MLL323 CONSTITUTIONAL LAW
Exam Notes
Contents
Topic 1 – Intro to Australian Constitution...4
The Executive ...8
The Sovereign and herAustralian representatives...8
Elizabeth the Second,Queen ofAustralia...8
Governor-General...9
Ministers& the Crown & Government...10
Responsible Government...11
Governmentmandate...11
Reserve powers...11
STATE EXECUTIVE POWER – VICTORIA...15
RESERVE POWERS...16
Parliament...17
Structure & duration ofparliaments...18
Commonwealth parliament...19
Member:Qualification & disqualifications...21
Distribution ofseats...23
Legislative procedures...25
Double Dissolution – Commonwealth...26
Deadlock-state...27
State restriction...28
Commonwealth constitutionalchange...28
State constitutionalchange...29
Financiallegislation...29
Senate;s53 Commonwealth Constitution...29
Restrictive Procedures...31
Processto determine ifa restrictive procedure applies...33
The Judiciary...36
Commonwealth Constitution...36
Federaljurisdiction...38
Nature ofjudicialpower...39
Currentcomposition ofthe High Court...39
State jurisdiction...40
Victorian Supreme Court...40
Commonwealth mattersin state courts...41
Separation ofpower...41
Characterisation – topic6...41
Whatischaracterisation?...41
Engineers’case...42
Pre-Engineers’case...42
Jumbunna principle...42
Grain PoolofWestern Australia vthe Commonwealth...44
Testofdual-characterisation...44
Nottied to the meaning used in 1900’s...44
ThomasvMowbray(2007)233 CLR 307...44
Incidentalpowers... ...45
Express...45
Implied...45
Characterisation/Sufficientconnection test...45
Subjectmatter/non purpose powers...46
Purpose powers...46
Finance – topic7...46
Spending powers...47
Corporationspower...49
EXTERNAL AFFAIRS & EXTRATERRITORIALITY...51
Mattersexternalto Australia...51
Extraterritorialcompetence ofthe States...53
Relationsto othercountries – foreign affairs...53
Internationaltreaty implementation...53
Scope ofimplementation aspectofexternalaffairspower...54
Inconsistency oflaws...56
Federalsupremacy...56
Requirementofvalid and operative laws...56
Lawsforthe purpose ofs109...56
‘Invalid’...56
‘Inconsistent’...57
Expressintention to displace the law...57
Native Title Actcase -Western Australia vCommonwealth (1995)...57
Ingovernmentalimmunities...59
Executive ‘immunities’and the ‘rule oflaw’...60
ConstitutionalRightsand Freedoms...62
Acquisition ofproperty...62
Trialbyjury...64
Religiousfreedom...64
Interstate discrimination...66
Implied rights...67
Separation ofpowers-Commonwealth...70
Establishing the separation ofjudicialpowerprinciples...70
Exercise ofpowerbyofficersotherthan judges...74
Persona disignata...74
Preventative detention and Ch IIIofthe Constitution...75
Statesand the separation ofpower...76
Topi c 1 – I nt r o t o Aus t r al i an Cons t i t ut i on
A briefchronology ofevents thathave shaped the Australian constitutionallandscape
•1066—William (the Duke ofNormandy)conquersEngland.Declares the old system ofAnglo–Saxon localcustomarylaw courtswillcontinue to exist.The King beginsto
‘hold court’throughoutEngland which leadsin time to the creation ofthe common law courts—CourtofCommon Pleas,CourtofChanceryand the King’s Bench.
•1199—King John assumesthe English throne.
•1215—Signing ofthe Magna Carta byKing John.
- King John agreed with Baronsthathispowerwassomewhatlimited - Birth ofthe rule oflaw
- ManyseriesofMagna Cartas
•1265—Firstassemblycalled a ‘Parliament’summoned bySimon de Montfort.
•1295—ModelParliamentissummoned byKing Edward.House ofCommonsand House ofLords.
•1500—Birth ofEquity:Chancellor(usuallya religiousman)beginsto hearpetitions claiming ofinjustice suffered atthe handsofthe common law courts.
•1530—King HenryVIIIbeginsbattle with the papacy.Asa consequence the importance and activity ofthe Parliamentgrowsrapidly.During hisreign more than 700 statutes are passed,doubling the size ofthe existing statute book.
•1600 (early)—Clash between Lord Ellesmere (Chancellor)and SirEdward Coke (ChiefJustice ofthe King’sBench)with the resultthatin the eventofa conflict between the common law and equity,equity willprevail.
•1607—Case ofProhibitions:judges determine thatthe King should notbe personallyinvolved in common law courtcases.
•1610—King JamesIoutlinesto Parliamenthistheory;the ‘Divine RightofKings’.
•1611—Case ofProclamations:judges hold thatthe King could notcreate new crimesbyproclamation.
•1628—Parliamentproducesthe Petition ofRight:itcited the Magna Carta and circumscribed royalpowerbydenying the Crown powerto levycharges upon, imprison orpunish anyone withoutdue process oflaw.
