An Australian Perspective on Class Action Settlements

Recent studies of the class action device have prompted legal commentators to turn their attention to the crucial issue of whether this device should be introduced in England and Ireland and, if so, what features this device should possess. The aim of this article is to contribute to this debate by providing an analysis of the Australian experience with one of the most crucial aspects of this device, namely, the settlement of class proceedings. The United States jurisprudence on class action settlements is also extensively referred to.