“A Sense of Entitlement”: Shoebridge on Pork Barrelling and Lack of Federal Oversight
In the days leading up to the 2019 NSW state election, deputy premier John Barilaro joked with AAP about his nickname being “Pork Barrel-aro”. The NSW Nationals leader further remarked that he’d like to be made state treasurer, as, if...
Refugees Left an Invidious Choice: Barrister Stephen Lawrence on Legal Indefinite Detention
According to Home Affairs, on 31 May this year, there were 112 people amongst the 1,486 individuals being held in our nation’s immigration detention facilities, who’ve been locked away for more than five years. These people are classed as “unlawful...
Morrison Has Gutted Public Universities Under Cover of COVID
Like other sectors, public universities have been hit hard during the pandemic. However, unlike others, the reasons behind the higher education sector receiving such a sustained blow were more to do with the Morrison government settling an old score, than...
New Evidence Casts Further Doubt on Death of Mhelody Bruno
The widely suspected holes in the NSW criminal justice system’s handling of the 29 September 2019 death of Mhelody Bruno are beginning to appear. The 25-year-old Filipina transgender woman died as a result of being strangled unconscious by then 31-year-old...
Key US Witness Admits to Falsifying Evidence Against Assange in Return for Immunity
As Julian Assange turned 50 on Saturday, the pioneering Australian journalist continued to be subjected to what amounts to prolonged solitary confinement - a human rights abuse - in London’s Belmarsh Prison, where he has been since he was taken...
Religious Privilege Set to be Enshrined into Law
Discrimination law experts assert that there’s a gap in Australian law when it comes to protecting those of faith, however the laws that the Morrison government has been prioritising - under two iterations of its Religious Discrimination Bill (RD Bill)...
Ministers are Increasingly Ruling by Decree, Without Parliamentary Oversight
Executive branches of government are increasingly relying upon a form of lawmaking that bypasses any input from parliament, as well as avoiding its veto powers. Known as delegated legislation, this process involves a series of instruments known as regulations, rules...
A Growing Culture of Secrecy: Dr Keiran Hardy on Australia’s Terror Law Regime
The forcible arrest of Friendlyjordies producer Kristo Langker by the terrorism-related NSW Police Fixated Persons Investigations Unit at the behest of deputy premier John Barilaro over a couple of public pranks on the part of the online political satirist is...
Preventing Animal Cruelty in Law: An Interview With Animal Justice Party MLC Emma Hurst
Two weeks ago, some much overdue amendments were made to NSW animal cruelty laws that reflect the serious nature of these crimes. The new measures also reveal that our society has progressed to a point where it’s better recognising the...
Medevac Refugees Hunger Strike Over Slow Torture of Indefinite Detention
Fourteen Medevac refugees currently detained in the Melbourne Immigration Detention Accommodation (MITA) facility commenced a hunger strike on 17 June. Eleven are currently refusing to eat in the centre, while three are hospitalised. Over the eleven days of the action,...
