South Australian Law Reform Institute

Examining better laws for our community

The South Australian Law Reform Institute (SALRI) is an independent law reform body formed under an agreement between the Attorney-General of South Australia, Adelaide University, and the Law Society of South Australia.

SALRI conducts independent and impartial reviews of South Australian laws, often on complex or sensitive issues. At the request of the Government or other interested parties, SALRI considers whether changes to current laws or practices are appropriate.

When approaching a law reform project or reference, SALRI looks at the contemporary issues that are facing the law – what's happening in other jurisdictions, what redundancies or changes may need to be made, and ultimately, how the law is going to best serve the community of South Australia.

Reform of the law serves several purposes: modernisation, eliminating defects, simplification, the consolidation of laws and repealing obsolete provisions. It also promotes consistency and uniformity between State and Commonwealth legislation. These objectives guide the work of SALRI.

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As an independent impartial law reform body, SALRI presents recommendations to Government and Parliament for suitable law reform across a wide range of topics.

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Discover how you can connect with the South Australian Law Reform Institute (SALRI).

Explore the South Australian Law Reform Institute

SALRI conducts independent and impartial reviews of South Australian laws, often on complex or sensitive issues. This is usually at the request of Government, however SALRI also works with industry bodies and interested parties to assess whether changes to current laws or practices are appropriate.

The SALRI Advisory Board can receive proposals to undertake projects from the following bodies:

the Attorney-General of South Australia
Adelaide University
the South Australian judiciary
the Legal Services Commission
the Law Society of South Australia
the South Australian Bar Association, as well as
other representative organisations with notable standing in the community.

If you’d like to find out more, please contact us.

Research capabilities Research capabilities
Research impact Research impact
Our people Our people
Our partners Our partners

Better serving the people of South Australia

The South Australian Law Reform Institute (SALRI) reviews laws and practices to identify improvement or new approaches. Through its impartial, active and inclusive consultation with experts, stakeholders, regional and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, SALRI ensures diverse voices inform its recommendations and shape fair, effective and contemporary laws for South Australia.

Our researchers work on different references or areas of the law that are referred to SALRI by the Government or are self-initiated.

The South Australian Law Reform Institute functions

Review and research areas of law and legal policy on a consultancy basis as indicated by the Advisory Board.

Conduct reviews and research on proposals from the Attorney-General with a view to modernise, eliminate defects in, simplify or consolidate the law.

Review and research proposals from the Attorney-General to repeal outdated laws and align legislation with other jurisdictions.

Provide reports and make recommendations to the Attorney-General and other authorities on the outcomes of reviews and research.

Collaborate with law reform agencies across Australia on proposals to improve state and national laws.

Provide the Government with recommendations based on thorough impartial research and broad consultation.

Making a real difference in the world of law

SALRI has had considerable impact on state and national legislation, and its reports have helped lead to major reforms in a range of areas including discrimination, surrogacy, criminal law, abortion, succession law, and adult safeguarding. Many of SALRI’s reports have been accepted by the Government and Parliament and form the basis of new laws.

Latest projects

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research

Indigenous Participation in Juries

SALRI is presently conducting a research study with the Australian Institute of Judicial Administration into the multi-faceted reasons for the apparent acute of Indigenous jurors in Australia with a focus on the role and implications of criminal history jury disqualification. This is part of a wider project to identify effective and culturally respectful ways to encourage Indigenous jury participation.

Personal and societal health

Promoting dignity, autonomy and support in decision-making

After thoroughly reviewing existing laws, SALRI’s recent review found significant improvements are appropriate to facilitate supported decision-making and ensure South Australia’s legal system better supports people with impaired decision-making capacity

Personal and societal health

Bail Act review

SALRI has recently commenced a comprehensive review of the Bail Act 1985, examining its operation within the criminal justice system. SALRI will carry out extensive research and consultation. The review will consider whether the Act effectively balances rehabilitation, the rights of the accused and the safety of the community.

Personal and societal health

Mental Health Act review

The South Australian Government asked SALRI to review the Mental Health Act to ensure the law balances rights, treatment needs, and international standards. The review made various recommendations to promote the rights of patients and strengthen the State’s mental health framework.

Personal and societal health

Review of Suppression Orders in South Australia

SALRI has recently examined the role and operation of suppression orders. There is a strong premise behind open justice and transparency in what happens in the courts, but also longstanding recognition this cannot be an absolute rule and must be qualified in some circumstances. 'Open justice is not open slather.' SALRI’s report made various recommendations to clarify and improve the use of suppression orders in South Australia.

Personal and societal health

Land laws

Following an extensive review, SALRI recently recommended a series of reforms to modernise South Australia’s land laws – particularly timely with the current housing crisis, the increasing role of technology in property transactions, the increasing role of 'granny flat' interests and to better address the scope for fraud and misuse.

Leadership team

Professor John Williams, AM, Director, SALRI
Associate Professor David Plater, Deputy Director, SALRI
Louise Scarman, Senior Administration Officer, SALRI

Meet our highly experienced researchers, judicial officers and practitioners – SALRI’s team of experts with considerable expertise in modern law reform.

SALRI is supported by an Advisory Board of experienced judicial officers and practitioners:

Ms Jane Abbey KC
Ms Jane Cox
The Honourable Trish Kelly SC
Professor Judith McNamara
The Honourable Justice Tim Stanley
Ms Aimee Travers
The Honourable Richard White KC

SALRI is supported by an outstanding group of students from the linked Law Reform class who are involved in the law reform process.

Current researchers

Anita Brunacci
Amelia Campbell
Emily Conroy
Lisa Cooper
Katelin Lawrie
Claudia Light
Hon Adjunct Professor Geoff Muecke
Taylor Portelli
Associate Professor Sylvia Villios
Brooke Washusen

The South Australian Law Reform Institute, and its members, will play a key role in improving the administration of justice in South Australia. The Institute will help modernise, simplify and consolidate laws and the administration of the justice system and, in doing so, improve access to justice for the community.

Mr John Rau

Attorney-General of South Australia (2010)

Contact us

South Australian Law Reform Institute

Location
South Australian Law Reform Institute
Adelaide University
Ligertwood Building, Adelaide SA 5005

Phone: +61 8 8313 5582

Email: SALRI@adelaide.edu.au