Constitutional Law and Theory
Constitutional Law and Theory
Latest news
In the Media
Is it illegal under the constitution for a state to close its borders to other Australians?
James Stellios quoted in ABC News
(Un)lawful Lockdown And Government Accountability
Jelena Gligorijevic writes in Scoop
Is it illegal under the constitution for a state to close its borders to other Australians?
James Stellios quoted in ABC News
PNG police MOU with mining company concerning - academic
Bal Kama quoted in Radio New Zealand
Why the US, China and Australia are watching as Bougainville votes
Bal Kama quoted in South China Morning Post
Bougainville could become the world's newest nation — here's what you need to know
Bal Kama quoted in ABC News
ASIO officers broke law on warrant
Dominique Dalla-Pozza cited in The Saturday Paper
Questions raised over Scott Morrison's declaration he is not a New Zealand citizen
Kim Rubenstein quoted in The Guardian
Linda Burney says Australia is the only first world nation with a colonial history that doesn't recognise its first people in its constitution. Is she correct?
Ron Levy quoted in ABC News
Upcoming events
No upcoming events found.
Past events
20th Anniversary of the Centre for International and Public Law
The Centre for International and Public Law celebrated its twentieth anniversary at a special evening hosted by the ANU College of Law on 18 May 2010.
The High Court’s decisions in Williams v The Commonwealth: The principle of parliamentary control of public money
- Will Bateman, University of Cambridge
The High Court’s decisions in the Williams v The Commonwealth cases wrought a radical change to the settled understanding of the constitutional allocation of financial power between the parliament and executive government — even where appropriation legislation exists, the Commonwealth cannot spend most public money without additional and specific authorising legislation.
The explosive President: Donald Trump’s migration policy and its impact on international law and non-discrimination principles
Recent executive orders issues by President Donald Trump have shocked many and created an unprecedented travel crisis.
Citizenship stripping, children and citizenship
- Professor Kim Rubenstein, ANU College of Law
- Jacqueline Field
- Dr Suzanne Akila, Assistant Director, Legal, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
With the first announced instance of an Australian dual citizen, Khaled Sharrouf, having his citizenship stripped, CIPL invites you to a seminar around the recent release of Kim Rubenstein’s 2nd edition of Australian Citizenship Law (Thomson Reuters, December 2016).
Implications of the Brexit Supreme Court decision
- Henry Burmester AO, QC
- Dr Ryan Goss, ANU College of Law
On 24 January 2017, the UK Supreme Court decided that Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union could not be triggered by an exercise of prerogative power. Instead, an Act of Parliament is required.
Issues arising from police activity during election time
- Professor James Stellios
- Mr David Savage
In a number of recent cases, police forces have taken well-publicised actions which became part of the narrative of election campaigns in Australia.
40th Anniversary of the Federal Court of Australia
The ANU Centre for Commercial Law and Centre for International and Public Law are proud to announce a conference to mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Federal Court of Australia.
Changing states, changing nations: National identity and constitutional reform in liberal democracies
- Andrew McDonald, Scope UK
Over the last 40 years, a number of liberal democracies have sought to use constitutional reform to re-imagine not just the state, but also the nation. Why? And with what effect?
Constitutional rights recognition, litigation and adjudication in Thailand under Thai Constitutions 1997–2014
Sarah's thesis examines Thailand’s experience with rights recognition, litigation and adjudication.
Against epistocracy: Reconsidering the demographic objection
- Udit Bhatia, University of Oxford
Why should we prefer democracy to an epistocracy of competent persons? In his response to this question, David Estlund appeals to the ‘demographic objection’.
Proportionality: Historical and comparative review
- Associate Professor Iddo Porat, College of Law and Business, Israel
Associate Professor Porat will give a historical and comparative review of proportionality. He will also consider some of the main lines on which the debate over proportionality has been drawn and their possible application to the Australian context.
30th Annual Lionel Murphy Memorial Lecture - The Secret History of the Dismissal of the Whitlam Government: The Palace Connection
- Professor Jenny Hocking FASSA, Monash University
The dismissal of the Whitlam government by the Governor-General Sir John Kerr in 1975 remains one of the most contentious episodes in Australian politics. The history of the dismissal is no less contentious and has never been settled.
Constitutional Protection for Political Protests: Brown v Tasmania
- Bob Brown, The Bob Brown Foundation
- A/Prof Amelia Simpson, ANU College of Law
The Centre for International and Public Law and The Australia Institute are pleased to host a discussion of the High Court’s decision in Brown v Tasmania [2017] HCA 43.
Can the legislature effectively supersede judicial interpretations with which it disagrees?
- Professor Deborah Widiss
Legislative supremacy depends on the assumption that if the legislative branch disagrees with a judicial interpretation of a law, it may “override” that interpretation by passing a new statute or amending an existing statute. This seminar will present my research looking at the efficacy of overrides in the United States, and it will explore possibilities for similar tensions to arise under the Australian system.
Brexit, referendums and deliberative democracy
- Dr Matt Qvortrup, Coventry University
What a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia and a Judge’s associate do in a typical week
- The Hon Justice Alan Robertson
- Will Randles
- Associate Professor Heather Roberts
Have you ever wondered what a typical week’s work looks like for a Justice of the Federal Court of Australia? How do Judges prepare for court sittings, and what happens in chambers? What does an Associate do, and what skills are required to perform the role?
In Conversation with Ron McCallum
- Ron McCallum AO - The University of Sydney
- Professor Kim Rubenstein FAAL, FASSA - Australian National University
Ron McCallum AO will be in conversation with Professor Kim Rubenstein on Ron's memoir, Born at the Right Time.