•1642—English CivilWar
- Battle between Crown and parliament - Parliamentwon
o Thisishow the parliamentbecame supreme and whylegislation trumpscommon law when the two are inconsistent
•1646—Parliamentaryforcesled byOliverCromwellare victorious.Parliamentis recognised asthe supreme law-makerin England.
•1649-Trialand beheading ofKing CharlesI
•1660—Cromwelldies.ParliamentasksCharlesIIto assume the throne.
•1688—GloriousRevolution.
- ParliamentdeposesJames II - Passesthe BillofRights
- William and MaryofOrange assume the throne on termssetoutin theBill ofRights.
- These include thatthe Crown cannotsuspend the law,onlyParliamentcan impose taxesand parliamentarydebates cannotbe called intoquestion by the Crown.
•1701—ActofSettlement
- Establishes the need forthe crown to be a partofthe church ofEngland - Preferentialtreatmentofmen
- Establishes the independence ofthe judiciary
o Judges to serve during good behaviourand can onlybe removed by a requestfrom both housesofparliament.
•1776—American Declaration ofIndependence.
•1787—US Constitution adopted bythe convention ofAmerican States.
•1788—FirstFleetarrive in Australia.
•1828—Australian CourtsAct—Officialdate ofreception ofallEnglish lawsand statutesin NSW & Van DiemensLand (including Vic& Qld);WA–1829,SA– 1836, ACT & NT–1911.Increased the size ofthe Legislative Counciland constrained the powerofthe Governor.
•1842—Australian ConstitutionsAct(UK)passed—firststep towardsrepresentative governmentin Australia.Increased the size ofthe Legislative Counciland two-thirds to be elected.Coloniesgiven powerto drafttheirown Constitutions.
•1855—Victorian Constitution ispassed
- 1975 Consolidation Act;cleaned up allthe amendmentsmade up to 1975
•1865—ColonialLawsValidityAct
- Passed asa consequence ofBenjamin Boothbyinvalidating asmany coloniallawsaspossible on the groundsthattheyoffended fundamental principlesofEnglish Law.
•1890s—Move towardsfederation spurred on bydefence and trade concernsamong the colonies.ConstitutionalConventionsheld in Adelaide (1891),Sydneyand
Melbourne (1897 & 1898).
- Move wasto secure orguarantee defence if/when needed - To create free trade between states
•1901—Australian Constitution isproclaimed.
•1926—Declaration ofBalfour.
•1931—Statute ofWestminster(UK)
- Australia had no desire to whatthe Statute offer
o Stateswanted UK to continue to have power,allowing the UK to step in ifnecessary
- UK could notpasslegislation forAustralia withoutAustralia’sreferral - Australia could passlegislation even ifitwere inconsistentwith existing UK
laws
- Enacted in 1942,butbackdated to the firstday ofWWII
•1942—Statute ofWestminsterAdoption Act(Cth).
•1986—Australia Acts
- Ceased anyEnglish law being binding upon Australia (specificallythe states)
•1999—Referendum on the Australian Republicfails
Constitution;generally,Australia’s & the states Whatis a constitution?
Law establishing a nation orgovernment
Noteverycountryhasone Australia’s Constitution
Entrenched/higherlaw
1stofJanuary1901
Created the nation byuniting the colonies
Established Australia asa ConstitutionalMonarchy(Queen ishead ofState)
Changeable via referendum process stated in s128 ofthe Constitution o Meaning can be given to the Constitution via the interpretation ofthe
High Court
Thisdistinguishesitfrom otherlaw
No listofentrenched rights
o Rightsto be guaranteed through parliamentand common law o Founding fatherswere aware thata BillofRightswould invalidate
existing coloniallaws
IndigenousAustralians& women were notincluded in the drafting
o Problem:argumentof‘the lawsdon’textend to us’could’ve arisen Victorian/state Constitution
s106 ofthe Commonwealth Constitution recognises thatthe stateshave their own constitutions
Similarto a ‘dog act’
o Made bythe parliaments like a normalpiece oflegislation
o Change to state constitution istherefore carried outthrough an amending piece oflegislation
Constitutionalfundamentals Federalism
Two tiergovernment o Federaland state
In theory,federalismore powerful o More money
o s109 ofthe Commonwealth Constitution;anystate law thatis
inconsistentwith federallaw isinvalid to the extentofthe inconsistency
s51 – anypowernotlisted isa legislative powerofthe federalparliament Separation ofpowers
Three arms
o Parliament-make law
o Executive government– administerthe law o Judiciary-resolve legaldisputes
s64 demonstrates overlap;minstersofcabinet(executive government)mustcome from parliament
Responsible government
Constitutionalconvention
o Unwritten law to supplementthe functioning ofthe constitution o Gainsitspowerthrough itsdesire to be followed
Governor-Generaldoesnotacton personalopinion when governmentholdsa majorityofthe lowerhouse
o Therefore acts on the advice ofthe Prime Minister Judicialreview
High Courtasthe ultimate guardian ofthe constitution
o The powerofthe High Courtto invalidate legislation ifitoffendsa provision ofthe Commonwealth Constitution
o Powerfulastheycan strike down anylegislation thathasbeen formed and passed bydemocraticallyelected politicians
