A National Firearms Database: Will It Stop The Guns?
As investigations into the Martin Place siege continue to unfold, one of the key concerns is how the shooter Man Haron Monis got his hands on a gun. In the wake of the siege, the federal government is fast-tracking a...
Nurses May Soon Have Police Powers
It is no secret that the excessive use of alcohol and drugs like ‘ice’ can contribute to the commission of violent crimes. The unfortunate recipients of drug and alcohol-fuelled violence are often paramedics, nurses, doctors and other frontline healthcare professionals....
Pretty in Pink: Prisoners Wearing Pink Uniforms
Going to prison involves a lot of changes, which can be stressful and daunting for those who are sent away for the first time. One of those changes is that inmates must wear prison uniforms. If you happened to be...
Fears Realised: Agencies Given Opal Card Data Without Warrant
You might think that catching public transport in Sydney is a simple transaction - you pay your money, jump aboard and arrive (often slightly late) at your destination. When the NSW Government announced the move to electronic ticketing with the...
Rights Abused While in Police Custody
The safety and wellbeing of people being held in police custody is again in the spotlight with shocking allegations emerging that a woman was held for 16 hours at Ballarat police station in regional Victoria, and not provided with any...
Is the System Softer on the Rich and Famous?
There seems to be a public perception that those who are rich and famous are more likely than the average citizen to avoid the consequences of breaking the law. But many prominent Australians have been imprisoned over the years -...
Domestic Violence Offenders to Wear Tracking Devices
GPS trackers are becoming an increasingly common tool of law enforcement. They can function both as a punishment as well as a preventative measure against future crimes taking place. They are currently used on those who commit child sex offences...
Cardinal George Pell to Face the Music
Allegations that Cardinal George Pell tried to cover up abuse by bribing a victim to keep quiet have once more been thrust into the spotlight at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. Cardinal Pell has strongly...
The Dangers of Joyriding
The offence of larceny, or theft, requires an element of intention to permanently deprive the owner of the item. So is it still stealing if you were just borrowing the item? ‘Joyriding’ is where a car is taken and driven...
Arrested for ‘Man-Spreading’
For many of us, public transport is a convenient and relatively affordable way to travel. But those who don’t follow rules of common courtesy on trains and buses can be a source of annoyance for some passengers. The selfish habit...
