9 modernising  and  consolidating  the  law  and  finding  more  effective  methods  for  the administration of law,¹⁴ so as to improve access to justice.¹⁵ Law  reform  bodies  have  often  been  requested  to  consider  ways  of  making  the  law more accessible.  The terms of reference given in 1989 by the then Attorney-General, Michael Lavarch MP, for the ALRC reference on the adversarial system of litigation commenced  with  the  words:  “having  regard  to  the  need  for  a  simpler,  cheaper  and more  accessible  legal  system.”¹⁶  Similarly,  when  launching  the  ALRC’s  report  on ‘Managing  Justice  –  A  Review  of  the  Federal  Civil  Justice  System’,  the  then Attorney-General Daryl Williams referred to the goal of an “accessible legal system” and the wide-ranging consultation of the Commission “with the broader community and all relevant courts and interest groups.”¹⁷  Law reform bodies themselves often identify  increased  accessibility  as  one  of  the  fundamentals  goals  of  their  work:  the mission statement on the home page of the Law Commission for England and Wales says that, “the role of the Law Commission contributes to the aim of the Department of Constitutional Affairs to build fair, effective and accessible justice services and to modernise the law and constitution”.¹⁸ The further elaboration of this process which is my main subject today: the need to involve  the  wider  public  in  the  debate  about  law  reform  itself,  is  somewhat  less frequently referred to.  A notable exception is the home page of the Law Commission of Canada, which urges both the desirability of the law being more accessible as well as a hoped-for accessibility of Law Reform Commissions.  It states: “The  law  affects  every  member  of  our  society,  so  we  all  have  an interest in ensuring that it is relevant, responsive, effective, accessible and  just.    Your  participation  in  the  Law  Commission’s  work,  and  in the  ongoing  renewal  of  our  legal  system,  is  essential.    Get  involved and make a difference!”                                                 14   Law Reform Commission Act 1972 (WA) s 11(4). 15   Australian Law Reform Commission Act 1996 (Cth) s 21(1)(a)(v). 16   www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/alrc/publications/reports/89/tor.html visited 31/03/04. 17   Attorney-General, “Launch of the Australian Law Reform Commission Report” 17 February 2000 http://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/www/attorneygeneralHome.nsf/0/EB9C32106FAC36C9CA25 6B5F00182C76?OpenDocument visited 31/03/04 18   www.lawcom.gov.uk visited 31/03/04.