The purpose of this paper is to examine the issues of plagiarism and academic integrity as they are covered by universities and to then identify the existence of legislation that would impose legal consequences. Accordingly, this paper adopts a legal approach to critical analysis and discourse in the examination of the issues and the appropriate…

A series of highly publicized cases of alleged fraud in the Australian academic community are described. Each case reveals an apparent failure of peer review. The right to pursue investigations and make comments that may offend powerful figures within the scholarly community is precarious. (MLW)