Research of Dr Louise Floyd

Louise’s work at Edinburgh Law School continues her work on the topic: Regionalism in a Globalised World.

From 2008-2010, Louise researched the first aspect of that topic (ie) nations within regions. This work involved studying Asian employment law and examining ways in which countries like America and Australia could influence global labour conditions and norms (as China emerges onto the world stage) so as to advance fairness in the workplace and stop a ‘race to the bottom’ in labour law. In terms of legal practice, Louise undertook a small amount of consulting to the Hong Kong Government (in 2009 and 2010) on aspects of employment law and she has also published her research in journal articles, including:

• “When Old Meets New: Recent Developments in Chinese Law and its Relevance to the United States. (The Importance of Labor Law)” (2011) SMU Law Review.
• “Reforming Hong Kong Public Sector Employment Law after Lam Sui Po and Rowse — Some Useful Comparisons from Australian Law ” (2009) 39 Hong Kong Law Journal 457

In 2011 (at Edinburgh Law School), Louise has been looking at the second aspect of her overarching topic (ie) regions within nations and how regional concerns can be articulated through laws and legal/political systems.

Some of the basic premises of this research flow from the legacy of the late Professor MacCormick (ie) that nationalism is advanced through an appreciation of the outside world and not through xenophobia. Further, Louise has suggested Scotland and Queensland actually have a lot in common. (Both are north of the seat of national power; both have a strong tourist sector; both have unique issues eg cyclones for us, fuel poverty for Scotland etc; both have been ‘put upon at various times’ eg Scotland was the ‘guinea pig’ for the poll tax, Queensland’s mining sector props up the Australian economy from time to time).

Louise is of the view that it is important for Queensland to retain its own legal powers within a co-operative federal system rather than handing powers to the federal government and receiving monies in return. Some of her work in this regard has already been published in, for example:

· “The Fair Work Act’s Forgotten Issues: Why the High Court Judgment in McJannet and Richard Tracey’s Study of Trade Union Rules are Worth a Second Thought” (2010) Australian Bar Review

In furtherance of her work on regional legal issues, Louise is one of the co-founders of the Bar Association of Queensland-JCU Continuing Professional Development Series, which provides regional practitioners with increased opportunities to learn from face-to-face CPD sessions (and fosters stronger links between academia and the Bar). She also co-ordinates some of the law courses at JCU’s Brisbane Office, which are led by Brisbane barristers, such as Marcus Katter.