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The Significance of Comparative Law to Common Law Judges: An Australian Perspective

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Current Issues of Comparative Law – Questions actuelles de droit comparé

Part of the book series: Ius Comparatum - Global Studies in Comparative Law ((GSCL,volume 35))

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Abstract

This article considers the significance of comparative law to judges of the High Court of Australia, focusing on the application of European and civil law. It engages with the quantitative question: in which areas of the common law do references to comparative law materials occur most often? It also engages with the qualitative question: for what purpose are comparative law materials used? The article notes the heightened value of comparative law material in novel cases, especially those with moral overtones. The article concludes by identifying factors which inhibit the use of comparative law materials by Australian judges.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Cook v Cook (1986) 162 CLR 376 at 390; [1986] HCA 73.

  2. 2.

    Häcker (2015), pp. 430, 445.

  3. 3.

    Bofinger v Kingsway Group Ltd (2009) 239 CLR 269 at 299 [85]-[86]; [2009] HCA 44; Australian Financial Services and Leasing Pty Limited v Hills Industries Limited (2014) 253 CLR 560 at 594–595 [73]; [2014] HCA 14.

  4. 4.

    IceTV Pty Ltd v Nine Network Australia Pty Ltd (2009) 239 CLR 458 at 504 [135]-[139]; [2009] HCA 14.

  5. 5.

    Northern Territory v Collins (2008) 235 CLR 619 at 653 [143]; [2008] HCA 49.

  6. 6.

    Cole v Whitfield (1988) 165 CLR 360; [1988] HCA 18; Betfair Pty Ltd v Western Australia (2008) 234 CLR 418; [2008] HCA 11.

  7. 7.

    McCloy v New South Wales (2015) 257 CLR 178; [2015] HCA 34; see also Brown v Tasmania (2017) 91 ALJR 1089; 349 ALR 398; [2017] HCA 43.

  8. 8.

    Rowe v Electoral Commissioner (2010) 243 CLR 1 at 139–142 [456]-[466]; [2010] HCA 46.

  9. 9.

    Australia, House of Representatives, Trade Practices Revision Bill 1986, Explanatory Memorandum at 13.

  10. 10.

    Queensland Wire Industries Pty Ltd v Broken Hill Proprietary Co Ltd (1989) 167 CLR 177 at 189; [1989] HCA 6.

  11. 11.

    Wagner (2006), p. 1004.

  12. 12.

    Stuart v Kirkland-Veenstra (2009) 237 CLR 215; [2009] HCA 15.

  13. 13.

    Tabet v Gett (2010) 240 CLR 537; [2010] HCA 12.

  14. 14.

    Perre v Apand Pty Ltd (1999) 198 CLR 180 at 249–250 [187]-[188]; [1999] HCA 36; Barclay v Penberthy (2012) 246 CLR 258 at 317–320 [165]-[171]; [2012] HCA 40.

  15. 15.

    Cattanach v Melchior (2003) 215 CLR 1; [2003] HCA 38.

  16. 16.

    Ibid at 21–22 (Gleeson CJ), 32–33, 36, 39 (McHugh and Gummow JJ), 46–51 (Kirby J), 70 (Hayne J), 101–103 (Callinan J), 113–114 (Heydon J).

  17. 17.

    Ibid at 52, 101.

  18. 18.

    Harriton v Stephens (2006) 226 CLR 52; [2006] HCA 15.

  19. 19.

    Ibid at 119–121.

  20. 20.

    Ibid at 122.

  21. 21.

    Ibid at 121.

  22. 22.

    Ibid at 122.

  23. 23.

    Cattanach v Melchior (2003) 215 CLR 1 at 107.

  24. 24.

    Stuart v Kirkland-Veenstra (2009) 237 CLR 215 at 248 [88], referring to Markesinis and Unberath (2002), p. 90.

  25. 25.

    Kahn-Freund (1966), p. 41.

  26. 26.

    Friedmann (1947–51), p. 274.

References

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  • Kahn-Freund O (1966) Comparative law as an academic subject. Law Q Rev 82:40

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  • Markesinis, Unberath (2002) The German law of torts: a comparative treatise, 4th edn

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  • Wagner G (2006) Comparative tort law. In: Reimann M, Zimmermann R (eds) The Oxford handbook of comparative law, p 1003

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. High Court of Australia, Canberra, ACT, Australia

    Susan Kiefel

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  1. Susan Kiefel
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Correspondence to Susan Kiefel .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. International Academy of Comparative Law, Paris, France

    Katharina Boele-Woelki

  2. International Academy of Comparative Law, Paris, France

    Diego P. Fernández Arroyo

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Kiefel, S. (2019). The Significance of Comparative Law to Common Law Judges: An Australian Perspective. In: Boele-Woelki, K., Fernández Arroyo, D. (eds) Current Issues of Comparative Law – Questions actuelles de droit comparé. Ius Comparatum - Global Studies in Comparative Law, vol 35. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-20659-8_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-20659-8_1

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