课89：澳大利亚法律制度

Lesson 89: Australian Legal System

BASIS 基础

The Legal System has state and federal parts. 法律体系由州和联邦组成。 It is based on the English legal system. 它基于英国法律制度。 This means it is "adversarial" (= two-sided), with a lawyer to argue for one point of view and a lawyer to argue for the opposite, in all legal matters. 这意味着它是“对抗性的”（双面的），在所有法律事务中，律师都主张一种观点，而律师则主张相反的观点。

For serious crimes, the legal system uses "trial by jury". 对于严重犯罪，法律制度使用“陪审团审判”。 The principle of "innocent until proven guilty" is also part of the system. “无罪直到证明有罪”的原则也是该制度的一部分。

TYPES of LAW 法律类型

Laws made by Parliament are called Statutory Laws. 议会制定的法律被称为成文法。 The Federal Parliament can make laws about taxation, defence, trade, marriage and divorce, immigration and other issues. 联邦议会可以制定有关税收，国防，贸易，婚姻和离婚，移民和其他问题的法律。 The States and Territories can make laws about health, education, transport, and other issues. 各州和领地可以制定有关健康，教育，交通和其他问题的法律。

In Australia, the other type of law is Common Law. 在澳大利亚，另一类法律是普通法。 The idea comes from the English legal system. 这个想法来自英国的法律制度。 It is law developed by decisions made in courts setting precedents for subsequent decisions. 它是由法院做出的决定并为后续决定设定先例的法律。

HIGH COURT of AUSTRALIA 澳大利亚高等法院

The High Court of Australia is the highest-ranking court in the country. 澳大利亚高等法院是该国最高级别的法院。 It deals with matters related to the Constitution, and with appeals from lower Courts. 它处理与宪法有关的事项，以及下级法院的上诉。 Between one and seven judges (called "High Court Justices") can sit on a case at the High Court, depending on its importance. 根据案件的重要性，一到七名法官（称为“高等法院大法官”）可以在高等法院任职。

Ranked equal underneath the High Court are the Federal Court of Australia and the Family Court of Australia. 在高等法院中排名靠前的是澳大利亚联邦法院和澳大利亚家庭法院。

FEDERAL COURT of AUSTRALIA 澳大利亚联邦法院

The Federal Court mainly deals with bankruptcy and taxation cases, and with Federal Industrial Relations issues. 联邦法院主要处理破产和税务案件，以及联邦劳资关系问题。 Cases are heard by three judges. 案件由三名法官审理。

FAMILY COURT of AUSTRALIA 澳大利亚家庭法院

The Family Court deals with divorce, child and spouse maintenance and child custody cases and appeals. 家庭法院处理离婚，抚养子女和配偶以及抚养子女的案件和上诉。 The Court also offers counselling and mediation services. 法院还提供咨询和调解服务。

STATE and TERRITORY COURTS 州和地区法院

There are three levels of courts in most States and Territories. 在大多数州和领地，法院分为三个级别。 Their names are: Lower Courts, Intermediate Courts (excluding NT and ACT) and Superior Courts. 他们的名字是：下级法院，中级法院（不包括NT和ACT）和高等法院。 There is also a Children's Court and a Coroner's Court in each state. 每个州还设有一个儿童法院和一名死因裁判法院。

Lower Court 下院

The Lower Court, also called a "Magistrate's Court" or a "Court of Petty Sessions", judges less serious crimes, such as traffic offences, theft and driving offences. 下级法院也称为“治安法院”或“小法庭”，对不太严重的犯罪作出判决，例如交通犯罪，盗窃和驾驶犯罪。 A Magistrate presides over lower courts and gives verdicts without the help of a Jury. 地方法官主持下级法院，在没有陪审团帮助的情况下作出判决。

This court also holds Preliminary hearings (also called "Committal hearings") for more serious offences. 该法院还为更严重的罪行举行初步听证会（也称为“市政听证会”）。 In other words, the Magistrate decides if such cases should proceed to an Intermediate court - is there "a case to answer"? 换句话说，治安法官决定是否应将此类案件提交中级法院审理-是否有“案件要回答”？

The Lower Court also hears non-criminal matters (called "civil proceedings"), for example disputes between neighbours over boundaries, and disputes over contracts or money up to $100,000. 下级法院还审理非刑事事项（称为“民事诉讼”），例如邻居之间关于边界的争端以及关于合同或金额不超过10万美元的争端。

Children's Court 儿童法院

The Children's Court judges all cases involving children, except for the most serious ones. 儿童法院判决所有涉及儿童的案件，最严重的案件除外。 Examples are theft, carjacking, driving while disqualified, drugs offences and child protection orders. 例如盗窃，劫车，不合格驾驶，毒品犯罪和儿童保护令。

