​​Public consultation

The Department of Communities and Justice and its related agencies consult the NSW community on a variety of projects, services, policies and law reform. 

The community is being or has been consulted on the following projects (in date order from most recent).

• Statutory Review of majority verdicts amendments
  The NSW Department of Communities and Justice is reviewing the operation of the amendments made to the Jury Act 1977 by the Jury Amendment (Verdicts) Act 2006 to determine whether the policy objectives of those amendments remain valid and whether the terms of the amendments remain appropriate for securing those objectives. Submissions close on 14 May 2021. 

• Draft laws to better recognise the loss of an unborn child due to a criminal act
  The NSW Government is seeking feedback on the Exposure Draft of the Crimes Legislation (Offences Against Pregnant Women) Bill 2020.
  This consultation is now closed.
  

• Administrative review of the Bail Act 2013
  The NSW Department of Communities and Justice is reviewing the Bail Act 2013 to determine whether the policy objectives remain valid and if the terms remain appropriate for securing those objectives.
  Submissions close on 6 August 2020.
  

• Statutory review of the Crimes (Serious Crime Prevention Orders) Act 2016
  The NSW Department of Communities and Justice is conducting a review of the Crimes (Serious Crime Prevention Orders) Act 2016 to determine whether the policy objectives remain valid and the terms remain appropriate for securing those objectives.
  Submissions close on 26 May 2020.
  

• Setting aside settlement agreements for past child abuse
  The NSW Government is seeking submissions on potential reforms to allow NSW courts to set aside historical settlement agreements for child abuse.
  Submissions close on 15 April 2020.
  

• Statutory review of the amendments made by the Inclosed Lands, Crimes and Law Enforcement Legislation Amendment (Interference) Act 2016
  The Department of Communities and Justice is reviewing whether the policy objectives of the amendments remain valid and if the provisions, as amended, remain appropriate for securing these objectives.
  Submissions close on 1 March 2020.
  

• Review of the Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility
  The Council of Attorneys-General (CAG) Working Group is reviewing the age of criminal responsibility. Interested persons are invited to comment on a series of questions relevant to the Working Group's review.
  Submissions close on 28 February 2020.
  

• Review of the Inspector of Custodial Services Act 2012

  The NSW Department of Communities and Justice is conducting a review of the Inspector of Custodial Services Act 2012 to determine whether its policy objectives remain valid and its terms remain appropriate for securing those objectives.
  Submissions close on 20 December 2019.
  

• Review of the Graffiti Control Act 2008
  The Department of Communities and Justice is seeking feedback on the Graffiti Control Act 2008 to determine whether the policy objectives of the Act remain valid and if its terms remain appropriate for securing those objectives.
  Submissions close on 10 February 2020.

• Adoption of mandatory data breach notification

  The Department of Communities and Justice is seeking feedback on whether a mandatory reporting scheme for data breaches should be adopted under the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998. Submissions close on 23 August 2019.
  

• Review of Model Defamation Provisions
  The Defamation Working Party is seeking feedback on defamation law in Australia, to assess how the legal principles apply in the digital age and identify areas for national reform. 
  Submissions for the Stage  Discussion Paper closed on 19 May 2021.

• Review of the Domestic Violence Justice Strategy

  The Department of Justice is seeking feedback from people who have been the victim or perpetrator of a domestic or family violence incident in the last two years. Your feedback will inform our review of the Domestic Violence Justice Strategy.
  

• Justices of the Peace Framework Review 
  The Department of Justice is seeking feedback on its review of the Justices of the Peace scheme in NSW.  The review is considering how the scheme might be reformed to ensure that it continues to meet changing community needs, and that its operation and administration are efficient and sustainable. Submissions close on Monday, 17 September 2018.
  JP Framework review - consultation paper [PDF, 513kb]
  

• Multicultural Plan 
  The Department of Justice is seeking feedback on the development of a new Multicultural Plan. The Multicultural Plan will outline the steps that the Department of Justice will take to integrate the multicultural principles into its work and how it will engage with multicultural communities.
  
