FUNCTIONS OF FLRC

The Commission’s main functions are contained in section 5(1) of the Fiji Law Reform Commission Act 1979.
“1. The functions of the Commission shall be to take and keep under review all the law applicable of Fiji with a view to its systematic development and reform including in particular-

  • the codification of such law;
  • the elimination of anomalies;
  • the repeal of obsolete and unnecessary enactments;
  • the reduction of separate enactments;
  • the making of new laws;
  • the adoption of new or more effective and economical methods for the administration of the law and the dispensation of justice; and
  • generally the simplification, improvement and modernization of the law, and subject to section 6, the Commission may in these respects act of its own volition.”

HOW FLRC WORKS

  • Since its inception, the Commission has ably discharged its functions mainly on the requests and instructions of the Attorney General, in accordance with section 5(2)(a) of the Act.
  • Notwithstanding that, the Commission may also discharge its functions in other ways. This includes:
  1. consideration of a proposal for reform made or referred to it by any persons, groups or authorities;
  2. provisions of assistance to other Ministries or Departments, on the request of the Attorney General, in the examination of any laws relevant to them; and
  3. consideration of the impact of judicial decisions on any statute laws.
  • In accordance with Section 6 of the Act, FLRC operates autonomously in terms of its processes and procedures, implementing its Cabinet approved work programme, supervised by the Director and Chair.
  • It is important to note, that while the Commission functions independently in terms of its processes, staff appointments and its own budget [SEG 7 of the AG’s budget], FLRC is administratively linked to the AG’s Chambers