The aim of the unit is to develop a critical perspective upon the accountability of government decision-makers. The unit examines theoretical frameworks for analysis of a range of issues concerning accountability, with reference to relevant principles of administrative law. Part 1 of the unit examines the concept of administrative discretion, alternative theories of the rule of law, human rights, ethics and managerialism. Part 2 of the unit is concerned with the accountability of the executive branch of government. It includes analysis of separation of powers and the doctrine of ministerial responsibility, merits review tribunals, investigative tribunals and tribunal procedure. Part 3 of the unit examines theories of participatory democracy, with reference to relevant legal principles drawn from procedural fairness, rules of standing and consultation requirements in rule making. Part 4 examines theories of open government, with reference to statutory duties to give reasons for decisions and freedom of information legislation. Part 5 examines the proper scope of administrative law by discussion of the issue of its extension to government business enterprises which are corporatised, privatised or contracted out.

This unit will undertake an examination of Cartels , Misuse of market power and vertical restraints by examining these areas in detail and will include an analysis Australian competition law and the law in the United States and in the EU.

This unit deals with commonly used commercial structures and techniques for large financings. The unit also examines the use of these structures and techniques in a range of commercial settings, such as takeovers and public/private infrastructures, and in the international context. It is an advanced unit, which assumes a good general knowledge of Australian corporate law and corporate finance. Particular topics covered include: loan syndication; domestic and off-shore capital markets; lending to a trust; takeover finance; derivatives; public/private infrastructure finance; project finance; listed property trusts; documentation in advanced financing transactions. The unit is taught by a team of legal experts with extensive experience in financing techniques.

This unit aims to introduce you to the diverse range of anti-terrorism laws and policies which have developed at the international, regional and domestic levels, and which proliferated after the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001. Laws will be evaluated in the light of their profound and complex political, ideological and ethical implications for political order, legal systems, human rights, and international relations. In essence, the study of terrorism (and the law's response to it) is the study of the timeless philosophical question of when political violence is justified, against whom, and for what purposes - whether it is 'freedom fighters', or 'State terrorism', that is at issue.

In this unit, the environmental law and policy of selected countries and regional organisations in the Asia Pacific will be studied against the background of relevant international environmental law and institutions. Unit topics will be divided into four sub-regions: Pacific Island Developing Countries; South East Asia Region (ASEAN and Mekong countries); North Asian Region (Japan, People's Republic of China); South Asian Region (South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation [SAARC] Countries). In relation to each region, the implications of international and regional environmental law and institutions will be explored, followed by country specific case studies involving a range of issues such as biodiversity, access to modern energy services, natural resources and environmental planning; industrial pollution; environmental impact assessment; climate change; and protection of the marine and coastal environment. Case studies on regional environmental issues such as ASEAN Haze will also be included.

Australian International Taxation is a detailed study of the fundamental principles of Australia's international taxation regime as it applies to cross-border business and investment transactions. The unit focuses on corporate residence, source, non-resident withholding tax, relief from international double taxation, CFCs, transferor trusts, transfer pricing and thin capitalisation. The unit will examine both the issues of international tax rule design and policy, and the relevant provisions in the legislation, cases and rulings. The unit focuses on the international tax rules in Australia's domestic law. Although the role of double tax treaties is introduced, double tax treaties are covered in the companion unit Tax Treaties. Students should gain an understanding of the policies underlying Australia's rules for taxing international transactions, as well as a detailed knowledge of the foundation principles of law applicable to the taxation of inbound and outbound transactions.

Most matters handled by legal and accounting professionals have Capital Gains Tax ("CGT") implications - ranging from a simple conveyance or will, to a real estate development or litigation settlement. CGT is a major issue for all taxpayers and their advisors because the pervasive reach of the CGT provisions means that even straightforward commercial and domestic transactions often give rise to complex CGT issues. This unit examines the basic structure and core concepts of the CGT, and the specialist provisions that apply in a range of commercial and non-commercial contexts, such as the formation and sale of a business, conveyancing and property development, commercial and family litigation, and the settlement and administration of trusts.

