AGS provides a range of publications for Australian Government employees, researchers, academics, students and the public.
Express law
Express law is a subscription email service that provides quick legal updates on court decisions or other legal developments that may impact on particular matters, the way you conduct business or policy planning. Express law is provided as an early, interim view for general information only.
Last week in Parliament
Last week in Parliament is a subscription email service produced following each parliamentary sitting week. It summarises key events in the Commonwealth Parliament in the previous week and includes links to the most significant documents.
Legal briefing
Legal briefing provides concise information on significant legal developments. Each issue usually covers a single topic, written by lawyers with specialist expertise, providing valuable information and advice to Australian Government clients, state courts and tribunals, state government departments and libraries.
Constitutional cases
Constitutional cases helps you to stay informed on current and developing litigation in key cases in Australia. While most issues focus on matters before the High Court, there is also coverage of cases in the Federal Court and other courts and tribunals. Results of judgments and appeals are reported, as are trends and other points of special interest in Commonwealth litigation.
Subscribe to receive future AGS publications.
Former publication series
These publications have been consolidated into our ongoing publication series above. Any new content relating to these topics will be published under the ongoing series.
- Commercial notes - published as part of Legal briefings
- Fact sheets - published as part of Legal briefings
- Litigation notes - now Constitutional cases
Books
Sawer's The Australian Constitution
AGS has published the 4th edition of the highly-regarded and easy to read introduction to the Australian Constitution, originally written by Professor Geoffrey Sawer AO. This edition has been updated by former AGS Chief General Counsels Guy Aitken KC and Robert Orr PSM KC. The book provides a broad overview of the genesis of our Constitution, how it has developed, and how it works today.
The 4th edition has maintained the lively spirit of earlier editions, and remains an accessible, general guide for students, teachers, citizens, politicians, public servants, lawyers and anyone interested in learning about the foundations of the Australian system of government. It clearly draws together legal and historical themes, and importantly focuses on how the Constitution operates in practice. Commentary on current issues has been included, such as freedom of speech and other constitutional rights, cooperation between the Commonwealth, states and territories, and proposals for constitutional change.
The full text of the Constitution and related major constitutional materials are also included.
If you would like to buy bulk copies of Sawer’s, please email us at ags@ags.gov.au.
The Australian Constitution pocket edition
The pocket edition of Australia's Constitution is a handy reference for the public, students, researchers and legal practitioners. The booklet includes an overview and notes by AGS. It is published jointly by AGS and the Parliamentary Education Office.
You can purchase copies from the Parliamentary Education Office.
Legal opinions website
The legal opinions website brings together a collection of past opinions of Commonwealth Attorneys-General, Solicitors-General and lawyers in the Attorney-General's Department previously published as hardback volumes.