Tribunals and Commissions are not Courts.

    The High Court’s decision Burns v Corbett significantly narrowed the jurisdiction of commissions and tribunals. The High Court held that the Australian Constitution precludes a State tribunal from exercising federal and state jurisdiction, tribunals are not Courts and cannot exercise judicial powers and jurisdiction.  A tribunal or Commission not being a ‘court of Read More …

Commonwealth Power to Make and Implement Treaties.

Traditional view and the High Court It has been generally accepted that treaties are not directly incorporated into Australian domestic law by the international act of ratification or accession by Australia. Treaties therefore do not ‘run’ in domestic law unless implemented by legislation.[1] This view has been shared by successive Governments of different political persuasions. Read More …

Commonwealth or Federal Police Force?

The Commonwealth Police Force was established under authority of the Commonwealth Police Act 1957 by the Parliament of the Commonwealth, and commenced to operate on 21 April, 1960. One of the primary reasons for establishment of the Commonwealth Police Force was to permit the integration into one service of the two Commonwealth law enforcement agencies, the Commonwealth Read More …