[Home] [Databases] [WorldLII] [Search] [Feedback] Request for new and renewed 2008 funding contributions to AustLII

AustLII's 2007 Annual Report details AustLII's achievements in 2007 in maintaining and expanding its non-profit free-access services, in Australia and internationally. We hope you will find it interesting and informative, and that it encourages you or your organisation to contribute to AustLII's funding. AustLII receives over 500,000 hits per day to its website. Some highlights of AustLII's 2007 achievements, and new developments can be found below.

In 2007, over 210 organisations and individuals contributed nearly one million dollars in funding to support AustLII's Australian services. These included 22 universities and academic institutions, 11 Government agencies, 23 Courts and Tribunals, 21 organisations from business and industry, 143 organisations and individuals from the legal profession, three Law Students' Associations, and two community and non-profit organisations. Over 200 small contributors provided a further $32,000. Additional grants and contributions were received for the international services. Details of all 2007 contributors are in the Annual Report.

These contributions are essential to AustLII's continuing operations. They are AustLII's core funding, complemented by academic and other competitive grants that AustLII succeeds in obtaining each year for particular projects. Without this assistance, AustLII cannot operate.

Contributors needed for 2008

If you, or your organisation, are one of AustLII's existing contributors, we thank you for your support, and are writing to you separately to request you to renew your contribution for 2008. We would like you to consider increasing that contribution if possible, as our costs are increasing, and we want to provide new and better services.

These contributions are essential to AustLII's continuing operations. They are AustLII's core funding, complemented by academic and other competitive grants that AustLII succeeds in obtaining each year for particular projects. Without this assistance AustLII cannot operate.

If you, or your organisation, are not already one of AustLII's existing contributors, we request that you consider becoming one. At present, only 18 organisations out of the top 50 identifiable organisations that use AustLII (by volume of accesses) make a contribution to AustLII's funding (see Table 3, Annual Report p21). New contributors are needed, particularly among larger users, so that support for AustLII is shared as equitably as possible among the organisations and users that AustLII assists.

All contributions to AustLII are tax-deductible and acknowledged on AustLII. Our 2008 contributors to date are listed by industry sector and by amount of contribution. AustLII very much appreciates your support.

Please use AustLII's Contribution Form. If possible, we would prefer if a recurrent commitment could be made. We look forward to hearing from you.

Questions and contact

If you have any questions concerning AustLII, please contact AustLII's External Relations Manager, Annelies Moens <annelies@austlii.edu.au> or Administrator & Conference Co-Ordinator, Cathy Quigley <cathy@austlii.edu.au>.

Andrew Mowbray, Graham Greenleaf & Philip Chung, Co-Directors, AustLII.

Highlights 2007

• 25 new databases added on AustLII, one every two weeks including:
  • Commonwealth Bills and Explanatory Memoranda from 1996 onwards;
  • District Court of Western Australia decisions 1999 onwards;
  • Queensland Bills and Explanatory Notes from 1999 onwards;
  • High level currency of 256 databases from all federal and state jurisdictions despite reduced staff numbers;
  • Many new legislation databases, including Bills, Explanatory Memoranda, Numbered Acts and Regulations.
• Law Journals Library now includes 50 Australasian law journals, including:
  • Bond Law Review 1998 onwards;
  • Australian and New Zealand Maritime Law Journal 1983 onwards;
  • University of Queensland Law Journal 2005 onwards;
  • UNSW Faculty of Law Research Series 2007 onwards.
• AsianLII's databases increased by 66% to 166 covering all countries in Asia.
• Over 500,000 "hits" (page accesses) per day.
• AustLII's search engine comprehensively re-developed to be even faster.
• All databases re-indexed at least daily, so searches remain up-to-date.
• Searches are now spell-checked, and alternatives suggested.

Key new developments to date in 2008

• Western Australian Acts & Regulations updated -- AustLII again provides the only complete national collection of legislation.
• First new subject-oriented "Libraries" added to AustLII: Taxation Law Library and Indigenous Law Library.
• New Zealand legislation added to AustLII and NZLII.
• High Court of Australia Special Leave Dispositions 2008 onwards.

'Coming soon'

• The 'AustLII citator' for Australian and international case law and law journal articles which provides links to cases, journals, articles and legislation citing a particular case, journal or article -- a great free tool for research and preparing for litigation among other uses.
• The complete English Reports from 1220-1873 will be included on CommonLII.
• New subject Libraries, on International Law and other topics.