Book Review: Associations and Clubs Law in Australia and New Zealand (3rd Edition)

Associations and Clubs Law is a practical text, providing comprehensive guidance for managers and advisors of non-Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) associations in Australia and New Zealand. This is the third edition of this work. The third edition is published in a concise, paper-back form. This edition takes into account recent amendments to individual State and Territory legislation, particularly, in the Northern Territory and New South Wales.

The author, A. S. (Sally) Sievers,² is a former lecturer in corporations law at the Monash University law faculty and the Melbourne University law school. Relevantly, the author was involved in the drafting of the Victorian Associations Incorporation Act 1981.

The book is structured in a way which emphasises the differences in the law relating to the formation, operation and dissolution as between unincorporated and incorporated associations. There is further emphasis upon the available methods of incorporating an unincorporated non-profit association. This methodology allows the reader to identify with ease the subject matter that is of most relevance to their specific circumstances.

The text is to be commended for its readability and appropriately detailed presentation of the legal principles. The author has also, skillfully, used structure by presenting subject matter in accordance with the generally anticipated chronological order of the conduct of a business. Also, Sievers avoids overwhelming the reader with footnotes and ancillary matters. Further, in describing the law as it stands in Australia, as well as in New Zealand, there is a comparative element to this work that enhances the reader’s understanding of the logical foundation of the relevant legal principles.

As a result, Associations and Clubs Law is an appropriately concise, yet sufficiently detailed, account of the law relating to the lifecycle of an incorporated or unincorporated association, be it not-for-profit or otherwise. The text has a recommended retail price of $39.95 and is published by the Federation Press.

1.  The publisher’s web page for the book is here.

2. The publisher’s web page for the author is here.