On Wednesday 12 November, Year 9 Commerce students from Thomas Hassall Anglican College travelled to the Sydney CBD for an engaging and insightful excursion that brought their “Law and Society” and “Law in Action” units to life.
The day began with a visit to the NSW Parliament House, the oldest legislature in Australia and the oldest surviving colonial building in the country. Students had the unique opportunity to see democracy in action, sitting in the public gallery to observe Question Time in both the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council, an eye-opening experience highlighting the energy, debate, and decision-making that shape the laws governing our state. During Question Time, parliamentarians discussed key issues such as energy production, housing, and net zero commitments.
Students also learnt about the Westminster system and the two Houses of Parliament as well as the main roles of Parliament: to legislate, represent, and scrutinise. They had the privilege of meeting their local member, Nathan Hagarty, who shared the priorities of their electorate, including infrastructure upgrades, more schools, improvements to 15th Avenue, the importance of Middleton Grange, and new circular roundabouts going into Austral. Mr Hagarty also explained his role as Government Whip in a minority government, the challenges of balancing the rights of various groups in legislation, and plans to upgrade train lines, modernise the signals system, and extend the rail line to the Aerotropolis. Students asked insightful questions about traffic flow and public transport, gaining an understanding of how government decisions impact communities.
After Parliament, students visited the Justice and Police Museum, housed in historic 19th-century buildings. They explored true crimes and forensic investigations, including a taxidermy dog, and learned how legal processes have changed over time due to social influences, including reforms to the defence of provocation, highlighted through the case of Linda Agostini. Students studied the history of safe-cracking, the establishment of the Safe and Arson Squad, and the implications of technological change for modern crime, such as cybercrime, fraud, and social media age restrictions. They also gained insight into the features, personnel, and role of a local court and compared modern and historic police stations. The visit concluded with a mock trial, where students took on different roles in a hypothetical case, applying their learning in an interactive way.
The excursion provided a hands-on opportunity for students to connect classroom learning with real-world politics, law, and justice, deepening their appreciation for the democratic system and the evolving legal landscape.
Mrs Andrea Kemp
HSIE Coordinator - Social Science
