Clear, comprehensive, contextual and critical coverage of the foundational ideas and principles that underpin public law in Australia.

Written in an engaging and accessible style, Australian Public Law develops a concept of public law through analysis of the mechanisms of empowerment and constraint and places public law in its historical, social, political, economic and environmental context.  The text draws on examples and case studies throughout to demonstrate how institutions, values and interests affect the real-life application and outcomes of public law, and the ongoing contestations of public law that will shape its future development.

New to this edition

• New co-authors - Megan Davis, a First Nations international human rights and constitutional law expert and Dylan Lino, an expert in constitutional law, colonialism and legal history.
• Updates in light of public law developments including coverage of:
  • the COVID-19 pandemic
  • the referendum on a First Nations Voice as called for in the Uluru Statement from the Heart
  • developments towards Treaties in the States and Territories
  • the impact of technology on the practice of public law

Preface

Authors

Table of Abbreviations

Table of Cases

Table of Statutes

Acknowledgements

1. The Idea of Public Law

PART 1: FOUNDATIONS

2. The Development of Public Law in Australia

3. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and Australian Public Law

4. Human Rights in Australia

5. Federalism in Australia

6. International Context

PART 2: THE PEOPLE AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES

7. Democracy and Representative Government

8. The Functions and Privileges of Parliament

PART 3: THE ADMINISTRATIVE STATE

9. The Executive

10. Executive Accountability

PART 4: THE JUDICIARY

11. The Judiciary and The Separation of Judicial Power

12. The Separation of Powers Applied: Rights, Exceptions and State Courts

13. Statutory and Constitutional Interpretation

Index

Gabrielle Appleby is a Professor at the Faculty of Law & Justice at the University of New South Wales

Megan Davis is a Cobble Cobble Aboriginal woman from the Barrangum nation in South-West Queensland, the Balnaves Professor of Constitutional Law and Pro Vice-Chancellor Society at the University of New South Wales

Dylan Lino is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Queensland

Alexander Reilly is an Adjunct Professor, School of Law, University of Adelaide.

Resources to support instructors with course delivery and assessment, including:

• Student engagement activities for every chapter
• Chapter revision questions plus suggested answers for every chapter
• A test bank of multiple choice, multiple answer, true & false, and short answer questions
• Flashcard glossary

You can access these resources via Learning Link.

Chapter 1: Sample pages