Legal Alerts

This section features alerts about changes to criminal, civil and family law, with a focus on legislative changes.

These Legal Alerts are internal resources that are only available to our staff and to approved external users of the Law Hub site. They are subject to these Terms of Use. You will need to login in order to view the full content of a Legal Alert.

To find a particular alert, you can choose filter options by law type or topic and a free text search is also available.

Please email us if you have queries about the content of our Legal Alerts.

Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Amendment (Sex or Gender Changes) Bill 2024 (WA)

Wed, 25 Sep 2024

A new process for a person born in Western Australia to apply to the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages to change the person’s sex or gender in the registration of the person’s birth will be in operation when the relevant provisions of Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Amendment (Sex or Gender Changes) Bill 2024 (WA) are proclaimed.

District Court Practice Direction on expert evidence update

Wed, 25 Sep 2024

The District Court of WA Practice Direction on expert evidence has been updated.

Family Violence Legislation Reform Act 2024 - some provisions in force

Wed, 18 Sep 2024

Amending provisions that add s300 Code into Sch 1 of the CLMI and HRSO Acts are now in force.

Review of the Family Relationship Services Program - Final report released - 11 Sept 2024

Tue, 17 Sep 2024

The first comprehensive review of the FRSP since the establishment of Family Relationship Centres in 2006.

Commonwealth - Criminal Code Amendment (Hate Crimes) Bill 2024

Tue, 17 Sep 2024

This Bill aims to tackle hate speech that calls for the use of force or violence.

Supreme Court Practice Directions for proceedings under Criminal Law (Mental Impairment) Act 2023

Thu, 12 Sep 2024

There are specialised procedures in the Supreme Court for proceedings under the new CLMI Act.

Criminal Law (Mental Impairment) Act 2023 commencement + New practitioner resources available

Fri, 30 Aug 2024

It is expected this Act will commence on 1 September 2024. New practitioner resources are now available in Law Hub to help explain the new laws.

Young Offenders and Prisons Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 introduced

Mon, 19 Aug 2024

This Bill amends the Prisons Act 1981 and the Young Offenders Act 1994.

Community Protection (Offender Reporting) Amendment Bill introduced

Thu, 15 Aug 2024

This Bill is designed to enhance the powers of police to monitor reportable sex offenders and ensure compliance with court-ordered conditions.

Evidence Bill 2024 and Evidence Amendment Bill 2024 introduced

Thu, 15 Aug 2024

These Bills will bring WA evidence laws in line with the Uniform Evidence Law, while retaining and updating some of the provisions currently in the Evidence Act 1906 (WA).

Police Legislation Amendment Bill

Thu, 08 Aug 2024

This Bill provides powers to police to scan for knives in certain areas without a warrant or reasonable suspicion, creates new offences related to edged weapons and facilitates the giving of move on orders through the use of verbal directions.

Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2024 Commencement Proclamation (No. 2) 2024

Tue, 16 Jul 2024

The Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2024 Commencement Proclamation (No. 2) 2024 sets out the commencement date of the 29 July 2024 for specific provisions of the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2024 (Amendment Act)

Next set of tenancy reforms to start 29 July 2024

Wed, 10 Jul 2024

The next set of tenancy reforms from the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2024 are to commence on 29 July 2024.

Family Violence Legislation Reform Bill 2024 introduced

Wed, 26 Jun 2024

This Bill was introduced into State Parliament on 19 June 2024.

Criminal Code Amendment Act 2024 - In force 1 July 2024

Wed, 26 Jun 2024

This amending Act will introduce new offences of assault on retail workers and remove the lower summary conviction penalty under s426(4) for stealing $1,000 or less where there is specified repeated stealing.

How to find Legal Profession Uniform Law legislation for WA

Wed, 26 Jun 2024

All legislation applicable to WA under the uniform law scheme is now available from the legislation.wa.gov.au website.

Criminal Code Amendment (Prohibition on Display or Performance of Nazi Symbols or Gestures) Bill 2024

Wed, 19 Jun 2024

This Bill was introduced on 19 June 2024 and comes into force on a date to be fixed by Proclamation.

Commonwealth - Criminal Code Amendment (Deepfake Sexual Material) Bill 2024 introduced

Thu, 13 Jun 2024

This Bill was introduced on 5 June 2024 and amends the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).

Firearms Bill 2024 - further amendments introduced

Thu, 13 Jun 2024

Amendments to the Firearms Bill 2024 in response to the Floreat murders have been introduced in Parliament.

Proposed consumer protections for Buy Now Pay Later

Tue, 11 Jun 2024

New consumer protection legislation for Buy Now Pay Later has been introduced into the Commonwealth Parliament.

Disclaimer

The information displayed on this page is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have a legal problem, you should see a lawyer. Legal Aid Western Australia aims to provide information that is accurate, however does not accept responsibility for any errors or omissions in the information provided on this page or incorporated into it by reference.