Papers and submissions

Redfern Legal Centre supports the NSW coercive control reform but argues that criminalisation alone is insufficient—success depends on changing police culture, systems, and practice to properly identify and respond to financial and economic abuse as a core component of coercive control. The submission recommends extending the mental element to include recklessness and broadening the offence to all domestic relationships in principle, but only after evidence shows the current offence is being implemented safely and effectively.

RLC welcomes the opportunity to respond to the inquiry, noting it will focus on the more covert forms of racism embedded in systems and institutions, rather than only overt incidents. Given RLC's expertise, the submission addresses Terms of Reference 5 and 6. RLC is based in Redfern, NSW, and while some services are catchment-based locally, others are statewide; it doesn't provide legal services outside NSW but does advocate on laws and policies more broadly, including federal ones. The submission draws on NSW casework and was prepared in consultation with ACCOs and First Nations leaders, including Louise Hammond ("Aunty Lou," CEO of MYRC), and clients whose case studies are included.

This report analyses a decade of data on strip searches and drug dog use in New South Wales, obtained through parliamentary Questions on Notice after initial access was denied. Between 2014 and 2023, NSW Police conducted 82,471 strip searches. Illicit substances were found in only 13.5% of cases, meaning 86.5% of searches yielded no drugs. The report calls for changes based on these findings.

A list of NSW Police Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and guidelines obtained through freedom of information laws.

Submissions authored by RLC’s Financial Abuse Service: Submission to the Attorney General’s Department’s consultation on a bankruptcy Minimal Asset Procedure (August 2024)

Redfern Legal Centre's Submission to the 2024 Federal Parliamentary Inquiry into Australia’s Youth Justice and Incarceration System.

Submission to the Australian Retail Credit Association (ARCA) regarding the Credit Reporting Code Consultation aims to support ARCA’s ongoing efforts to address credit reporting issues faced by consumers experiencing domestic and family violence (DFV).

Feedback provided to the Attorney General’s Department (AGD) on amending the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) (Family Law Act) with a view to introducing law and procedures that prioritise safety, clarity and efficiency in family law proceedings.

The Economic Abuse Reference Group (EARG) welcomes the release of the Exposure Draft Treasury Laws Amendment Bill 2024: Buy Now Pay Later (the Bill) and the Exposure Draft National Consumer Credit Protection Amendment (Low Cost Credit) Regulations 2024 (the Regulations).

RLC's submission provides input on the Australian Financial Complaints Authority’s draft Responsible Lending Approach