In Australia, the age of criminal responsibility (= the point at which a person is considered able to tell right from wrong) is 10 years. 在澳大利亚，刑事责任年龄（即认为某人能够说出是非的年龄）为10岁。

In criminal cases, a person is considered to be a child if they are aged over 10 and under 17 at the time of the alleged offence and under 18 when they appear in court. 在刑事案件中，如果某人在涉嫌犯罪时年龄在10岁以下且未满17岁，而出庭时未满18岁，则视为儿童。 In other cases, a person is considered a child if they are aged under 17. 在其他情况下，如果一个人未满17岁，则该人被视为儿童。

A Magistrate presides over the Children's Court and gives verdicts without the help of a Jury. 治安法官主持儿童法院，并在没有陪审团帮助的情况下作出判决。

Coroner's Court 死因裁判法院

The Coroner's Court deals with unexplained or accidental deaths, violent deaths, deaths under anaesthetic, and suspicious fires. 死因裁判法院处理无法解释的或意外死亡，暴力死亡，麻醉下死亡和可疑火灾。

The Coroner can order an inquest to determine the cause of death or fire and can commit a suspect to trial for murder, manslaughter or arson. 死因裁判官可以命令进行调查以确定死因或起火的原因，并可以将嫌疑人以谋杀，过失杀人或纵火罪审判。

The Coroner's Court is not a trial. 死因裁判法院不是审判庭。 The Coroner rules on matters without the help of a Jury. 死因裁判官在没有陪审团帮助的情况下就事务做出裁决。

Intermediate Courts 中级法院

Intermediate Courts are called "County Courts" in VIC, "District Courts" in other states. 中级法院在维也纳国际中心被称为“县法院”，在其他州被称为“地区法院”。 They judge all but the most serious crimes, and all but the most expensive civil cases. 他们审判除最严重的罪行以外的所有罪行，以及最昂贵的民事案件。 Serious crimes include armed robbery, drug trafficking and sexual offences. 严重犯罪包括武装抢劫，贩毒和性犯罪。

A judge presides over all cases. 所有案件均由法官主持。 Criminal cases involve a jury of 12 citizens. 刑事案件涉及由12名公民组成的陪审团。 Civil cases may involve a jury of 6 citizens, or the judge alone. 民事案件可能涉及由6名公民组成的陪审团，也可能只有法官。

These courts also hear appeals against decisions of the Magistrate's Court and the Children's Court. 这些法院还受理对地方法院和儿童法院的判决提出的上诉。

Superior Courts 高等法院

Superior Courts are called "Supreme Courts" in all states. 高等法院在所有州都被称为“最高法院”。 They judge the most serious criminal cases - murder, attempted murder and treason. 他们判断最严重的刑事案件-谋杀，未遂谋杀和叛国罪。 They also judge civil cases that are very complex, or involve very large sums of money. 他们还对非常复杂或涉及巨额资金的民事案件进行判决。

A judge presides over all cases. 所有案件均由法官主持。 Criminal cases involve a jury of 12 citizens. 刑事案件涉及由12名公民组成的陪审团。 Civil cases may involve a jury of 6 citizens, or the judge alone. 民事案件可能涉及由6名公民组成的陪审团，也可能只有法官。

Decisions from these courts can be used as precedents in future cases. 这些法院的判决可以作为以后案件的先例。

These courts also hear appeals against decisions of the County Court or District Court. 这些法院还受理针对县法院或地方法院的判决提出的上诉。 Appeals against decisions of the Supreme Court are heard in the High Court. 高等法院对最高法院的判决提出上诉。

The Death Penalty was abolished in Australia in 1973. 1973年，澳大利亚废除了死刑。 Sentences are up to "life" in prison, that is, imprisonment until the prisoner dies. 最高刑罚是在监狱中“无期徒刑”，即直到囚犯死亡为止的监禁。

ROYAL COMMISSIONS 皇家委员会

Royal Commissions are set up to investigate important matters where crimes may have been committed. 设立了皇家委员会，以调查可能已犯罪的重要事项。

A recent Royal Commission investigated behaviour in the financial system (= banks, life insurance and wealth management). 最近的皇家委员会调查了金融体系中的行为（=银行，人寿保险和财富管理）。 The Commission was set up after media reports that banks were charging customers for no service, and that dead people were being billed for life insurance. 该委员会是在媒体报道银行向客户收取无服务费以及向死者收取人寿保险费用后成立的。

Royal Commissions are not trials, but a means of getting to the truth. 皇家委员会不是审判，而是一种了解真相的手段。 They have the power to force citizens to attend and give evidence. 他们有权强迫公民参加并提供证据。

