Introduction to Law LAW1101

1
Introduction to LawLAW1101

• Week 2 - Module 3

2
Last Week

• English Background
• Judge made law
• Statute
• Transplantation into Australia
• Terra nullius
• Development of Australian law
• International law/other legal systems and
  classification of the law

3
This Week

• Structure of the Australian legal system
• Legislative
• Executive
• Judicial
• Other Issues
• Police and legal profession
• Separation of Powers
• The Rule of Law

4
Legislative

• The Colonial/ State Parliaments
• The Commonwealth
• The Constitution
• Division of Powers
• s51, s109 s107(Concurrent and residuary powers)
• Exclusive Powers
• S52 Australian Capital Territory
• s90 Customs and excise

5
The Legislative Process

• The Proposal
• Ministerial Approval
• Public Service Drafts Bill
• Lower House
• Upper House
• Royal Assent - Act of Parliament
• Commencement and Implementation by the Public
  Service
• LAW

6
Growth of Federal Power

• A more liberal interpretation of the Constitution
  by the High Court
• The Engineers Case - Amalgamated Society of
  Engineers v Adelaide Steamship Co Ltd (1920) 28
  CLR 129
• Control of Taxation
• The Uniform Tax Case - South Australia v
  Commonwealth (1942) 65 CLR 373
• Foreign Affairs Power (s 51(xxxix))
• The Franklin Dam Case-Commonwealth v Tasmania
  (1983) 158 CLR 1

7
Growth of Federal Power (contd)

• Constitutional Change
• Tied Grants (s96)
• State Government voluntarily yielding power to
  the Federal
• Co-operative legislation

8
The Executive

• The Crown/The State
• Governor-General(Cth) or Governor(State)
• Prerogative Powers
• Executive Council (Cth) or Governor-in - Council
  (State)
• Ministers, Government Departments, Statutory
  Offices and Government Owned Corporations

9
The Judiciary

• Hierarchy of Courts

10
Territorial Jurisdiction
11
Other Jurisdictional Factors

• Civil/Criminal
• Civil
• Monetary
• Subject matter/remedy
• Criminal
• Indictable Offences/Summary or Simple Offences
• Penalty
• Original /Appellate

12
Appeals
13
Other Jurisdictional Factors

• Civil/ Criminal
• Monetary
• Penalty
• Subject matter/remedy
• Original /Appellate
• Federal/State

14
A Federal Hierarchy
15
A More Complete Federal Hierarchy
16
Cross Vesting Changes

• Cross Vesting now invalid from the state to
  Commonwealth perspective.
• Re Wakim in the High Court decided that the
  federal courts (which includes the Family Court)
  cannot exercise state power.
• No long term solution yet

17
Tribunals

• Small Claims Tribunal
• Building Tribunal
• Administrative Appeals Tribunal
• Native Title Tribunal
• etc...

18
Police and Legal Profession

• Police initiate most criminal prosecutions
• Legal Profession
• The English Tradition
• Divided Profession
• Barristers (Senior Counsel)
• Solicitors
• Other issues
• Cost
• Access
• Numbers

19
Separation of Powers

• Legislative, Executive and Judiciary
• Checks and balances
• A-G for Australia Kirby v R The Boilermakers
  Society (The Boilermakers Case) 1957 AC 288
• Blurring of the distinction

20
The Rule of Law

• Not just law and order
• Citizens free from the arbitrary exercise of
  power
• All citizens equal before the law
• Fundamental Rights??

21
Fundamental Rights

• Constitutional
• Implied
• A Bill of Rights ?

22
Structure of the Australian Legal System

• Legislative
• State/Federal
• Growth of Federal Power
• Executive
• Judicial
• Hierarchy
• Various Jurisdictional factors
• Other Tribunals
• Other Components of the System
• Police
• The Legal Profession
• Separation of Powers
• The Rule of Law
• Rights