Dangerous Driving and the Law
Driving charges are some of the most commonly heard matters in New South Wales Local Courts. Whether it’s drink driving (DUI or P.C.A.), speeding or a case involving serious harm, tens of thousands of driving cases end up before magistrates...
Government Lies About Metadata Scheme
As we all were preparing for the Easter break, the government switched on the full version of its metadata retention system. Although the legislation enabling the scheme was passed in October 2015 – and data has been stored and accessed...
Abuse of Children in Australian Detention Centres Continues
Fifteen youths are still being detained on remand (ie with their cases yet to be heard) at Victoria’s Barwon maximum security adult prison on the outskirts of Geelong in a move the Victorian Supreme Court ruled unlawful in December last year. The...
NSW Lawyer Steals Over $300,000 From Clients
Another NSW lawyer has been struck off the roll of legal practitioners. Although, it’s not a common occurrence, there are lawyers who breach their professional obligations and commit serious offences against their very own clients. And when it does happen, the...
The Hypocrisy Surrounding US Airstrikes in Syria
The US military airstrike targeting the government-controlled Shayrat airbase in Syria last Thursday night has raised questions as to motivations of US president Donald Trump ordering the attack. The president did not seek congressional approval for the strike, which comprised 59...
NSW Crimes Rates are the Lowest in 40 Years
Crime rates across NSW have dropped to their lowest in 40 years. The latest annual report by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) has found that most major categories of crime have fallen or remained steady over...
Police Powers to Stop, Require Identification and Search in NSW
Being confronted on the street or pulled over by a police officer can be a nerve-wracking experience. Even if you haven’t done anything wrong, you may feel concerned and anxious about how the situation will pan out, or even worried...
Precious Police Officer Arrests Heckler
Video footage has been published of a NSW detective inspector giving a press conference outside Albury police station when an apparently intoxicated man walks from across the street with a beer in his hand and yells “bullshit”. The seasoned officer is so...
“Don’t Do the Crime if you Can’t Do the Time”: The Conservative’s Mantra
“Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time” - it’s a catchphrase often used when someone is accused of a crime, or during discussions about bail laws or incarceration rates in Australia. But the reality is that significant...
Turnbull to Cut Funding to Community Legal Centres
Already in Australia, over 45,000 people per year are left to represent themselves in court - often against a well-resourced and professional prosecution. It is a situation that leaves thousands vulnerable to injustice. Now, the Commonwealth government plans to drastically...