Notdemocraticprocess
o High Courtjustices are notelected,theyare appointed bygovernment Rule oflaw
Dixon J– assumption underthe Australian Constitution
‘Slipperyconcept’ o E.g.terrorism;
Diceyan concept
o Equalitybefore the law o Absence ofarbitrarypower
Otherconcepts
o Everyone isable to know the law
o No one issubjectadversely to a retrospective change ofthe law
o No one can be charged/sued withoutthe offence being known to the law
o Judiciary’sindependence and fairtrial
Implied underclause 5 & 7 ofthe Commonwealth constitution
Binding upon everypartofthe Commonwealth and therefore inclusive ofthe states-therefore state legislation mustrespectthe rule oflaw
The Ex ec ut i v e – t opi c 2
Queen ofAustralia GovernorGeneralMinisters& Prime MinisterGov. departments
Constitution conventions;therefore notenforceable
The Sov er ei gn and her Aus t r al i an r epr es ent at i v es
Sovereign,sovereigntyand citizenship
One meaning of‘The Crown’drawn from Sue vHillwasthe regaloffice orthe king orqueen occupying the office
More accurate to referto thisas‘the Sovereign’
El i z abet h t he Sec ond, Queen of Aus t r al i a
‘Elizabeth the Second,Bythe Grace ofGod Queen ofAustralia and hrother Realmsand Territories,Head ofthe Commonwealth’– RoyalStyle and Titles Act1973 s2
Role in the governmentofthe Commonwealth islimited to appointing the Governor-General
Considered controversialforthisto occurbased on the advice ofthe Australian Government
Due to the factthatin the earlydaysofthe existence ofthe position,the Governor-Generalwasa representative ofthe British government within Australia
However,became lesscontroversialwhen considering Australia’s growth and the powerswhich the GovernorGeneralpossessed and the Queen (within Australia)did not.
The Queen and the States
Argued thatpriorto 1986,the Queen ofthe United Kingdom wasthe Queen of each Australian State,and the Queen ofAustralia washead ofthe
Commonwealth
Anne Twomey,The Australia Acts:Australia’sStatutesof Independence,2010
Two differentCrowns;Crown ofthe United Kingdom-to which the statesreferred to,and the Queen ofAustralia-to which the statesreferred to
Lessinvolvementwith the states now
Referralto the Governorwhen alluding to HerMajesty
S 6 ofthe Constitution Act1975 (Vic)
1)There shallbe a Governorofthe State ofVictoria
2)The appointmentofa person asGovernorshallbe during HerMajesty’spleasure byCommission underHer Majesty’s Manualand the PublicSealofthe State
Gov er nor - Gener al
Representsthe Queen in Australia
Commonwealth Constitution
Chapter1,part1,section 2
A Governor-Generalappointed bythe Queen shallbe Her Majesty'srepresentative in the Commonwealth,and shallhave and mayexercise in the Commonwealth during the Queen's pleasure,butsubjectto thisConstitution,such powersand functionsofthe Queen asHerMajestymaybe pleased to assign to him
Chapter1,part1,section 3
There shallbe payable to the Queen outofthe Consolidated Revenue fund ofthe Commonwealth,forthe salaryofthe
Governor-General,an annualsum which,untilthe Parliament otherwise provides,shallbe ten thousand pounds.
The salaryofa Governor-Generalshallnotbe altered during his continuance in office.
Chapter1,part1,section 4
The provisionsofthisConstitution relating to the Governor- Generalextend and applyto the Governor-Generalforthe time being,orsuch person asthe Queen may appointto administer the Governmentofthe Commonwealth;butno such person shall be entitled to receive anysalaryfrom the Commonwealth in respectofanyotheroffice during hisadministration ofthe Governmentofthe Commonwealth.
s61
The executive powerofthe Commonwealth isvested in the Queen and isexercisable bythe Governor-Generalasthe Queen'srepresentative,and extendsto the execution and maintenance ofthisConstitution,and ofthe lawsofthe Commonwealth.
s68
The command in chiefofthe navaland militaryforcesofthe Commonwealth isvested in the Governor-Generalasthe Queen'srepresentative
s126
The Queen mayauthorise the Governor-Generalto appointany person,oranypersonsjointlyorseverally,to be hisdeputy or deputieswithin anypartofthe Commonwealth,and in that
capacityto exercise during the pleasure ofthe Governor-General such powersand functionsofthe Governor-Generalashe thinks fitto assign to such deputyordeputies,subjectto anylimitations expressed ordirectionsgiven bythe Queen;butthe appointment ofsuch deputyordeputiesshallnotaffectthe exercise bythe Governor-Generalhimselfofanypowerorfunction
Mi ni s t er s & t he Cr own & Gov er nment
Executive Councils
Formalbodywhich advisesthe Sovereign (GovernorGeneral)byreference to the viewsofCabinet
Composed offormerministersaswellascurrentones,however,onlythose thatare currentplayan active role
Membersare chosen and sworn in bythe Governor-General
The powerto dismissthem isdone so on the advice ofthe Prime Minister
s64 allministersofstate mustbe membersofthe Executive Council
State EC nevermeets asa whole,ministerssummoned individually Ministers