Your studies will be easier and more interesting if you have a basic understanding of Australia’s legal system. Some awareness of current legal issues as reported in news services will also be useful.

Recommended websites

Introductory information about Australia: http://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia

Includes information on Australia’s States and territories, government structures and population statistics, which will be useful for international students.

The history of Australia’s legal system and governments: http://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/

This National Archives of Australia website, Documenting a Democracy, includes images and discussion of 110 key documents that have provided the foundation for Australia’s governments. It also includes a timeline of major political events in Australia's colonial and national history.

The Parliament of Australia: http://www.aph.gov.au/index.htm

The website contains information about the composition of the Houses of Parliament, info sheets on various aspects of government and the constitution, and links to key Law internet sites.

The High Court of Australia: http://www.hcourt.gov.au/about.html

Find out who sits on the Bench and take a virtual tour through the Court.

The Parliament of Victoria: http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/

Who’s your local MLA? Find out what an MLA is in the parliamentary glossary.

The Australian newspaper: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/

An Australian national daily newspaper.

The Age newspaper: http://www.theage.com.au/

A Melbourne daily newspaper.

Recommended reading

Heilbronn, Latimer, Nielsen & Pagone, Introducing the Law (6th ed, 2002)
Pages 1-70 are required reading for the first 2 weeks of Principles of Public Law - a compulsory first semester subject. (Note that only pages 1-150 are required reading for this subject).

Catriona Cook et al, Laying Down the Law (6th ed, 2005)

James Miller, Getting into Law (2002)

Recommended listening

The Law Report: http://www.abc.net.au/rn/lawreport/

A weekly program on ABC Radio National that considers current legal issues. Listening to this and other Australian radio programs (see: http://www.abc.net.au/rn) can also help international students become familiar with the Australian accent.