Teacher’s Wrongful Conviction Finally Overturned
In the carefree days of 1979, things were a bit different from the way they are now. Teachers could take students on excursions and camps without other adults being present to keep an eye on things. They could be in...
High Court Spares Izzy’s Life
In February, we wrote a blog about the intriguing story of Izzy, the Staffordshire terrier on death row in Victoria whose case went all the way to the High Court, making legal history. Background After escaping from her home in...
Terrorism Suspects to Have Their Citizenship Revoked
Politicians and media outlets regularly tell us that terrorism is the greatest threat to our Australian values and lifestyle - despite the fact that terrorist attacks occur relatively infrequently compared with other criminal offences. Nevertheless, suggestions that we are at...
Police Mishandling of the Bowraville Murders
Over a period of five months between 1990 and 1991, three Aboriginal children disappeared from the same street in a housing mission near the NSW town of Bowraville. The bodies of 16-year-old Clinton Speedy Duroux and four-year-old Evelyn Greenup were...
Women Imprisoned for Being Too Noisy During Sex
In a case of truth being stranger than fiction, a British woman has been imprisoned for two weeks for being too noisy during sex. That’s right - noisy sex. Following complaints from her sleep-deprived neighbours, the local council took action...
Indigenous Australian Locked Up in Detention
In what could be an embarrassing mix-up for Australian immigration authorities, reports have surfaced recently about a 39-year-old Indigenous man wrongfully locked up in detention. The man, who says his name is Eddie David, is accused by the Department of...
Whistleblowers Face Prison for Revealing Conditions in Detention Centres
Ever heard of the Australian Border Force Act? Chances are, you probably haven’t. This law was passed recently, quietly, and by both parties of parliament with little fanfare, and will come into effect in July 2015. You probably have, however,...
Nurses May Soon Have Police Powers
It is no secret that the excessive use of alcohol and drugs like ‘ice’ can contribute to the commission of violent crimes. The unfortunate recipients of drug and alcohol-fuelled violence are often paramedics, nurses, doctors and other frontline healthcare professionals....
Pretty in Pink: Prisoners Wearing Pink Uniforms
Going to prison involves a lot of changes, which can be stressful and daunting for those who are sent away for the first time. One of those changes is that inmates must wear prison uniforms. If you happened to be...
Fears Realised: Agencies Given Opal Card Data Without Warrant
You might think that catching public transport in Sydney is a simple transaction - you pay your money, jump aboard and arrive (often slightly late) at your destination. When the NSW Government announced the move to electronic ticketing with the...
