‘African Youth Gangs’: The Dangers of Racialised Discourse
Over recent weeks, the mainstream media and Coalition politicians have made claims that gangs of Sudanese youths are responsible for a growing wave of street violence in Victoria. The reports have contributed to the demonisation of the Sudanese community and...
NSW Drivers Will Be Tested For Cocaine
With the New South Wales road toll at its highest in eight years, the state government is introducing tough new measures including doubling the number of mobile drug tests (MDTs) and adding cocaine to the list of tested substances. 397...
NSW Police Officer Found Guilty of Assault and Perjury
A New South Wales police officer who tasered a man three times and then lied about the circumstances in court has been found guilty of both common assault and perjury. The story so far In June 2013, former police sergeant...
Sydney Lawyer Struck Off for Defrauding Elderly Client
Sydney lawyer Victor Berger has been removed from the roll of legal practitioners after over-charging an elderly client $137,543. The solicitor made regular phone calls to the frail woman in her nineties, checking on her health, her relationship with her...
Federal Government May Increase Alcohol Tax
Malcolm Turnbull was all ears when the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE) recently proposed increasing taxes on alcohol, arguing this would reduce alcohol consumption and associated problems. The plan would likely result in higher prices for drinks at...
Criminal Lawyers Criticise New Guilty Plea Rules
The NSW government is introducing strict rules relating to guilty pleas which it says will increase the likelihood of defendants pleading guilty to criminal offences. The changes, which are expected to come into effect in April 2018, are aimed at...
Daily Telegraph Misrepresents Head Crown Prosecutor’s Comments
On 14 December 2017, the Daily Telegraph published a news article by crime editor Mark Morri and Janet Fife-Yeomans which claimed Senior Crown Prosecutor Mark Tedeschi QC issued a “blunt warning to colleagues to get tough on criminals”. According to...
Unaccompanied L-Plater Charged with Driving Under the Influence
A learner-driver is facing multiple charges including driving under the influence and unaccompanied after being pulled over by police on the Northern Rivers. The story so far Police signalled 23-year old Mr Squires to pull over after allegedly seeing him...
What is the Rule of Law?
The rule of law is a term that was first coined by Oxford law professor Albert V Dicey in 1885. In general terms, it’s the principle that law should govern a nation, and both the government and individuals are equally subject...
Pistorius Appeal Leads to a Longer Prison Term
The story captivated the globe - a handsome Paralympic Gold medallist, his glamorous model girlfriend and the mystery surrounding her killing. Now, the South African Court of Appeal has more than doubled Oscar Pistorius’ sentence. Last year, millions watched as...
