InBrief

The Australian Law Reform Commission will inquire into the law, practice and management of the discovery of documents in litigation before federal courts. Attorney-General Robert McClelland today released the terms of reference for the inquiry. The commission will examine: alternatives to discovery; the role of courts in managing discovery; and implications of the cost of discovery on the conduct of litigation, including means to limit the extent to which discovery gives rise to satellite litigation and the use of discovery for strategic purposes. The commission will provide its final report to the attorney-general by 31 March 2011.

10 May 2010