Constitutional Choices in the Work Choices Case, Or What Exactly Is Wrong with the Reserved Powers Doctrine?
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The Environment Is All Rights: Human Rights, Constitutional Rights and Environmental Rights
Advance Copy THE ENVIRONMENT IS ALL RIGHTS: HUMAN RIGHTS, CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS RACHEL PEPPER* AND HARRY HOBBS† Te relationship between human rights and environmental rights is increasingly recognised in international and comparative law. Tis article explores that connection by examining the international environmental rights regime and the approaches taken at a domestic level in various countries to constitutionalising environmental protection. It compares these ap- proaches to that in Australia. It fnds that Australian law compares poorly to elsewhere. No express constitutional provision imposing obligations on government to protect the envi- ronment or empowering litigants to compel state action exists, and the potential for draw- ing further constitutional implications appears distant. As the climate emergency escalates, renewed focus on the link between environmental harm and human harm is required, and law and policymakers in Australia are encouraged to build on existing law in developing broader environmental rights protection. CONTENTS I Introduction .................................................................................................................. 2 II Human Rights-Based Environmental Protections ................................................... 8 A International Environmental Rights ............................................................. 8 B Constitutional Environmental Rights ......................................................... 15 1 Express Constitutional Recognition .............................................. -
The Role of Negative Implications in the Interpretation of Commonwealth Legislative Powers
THE ROLE OF NEGATIVE IMPLICATIONS IN THE INTERPRETATION OF COMMONWEALTH LEGISLATIVE POWERS MICHAEL STOKES* One of the bases for the view that Commonwealth powers should be interpreted broadly is the idea that it is wrong to draw negative implications from positive grants of power. The paper argues that far from being wrong to draw negative implications from positive grants of power it is necessary to do so in that it is impossible to interpret such grants sensibly without drawing negative implications from them. This paper considers Isaacs J’s argument in Huddart Parker that it is wrong to draw negative implications from positive grants of power, as it is the most detailed defence of that position, and the adoption of similar arguments in Work Choices. It then considers the merits of Isaacs J’s argument, rejecting it because it is impossible to interpret positive grants of power without drawing negative implications from them in any context and in the Australian constitutional context in particular. This paper looks at how the scope of such implications is to be determined and how constitutional grants of power ought to be interpreted in the light of negative implications. It concludes that it is possible to determine the scope of the negative implications implicit in the s 51 grants of power and to interpret those powers in the light of the implications while accepting that state powers are residual and that their content cannot be determined until the content of all Commonwealth powers is known. CONTENTS I Introduction .............................................................................................................. 176 II The Origin of the Argument That It Is Wrong to Draw Negative Implications from Positive Grants of Power ....................................................... -
Environmental Governance (Technical Paper 2, 2017)
ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE TECHNICAL PAPER 2 The principal contributions to this paper were provided by the following Panel Members: Adjunct Professor Rob Fowler (principal author), with supporting contributions from Murray Wilcox AO QC, Professor Paul Martin, Dr. Cameron Holley and Professor Lee Godden. .About APEEL The Australian Panel of Experts on Environmental Law (APEEL) is comprised of experts with extensive knowledge of, and experience in, environmental law. Its membership includes environmental law practitioners, academics with international standing and a retired judge of the Federal Court. APEEL has developed a blueprint for the next generation of Australian environmental laws with the aim of ensuring a healthy, functioning and resilient environment for generations to come. APEEL’s proposals are for environmental laws that are as transparent, efficient, effective and participatory as possible. A series of technical discussion papers focus on the following themes: 1. The foundations of environmental law 2. Environmental governance 3. Terrestrial biodiversity conservation and natural resources management 4. Marine and coastal issues 5. Climate law 6. Energy regulation 7. The private sector, business law and environmental performance 8. Democracy and the environment The Panel Adjunct Professor Rob Fowler, University of South The Panel acknowledges the expert assistance and Australia – Convenor advice, in its work and deliberations, of: Emeritus Professor David Farrier, University of Wollongong Dr Gerry Bates, University of Sydney -
