Blaming Actions on Addictions – Setting the Record Straight
The current ‘ice’ epidemic has thrown the legal system into turmoil, with the public outraged that drug users are said to be using their addiction to escape convictions or secure lenient penalties. Some have voiced their concern that if Australia’s...
Should Juries be made Smaller?
Jury trials can be long and expensive and if we are honest, there are few who relish the prospect of being called up for jury duty. But if we don’t want to abolish them altogether, how about making them smaller?...
Vigilantes Taking the Law Into Their Own Hands
If you’ve ever seen the television drama Dexter, you’d know about Dexter Morgan, a troubled young man who leads a double life - working as a blood splatter analyst with the Miami Police Force by day, and as a vigilante,...
Insulting People Due to Race: Should it be Legal?
Just months after ethnic minorities expressed relief about the government’s abandonment of plans to repeal section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has now announced that he would support a ‘softer’ proposal that would no longer...
Social Media – Watch What You Say!
Social media has become an integral part of our everyday lives - allowing us to connect and express ourselves in a range of ways. But some use social media as a way to vent personal frustrations, without regard to the...
Life Imprisonment for Child Sex Offenders
Convicted child sex offenders will face life in prison under new laws currently before NSW Parliament. NSW Attorney General Gabrielle Upton has introduced a bill to impose the harsher penalty, saying that sentences that handed-down in these cases don’t align...
Would You Be Harder on Crime than a Judge?
Magistrates and judges are often criticised by the general public for being too ‘soft’ when dealing with offenders. For instance, 23-year-old Luke Lazarus was recently sentenced to a minimum of three years imprisonment following a conviction for the sexual assault...
Smoking Cannabis While Pregnant is “My Business”
Meet Billie Jo Wilkie, a 21-year-old from one of the most economically and socially disadvantaged suburbs of Sydney. If you were one of the 935,000 Australians who tuned in to the controversial TV show ‘Struggle Street’, you are probably familiar...
Police Who Commit Crimes: Should they Face Greater Punishment?
Police officers hold a position of great power and responsibility, and they should set a good example for the rest of the community. But when the very people who are meant to uphold the law and protect the community end...
Kids Learning About Police Brutality in School
Police brutality is a concerning issue both in Australia and overseas. If you’ve spent some time reading our blogs, you will be aware of the extent to which some police officers have used excessive and unlawful force when dealing with...
