Availabilities:

2024 unit offering information will be available in November 2023

Unit description

Explains how the law makes public decision-makers accountable for how they exercise their (often wide) discretions, powers, and duties. Several control mechanisms - particularly courts, merits appeals tribunals, Ombudsman, Freedom of Information (FoI) and privacy legislation at Commonwealth level - aim at curbing bureaucratic mistakes and excesses, and at ensuring sound, rational, and consistent decision-making by governments.

Unit content

Module 1: Introduction: historical background: the Australian Constitution's separation of powers
Module 2: Grounds for judicial review of subordinate legislation and administrative decisions
Module 3: Grounds for judicial review of administrative decisions
Module 4: Merits appeals and tribunals
Module 5: Steps to challenge a decision
Module 6: Remedies

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.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:
1identify and explain the central principles and the various elements which inform Australia’s federal system of administrative law
2evaluate the differences between review of the lawfulness of a decision, and review of the merits of a decision
3demonstrate an understanding of the legal and administrative mechanisms by which the actions and decisions of government officials and agencies may be challenged
4identify and explain the legal and administrative mechanisms by which government officials and agencies may be rendered accountable for their actions

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

  1. identify and explain the central principles and the various elements which inform Australia’s federal system of administrative law
  2. evaluate the differences between review of the lawfulness of a decision, and review of the merits of a decision
  3. demonstrate an understanding of the legal and administrative mechanisms by which the actions and decisions of government officials and agencies may be challenged
  4. identify and explain the legal and administrative mechanisms by which government officials and agencies may be rendered accountable for their actions

Teaching and assessment

Notice

Intensive offerings may or may not be scheduled in every teaching period. Please refer to the timetable for further details.

Southern Cross University employs different teaching methods within units to provide students with the flexibility to choose the mode of learning that best suits them. SCU academics strive to use the latest approaches and, as a result, the learning modes and materials may change. The most current information regarding a unit will be provided to enrolled students at the beginning of the teaching period.

Fee information

Domestic

Commonwealth Supported courses
For information regarding Student Contribution Amounts please visit the Student Contribution Amounts.

Fee paying courses
For postgraduate or undergraduate full fee paying courses please check Domestic Postgraduate Fees OR Domestic Undergraduate Fees

International

Please check the international course and fee list to determine the relevant fees.

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