How to read legal citations in Australia

Mabo v Queensland (No 2) (1992) 175 CLR 1

1. Case name Mabo v Queensland (No 2)
   The parties. (No 2) shows this was the second case between them.
2. Year in round brackets 1992
   Round brackets mean the volumes are numbered, so the year is only extra information.
3. Volume 175
   Volume 175 of the series.
4. Series CLR
   Commonwealth Law Reports, the official reports of High Court of Australia decisions.
5. First page 1
   The page where the report begins.

Plaintiff S157/2002 v Commonwealth [2003] HCA 2

1. Case name Plaintiff S157/2002 v Commonwealth
   A case name can use a reference number instead of a name when the party is protected by law.
2. Year [2003]
   The year of the judgment.
3. Court HCA
   High Court of Australia. Other examples: FCA (Federal Court) and NSWCA (New South Wales Court of Appeal).
4. Number 2
   The running number of the judgment in that court for that year.

Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) s 180(1)

1. Short title and year Corporations Act 2001
   The Act's name and year.
2. Jurisdiction (Cth)
   Cth means Commonwealth, the federal level. State Acts carry their own abbreviation, such as (NSW) or (Vic).
3. Section s 180(1)
   Section 180, subsection (1). This section sets directors' duty of care and diligence.