The Offence of Unauthorised Use or Possession of a Firearm in NSW
A weekend away has been a costly one for twelve NRL Players who allegedly attended a camping trip in Taree during lockdown, with police handing out more than 19 penalties, and the NRL issuing hefty fines to some of the...
COVID-19: Victoria Introduces Judge-Only Trials
One of the few rights guaranteed by the Australian Constitution is the right to a trial by jury. The right is contained in section 80 of the Constitution, which provides that: “The trial on indictment of any offence against any...
Drunken Shooter Avoids Prison Due to COVID-19
On the afternoon of 2 January 2019, Rodney Madex and his daughter Tammy were drinking alcohol together in their Glengarry North home in the Gippsland region of Victoria. And into the evening, the pair had a number of minor disagreements....
Sydney Criminal Lawyers® Weekly Rundown – Articles from 13 to 19 April 2020
In case you’ve missed any of them, here’s a rundown of the past week’s articles: COVID-19 Highlights the Need for an Australian Bill of Rights The fact our constitution protects very few rights combined with concerns about current social control...
Westpac Accused of Enabling Child Sexual Offences
In amongst all of the COVID-19 news and updates, it seems we’ve been distracted from a lot of other important social issues. Climate change and domestic violence, for example, as well as the fact that Westpac is being investigated over...
Sydney Criminal Lawyers® Weekly Rundown – Articles from 6 to 12 April 2020
In case you’ve missed any of them, here’s a rundown of the past week’s articles: COVID-19 Social Controls: ‘An Authoritarian Wet Dream In Progress’ There are fears the present ’emergency’ social control measures will ultimately be enacted into permanent legislation...
COVID-19 Powers: Police Need to Use Common Sense When Exercising Their Discretion
Under NSW’s strict lockdown laws, it is an offence to leave home unless it is for work, school, to get groceries or for a limited number of other essential trips. Gatherings of more than two people are not permitted. And...
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...
Intercepting the Liberals’ Mardi Gras Float: An Interview With the Department of Homo Affairs
At this year’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade, a group of twenty activists from the Department of Homo Affairs (DOHA) located an unauthorised float - that of the Liberal Party - and moved in to turn it back. Not...
What is a Royal Commission in Australia?
The Governor-General of Australia is empowered under the Royal Commissions Act of 1902 (Cth) to establish commissions of inquiry on behalf of the Crown, when there is a particularly important issue of public concern. Typically, Royal Commissions fit two categories:...
