COVID-19: Over-Enforcement Is Undermining Confidence in the Police Force
Amnesty International has added its voice to the growing calls across Australia for police to release the guidelines being used to enforce COVID-19 distancing regulations. Over the Easter weekend, after sending a strong message to all Australians to ‘stay home’...
COVID-19 Protest: Fines Issued Despite Drivers Remaining in Cars
The Refugee Action Collective (RAC) Victoria announced last week that it would be going ahead with a car cavalcade protesting the continued detention of immigration detainees at facilities and hotels nationwide, despite police warnings that demonstrators could be hit with...
COVID-19: Is Sweden’s Strategy Sensible?
It has faced a great deal of criticism from around the world, particularly from its neighbours Norway, Finland and Denmark, but Sweden is refusing to consider a total lockdown in the face of the coronavirus. The nation’s Prime Minister Stefan...
The COVID-19 ‘Bonk Ban’: The Rules for Visiting Partners
In the final days of March, in address to the nation, Prime Minister Scott Morrison acknowledged the fear and uncertainty being experienced by many Australians during the current coronavirus pandemic, and said compassionately: “No Australian should have to go through...
Why Pell Walked: The High Court’s Findings
The full-bench of the High Court of Australia unanimously entered verdicts of acquittal in favour of appellant George Pell on 7 April 2020, in relation to child sexual offences in respect of which a jury unanimously found him guilty in...
“Everyone is Fearful”: An Interview With Mantra Refugee Detainee Ismail Hussein
Over the last three weeks, the Australian government has stepped up its response to the COVID-19 crisis to the point that now there are reports that it might have succeeded in flattening our nation’s curve. However, when it comes to...
The Offence of Termination of Pregnancy by an Unqualified Person
Until late 2019, it was a crime in New South Wales for a woman to have an abortion, or for another to perform an abortion or supply a drug for use in an abortion. These abortion offences were contained in...
COVID-19 Highlights the Need for an Australian Bill of Rights
Around the world, legal proceedings are being commenced against governments over social control measures implemented during COVID-19, but this presents a legal conundrum which must weigh the reduction of freedoms and legal safeguards against the need to stop the spread...
Sydney Criminal Lawyers® Weekly Rundown – Articles from 6 to 12 April 2020
In case you’ve missed any of them, here’s a rundown of the past week’s articles: COVID-19 Social Controls: ‘An Authoritarian Wet Dream In Progress’ There are fears the present ’emergency’ social control measures will ultimately be enacted into permanent legislation...
Pandemic Police Powers Should Not Be Used to Silence Dissent
Just after 4 pm on 10 April, a cavalcade of around seventy vehicles decorated with trade union signs and protest placards made its way through Sydney’s CBD to drive past NSW parliament, calling for no worker to be left behind...
