Zines’s The High Court and the Constitution

It has been seven years since the last edition of Professor Zines’s classic book, The High Court and the Constitution. In that time the High Court has handed down a range of important decisions transforming, extending and developing existing constitutional law principles. The 6th edition of the book, by Dr James Stellios, contains analysis and critique of the High Court’s jurisprudence over that period. Changes have been made to all chapters to update the existing law. However, the most significant updates relate to:\n

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The reformulation of the Commonwealth’s executive power to contract and spend following the High Court’s decisions in Pape and the two Williams cases; \n

The High Court’s continuing development of Chapter III principles, particularly its renewed interest in the Kable limitation on State Parliaments; \n

The uncertainties appearing in recent High Court cases on the implied freedom of political communication; \n

The High Court’s application of s 92 to national markets in the internet-based new economy. \n

\n\n\nFrom the Launch in Sydney…\n\n It is a very great pleasure to launch the 6th edition of The High Court and the Constitution and to congratulate James Stellios on his success in maintaining, and perhaps enhancing, the very high quality of Leslie Zines’ previous editions. … it remains for me to state expressly what has been implied in every sentence of this speech. This is a great book. It is truly an Australian classic which is of value to both sophisticated lawyers, students and those who are interested in the Australian Constitution and the High Court and how each of them works. \nFrom the Launch Speech by The Hon Sir Anthony Mason AC KBE GBM