Should people be kept behind bars because they might commit a crime in the future?
How would you feel if Parliament passed a law specifically to keep you in prison, even after you had done your time, based on a speculation that you might commit further crimes if released? And what if the legislation even...
Help, My Lawyer Quit!
Have you had a bad experience with a lawyer? Unfortunately, lawyers have been known to bail on cases at the last minute - which is an unacceptable and unjustifiable situation. In our experience, the practice appears to be the most...
Can Hotel Managers Be Liable for Serving a Drunk Driver?
It’s common knowledge that drink driving is dangerous - and if you’re convicted of a drink driving offence you could face heavy penalties. But what about bartenders and hotel managers who continue to serve drinks to people who are clearly...
How Should We Tackle Crime in Public Housing?
Drug dealing, domestic violence, malicious damage – public housing estates have always had a reputation for being hotspots for criminal activity, and over the years a multitude of proposals have been implemented in an attempt to address these issues, with...
When Online Jokes Get Serious!
It’s no secret that what you post on social media is not private. Back in the days before Facebook and Twitter, poor attempts at humour could be made to your friends, without any likely criminal repercussions, and hopefully quickly forgotten....
You’re My Lawyer: Can You Downgrade My Charges?
If you are charged with a criminal offence, you will probably want the case to be over with as soon as possible, rather than having it drag out from court-date to court-date until it eventually reaches a defended hearing or...
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...
