Both Partners Responsible for a Violent Relationship?
Last week, a controversial opinion piece was published in Melbourne’s The Age newspaper. Written by a clinical psychologist by the name of Sallee McLaren, it suggested that there is a ’50:50 contribution to the final outcome of violence’ by both...
The “Struggle Street” Controversy
SBS’s controversial three-part documentary series Struggle Street caused a furore even before it aired. The series, which examined social inequality in the Western Sydney suburb of Mount Druitt, created a stir following the release of unflattering advertisements for its first...
The Boston Bomber Death Penalty: Justice?
On 15 April 2013, a terrorist act took place that would alter the images that come to mind when we hear of the Boston Marathon. Three people were killed and hundreds were injured when two pressure-cooker bombs used exploded near...
Should Australia Have a Bill of Rights?
It may surprise some Australians to know that we do not have a national Bill of Rights, and that the Constitution provides very few individual rights and protections to Australians. This means that most rights are granted by the government...
How to Protect Yourself Against Identity Theft
Identity theft is a growing problem in Australia. According to information from credit bureau Veda, more than 770,000 people have fallen victim to identity theft in the past year alone. It is a crime which has the potential to make...
Prisoners Denied Basic Human Rights
Prisons are not meant to be homes away from home - after all, the purpose is to penalise an offender for committing a crime. But at the same time, prisoners shouldn’t be subjected to treatment that infringes upon their basic...
Judges Get Creative with Penalties
When it comes to sentencing in NSW, magistrates and judges are fairly limited in what sentences they can hand-down - but this isn’t the case everywhere. Some judges in other countries are known to impose less conventional forms punishments upon...
Gambling Addiction and Crime
Gambling has been a form of popular entertainment in Australia from earliest colonial days right up to the present day, with Australians spending billions of dollars on various forms of gambling each year. Unfortunately, gambling can get addictive and lead...
Wigs and Robes in the Courtroom
In Australia there are limited people outside the legal profession who wear professional attire rooted in standards from the 1600s. The Australian legal system is steeped in history and tradition, with cases decided centuries ago still forming part of our...
Should Chimps Have Legal Rights?
It’s well known that chimpanzees are intelligent - they can perform complex mathematical calculations, play competitive games such as chess and poker, and even communicate. They also have excellent short-term memories and are even able to drive modified cars. But...
