Parliament: The Vision in Hindsight

The Federation Fathers agreed a federal Constitution which has enabled the Australian Parliament to play an important, even a leading, role in the development of national authority. The legislative powers conferred on the Parliament have enabled it to pass laws which have gone far beyond what might have been contemplated in 1900. On the occasion of the centenary of Federation, Parliament The Vision in Hindsight explores the way in which the Parliament has developed and influenced the operation of the Australian Constitution - and asks how well it has done its job. What vision had the framers in mind in designing the Parliament and its powers? How has the Parliament exercised those powers? How does the original design look with the benefit of hindsight? What has the past century taught us about the future powers and roles the Parliament should exercise and play in the future? The Parliamentary Library has brought together a distinguished group of scholars under the editorship of Professor Geoffrey Lindell, Reader in Law at the University of Melbourne.