An examination of the first year of decisions by the Kiefel High Court suggests that the Chief Justice's preference for collaborative decision-making is largely being met in practice.
The High Court will begin hearing the cases of seven federal parliamentarians who are citizens of other nations. If it was only a matter of applying the letter of the law, their fates would be clear, writes George Williams.
The government may be hoping that the momentum built towards the same-sex marriage postal vote will dissuade the High Court from striking it down, but George Williams says this may be a poor bet.
In striking out Bob Day's eligibility as a senator, the High Court has widened the grounds on which other members may be removed from Parliament, writes George Williams.
The rise of a "whatever it takes" approach in Australian politics poses a major challenge for Susan Kiefel, the newly installed leader of the Australian judiciary, writes George Williams.