Students
LAWS5048 – Animal Law
2020 – Session 3, Infrequent attendance, North Ryde
Notice
As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group learning activities on campus for the second half-year, while keeping an online version available for those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.
To check the availability of face to face activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.
General Information
Download as PDF
| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor
Dr Jed Goodfellow
Contact via jed.goodfellow@mq.edu.au
By appointment
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|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
160cp in LAWS or LAW units
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit is concerned with the role of the law in regulating our interactions with animals. It considers important philosophical, ethical, legal and regulatory questions regarding the treatment of animals. How should animals be treated in modern-day society? Why are some animals afforded greater protections than others? How does one determine what is necessary and unnecessary harm in the treatment of animals? Should animals be conceptualised as personal property or afforded some or all of the protections available to legal persons? Students will be exposed to a range of ideas that will inform their analysis of the contemporary animal welfare legislative framework. Regulatory arrangements will be examined and contrasted in relation to: companion animals; farm animals; animals used in commercial food (or other) production; wildlife, including protected species; and animals used in scientific experimentation, zoos and circuses. Significant international developments in animal law will be considered, and avenues for public interest litigation explored. Students will be presented with practical case studies, a rich diversity of perspectives from a range of expert speakers and the opportunity to research particular areas of interest. This unit is designed to be thought-provoking and to challenge previous conceptions and assumptions regarding non-human animals.
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Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- ULO1: Critically research, analyse and critique the key law, theories and literature on regulation of the use of animals.
- ULO2: Identify legal issues and apply relevant legal principles to hypothetical problems involving the use of animals.
- ULO3: Carry out and present independent research on animal law issues, including the ways in which values and ethical issues affect animal law and policy.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participatory tasks at the intensive seminar sessions | 30% | No | 2nd day of tutorial sessions |
| Research essay | 60% | No | 18/01/21 |
| Online multiple choice quiz | 10% | No | 11-12/01/21 |
Participatory tasks at the intensive seminar sessions
Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 18 hours
Due: 2nd day of tutorial sessions
Weighting: 30%
In class presentations, discussion and problem solving
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Critically research, analyse and critique the key law, theories and literature on regulation of the use of animals.
- Identify legal issues and apply relevant legal principles to hypothetical problems involving the use of animals.
- Carry out and present independent research on animal law issues, including the ways in which values and ethical issues affect animal law and policy.
Research essay
Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 70 hours
Due: 18/01/21
Weighting: 60%
Students will prepare a written response to one of several set questions demonstrating advanced legal research skills with appropriate analysis and argument supported by relevant authoritative cases and commentary.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Critically research, analyse and critique the key law, theories and literature on regulation of the use of animals.
- Identify legal issues and apply relevant legal principles to hypothetical problems involving the use of animals.
- Carry out and present independent research on animal law issues, including the ways in which values and ethical issues affect animal law and policy.
Online multiple choice quiz
Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 1 hours
Due: 11-12/01/21
Weighting: 10%
A one hour multiple choice quiz to assess understanding of the unit materials
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Critically research, analyse and critique the key law, theories and literature on regulation of the use of animals.
- Identify legal issues and apply relevant legal principles to hypothetical problems involving the use of animals.
- Carry out and present independent research on animal law issues, including the ways in which values and ethical issues affect animal law and policy.
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
- the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
- the Writing Centre for academic skills support.
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
Delivery and Resources
REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDED TEXTS AND/OR MATERIALS
PRESCRIBED MATERIALS
1. Macquarie Library Leganto readings
REFERENCE MATERIALS
1. C Cao & S White, Animal Law and Welfare - International Perspectives, Springer, 2015
2. Halsbury's Laws of Australia, Animals, 2016
3. A Bruce, Animal law in Australia, An Integrated Approach, 2nd ed, LexisNexis, 2018
4. J R Garrett (ed), The Ethics of Animal Research, Exploring the Controversy, The MIT Press, 2012
5. P Sankoff & S White (eds), Animal Law in Australasia, 1st ed, Federation Press, 2009
6. P Sankoff & S White (eds), Animal Law in Australasia, 2nd ed, Federation Press, 2013
7. D Cao, Animal law in Australia & New Zealand, 2nd ed, Thomson Reuters, 2015
8. Y Otomo & E Mussawir (eds) Law and the Question of the Animal: A Critical Jurisprudence, Routledge, 2013
9. M Radford, Animal Welfare Law in Britain: Regulation and Responsibility, Oxford University Press, 2001
10. C Sunstein & M Nussbaum, Animal Rights: Current Debates and New Directions, Oxford University Press, 2004
11. B A Wagman & M Liebman, A Worldview of Animal Law, Carolina Academic Press, 2011
12. Animal Law Review (available at HeinOnline)
13. Journal of Animal Law (available at HeinOnline)
14. Stanford Journal of Animal Law & Policy (available at https://law.stanford.edu/stanford-journal-of-animal-law-and-policy-sjalp/)
15. Journal of Animal Law & Ethics (available at HeinOnline)
16. Journal of Animal & Environmental Law (available at http://www.jael-online.org/)
17. Journal of Animal and Natural Resource Law (available at http://www.animallaw.info/)
18. Australian Animal Protection Law Journal (In library, & HeinOnline)
19. Animal Legal and Historical Center (http://www.animallaw.info/)
DELIVERY OF UNIT
This unit will be delivered via 10 online lectures covering each topic of the Unit followed by 12 hours of online tutorial and group related activities over a two-day period.
Unit Schedule
TOPICS STUDIED IN THIS UNIT
This unit will be delivered via 10 online lectures covering each topic of the Unit, followed by 12 hours of online tutorials and group related activities:
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Date |
Topics |
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3 Dec |
Introduction to Animal Law |
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3 Dec |
History: Philosophical Development, Origins of Property Status & First Animal Protection Laws |
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4 Dec |
Contemporary Philosophical Thought and Animal Law Strategy |
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4 Dec |
Principles of Animal Welfare Law and Regulation |
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9 Dec |
Standard-setting and Enforcement of Animal Welfare Legislation |
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10 Dec |
Regulation of the Treatment of Companion Animals |
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11 Dec |
Regulation of the Treatment of Farm Animals |
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16 Dec |
International Issues in Animal Law |
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17 Dec |
Strategic Litigation – Animal Law in Practice |
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18 Dec |
Animal Politics and Law Reform |
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4-5 Jan |
Group 1 – online tutorial sessions |
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6-7 Jan |
Group 2 – online tutorial sessions |
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8-9 Jan |
Group 3 – online tutorial sessions |
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Grade Appeal Policy
- Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy (Note: The Special Consideration Policy is effective from 4 December 2017 and replaces the Disruption to Studies Policy.)
Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct
Results
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
Penalty for late submission
Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests.
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.
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Student Services and Support
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
Student Enquiries
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If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
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