The Mother Country. Most Commonwealth countries traditionally could appeal back to "the Queen in Council" to have decisions settled by the highest Court in "the land" as it were.

See:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judicial_Committee_of_the_Privy_Council

--Q

You're wrong, sorry to say :)

Yes, in 1912 it did - but until the Statute of Westminster we were essentially not independent and cases this far back on these issues have little relevance today. By pre-dating the Australia Acts I meant the Privy Council (Limitation of Appeals) Act 1968 & the Privy Council (Appeals from the High Court) Act 1975 - which closed it off as an avenue from the High Court (except in a particular circumstance that the UK Parliament closed off when they passed their own Australia Act stopping the States going to the Privy Council).

The legislative effect of these was that you must have a certificate of the High Court to go to the Privy Council and the High Court will not grant one. s74 may as well be void.

--Q

No, there isn't.

The Australia Acts (Federal and State) removed appeal to the Privy Council in the 80s for Australians.

The High Court doesn't and can't grant an appeal to the Privy Council (and this predates even the Australia Acts).

--Q

Just to be more of a pedant, Supreme Courts aren't really below the Federal Court. You can't appeal a decision of a Supreme Court to the Federal Court. They're different jurisdictions.

--Q

> The supreme court is the highest court in each state

This is only sort of true (at least in NSW, but I assume elsewhere too?).

You can appeal a decision of the NSW Supreme Court to the NSW Court of Appeal. However, the Court of Appeal is a branch of the Supreme Court in the they're established.

Many corporate issues, trade practices and IR cases are also heard in State courts. It depends on the case in point .. (the NSW Dept of Fair Trading for instance, brings its cases in NSW. Many companies sue each other over contractual disputes in the state courts etc.)

--Q

Apple have sought leave to appeal to the High Court of Australia, Australia's highest court. So it's like the Supreme Court in the US - there are no appeals beyond that, and they get to pick and choose what cases they take, so there is little certainty Apple will get anywhere appealing now.

(The Supreme Court usage in the summary is misleading to Australians because Supreme Courts here are State-based courts.)

This is a good ruling I think. You could readily buy the 10.1 here online (ebay etc) and have it shipped to you - cheaper than you'd pay a local retailer too. If there is merit to Apple's case they'll be able to get damages down the line for the patent infringement.

--Q

Doh. Login fail :(

--Q

Politics might be stupid in Australia, like lots of places. But no, it won't go the same was as China.

We have transparency and rule of law.

However fucked out Communications Minister might be.

--Q

I've had a blackberry (well, various handsets) for many years through Optus. They're also at least available through Vodafone.

Agreed on our iphone though. Not only can get them from any of the carriers, you can also just buy them outright and unlocked from Apple.

--Q