Two Lawyers knew Convicted Murderer was Innocent: Why didn’t they Speak Out?
Imagine this: the fate of an innocent person is in your hands - but your professional obligations prevent you from speaking out. One survey of Australian criminal lawyers found that 75% have regularly lain awake worrying about ethical issues connected...
Should Police Be Allowed to Police Themselves? The NT’s Top-Cop Resigns Amidst Allegations of Corruption
Over the years, we’ve published many blogs about corrupt politicians, police, lawyers and even magistrates. But it seems that even the highest members of the police force are not immune from claims of corruption, with Northern Territory Police Commissioner John...
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...
‘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...
Alan Jones Loses Nine Year Battle Over Racist Comments
Very few people can polarise people the way that Alan Jones can. He has a loyal following of conservative AM listeners but has also attracted criticism for some of his controversial comments and opinions. Alan Jones has recently been defeated...
The Dilution of the Doctrine of Double Jeopardy and the Gordon Wood Case
In June 1995, the body of Sydney model Caroline Byrne was found at The Gap, Watson’s Bay. It took thirteen years for Gordon Wood, her then boyfriend, to stand trial for her murder. He was adamant that she committed suicide,...
With so much Media Attention on Violent Crime: Are Crime Rates in NSW Rising or Falling
Recent figures from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) show that most of the main offence types have remained steady or decreased in number throughout the state over the previous three months. There have been a number...
Queensland Barrister who was found Guilty of Tax Offences tipped to become Magistrate
We have published a number of blogs about lawyers who have engaged in professional misconduct and unethical behaviour. In many cases, these lawyers were ‘struck off’ - meaning that that they lost their licence to practice law. In a profession...
Sydney Siege – How Was It Allowed to Happen?
The Sydney Siege has raised more questions than it has answered. If Man Haron Monis had survived Monday’s heinous crime, the charges he could have faced may have included detain for advantage, kidnapping, weapons charges, terrorism, murder - and the...
Craig Thomson found ‘Not Guilty’ of 49 Fraud Charges
Many would be aware of the highly publicised controversy surrounding disgraced former Federal MP and Health Services Union secretary, Craig Thomson. 50 year-old Thomson is alleged to have committed numerous acts of fraud, after a Health Services Union secretary identified...
