departments in Response to Consultation on Major Policy Issues’ policy?

3. Will the government, as one of the three founding parties, have any direct role responding to and acting upon any of the Review’s recommendations?

4. Confirm the government’s position is to secure the ongoing viable operations of the TLRI and the valuable contribution it makes to sound public policy development, the legal sector and the broader Tasmanian community?

Government response: 

As previously advised to a Question on Notice by the Member for Nelson on this matter, the review of the Tasmanian Law Reform Institute (TLRI) is being conducted by the University of Tasmania. It was initiated by the University and not at request of the Tasmanian Government.

Our Government is aware that the review is being undertaken by an Independent Review Panel, to consider and make recommendations about the structure, governance and funding of the TLRI, as the State’s peak law reform body,

The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, on behalf of the Tasmanian Government was consulted regarding the Terms of Reference (ToRs) of the review and consultation of the review panel, as one of the founding parties to the TLRI Agreement. As previously advised, the Department of Justice has been actively engaged in this process, including providing input as appropriate into the ToRs for the review.

However, any decision about the conduct of the Review, including whether to share or publish the final Review Report, is a matter for the University and the Independent Review Panel. This includes whether stakeholder submissions are provided solely to the University of Tasmania or released publicly.

The Review and submissions are not subject to the ‘Publication of Submissions Received by Tasmanian Government Departments in Response to Consultation on Major Policy Issues’ policy.

The Gov is a strong supporter of the TLRI and values the research and analysis undertaken by this institution. The Attorney-General was pleased to have been consulted by the Review Panel to date, and looks forward to the outcome of the review and considering any recommendations that may relate to the Tasmanian Government.

See more of Meg’s Questions to Parliament.