What the Law Says About “King Hit” Attacks
Our video and blog post below discusses what the law says about ‘king hit’ attacks. Alcohol-related violence has been in the media spotlight recently, particularly the growing number of king hit incidents - which some have called “coward punches” –...
How Support Organisations Can Help Clients with Unpaid Fines
Fines are an accepted penalty within our legal system, but they can cause extreme financial hardship for vulnerable people. The system of fines in NSW means that people can potentially build up large debts, and if they have no way...
How to Make a Complaint against the NSW Police
The police in NSW have substantial powers but they are not infallible. Each year complaints are made and upheld against members of the police force, and if you have recently had an experience with police officers during which you feel...
What Should I do if I’m facing A Centrelink Overpayment Prosecution?
Over payment of Centrelink benefits can lead to serious criminal charges, particularly if it is believed that you deliberately withheld information or misled Centrelink for the purposes of receiving benefits that you weren’t entitled to. The process for Centrelink overpayment...
Are The Life Sentencing Laws in NSW too harsh?
The NSW criminal law system has recently been criticised for arguably contravening Australia’s human rights obligations when it comes to offenders who are sentenced to life imprisonment. Currently, NSW is the only state in Australia that doesn’t allow for a...
How Can I Win an Assault Case?
Being charged with assault is a serious matter. Depending on the severity of the alleged offence you could find yourself facing a large fine, or even long-term imprisonment. Even if your assault charge is relatively minor, you could still find...
New Sentencing Regime Being Suggested for NSW
Sweeping changes to sentencing in NSW have been suggested in a recent report by the Law Reform Commission. The document, which was tabled before the NSW Attorney General Greg Smith in September 2013, details 100 proposed changes. These changes are...
The New Bail Act – Changes to Bail Legislation in NSW
Changes to the bail process in NSW, including the removal of presumptions in favour of bail, are set to become law. The legislation, known as the new Bail Act, was introduced to the state parliament in May 2013. The act...
NSW Law and Drink Spiking as a Crime
With the party season well underway, it is important to stay as safe as possible and enjoy yourself without ending up in legal trouble. Under NSW law, drink spiking is a criminal offence that can attract harsh penalties. Whether you...
Is it a crime to threaten or intimidate someone?
Certain threats and acts of intimidation are considered to be serious criminal offences. For each of those offences, the prosecution must prove certain matters beyond reasonable doubt. Here’s what you need to know. The offence of staking or intimidation in...