PART 2: SOURCES OF LAW: CASE LAW
Chapter 5 — Case Law and Precedent
Introduction 5.1
Reading and analysing a case 5.2
− Analysis 5.5
Rules of law derived from cases are not in fixed verbal form 5.7
Doctrine of precedent or stare
decisis 5.8
− Rationale of the doctrine of
precedent 5.9
− Limitations of stare decisis 5.10 Ratio decidendi 5.11
− Identifying the ratio 5.12
− Level of generality 5.14
− Ratio of appellate decisions 5.15
− Ratio decidendi and obiter dictum 5.16
− Authoritative obiter dicta 5.18
Old precedents 5.19
Hierarchy of courts 5.20
− Australian jurisdictions 5.21
− Other common law jurisdictions 5.22
Administrative tribunals 5.23
Alternative dispute resolution 5.25
Law reporting 5.28
− Authorised and unauthorised report series 5.29
− Cases on the internet 5.30
Interaction between case law and legislation 5.31
Chapter 6 — Precedent in
Australian Courts
Introduction 6.1
High Court 6.2
− When will the High Court overrule
itself? 6.3
− Constitutional case 6.5
− Non-Constitutional cases 6.9
Federal Court 6.10
− When will the Full Federal Court
overrule itself? 6.11
Family Court 6.14
Federal Magistrates Court 6.15
State and territory Supreme Courts 6.16
− Single judge 6.16
− State appellate courts 6.18
− Decisions of other Supreme Courts 6.21
‘Plainly wrong?’ 6.23
Inferior courts 6.24
Administrative tribunals 6.25
Decisions from other common law jurisdictions 6.27
− Privy Council 6.28
− House of Lords and the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom 6.31
Equally divided courts 6.34
Chapter 7 — Judicial Decision-making
Introduction 7.1
Obstacles to fact-finding 7.2
Appeals 7.3
Distinction between matters of fact and matters of law 7.7
How does a trial judge identify the binding legal rule? 7.10
How to avoid precedents 7.11
− Distinguishing a precedent on
its facts 7.12
− Statement of law is too wide 7.13
− Statement of law is obiter dictum 7.14
− Changed social conditions 7.15
− Precedent is unsatisfactory 7.16
− Precedent is wrongly decided 7.17
− The disadvantages of not following precedent 7.18
What factors are taken into account by appellate courts in their creation
of law? 7.19
− A case study: Cattanach v Melchior (2003) 215 CLR 1 7.19
− Legal authority 7.20
− Principle 7.21
− Policy 7.22
− Judicial legislation 7.23
The sequel: Distinguishing wrongful life and wrongful birth in Harriton v Stephens (2006) 226 CLR 52 7.24
PART 3: SOURCES OF LAW: LEGISLATION
Chapter 8
— Legislation Introduction 8.1
Terminology 8.2
Differences between legislation and
case law 8.3
− Value or weight of legislative rules 8.4
Legislation takes precedence over case law 8.5
Making statutes 8.6
Legislative process 8.7
− Commonly asked questions relating to legislation 8.8
Commencement of statutes 8.9
− Commonwealth 8.10
− States 8.11
• New South Wales and Western
Australia 8.12
• Queensland, South Australia and
Victoria 8.13
• Tasmania 8.14
• Territories 8.15
− Australian Capital Territory 8.16
− Northern Territory 8.17
− Other commencement dates 8.18
− Revived statutes and sunset
clauses 8.19
− Retrospective commencement 8.20
Amendment of statutes 8.21
− Changing legislation 8.22
− Repeal of statutes 8.23
• Express repeal 8.24
• Implied repeal 8.25
− Effect of repeal 8.26
• Repeal of a repealing Act 8.27
− Disallowance of Territories’ Acts 8.28
Formal structure of a statute 8.29
− Number 8.30
− Date 8.31
− Long title 8.32
− Short title, title or name 8.33
− Preamble 8.34
− Sections 8.35
− Parts, divisions and headings 8.36
− Tables of contents and indexes 8.37
− Purpose clauses 8.38
− Interpretation sections 8.39
− Headings to sections 8.40
− Schedules 8.41
Legislative Dictionaries — Interpretation statutes 8.43
− Plain English and other developments in drafting 8.45
Different types of statutes 8.48
− Public Acts and private Acts 8.49
− Codes 8.50
− Uniform laws 8.51
− Consolidations 8.52
− Reprinted Acts 8.53
− Declaratory Acts 8.54
− Omnibus and cognate Acts 8.55
Particular forms of legislation in the Australian territories 8.56
− Australian Capital Territory 8.57
− Northern Territory 8.58
− Other Australian territories 8.59