This unit of study examines the socio-legal complexities of responding to child sexual abuse in society. The unit presents students with a theoretical and multidisciplinary framework for understanding and evaluating contemporary issues relevant to child sexual abuse. More specifically the unit of study will analyse the nature of child sexual abuse and the underlying dynamics of such victimisation. Students will critically evaluate different strategies and models directed at identification and prevention of child sexual abuse and critically analyse legal responses to child sexual victimisation.

The object of this unit is to provide an overview of the income tax system of China and a detailed analysis of the most important legislative and treaty rules of China in the area of international income tax, especially in dealings with Australia. Upon successful completion of the unit, students will have an advanced understanding of the policies underlying the Chinese rules for taxing international transactions as well as a detailed knowledge of the principles of income tax law applicable to inbound and outbound transactions. This unit includes a study of: overview of the Chinese income tax system; taxation of inbound investment into China; taxation of outbound investment from China; transfer pricing issues, and China's tax treaties.

This unit will provide students with an overall picture of the modern Chinese legal system. It will develop a perception of its unique character by tracing its role through major social epochs and the role of law in a socialist market economy. It will examine the concept of law as a political function and the implementation of law, not so much through courts, as through administrative fiats and authority, making law essentially a function of politics and administration. The unit will illustrate these perceptions through the study of various legal regimes. Lecture topics may include: Chinese legal history; Chinese legal system; criminal law and procedure; constitutional law; civil law and procedure; legal profession; environmental law; contract law; property law; company law; intellectual property law; foreign joint ventures; arbitration and mediation; foreign trade law and taxation law. The coursework component of the unit is residential and is conducted on the campus of the East China University of Politics and Law in Shanghai, People's Republic of China. Lectures will be given in English in Shanghai by professors from the East China University of Politics and Law. There will also be a visit to a Chinese law firm.

This unit examines legal and policy frameworks for the management of coastal and marine areas in Australia. Topics addressed include the characteristics of Australian coastal and marine environments, the constitutional framework for the management of offshore areas, the regulation of marine pollution, marine parks and reserves, fisheries management, the regulation of offshore oil and gas resource extraction, and the management of climate change impacts on coastal and marine areas.

The unit, taught by two experienced commercial litigators (Andrew Bell SC of the Sydney Bar and Don Robertson of Herbert Smith Freehills), will focus on commercial disputes with a transnational dimension and explore both the law and strategic considerations involved in jockeying for forum: why it can matter, how it is done and how it can be resisted. This will involve a consideration of the jurisdictional rules for bringing proceedings in Australia against foreign defendants; the law relating to obtaining temporary and permanent stays of proceedings both on forum non conveniens grounds and by reference to exclusive jurisdiction and arbitration agreements; the role of anti-suit injunctions and negative declarations and some consideration of the enforcement of foreign judgments. Ancillary practical issues of great importance which are also considered include incoming and outgoing letters of request, the taking of evidence by video link, the role and proof of foreign law, foreign state immunity and provisional measures such as transnational freezing orders. The unit has a strong practical bent and is particularly designed for those engaged or wanting to become engaged in commercial litigation and arbitration with a transnational dimension.

This unit explores Australian trading trusts and managed investment schemes and the legal position of the investors, trustees and external parties who are involved with them. The use of these trusts is widespread and in aggregate they hold massive wealth. In many senses they operate as surrogate companies but participants do not enjoy the protections provided by the Corporations Act 2001 to those who are involved with companies; their governing regime remains the general law of trusts (with some statutory overlay). Many of the issues are not well understood and sometimes not even identified; even where they are, privately structured solutions are not always effective. The issues acquired prominence in the post-GFC environment as these trusts faced financial distress and litigation. Outcomes have not always been predictable or consistent with participants' expectations and gaps in the law have emerged. This unit builds on conventional trust and company law units by examining, in an applied way, the commercial trust as a modern business association. The material assumes that students have successfully completed at least undergraduate level study of trust law (even if as part of a more general course on property and/or equity) and corporations law.