Year 10 High Court Decisions - Activity
Year 10 High Court Decisions - Activity Commonly known The Franklin Dam Case 1983 name of the case Official legal title Commonwealth v Tasmania ("Tasmanian Dam case") [1983] HCA 21; (1983) 158 CLR 1 (1 July 1983) Who are the parties involved? Key facts - Why did this come to the High Court? Who won the case? What type of verdict was it? What key points did the High Court make in this case? Has there been a change in the law as a result of this decision? What is the name of this law? Recommended 1. Envlaw.com.au. (2019). Environmental Law Australia | Tasmanian Dam Case. [online] Available at: http://envlaw.com.au/tasmanian-dam-case Resources [Accessed 19 Feb. 2019]. 2. High Court of Australia. (2019). Commonwealth v Tasmania ("Tasmanian Dam case") [1983] HCA 21; (1983) 158 CLR 1 (1 July 1983). [online] Available at: http://www7.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/cth/HCA/1983/21.html [Accessed 19 Feb. 2019] 3. Aph.gov.au. (2019). Chapter 5 – Parliament of Australia. [online] Available at: https://www.aph.gov.au/parliamentary_business/committees/senate/legal_and_constitutional_affairs/completed_inquiries/pre1996/treaty/report /c05 [Accessed 20 Feb. 2019. GO TO 5. 31 to find details on this case] 1 The Constitutional Centre of Western Australia Updated September 2019 Year 10 High Court Decisions - Activity Commonly known MaboThe Alqudsi Case Case name of the case Official legal title AlqudsiMabo v vQueensland The Queen [2016](No 2) HCA[1992] 24 HCA 23; (1992) 175 CLR 1 (3 June 1992). Who are the parties Whoinvolved? are the parties involved? Key facts - Why did Keythis comefacts -to Why the did thisHigh come Court? to the High Court? Who won the case? Who won the case? What type of verdict Whatwas it? type of verdict wasWhat it? key points did Whatthe High key Court points make did thein this High case? Court make Hasin this there case? been a Haschange there in beenthe law a as changea result inof thethis law as adecision? result of this Whatdecision? is the name of Whatthis law? is the name of Recommendedthis law? 1. -
Social Democracy and the Rudd Labor Government in Australia
Internationale Politikanalyse International Policy Analysis Andrew Scott Social Democracy and the Rudd Labor Government in Australia As the Rudd Labor Party Government in Australia celebrates two years in office following the Party’s many years in opposition, it is in a strong position. However, it needs to more clearly outline its social democratic ambitions in order to break free from the policies of the former right-wing government, from three decades of neo-liberal intellectual dominance and from association with the ineffectual policy approach of British Labour’s »Third Way«. This can be done with a greater and more sustained commitment to improve industrial relations in favour of working families, including by fur- ther expanding paid parental leave. There also need to be further increases in public investment, including in all forms of education, and policy action to broaden the nation’s economic base by rebuilding manufacturing in- dustry. Other priorities should be to better prevent and alleviate the plight of the unemployed, and to tackle the inadequate taxation presently paid by the wealthy. Australia needs now to look beyond the English-speaking world to en- visage social democratic job creation programs in community services, and to greatly reduce child poverty. Australia also needs better planning for the major cities, where the population is growing most. Consistent with the wish for a greater role as a medium-sized power in the world, Aus- tralia’s Labor Government needs to take more actions towards a humani- tarian -
LAWS2150 – Federal Constitutional Law Table of Contents
LAWS2150 – Federal Constitutional Law Table of Contents The Constitution ................................................................................................................................................ 3 Purposes of a Constitution ......................................................................................................................................... 3 Written and unwritten Constitutions .................................................................................................................... 3 Drafting the Constitution ........................................................................................................................................... 3 The High Court and Constitutional Interpretation ................................................................................ 3 Pre-Engineers Approach ............................................................................................................................................. 3 Implied Immunity of Instrumentalities ................................................................................................................................ 3 Reserved State Powers ................................................................................................................................................................. 4 The Engineers Case ....................................................................................................................................................... 5 The Jumbunna Principle -
