Crime
What are the two main elements the prosecution generally needs to prove to establish a crime?
Actus reus and mens rea.
What international document adopted in 1948 outlines fundamental human rights?
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
What does ACL stand for?
Australian Consumer Law.
What was famously found in a bottle in Donoghue v Stevenson?
A decomposed snail.
What is the term for a law made by Parliament?
Legislation or statute law.
What standard of proof must the prosecution meet in a criminal case?
: Beyond reasonable doubt.
What organisation adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?
The United Nations.
Which regulator is primarily responsible for enforcing competition and consumer law nationally?
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, or ACCC.
What important legal principle emerged from Donoghue v Stevenson?
A manufacturer may owe a duty of care to the ultimate consumer.
What is the term for law developed through decisions made by judges in courts?
Common law.
What is the name given to the person accused of committing a criminal offence?
The accused or defendant.
What principle allows a country to govern itself without interference from other countries?
State sovereignty.
Which section of the ACL prohibits misleading or deceptive conduct?
Section 18.
In R v Thomas Sam; R v Manju Sam, what offence were Baby Gloria’s parents convicted of after failing to obtain appropriate medical treatment for her severe eczema?
Manslaughter by criminal negligence.
What does mens rea mean?
The guilty mind or mental element of a crime.
What legal principle means a person is considered innocent until proven guilty?
Presumption of innocence.
What is the main limitation of international human rights law when dealing with sovereign states?
International law can be difficult to enforce because states retain sovereignty and generally must consent to be bound by treaties.
Under consumer guarantees, goods must be of what standard?
Acceptable Quality
The case of R v Lazarus became an important example in NSW law reform surrounding what key issue in sexual assault law?
Consent, particularly whether an accused took steps to ascertain consent and whether their belief in consent was reasonable.
What is the legal term for a court’s authority to hear and decide a case?
Jurisdiction.
What is the name of the legal principle that prevents a person from being tried twice for the same offence after being acquitted or convicted?
Double jeopardy
Australia does not have one national document protecting all rights in the same way as some countries. What type of document is often proposed as a possible reform?
A national Charter or Bill of Rights.
What remedy may a consumer be entitled to if a product has a major failure under the Australian Consumer Law?
The consumer can generally choose a refund or replacement, and may also be entitled to compensation for reasonably foreseeable loss or damage.
What was the Erin Patterson Case?
Erin Patterson served a beef Wellington lunch containing death cap mushrooms to four relatives in Victoria in 2023. Three of them died and one survived. In 2025, she was found guilty of three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.
What is the legal principle that requires lower courts to follow relevant decisions made by higher courts?
Precedent.