Australia is now the only major constitutional democracy in the world without some form of written bill of rights, or comprehensive rights charter. yet, in recent years, two Australian jurisdictions (the ACT and Victoria) have moved to adopt state-level rights charters (the ACT Human Rights Act 2004 and Victorian Charter of Rights and responsibilities 2008). This course will examine theses two state bills of rights, and their likely future interpretation in light of both existing case-law and comparative experience in jurisdictions such as the US, Canada, South Africa nad the UK. The course will also explore the broader theoretic stakes behind these interpretive questions, ongoing debates about the potential amendment of these charters (so as, for example, to include more extensive socioeconomic rights protections) and the adoption of a rights charter at a national level.

More information can be found on the Course Outline Website.