Canons of Statutory Interpretation

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Canons of Statutory Interpretation

So we know that parliament makes (or delegates) law - but its the court that has to interpret this law and this section shows the help the court is given in order to do this:

The Canons

These are items that courts can presume (although they can be rebutted)

  • Common Law has not been altered

  • There's been no back dating of statute

  • Crown is not bound

  • No strict liability - ie not liable if you didn't mean to commit an offence

  • Ejusdem Generis - basically means other such things.. This canon is saying if you have a specific example and then the act says "and other such things" then the things are related to the specific example

    This is shown in the Powell v Kempton Park Case

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