Administrative Law and Data Governance Compliance G (12304.1)

Your data decisions could end up in court. Learn the constitutional and procedural rules that determine whether they'll survive judicial scrutiny.
Data governance isn't just about privacy and transparency; it's also about power. This unit teaches you the constitutional and administrative law principles that define the legal boundaries of what you can and cannot do with information. Get it wrong, and your decision faces judicial review, reputational damage, and costly litigation.
You'll examine how natural justice, procedural fairness, and evidence-based decision-making apply to data-intensive government operations. What does "procedural fairness" actually mean when automated systems make decisions about citizens? How do you ensure decisions are made using sound legal principles? When can the courts overturn your workplace's data decisions? These questions have real answers based in Federal Court and High Court precedents you'll analyse and apply to realistic scenarios.
You'll work through complex real-world problems: examining the legal basis for government data collection under various statutory authorities, understanding constitutional constraints on power, and identifying where your data practices might be vulnerable to challenge. You'll learn statutory interpretation methods that help you understand what legislation requires in data governance contexts, as laws struggle to keep pace with emerging technology. You'll also explore how other democracies, such as the UK, Canada, and New Zealand, are tackling these issues, giving you insight into emerging best practice and pitfalls to avoid. By the end of this unit, you'll understand the constitutional and procedural foundations that protect citizens from government overreach while enabling legitimate data use. You'll be equipped to advise your workplace on compliance, identify legal risks before they escalate, and contribute confidently to policy decisions that stand up to scrutiny.

Learning outcomes

After successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Explore the legal basis for government data collection, use, and sharing to create defensible boundaries for lawful administrative action;
2. Apply statutory interpretation methods to governance of new and emerging technologies;
3. Analyse constitutional, statutory, and practical considerations that may apply to emerging data governance challenges;
4. Synthesise governance requirements into coherent, defensible advice that addresses competing obligations; and
5. Reflect on ethical implications of decisions by applying frameworks to identify tensions between legal compliance and ethical responsibility.

Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
2. UC graduates are global citizens - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development

Prerequisites

None.

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

None.

Assumed knowledge

None.