We Are All Friendlyjordies: The Systematic Silencing of Dissent
In line with the new norm for Coalition ministers, NSW deputy premier John Barilaro filed to sue Friendlyjordies presenter, Jordan Shanks, for defamation on 27 May, claiming the YouTube political satirist portrayed him as being corrupt in two video clips...
No Support for Religious Privileging Laws: An Interview With the Rationalist Society’s Neil Francis
Newly minted attorney general Michaelia Cash has signalled she’s producing a new draft of the Religious Discrimination Bill (RD Bill), which is a piece of legislation that purports to protect those of faith, whilst actually providing them with the privilege...
Should Companies that Profited During COVID Repay JobKeeper?
Retailer Harvey Norman is one of several large corporations that have refused to pay back JobKeeper subsidies despite making record profits during COVID-19. The companies have maintained their stance despite public pressure repay the money, which was intended to keep...
Lawyers for George Floyd’s Killer Plead for Probation
Criminal defence lawyers for the police officer who killed George Floyd by kneeling on his neck for more than 9 minutes as he pleaded for breath have filed submissions to the effect that their client should be placed on probation,...
When Can Police Use a Taser in New South Wales?
NSW’s State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad are investigating a case where a New South Wales man died after being tasered and pepper sprayed by police. Two police officers responded to a callout to 27-year old James Peachy’s home in Gunnedah...
What is Vehicular Manslaughter?
A range of criminal offences may apply in situations where a driver causes the death of another person. Manslaughter is one of them, but is usually reserved for the most serious dangerous driving cases. The more common charges are dangerous...
Trans Is a Gift, Not a Threat: AusPATH’s Teddy Cook on Latham’s Anti-Trans Laws
Currently, there’s a very dangerous bill under review of a NSW parliamentary committee that seeks to effectively erase the identity of trans kids within the education system, as it would ban all staff from mentioning gender fluidity at schools via...
The New Mental Health Regime in the NSW Criminal Courts
The Mental Health and Cognitive Impairment Forensic Provisions Act 2020 (NSW) (the New Act) came into effect on the 27 March 2021. Passed last June, the New Act replaces the Mental Health (Forensic Provisions) Act 1990 (NSW) (the Old Act)...
Is it Legal to Ride a Power-Assisted Bicycle in New South Wales?
On 22 January 2021, the Australian Government updated the requirements for permitted e-bikes. There are only two types of eBikes permitted on roads and road-related areas, which are power-assisted cycles whereby the motor is activated by a throttle, and power-assisted...
The Law, Penalties and Defences for Aggravated Sexual Assault in Company
A jury in Downing Centre District Court has heard that a then-19 year old woman felt “dead inside” when NRL payers Jack de Belin and Callan Sinclair allegedly forced her to have sexual intercourse in the early hours of 9...
