Sample battle · revision
Training Camp · Mission Brief
Legal Studies · Sources of Law
Australian law comes from two main sources: statute law made by parliament, and common law made by judges through court decisions. When the two overlap, statute generally prevails.
Key terms
- Statute law — Laws made by parliament (Acts of Parliament).
- Common law — Law developed by judges through court decisions and precedent.
- Precedent — A legal principle established in a prior case that binds similar later cases.
Memory trick: P-COURT-S: Parliament writes statutes; COURTs build common law.
Common mistake: Assuming judges 'make up' law freely. Courts can only develop common law within their jurisdiction, and statute law overrides common law where they conflict.
Demo content only — your answers aren't saved to any account.