Medical Marijuana Innovation: An Interview With Andrew Kavasilas
In late 1930s Australia, dozens of cannabis-based medicines were widely available, either by prescription or over-the-counter. One of the most popular was Dr J Collis Browne’s Chlorodyne, which was a preparation made from Nepalese cannabis resin. When a Victorian MP...
Norway Benefits from Rehabilitation, While Australia Lags Behind
Studies have consistently found that sending people to prison significantly increases their chances of offending, rather than reduces it, and that alternatives to imprisonment are more likely to put offenders on the straight and narrow than full time prison custody....
Turnbull Attempts to Silence Activist Groups
Last month, the federal government introduced bills to ban foreign donations and require the registration of lobbyists working for foreign interests if they are seeking to influence the Australian political climate. While the Labor party has indicated support for most...
NSW Police Officer Found Guilty of Assault and Perjury
A New South Wales police officer who tasered a man three times and then lied about the circumstances in court has been found guilty of both common assault and perjury. The story so far In June 2013, former police sergeant...
Turnbull’s War on Welfare Recipients
As you sit at home in your Point Piper mansion, and it’s getting close to end of year celebrations, what else would one think as prime minister of Australia, but, “Who am I gonna take a swipe at next? Ah,...
Sydney Lawyer Struck Off for Defrauding Elderly Client
Sydney lawyer Victor Berger has been removed from the roll of legal practitioners after over-charging an elderly client $137,543. The solicitor made regular phone calls to the frail woman in her nineties, checking on her health, her relationship with her...
Vigilante ‘Paedophile Hunter’ Faces Court
A self-proclaimed ‘paedophile hunter’ is facing criminal charges after performing citizens’ arrests on two men he claims responded to sting operations where he pretended to be a child online. The operations were reminiscent to those performed on the US television...
Is Melbourne Really Under Threat from African Gangs?
According to the recent media beat-up, Melbourne is yet again suffering a wave of “African gang violence.” This is despite Victoria deputy police commissioner Andrew Crisp recently stating that there was “no evidence or intelligence to suggest” a string of recent...
Pill Testing Is Long Overdue: An Interview with Victorian MP Colleen Hartland
The current campaign to trial a pill testing service at an Australian music festival began in February 2016. The push was led by prominent harm reduction advocates Dr Alex Wodak, Dr David Caldicott, and Will Tregoning. The impetus behind the renewed...
Federal Government May Increase Alcohol Tax
Malcolm Turnbull was all ears when the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE) recently proposed increasing taxes on alcohol, arguing this would reduce alcohol consumption and associated problems. The plan would likely result in higher prices for drinks at...
