Privacy and the Media (LAWS90285)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Not available in 2025
About this subject
Overview
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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.
Indicative list of principal topics:
- 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: 4 March 2025
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) |
12.5 |
Recommended background knowledge
Applicants without legal qualifications should note that subjects are taught at an advanced graduate level and requires a thorough background in common law. While efforts are made to meet the needs of students trained in other fields, teaching and assessment activities are designed to give an advanced and integrated understanding of the discipline of law for legal practitioners, learners and researchers.
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: 4 March 2025
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Class participation | During the teaching period | 10% |
Research paper on a topic approved by the subject coordinator
| 27 August 2025 | 80% |
| Hurdle requirement: A minimum of 75% attendance is required. | N/A |
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
Not available in 2025
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
Please refer to the Melbourne Law Masters enrolment webpage for further information about re-enrolment, 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: 4 March 2025
Further information
- Texts
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Graduate Diploma in Communications Law Course Graduate Diploma in Laws Course Juris Doctor - 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.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
If subject coordinator approval is required, or for further information about Community Access Program study, please contact us
(enquiries for current students | enquiries for prospective students).
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
Last updated: 4 March 2025