LLB 100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Lexisnexis, Australian Law Journal, Statutory Interpretation
Week 11 – Statutory Interpretation
“pigela CJ: the ost ipotat sigle aspet of legal patie. “igifiat aeas of the
la ae deteied etiel statute
The courts are guided but not compelled by Parliament in relation to relevant matters in
determining unconscionability
Even when the court is restricted to matters set out in an Act, there may be room for
judicial discretion
Common law
• Ratio/precedent
• Can be difficult to find
• Problems associated with the law of consensus
Legislation
• Fixed verbal form
• Complex and lengthy
• Ambiguity
- The nature of the language – flexible creates ambiguity, assumption of law that
language is capable of carrying a reasonably clear meaning
- Words have multiple meanings e.g. sanction
The task of the outs is to interpret the words used by Parliament. ... The courts must
determine what Parliament meant by the words used. The courts do not determine what
Paliaet iteded to sa.
‐ J J “pigela, The Itoleale Westle: Deelopets i “tatuto Itepetatio
84 Australian Law Journal 822, 828.
Use of table of proisions to gain oerie of legislation and its purpose
1. Check whether relevant words are defined in the Act
2. Give words their ordinary meaning, or where appropriate, their technical or legal
meaning
3. Ensure the meaning promotes/best achieves the purpose of the Act
4. If necessary, use extrinsic material – s 34 IA
Interpretation legislation
A search for grammatical meaning still constitutes the starting point. But if the grammatical
meaning of a provision does not give effect to the purpose of the legislation, the
grammatical meaning cannot prevail. It must give way to the construction which will
promote [best achieve] the purpose or object of the Act. The Acts Interpretation Act 1901
(Cth), s15AA, and the Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW), s33, both require this approach to
statutory construction.
‐ Kingston v Keprose Pty Ltd (1987) 11 NSWLR 404, 423 (McHugh, J).
• Person – includes individual and corporation
• Gender – reference to one gender includes the othe ‐ see, s AIA(Cth); s8 IA(NSW)
• Multiples – ods i sigula ilude plual ‐ see, s AIA(Cth); s8 IA(NSW)
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Document Summary
Pigel(cid:373)a(cid:374) cj: (cid:862)the (cid:373)ost i(cid:373)po(cid:396)ta(cid:374)t si(cid:374)gle aspe(cid:272)t of legal p(cid:396)a(cid:272)ti(cid:272)e. ig(cid:374)ifi(cid:272)a(cid:374)t a(cid:396)eas of the la(cid:449) a(cid:396)e dete(cid:396)(cid:373)i(cid:374)ed e(cid:374)ti(cid:396)el(cid:455) (cid:271)(cid:455) statute(cid:863) The courts are guided but not compelled by parliament in relation to relevant matters in determining unconscionability. Even when the court is restricted to matters set out in an act, there may be room for judicial discretion. Common law: ratio/precedent, can be difficult to find, problems associated with the law of consensus. Legislation: fixed verbal form, complex and lengthy, ambiguity. The nature of the language flexible creates ambiguity, assumption of law that language is capable of carrying a reasonably clear meaning. Words have multiple meanings e. g. sanction (cid:858)the task of the (cid:272)ou(cid:396)ts is to interpret the words used by parliament. The courts must determine what parliament meant by the words used. J j pigel(cid:373)a(cid:374), (cid:858)the i(cid:374)tole(cid:396)a(cid:271)le w(cid:396)estle: de(cid:448)elop(cid:373)e(cid:374)ts i(cid:374) tatuto(cid:396)(cid:455) i(cid:374)te(cid:396)p(cid:396)etatio(cid:374)(cid:859) (cid:894)(cid:1006)(cid:1004)(cid:1005)(cid:1004)(cid:895) A search for grammatical meaning still constitutes the starting point.
