Far Right Wing Politics – Fanning the Flames of Hate
Publication date: 22 February 2017 It’s a month into Trump’s presidency, and in that time we’ve seen him produce a range executive orders delivering on several campaign promises: the defunct, soon-to-be newly-revised, Muslim ban, the $21.6 billion US-Mexican border wall proposal and...
Portugal’s Experience of Drug Decriminalisation
Around one percent of the population in Portugal was addicted to heroin in 1999. The nation also reportedly had the highest number of drug-related AIDS deaths in the European Union. The government had been waging the usual war on drugs since...
Using Technology to Get Around Court Orders
Tracking devices placed in cars, in baby strollers and even in walking sticks. Electronic “gifts” with spyware or location apps enabled. The use of sophisticated technology to listen to telephone calls and hack into email and social media accounts. The...
Hang Paedophiles, demands Philippines President
By Blake O’Connor and Ugur Nedim The death penalty was abolished in the Philippines in 2006, partly due to pressure from the powerful Catholic Church. However, controversial Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte is reported to have called for the reintroduction of death by hanging...
The Netherlands is Helping the Homeless, While We’re Criminalising Them
As in many developed countries, it’s becoming increasing rare for people in the Netherlands to carry cash, as electronic payment technologies are embraced for a wide variety of transactions. However, a section of society that’s being left behind by these...
Lawyers Call for Criminal Charges Against Australian Government
In a petition to the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN) and the Stanford International Human Rights Clinic have described the “harrowing practices of the Australian state and corporations towards asylum seekers” as a crime against...
NT Juvenile Justice to Focus on Prevention, Rather than Incarceration
The Northern Territory government will spend an extra $18.2 million annually to overhaul its troubled juvenile justice system, focusing on prevention and diversion rather than incarceration. “… we have to make sure we prevent crime before it occurs,” NT Chief...
Melbourne Needs an Injecting Room: An Interview with Australian Sex Party Leader Fiona Patten
There’s a renewed push for a medically supervised injecting centre to be established in Melbourne, amid concerns over continuing overdose deaths on the streets. Leading the campaign is Victorian Sex Party MLC Fiona Patten, who introduced a private member’s bill...
Queensland Police to Get More Power
Normally, police across Australia require a warrant or a reasonable suspicion of wrongdoing before they are permitted to subject individuals to a personal search. However, police in Queensland are set to be given extra powers in time for the April...
The Real Cost of our Love Affair with Alcohol
Almost half of all homicides in Australia are alcohol-related, and more than a quarter of Australians report being affected by alcohol-fuelled violence. These statistics and a wealth of research leaves little doubt that our love affair with alcohol is a...
