Human Rights Abuses on Nauru
Nauru: It’s the world’s smallest island nation, but it’s been making headlines in Australia of late. The island is the site of an Australian-run detention centre, which houses approximately 1000 asylum seekers in tent-like facilities. Conditions at the centre have...
Will the National Domestic Violence Scheme be Effective?
The death of 11-year-old Victorian boy Luke Batty at the hands of his father in February 2014 highlighted for many the seriousness and the cost of domestic violence, and sparked a national campaign to protect women and children. More than...
Vigilantes Taking the Law Into Their Own Hands
If you’ve ever seen the television drama Dexter, you’d know about Dexter Morgan, a troubled young man who leads a double life - working as a blood splatter analyst with the Miami Police Force by day, and as a vigilante,...
Insulting People Due to Race: Should it be Legal?
Just months after ethnic minorities expressed relief about the government’s abandonment of plans to repeal section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has now announced that he would support a ‘softer’ proposal that would no longer...
Social Media – Watch What You Say!
Social media has become an integral part of our everyday lives - allowing us to connect and express ourselves in a range of ways. But some use social media as a way to vent personal frustrations, without regard to the...
The Boston Bomber Death Penalty: Justice?
On 15 April 2013, a terrorist act took place that would alter the images that come to mind when we hear of the Boston Marathon. Three people were killed and hundreds were injured when two pressure-cooker bombs used exploded near...
The Depp Dog Debacle: Which Side Are You On?
Johnny Depp recently came to our shores to shoot the fifth ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ movie, and like many travelling stars, chose to bring his pets along with him. He came in by private jet and the dogs, two Yorkshire...
Amateur Sleuths: Helping Police to Solve Crimes
There’s nothing like a mysterious crime to keep us on the edge of our seats. Agatha Christie knew this all too well - her many murder mystery titles are entrenched classics in modern-day literature, and there’s also a string of...
Sophie Monk’s Ordeal is Finally Over
Repeatedly calling, texting or following someone who you’ve got a crush on might seem relatively harmless - but crossing the line can result in serious consequences under the law. The rise of social media has made it easier to find...
“Justice for the Puppies”
It is rare for those who commit animal cruelty to be taken to court because such crimes either go undetected or unprosecuted. And even if they do come before a magistrate, they are not dealt with anywhere near as harshly...
