ACCESS TO JUSTICE & TRIBUNALS

AMEND — REMOVE — CREATE (Neutral, Bullet‑Point)

1. AMEND (Update or modernise existing laws)

Administrative Review & Tribunal Laws

• Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) legislation

  • Add triage powers for simple vs complex matters

  • Require plain‑language reasons for decisions

  • Set time standards for reviews

  • Enable digital lodgement and online hearings

  • Strengthen procedural fairness requirements

• Federal Court of Australia Act 1976

  • Support digital evidence, online filing, and remote hearings

  • Standardise decision‑writing formats

• Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Act 2021

  • Improve case‑flow management

  • Embed consistent templates for orders and reasons

Legal Assistance & Access

• Legal Aid Commission Acts (Commonwealth components)

  • Update funding formulas

  • Improve access for regional and remote communities

• Evidence Act 1995

  • Modernise rules for digital evidence

  • Simplify admissibility for self‑represented litigants

2. REMOVE / CONSOLIDATE (Eliminate duplication or outdated rules)

Tribunal System

• Remove remaining AAT‑specific provisions once ART is fully operational

• Consolidate duplicated review pathways across multiple Acts

• Remove outdated procedural rules that conflict with digital processes

Court & Tribunal Administration

• Consolidate overlapping administrative units across:

  • ART

  • Federal Court

  • Federal Circuit & Family Court

• Remove duplicated reporting requirements

Legal Assistance

• Remove outdated funding formulas tied to old population metrics

• Consolidate fragmented Commonwealth‑funded legal assistance programs

3. CREATE (New frameworks or legislation)

Justice Access & Assistance Act

• National minimum standards for access to justice

• Clear eligibility rules for legal assistance

• Consistent service levels across states and territories

• Transparent reporting on wait times and outcomes

Digital Justice Services Framework

• Legal basis for:

  • Online lodgement

  • Digital case tracking

  • Remote hearings

  • Standardised digital forms

• Accessibility requirements for people with disability, low literacy, or limited digital access

Plain‑Language Justice Standards

• Require all tribunals and courts to provide:

  • Plain‑language reasons

  • Clear rights‑of‑review statements

  • Standardised templates for decisions

Regional Justice Access Program

• National framework for:

  • Mobile justice services

  • Remote‑area legal assistance

  • Regional performance reporting

4. WHAT THIS ACHIEVES (Neutral summary)

• Faster, simpler tribunal and court processes

• Clearer decisions that people can understand

• More consistent review pathways

• Better access for regional and vulnerable communities

• Modern digital justice services

• Reduced duplication and administrative overhead

HUMAN RIGHTS, ANTI‑DISCRIMINATION, PRIVACY & LAW REFORM

AMEND — REMOVE — CREATE (Neutral, Bullet‑Point)

1. AMEND (Modernise or update existing laws)

Human Rights

• Australian Human Rights Commission Act

  • Improve transparency and timelines for handling complaints

  • Strengthen procedural fairness requirements

  • Standardise reporting formats

• Federal anti‑discrimination Acts

  • Harmonise definitions across all Acts

  • Align complaint processes and remedies

  • Update language to reflect modern rights standards

Anti‑Discrimination

• Racial Discrimination Act

  • Shift from “offence/insult” tests to clearer harm‑based thresholds

  • Clarify definitions of vilification, harassment, and incitement

• Sex, Disability, Age Discrimination Acts

  • Align thresholds and protections across all protected attributes

  • Improve consistency in exemptions and defences

Privacy & Data Protection

• Privacy Act

  • Add rules for AI, automated decision‑making, profiling

  • Strengthen consent and transparency requirements

  • Improve data‑breach notification standards

  • Modernise cross‑border data transfer rules

Law Reform Processes

• Australian Law Reform Commission Act

  • Require public‑facing reform roadmaps

  • Improve consultation standards

  • Set clearer timelines for inquiries

2. REMOVE / CONSOLIDATE (Eliminate duplication or outdated rules)

Human Rights & Anti‑Discrimination

• Remove overlapping definitions of discrimination across multiple Acts

• Consolidate duplicated complaint pathways

• Remove outdated exemptions that no longer reflect contemporary standards

Privacy

• Remove redundant sector‑specific privacy rules where the modernised Privacy Act can cover them