A Royal Commission is headed by a judge, assisted by lawyers. 皇家委员会由法官领导，并由律师协助。 Its conclusions (called "findings") are often of great value in changing the way organisations, including Government departments, behave. 其结论（称为“发现”）通常对改变组织（包括政府部门）的行为方式具有重要价值。 The findings can lead to criminal charges being brought at a later date. 调查结果可能会导致日后提起刑事诉讼。

JUDICIAL INQUIRIES 司法查询

Judicial Inquiries are similar to Royal Commissions, set up to investigate matters which may not be criminal, but were poorly managed by Governments or other organisations. 司法调查类似于皇家委员会，其成立的目的是调查可能不是刑事但由政府或其他组织管理不善的事项。

They are not trials. They may be able to force citizens to give evidence. 他们不是审判。 他们也许能够强迫公民提供证据。

A Judicial Inquiry is headed by a judge, assisted by lawyers. 司法调查由法官领导，律师协助。 Its findings are not so much about blaming people but learning lessons, and improving the way Australia is governed. 它的发现与其说是在指责人们，不如说是在汲取教训，并改善澳大利亚的治理方式。

JUDICIAL CORRUPTION 司法腐败

Judicial Corruption is very rare. 司法腐败非常罕见。 The last case alleging corrupt behaviour by an Australian judge was in 1984. 上一个有关澳大利亚法官的腐败行为的指控是在1984年。 The judge was found not guilty at trial in 1986. 法官在1986年的审判中被判无罪。 The case led to the NSW government setting up an Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). 此案导致新南威尔士州政府成立了反腐败独立委员会（ICAC）。 Other states now have similar organisations to uncover corrupt behaviour. 现在其他州也有类似的组织来揭露腐败行为。

POLICING 政策

Australia has both Federal and State police forces. 澳大利亚既有联邦警察又有州警察。

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) is the main law enforcement agency. 澳大利亚联邦警察（AFP）是主要的执法机构。 It investigates crimes against the Federal Government. 它调查针对联邦政府的罪行。 It protects Federal Government assets, airports, embassies and diplomats. 它保护联邦政府的资产，机场，使馆和外交官。 Its officers generally carry a handgun, taser, baton and pepper spray. 它的军官通常携带手枪，泰瑟枪，警棍和胡椒喷雾。

The Australian Border Force (ABF) is responsible for border protection, immigration and customs control. 澳大利亚边境部队（ABF）负责边境保护，移民和海关管制。 Its officers are usually not armed. 它的军官通常没有武装。

Each state has its own Police Force, responsible for general law and order, traffic policing and major crime. 每个州都有自己的警察部队，负责一般法律和秩序，交通警务和重大犯罪。 Its officers generally carry a handgun, taser, baton and pepper spray. 它的军官通常携带手枪，泰瑟枪，警棍和胡椒喷雾。

In Victoria there is a force of Protective Services Officers to protect passengers on trains, working from 6 pm until the time of the last train. 维多利亚州有一支保护服务人员保护火车上的乘客的工作，从下午6点开始工作，直到最后一趟火车开通为止。

Three police telephone numbers are available: 000 for emergency help, 131444 for help which is not an emergency, and 1800333000 for providing anonymous information about crimes or possible crimes. 共有三个警察电话号码：000用于紧急帮助，131444用于非紧急帮助，以及1800333000用于提供有关犯罪或可能犯罪的匿名信息。

SHERIFFS 谢里夫

Sheriffs are officers who enforce fines by seizing and selling citizens' assets. 治安官是通过扣押和出售公民资产来执行罚款的官员。 They enforce arrest warrants and evictions (= removing people from rented premises). 他们执行逮捕令和驱逐（=从出租房屋中遣散人员）。 In some states they can suspend driver's licenses and wheel-clamp vehicles. 在某些州，他们可以吊销驾驶执照和车轮夹紧的车辆。

RANGERS 测距仪

Rangers enforce local laws about littering, stray animals and illegal parking. 护林员执行有关乱扔垃圾，流浪动物和非法停车的地方法律。 They can issue fines but cannot make arrests. 他们可以罚款，但不能逮捕。

POLICE CORRUPTION and BRUTALITY 警察腐败和残暴行为

Police corruption is very rare. 警察腐败非常罕见。 Police are your friends, are polite and fair, and are there to help you. 警察是您的朋友，彬彬有礼且公正，能为您提供帮助。 They do not ask for, or take, bribes. 他们不索要或收受贿赂。 If they give you a fine, you do not pay them, but pay a Government department by post or over the Internet. 如果他们给您罚款，您就不用付款，而是通过邮寄或通过互联网向政府部门付款。

Cases of Police misconduct are inevitably reported by the media, and thoroughly investigated. 媒体不可避免地要报道警察不当行为的案件，并进行彻底调查。 Police can be fined, demoted or sacked. 警察可能被罚款，降级或被解雇。

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