This unit will look at the way in which communications networks in general and the Internet in particular is regulated. It reviews the justifications for regulation and explores how the advent of the Internet is placing pressure on legacy regulatory regimes. Topics include Internet-based voice and video, unbundling, network neutrality, platform neutrality, spectrum policy, e-commerce, and online privacy, among others. Although the unit will focus primarily on U.S. law, it will also explore the regulatory approaches followed by other regimes. This unit will be run in a seminar style, requiring active discussion and a willingness to examine certain topics in depth.

Globalisation is driving corporate tax systems closer together and often into conflict. For many tax practitioners, it is now not enough to know their own corporate tax system - they must grapple with and question the operation of other corporate tax systems. This unit seeks to develop an ability to understand and analyze any corporate tax system and assess its impact on corporate decision making. With a dedicated textbook (written by the presenter), it does this by comparing a number of influential and archetypal corporate tax systems (both common law and civil law) and assessing their behaviour in the context of a number of practical problems. For tax professionals, the unit develops an ability to ask direct and informed questions about a foreign corporate tax system and discuss that system at a high level with foreign tax professionals. Topics include: corporate entities and hybrids, groups, interface with accounting, service companies, debt vs. equity, dividend relief, cross-border issues, incorporation, takeovers, trading in loss companies, share buy-backs, liquidation, bonus issues, convertible notes, mergers and demergers.

Comparative International Taxation is a detailed study of the basic principles of international taxation (residence, source, relief from international double taxation, anti-deferral rules, withholding tax, transfer pricing, thin capitalisation, and tax treaties). The unit is taught from a global perspective with the emphasis being on comparative analysis (focusing particularly on Anglo, US and continental European approaches, and also developed and developing country approaches). The unit examines the core issues in developing international tax rules and identifies different approaches countries have taken in dealing with these issues. As part of this study, recent trends in international tax rule development will be identified (particularly in the context of globalisation) and critiqued. Students should gain an understanding of the different approaches that countries have taken in the development of their international tax rules.

The content of this unit of study will be the following topics: Economic Theory of Competition Law; the Concepts of competition, market definition, market power, substantial lessening of competition and public benefit; Section 4D Exclusionary Provisions; Part IV: Cartels - Civil and Criminal Prohibitions; Section 45 Contracts, Arrangements and Understandings; Section 46 Misuse of Market Power; Section 47 Exclusive Dealing; Section 48 Resale Price Maintenance; Section 50 Mergers; Part IIIA Access to Services; Part VI Remedies and Enforcement; Part VII Authorisations and Notifications. The intended outcomes for students who successfully complete this unit are that they will have a firm grasp of the operation of the competition law provisions of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010.

The unit will examine in detail the legal and regulatory requirements relevant to the financial services industry, and how the risk of breaching those requirements can be managed by compliance systems. It will focus not only on legal theory but also on the practical day to day business issues involved with compliance.
The unit is divided into two parts: (a) Core compliance issues: licensing of financial service providers; compliance systems; insider trading and Chinese walls; market conduct rules; shareholding restrictions; trade practices; anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing and other measures to combat crime; retail customer obligations; marketing financial products; client money rules; privacy; fiduciary duties and conflicts of interest; confidentiality; phone taping; and investigating compliance breaches (including reporting obligations and HR issues); and (b) Specialist compliance issues relevant to: managed investments; deposit products, non cash payment facilities; credit facilities, stockbroking; derivatives; warrants; foreign exchange; futures broking; financial planning; margin lending; insurance and insurance broking; superannuation and retirement savings accounts.

