Should Lying in Parliament be a Crime?
The perception that politicians are often untrustworthy is widespread in Australian society, but what would happen if it were actually illegal for politicians to lie in parliament? In the UK, a petition has been launched to make lying in parliament...
Should Prison be a Last Resort for Children?
In yet another devastating blow to Australia’s human rights obligations, the president of the Queensland Children’s Court, Judge Michael Shanahan, has warned that the government is breaching the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child by imposing lengthy...
Should Members of the Bali Nine be Executed?
It has been reported that six people were executed in Indonesia over the weekend for drug offences, including five foreigners. And it’s no secret that smuggling drugs overseas - especially to and from Asian countries - is a risky endeavour...
Sydney Criminal Lawyers®: Three Things that a Criminal Defence Firm should Aim to Achieve
Sydney Criminal Lawyers® commenced operation in 2001. Since then, we have introduced a range of innovations to the criminal law profession, including: ‘Fixed Fees’ that are published on our website, A ‘Senior Lawyer Guarantee’, meaning that clients will be represented...
The Perceived Link Between Islam and Terrorism: Misinformation and Media-Fuelled Hysteria
What comes to your mind when you hear the word “terrorist”? For many, the word ‘terrorist’ conjures up images of balaclava-wearing Muslim extremists carrying assault rifles and flags bearing Arabic writing. It’s a stereotype that has been fostered in part...
Could Fitness Tracking Data be Used as Evidence in Criminal Cases?
Self-tracking fitness devices and apps are becoming increasingly popular. But although they may seem like nothing more than a handy way to improve your personal health, it’s possible they could be used for a more sinister purpose in the not...
What Happens When The Media Wrongly Accuses an Innocent Person?
Most of us know that we can’t always believe what we read in the newspapers, but what happens when reckless reporting harms an innocent person’s reputation? Fairfax Media, the publisher of the Sydney Morning Herald, recently found out how costly...
When The Police Integrity Commission Acts Beyond Its Powers
The Police Integrity Commission (PIC) was established to ensure that NSW police officers and the police force as a whole acts ethically and with integrity. But the watchdog is itself facing criticisms of unethical conduct after it overstepped its powers...
What is Sexual Incitement?
All of us are aware that touching someone sexually without permission is against the law and carries harsh penalties, but you may not realise that encouraging someone else to commit a sexual offence can also lead to criminal charges and...
‘Elastic Heart’, ‘Toddlers and Tiaras’– Is the Sexualisation of Children in the Media Acceptable?
If you’ve been lurking the web lately, you may have seen or heard some of the public backlash against Sia’s controversial new video clip. The 39-year-old Aussie singer, who hails from Adelaide, attracted criticism last week when she released the...
