“There is Greater Need for an Australian Bill of Rights Now, More Than Ever,” Says Wilkie
The second wave of COVID-19 with its accompanying lockdowns is causing widespread confusion throughout the community. Restrictions on movement, association, and on our ability to continue with our regular lives are leading to questions about whether citizens’ rights are being...
What is the Drug Court Program in New South Wales?
Deputy Chief Magistrate Jane Mottley AM will be made a permanent judge of the District Court and will be sworn in as the Senior Judge of the New South Wales Drug Court in the coming weeks. Deputy Chief Magistrate Mottley...
Federal Freedom of Information Laws Enhance Government Secrecy
The federal freedom of information (FOI) regime is ostensibly about providing Australian citizens with an avenue to obtain information in the possession of government, with the recognition that the public has a right to access such information. The Freedom of...
Australia Has Been Degrading and Torturing Innocent Refugees Offshore for Eight Years
Last Monday marked the eight year anniversary of the implementation of Australia’s mandatory offshore detention regime. On 19 July 2013, then PM Kevin Rudd announced all asylum seekers arriving by boat would be sent to Manus Island, with this policy...
Fairfield: A Diverse Southwest Sydney Community Under Siege
Over the past three weeks of lockdown, NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian’s 11 am COVID press conference has become an everyday part of life for Sydneysiders. Although, the tone has grown graver as the “out in the community” case numbers continue...
Carry a Mask and ID, or Face Court or a Hefty Fine
It seems that hardly a week goes without the New South Wales government issuing a new public health order, or amending or adding to existing orders. As a consequence, it can be difficult to keep up with and digest the...
The Offence of Misconduct in Public Office in New South Wales
A New South Wales Supreme Court Justice has found former Labor Ministers Eddie Obeid and Ian Macdonald, along with Mr Obeid’s son Moses, guilty over a corrupt tender scheme which netted them a windfall in the order of $30 million....
Pub Offers Free Pints to the Vaccinated
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has congratulated a Melbourne Pub for ‘getting behind’ Australia’s vaccination drive by offering a free beer to patrons who have been vaccinated. What’s more, the PM is so supportive of the campaign that he’s told the...
Queensland Premier’s Trip to Tokyo: Justified or Irresponsible?
Last year, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk made a reputation as one of the most controversial politicians in the country with her snap border closures and harsh restrictions during the first wave of the pandemic. Now, as the Delta variant of...
I Live in An Affected Local Government Area: Can I Leave it to Work?
We felt great pity for Melbournians last year when the ‘ring of steel’ was assembled around the metropolitan area, with various police checkpoints to ensure that people were only leaving or entering for ‘authorised’ reasons under the state’s public health...