This unit will address the role that constitutionalism is expected to play in a democratic state, and will explore various constitutional theories. The main focus will be on theoretical attempts at reconciling commitments to constitutionalism with emphasis on democratic participation: Is it paradoxical that a state governed by majority rules withdraws certain areas from collective decision-making? Various theories of constitutionalism, of constitutional interpretation, and of constitutional judicial review will be explored. The unit will also discuss the question of constitutional charters of rights, different models of judicial review, separation of powers, direct democracy and the functions of constitutions in transitions to democratic systems. The unit will follow a seminar format with the emphasis on class discussion of unit materials. First two days (8 and 9 August) will be focused on the instructor's lectures while two remaining days (22 and 23 August) on students' presentations.

This unit builds on the foundational unit LAWS6991 Fundamentals of Contract Law. It provides students with a detailed treatment of aspects of contract construction; the nature and effect of particular types of contractual terms; equitable and common law remedies; statutory measures having an impact on contracts and contract law (eg statutory unconscionability; misleading or deceptive conduct). Content and learning in this unit is scaffolded onto that of Fundamentals of Contract Law which is a pre-requisite for this unit.

This unit will look at the primary remedy for actions for breach of contract, namely damages. This remedy will be distinguished from contract debts, restitution, specific performance and injunctions. The compensation principle and the various elements of a damages claim will be examined. Classes will look at the different bases for assessment of contract damages, and the requirement of mitigation. The unit also provides an insight into the ways of bridging the gap between remoteness theory and evaluating potential claims for damages. The role of consequential loss, and the relationship between damages and contractual indemnities are also considered. The unit will be run in a seminar style, examining leading doctrinal cases for each principle.

This unit brings together the doctrinal, theoretical and practical issues raised by contract risk management, especially the control of liability for breach of contract and negligence. The unit will consider: categories of risk; drafting options; protection of third parties; statutory control of risk management devices, including the Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth); contract drafting and management issues. The drafting options which are considered include the use of exclusion clauses, indemnity provisions and force majeure clauses. The operation of these types of clauses, and the relevant common law and statutory rules, will be considered in the context of various types of contracts, but with particular emphasis on contracts for the provision of services and sale of goods. One particular feature of the course is a consideration of the operation of the privity rule in the context of risk management. Thus, issues such as the protection of related bodies corporate and the liability of agents and sub-contractors are dealt with in some detail.

This unit will explore a range of recent trends and issues in corporate governance including:- the link between corporate scandals and corporate law reform; the board and independent directors; principles-based versus rules-based regulation; shareholder empowerment and institutional investor activism; takeovers and the regulation of executive pay. The unit will examine these issues from a comparative law perspective, analysing fundamental differences in corporate governance structure and techniques in a range of jurisdictions, including the US, UK, Germany, China and Australia.

This unit will cover the recent and dramatic changes in the operation and regulation of multinational corporations. Both private and regulatory innovations have made corporations simultaneously more efficient and potentially more dangerous. Initial topics include the modern theory of the firm and the role of financial innovation, derivatives, off-balance sheet transactions, accounting treatment, compensation, the aftermath of the recent financial crisis, and the role of credit ratings and credit rating agencies, as well as the major modern corporate abuses, frauds, and pyramid schemes. Then the course will turn to the increasing importance of politics in corporate governance, and a range of new global public law issues that have shifted the role of the corporation in society. The unit will conclude by covering the major policy issues confronting boards of directors and managers, with a particular focus on the tensions between shareholder value and various important stakeholder rights.