• Consolidate fragmented data‑matching provisions into a single framework

Law Reform

• Remove outdated statutory reporting obligations that duplicate newer transparency requirements

• Consolidate advisory bodies with overlapping mandates

3. CREATE (New frameworks or legislation)

Human Rights

• Federal Human Rights Act / Charter

  • Clear statement of rights

  • Proportionality test for any limitation

  • Requirement for compatibility statements for new laws

  • Accessible remedies for breaches

Anti‑Discrimination

• Unified Anti‑Discrimination & Equal Treatment Act

  • One consistent federal standard

  • Equal protections across all attributes

  • Clear definitions of discrimination, harassment, vilification

  • Standardised complaint and enforcement processes

Privacy & Digital Rights

• AI, Algorithms & Automated Decisions Act

  • Transparency for high‑risk automated decisions

  • Right to explanation and contestability

  • Mandatory impact assessments for government use of AI

• Digital Rights & Data Protection Act

  • Modern digital rights framework

  • Stronger protections for personal data

  • Clear rules for data brokers and third‑party transfers

Law Reform & Public Participation

• National Law Reform Participation Framework

  • Standard consultation requirements

  • Public summaries of all major reviews

  • Clear timelines and follow‑up reporting

4. WHAT THIS ACHIEVES (Neutral summary)

• Clearer, consistent human rights protections

• Equal anti‑discrimination standards across all groups

• Modern privacy and digital rights suited to AI and data‑driven systems

• Simplified and more accessible complaint pathways

• Stronger transparency in how laws are reviewed and updated

• Reduced duplication across multiple Acts and agencies

BUREAUCRACY STREAMLINING & EFFICIENCY

AMEND — REMOVE — CREATE (Neutral, Bullet‑Point)

1. AMEND (Modernise or update existing laws and frameworks)

Governance & Administration

• Amend enabling legislation for AGD portfolio agencies to:

  • Allow shared HR, finance, ICT and procurement services

  • Standardise governance and reporting requirements

  • Enable cross‑agency workforce mobility

  • Modernise appointment and accountability rules

Public Sector Management

• Amend Public Service Act and related regulations to:

  • Support digital‑first workflows

  • Simplify classification and recruitment processes

  • Enable flexible staffing across agencies

Financial & Reporting Rules

• Amend Financial Management and Accountability frameworks to:

  • Reduce duplicated reporting

  • Standardise performance metrics

  • Allow consolidated reporting for shared services

Information Management

• Amend Archives Act and data governance rules to:

  • Support digital‑only records

  • Simplify retention and disposal schedules

  • Standardise metadata and information‑sharing protocols

2. REMOVE / CONSOLIDATE (Eliminate duplication, outdated structures, and redundant processes)

Agency Structures

• Remove duplicated administrative units across:

  • AGD

  • OAIC

  • AHRC

  • ALRC

  • Tribunals and courts

• Consolidate corporate services into shared hubs

Committees & Advisory Bodies

• Remove or merge:

  • Outdated advisory committees

  • Overlapping governance boards

  • Redundant inter‑agency working groups

Reporting Requirements

• Remove duplicated statutory reporting obligations

• Consolidate multiple annual reports into unified dashboards

• Remove legacy reporting formats replaced by digital systems

Legacy Processes

• Remove paper‑based workflows

• Remove manual approval chains replaced by digital automation

• Remove outdated procurement and contract rules superseded by modern frameworks

3. CREATE (New frameworks, standards, and structures)

Commonwealth Justice & Integrity Shared Services Framework

• Shared HR, finance, ICT, procurement, and legal services

• Standard service levels and accountability rules

• Cross‑agency workforce mobility pathways

Digital‑First Government Operations Framework

• Standards for:

  • Digital forms

  • Automated workflows

  • Online approvals

  • Digital identity and authentication

• Accessibility and security requirements

Unified Reporting & Transparency Standards

• Single reporting template for all AGD portfolio agencies

• Public dashboards for:

