Credit Points 10

Coordinator Catherine Renshaw Opens in new window

Description This subject examines the link between law, public policy and social reform and adopts a range of social, political and legal perspectives to examine the policy process and its interaction with law. It invites students to critically engage, study and reflect on discourse and activism around the 2023 referendum proposal to change the Australian constitution to include a First Nations Voice to Parliament. The subject will (i) deepen students’ legal knowledge about the constitution and the process of constitutional amendment (ii) expand students’ awareness and understanding of the political and social processes that underpin legal change (iii) provide an architecture within which students can create forums for the exercise of deliberative democracy at the local and community levels (iv) provide a space for students to debate, discuss and reflect upon various modes and mechanisms of change (v) provide an opportunity for students to creatively engage in change processes using social media and other tools to influence constructive debate.

School Law

Discipline Law, Not Elsewhere Classified.

Student Contribution Band HECS Band 4 10cp

Level Postgraduate Coursework Level 5 subject

Incompatible Subjects LAWS 3044 Law and Public Policy (Development and Implementation)

Restrictions

Students must be enrolled in a postgraduate program to register in this subject.

Learning Outcomes

After successful completion of this subject, students will be able to: 

1. Critically evaluate the key concepts and issues in public policy development and implementation. 
2. Apply knowledge of the Australian Constitution and processes for amending the Constitution to the key concepts, policies and issues in the case study on the 2023 referendum proposal.
3. Critically evaluate proposals for constitutional amendment and the strength of proposals based on normative criteria. 
4. Review the social and political processes that underpin legal change from an interdisciplinary perspective. 
5. Communicate in a clear, persuasive, and logical style on complex legal and policy issues using different media as appropriate for diverse audiences. 
   

Subject Content

1. Social and political dynamics of change: lessons from political science and sociology
2. Approaches to the relationship between law and public policy
3. Case Study: the 2023 referendum proposal to change the Australian constitution to include a First Nations Voice to Parliament, including:
   • The Australian Constitution and processes for amendment
   • First Nations and pathways to reconciliation in Australia
   • Activism and autonomy: the nature of citizenship and civic participation
4. Change at the local level: media, community and engagement