Can NSW Police Demand Phone and Computer Passwords?
It has been reported that police in the United States compelled a suspect to unlock his iPhone X using its facial recognition technology, triggering debate about the legality of forcing people to unlock devices using their password or biometric capabilities....
Priest Successfully Appeals Conviction for Covering-Up Child Sexual Abuse
Former Adelaide Archbishop Phillip Wilson has walked free after a judge upheld his appeal against conviction for concealing a serious indictable offence - being sexual assaults committed by fellow priest and convicted child sex offender, James Fletcher. The former Archbishop...
Voices for Change: Shifting Attitudes Via the Media to End Gender-Based Violence
In November last year, Alia and her 2-year-old daughter Emily showed up at a Newcastle support service after having fled a domestic violence situation. A Bangladeshi national on a student visa with no money, Alia was left with little options...
AFP to Demand Anyone’s ID and Move Them On at Airports
As an example of when Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers would use proposed new powers that would allow them to demand any individual’s ID for any reason at major Australian airports, Home Affairs first secretary Hamish Hansford said they would...
White Nationalists Plan to Infiltrate Mainstream Australian Politics
A group of 25 white nationalists covertly joined the NSW Young Nationals just before the party’s state conference in May this year. As the meeting transpired, regular members of the Nationals youth division found that motions were being introduced involving...
Court Upholds 30-Year Prison Sentence for Domestic Murder
On 21 September 2018, the Australian Capital Territory Court of Appeal dismissed Magad Al-Harazi’s appeal against the severity of his 30-year sentence for murdering his wife Sabah Al-Mdwali. The relationship The couple met in 2005 and married in Yemen a...
Religious Freedom Laws: PM Proposes Schools Can Sack Teachers, but Not Expel Students
Following the leaking of a section of the Ruddock religious freedoms review last week, Scott Morrison spoke out in support of recommended strengthening and clarification of federal laws that allow religious schools to discriminate against students and teachers on the basis...
Socially Progressive, Economically Sensible: An Interview with Independent, Dr Kerryn Phelps
Dr Kerryn Phelps recently called on prime minister Scott Morrison to release the final report of the Ruddock review on religious freedoms prior to next week’s Wentworth byelection, in which she’s running as an independent. Now that hasn’t happened. But, what...
Is Hazing a Criminal Offence?
As stories continue to emerge of dangerous and sadistic initiation rituals on University campuses, it’s interesting to explore where ‘hazing’ stands in terms of the law in New South Wales. Earlier this year, the Red Zone Report into Australian universities...
Pope Defrocks Priest who Sexually Abused Children
In an exceptionally rare but welcomed move, Pope Francis (pictured) has defrocked a Chilean priest convicted of sexually assaulting children. It’s the toughest penalty available to the Pope - with the exception of ex-communication, and a sign the Church may...
