The Law, Defences and Penalties for Shoplifting in New South Wales
The New South Wales Police Force has reported that 84 people were arrested during a three-day operation targeting shoplifting across the Sydney CBD, Ultimo and Bondi areas on 8, 9 and 10 December 2021. Operation Lightfingers comprised officers from the...
What is a Criminal Infringement Notice in New South Wales?
Since 2007, police officers in New South Wales have been empowered to exercise discretion not to send those suspected of committing certain criminal offences to court, but instead issue penalty notices – which are on-the-spot fines commonly known as ‘criminal...
Is it Legal for Businesses to Refuse Entry Based on Vaccination Status?
The New South Wales government says that despite yet another variant of the COVID-19 virus, labelled Omicron, finding its way onto Australian shore, the ‘freedoms’ returned to the state’s residents will remain in place and that, from 15 December 2021,...
Possessing, Disseminating and Producing Animal Cruelty Material to Become a Crime in NSW
An amendment to the Crimes Act passed the state’s lower house last week, which proposes to criminalise the production, dissemination and possession of bestiality material, as well as animal torture material. If the laws pass the upper house, the maximum...
The Offence of Sexual Intercourse with a Child Under the Age of 10 Years in NSW
Another former Catholic Brother has been sentenced to imprisonment for multiple child sexual offences. Systemic sexual abuse The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse heard accusations against thirty brothers from Kendall Grange Special School for Boys in...
What is the Legal Defence of Honest Opinion in Defamation Cases?
Federal Defence Minister Peter Dutton has been awarded $35,000 in damages after winning his defamation lawsuit against refugee advocate Shane Bazzi. The former Minister for Home Affairs commenced legal proceedings against Mr Bazzi in the Federal Court of Australia over...
Bail Laws and the Presumption of Innocence in New South Wales
New South Wales Police Minister David Elliott is pressing for a review of bail laws after coming on board with radio ‘shock jock’ Ray Hadley to slam the grant of bail to a man accused of sexual assault. The 35-year...
The Offences of Child Grooming and Child Procuring in New South Wales
Former New York socialite, Ghislaine Maxwell, who is the daughter of publishing tycoon Robert Maxwell, and once the partner of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, is due to face court in the United States this week. Ms Maxwell is charged...
The Offence of Providing False Documents or False or Misleading Information Relating to Non-Citizens
Former Federal Labor MP Craig Thomson has been charged over an alleged fraudulent visa scheme worth millions of dollars. The charges follow a joint investigation by the Australian Federal Police (AFP), Australia Border Force (ABF), Australian Taxation Office (ATO), AUSTRAC...
The Offence of Police Neglect of Duty in New South Wales
Neglect of Duty is an offence under section 201 of the Police Act 1990 (NSW) which carries a maximum penalty of 20 penalty units, or $2,200. A police officer is guilty of this offence if he or she “neglects or...
