Law Reform & Access to Justice
As well as working with clients, we work to improve the law itself and to improve our clients’ access to justice. We use statistics and case examples to demonstrate areas of law that are not working well. We make submissions on behalf of our clients, and run seminars to help people make their own submissions.
Our quarterly newsletter will keep you up to date with changes to the law.
When resources allow, we do research into our clients’ access to justice. For example, we have a project underway to research beneficiaries’ access to justice, looking at their experience using Benefit Review Committees, Medical Appeal Boards and the Social Security Appeal Authority.
For information about legislation and parliament:
www.lawcom.org.nz The Law Commission
www.govt.nz For a list of all reviews being done by government departments
LAW REFORM AGENDA JUNE 2011
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Inquiry / Legislation |
Stage and Progress |
Impact
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ACC Review - 'Increasing Choice' |
Department of Labour Discussion Paper, submissions due 15 July. |
Proposals to allow employers to choose how much accident cover they want to purchase, and whether they purchase it from ACC or a private insurer. Also to set up a body to monitor and enforce employer/insurance compliance, a single claim unit for efficiencies in the health sector, and an independent disputes resolution process.
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Alcohol Reform Bill |
Government Bill. Report due 30 August. |
Would implement the government’s decisions in response to the Law Commission’s report on alcohol.
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Boarding House Inquiry |
Parliamentary Inquiry. Submissions closed. |
The Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2010 extended coverage of the Act to boarding house tenancies, and introduced a number of rights and obligations for boarding house landlords and tenants. The inquiry is looking into whether the law covering boarding houses tenancies provides adequate protection to vulnerable tenants.
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Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Act |
Act passed 18 April 2011 |
Establishes CERA and provides for recovery strategy and recovery plans following the earthquakes in Christchurch. Gives wide powers to the Minister for Earthquake Recovery and CERA.
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Consumer Law Reform Bill |
Government Bill. Introduced 20 April. |
Omnibus bill which would amend several consumer laws (see article).
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Courts and Criminal Matters Bill |
Government Bill. Passed second reading. |
Aims to enhance the courts’ powers to collect fines and other civil debt.
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Criminal Procedure (Reform and Modernisation) Bill |
Government Bill. Report due 14 July. |
Aims to simplify criminal procedure and provide a legislative framework that reduces delay.
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Land transport (Road Safety and Other Matters) Amendment Act |
Enacted 9 May 2011 |
Raises legal driving age to 16 and introduces new drink-drive levels for young drivers.
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Legal Services Act |
Enacted 11 April 201. |
Replaces the Legal Services Act 2000.
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Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill |
Government Bill. Reported back. |
Aims to make changes to the classification of drugs and extend control over drug paraphernalia.
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Sentencing (Aggravating Factors) Amendment Bill |
Government Bill. Report due 15 August. |
Would include an offence against a police or prison officer as an aggravating factor at sentencing.
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Search and Surveillance Bill |
Government Bill. Reported back. |
Aims to bring search and surveillance powers together into one coherent statute.
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Smoke-free Environments (Controls and Enforcement) Amendment Bill |
Member’s Bill. Reported back. |
Would ban the display of tobacco products and accessories at points of sale.
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Social Security Amendment Bill (No 3)
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Government Bill. Reported back. |
Extends Work and Income recovery of compensation paid under ACC scheme to employers under ACC 'accredited employers scheme' . Removes students' entitlement to Accommodation Supplement if they are eligible for student allowances.
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Taxation (Canterbury Earthquake Measures) Act |
Enacted 24 May 2011 |
Tax exemption of some earthquake related welfare payments made by employers to employees, and exempts businesses from paying tax and gift duty on stock donated to people following the quakes (until 31 March 2012), and some payments exempt from working for Families assessments.
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Taxation (Income sharing Tax Credit) Bill |
Members Bill. Reported back. |
Introduces income splitting for families with children under 18. |