Improving access through translating principles into practice:

In November 2008, PIAC made a submission in response to the Attorney General’s Report, A Strategic Framework for Access to Justice in the Federal Civil Justice System. The Taskforce was established to undertake a review of the federal civil justice system with a view to developing a more strategic and co-ordinated approach by the Federal Government to access to justice issues.While PIAC supported many of the recommendations put forward in the report, particularly the recommendations about public interest litigation, representative proceedings and administrative law, PIAC also argued that a significant number of the recommendations were expressed in such broad terms that they lacked meaningful or measurable content. PIAC suggested that as a starting point, the Taskforce should review the extent to which earlier inquiries and reports into access for justice have been implemented and incorporate all outstanding recommendations into its report.PIAC further argued that the report failed to expressly address key access to justice issues in the report including the adequacy of funding for CLCs and legal aid – particularly at the state or territory level – standing, amicus curiae and other intervenors. PIAC contended that these core issues needed to be addressed if the Taskforce was serious about making significant improvements to access to justice in Australia.