  
• Disability Inclusion Action Plan
  The Department of Justice is seeking feedback on the development of a new Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP). The DIAP will outline the steps that the Department of Justice will take to promote disability inclusion in our services, policies programs and employment.

• Review of the Crime Commission Act 2012
  The Crime Commission Act 2012 is being reviewed to determine if the whether the policy objectives of the Act remain valid and whether the terms of the Act remain appropriate for securing those objectives.
  Submissions close on Monday, 20 August 2018.

• Independent Review: Bega Valley Fire
  The Final Report of the Bega Valley Fires Independent Review and the Government Response to the Recommendations of the Bega Valley Fire Independent Review are published on the Office of Emergency Management website. 

• Report of the Steering Committee on the NSW Public Purpose Fund
  The Steering Committee on the NSW Public Purpose Fund (PPF) was asked to make recommendations for the optimising the funds available for disbursement by the PPF, via increasing the funds flowing into the PPF and/or increasing the returns generated by those funds, and any other potential refinements to the operation of the fund to ensure the appropriate disbursement and stewardship of its assets.
  
  
  
• Review into the Royal Prerogative of Mercy

  The Royal prerogative of mercy is a broad discretionary power exerciseable by the Governor on the advice of the Attorney General. The review into the prerogative considers whether the petitions for mercy and their outcomes should be made publicly available, and if so, what material should be made publicly available, and why it should be made available.
  

• Statutory review of the Terrorism (Police Powers) Act 2002

  The The Office of Emergency Management, Department of Justice, is seeking submissions regarding the fire services response to the bushfire which occurred in Bega Valley on 18 March 2018. Terrorism (Police Powers) Act 2002 confers special powers on police officers to respond to terrorist activity and terrorist attacks. Section 36 of the Act requires the Attorney General to undertake a review of the Act in order to determine whether the policy objectives of the Act remain valid and whether the terms of the Act remain appropriate for securing those objectives. The Department of Justice is conducting the review on behalf of the Attorney.
  

• Review of community legal centre (CLC) services

  The NSW Attorney General has announced a review of NSW Government support for Community Legal Centres (CLCs) in NSW. The aim of the review is to ensure that legal assistance is directed to people most in need, improve CLC service provision and assist the NSW Government in settling an approach to funding allocation. 
  

• Strengthening child sexual abuse laws in NSW
  The NSW Government has prepared a discussion paper that identifies issues and poses questions about possible options for child sexual abuse law reform. The paper considers the recommendations made by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in its Criminal Justice Report, released in August 2017, and the recommendations of the NSW Parliament's Joint Select Committee on Sentencing of Child Sexual Assault Offenders.
  

• Royal Commission civil litigation recommendations
  The NSW Government is considering the recommendations made by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse about how to provide justice to victims of future institutional child abuse.
  
  
• Proposed Firearms Regulation 2017 and Weapons Prohibition Regulation 2017
  The NSW Department of Justice, Office for Police is seeking comments on the consultation draft of the proposed Firearms Regulation 2017 and Weapons Prohibition Regulation 2017 and Regulatory Impact Statement.
  
  
• Proposed Criminal Procedure Regulation 2017
  The NSW Department of Justice is seeking comments on the public consultation draft of the proposed Criminal Procedure Regulation 2017 and Regulatory Impact Statement.
  
  

• Statutory Review of the Tattoo Parlours Act 2012
  The Department of Justice is preparing to review the Tattoo Parlours Act 2012, as required by section 42 of the Act, following five years of operation. Interested individuals and organisations are invited to make submissions to the review.

• Proposed NSW Trustee and Guardian Regulation 2017
  The Department of Justice invites people who are interested in the proposed NSW Trustee and Guardian Regulation 2017 to tell us what they think.
  

• Proposed Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Regulation 2017
  The Department of Justice invites people who are interested in the proposed Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Regulation 2017 to tell us what they think.
  

