The Implications of Funding Cuts to Legal Aid in NSW
In the United States of America, it is written in the Constitution that accused criminals have the right to have the assistance of counsel in their defence. If a defendant cannot afford counsel, then the government pays. In Australia, we...
Will Centrelink Prosecute If I Make a Genuine Mistake?
If you have been overpaid by Centrelink, you could find yourself facing an investigation and possibly criminal charges for Centrlink fraud. The exact nature of the charges and the likely penalty will depend on the circumstances and the amount of...
A Further Increase of Police Powers in NSW?
After already adding to the police powers with reforms, the Attorney General Brad Hazzard wants to go even further down the path of increasing police powers in NSW, allowing for measures that his latest press release says will allow police...
Should We Raise The Drinking Age?
Every few years the question crops up: should the drinking age be raised to 21? Often proponents of such a plan speak up after a tragic case involving teenagers and alcohol ends in fatality, as well as ongoing scientific research...
Caught in Possession of Drugs? What Now?
The last decade has seen a rise in the number of police officers deployed at festivals and events across NSW. The sight of sniffer dogs at live music events is commonplace, and the annual Nimbin Mardi Grass festival, which was...
What are the Penalties in Sydney for Street Racing?
In recent years, a number of new offences have been added to the Vehicle Sanctions Scheme in an attempt to reduce the amount of hoon behaviour that takes place on the roads in Sydney. Street racing is considered one of these offences,...
What are the Wider Effects of a Criminal Conviction?
Having a criminal conviction on your record can have lasting consequences. Not all convictions are for serious offences, yet a conviction can still end up being a nuisance for years into the future. For example, you might have a conviction...
How Much Weight is the Evidence of Child Witnesses Given in Court?
Evidence of children testifying in courts has been a topic where the law has changed substantially over time - the ongoing debate about how much weight (if any) can be placed on the evidence of children is unsettled by public...
What are Special Circumstances?
Under s44 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999, prior to sentencing a person to a jail term of more than 6 months, a ‘non-parole period’ must be set by the court unless there are sufficient reasons not to set one at...
When is it in the Public Interest to Lay Criminal Charges?
The recent public fistfight between casino billionaire James Packer and media heavyweight David Gyngell raises an interesting issue of whether police should still investigate an incident and lay charges if the people involved don’t want to take the matter further....
