LAW4158 - Indigenous peoples and the law 406

Leader: Stephen Gray

Offered

Clayton Second semester 2008 (Day)

Synopsis

The legislative control, 'protection' and disempowerment experienced by indigenous Australians and the historical, comparative and contemporary contexts of their experiences in and with the Australian legal system. Laws and policies concerning identity, dispossession, protection and assimilation are examined. Over-representation of indigenous people within the criminal justice system, Deaths in Custody and stolen generations. Land rights, the Mabo and Wik cases, and the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth). Human rights and the role of international law, self determination, reconciliation and law reform.

Objectives

Upon completion of this unit students should

1. have a general understanding of the common law, constitutional and statutory framework that has applied to indigenous peoples of Australia, and particularly of Victoria;
2. be able to identify or find the relevant principles, laws and precedents and apply them to resolve issues relating to indigenous clients;
3. have further developed legal research and writing, and legal argument skills by undertaking systematic research into legal policy, rules, procedures and comparative perspectives relating to indigenous peoples and interests; and
4. have developed skills of oral presentation of legal policy, rules and argument in an interactive learning context.

Assessment

Short reaction piece (response to texts) (1600 words): 20%
Research paper (3200 words): 40%
Examination (2 hours writing and 30 minutes reading and noting time): 40% OR Short reaction piece (response to texts) (1600 words): 20%
Examination (3 hours writing and 30 minutes reading and noting time): 80%

Contact hours

Three hours of lectures per week

Prerequisites

LAW1100 or LAW1101 and LAW1102 or LAW1104

Co-requisites

LAW3300 or LAW3301 and LAW3302; LAW3400 or LAW3401 and LAW3402