Today there is an apparent consensus in favour of corporate responsibility, as reflected in instruments such as ASX Principle 3 ("Act ethically and responsibly"), but behind the appearance of consensus lie difficult questions of principle, policy and practical application. This unit aims to equip participants to engage in a sophisticated manner in the analysis of such questions. The seminar is organized around two broad themes. First, the seminar will examine corporate responsibility in the traditional sense of the consideration that corporations may be expected to give to the impact of their activities have on society, even as they strive to earn profits for their shareholders. Topics include environmental responsibility, corporate philanthropy, and the respective roles of directors, managers and shareholders. Second, the seminar will deal with current debates about the rights and responsibilities that arise from corporate personhood, including those concerning corporate criminal responsibility, corporate political participation, and the status of corporations under international law. Participants will learn to work with relevant primary and secondary legal materials, including materials from selected foreign jurisdictions, especially in North America. They will also become familiar with the conceptual tools available from various interdisciplinary perspectives (e.g., law, economics, philosophy, politics) for analysing problems of corporate responsibility.

The unit consists of a detailed examination of the tax rules applied to companies and shareholders in a domestic setting in Australia. The goals of the unit are to develop an understanding of the policies, detailed rules and current practical problems involved in the taxation of companies and shareholders and to explore why different solutions are used for these entities when compared to partnerships and trusts. Upon successful completion of this unit, a student should have an advanced understanding of the policies underlying Australia's corporate tax system, as well as a detailed knowledge of the technical detail involved in the rules for the taxation of companies and their shareholders in Australia. Topics to be covered include: the policy and problems of taxing companies and shareholders; taxation of company distributions and dealings with interests in companies, including liquidations and share repurchases; imputation, including dividends passing through partnerships and trusts and intercorporate dividends; debt equity classification; shareholder rules; dividend and capital streaming and stripping; and value shifting.

This unit provides an examination of research methods in the context of criminology. The relationship between theory and methodology is explored. The production of knowledge about crime is critically assessed. Sources and forms of crime data are discussed and their significance is assessed. Research design, evaluation and analysis are also studied.

This unit critically examines the theoretical and policy issues underlying the formulation and implementation of criminal law and the treatment of certain groups by the criminal justice system. Following analysis of the principles of criminalisation and theories of criminal responsibility a number of contemporary topics will be explored to foster an understanding of the policies and pressures that shape criminal law. Such topics include, how the law responds to violence (e.g. one-punch deaths, provocation, duress); sexuality and sex work; sexting by adults and young people; and anti-social behaviour.

The Criminal Justice Internship provides an opportunity to experience the working environment of criminal justice agencies. Experience gained through placement with a relevant agency will be complemented by attendance at four intensive seminars. These seminars will provide opportunities to reflect on the role of the host agency, the policy context within which the host agency operates, the ethical challenges associated with the work of the agency and the specific skills and knowledge gained through the Internship. The Internship will be especially beneficial to those students with limited work experience or those pursuing or contemplating a career change.

This unit examines responses to crime and crime prevention with reference to shifting notions of crime and responsibility for crime. It encourages a critical appreciation of the limitations of criminal justice system responses to crime and the necessity to develop a broader approach to crime prevention policy which responds to economic, social and cultural issues. The unit examines different ways of thinking about criminal justice, such as a means of order maintenance, dispute resolution, or risk management, and the shifting focus towards the prevention of future harms. Specific topics may include: restorative justice specialist courts, privatisation and contractualism, security, policing, and approaches to crime prevention and community safety.

In this unit, students will examine the ways in which criminal liability is established, and the central factors governing liability; analyse the general principles of criminal law, constituent elements of particular offences and the definition of a range of defences from historical, theoretical and practical context perspectives, with a special focus on male violence; and gain an appreciation of the tensions and perceived prejudices inherent in the criminal law and the criminal justice system.
The unit will cover the following: phenomenon of criminal law; violence; capacity; proof; attempts and accessorial liability; offences: sexual and non-sexual assault, murder and manslaughter; defences: provocation and self-defence, 'insanity' and substantial impairment, automatism, infanticide, intoxication, necessity and duress.

