Hot Topics in Public Law (LAWS90217)

This subject canvasses a wide range of cutting edge issues in public law at an advanced level that requires deep analysis and critical thinking. While its primary focus is public law in Australia, many of the issues are relevant in common law systems elsewhere and comparative experiences are used to throw light on Australian law and practice. The issues range across the entire field of public law, picking up important current questions in both constitutional and administrative law. Each seminar is led by one of Melbourne Law School’s leading experts in the field.

Indicative list of principal topics:

• Constitutional identity
• History and constitutional adjudication
• Non-statutory executive power
• Outsourcing
• Treaties and agreements with Indigenous peoples
• Climate litigation
• Federalism and responsible government
• Statutory bills of rights
• Externality and Australian public law
• Future directions

The subject coordinators will ensure interlinkages between seminars and will draw the subject together in a final seminar on future directions. The subject should be of considerable interest to Australian students, to international students from common law countries and to all students curious about the latest developments in public law from a common law perspective.