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NSW Law Society calls for political parties to address issues plaguing the state
The Law Society of NSW has issued a statement, calling on all political parties to address key “law and justice” issues, following the March 2019 state election.
Emma Musgrave
In its statement, the NSW Law Society has called for increased resources for courts and the justice system, as well as the expansion of drug and alcohol rehabilitation facilities, including a Drug Court in rural, remote and regional areas.
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Further, the state’s legal body said increased funding for Legal Aid is needed, as is a new courthouse in Macarthur, and more early intervention services for Indigenous justice.
Reducing the high NSW prison population and easing the pressure on the courts and justice system are other key areas of concern highlighted by the NSW Law Society.
“The Law Society is the voice of the solicitor arm of the legal profession, representing the interests of the state’s 35,000 solicitors,” NSW Law Society president Doug Humphreys said.
“We encourage debate and actively drive law reform issues through policy submissions and open dialogue with governments, parliamentary bodies, the courts and other stakeholders in the justice system, which makes us a major player in law reform and policy debates.
“Our state’s solicitors work with a diverse range of people from the community on a daily basis, which puts them in a unique position to identify the areas of our legal system with room for improvement and in turn help the Law Society identify the key issues for law reform in NSW.”
Other areas with room for improvement highlighted by the NSW Law Society include, but are not limited to: promoting investment and business innovation by reforming payroll tax; fostering digital innovation; promoting Sydney as a professional services hub in the Asia-Pacific, and reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens; and upholding the rule of law by promoting and protecting privacy and the use of data, protecting the rights of the injured, promoting practical ways to report and address elder abuse, protecting the security of e-conveyancing, and a Human Rights Act for NSW.