• New Prisons​
  In the past year, the NSW Government has announced the biggest ever expansion of infrastructure for the state's prison system, to occur over the next four years. Community consultation is ongoing. Further information about this can be obtained by calling 1800 875 345

• 'Revenge porn': the sharing of intimate images without consent
  On 5 September 2016 the Attorney General announced that the NSW Government is proposing to specifically criminalise the distribution of intimate images without consent (‘revenge porn’). The Department of Justice invites people who are interested in the development of a new offence to tell us what they think.
  

• ​​Public and industry invited to comment on small bar liquor laws
  Liquor & Gaming NSW is inviting feedback from the public and industry as part of a review of small bar liquor laws by 15 July 2016.

• Public consultation on the proposed Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Regulation 2016 and Regulatory Impact Statement
  The Department of Justice invites submissions from people who are interested in commenting on the proposed regulation and regulatory impact statement.​

• ​Public consultation on the proposed Young Offenders Regulation 2016 and Regulatory Impact Statement
  The Department of Justice invites submissions from people who are interested in commenting on the proposed regulation and regulatory impact statement.​

• Public consultation on the proposed Guardianship Regulation 2016 and Regulatory Impact Statement
  The Department of Justice invites submissions from people who are interested in commenting on the proposed regulation and regulatory impact statement.​

• Review of third party claims on insurance money
  The Law Reform Commission has been asked to review and report on section 6 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946.

• Public consultation on the proposed Security Industry Regulation 2016 and Regulatory Impact Statement​
  The Department of Justice seeks written submissions from interested parties on the proposed regulation and regulatory impact statement.​

• Independent review of the impact of liquor law reforms
  The Deputy Premier has appointed the Hon. IDF Callinan AC to review the effectiveness of the 1.30am lock outs, 3am cease liquor sales, 10pm take-away liquor laws and the periodic licence fee system.

• ​Review of the extension of the Crimes (High Risk Offenders) Act 2006 (NSW)
  Consultations to inform the review of 2013 amendments to the Crimes (High Risk Offenders) Act 2006 have closed. Further information about the review is available.
  

• Review of the Guardianship Act 1987 (NSW)
  The Law Reform Commission has been asked to review and report on the desirability of changes to the Guardianship Act 1987.​​

• Statutory Review of the Relationships Register Act 2010 (NSW)​
  The review is to determine whether the objective of the Act remains valid and whether the terms of the legislation remain appropriate for securing the Act's objective. 
  Update: submissions to this review closed on 6 January 2016. The submissions received are available online​

• Review of Police Oversight in NSW
  The review is considering and reporting on matters including a recommended model for police oversight in NSW. Submissions that address the review's terms of reference are invited by 24 June 2015.

• Limitation periods in civil claims for child sexual abuse
  The NSW Government is considering amending the Limitations Act 1969 to reduce barriers to survivors of child sexual abuse commencing a claim for compensation. The period for submissions has now closed.​ 

​​​Ongoing consul​​​​tation and feedback

• Office of the Legal Services Commissioner
  Provide your feedback on the services offered by the independent statutory body that deals with complaints about lawyers (ongoing).

• Sentencing Council projects
  The NSW Sentencing Council advises on sentencing matters and prepares research papers and reports for the Attorney General.

• Law Reform Commission projects
  The Commission reviews the law in NSW and makes recommendations for change to the Attorney General. 

Past consu​​ltations

View reports of past consultations by topic:

• Justice strategy and policy
• Law reform
• Sentencing
• United regulatory system for legal practitioners
  
  

Have Y​​​our Say

The Have Your Say website is a NSW Government site that lists current consultations taking place with communities throughout NSW, on a wide variety of issues.

Find out what is happening in your community and share your opinions on new projects, services and government policy.

Publications and research​

Browse publications and research of the Department of Justice.

Special Commissions of Inqui​​ry

View links to the websites and publications of current and completed Special Commissions of Inquiry.

Special Commissions of Inquiry in NSW are established under the Special Commissions of Inquiry Act 1983.