Head of Royal Commission Criticised Over Bias
Lawyers and law students are probably most familiar with Dyson Heydon as a former Justice of the High Court of Australia, but he is now working as the head of the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption. Heydon...
Are We Being Scared Into Handing Over Our Rights?
Fearmongering is a useful political tactic for governments desperate to pass controversial laws which might otherwise be perceived as unjust or irrational. The creation of fear of a perceived enemy - whether communists, fascists or terrorists – has signified the...
Rights When Pulled Over By Police
Many motor vehicle users are unsure about their rights when pulled over by police. So we’ve answered six of the top questions when it comes to your rights during traffic stops. When can police pull me over? Police have broad...
What Should Punishment Achieve in our Criminal Justice System?
By Emily Meller The rate of imprisonment in Australia is at an all time high, doubling in the last 25 years alone. It’s the harshest form of punishment in our judicial system - and it’s expensive, with some estimates stating...
The Slow and Painful Death of Sydney’s Kings Cross
Iconic Kings Cross venue Hugo’s Lounge last week joined an increasingly long list of nightclubs and bars which have shut their doors since the introduction of the state government’s harsh lockout laws. The venue had served the Kings Cross area...
Police Power to Force the Disclosure of Identity
As a general rule, criminal defence lawyers will advise clients not to answer police questions. There are several reasons for this, one of which is that those who participate in police interviews will often inadvertently say things that lead to...
Should Killers Ever Inherit their Victims’ Property?
What happens if someone kills another in order to enjoy their inheritance a little earlier? It’s very likely that a lengthy prison sentence will follow a conviction for murder or manslaughter - but what about the money or property that...
Police Shooting Victim is Stripped of Compensation
His story might sound like something out of a nightmare, but for Justin McMaster, it’s a harsh reality. In the early hours of September 26, 2011, the then-19-year-old was sleeping with his family at home in Colyton in Sydney’s west,...
Should We Bring Back The Youth Drug and Alcohol Court?
Adolescence is a time of transition and change as young people find their feet in the adult world. For many, it also marks the start of new experiences such as drinking, going out, and experimenting with drugs - often behind...
Does More Guns Mean More Gun Crimes?
Australia usually prides itself on its strict firearms laws, which have been hailed as a model for reform by other countries plagued by high rates of gun crime, including the United States. Following the tragic Port Arthur Massacre in 1996,...