Delegated legislation 8.60
− Parliamentary scrutiny and
consultation 8.61
− Quasi-delegated legislation 8.62
− Commencement of delegated
legislation 8.63
• Commonwealth 8.64
• States and mainland territories 8.65
• Non self-governing territories 8.66
− Disallowance, amendment and repeal of delegated legislation 8.67
• Disallowance 8.67
• Amendment 8.68
• Repeal 8.69
• Automatic repeal 8.70
• Repeal of regulations 8.71
− Formal structure of delegated
legislation 8.72
− Different types of delegated
legislation 8.73
− A rule of court 8.74
Discussion questions 8.75
Chapter 9— Approaches to Interpretation of Legislation
Introduction 9.1
Common law approaches 9.2
− Literal approach 9.3
• Example of the application of the literal approach 9.4
− Golden rule 9.5
• Examples of the application of the golden rule 9.6
− Purposive approach 9.7
• Example of the application of the purposive approach 9.8
Purposive approach under legislation 9.9
− Introduction of s 15AA and similar provisions 9.9
− Operation and limitations of s 15AA and similar provisions 9.10
− Australian Capital Territory equivalent of s 15AA 9.11
− Queensland equivalent of s 15AA 9.12
− South Australian equivalent of
s 15AA 9.13
− Impact of s 15AA and its
counterparts 9.14
− Purposive approach and
drafting errors 9.15
Chapter 10 — Extrinsic Aids to Interpretation of Legislation
Introduction 10.1
Use of extrinsic materials at
common law 10.2
− Parliamentary and related materials 10.3
− International agreements 10.4
− Modern approach to statutory interpretation 10.5
Use of extrinsic materials under
statute 10.6
− Introduction of s 15AB and similar provisions 10.6
− Operation of s 15AB and similar provisions 10.7
− Example of the application of
s 15AB 10.9
− ACT equivalent of s 15AB 10.10
− Victorian equivalent of s 15AB 10.11
− Interpretation by reference to international agreements under s 15AB and equivalent provisions 10.12
Chapter 11 — Interpretation
of Legislation
Introduction 11.1
Interpretation with reference to accompanying words 11.2
Interpretation with reference to other parts of the legislation 11.4
− Titles or names 11.5
− Preambles 11.6
− Interpretation provisions 11.7
− Headings to parts and divisions 11.8
− Headings to sections 11.9
− Schedules 11.10
− Punctuation 11.11
− Examples 11.12
Interpretation legislation 11.13
Dictionaries may be consulted 11.14
Consistent use of words is assumed 11.15
All words are assumed to carry
meaning 11.16
Words should be interpreted in accordance with their current meaning 11.17
Express mention of something may draw attention to the absence of something
else 11.18
Provisions may be interpreted with reference to other legislation 11.19
Provisions may be interpreted with reference to the audience 11.20
Provisions may be interpreted with reference to prior or existing law 11.21
Chapter 12 —Presumptions Used in Interpretation of Legislation
Introduction 12.1
Presumption that statutes do not operate retrospectively 12.2
Presumption that Parliament does not interfere with fundamental rights 12.3
Presumption that Parliament does not abrogate the privilege against self-incrimination 12.5
Presumption that Parliament does not abrogate legal professional privilege 12.6
Presumption that Parliament does not deprive people of access to the courts 12.7
Presumption that re-enactment constitutes approval of previous judicial
interpretation 12.8
Presumption that legislation does not bind the Crown 12.9
Presumption that penal provisions are strictly construed 12.10
Presumption that property rights are not taken away without compensation 12.11
Presumption that legislation does not have extraterritorial effect 12.12
Presumption that Parliament intends to legislate in conformity with international law 12.13
Chapter 13 — Statutory Obligations and Discretions
Introduction 13.1
How to determine whether a provision is obligatory or discretionary 13.2
How to determine whether breach produces invalidity 13.3
Applying legislation to complex
problems 13.5
Practical guide to interpretation of legislation 13.6
Interpreting the Wild Dog Destruction Act: Question and Answer 13.7 |