Government May Remove Speed Camera ‘Warning’ Signs
A report released on 18 October 2018 by the NSW Auditor-General, Margaret Crawford, has suggested that New South Wales remove signs that alert motorists to upcoming speed cameras, on the basis they reduce road safety. Ms Crawford says the signs...
Queensland Legalises Abortion, While NSW Continues Criminalisation
In what’s being hailed as a ‘historic vote’, the Queensland parliament has resolved to repeal an antiquated section of the state’s criminal code that considers the termination of a pregnancy to be an “offence against morality”. The code was written...
Authorising the Unlawful: The Powers of Undercover Police in NSW
An unidentified man was sentenced to more than 10 years in prison last February for his part in the robbery of an Armaguard truck outside a Sydney shopping centre back in March 2013. However, police were initially concerned they didn’t have...
Which Cases Are Heard in the Children’s Court?
The Children (Criminal Proceedings) Act 1987 (‘the Act’) sets out many of the rules relating to criminal and traffic law proceedings involving those under the age of 18 years in New South Wales. Section 5 of the Act provides that...
The Foetal Manslaughter Debate. Should Unborn Babies be Separately Protected?
Currently in New South Wales, a person who destroys a foetus can be charged with causing grievous bodily harm against the mother, but not with a separate crime such as manslaughter or murder against the unborn baby. However, a recent...
The Duty of Disclosure in Criminal Cases
Under both the common law and professional conduct rules, Australian prosecutors are required to serve upon the defence all material in their possession that is relevant to determining the guilt or innocence of the defendant. That requirement extends to material...
Anti-Fake News Laws: Preventing Misinformation or Silencing Dissent?
Fake news is a fairly recent concept that has accompanied the rise of social media. And concerns about the spread of false information have become more intense following allegations of the Russian use of misinformation to influence the 2016 US elections...
Victoria Increases Police Powers and Removes Legal Safeguards
The recent weeks, the bulk of Victoria’s Justice Legislation Amendment (Terrorism) Bill 2018 has been enacted, which the state government claims will better protect the community against the threat of terrorism. The changes include new powers for police to detain...
Justice Reinvestment Helps Reduce Crime in Bourke
Focusing on community-based crime prevention initiatives through the ‘justice reinvestment’ program has seen crime rates plummet over the past five years in the far western New South Wales town of Bourke. The success further bolsters the argument that investing in...
Free Public Transport for the Homeless in Victoria
Victoria has commenced an initiative which gives free public transport to the homeless and other financially disadvantaged people in the state. The year-long trial is offering weekly and monthly passes to the indigent, with a view to making it easier...
