Research Unit on Military Law and Ethics

RUMLAE is leading the development of the Wayfarer Manual, an ambitious international project designed to bring clarity to the rules governing State air and sea operations outside of armed conflict. In an environment where military and government activities increasingly operate in contested and ambiguous spaces, the Manual will provide clear, practical guidance on what international law requires—and how it is applied in practice.

Bringing together leading experts from across the Indo-Pacific and beyond, the project combines deep legal expertise with real-world operational insight. A major drafting workshop held in March 2026 advanced the structure of the Manual and refined its first set of rules, marking an important step towards a comprehensive and authoritative resource.

When complete, the Wayfarer Manual will support governments, militaries, and policymakers to navigate complex peacetime operations with greater confidence, consistency, and legal certainty. Publication is anticipated in 2028 or 2029.

RUMLAE led the developments of the Woomera Manual on the International Law of Military Space Operations, a landmark international resource defining the legal framework for military space activities and operations. As space becomes an increasingly contested and strategically critical domain, the Woomera Manual provides clear, practical guidance on how existing international law applies to activities in orbit and beyond.

Developed in collaboration with global partners, including the University of Nebraska, the University of Exeter, and UNSW Canberra, the project brought together legal experts and practitioners to reflect real-world State practice. RUMLAE Director Dale Stephens served as co-editor, with strong contributions from across RUMLAE.

Published by Oxford University Press in 2024, the Woomera Manual is now a trusted reference for governments, militaries, and commercial space actors. It not only supports informed decision-making today but also drives ongoing international dialogue to identify and resolve areas of ambiguity in the regulation of space activities.

A RUMLAE research team, led by Dale Stephens and Matthew Stubbs, researched and developed the Military Law title in Thomson Reuters’ Laws of Australia, delivering a comprehensive and accessible reference on the legal foundations of Australia’s defence framework. Completed in 2023, this work brings together the history, policy, and legislation that shape how military law operates in practice.

Covering everything from discipline and administrative law to operational decision-making, the title provides clear guidance on the legal structures governing the Australian Defence Force. It traces the evolution of military law from pre-Federation to the present day, highlighting how legislation has adapted in response to conflict, reform, and changing national security needs.

Importantly, it also explains how Australian defence activities align with international law, and how the legal framework supports responses to domestic challenges such as emergencies and natural disasters. Widely used by practitioners, policymakers, and researchers, this work strengthens understanding of military law and supports confident, informed decision-making across defence and government contexts.