Dr Rob McLaughlin researches, publishes, and teaches in the areas of Law of Armed Conflict, Law of the Sea, Maritime Security Law and Maritime Law Enforcement, and Military Law. He routinely engages in research activities, and course development and delivery, with the ICRC, the Australian Red Cross, the International Institute for Humanitarian Law, and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.
Rob came to the ANU College of Law after a career in the Royal Australian Navy as a Seaman officer and a Legal officer. Consequently, his research interests are primarily focussed around issues of practical operational significance.
His legal roles included as the Fleet Legal Officer, the Strategic Legal Adviser, as a Counsel Assisting the HMAS SYDNEY II Commission of Inquiry, Director Operations and International Law, and Director Naval Legal Service.
Appointments
- CAPT
- RANR Consultant
- Counter-Piracy (UNODC and IMO) Member
- Australian Red Cross ACT IHL Committees Faculty
- International Institute of Humanitarian Law
Read selected publications in the ANU Digital Collection
Read selected publications in the ANU Digital Collection
Link to ANU Digital Collections
Research biography
Dr Rob McLaughlin researches, publishes, and teaches in the areas of Law of Armed Conflict, Law of the Sea, Maritime Security Law and Maritime Law Enforcement, and Military Law. He routinely engages in research activities, and course development and delivery, with the ICRC, the Australian Red Cross, the International Institute for Humanitarian Law, and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.
Rob came to the ANU College of Law after a career in the Royal Australian Navy as a Seaman officer and a Legal officer. Consequently, his research interests are primarily focussed around issues of practical operational significance.
His legal roles included as the Fleet Legal Officer, the Strategic Legal Adviser, as a Counsel Assisting the HMAS SYDNEY II Commission of Inquiry, Director Operations and International Law, and Director Naval Legal Service.
Books & edited collections
- United Nations Peace Operations in the Territorial Sea (Martinus Nijhoff, 2009)
- Multinational Rules of Engagement Handbook (with Alan Cole, Phillip Drew, and Dennis Mandsager) (Institute for International Humanitarian Law, 2009)
Refereed journal articles
- The Legal Regime Applicable to Use of Lethal Force when Operating under a United Nations Security Council Chapter VII Mandate Authorising "All Necessary Means" ' (2007) 12:3 Journal of Conflict and Security Law 389
- 'Wilful Killing During Armed Conflict: Is there a Defence of Proportionality in Australia?' (with Bruce Oswald) (2007) 18:1 Criminal Law Forum 1
- 'East Timor, Transitional Administration and the Status of the Territorial Sea' (2003) 4:1 Melbourne Journal of International Law 323
- 'United Nations Mandated Naval Interdiction Operations in the Territorial Sea' (2002) 51:2 International and Comparative Law Quarterly 249
- 'Jus ad Bellum and the Reasonable Hope of Success' (1998) 23 Australian Journal of Legal Philosophy 47
- 'Some Problems and Issues in the Recognistion of Indigenous Customary Law' (July 1996) Aboriginal Law Bulletin 4
Book chapters
- 'The Law of Armed Conflict and International Human Rights Law - Some Paradigmatic Differences and Operational Implications' forthcoming (2010) 13 Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law
- 'The Use of Lethal Force by Military Forces on Law Enforcement Operations - Is there a "Lawful Authority"?' (2009) 37:3 Federal Law Review 441
Currently supervising
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Topic: How to conduct an Article 36 legal review of weapons with autonomy
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Topic: Negligent combatants? Liability for negligent homicide and injury during armed conflict: An Australian perspective