  • Performance

  • Integrity

  • Financials

  • Service delivery

• Annual “State of the Portfolio” consolidated report

Regulatory Simplification Framework

• Standard process for reviewing and removing outdated regulations

• Sunset clauses for low‑value or redundant rules

• Impact assessments for any new administrative burden

Inter‑Agency Coordination Framework

• Clear rules for cooperation between AGD, AFP, ACIC, OAIC, AHRC, ALRC

• Standard data‑sharing protocols

• Joint taskforce governance model

4. WHAT THIS ACHIEVES (Neutral summary)

• Fewer duplicated structures and processes

• Lower administrative overhead

• Faster, more consistent service delivery

• Modern digital workflows across the portfolio

• Clearer reporting and accountability

• Better coordination between agencies

• More efficient use of existing budget

CROSS‑CUTTING: PROCESS & BUDGETING RULES

AMEND — REMOVE — CREATE (Neutral, Bullet‑Point)

1. AMEND (Modernise or update existing rules and frameworks)

Budgeting & Financial Management

• Amend financial management rules to:

  • Standardise cost–benefit and impact assessments

  • Require clear breakdowns of administrative vs service delivery costs

  • Improve transparency of internal reallocations

  • Support multi‑year budgeting for reform programs

• Amend Charter of Budget Honesty / fiscal reporting rules to:

  • Include integrity, rights, and access‑to‑justice impact statements

  • Standardise assumptions and modelling inputs

  • Improve clarity of public reporting

Regulatory & Administrative Processes

• Amend regulatory impact assessment frameworks to:

  • Require admin‑burden analysis

  • Include digital‑readiness checks

  • Standardise consultation requirements

• Amend public sector performance frameworks to:

  • Align KPIs across agencies

  • Focus on service outcomes rather than process metrics

  • Improve cross‑agency comparability

Procurement & Contracting

• Amend Commonwealth Procurement Rules to:

  • Support shared procurement across agencies

  • Require transparency for major contracts

  • Simplify low‑value procurement processes

2. REMOVE / CONSOLIDATE (Eliminate duplication and outdated requirements)

Reporting & Oversight

• Remove duplicated reporting obligations across AGD portfolio agencies

• Consolidate multiple annual reports into unified dashboards

• Remove legacy reporting formats replaced by digital systems

Budgeting & Administration

• Remove outdated budgeting rules tied to obsolete cost structures

• Consolidate fragmented funding streams into clearer categories

• Remove duplicated approval layers in internal financial processes

Regulatory Processes

• Remove redundant regulatory impact requirements that overlap with newer frameworks

• Consolidate multiple consultation requirements into a single standard

3. CREATE (New frameworks, standards, and rules)

Reform Impact & Transparency Framework

• Standard templates for:

  • Human rights impact

  • Privacy impact

  • Integrity and corruption‑risk assessment

  • Access‑to‑justice impact

  • Administrative burden analysis

• Public summaries for all major reforms

Unified Budgeting & Performance Framework

• Consistent budgeting rules across AGD portfolio

• Standard performance indicators

• Clear separation of:

  • Baseline funding

  • Reallocation

  • Uplift

  • Savings

• Annual “State of the Portfolio Budget” report

Digital‑First Administrative Rules

• Standards for:

  • Digital forms

  • Automated workflows

  • Online approvals

  • Digital identity and authentication

• Accessibility and security requirements

Cross‑Agency Coordination Framework

• Clear rules for cooperation between AGD, AFP, ACIC, OAIC, AHRC, ALRC

• Standard data‑sharing protocols

• Joint planning and reporting requirements

Administrative Simplification Rules

• Sunset clauses for low‑value or outdated administrative requirements

• Mandatory review cycles for high‑burden processes

• Clear criteria for removing or consolidating rules

4. WHAT THIS ACHIEVES (Neutral summary)

• More consistent budgeting and reporting across the portfolio

• Clearer, simpler administrative processes

• Better transparency for reforms and spending

• Reduced duplication and administrative overhead

• Stronger cross‑agency coordination

• Modern digital‑first processes

• Improved public visibility of costs, impacts, and outcomes