“The Mother of All Backflips”: Baird Back Tracks on Greyhounds
The NSW Special Commission of Inquiry into the Greyhound Racing Industry found that greyhounds bred for racing suffer terrible cruelty in this state. The report of the investigation – which was carried out by Justice Michael McHugh – was delivered...
New Police Watchdog will be Ineffective, Ombudsman warns
On September 13 this year, NSW deputy premier and police minister Troy Grant introduced a bill before parliament to establish the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC). If passed, the new civilian agency will provide oversight into the running of the...
Indigenous Australians Face Racism at Every Level of the Justice System
A 66-year-old Indigenous man was shot by police in Broome on Monday night, after he allegedly threatened officers and a taxi driver with a knife. Police were called to a disturbance at a property on Gubinge Road near the popular...
Senior Counsel: The Best Barristers or a Popularity Contest?
Last week, NSW Bar Association president Noel Hutley SC announced this year’s appointments to the coveted position of ‘silk’, or senior counsel, previously known as Queen’s counsel. Amongst the 15 barristers who received the honour, three were women. This makes...
Save Sydney Park from WestConnex: An Exclusive Interview with Anne Picot
Sydney Park is a huge green space in the heart of the city’s inner west. The 41.6 hectares of parkland provides a recreational space for thousands of locals who live in the surrounding urban sprawl. However, the park is under...
Sniffer Dog Searches Falling in NSW
Recent figures show the number of drug dog searches being carried out by NSW police is in decline. In 2015, police performed 12,893 searches compared with 14,541 in 2014. This represents an 11 percent decrease in the space of a...
Police Want Power to Ram Cars During High-Speed Pursuits
. Western Australia police are demanding the power to ram cars they’re pursuing, without having to face legal repercussions if the action results in death. At a press conference last Thursday, George Tilbury, president of the WA Police Union, called...
“Fragile” Police Officer Avoids Prosecution After Bashing Homeless Men
Last week, the South Australian Police Ombudsman called for a constable’s police powers to be revoked in the interests of public safety. The recommendation was made in a report about the officer’s conduct during a violent assault on 5 December...
Hanson’s Speech Doesn’t Reflect What Australians Believe, or Does It?
There’s a racist in our midst, and she’s been here for quite some time. Pauline Hanson’s at it again, back in federal parliament and insulting most of the nation with her vitriolic speech. That’s except for the vocal minority who...
NSW Police Carry Out Hundreds of Illegal Searches for Firearms
Last week, an ombudsman report revealed NSW police have carried out hundreds of unauthorised searches under increased powers that allow them to search individuals who’ve been served with a firearm prohibition order (FPO) without a warrant. The new search powers...
