The University of New South Wales Law Journal is pleased to announce the launch of Issue 41(1) on 29 March 2018. The Issue is a general Issue featuring nine articles, and the topic for the launch event – ‘Statutory Interpretation and Parliamentary Materials’ – is inspired by the article selected to lead the Issue. The lead article, by Jacinta Dharmananda, makes the case for a more nuanced appreciation of the statute-making process in statutory interpretation, and raises broader questions of legislative intention, the role of the judiciary in interpreting legislation, and the use of non-statutory materials.

The following eight articles in the Issue address a range of topical legal issues. These include: the relationship between law and poverty; the role of parliamentary committees in protecting human rights; a human rights law analysis of the media coverage of abuses at the Don Dale Detention Centre; victim impact statements in sentencing homicide offences; non-consensual smartphone recordings in domestic and family violence contexts; citation patterns of trial judges in the NSW District Court; the legalities of degree revocation by Australian universities; and patented methods in Australia.

We are delighted to be welcoming the Hon Justice John Basten, of the New South Wales Court of Appeal, to deliver the keynote address. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Justice Basten taught at UNSW, then practised as a barrister and Queens Counsel, specialising in administrative and constitutional law, native title, immigration and human rights. He has served as a part-time Commissioner of the New South Wales Law Reform Commission (1996–1999), the Australian Law Reform Commission (1986–1987), and the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (1994–1997), and as an assistant Commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (2003–2004).

The launch will take place on 29 March 2018 at the offices of premier sponsor Allens, Level 28, Deutsche Bank Place, 126 Phillip Street, Sydney, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.

To register your attendance, please RSVP by 12.00pm on 27 March 2018.