Editing Robert Askin (section)

===Law reform===
Despite a hostile [[New South Wales Legislative Council|Legislative Council]], an extended drought and various industrial disputes, Askin and his Government passed several reforms. Among them were the removal of trading-hours restrictions on small businesses, abolishing juries for motor accident damage cases, extending the hours for liquor trading, thereby bringing an end to the "Six o'clock swill". The Government also moved into legal and local government reforms, attacking pollution and restoring the previously abolished [[postal voting]] rights in state elections. Askin also addressed the demands of the [[New England New State Movement]] by holding a referendum in 1967, which was defeated by a large margin.{{sfnp|Hancock|2006|pages=355-356}}

Many of his government's reforms were due to his minister for justice, [[John Maddison]], and Attorney-General [[Kenneth McCaw|Sir Kenneth McCaw]], who initiated the establishment of the [[Law Reform Commission of New South Wales]], the introduction of consumer laws, an ombudsman, legal aid, health labels on cigarette packs, breath-testing of drivers, limits on vehicle emissions, the liberalisation of liquor laws, and compensation for victims of violent crime. There was also a new [[National Parks and Wildlife Service (New South Wales)|National Parks and Wildlife Service]] to assist environment conservation and protection. Despite these positive reforms, Askin's government maintained a brutal prison and corrective regime that was to culminate in the [[Bathurst Correctional Complex|Bathurst Gaol]] riots in 1970 and 1974.<ref name=ADB/>