australian legal system
DESCRIPTION
An overview of the legal system, the court structure, the legislature, selected websites, and resources held in the Bodleian Law LibraryTRANSCRIPT
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An overview
Australian Legal System
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Australia – a federal system with 9 jurisdictions
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Structure of government
The Constitution
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Constitution
An Act to constitute the Commonwealth of Australia [9th July 1900](63 & 64 Victoria - Chapter 12)
No Bill of Rights Changes can only be by referendum
carried by majority of voters and majority of states
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Federal Government
Parliament - bicameral Senate - States house – 12 senators per state,
2 per territory – 76 total• Proportional representation voting system
House of Representatives – People’s house – 150 members, 1 per electorate based on population
• Preferential voting system
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Division of powers
Australian Constitution s. 51 defines federal powers: interstate trade and commerce power corporations power external affairs power taxation power military defence quarantine census currency weights and measures
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..more federal powers Service and execution of court processes and the
recognition of judgements Naturalisation and aliens and immigration Powers for implementation of a uniform railway system Postal, telegraphic, telephonic, and like services Pensions and social services Pacific relations The influx of criminals ‘Special laws’ for people of any race Marriage and divorce Copyright, patents, and trade marks Bankruptcy Bills of exchange Banking (other than state banking) Insurance other than state insurance Conciliation and arbitration of industrial disputes
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Executive power
Executive power – vested in the Queen of Australia, represented by the Governor General (Federal) or Governor (each state).
Legislation must be signed by the Governor in Council
Executive Council – in theory all ministers of the Crown
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State government
Each State and 2 territories (NT & ACT) has a parliament – lower house usually named Legislative Assembly; upper house is Legislative Council
All bicameral apart from Qld Leader of government is called Premier Preferential voting
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State powers
States have all powers that are not specified in the Constitution – the residual powers, eg policing, public schools, roads and traffic, public hospitals (through an agreement with the federal government), public housing, and business regulation.
Uniform laws in some areas between States Federal law takes precedence where there
is overlap States receive GST tax
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Australian Territories Mainland teritories ACT (self governing) NT (self governing)
Jervis Bay Territory
External territories Ashmore and Cartier Islands Norfolk Island (self governing) Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Coral Sea Islands Territory Heard and McDonald Islands Australian Antarctic Territory
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Local government
565 local government bodies in Australia - a diverse range of metropolitan, regional, rural, and Indigenous communities.
Responsibilities can include: infrastructure and property services, including local
roads, bridges, footpaths, drainage, waste collection and management
provision of recreation facilities, such as parks, sports fields and stadiums, golf courses, swimming pools, sport centres, halls, camping grounds and caravan parks
health services such as water and food inspection, immunisation services, toilet facilities, noise control and meat inspection and animal control
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continued…
community services, such as child care, aged care and accommodation, community care and welfare services
building services, including inspections, licensing, certification and enforcement
planning and development approval administration of facilities, such as airports and
aerodromes, ports and marinas, cemeteries, parking facilities and street parking;
cultural facilities and services, such as libraries, art galleries and museums
water and sewerage services in some states other services, such as abattoirs, sale-yards and group
purchasing schemes
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Separation of Powers
The Separation of Powers is the principle whereby the three arms of government undertake their activities separate from each other: the Legislature proposes laws in the form of Bills, and
provides a legislative framework for the operations of the other two arms.
the Executive enacts the laws by Royal Assent, administers the laws and carries out the tasks assigned to it by legislation;
the Judiciary hears cases arising from the administration of the law, using both statute law and the common law. The Australian courts cannot give advisory opinions on the constitutionality of laws.
the other arms cannot influence the Judiciary.
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The judiciary
Prior to the Australia Act 1986, (and associated legislation in the parliament of the United Kingdom), some Australian cases could be referred to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council for final appeal.
With this act, Australian law was made unequivocally sovereign, and the High Court of Australia was confirmed as the highest court of appeal. The theoretical possibility of the British Parliament enacting laws to override the Australian Constitution was also removed
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Federal court hierarchy
High Court of Australia – original and appellate jurisdiction. Established by The Constitution
Federal Court of Australia - most civil disputes, some summary criminal matters governed by federal law are decided. Established by Judiciary Act 1903
Family Court. Established 1975 Federal Magistrates Court. Established
1999. Changed to Federal Circuit Court of Australia in 2013
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State Court hierarchy
Supreme Court in each State, with original and appellate jurisdiction.
District or County Courts Magistrates Courts Small claims courts Cross vesting powers apply – Full HC
decisions are binding on Full Court of each Supreme Court
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Other bodies
Administrative Appeals Tribunal Native Title Tribunal Industrial bodies
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Court reports
High Court – Commonwealth Law Reports (authorised) & Australian Law Reports (unauthorised)
Federal Court – Federal Court Reports (authorised) & Federal Law Reports (unauthorised)
Each State Supreme Court produces an authorised series of law reports
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Parliament – www.aph.gov.au
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Federal legislation online - ComLaw
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State governments, eg:
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Caselaw online via Austlii