Wong Rules Out War Powers Reform, Despite Parliamentary Inquiry Underway
At its March 2021 national conference, federal Labor determined that, if elected into government, it would hold a parliamentary inquiry into whether war powers should be a whole-of-parliament decision and not, as is the case now, the choice of the prime...
The Duty of Care Owed by Corrections Officers Towards Prisoner Inmates
The preventable death of Indigenous woman Veronica Nelson at the Dame Phyllis Frost Detention Centre in Victoria, has understandably provoked concerns by prisoners (and their loved ones) over their safety whilst in custody. The law recognises that prison officers owe...
What is the Definition of Sexual Consent in New South Wales?
The Crimes Legislation Amendment (Sexual Consent Reforms) Act 2021 came into effect on 1 June 2022 (NSW), repealing the definition of sexual consent contained in section 61HE of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) and inserting a new Subdivision 1A into Division...
Towards Rights-Based Bail, and the Chilling Effect of Extreme Conditions on Climate Action
The last 12 months have been marked by a new tactic taken towards nonviolent direct actions carried out in the defence of climate and the environment, which has seen jurisdictions, such as NSW, Victoria and Tasmania, dramatically escalate the punishments...
Peter Hollingworth to Face Secret Hearing for Allegedly Enabling Child Sexual Abuse
Former Governor General Peter Hollingworth is facing an internal tribunal hearing held behind closed doors within the Anglican Church - to determine whether he should be defrocked over his alleged role in covering up child sexual abuse within the church. ...
Is BDSM a Criminal Offence in New South Wales?
New South Wales man James-Robert Davis is facing several fresh criminal charges after having already spent 21 months behind bars on remand over what has been described as an “obedient BDSM relationship” with numerous women. The alleged leader of ‘House...
Deportations to Continue Under Albanese’s Modest 501 Migration Reforms
The Albanese government has announced coming changes to the nation’s immigration deportation scheme that were first spruiked last July. The current laws have seen thousands of noncitizens expelled since 2015, with the largest cohort having been New Zealand-born people. The government,...
Authorised Psychiatrists Will Soon Be Allowed to Prescribe MDMA and Psilocybin
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) announced on 3 February that two popular recreationally used illicit substances, MDMA and psilocybin, will be available to specifically authorised psychiatrists to prescribe to patients for certain mental health conditions. Better known as party drug ecstasy, MDMA...
Taking The Piss: Is Urinating in a Public Place a Crime in New South Wales?
At around 9.20pm on Saturday 16 July 2022, a 31-year old man allegedly climbed to the rooftop of a packed Sydney Cricket Ground during a Wallabies test match and appeared to relieve himself . Shortly thereafter, police arrested the man...
“The Threat From China Is a Lie”: Peace Activist Nick Deane on the Build Up to War
Talk of war with China has been mounting over recent years. The current Labor government, and the Coalition before it, have been warning that Beijing has become increasingly aggressive, which is leading to growing tensions in the Indo Pacific that...
