Royal Commission Rejects Punitive Approach to Juvenile Justice
The final report of the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory was tabled in parliament on 17th November 2017. It represents an unequivocal rejection of the Territory’s ‘tough on crime’ approach to juvenile...
NSW Police Strip-Search Female Protesters
Two women protesting the treatment of asylum seekers on Manus Island have reported being arrested, conveyed to the police station and strip-searched before being released without charge. Susan Price and Rachel Evans were amongst around 200 people protesting Australia’s offshore...
NSW District Court Judge Mistakenly Considers Standard Non-Parole Period
In the early afternoon of 20 June 2013, Jason Potts walked down an alley beside a house situated on Chancery Street, Canley Vale in Sydney. The 40-year-old was accompanied by his 18-year-old son. The pair, who were both wearing gloves, jumped...
The British Empire’s Opium Trade Led to the War on Drugs
In the mid-18th century, China was exporting large quantities of highly sought-after commodities to European countries, such as porcelain, silk, tea and spices. By contrast, the goods produced in Europe were of little interest to the Chinese. Under the Qing...
There’s a Resounding Silence Over the Paradise Papers Revelations
The largest leak of financial information in history was made globally last week and the reaction has been lacklustre. The 13.4 million files that make up the Paradise Papers uncover the financial dealings of the ultra-rich and major corporations in...
Queensland Police Under Attack
The Queensland Police Union has called for an audit into security at police facilities across the state, after a spate of attacks on stations, officers and even their homes. The Courier Mail reported on November 7 that a series of...
What are the Penalties for Steroids in NSW?
Before 2014, the possession of drugs classified as anabolic steroids was primarily regulated by the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 1966, which dealt with the substances in much the same way as other prescription drugs. However in 2014, the NSW...
Hemp foods are now legal across Australia
Hemp-based foods are now legal across Australia and are expected to appear in supermarkets everywhere. A recent agreement between Australian and New Zealand food safety authorities means hemp-based food products are now legal to produce, sell and purchase, creating new markets...
Serco-Run Facilities: Fraud, Failures and Fatal Errors
Australian governments pay the Serco group tens of millions of dollars every year to manage sensitive public services such as correctional and detention centres, and a range of defence contracts. The UK-based company is even making a bid to run our...
Criminal Lawyers Charged with Fraud
Criminal defence lawyer Michael Bosscher and two employees of law firm Bosscher Lawyers in Brisbane, have been charged with fraud offences after a joint investigation by the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) and Queensland Police Service (QPS) into suspected criminal...
