The Offence of Failing to Comply With a Public Health Order
It has been reported that at around 9.20am on Wednesday, 1 April 2020, a 41-year old woman from Queanbeyan in south eastern New South Wales was walking along a street in Cooma when she allegedly “stepped in front of another...
COVID-19: The New Restrictions on Gatherings and Movement
In recent weeks, several pieces of rights-eroding legislation have been rushed through state and federal parliaments, and orders made under broad powers contained in existing legislation, which are ostensibly to promote public safety but at the same time give unprecedented...
COVID-19: Sweeping Changes to Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) Procedures
As COVID-19 continues to impact on the community, the Chief Magistrate of the Local Court NSW, Judge Graeme Henson continues to make new arrangements to protect court users. The latest arrangements relate to Apprehended Violence Orders (AVOs) and will start...
Defendant Granted Bail Due to Coronavirus Concerns
As the COVID-19 epidemic unfolds, it’s having a substantial impact on the Australian criminal justice system, from the Local Court all the way up to the High Court of Australia. NSW District Court Chief Judge Derek Price announced on 30...
NSW Police State: Commissioner Fuller in Control of COVID Response
NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian announced on Monday morning that the new coronavirus rule regarding outdoor gatherings would be enforced as of midnight. And since then, citizens no longer have the right to assemble with more than one person outside, besides...
If Nonviolent Inmates Aren’t Released for COVID, the Nation Will Pay
Right before the Berejiklian government closed down parliament until mid-September due to the COVID-19 outbreak, it passed a law that allows for the early release of prison inmates on parole based on a number of factors including offence, age, health...
Should Politicians Take Pay Cuts?
Hundreds of thousands of Australians are out of work or working from home due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Thousands of businesses have shut their doors, many never to reopen. A large number of these have been built by ordinary Australians...
What is the Defence of Necessity?
Police have reported that just after 5pm on Friday, 27 March 2020, police sought to pull over an Audi case that was being driven on Greenacre Road in Greenacre, south-western Sydney. According to police, the vehicle accelerated to at least...
The Coronavirus: A Civil Liberties Nightmare of Orwellian Proportions
Imagine a reality where people were forced by the authorities to remain in their homes under threat of steep fines, while outside the police patrol the deserted streets, ensuring that no one steps outside without official authorisation. While this might...
Do I Need To Attend My Local Court Case During The Coronavirus Pandemic?
The Chief Magistrate of the NSW Local Court, Judge Graeme Henson, has made announcements about changes the court will implement from Monday, 30 March 2020 in response to the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) Pandemic. These changes are aimed at managing the thousands...
