Client Legal Privilege in New South Wales
Donald Trump is fighting attempts by US prosecutors to obtain approval to review communications seized from the home and offices of his lawyer, Michael Cohen. It is reported that Trump is concerned, among other things, about the exposure of his...
Greens Push to Legalise Cannabis
The Greens have highlight the fact that drug prohibition has proven to be a “dismal failure” and are pushing to legalise marijuana across Australia. It is the first party with seats in parliament to call for the legalisation of recreational...
When is a Defendant Unfit for Trial?
Fitness for trial relates to the defendant’s ability to comprehend and fairly participate in the trial process. It is a procedural question which is reserved for the higher courts, such as the District or Supreme Court, and is separate from...
Ball Tampering Scandal: A Way to Divert Attention from Government Misconduct
Former English cricket captain Andrew Flintoff told the BBC on Monday that it was “absolute nonsense” that the three Australian cricketers implicated in the recent ball-tampering scandal were the only players who were involved in the deceit. The now-notorious incident saw...
E-cigarettes Banned from Public Places
The New South Wales government says it is clearing up the confusion over the legality of vaping across the state. New laws will come into effect in July which mandate a blanket ban on vaping wherever regular smoking is prohibited,...
Push for Wage Theft to Be Made a Criminal Offence
A group of Victorian Unions is leading a campaign to make ‘wage theft’ a criminal offence ahead of the upcoming state election. The Victorian Trades Hall Council and its Young Workers Centre are pushing the government to enact legislation which...
Tougher Policing Leads to More Women Behind Bars
Between 2011 and 2017, the NSW adult female prisoner population has increased by 50 percent, according to a recent Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) report. And the sharpest increase has been since the beginning of 2015. Released on...
10 Years in Prison for Multi-Million Dollar Tax Fraud
A 12-year investigation has culminated in the sentencing of a businessman behind what has been described as Australia’s biggest tax fraud. The NSW Supreme Court has sentenced Gold Coast businessman Michael Issakidis to a full term of ten years in...
The Law on Assaulting Police
It’s a common scenario, known in the legal profession as ‘the trifecta of charges’: An individual is using offensive language in a public place. They are confronted by police who act in an overbearing and aggressive manner. The situation escalates...
Murder Confession Inadmissible Due to Threats
In March 2014, Gary Clifford Blackman was living on his semi-rural property named Tomewin, near the NSW Northern Rivers town of Murwillumbah. Mr Blackman suffered cognitive impairment due to chronic alcoholism, and by most accounts, was a passive and agreeable...
