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Privacy and the Media (LAWS90285)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable (login required)(opens in new window)
Contact information
July
Lecturers
Barbara McDonald (Coordinator)
David Rolph
Email: law-masters@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: 13 MELB (13 6352), International: +(61 3) 9035 5511
Website: law.unimelb.edu.au
Overview
Availability(Quotas apply) | July |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
The law of privacy is one of the fastest-developing fields in the law across the world. It has critical relevance to the media and to the freedom of the media to report on matters of serious public interest and concern.
This subject will consider, analyse and critique both the current and developing law, not just in Australia but across other jurisdictions including the United Kingdom, Canada, NZ and the United States. We will consider whether the appropriate balance is struck, in both liability and remedies. The current direct and indirect protection of privacy – at common law and under statute – will be considered. We take a comparative perspective in our critical analysis of proposals for law reform.
Principal topics will include:
- Rights to privacy and competing private rights and public interests,
- Indirect protection of privacy at common law: identifying gaps in protection,
- The law of breach of confidence,
- The development of the law of privacy in other countries,
- Statutory protections in Australia,
- Appropriate remedies for breaches of privacy,
- Proposals for reform in Australia.
Intended learning outcomes
A student who has successfully completed this subject should be able to:
- Identify and explain the key principles underlying the law of privacy, including its relevance to media, freedom of expression, and public interest,
- Analyse and evaluate the development of privacy laws across jurisdictions, such as the Australia, United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States,
- Critically assess protections of privacy under common law and statutory provisions, and identify appropriate remedies available for breaches of privacy,
- Appraise proposals for law reform in the field of privacy, particularly within the Australian context, and their potential effects on maintaining an appropriate balance between privacy, media freedom, and public interests,
- Make informed judgements about how legal doctrines such as breach of confidence, would apply to hypothetical and real-world scenarios.
Generic skills
- Critically assess complex legal concepts, case law, and legislative frameworks related to privacy.
- Enhance research skills by analysing and comparing legal systems, case precedents, and legislative provisions in order to understand the nuances of privacy law on a global scale and make informed judgments based on cross-jurisdictional perspectives.
- Engage in discussions related to privacy law, in order to present analyses, critiques, and proposals for reform persuasively, addressing diverse audiences including legal professionals, policymakers, and the general public.
Last updated: 29 February 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
This subject may not count for credit with
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
LAWS70082 | Privacy Law |
April (On Campus - Parkville)
September (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
Recommended background knowledge
Applicants without legal qualifications should note that subjects are offered in the discipline of law at an advanced graduate level. While every effort will be made to meet the needs of students trained in other fields, concessions will not be made in the general level of instruction or assessment. Most subjects assume the knowledge usually acquired in a degree in law (LLB, JD or equivalent). Applicants should note that admission to some subjects in the Melbourne Law Masters will be dependent upon the individual applicant’s educational background and professional experience.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 29 February 2024
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Class participation | During the teaching period | 10% |
Research paper on a topic approved by the subject coordinator
| 11 September 2024 | 80% |
Hurdle requirement: A minimum of 75% attendance is required. | N/A |
Last updated: 29 February 2024
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- July
Principal coordinator Barbara McDonald Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total time commitment 150 hours Pre teaching start date 12 June 2024 Pre teaching requirements Please refer to the Reading Guide on the LMS subject page for confirmation of which resources need to be read and what other preparation is required before the teaching period commences. Teaching period 10 July 2024 to 16 July 2024 Last self-enrol date 17 June 2024 Census date 11 July 2024 Last date to withdraw without fail 16 August 2024 Assessment period ends 11 September 2024 July contact information
Lecturers
Barbara McDonald (Coordinator)
David RolphEmail: law-masters@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: 13 MELB (13 6352), International: +(61 3) 9035 5511
Website: law.unimelb.edu.au
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Additional delivery details
This subject has a quota of 30 students.
Enrolment is on a 'first in' basis. Waitlists are maintained for subjects that are fully subscribed.
Students should note priority of waitlisted places in subjects will be given as follows:
- To currently enrolled Graduate Diploma and Masters students with a satisfactory record in their degree
- To other students enrolling on a single subject basis, eg Community Access Program (CAP) students, cross-institutional study and cross-faculty study.
Please refer to the Melbourne Law Masters website for further information about the management of subject quotas and waitlists.
Melbourne Law School may reserve places in a subject for incoming international cohorts or where a subject is core to a specialisation with limited alternate options.
Last updated: 29 February 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Specialist materials will be made available via the LMS in the pre-teaching period.
- Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
If required, please contact law-masters@unimelb.edu.au for subject coordinator approval.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 29 February 2024