Provides a critical overview of the general principles of administrative law as they operate in areas such as judicial review, merits review, Ombudsman and Freedom of Information. Topics that may be covered, at a general level, in the course include an introduction to some of the theoretical issues underlying administrative law, the role of the State, the governmental structures that influence the administrative law system, the principles of good administration and the protection of individual rights; the nature of discretionary decision making, and theories of decision making; practical applications of the theories; the requirement of giving reasons for decisions; freedom of information legislation, both Commonwealth and State and internal and external review of decisions, including the administrative appeals mechanisms; a theoretical review of judicial review; the practice of judicial review, with special reference to the Commonwealth experience; principles expressed in judicial review, including procedural fairness; public law issues such as justiciability, standing and rule making; and the public/private divide.