| Semester 3, 2021 Online | |
| Short Description: | Local Government Law |
| Units : | 1 |
| Faculty or Section : | Faculty of Business, Education, Law and Arts |
| School or Department : | School of Law and Justice |
| Student contribution band : | Band 4 |
| ASCED code : | 090999 - Law not elsewhere classified |
| Grading basis : | Graded |
Staffing
Examiner:
Requisites
Pre-requisite: (LAW1111 and LAW1112) or LAW1201 or (LAW5111 and LAW5112) or LAW5501
Other Requisites
Students are required to have access to a personal computer, e-mail capabilities and Internet access to UConnect. Current details of computer requirements can be found at .
Rationale
Local government has significant legislative powers and obligations. It is important that students gain an understanding of the role, powers and obligations of local government and the ways in which the law provides structure and accountability around the role, powers and obligations.
Synopsis
In this course, students will examine and understand the structure, function and powers of local government within Queensland through examination of the Local Government Act 2009 (Qld) and related legislation and case law. Students will also undertake an analysis of the legal challenges facing local government.
Objectives
On successful completion of this course students should be able to demonstrate:
- understanding of the structure and role of local government in Australian government;
- understanding of the role of Councillors in representative government at the local level and the interplay between the executive and administrative arms of local government;
- understanding of the business of local government;
- understanding of how decisions are made at a local government level and what mechanisms exist for review of those decisions;
- understanding of contemporary key issues facing local government.
Topics
| Description | Weighting(%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | The Levels of Government | 10.00 |
| 2. | The Statutory Framework in Queensland | 10.00 |
| 3. | Councillors and Council Officers | 20.00 |
| 4. | Decision Making and Review | 20.00 |
| 5. | Land Use Planning | 20.00 |
| 6. | Key Issues in Local Government | 20.00 |
Text and Materials
ALL textbooks and materials available to be purchased can be sourced from (unless otherwise stated). (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/textbooks/?year=2021&sem=03&subject1=LAW3472)
Please for alternative purchase options from USQ Bookshop. (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/info/contact/)
Reference Materials
Student Workload Expectations
| Activity | Hours |
|---|---|
| Assessments | 50.00 |
| Directed Study | 55.00 |
| Private Study | 60.00 |
Assessment Details
| Description | Marks out of | Wtg (%) | Due Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASSIGNMENT 1 | 40 | 40 | 03 Jan 2022 | |
| ASSIGNMENT 2 | 60 | 60 | 28 Jan 2022 |
Important assessment information
-
Attendance requirements:
There are no attendance requirements for this course. However, it is the students' responsibility to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration. -
Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
To satisfactorily complete an individual assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks. (Depending upon the requirements in Statement 4 below, students may not have to satisfactorily complete each assessment item to receive a passing grade in this course.) -
Penalties for late submission of required work:
Students should refer to the Assessment Procedure (point 4.2.4) -
Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course. -
Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the aggregate of the weighted marks obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course. -
Examination information:
There is no examination in this course. -
Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
Deferred and Supplementary examinations will be held in accordance with the Assessment Procedure . -
University Student Policies:
Students should read the USQ policies: Definitions, Assessment and Student Academic Misconduct to avoid actions which might contravene University policies and practices. These policies can be found at .
Assessment Notes
-
Students studying this course as part of a Bachelor of Laws or Juris Doctor must use the Australian Guide to Legal Citation (AGLC) style. Students who are not enrolled in either of these programs may use either Harvard (AGPS) or the AGLC in their assignments to format details of the information sources they have cited in their work. For AGLC style guide enquiries, consult the AGLC manual from the USQ Library's referencing guide at or contact the Law librarian. The Harvard (AGPS) style to be used is defined by the USQ Library's referencing guide at .