Brewer, Marion --- "ALRAC 2000" [2000] ALRCRefJl 16; (2000) 76 Australian Law Reform Commission Reform Journal 90

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Reform Issue 76 Autumn 2000

This article appeared on pages 90 – 92 of the original journal.

ALRAC 2000

Globalisation and law reform: cooperation through technology

The Law Reform Commission of Western Australia welcomes delegates to Perth for the 19^th Australasian Law Reform Agencies Conference (ALRAC).

_{For the first time ALRAC is inviting Commonwealth law reform agencies from throughout the world to attend the conference. The objectives are to bring leading law reformers together in person and with the assistance of technology to:}

• identify current areas of interest in law reform and opportunities for cooperation;

• access, exchange and pool information and expertise;

• share experiences on methods and best practices for carrying out law reform efficiently and cost-effectively;

• establish mechanisms for accessing experts and expertise in particular areas of law;

• discuss publication and implementation challenges;

• develop agreements for the exchange of information using modern communication technology; and

• consider human resources issues, including possible personnel exchange arrangements.

The conference plans to demonstrate the educational and economic benefits that flow from the use of the Internet and other technology to cost-effectively tap the expertise of law reform agencies and experts around the world.

The Master of the Rolls, the Rt Hon the Lord Woolf of Barnes, will demonstrate the efficacy of cooperation through technology by appearing at the conference live from London on 31 March 2000. Lord Woolf conducted an inquiry into access to justice between 1994 and 1996 and published Access to Justice, Final Report to the Lord Chancellor on the civil justice system in England and Wales (the Woolf report) in July 1996. The access to justice inquiry and the Woolf report have stimulated similar projects, including those recently completed by the Australian and Western Australian law reform commissions.

As Master of the Rolls Lord Woolf is President of the Court of Appeal (Civil Division). He is a peer and may also sit in the House of Lords in its judicial capacity.

A new joint venture

Conference speaker Mr Michael Sayers – the Secretary of the Law Commission in London – will discuss the possibility of forming an association of Commonwealth Law Reform Agencies.

Mr Sayers will be in Perth to assist the Australian law reform agencies’ organisational efforts for a new Association of Commonwealth Law Reform Agencies. As he notes below: ‘[t]he establishment of such an organisation might be particularly appropriate at this time’ (see page 96 ‘Cooperation between Commonwealth law reform agencies’). Law reform agencies are themselves in a state of evolution. Many that were well established are being restructured to cope with resource limitations and changes in the law, in legal systems, in public sector management.

Agency reports

ALRAC traditionally has featured a time for agency reports. As the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria, the Hon Justice John Phillips AC indicates in his article ‘ALRAC: the history’ (see page 94) the law reform effort has benefited over the years from the cooperative exchange of ideas which ALRAC has fostered. This year, a highlight will be the recently released final report of the Australian Law Reform Commission Managing justice: a review of the federal civil justice system (ALRC 89) (see articles beginning on page 54).

The Law Reform Commission of Western Australia (LRCWA) will present every official conference delegate with its collection of papers and CD-ROMs prepared in association with its review of the criminal and civil justice system. Marion Brewer of the LRCWA will join Padma Raman, Director of Research at the Victorian Law Reform Committee (VLRC), in leading a workshop on electronic publishing. Ms Raman discusses the VLRC review of technology and the law in detail in ‘Towards a 21st century legal system’ (page 19).

With 30 or more agencies presenting reports this year, brevity is encouraged in the oral presentations scheduled for Thursday morning, 30 March 2000. The LRCWA will publish more lengthy versions of all reports with the conference papers. Every registered delegate will receive a complete set of the conference papers following the event.

WA contributions to ALRAC 2000

The Western Australian Ministry of Justice, under the leadership of Attorney-General Peter Foss QC MLC and Director General Alan Piper, will host a luncheon and several events for conference delegates. Western Australia will share its experience in the design and development of the ‘intelligent courtroom’. The Ministry of Justice has developed new courts with fully interactive digital video technology to ensure every person has access to the justice system throughout the vast state of WA. The effective use of the technology, which is operational in Perth courts, has the potential to reduce delay and the cost of litigation resulting in savings for individuals involved in litigation and governments everywhere.

The Chief Justice of Western Australia, the Hon David Kingsley Malcolm AC will address delegates at the ALRAC. The Chief Justice is a former member of the LRCWA and is well known for his leadership in procedural and law reform.

The Ministry of Justice will also showcase Australia’s potential for exporting mediation expertise developed through the Western Australian/Singaporean Co-Mediation project presented by Judge Peter Blaxell of the District Court of Western Australia. Judge Blaxell’s co-mediation project could be extended throughout Australia and the common law world (see ‘The future role of Australian courts in resolving international disputes’, page 12).

The conference venue

Near the banks of the Swan River, the Duxton Hotel in Perth is a comfortable conference venue. Conference highlights include a Thursday evening official delegates’ reception at the Dalkeith home of LRCWA Chairman, Mr Wayne Martin QC. On Friday evening, immediately following Lord Woolf’s presentation, there will be will be a sponsors’ reception at the Duxton Hotel. Corporate sponsors include Butterworths and LBC Information Services. Members of the WA Bar and the Law Society will be invited to the reception.

The official conference dinner will be at the exclusive century-old Royal Fresh Water Bay Yacht Club in Peppermint Grove. Kean’s Point ‘Freshie’ as the Yacht Club is affectionately known, is one of Perth’s premier venues. The final event, the official closing luncheon, featuring the Hon Daryl Williams AM QC MP, will be held at Fraser’s in Kings Park, a wonderful location with superb views of Perth.

Preliminary schedule

As Reform goes to print, arrangements with many speakers are still being finalised. The following schedule is presented as a preliminary conference program.

Wednesday, 29 March 2000

• Arrival of delegates, registration and welcome.

• Pre-conference meetings by arrangement

Thursday, 30 March 2000

• Demonstration of the intelligent courtroom (by appointment at 9am, 11am or 4pm)

• 10.00am – morning tea

• 10.30am – agency reports

• 12.30pm – opening luncheon (ticketed event)

• 2.30pm – concurrent meetings of heads of law reform agencies, law reform agency officers

• 6.30pm – official delegates’ reception (invitation only)

Friday, 31 March 2000

• 7.30am – breakfast presentation (ticketed event)

• 9.00am – official opening ceremony of joint Australasian and Commonwealth conference followed by morning tea with sponsors and invited guests (ticketed event)

• 10.00am – speakers and special break-out sessions

• 12.15pm – official luncheon (ticketed event)

• 2.00pm – speakers and special break-out sessions

• 4.00pm – tele-conference with the Rt Hon the Lord Woolf, Master of the Rolls

• 5.00pm – official conference reception with sponsors and invited guests (ticketed event)

• 7.30 for 8.00pm – Year 2000 Conference Dinner at the Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club (ticketed event)

Saturday, 1 April 2000

• 8.30am – breakfast presentation (ticketed event) with Kirby Cup, law students’ public speaking competition

• 10.00am – plenary session ‘Globalisation and law reform’

• 1.00pm – conference closing luncheon and ceremonies, Fraser’s, Kings Park (ticketed event)