It has been seven years since the last edition of Professor Zines's classic book, The High Court and the Constitution. In that time the High Court has handed down a range of important decisions transforming, extending and developing existing constitutional law principles. The 6th edition of the book, by Dr James Stellios, contains analysis and critique of the High Court's jurisprudence over that period. Changes have been made to all chapters to update the existing law. However, the most significant updates relate to:
The reformulation of the Commonwealth's executive power to contract and spend following the High Court's decisions in Pape and the two Williams cases;
The High Court's continuing development of Chapter III principles, particularly its renewed interest in the Kable limitation on State Parliaments;
The uncertainties appearing in recent High Court cases on the implied freedom of political communication;
The High Court's application of s 92 to national markets in the internet-based new economy.