To the Hon John P Hannaford, MLC

Attorney General for New South Wales

Blasphemy

Dear Attorney

We make this final Report to the reference to this Commission dated 26 September 1991.

The Hon Gordon J Samuels AC QC

(Chairman)

Professor Michael Tilbury

(Commissioner)

Professor Brent Fisse

(Commissioner)

November 1994

Terms of Reference

On 26 September 1991, the Attorney General, the Hon Peter Collins QC MP, required the Commission to inquire into and report the following matters:

(i) whether the present law relating to the offence of blasphemy is adequate and appropriate to current conditions; and

(ii) any related matter.

In making its Report the Commission should have regard to the reference being conducted by the Australian Law Reform Commission on Multi-culturalism and the Law.

Participants

The Law Reform Commission is constituted by the Law Reform Commission Act 1967. For the purpose of this reference, the Chairman, in accordance with the Act, created a Division comprising the following members of the Commission:

The Hon R M Hope AC CMG QC (until 2 April 1993)

The Hon G J Samuels AC QC (from 3 April 1993)

Professor Brent Fisse

Professor David Weisbrot (until 7 October 1994)

Professor Michael Tilbury (from 8 October 1994)

Officers of the Commission

Executive Director

Mr Peter Hennessy

Research and Writing

Ms Saku Akmeemana

Ms Ronnit Lifschitz

Research Assistance

Mr Jarrod White

Librarian

Ms Beverley Caska

Desktop Publishing

Ms Julie Freeman

Cover Design

Ms Stephanie East

Ms Julie Freeman

Administrative Assistance

Ms Zoya Howes

Ms Suzanna Mishhawi

Ms Jasmin Handakas