Landmark cases — Australia

The Australia authorities every law student is expected to cite. Citations follow AGLC 4th edition; full text on AustLII.

• Mabo v Queensland (No 2) (1992) 175 CLR 1Property / Indigenous · 1992

  Recognised native title at common law and rejected terra nullius.

• Lange v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1997) 189 CLR 520Constitutional · 1997

  Established implied freedom of political communication.

• Plaintiff S157/2002 v Commonwealth [2003] HCA 2Administrative / Constitutional · 2003

  Constitutional floor of judicial review against privative clauses.

• Kable v DPP (NSW) (1996) 189 CLR 51Constitutional · 1996

  State courts must remain compatible with the Ch III judicial system.