Australian Constitution

1909

Huddart, Parker & Co Pty Ltd v Moorehead

High Court of Australia(1909) 8 CLR 330

Key Principle

Early interpretation of the corporations power (s 51(xx)) held it did not extend to regulating the conduct of trading corporations, only their incorporation

This early High Court decision gave a narrow reading to the Commonwealth's corporations power under s 51(xx), holding it was limited to the creation of corporations and did not extend to regulating their trading activities. The restrictive interpretation persisted for decades and was not fully overturned until the Work Choices Case in 2006.

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