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Last updated: March 2008
Constitutional, legal and Government framework
The Australian legal system
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In Australia, the law consists of:
- Acts passed by the Federal Parliament acting within the scope of its powers under the Australian Constitution, and delegated or subordinate legislation made under those Acts.
- Ordinances made for the Territories, and delegated or subordinate legislation made under those Ordinances.
- Acts passed by state Parliaments and the Legislative Assemblies of the Northern Territory, the Australian Capital Territory and Norfolk Island, and delegated or subordinate legislation made under those Acts.
- The Australian common law, which developed from the English common law and is interpreted and modified by the courts.
- The common or statute law of England that was received into Australian law and which remains unchanged.