Changing+social+composition,+values+and+morality

=Conditions that give rise to the need for law reform - Changing composition of society & changing social values and morality=

By Anna Carmody, Lexi Clark and Kate Daniel

When the position of the public in economy changes, there is need for law reform. When the economic environment changes the actions and ways of life and behavior change for the public, these changes need to be catered for by the laws made by the government.
 * __What is meant by the changing composition of soicety, and changing values ad morailty has lead to the need for the legal change__** When the position of Austrlians economy and population changes, there behaviours and ways of life evolve with these changes. these changes need to be significantly catered for in order to have laws which improve the current economy. As society changes, the challenge for the law is for it to reflect and embody society' s morals and values. A criticism of the process of law reform is that is can take a long time, hence the law runs the risk of lagging behind the social change. An example of the social change leading to law reform is in the area of the laws response to the multicultural nature of contemporary Australian society by amendments to the Oath's Act 1900 (NSW). swearing an Oath on the bible is no longer the only way that a witness or juror can be validly sworn. A witness or Juror may instead make an affirmation, swear an oath simply on to tell the truth or swear an oath on the holy text of their faith. An example of changing social morality leading to law reform is the decriminalisation of

homosexual sex between consenting adults which occurred in NSW in 1984. A good example of law reform being overdue in terms of reflecting society's values is the fact that it was not until 1981 that marriage. as a defence to rape was removed (by the crimes sexual assault Amendment Act 1981). Homosexual defacto couples are becoming increasingly excepted in society which is a perfect example for law reforming, as the old laws do not match the current ways of society.

(This above image is a poster promoting equality for all Lesbians and Gays in 1985) relating to above paragraph



links 1. anti discrimination laws: [|http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2002_April_5/ai_84453131/] 2. anti discrimination law: [] 3.National anti-discrimination information: []