WORKCHOICES, HOBART 7/12/06 (COCKER) 1 This Transcript Is Protected by Parliamentary Privilege
This transcript is protected by parliamentary privilege. Improper use of the transcript may not have the protection parliamentary privilege. For further information, contact the Secretary of the Committee on 0362333098 THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY SELECT COMMITTEE ON WORKCHOICES LEGISLATION MET IN COMMITTEE ROOM 2, PARLIAMENT HOUSE, HOBART, ON THURSDAY 7 DECEMBER 2006 Mr SIMON COCKER, SECRETARY UNIONS TASMANIA, WAS CALLED, MADE THE STATUTORY DECLARATION AND WAS EXAMINED. CHAIR (Mr Sturges) - Thank you very much, Mr Cocker, for appearing. I thank you for making the time to provide the committee with a submission and also for taking the time today to come along and provide verbal testimony to the committee regarding the implications of the WorkChoice legislation in relation to Tasmanian working families and Tasmanian workers. Mr Cocker, you will be given time to present your submission and we will then have some questions to seek clarification or maybe elaboration on matters that you have raised. I will hand over to you and you can start it. Mr COCKER - Thank you, Chair. I am here in my capacity as Secretary of Unions Tasmania, the peak body of the Tasmanian union movement, representing some 50 000 Tasmanian workers. I do note with some disappointment that the committee does not have a representative from the Liberal Opposition. They have declined to face up to the responsibility of what their Federal colleagues have done and I think that is disappointing. As this is the first time that we have appeared before this committee, I would like to use the opportunity to do three things. -
Imagereal Capture
The Australian Constitution - A Centenary Assessment THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE MICHAEL KIRBY* LUCINDA'S HANDIWORK For some reason which I cannot fathom, I long believed that the SS Lucinda was a paddle-steamer plying the Murray River in the 1890s. Perhaps it was a trick of the mind: assuming that the factious politicians who refined the first effective draft of the Australian Constitution would only agree to meet on neutral territory: the water between the two principal colonies. Such an assumption would have been legally inaccurate.' But, more importantly, it was historically erroneous. The SS Lucinda actually belonged to the Queens- land Government which had generously put it at the disposal of Samuel Griffith for use in February and March 1891. The chosen delegates who climbed aboard in Sydney Harbour for its historic journey to the Hawkesbury River hammered out a draft which became, ten years later, Australia's federal Constitution.' The Committee, under Griffith, worked on a draft Bill prepared by Inglis Clark of Tasmania. Alas, Clark was laid low by influenza which was later to affect Griffith; but not before he had worked over the long Easter weekend on the revised draft to be presented to the First Convention. Clark's illness caused Griffith and his fellow draftsman, Charles Kingston of South Australia, to invite Edmund Barton to join them.3 It was an auspicious choice. Barton became very influential in the Conventions. He went on to become the first Prime Minister and, with Griffith, a member of the first High Court. This core of drafters, with a group of lawyers from all invited colonies except Western Australia and New Zealand (who had not arrived) made up the Lucinda party. -
Situating Women Judges on the High Court of Australia: Not Just Men in Skirts?
Situating Women Judges on the High Court of Australia: Not Just Men in Skirts? Kcasey McLoughlin BA (Hons) LLB (Hons) A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, the University of Newcastle January 2016 Statement of Originality This thesis contains no material which has been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma in any university or other tertiary institution and, to the best of my knowledge and belief, contains no material previously published or written by another person, except where due reference has been made in the text. I give consent to the final version of my thesis being made available worldwide when deposited in the University's Digital Repository, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. Kcasey McLoughlin ii Acknowledgments I am most grateful to my principal supervisor, Jim Jose, for his unswerving patience, willingness to share his expertise and for the care and respect he has shown for my ideas. His belief in challenging disciplinary boundaries, and seemingly limitless generosity in mentoring others to do so has sustained me and this thesis. I am honoured to have been in receipt of his friendship, and owe him an enormous debt of gratitude for his unstinting support, assistance and encouragement. I am also grateful to my co-supervisor, Katherine Lindsay, for generously sharing her expertise in Constitutional Law and for fostering my interest in the High Court of Australia and the judges who sit on it. Her enthusiasm, very helpful advice and intellectual guidance were instrumental motivators in completing the thesis. The Faculty of Business and Law at the University of Newcastle has provided a supportive, collaborative and intellectual space to share and debate my research. -