This unit provides an introduction to key topics in public health law, and a foundation for further study in this field. It begins by exploring the use of law - both historically and conceptually - as a tool for protecting the public's health, for responding to health risks and implementing strategies designed to promote public health. It reviews the sources of public health law, considers the strategies that law can deploy to protect and promote health, as well as debates about the appropriate limits for law in the protection of public health in a liberal democracy.
The unit also provides a review of the law's role within several critical areas, including: acute public health threats (with a focus on SARS, pandemic influenza, and bioterrorism); sexual health and STIs; and tobacco control.
Key topics include: The definition and role of public health law; Case studies illustrating the sources of public health law; The legal framework for managing pandemic influenza and other acute public health threats; An introduction to tobacco control law; and Law's role in promoting sexual health.
Throughout the unit, students will be trained to identify legal issues and to explore their health significance, or impact on population health. Students will be encouraged and expected to critically evaluate the success of public health laws and their underlying strategies for protecting and promoting health. Students will also explore the tension between the public health interest, and competing public and private interests.
Students wishing to extend their knowledge of public health law can enrol in the companion unit, LAWS6848 Law and Healthy Lifestyles. These units comprise a core program in public health law.

This unit is for law graduates who have, or intend to have, a practice that exposes them to cross-border financings and acquisitions.The unit highlights the distinctive concepts and practices relating to overseas securities and corporate laws in cross-border transactions (focusing to a significant extent on US laws and practices). It concentrates on resolving the challenges non-Australian issues can pose to transactions even if Australian law applies to many aspects of the deal.The US segment will begin with a brief examination the US Federal system in which corporate and securities law responsibility is allocated between the states and Federal government, proceed to a detailed discussion of the process of offering securities in the US and how it can affect non-US offerings in practice, and finally will conclude with an exploration of the regulation of takeovers under US law. Significant US M&A concepts and practices, including mergers, break-up fees, poison pills, and proxy fights will be discussed. The remainder of the unit will focus on deal regulation of selected other overseas jurisdictions in which there have been recent activity. We will also examine practical consequences of the regulatory requirements of these jurisdictions, particularly in so far as they relate to M&A, as well as certain subjects that have worldwide applicability (such as due diligence to determine possible corruption, vendor due diligence and directors' duties). The unit will be taught by a series of seminars, with an occasional guest lecture/panel discussion. The purpose of the unit is to assist Australian and other non-US lawyers in: identifying potential cross-border issues; and being creative in solving the challenges that arise in international securities transactions. The lecturer writes the Dealpolitik column for The Wall Street Journal and was for over 30 years a merger and acquisition and securities lawyer in the US (resident for several years in Australia).

This unit looks at the ways in which the exercise of discretionary judgment arises for consideration in the course of the criminal justice process and the ways in which that judgment should be exercised at each step. It deals with each stage from the reporting or observation of crime, through investigation, arrest, charging, bail, plea, hearing, appeal, retrial and publicity. It describes how actors at each step (citizens, police, prosecutors and judges) confront decision making, the laws (legislation, common law) and rules (prosecution guidelines, memoranda and procedures) that apply and provides examples of the exercise of such discretions. It also looks at the place of public commentary (personal, the media and political) in the process. The unit explores nuances in the conduct of any criminal prosecution aside from the application of the letter of the law.

In this unit we examine the nature of discrimination in the workplace and the legal response to it in Australia. We start by considering the theoretical perspectives on equality that underpin our legislation and ideas about effective regulation. We then examine how anti-discrimination law is applied in respect of a number of different grounds of discrimination - such as sex, race, disability, and family responsibilities - reviewing recent cases and current issues. We will also discuss enforcement mechanisms and processes under anti-discrimination legislation and what, if any, effect the legislation has had on workplace processes and culture. While NSW law will be considered, the focus will be on federal legislation.

The unit is designed to give students a broad understanding of the theory, policy and practice of ADR. It will enable students to understand various alternative dispute resolution processes, their advantages and limitations; understand the application of ADR in particular areas of practice: understand key theoretical debates about mediation; be able to advise others about ADR processes; be better participants in ADR processes; be better able to evaluate the possible applications of various dispute resolution methods. The use of ADR in employment and health care disputes will be considered.

