Australian Constitutional Landmarks

Australian Constitutional Landmarks presents the most significant cases and controversies in the Australian constitutional landscape up to its original publication in 2003. Including the Communist Party case, the dismissal of the Whitlam government, the Free Speech cases, a discussion of the race power, the Lionel Murphy saga, and the Tasmanian Dam case, this book highlights turning points in the shaping of the Australian nation since Federation. Each chapter clearly examines the legal and political context leading to the case or controversy and the impact on later constitutional reform. With contributions by leading constitutional lawyers and judges, as well as two former chief justices, this book will appeal to members of the judiciary, lawyers, political scientists, historians and people with a general interest in Australian politics, government and history.

Fifteen landmark cases and controversies of parliamentary government in the Australian colonies and States are recounted in all their political and legal drama by some of Australias leading constitutional scholars. Topics covered include the amazing saga of Justice Boothby in the 1860s; Privy Council decisions establishing the plenary power of colonial legislatures; the dismissal of New South Wales (NSW) Premier Jack Lang in 1932; the resolution of deadlocks between State legislative Houses; the making of the Australia Acts 1986; debate on the separation of judicial power in the States; the survival of the NSW Legislative Council; the power to expel an MP in NSW; one-vote, one-value in Western Australia; affirmation of the rule of law in Western Australia; the Franca Arena saga in NSW; and the power to force ministers to produce documents in NSW.

This legal document represents a landmark in Australian political history. The Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act, which was passed in 1900 and came into effect in 1901, established the federal system of government that remains in place today. This edition includes helpful reference tools, making it an essential resource for students, lawyers, and anyone interested in the history of Australian law and government. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

The analysis & critical appraisal of primary legal materials are the cornerstones of a deep & effective understanding of constitutional law. The Australian Constitution in Context is designed to introduce students to the text of the Commonwealth Constitution, & the other primary sources of constitutional law, including statutes & case law interpreting the provisions of the constitutional document. Designed as a resource book, it focuses on encouraging students to engage with original sources, in order to develop critical skills for analysis, alerting them to the contexts within which the sources function. The text also provides exercises calling upon students to reflect, not just on the language of the constitutional document, but also upon the history of its interpretation, & the social context within which constitutional disputes arise & are settled. Through the exercises & case studies students will develop an appreciation of the multiple facets of constitutional law, knowledge of the role & function of governmental institutions, & an understanding of core conceptual & theoretical issues. The questions & research exercises are supplemented by other activities, which include revision exercises & terminology lists for revision & individual assessment. These activities are designed to complement & support the exercises, & sharpen students' skills.

This collection of primary source material on the Australian commonwealth constitution of 1901 brings together original unedited drafts, memoranda, comments by the drafters, and personal letters about the process of drafting the text. Political records including the Hasnard extracts, speeches, and newspaper cartoons reveal the opinions of political leaders and the feelings of the populace about the landmark document. The early drafts and evolution of the document reveal much about Australian constitutional law and political history.

​This book considers how legal history has shaped and continues to shape our shared present. Each chapter draws a clear and significant connection to a meaningful feature of our lives today. Focusing primarily on England and Australia, contributions show the diversity of approaches to legal history’s relevance to the present. Some contributors have a tight focus on legal decisions of particular importance. Others take much bigger picture overview of major changes that take centuries to register and where impact is still felt. The contributors are a mix of legal historians, practising lawyers, members of the judiciary, and legal academics, and develop analysis from a range of sources from statutes and legal treatises to television programs. Major legal personalities from Edward Marshall Hall to Sir Dudley Ryder are considered, as are landmarks in law from the Magna Carta to the Mabo Decision.