Law in Australian Society

What is 'the rule of law'? How do laws get made? Does our legal and political system achieve justice for all Australians equally?

Designed for beginners as well as non-law students this text provides a comprehensive and accessible guide to understanding Australia's system of law and government. Dr Keiran Hardy describes how legislation is made, the nature of case law, the hierarchy of courts and the doctrine of precedent. He looks at the role played by politics and the media in shaping law, and he describes founding principles including democracy, liberalism, the separation of powers and federalism. The criminal justice system is explained including criminal offences, police powers, sentencing and punishment, and there is a special emphasis on Indigenous peoples and the law. The book concludes with case studies of cybercrime and counterterrorism legislation to illustrate law reform in action. Each chapter features practical examples, chapter summaries and review questions together with a glossary of key terms.

Concise, accessible and up-to-the-minute, this is a vital guide for anyone seeking to understand the complexity of Australian law and government.

About the Author

Keiran Hardy is a lecturer in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Griffith University and a member of the highly respected Griffith Criminology Institute. He has published widely in the area of counter terrorism law and policy.