Life Sentences Without Parole: A Violation of Human Rights?
In his research paper from this month’s Human Rights Law Review, Andrew Dyer, a Lecturer in the Faculty of Law at the University of Sydney, argues that not having a statutory charter of rights means Australia has been left without...
Useful Tips for Those with a Loved-One in Custody
Having a loved one in prison can be distressing, but being able to visit them from time to time can make the ordeal a little easier to bear. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to navigate the prison bureacracy in order...
Special Problems Faced by Women in Prison
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the flow of women into Australian prisons, and the amount of time they spend in there, has been steadily increasing for many years. From 1995 to 2002, the imprisonment rate for women increased...
Police Body Cameras in NSW: What Does the Law Say?
Since 2014, the NSW Police Force has spent tens of millions of taxpayer dollars on “Body Worn Video Cameras” (BWVs), starting first with Sydney and extending to rural areas. We’ve heard a lot about the pros and cons of body...
About Time! Convictions for Gay Sex to be Removed
Gay sex was historically a crime - one which saw hundreds of Australians receive criminal records which could affect their careers and travel plans, not to mention their reputation in the community. Now of course, there is no criminal law...
Man Faces Court for Allegedly Spreading HIV
The Downing Centre Court has only been open for two weeks since the summer break, but has already seen its fair share of interesting cases. Perhaps one of the most disturbing so far is that of a man accused of...
Police Face Fines for Preventing Public from Filming Them
Almost everyone has a camera phone these days - a handy tool for capturing timeless memories. But the proliferation of camera phones and CCTV cameras also has a valuable law enforcement function - increasing the likelihood of those acting outside...
Future Access to Lawyers: Who Will be Australia’s ‘Avvo’?
Seattle based AVVO.com has revolutionised access to the legal profession in the United States, establishing itself as a ‘one stop shop’ for those looking for lawyers and legal information. What is Avvo? Avvo.com is a website offering free access to...
What is Avvo?
Avvo.com is a website offering free access to lawyer profiles, consumer reviews, peer endorsements and overall lawyer ratings. Users can also post legal questions which, according to CEO Mark Britton, are answered for free by qualified lawyers within twelve hours....
Facing Prison for Not Paying Road Toll
Imagine being hit with a $50,000 fine for unpaid tolls - and being told that failure to pay could land you in prison. It may seem unbelievable, but this is the reality for many Victorian drivers each year, with numerous...
