The Offence of Threatening to Distribute Intimate Images in NSW
National Rugby League (NRL) player Paul Carter has strenuously denied allegations that he leaked intimate images of former Sydney Roosters teammate Dylan Napa as part of an extortion campaign. It has been reported that Mr Napa and his lawyers met...
Dutton’s Child Sex Offender Register Proposal Is Political Fodder
As the nation was still recovering from the holiday season, Australian home affairs minister Peter Dutton announced a proposal to establish a national public register of child sex offenders, which would make information about convicted criminals available online. Describing it...
Are the Sentences Imposed for Sexual Offences in NSW Too Soft?
Radio shock-jocks, tabloid newspapers and even populist politicians will often claim that members of the judiciary are too soft-on crime, and on sex offenders in particular. They claim the sentences handed-down do not sufficiently reflect the criminality of the conduct,...
Dozens of NSW Police Officers Charged with Assault and Sexual Offences
Police offers swear an oath to uphold and enforce the law, but what happens when officers themselves are themselves charged with violent of sexual offences? It has been reported that since October 2016, 30 New South Wales police officers have...
Hollywood Star Accused of Sexual Touching
It has been reported that Hollywood star Kevin Spacey will be prosecuted in the United States over allegations he performed a sexual act upon an 18-year old at a Massachusetts bar in July 2016. Boston journalist Heather Unruh accused Mr...
False Sexual Assault Allegations Ruin Lives
The growth of the #metoo movement has led to concerns being expressed about the ease with which a person’s reputation, career and even freedom can be adversely affected through false sexual assault and sexual harassment allegations. There are specific concerns...
Criminal Charges Tarnish Rugby League’s Reputation
The Australian Rugby League Commission, which controls and administrator the game, has announced a trial of new rules for junior players in a bid to stem the tide of kids leaving the sport. The shake-up is being described as the...
Government Limits Power of Courts to Impose Alternatives to Imprisonment
Section 5(1) of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (‘the Act’) makes clear that a court “must not sentence an offender to imprisonment unless it is satisfied, having considered all possible alternatives, that no penalty other than imprisonment is appropriate.” This is the statutory...
Another NRL Star Accused of Sexual Assault
Just weeks after NRL star Jarryd Hayne was charged with aggravated sexual assault over an incident on Grand Final night, another NSW State of Origin player has found himself accused of the very same offence. 27-year old St George Dragons...
Tough New Laws Against Child Sexual Abuse
A range of tough new laws to combat child sexual abuse in NSW came into effect on 1 December, which complete one of the most comprehensive overhauls of the state’s criminal laws in history. The recently enacted laws follow a...
