Statutory Interpretation and Human Rights

The annual McPherson Lecture Series, inspired by the famous Hamlyn Lecture Series in England, hosts a celebrated international scholar or legal expert to deliver a series of three lectures. Exploring the role of statutory interpretation and human rights, the first lecture considers the principals of the law of statutory interpretation that constitute, in substance, a common law bill of rights. The second lecture considers the developing jurisprudence of the application of the special interpretive provision in human rights legislation and how the principles of statutory interpretation are applied to the legislation of this character, and the final lecture examines the difficulties posed for interpretation by the need to balance conflicting human rights and the limits of interpretation. These thought-provoking and timely essays tackle an important and controversial area of law, exploring the real repercussions for the reputation of the law, the role of judges and the independence of the court system in Australia.