Should women make up half of all judges?
Female participation in the workforce is an issue that bubbles to the surface again and again in Australia, with state and federal governments trying to tackle the question of how to boost the number of women performing in key roles...
Police Report an ‘Explosion’ in Online Child Sex Offences
A 47-year-old man has been charged with committing 145 child sex offences on 28 children, including 8 counts of ‘grooming a child under 16 to procure engagement in sexual activity’ in what has been described as one of the most...
Should Our Government Fund Innocence Projects?
Imagine that you are in the wrong place at the wrong time, arrested without warning, charged, questioned, subjected to a trial, and then convicted for a crime you didn’t commit. It’s a sobering thought, and it happens more often than...
The Right to Protest: A Thing of the Past
Protesting has long been a way for people to publicly express their views and demonstrate their grievances. It has achieved a great deal since the late 1800s; from workers rights to female suffrage, and from civil rights to environmental protections....
When False Accusations Lead to Tragedy
When people make accusations against others, they normally think that they are justified. A bit of sketchy information combined with emotions like frustration and anger can all work together to make a hunch seem like solid reality. In trivial circumstances,...
Anti-Bikie Laws Make a Mockery of the Law
Imagine being charged with a criminal offence and facing a six months in prison for simply having a few drinks at the pub with your partner. It might seem incomprehensible, but this is exactly what happened to a couple and...
Incriminating Yourself On TV, Radio or Social Media
There were shock-waves across America recently when millionaire Robert Durst appeared in a top-rating documentary about his life, including three murders he is accused of committing. During the final episode of the documentary series The Jinx, Durst - apparently unaware...
Do Police Need More Weapons to Deal with ‘Lone Wolf’ Attacks?
For many of us, the memories of watching the Sydney siege unfold are still fresh in our minds. Three people lost their lives when the saga culminated in a deadly shooting in the early hours of December 16 last year...
Should Wrongly Convicted People be Compensated?
Imagine that you’re wrongly convicted of a crime and sentenced to a term of imprisonment. After spending months, or even years, protesting your innocence while going through court proceedings, the prospect of being found guilty of a crime you did...
Should Police Have Power to Make Paperless Arrests?
Many police officers have reported being “overwhelmed” by paperwork, complaining that it slows them down and takes them away from other duties. Some claim they often spend hours doing paperwork in a single shift, meaning there are less police out...
