Table of Contents

Terms of Reference

Participants

Letter of Transmission

Summary of Recommendations

Part 1. Background To Recommendations

CHAPTER 1. COMMUNITY LAW REFORM PROGRAM AND THIS REFERENCE

• INTRODUCTION
• LAW REGULATING SERVICE OF CIVIL PROCESS ON SUNDAY
• WHAT IS CIVIL PROCESS?
• THE ISSUE FOR LAW REFORM
• UNDERLYING PRINCIPLE
• PARLIAMENTARY COUNSEL

CHAPTER 2. SUNDAY, SUNDAY OBSERVANCE AND THE LAW - HISTORICAL AND OTHER INFLUENCES

• INTRODUCTION
• HISTORICAL BASIS
  • Before Christianity
  • Sunday Observance After Christianity
  • Roman Laws for Sunday Observance
  • Sunday Observance Laws Under the Holy Roman Empire
• ENGLISH EXPERIENCE
  • Sunday Observance Laws in England Before and After the Norman Conquest
  • Sunday Observance Laws in England After the Reformation
  • Sunday Observance Laws in England - the Seventeenth Century
  • Sunday Observance Laws in England - the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries
  • Sunday Observance Laws in England - the Twentieth Century
  • England - Effect of Sunday on Parliamentary and judicial Proceedings
  • England - Sunday and Labour Laws
• OTHER COUNTRIES-SUNDAY AND LABOUR LAWS

CHAPTER 3. SUNDAY - THE PRESENT LAW IN NEW SOUTH WALES

• PREVIOUS WORK OF THIS COMMISSION
• NEW SOUTH WALES - PRESENT LEGAL RESTRICTION ON ACTIVITIES ON SUNDAY
  • Service and Execution of Legal Process
  • Sunday Entertainment
  • Shops Trading on Sunday
  • An Inquiry into Retail Trading Hours
• WORKING ON SUNDAY - EMPLOYEES
• OFFICIAL INQUIRIES IN NEW SOUTH WALES RELATING TO SUNDAY OBSERVANCE

Table to Chapter 3

CHAPTER 4. SUNDAY - THE PRESENT LAW OUTSIDE NEW SOUTH WALES

• OTHER STATES AND TERRITORIES OF AUSTRALIA
  • Victoria
  • Tasmania
  • Western Australia
  • Queensland
  • South Australia
  • Australian Capital Territory
  • Northern Territory
• OTHER COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES
  • England
  • Canada
  • Canada-Province of Ontario
  • New Zealand

Part II. Reasons and Recommendations for Reform

CHAPTER 5. SUNDAY OBSERVANCE AND SERVICE OF PROCESS - OUR CONCLUSIONS

• SUNDAY-A DAY OF REST AND RELAXATION
• RELIGIOUS AND SECULAR INFLUENCES
• RECENT REFORMS IN NEW SOUTH WALES
• IS SERVICE OF CIVIL PROCESS INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE CONCEPT OF REST
• INCONVENIENCE TO PERSONS SERVED ON SUNDAY
• LIMITS ON THE CONCEPT OF REST
• CONCLUSION

CHAPTER 6. PROPOSALS FOR REFORM

• INTRODUCTION
• CONSIDERATIONS IN FAVOUR OF REFORM
  • Relaxation of Sunday Observance Legislation
  • Process Already Served on Sunday
  • Urgent Matters and Convenience for Litigants
• CONCLUSION
• RECOMMENDATIONS
• NO RECOMMENDATION FOR RESTRICTED HOURS
• DRAFT LEGISLATION

APPENDIX

Sunday (Service of Process) Bill 1983