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Australia's Democracy: Australia's Democracy

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Australia's Democratic History

Australia's Electoral Process

Australia's Federal Government

Australia's Local Government

Australia's Prime Ministers

Australia's State and Territory Governments

Multicultural Australians

Separation of Powers

from The Parliamentary Education Office http://www.peo.gov.au/

 

 

ABC Splash

The Rule of Law

The relevance of the Rule of Law is demonstrated by application of the following principles in practice.

  • The separation of powers between the legislature, the executive and the judiciary.
  • The law is made by representatives of the people in an open and transparent way.
  • The law and its administration is subject to open and free criticism by the people, who may assemble without fear.
  • The law is applied equally and fairly, so that no one is above the law.
  • The law is capable of being known to everyone, so that everyone can comply.
  • No one is subject to any action by any government agency other than in accordance with the law and the model litigant rules, no one is subject to any torture.
  • The judicial system is independent, impartial, open and transparent and provides a fair and prompt trial.
  • All people are presumed to be innocent until proven otherwise and are entitled to remain silent and are not required to incriminate themselves.
  • No one can be prosecuted, civilly or criminally, for any offence not known to the law when committed.
  • No one is subject adversely to a retrospective change of the law.

There is no single agreed definition of the rule of law. However, there is a basic core definition that has near universal acceptance. As Emeritus Professor Geoffrey Walker, has written in his defining work on the rule of law in Australia: ‘…most of the content of the rule of law can be summed up in two points: (1) that the people (including, one should add, the government) should be ruled by the law and obey it and (2) that the law should be such that people will be able (and, one should add, willing) to be guided by it.’

- Geoffrey de Q. Walker, The rule of law: foundation of constitutional democracy, (1st Ed., 1988).

 

‘The rule of law is an overarching principle which ensures that Australians are governed by laws which their elected representatives make and which reflect the rule of law.  It requires that the laws are administered justly and fairly.’

- Robin Speed, RoLIA President

from The Rule of Law Institute of Australia http://www.ruleoflaw.org.au/principles/ 

Digger J. Jones

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Explore Your Parliament - 328 QLD

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