“Justice for the Puppies”
It is rare for those who commit animal cruelty to be taken to court because such crimes either go undetected or unprosecuted. And even if they do come before a magistrate, they are not dealt with anywhere near as harshly...
Accessing Your Own Metadata: Ben’s Battle
We previously published a series of blogs about the Federal Government’s controversial new metadata laws, which were passed by the Senate in March. The Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Amendment (Data Retention) Bill 2015 was premised on the notion that it...
Are We Doing Enough to Protect Children from Abuse?
Are we doing enough to protect children from abuse? This question has recently arisen with the case of Bill Spedding, a washing machine repairman who police have named as a person of interest in the disappearance of toddler William Tyrell...
What Happens If Police Damage My Property?
Recent changes to the law mean that police are getting more and more power. But fortunately, they cannot barge down your front door and come into your home without a legitimate reason. Police must have a legitimate reason come into...
City Pays People Not to Commit Crimes – And It’s Working!
What do you think about taxpayers paying repeat offenders not to commit crimes? It may sound strange, but this is just what one US town has been doing. The district of Richmond in San Francisco Bay has employed an unusual...
Should Bigamy Continue to Be a Crime?
The practice of being in a relationship with numerous spouses, or ‘polygamy’, is an integral part of many traditional cultures around the world. It is practised in several Asian, African and Middle Eastern cultures - and even in Mormon communities...
Is the AFP Partly Responsible For the Deaths of Chan and Sukamaran?
Australians were outraged by the execution of ‘Bali Nine’ members Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran in Indonesia on 29 April this year. Many were equally appalled that their deaths might have been avoided if the Australian Federal Police (AFP) had...
‘Judge Dread’ Strikes Again
One Queensland magistrate has caused concern amongst members of the legal profession after indulging in conduct that is out of keeping with what is expected of a person who holds such a powerful and important position. The magistrate, Stuart Shearer,...
Would You Ever Sedate Your Child for a Long Car Trip?
You’re planning a trip with the kids. It’s going to be fantastic. You’ll revisit many of the spots that you loved as a child, and you’re really looking forward to it. There’s just one problem: Six hours in the car....
Should Those with Criminal Records be Allowed to Become Teachers?
Can someone become a teacher with a criminal record? Like many legal questions, the short answer is: it depends. Many of us have made mistakes over the years, but what if one mistake could mean you were now ineligible for...
