The 2017 National Drug Strategy was released last month. It provides a framework for preventing and reducing the harms associated with substance use. Since its first iteration in 1985, harm minimisation has formed the basis of Australia’s official policy. Harm minimisation is an approach to drug use that acknowledges a portion of the community will use drugs, ...
Category: Criminal Law
Hanson’s Burqa Stunt – Justified or Offensive?
If you haven’t caught the story, Senator Hanson wore a full Burqa to question time in the Senate this week, calling for a ban on the Islamic dress. It’s not the first time Hanson has had ‘Banning the Burqa ’on the agenda at question time, and the Federal Government has routinely rejected her calls. Hanson ...
Nimbin Locals Imprisoned for Selling Cannabis
By Paul Gregoire and Ugur Nedim Jurisdictions around the world are legalising cannabis. One in five US citizens now lives in a state where the recreational use of the plant is permitted. Uruguay changed its laws to allow marijuana use nationwide back in 2013. And Canada is set to legalise it by July next year. ...
False Domestic Violence Complaints Ruin Lives
By Sonia Hickey and Ugur Nedim Domestic violence has reached epidemic levels in Australia. The figures show that on average, one person is killed every week at the hands of their current or former partner. Shelters, crisis services, and frontline community legal centres are stretched to the limit. The Prime Minister has called the problem ...
NSW Premier Broadens Police Powers to Remove the Homeless
After nearly eight months of operation, Sydney’s 24-7 Street Kitchen and Safe Space was dismantled last Friday. The community of around 60 rough sleepers currently residing there left the camp, which was situated out the front of the Reserve Bank in Martin Place. The homeless community made the decision to leave the pedestrian mall, after ...
Is Trump Tweeting Us Into War with North Korea?
By Paul Gregoire and Ugur Nedim It seems that in the age of Trump, tweeting threats of war has become part and parcel of US foreign diplomacy. On Friday, the US president wrote on the social media platform that “Military solutions are now in place, locked and loaded, should North Korea act unwisely.” The 140 ...
Man Charged with Making False Emergency Calls
By Zeb Holmes and Ugur Nedim A Canberra man charged with making a series of allegedly false complaints to emergency services has pleaded not guilty, contending that it is “not a crime” to call triple-0. The allegations 61-year old Henryk Jozwik allegedly called emergency services a number of times on a singly night claiming to ...
Public Servants Gagged by New Social Media Rules
By Zeb Holmes and Ugur Nedim New social media rules released by the Australian Public Service Commission seek to prohibit public sector employees from criticising government policies on platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. The rules The new rules were published on 7 August 2017 under the title, ‘Making public comment on social media: A ...
Playing it Safe on the Dance Scene: An Interview with HRV DanceWize’s Stephanie Tzanetis
Victoria is renowned for its vibrant dance party scene. There’s the bush doofs held out in regional areas, the music festivals that come with the summer season, and the old skool rave scene. And at these events, not all, but a portion of punters partake in substances that are prohibited. We’re at a point now ...
The High Price of Australia’s Flawed Criminal Justice System
By Paul Gregoire and Ugur Nedim Incarceration rates in Australia are at an all-time high. The sharp increase in the number of people being imprisoned in this country began back in the 1970s. In June last year, there were 38,845 adults being held in Australian correctional facilities, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. This put the ...