This unit aims to provide an introduction to the legal and practical aspects of doing business in China. The unit will commence with an overview of the Chinese legal, political and economic system and will then move on to an examination of the system of commercial regulation in China, including contracts, land use, regulation of private and state-owned businesses and Chinese companies and securities laws. The unit will focus on Chinese contract law and the foreign investment regime and the related structuring and regulatory issues related to foreign participation in the Chinese market. Areas covered will discuss the principal issues relating to the establishment of a corporate or other presence in China and the related negotiation process. The unit will conclude with an examination of methods of resolution of disputes arising under contracts entered into in China. More specialized topics which may be covered include intellectual property, labour law, regulation of financial institutions and Chinese investment overseas.

The objective of the unit is to provide an understanding of the modern economics approach to the analysis of tax policy. The unit defines the role of taxation within the framework of welfare economics and examines the social and economic effects of reforms drawing on available empirical evidence. Particular attention is given to the evaluation of current policies and proposed reforms in terms of distributional outcomes and efficiency costs due to disincentive effects on labour supply, saving and investment. Topics covered include: taxation of labour income, consumption and capital income, family income taxation, alternative approaches to the taxation of emission, and the taxation of resource rents.

This unit examines key aspects of employment law principles and practice and their application in employment litigation and advocacy. This unit of study is designed especially for candidates in the Master of Laws (LLM) and Master of Labour Law and Relations (MLLR) degree programs who have completed an LLB or JD degree and focuses specifically on the principles of employment law within a litigation context.

The aim of the unit is to introduce students to overarching themes in environmental law and policy as a foundation to their more detailed studies for the Environmental Law Program. This is an overview unit addressing a number of environmental issues at various levels of analysis; such as policy making, implementation of policy and dispute resolution. The concept of ecologically sustainable development and its implications for environmental law and policy is a continuing theme. The unit is designed to develop multi-dimensional thinking about environmental issues and the strategies needed to address them. The unit provides a broad background of the political and economic issues in so far as they are related to the legal issues involved.

This unit focuses on litigation as a tool for resolving environmental disputes. The unit examines different types of environmental litigation and issues that can arise in litigation processes. Candidates will develop an understanding of the characteristics of environmental litigation, the advantages and limitations of different types of proceedings, and the range of outcomes that are possible for environmental litigation. The topics include litigation strategies, procedure and evidence, defensive actions (ie SLAPP litigation), and the outcomes of litigation. Reference will be made to recent cases, such as in the field of climate change, to illustrate the topics.

The expert evidence component of the unit will examine the role of expert witnesses, their reports and their testimony in civil and criminal cases. This will include an examination of the law governing the admissibility of expert evidence and the procedural means by which such evidence is adduced. Part of the unit will be devoted to current controversies surrounding the role of experts in particular civil and criminal cases.
The class actions component of the unit examines the substantive law, legal theories and procedural devices for the litigation and resolution of large scale, complex civil litigation. This encompasses representative actions, class actions and the use of other mechanisms for the aggregation and resolution of mass claims, including under bankruptcy law.
There will be a particular focus on Part IVA of the Federal Court Act (Cth) and representative action procedures available in Australia under the rules of court and statutory provisions in various areas (including discrimination, human rights, insurance law, privacy, corporations law and shareholder rights).
The unit will also cover comparative material on group litigation procedures and class actions under the laws of other countries, including England and Wales, Canada and the United States.

This unit examines the relevance of theory to the process of explaining crime as a social phenomenon. It will selectively analyse the history of criminological thought. Special attention will be given to the cross-disciplinary nature of efforts to understand crime, criminality and their causes. A significant section of the unit will deal with contemporary approaches to criminological explanation including the influence of feminism and postmodernism. Contemporary theorists such as Foucault, Garland and Braithwaite will also be considered. The unit will endeavour to make explicit the links between criminological theory and the development of public policy.