Justice Impact Assessment Framework
13 August 2026
The introduction of new legislation, shifts in policy, and changes to government programs can affect the rights, interests, duties and legitimate expectations of individuals, communities and businesses. These impacts can result in additional legal need, create additional demands on the justice system and increase pressures for participants in the justice system (including publicly funded legal assistance services and their clients).
Such measures arise across multiple portfolios and require early planning, coordination across government and genuine consultation. Justice impacts should be identified and addressed upfront, including through the provision of additional resourcing where required.
The Law Council has developed the Justice Impact Assessment Framework to assist decision makers across Australia’s various parliaments and governments to consider the downstream impacts of proposed legislative or regulatory change on the justice system.
It is intended to guide evidence-based, principled and systematic decision-making and facilitate parliamentary scrutiny. The Framework outlines a set of overarching principles and provides decision makers with a checklist of 20 “guiding questions” for consideration in the development or scrutiny of a proposed measure.
Last Updated on 13/08/2026