Individuals and groups influencing law reform

Influences on law reform

• individuals and groups

• petitions

• demonstrations

• use of the courts

Individuals

An individual has limited influence on changing the law as while they may raise awareness, parliament reflects majority views.

If acting alone, they have limited impact. Factors such as their authority on the subject, and understanding of law making bodies.

Demonstrations

A gathering of people to protest or express their common concern or dissatisfaction with an existing law, as a means of influencing law reform.

Strengths: raises awareness, communicates collective desire.

Weaknesses: inconvenient to organise, results in negative media attention

Petitions

A written request signed by a number of people to the parliament to take action or implement law reform

Strengths: convenient and can raise awareness

Limitations: difficult to attain enough signatures to initiate reform, needs to be a known topic

The use of courts

Utilising courts to to establish new common law. A case brought to court may highlight the need for a change in the law, or an unclear law may be clarified or identified in the process.

Strengths: potential for new precedent, parliament can codify precedent

Weaknesses: requirement for standing, supremacy of parliament, time and cost

Example of Individual/courts

O’Donnell v Commonwealth

• brought cth to court, as she bought gov bonds, but believed the gov weren’t being honest about the impact of climate change on the economy.

• launched a class action

• case was settled in 2023

Demonstrations

Protest against bail laws - march 2025

• in response to new tough bail laws, such as reclassifying home invasion and the machete ban, on March 17th, roughly 200 people rallied to protest.

• it was covered by traditional and social media, leading to public scrutiny of the proposed laws.

Petitions

Petition to raise the age of criminal responsibility

• 2022 petition to cth and state govs to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 14 yrs old

• led by first nations organisations and human rights orgs to raise community awareness.

• by july 2022, 211,000 people had signed it, and a minister raised it in parliament