Judicial power to interpret legislation

Nine drops pursuit of Gina Rinehart over Roberts-Smith millions [SMH paywall]

It brings an end to an attempt by the media outlets at the centre of his defamation case to ascertain if Gina Rinehart was funding his multimillion-dollar appeal.

Inside a children's court, a magistrate hears of fearful victims and young people living with trauma - ABC News

The Limits of Judicial Power to Interpret Legislation - Professor Lisa Burton Crawford (USYD)

This article reconsiders the limits of judicial power to interpret legislation. It is said that Australian courts have no power to choose the meaning of legislation. But that claim is inconsistent with other aspects of Australian constitutional law, and the standard account of vagueness. The article proposes two ways of reconciling this tension. The first is to rethink the scope of judicial power and recognise that courts have some authority to contribute to legislative content. The second is to rethink the scope of legislative power and recognise that there are some limits on the power of Australian parliaments to enact vague laws. The article concludes that both are plausible, and that the most compelling resolution involves some element of each.

2025 Flos Greig Lecture - Emeritus Professor Gillian Triggs AC - The international rules-based order: nostalgia or blueprint for global peace? - YouTube

Emeritus Professor Gillian Triggs AC examines whether international law remains an effective part of the’ rules-based order’ when, today, some political leaders explicitly deny fundamental norms, reject multilateral treaty obligations, and resort to unilateral policies. In short, is the United Nations Charter and the laws and institutions built upon it still fit for purpose?

AI in the practice of science and AI in the practice of law | Australian Academy of Law / Australian Academy of Science - Monday 20 October 2025

We will be joined by The Hon Chief Justice Lucy McCallum FAAL (Chair), along with expert panel members including Professor Jeannie Paterson FAAL, Director of the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Ethics at the University of Melbourne, and Professor Will Bateman FAAL who leads research projects on the regulation of AI at the Australian National University Law School.

Watch The People vs Robodebt | Stream free on SBS On Demand

An emotionally charged political thriller that unflinchingly exposes the devastating human cost of a cruel and illegal welfare scheme, and the brave Australians who stood up to fight it.

Slater + Gordon steals rival’s staff for TikTok ads [AFR paywall]

Compare the pair, as the plaintiff firms’ friends at industry super funds would say.

A Life in Advocacy with Scott McDougall –The Callover – Apple Podcasts

On this episode of The Callover, we speak with outgoing Queensland Human Rights Commissioner Scott McDougall. With a career spanning more than 30 years in community legal advocacy, public policy and social justice, Scott has been a strong and consistent voice for human rights in Queensland.

As his term as Commissioner comes to an end this month, we reflect on his journey through the law, his time at the Commission, and what lies ahead for human rights in the state.

Global legal profession comes together to discuss threats to lawyers | Law Gazette

18 Lawyers Caught Using AI Explain Why They Did It