Rather His Own Man: An Interview with Geoffrey Robertson QC
Human rights barrister Geoffrey Robertson has had an illustrious career. The Australian-born lawyer has been a tireless defender of civil rights, with a particular focus on protecting freedom of speech and expression. In 1989, he successfully defended author Salman Rushdie against...
Arresting Drivers for Using Cold and Flu Tablets Will Not Save Lives
NSW roads minister Melinda Pavey has announced there will be an expansion of substances that can ‘influence’ drivers for the purpose of laws against driving under the influence (DUI). She has also announced a strategy designed to assess whether individuals...
Defendants in Domestic Violence Cases Prohibited from Questioning Complainants
Currently, self-represented litigants in the Family Court are permitted to cross-examine opponents, even in circumstances where there has been an allegation of domestic violence. However, the Turnbull government has drafted laws aimed at stopping this. Australian attorney general Christian Porter...
Lawyer Who Showed His Testicles to Client is Struck Off
Back in 2012, Mr and Mrs H retained Boulevarde Lawyers in the lakeside suburb of Toronto in Lake Macquarie to prepare documents and find them legal representation in Vanuatu in relation to the sale of drilling machines. The sole principal...
A Wellness Guide for Lawyers: An Interview with Author Jerome Doraisamy
The 2007 Beaton Consulting and beyondblue national depression initiative revealed depression amongst legal professionals had reached alarming levels. When compared with other professionals, lawyers were found to have experienced the highest levels of depressive symptoms. Indeed, studies have found that one...
Thirty Six Women Have Been Violently Killed in Australia This Year
Last Sunday, two women were killed in acts of violence perpetrated on opposite sides of the country. At around 4 am that morning, NSW police attended a Griffith residence to find 27-year-old Nicole Wetzler dead in a rear shed on the...
New Laws Will Allow the Use of Military to Break Protests
The Turnbull government recently introduced legislation into parliament designed to lower the threshold for calling out the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to assist state police forces with public incidents. The Defence Amendment (Call Out of the Australian Defence Force) Bill 2018 revises...
Queensland to Open Serco-run Private Women’s Prison
Queensland corrective services minister Mark Ryan announced on 3 July that Borallon Correctional Centre will be expanded to accommodate 349 more male inmates. Once the new cells are ready, the men will be transferred from the Southern Queensland Correctional Centre....
SA Liberals Intensify War Against Cannabis Users
Recreational cannabis will be legalised nationwide in Canada on 17 October. In the US, smoking pot is now permitted in nine states. And back in April, Australian Greens leader Richard Di Natale launched a campaign calling for the plant to be legalised...
Australian Government is Causing Humanitarian Crisis
The Turnbull government recently began cutting off financial support to a new cohort of people seeking asylum, leading refugee advocacy groups to warn that this cruel policy has the potential to cause a humanitarian crisis on Australian streets. On 27 June,...
