Life Imprisonment Without Parole: Is It Ever in the Interests of the Community?
The sentencing of 33-year old Justin Laurens Stein to life in prison without parole for the January 2022 murder of 9-year old schoolgirl Charlise Mutton at Stein’s family home at Mount Wilson in the New South Wales Blue Mountains has...
Parole in New South Wales: What Are the Benefits and Risks of Granting Parole?
A recent decision to grant parole to a murderer who attempted to sexually assault a woman when he was last paroled has many up in arms. But while the decision by the NSW State Parole Authority to release convicted murderer...
Should There Be a Ban on Publishing the Identity of Non-Convicted Defendants?
A promising young rugby union player is facing a jury trial over allegations he exchanged sexually explicit images and engaged in sexual conduct with two underage girls. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions alleges that the now 23-year...
How to Vary the Conditions of an Apprehended Violence Order in New South Wales
Apprehended Violence Orders in New South Wales, or AVOs, are ostensibly a means by which to ensure the safety of a person at risk of personal or domestic violence is protected. However, there are instances whereby a person against whom...
The Right to Disconnect in Australia: What Does it All Mean?
Amendments to the Fair Work Act 2009 brought about by the Fair Work Amendment (Right to Disconnect) Bill 2023 will mean that from 26 August 2024, employees in businesses which employ more than 15 employees (non-small businesses) will have the...
What is an Indictable Offence in New South Wales?
An indictable offence is one which can be committed (or referred) to a higher court such as the District or Supreme Court, rather than remain and be finalised in the Local Court. These offences typically carry maximum penalties of more...
Drug Supply Charges: Pleading Guilty, Remorse and Rehabilitation Can Significantly Reduce Sentence
A former AFL player has been sentenced to a full term of five years and four months in prison, with a non-parole period of three years, after being sentenced over multiple counts of supplying a prohibited drug as well as...
Bail Applications in NSW: Showing Cause and the Unacceptable Risk Test
Much has been made recently by the mainstream media about the supposed ease by which those facing allegations of domestic violence offences are granted bail and released into the community. But the fact of the matter is that New South...
Higher Bail Threshold and Monitoring Devices Proposed for Alleged Domestic Violence Offending
The New South Wales government’s latest response to the epidemic of domestic violence across the state is to make it harder for those charged with domestic violence offences to achieve bail and to require monitoring devices to be worn by...
The Law, Defences and Penalties for the Public Order Offence of Riot in NSW
Three people have now been charged over the aftermath of a stabbing of a Bishop at the Christ the Good Shepherd church in Wakeley in Sydney’s Western Suburbs. The stabbing A 16 year old who is reported to have been...
