Skip to content
Home » Types of Laws in Australia

Types of Laws in Australia

  • by

Each legal system is unique and Australia’s legal system is not an exception. It’s a mix from English common law as well as the U.S.-style constitutional framework that was created due to the federal character of Australia. As with most nations the new laws are discussed and adopted by the legislature that is in Australia comprises the territory, state as well as the federal legislature. In Australia, the executive i.e. “the public sector,” makes sure that laws are followed out. Judiciary is an branch of the executive which interprets laws and determines whether someone has violated the law and what punishments are to be imposed.

What is the reason we have laws?

In the absence of laws, people could perform more or less as they want. In reality, this will likely mean that the most powerful and wealthy in society would be able achieve much more than they want in comparison to the poor and weaker members of society wouldn’t.

However, this isn’t going to take place. The society sets rules and laws that are in the public interest and permit people to live in a controlled and fair way. Some people do not agree on the rules of law however in a democratic system, there is always a chance to amend the laws in the event that enough people choose the party that would like to see change in the law.

What exactly is a “legal system What is a ‘legal system’?

The legal system of any nation is comprised of the law-making body that can be codified (i.e. made into statutes) or not codified. Uncodified laws , like English common law usually drawn from previous cases. Judges interpret laws by examining the history of cases. The courts administer the laws and decide whether someone has violated laws or not.

The majority of countries conquered by the British possess legal system that were derived from those of British legal system passed over to the countries. In the majority of cases, since countries have gained independence from Britain the laws have been passed that specifically address the requirements of society even though parts that are part of that British legal system are still in place.

The legal system of Australia is governed by the Australian Constitution. It defines the lines of demarcation among the states, two territories as well as also the federal authorities. In Australia due to its federal character of government, state and territories have the most authority over their laws in place within their respective jurisdictions. Every state and territory along with the federal government have an bicameral legislature (lower House of Representatives and Senate) in which changes to the 澳洲 法律 中文 are discussed and approved if there is a majority of votes to pass the amendment. Federal law is able to override state laws under certain situations, e.g. when it’s in the interests of the entire nation.

The court system of each state and territories is responsible for the majority of the laws for each state and territory, the majority that are founded upon English legal system, which was inherited from Britain following Australia had been colonized.

Where did what is the Australian legal system originate?

It is believed that the Australian legislation is made up of laws inherited from Britain also known as English common law as well as the many statutes enacted by various federal and state governments since the time of federation. Case law, i.e. the law that is interpreted by judges changes over the course of time as society evolves and new interpretations are created to reflect these modifications.

Legislation that are passed by federal and state legislatures are reformed in accordance with democratic principles. Elections determine the composition of parliaments and often, the various political parties have their individual preferences regarding amendments to the laws. It is impossible for dramatic and massive modifications to the law to be implemented each time a new government is elected, and in reality many laws are enacted as new laws typically require an .long time before they are finally adopted and, even then, might not get passed due to there are checks and balances that are inherent in bicameral (two-chambered) parliaments.

The History of the Australian Legal System

For the last 50,000 years or so, Australia was inhabited by indigenous people. Indigenous people created their own laws and rules which defined how they behaved and imposed punishments violations of these laws.

As Europeans first arrived to Australia and established their own view of the land as ‘uninhabited or ‘terra nullius. The first two decades after European settlement, the existing indigenous laws were completely disregarded. Initial colonies took place located in New South Wales and Tasmania and included South Australia and Western Australia being settled separately later. Queensland was considered to be part in New South Wales at first. The typical British legislative system created. After Australia gained its independent status from Britain it became an affluence and the basis of the Australian Constitution was established.

The types of laws that are part of Australia’s legal system. Australian legal system

The two major kinds of laws in Australia are the statutes , or codified laws, which are made by the federal and state legislatures as well as the uncodified laws that are applied by judges of the courts. The statutes are passed following the debate within the parliament. They can only be modified by the parliament. The majority of the case law is inherited by the English common law. English common law however it has changed and developed slightly over time. Although different states might have different laws from one but, overall the case law tends be identical in all states.

The principles that are part of Australian legal system Australian legal system

There are four fundamental rules that are a part of the Australian legal system. They are:

legal equality
fairness;
the right to be represented and
Transparency

The importance of terminology within the law system

The language that is used in lawyers is basically the sole language used by the legal system. It would be more precise to use a variety of languages, because there are various law areas that each have distinct terminology. For instance, two most important fields of law include criminal law and civil law. In Civil law are additional sections, including business law and personal injury law, employment law, and so on. Each legal area has developed its own terms but there are words that are commonly used across the entire legal system.