Category: Criminal Law

Prosecuting Whistleblower Richard Boyle Is Against the Public Interest

By ▪︎ ▪︎

Former ATO officer Richard Boyle will stand trial before a jury in the District Court of South Australia on 66 charges – which carry a total maximum penality of 161 years behind bars – for exposing the tax office misappropriating taxpayers’ funds from their bank accounts without notice. Boyle stands beside others in this country …
Police logo

Coroner Criticises Police ‘Shoot to Kill’ Policy

By ▪︎ & ▪︎

South Australia’s Deputy Coroner, Anthony Schapel, has criticised the policy of police to shoot persons who pose “high-risk threats” in the torso, suggesting each situation should instead be assessed and killing used only as a measure of last resort. During the inquest into the shooting death of a 50-year old livestock farmer in 2015, Deputy …
Strip search report

NSW Police Must Be Stopped From Misusing Strip Searches

By ▪︎ ▪︎

Over the last 12 years, the use of strip searches by NSW police has increased 20 fold, according to a just released report commissioned by the Redfern Legal Centre. In the 12 months to 30 November 2006, 277 strip searches were conducted, whereas in the 12 months to 30 June 2018, 5,483 were. At the …
Damaged bike

Are There Situations Where a Person Who ‘Confesses’ Should Plead ‘Not Guilty’?

By ▪︎ & ▪︎

Tim Watkins was only 22 years old when he was left for dead by the side of Wilsons Creek Road earlier this year. He was riding his bicycle home from a mates’ house shortly after midnight on a road he often travelled. At some point, he was hit by a passing motorist, who fled the …
George Pell

Should George Pell Be Defrocked?

By ▪︎ ▪︎

Child sexual abuse victims have all eyes on the Vatican, waiting for swift and decisive action by Pope Francis in the wake of George Pell’s failed appeal against his convictions. Unfortunately for them, they could be waiting for some time. The Court of Appeal’s decision to reject the Cardinal’s Pell’s appeal against his child sexual …
Ceom Clarke

Protect Our Eroding Rights: An Interview With Human Rights Law Centre’s Tom Clarke

By ▪︎ ▪︎

The understanding that human rights aren’t protected under this nation’s federal law is no longer just the domain of lawyers and politicians. There’s now a growing awareness within the general population that something’s amiss when it comes to basic freedoms in this country. The recent AFP press raids and the public persecution of whistleblowers have …
Anti Fascism Australia

Communities of Resistance: An Interview With an Antifascist Activist

By ▪︎ ▪︎

The 2005 Cronulla Riots involved five thousand Anglo Australians converging upon North Cronulla Beach to “reclaim” the strip of sand. And the “Aussie pride” protesters began randomly attacking people of Middle Eastern appearance, who were supposedly trying to “take over”. By the time Party of Freedom held a ten year anniversary barbeque at the site …
Black deaths

Black Deaths in Custody – Where Did We Go Wrong?

By ▪︎ ▪︎

Greens MLC David Shoebridge recently stood in front of a crowd of protesters calling out the Australian government for failing our Indigenous community. The activists held placards reading ‘Black Lives Matter’ as they stood in solidarity for the victims of police brutality. Australia’s Reconciliation History It has been almost 32 years since the Australian government …
Police sign

Police Officer Accused of Targeting Critic of ‘Harmful Cult’

By ▪︎ ▪︎

South Australian police detective, Eric Walsh, has been accused of leading fellow members of an organisation described as a “socially harmful cult” to have criminal charges brought against a critic. Sergeant Walsh allegedly advised 30 fellow members of the organisation, known as Universal Medicine, to target healthcare activist Esther Rockett by making formal complaints to …
Morrison

Skewed Priorities: Morrison Promises Billions to Australian Special Forces

By ▪︎ ▪︎

Prime minister Scott Morrison announced on 12 August at southwest Sydney’s Holsworthy army barracks that the government will be investing $3 billion in cutting edge military equipment for the nation’s special forces over the next 20 years. The PM said the move will enhance responses to both international and domestic security threats, while defence minister …