Police Continue to Use Consorting Laws to Target the Most Vulnerable, Watchdog Finds
If a NSW police officer officially warns a civilian over the age of 14 to stop communicating with at least two convicted criminals, and the individual continues to interact with at least two of the cited past offenders on at...
The Offence of Consorting in New South Wales
In the nation’s capital territory, motorcycle club-related crime is reportedly on the rise. Recent incidents have included a large brawl in a bar between rival club members, a targeted shooting and the fire-bombing of a house. In response, ACT attorney...
Tasmania to Enact Anti-Consorting Laws
The Tasmanian government is pushing through new legislation to criminalise the act of consorting with those who have ‘served their time’. Restricting associations The proposal would make it a crime for a convicted offender to associate with with another within...
12 Reasons to Choose Sydney Criminal Lawyers®
Being prosecuted for a criminal or traffic offence can be a nerve-wracking experience. You may be unfamiliar with the process, unsure of the best way forward and concerned about the outcome. But whether you are charged with a less-serious matter...
Casual Conversations Do Not Amount to Consorting
Since their enactment in 2012, the use of consorting laws by NSW police has come under significant scrutiny. The consorting law legislation was introduced into parliament by the O’Farrell government, ostensibly in response to rising gun violence attributed to motorcycle club members and organised...
NSW Police Crackdown is Devastating the Nimbin Community
NSW police carried out a series of six raids in Nimbin and Lismore on June 28 last year. A total of eleven men between the ages of 21 and 35 were arrested and charged with supplying marijuana. These men are known...
Motorcycle Club Member in Court Over Brawl
A high-ranking motorcycle club member is facing court after a brawl at Wallsend in the Hunter Valley just before Christmas – and police are talking tough, promising to crackdown on club members in the region. Police attended the scene on...
Legalise It: An interview with Australian Hemp Party President Michael Balderstone
It’s been a big year for marijuana in Australia. In February, federal parliament passed the Narcotic Drugs Amendment Bill 2016 allowing for the legal cultivation, manufacture and distribution of medicinal cannabis. Under the new system - which came into effect on October...
Anti-Consorting Laws Coming to Canberra
Most Australian states and territories have passed laws which make it a crime to associate with anyone who has a criminal record. Now, the ACT looks set to follow NSW, Queensland, Northern Territory, Victoria and South Australia in passing its...
Friends with Someone who has a Record? There’s a Law Against That!
Recent figures reveal that NSW police have issued over 8,500 warnings and charged 54 people with ‘consorting’ over the past four years, renewing concerns that the laws unfairly target individuals for simply associating with those who have ‘done their time’...