Queensland Finally Abolishes the Gay Panic Defence
It’s actually happened. Queensland has abolished gay panic defence. The Criminal Law Amendment Bill 2016 was passed in state parliament on Tuesday night, amending section 304 of the state’s Criminal Code so that an unwanted sexual advance is no longer a provocation to kill...
Predicting and Preventing Crime: An Interview with CTDS’s Dr Roman Marchant
The future is now. Even before you move into your new model home, in that recently-designed outer suburb in metropolitan Sydney, big data is watching you. And it doesn’t need to monitor your movements, or even address your motives, it...
Police Minister Pleads Ignorance of the Law
Just in case you missed the media frenzy this week, NSW Police Minister Troy Grant hit the headlines claiming he did not know that using a mobile phone while driving is unlawful. Mr Grant was a police officer for 22...
“Come on and suck my d**k you little c**t”, youth justice officer tells child
Juvenile detention centres are places where troubled youths are sent as punishment, and where they can engage in counselling and programs to help get them back on the right path. They are certainly not places where punishment is meant to...
Belle Gibson Guilty, But Not Deterred
The federal court delivered its judgment on disgraced wellness blogger Belle Gibson this week, finding she broke the law in “most but not all” of the allegations brought against her. In handing down the decision, Justice Mortimer found that Ms Gibson...
Terrorism by the United States Goes Unpunished
During his election campaign, much of Donald Trump’s rhetoric hearkened back to the United States’ isolationist policy of the early to mid-twentieth century. Today, it’s hard to believe that the world’s reigning superpower once tried to avoid getting involved in the globe’s...
Aussie Mum May Appeal Sentence for Killing Balinese Policeman
In case you missed the headlines: Sara Connor has been sentenced to four years in prison, while her boyfriend, David Taylor, was handed a six year sentence for killing Balinese police officer Wayan Sudarsa. The Byron Bay mother of two...
Wannabe Bieber Law Lecturer Charged with Child Sex Offences
A Queensland law lecturer who allegedly posed online as Justin Bieber has been charged with more than 900 child sex offences. Gordon Douglas Chalmers, a lecturer at the Queensland University of Technology, is accused of using multiple social media platforms...
#ProtectJournalists: An Interview with Reporters Without Borders’ Delphine Halgand
Journalists often expose harsh realities to the general public, and this can rub certain people up the wrong way. Whether it’s reporting on corrupt politicians, investigating organised crime, or revealing the repressive practices of military forces: those targeted are rarely thankful...
Victory Against Anti-Islam Group: An Interview with Halal Certification Authority Director Mohamed El-Mouelhy
The Q Society and anti-halal campaigner Kirralie Smith have publicly apologised to Mohamed El-Mouelhy, the director of the Halal Certification Authority. At a meeting on Monday, the anti-Islam organisation agreed to make an out of court settlement over the defamation case brought against them....
