Man Prosecuted for Possessing ‘Gel Blasters’
A Coffs Harbour man is facing charges of illegally possessing firearms after allegedly being caught with several ‘gel blasters’ he intended to give to his son as Christmas gifts. The story so far… At around 1.45am on 23rd December 2018,...
Hollywood Star Accused of Sexual Touching
It has been reported that Hollywood star Kevin Spacey will be prosecuted in the United States over allegations he performed a sexual act upon an 18-year old at a Massachusetts bar in July 2016. Boston journalist Heather Unruh accused Mr...
It’s Important to Know Your Rights this Music Festival Season
The music festival season got off to a tragic start this year. Two young Australians died after taking drugs at the Defqon.1 festival in September, while another drug-related death occurred at a festival at Sydney Olympic Park a fortnight ago. And despite...
False Sexual Assault Allegations Ruin Lives
The growth of the #metoo movement has led to concerns being expressed about the ease with which a person’s reputation, career and even freedom can be adversely affected through false sexual assault and sexual harassment allegations. There are specific concerns...
Premier’s Solution to Youth Dying at Festivals: Create More Criminal Offences
Following the drug-related deaths of two young Australians at Sydney’s Defqon.1 festival on 15 September, NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian vowed she would do everything in her power to shut down the event. But, after she had a moment to reflect, the...
Grindr Scammer Sent to Prison
Jayson Hastie had his game down pat, or so he thought. The 25-year old from Albion Park, south of Wollongong, set up a fake profile on under the name of ‘Alex’ on the bisexual and gay social networking and dating...
Courts Are Becoming Sympathetic to the Cause of Medicinal Cannabis
It’s estimated that around 100,000 patients are using cannabis medicines across the country. And even though the federal government legalising medicinal cannabis close to three years ago, most of these patients are forced to access their medicine on the black market. Despite...
Accused Murderer Granted Bail
Former high school teacher Lynette Dawson disappeared in 1982, just two weeks before her daughter was due to commence kindergarten. The mother-of-two was last seen at the Bayview home shared with her husband, Chris Dawson. Mrs Dawson’s body has never...
Police Officer Charged With Hacking After Leaking Address of Victim
The Queensland Police officer who was found to have unlawfully accessed a police database and leaked a domestic violence victim’s details to his friend, the woman’s abusive former partner, has been charged with multiple criminal offences. An internal police investigation...
Government Limits Power of Courts to Impose Alternatives to Imprisonment
Section 5(1) of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (‘the Act’) makes clear that a court “must not sentence an offender to imprisonment unless it is satisfied, having considered all possible alternatives, that no penalty other than imprisonment is appropriate.” This is the statutory...