Constitutional Law Note
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW NOTE Topic 1, 2 – The Structure of Parliament and Legislative Procedures o The Structure .......................................................................................................... 3 o Duration and Membership ..................................................................................... 5 o Standard Legislative Procedures: Commonwealth and States ............................... 8 o Commonwealth Alternative Procedures (section 57) ............................................ 10 o Commonwealth Restrictive Procedures (section 128) .......................................... 13 o Special Procedures for Financial Legislation (section 53, 54, 55) ........................ 15 o State Restrictive Procedures .................................................................................. 19 Topic 3 – Characterisation and Interpretation o Principles of Constitutional Interpretation ............................................................. 25 o The Process of Characterisation ............................................................................. 28 Topic 4 – Financial and Economic Powers o Taxation Power – section 51(ii) ............................................................................. 33 o Grants Power – section 96 ..................................................................................... 36 o Appropriation Power – section 81 ......................................................................... 38 o Corporations Power – section 51(xx) ................................................................... -
The Doctrine of Implied Intergovernmental Immunities: a Recrudescence? Thomas Dixon*
The Doctrine of Implied Intergovernmental Immunities: A Recrudescence? Thomas Dixon* The essential and distinctive feature of “a truly federal government” is the preservation of the separate existence and corporate life of each of the component States concurrently with that of the national government. Accepting that a number of polities are contemplated as coexisting within a federation does not, however, address the fundamental question of how legislative and executive powers are to be allocated among the constituent constitutional units inter se, nor the extent to which the various polities are immune from interference occasioned by their constitutional counterparts. These “federal” questions are fundamental as they ultimately define the prism through which one views the Constitution. Shifts in the lens have resulted in significant ramifications for intergovernmental relations. This article traces the development of the Melbourne Corporation doctrine in Australia, and undertakes a comparative analysis with the development of the cognate jurisprudence in the United States. Analysis is undertaken of the major Australian industrial relations decisions, such as the Amalgamated Society of Engineers v Adelaide Steamship Co Ltd, Re Australian Education Union; Ex parte Victoria, Queensland Electricity Commission v Commonwealth, and United Firefighters Union of Australia v Country Fire Authority, in this context. But one of the first and most leading principles on which the commonwealth and the laws are consecrated, is left the temporary possessors -
Who's That with Abrahams
barTHE JOURNAL OF THE NSWnews BAR ASSOCIATION | SUMMER 2008/09 Who’s that with Abrahams KC? Rediscovering Rhetoric Justice Richard O’Connor rediscovered Bullfry in Shanghai | CONTENTS | 2 President’s column 6 Editor’s note 7 Letters to the editor 8 Opinion Access to court information The costs circus 12 Recent developments 24 Features 75 Legal history The Hon Justice Foster The criminal jurisdiction of the Federal The Kyeema air disaster The Hon Justice Macfarlan Court NSW Law Almanacs online The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina The Hon Justice Ward Saving St James Church 40 Addresses His Honour Judge Michael King SC Justice Richard Edward O’Connor Rediscovering Rhetoric 104 Personalia The current state of the profession His Honour Judge Storkey VC 106 Obituaries Refl ections on the Federal Court 90 Crossword by Rapunzel Matthew Bracks 55 Practice 91 Retirements 107 Book reviews The Keble Advocacy Course 95 Appointments 113 Muse Before the duty judge in Equity Chief Justice French Calderbank offers The Hon Justice Nye Perram Bullfry in Shanghai Appearing in the Commercial List The Hon Justice Jagot 115 Bar sports barTHE JOURNAL OF THE NSWnews BAR ASSOCIATION | SUMMER 2008-09 Bar News Editorial Committee Cover the New South Wales Bar Andrew Bell SC (editor) Leonard Abrahams KC and Clark Gable. Association. Keith Chapple SC Photo: Courtesy of Anthony Abrahams. Contributions are welcome and Gregory Nell SC should be addressed to the editor, Design and production Arthur Moses SC Andrew Bell SC Jeremy Stoljar SC Weavers Design Group Eleventh Floor Chris O’Donnell www.weavers.com.au Wentworth Chambers Duncan Graham Carol Webster Advertising 180 Phillip Street, Richard Beasley To advertise in Bar News visit Sydney 2000.