National Security Law is a burgeoning field of concern for Government, security agencies, civil rights monitors and the Australian public. As both the nature of threats (represented by, for example, the 11 September 2001 attacks in the US, or the rise of cyber security as a major national security concern) and the concept of 'security' (such as biosecurity) have evolved, legal responses have similarly evolved. This course offers a broad brush across a number of issues concerning national security law. The course will commence with a series of building blocks (heads of power, conceptions of security, historical background). This will then allow more detailed exploration of a series of institutional issues (such as the legislative arrangements for important national security institutions and the 'security law' making and monitoring process", practical issues (such as use of force and use of classified information in prosecutions) and thematic issues (such as the national security - civil rights balancing debate).

A participant who completes this course should be able to:

• formulate an understanding of what the concept of 'national security' means in an Australian context;
• explain the main features of the way in which Australian national security institutions are organised, and in particular the legal basis on which they operate;
• explain the main features of framework of Australian national security law, how this legal framework developed and how it currently operates; and
• examine, and critically analyse, practical and thematic issues arising from the way in which national security institutions and laws have developed and currently operate in Australia

Class participation  - 10%

Statutory interpretation/analysis exercise - 25%

Research essay - 65%

Intensive delivery over four days (26 hours); preparation and prereading for two days (10 hours); Plus time for assessment tasks

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LLB or with approval from the convenor based on prior knowledge.

Knowledge of public and criminal law.

There will be a reading list provided.

 Access to internet