Law and Politics in Australia

Law Society and Political Involvement

• Laws establish acceptable behavior in society.
• Laws protect individuals from harm.
• Laws preserve individual freedoms (within limits).
• Laws resolve conflicts peacefully and fairly.
• Laws often reflect societal values, morals, and ethics, which vary by culture.

Australia's Court System

• Local Court: Handles minor civil disputes, bail applications, and cases up to $100,000; no jury.
• District Court: Deals with serious criminal and civil cases between $100,000 and $750,000, utilizes juries, and handles appeals from the Local Court.
• Supreme Court: Handles serious criminal cases (like murder and treason), civil cases over $750,000, and appeals from the District Court.
• High Court: The highest court, composed of 7 judges, interprets the Constitution, and has significant impact on parliamentary powers.
• Specialty Courts: Handle specific areas, including Children's, Coroner's, Family, and Drug Courts.

Role of Court Personnel

• Defence Counsel: Represents the accused.
• Prosecutor: Represents the plaintiff or government.
• Plaintiff: The individual or entity initiating the case.
• Sheriff's Officer: Maintains order and serves court notices.
• Tipstaff: Assists the judge with paperwork.
• Judge's Associate: Manages the judge's paperwork.
• Public and Media: Observe proceedings and report news.

Role and Selection of Juries

• Jurors must be 18 or older, without a criminal record, and registered voters (in NSW).
• Juries impartially assess evidence.

How Laws Are Made

• Common Law: Judicially created laws that apply to everyone, though statute law can override it.

Statute Law

• Enacted by parliament, applying nationwide (federal) or regionally (state).

How a Bill Becomes a Law

• Drafting, readings, debates, committee stage, passage through both houses, and royal assent.

Types of Law

• Public Law: Administrative, constitutional, criminal, and industrial laws, protecting society and government functions.
• Private Law: Contract, family, property, and tort laws, protecting individual rights and matters.

Civil and Criminal Law

• Civil Law: Protects individual rights through tort law; resolved via "balance of probabilities."
• Criminal Law: Addresses societal offenses; resolved via "beyond reasonable doubt."

Economic and Business Environment

• Five-Sector Circular Flow Model: Exchange of labor for income, goods & services; leakages (savings, taxation, imports) reduce flow, while injections (investment, gov't spending, exports) increase flow.

• Business Cycle: Boom (high production, low unemployment, higher prices); bust (low production, high unemployment, lower prices).

• Government Policy: Fiscal and monetary policy tools (interest rates, budgets) designed to stabilize the economy.

• Price Mechanism: Price changes influence market demand (inversely) and supply (directly).

• Markets: Facilitates trade, determines prices, and addresses scarce resources.

• Government Intervention: Regulates markets, ensures economic stability, and supports social policies.

• Business Types: Online, on-demand, global, government, non-profits.

• Business Decisions: Influenced by technology, globalization, economic cycles, and costs.

• Ethics & Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Societal and environmental accountability guides business decisions.

• Entrepreneurship: Pros (autonomy, profit, tax benefits), cons (risk, stress, financial responsibility). Cost benefit analysis helps evaluate different options.

• Business Planning: Research is key, including location, demographics, competition, and target market. Org structures include sole traders, partnerships, companies.

• Starting/Buying a business: New vs. existing. Factors like risk and upfront costs are key considerations.

Financial Records

• Balance Sheet: Assets = Liabilities + Equity.
• Profit and Loss: Revenue - Expenses.
• Cash Flow: Tracks cash inflows and outflows.
• Tax and Risk Management: Maintain financial records, respond to economic changes, and manage processes.

Itinerary

• Detailed daily transport, meals, activities, and lodging plans to include costs. Organize by specific time.

Budget

• Categorize expenses (transport, accommodation, meals, insurance). Create a detailed calculation of costs.

Paperwork and Documentation

• Detailed purpose of the trip, planned activities, and main location.
• Prepare passports, visas, insurance, vaccinations, and currency conversion information.

Contingency Plans

• Account for potential issues like flight delays, lost luggage.
• Outline steps to handle these situations, including cultural and safety considerations for the destination.

Packing List

• Create a list of clothing and travel materials based on weather and cultural norms. Include travel-sized essentials and documentation.

Experience Diary Slideshow

• Develop slideshow for memorable moments with relevant photos/images. Include daily organization and captioning.