Who do you call when you need help? The police apologist’s mantra
“Who do you call when YOU need help?” It’s a question that often comes up when we write blogs highlighting misconduct, corruption or questionable incidents involving members of the police force. The reality is that police have an important role...
When Can Magistrates and Judges be Fired?
We have previously written about what it takes to become a magistrate or judge, and the high standards of ethics that are expected from those who serve as judicial officers. But under what circumstances can their positions be termination? The...
Should women make up half of all judges?
Female participation in the workforce is an issue that bubbles to the surface again and again in Australia, with state and federal governments trying to tackle the question of how to boost the number of women performing in key roles...
Police Report an ‘Explosion’ in Online Child Sex Offences
A 47-year-old man has been charged with committing 145 child sex offences on 28 children, including 8 counts of ‘grooming a child under 16 to procure engagement in sexual activity’ in what has been described as one of the most...
Should Our Government Fund Innocence Projects?
Imagine that you are in the wrong place at the wrong time, arrested without warning, charged, questioned, subjected to a trial, and then convicted for a crime you didn’t commit. It’s a sobering thought, and it happens more often than...
The Right to Protest: A Thing of the Past
Protesting has long been a way for people to publicly express their views and demonstrate their grievances. It has achieved a great deal since the late 1800s; from workers rights to female suffrage, and from civil rights to environmental protections....
When False Accusations Lead to Tragedy
When people make accusations against others, they normally think that they are justified. A bit of sketchy information combined with emotions like frustration and anger can all work together to make a hunch seem like solid reality. In trivial circumstances,...
Anti-Bikie Laws Make a Mockery of the Law
Imagine being charged with a criminal offence and facing a six months in prison for simply having a few drinks at the pub with your partner. It might seem incomprehensible, but this is exactly what happened to a couple and...
Incriminating Yourself On TV, Radio or Social Media
There were shock-waves across America recently when millionaire Robert Durst appeared in a top-rating documentary about his life, including three murders he is accused of committing. During the final episode of the documentary series The Jinx, Durst - apparently unaware...
Do Police Need More Weapons to Deal with ‘Lone Wolf’ Attacks?
For many of us, the memories of watching the Sydney siege unfold are still fresh in our minds. Three people lost their lives when the saga culminated in a deadly shooting in the early hours of December 16 last year...
