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Unit Summary

Unit type

UG Coursework Unit

Credit points

12

AQF level

7

Level of learning

Advanced

Former School/College

Former School of Law and Justice

Pre-requisites

LAW00111 - Legal Process AND LAW00112 - Constitutional Law AND 96 Credit Points in law units

Co-requisites

Nil

Anti-requisites

Nil

Unit aim

Examines the rules and principles of statutory interpretation, including: the purposive approach to construction, parliamentary intention and interpretive techniques, the use of intrinsic and extrinsic materials, the traditional common law approaches and statutory presumptions such as non-interference with fundamental rights. Also considers the special rules relating to the interpretation of other instruments such as the Australian Constitution, codes and delegated legislation.

Unit content

Topic 1: Introduction to Statutory Interpretation
Topic 2: Creation of Legislation
Topic 3: Interpretation Legislation
Topic 4: Context and Purpose
Topic 5: Intention and Interpretive Techniques
Topic 6: Intrinsic Materials
Topic 7: Extrinsic Materials
Topic 8: Traditional Common Law Approaches
Topic 9: Statutory Presumptions
Topic 10: Fundamental and Human Rights and International Law
Topic 11: Interpreting Specific Instruments

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

GA1: , GA2: , GA3: , GA4: , GA5: , GA6: , GA7:
On completion of this unit, students should be able to: GA1 GA2 GA3 GA4 GA5 GA6 GA7
1 identify the rules and principles relating to statutory interpretation in Australia
2 apply the relevant legal rules and principles to the resolution of hypothetical scenarios relating to statutory interpretation
3 demonstrate a high level of skill in the reading and interpretation of statutes and other instruments
4 analyse and explain the reasoning behind a particular interpretation of a statute
5 demonstrate an ability to explain the relevant legal rules and principles in clear and logical language.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. identify the rules and principles relating to statutory interpretation in Australia
    • GA1:
  2. apply the relevant legal rules and principles to the resolution of hypothetical scenarios relating to statutory interpretation
    • GA4:
  3. demonstrate a high level of skill in the reading and interpretation of statutes and other instruments
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
  4. analyse and explain the reasoning behind a particular interpretation of a statute
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
  5. demonstrate an ability to explain the relevant legal rules and principles in clear and logical language.
    • GA6:

Prescribed texts

  • No prescribed texts.
Prescribed texts may change in future teaching periods.