by Sally Layson | Jun 3, 2022 | All Posts
Wise Words from Hon Sir Brennan Sir Gerard Brennan, the former Chief Justice who was primarily responsible for recognising Aboriginal native title, has died at the age of 94, triggering widespread praise for his role in overturning the concept of terra nullius. He was...
by RuleofLawInstitutePerson | May 19, 2022 | All Posts
The State of Civics and Citizenship Education in NSW Comparison between the NSW and Australian Curriculum The Rule of Law Education Centre advocates for and educates Australian school students and the wider community about the history and foundations of Australia’s...
by Sally Layson | May 13, 2022 | All Posts
Judge Peter Zahra, a NSW Disctrict Court Judge was appointed to the bench in 2007, and passed away in hospital on Sunday 8th May after suffering a stroke. Judge Zahra was one of the Law Day Out Programs biggest supporters. From the infancy of the program His Honour...
by RuleofLawInstitutePerson | May 12, 2022 | All Posts
Comparison of Judicial Independence Afganistan, Poland and Australia Independence of the Judiciary is a key feature of the separation of powers and supports the achievement of the Rule of Law. It also provides crucial checks and balances within legal systems...
by RuleofLawInstitutePerson | May 6, 2022 | All Posts, ICAC
Is ICAC Just a kangaroo court? Chris Merritt wrote in the Australian newspaper on 5 May 2022 that: “The nation owes Stephen Rushton a vote of thanks. As one of the three ICAC commissioners in NSW, Rushton’s argument that his organisation is not a kangaroo court...
by Sally Layson | Apr 1, 2022 | All Posts
The Federal Election and the Registration of Political Parties High Court of Australia John Ruddick v The Commonwealth [2022] HCA 9, 25 March 2022 1. Many, if not all, of the readers of this article will vote at the upcoming federal election, or will soon be...
by Sally Layson | Mar 30, 2022 | All Posts
The Rule of Law Education Centre presentation to the Legal Studies Association Annual Conference on 31 March 2022 on ‘The relationship between the Rule of Law and the HSC Syllabus using R v Skaf.’ Survey The Rule of Law Education Centre is an independent,...
by RuleofLawInstitutePerson | Mar 29, 2022 | All Posts
When Government Ignores the Rule of Law: NuCoal’s Fight for fair treatment When the government and those in power ignore the rule of law, innocent parties suffer. The rule of law is a concept that both the government and citizens know the law and obey it. It...
by Sally Layson | Mar 17, 2022 | All Posts
Chipping away at the Rule of Law There will be many lessons from the war in Ukraine, some of which are already apparent. Others will emerge over time as liberal democracies recognise they have been complacent about the one idea that sets them apart from autocracies:...
by Sally Layson | Mar 2, 2022 | All Posts
International Day of Women Judges After its inception by the UN’s general assembly in April 2021, the International Day of Women Judges is being celebrated for the first time on the 10th of March this year. The day recognises the contributions of women judges...
by RuleofLawInstitutePerson | Feb 24, 2022 | All Posts, Democracy, Human Rights, Principles
Framing and Taming of the Exercise of Power: The Rule of Law in Hungary and Poland As part of our Simple Explainer Video Series, Chris Merritt and Sally Layson interviewed Professor Martin Krygier about the rule of law in Eastern Europe- particularly regarding recent...
by Sally Layson | Nov 2, 2021 | All Posts
The Victorian government’s latest pandemic legislation, the Public Health and Wellbeing Amendment (Pandemic Management) Bill 2021 has been the subject of some serious concern within the legal profession. In an open letter signed by some of Victoria’s...
by Sally Layson | Oct 15, 2021 | Australian Colonies, Australian History, Democracy, Education, Eureka
Eureka rebellion Why was the Eureka Rebellion important and what was its contribution to democracy in Australia? In Australia, we take many of our freedoms and rights for granted. These protections did not appear by chance but developed over time as those living in...
by Sally Layson | Oct 13, 2021 | All Posts
Did Democracy die during the pandemic? Covid, Law-makers and our Liberty The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated drastic laws to preserve the health and livelihood of the nation. Though lawful, many of the Public Health Orders have lacked public scrutiny and the...
by Sally Layson | Aug 5, 2021 | All Posts
1. Are State border closures lawful? Yes. Australia is a federation of States. Section 92 of the Constitution provides for freedom of movement between States. But the High Court has held that does not prevent each State closing its State borders for health...
by RuleofLawInstitutePerson | Apr 11, 2021 | All Posts, Education
What is the role of the Attorney-General in Australia? The Attorney-General of Australia is our nation’s First Law Officer. The primary responsibility of this role is to protect the rule of law and the integrity of the Courts. In practice, the Attorney-General...
by RuleofLawInstitutePerson | Mar 31, 2021 | All Posts
Well of course he is guilty! But is he really? These news articles have blindingly stuck in my head since reading about the death of Parwinder Kaur in 2013 who was allegedly murdered by her husband, Kulwinder Singh. The prosecution alleges Kulwinder poured...
by RuleofLawInstitutePerson | Mar 23, 2021 | All Posts
For over four decades, the ICCPR, together with the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), have formed the so-called “International Bill of Human Rights”, setting out those rights...
by Sally Layson | Mar 19, 2021 | All Posts, Case Notes, Constitution
Libertyworks and Implied Freedom of Political Communication Case S10/2020: LibertyWorks Inc v. Commonwealth of Australia Libertyworks Inc sought a declaration from the High Court of Australia that the registration provisions under the Foreign Interference...
by Sally Layson | Feb 26, 2021 | All Posts
Read our Simple Explainer: Does the Constitution allow the States to Close their Borders? https://www.ruleoflaw.org.au/constitution/border-closures/ Article by Chris Merritt The High Court told Clive Palmer last November that his challenge to Western Australia’s...
