Woman Commences Private Prosecution After Police Refuse to Charge her Alleged Attacker
A Queensland woman has decided to launch a private criminal prosecution against her former partner after police refused to charge him over an incident where he allegedly brought a can of petrol into their home, doused her with petrol and...
Not Guilty on All Charges: An Interview With Medicinal Cannabis Crusader Dr Andrew Katelaris
At around noon on Thursday, a jury found renowned medicinal cannabis practitioner Dr Andrew Katelaris not guilty on a number of very serious charges relating to the supply and manufacture of cannabis medicines. Representing himself in court, Dr Katelaris argued...
Decriminalise Drug Possession: An Interview With Former AFP Commissioner Mick Palmer
Calls for reforms to the approach Australian governments take to illicit drugs are growing stronger. The idea that personal drug use and possession should be treated primarily as a health and social issue, and not a criminal offence, is starting...
Countering Street Harassment: An Interview with Sexism in the City Guest Dr Bianca Fileborn
Crime rates in NSW are at a forty year low. According to NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research figures, over the 24 month period ending in March this year, only two of the seventeen major crime categories were on the rise....
Penalties Increase for Illegal Mobile Phone Use
In just few hours this morning, a month’s worth of rain fell across Sydney, causing traffic congestion, flooding and property damage. From 5.30am to 9.00am, more than a 100mm of rain poured over the Sydney metropolitan are, creating transport delays...
Removing Criminal Sanctions for Drug Use: An Interview With Australia21’s Dr Alex Wodak
“We call on Australia’s federal, state and territory governments to treat drug use primarily as a health and social issue and to remove criminal sanctions for personal use and possession,” begins think tank Australia21’s recently released fourth report on illicit...
Taxpayers Foot the Bill for Police Misconduct
We have reported on several cases where taxpayers have been left to foot the bill for the misconduct of police officers, from the costs of legal representation to damages awards for police brutality and other forms of criminal conduct. Taxpayers...
Sydney Man Sentenced to Death in Iraq
An Australian man has asked the Australian Government for assistance after being found guilty of terrorism offences in Iraq and sentenced to death by hanging. Former labourer Ahmed Merhi travelled to Syria in 2015 where, he says, he engaged in...
Teacher Pleads Guilty to Persistent Sexual Abuse of Student
We recently reported on the female school teacher in Armidale, New South Wales who avoided a prison sentence despite pleading guilty to 3 counts of aggravated sexual assault and 6 of sexual intercourse with child under her care while employed at the...
Fighting Police Corruption: An Interview With Former Queensland Sergeant Rick Flori
In January 2012, a pair of Queensland police officers arrested Noa Begic on the street in the Gold Coast. Charged with public nuisance, the 21-year-old chef was handcuffed and then taken to the basement of the Surfers Paradise police station. With...
