Policy Submissions and Reports

Alongside our members, we fight for economic and social justice, and proudly seek to reshape justice and create more equitable laws. We want a community that is fair, inclusive and thriving: where every person belongs and can learn, grow, heal, participate and be heard.

On this page, you can find recent and past submissions, reports and statements from the Federation of Community Legal Centres. The Federation also contributes to policy submissions produced by Community Legal Centres Australia. You can find these here.

Access to Family Violence Orders (2024)

The Federation has made a submission to the Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs' Inquiry into Family Violence Orders.

Read the submission here.

Submission to Inquiry into Climate Resilience (2024)

The Federation has made a submission to the Environment and Planning Committee's Inquiry into Climate Resilience in the Legislative Council of Victoria.

Read the submission here.

Improving justice responses to sexual violence (2024)

The Federation has made a submission to the Australian Law Reform Commission’s Inquiry into Justice Responses to Sexual Violence.

Read the submission here.

Improving Family Violence Data Systems & Safeguards: Submission to Victorian inquiry (2024)

The Federation has made a submission to the Victorian Parliament inquiry into capturing data on people using family violence.

Read the submission here.

Submission on the Migration Amendment (Removal and Other Measures) Bill 2024

The Federation has made a submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee on the Migration Amendment (Removal and Other Measures) Bill 2024.

Read the submission here.

Feedback on the next stage of Victoria’s work to end family violence (2024)

The Federation has provided recommendations for the development of the 2024-2026 Family Violence Reform Rolling Action Plan.

Read the submission here.

Submission to the 2024 Victorian Budget

The Federation has made a submission to the Victorian Government on the 2024-2025 State Budget.

Read the submission here.

Feedback on the development of a not-for-profit sector blueprint (2024)

The Federation provided recommendations for a blueprint for the not-for-profit sector.

Read the submission here.

Climate Change Impacts on Access to Justice - Literature Review (2023)

The Federation has reviewed existing literature on the impacts of climate change on access to justice.

Read the literature review here.

Review of the National Legal Assistance Partnership (2023)

The Federation has reviewed the National Legal Assistance Partnership and responded to the Issues Paper on behalf of Victorian Community Legal Centres.

Read the submission here.

The Federation also contributed to a submission in response to the NLAP Review with a focus on disaster legal assistance, in partnership with Community Legal Centres Australia (CLCA), the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS), the National Family Violence Prevention and Legal Services Forum (FVPLS) and National Legal Aid (NLA).

Read the submission here.

Victorian Sector Outcomes Pilot

Sixteen organisations within the Victorian legal assistance sector also piloted outcomes approaches to inform the National Legal Assistance Partnership (NLAP) Review.

Read the Victorian Sector Outcomes Pilot Final Report here and the case studies here.

Response to the consultation on strengthening anti-vilification laws (2023)

The Federation has contributed to the consultation on strengthening anti-vilification laws in Victoria (the Consultation). This letter outlines our response to all three stages of the Consultation.

Read the letter here.

Feedback on the Exposure Draft of the Family Law Amendment Bill (No.2) (2023)

The Federation has provided feedback on the Exposure Draft of the Family Law Amendment Bill (No.2) 2023 (the Exposure Draft).

Read our feedback here.

Feedback on a stronger, more diverse and independent community sector (2023)

The Federation has provided feedback to the Department of Social Services’ (DSS) consultation on a stronger, more diverse and independent community sector.

Read our feedback here.

Submission on the Climate Change Amendment (Duty of Care and Intergenerational Equity) Bill (2023)

The Federation has made a submission to the Senate Standing Committees on Environment and Communication on the Climate Change Amendment (Duty of Care and Intergenerational Equity) Bill 2023 (Cth) that has been proposed by independent Senator David Pocock (ACT).

Read our submission here.

Submission on the Inquiry into the 2022 Flood Event in Victoria (2023)

The Federation has made a submission to the Legislative Council Environment and Planning Committee on the 2022 flooding event in Victoria.

Read our submission here.

Submission on Human Rights Inquiry into a National Human Rights Framework (2023)

The Federation has made a submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Human Rights Inquiry into a National Human Rights Framework.

Read our submission here.

Submission on the new social services regulatory framework for Victoria (2023)

The Federation has made a submission to Social Services Regulation Reform on the new social services regulatory framework for Victoria, established through the Social Services Regulations Act 2021 (the Act) and the proposed Social Services Regulations 2023 (the Regulations).

Read our submission here.

Submission on the Rental and Housing Affordability Crisis in Victoria (2023)

The Federation has made a submission to the Legal and Social Issues Committee in relation to the Inquiry into the Rental and Housing Affordability Crisis in Victoria.

Read our submission here.

Feedback on the Family Law Amendment Bill (2023)

The Federation provided feedback to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee’s consultation on the Family Law Amendment Bill 2023.

Read our feedback here.

Feedback on the development of specialised and trauma-informed legal services for victims and survivors of sexual assault

The Federation provided feedback to the Attorney-General’s Department (AGD) national consultation to inform the development of the legal services model at three pilot sites.

Read our feedback to the consultation here.

Feedback to the Exposure Draft of the Family Law Amendment Bill (2023)

The Federation provided feedback on the Exposure Draft of the Family Law Amendment Bill 2023 (the Exposure Draft).

Read our feedback to the draft bill here.

Feedback to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee on current and proposed sexual consent laws in Australia (2023)

The Federation provided feedback to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee on current and proposed sexual consent laws in Australia, in a joint submission with South-East Monash Legal Service.

Read our feedback to the committee here.

Submission on National Strategy to Achieve Gender Equality (2023)

The Federation has made a submission to respond to the National Strategy to Achieve Gender Equality, to highlight the need to address systemic inequalities that impact on women’s financial independence and commit to reforming harmful policies and laws that further embed gender inequality.

Read our response to the national strategy here.

Feedback on the review of the Portable Long Service Benefits Scheme (2023)

The Federation provided feedback on the review of the Portable Long Service Benefits Scheme (Scheme) under the Long Service Benefits Portability Act 2018 (Vic).

Read our feedback on the review here.