Constant changes in administrative law reinforce the need for an up-to-date volume that critically examines the law in its contemporary, as well as historical, context.

This third edition assesses the overhaul of the federal and State Freedom of Information legislation in 2009-10, the potential impact of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011 (Cth) and the implications of the resignation of the Commonwealth Ombudsman in 2011.

It also reviews a string of possibly far-reaching High Court rulings, notably Plaintiff M70/2011(the `Malaysian Solution' case), Plaintiff M61/2010E (detainees' access to judicial review), Pape v Commissioner of Taxation (emergency fiscal power) and Kirk v Industrial Relations Commission (privative clauses).

Taken as a whole, these developments highlight the ever-evolving shape of administrative law. They underscore a central argument of this book - the necessity to examine the content and trajectory of administrative law in its political, administrative and socio-economic settings.

This edition is further fashioned from the rewarding experience of teaching administrative law since 1998.