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)...
Driver Who Filmed Dying Police Officer Sentenced in Court
The man who filmed a police officer while she lay dying on the road after being hit by a truck could walk free from prison in the coming days, after receiving a backdated sentence of 10 months in prison. The...
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...
Is it Legal to Ride an eScooter in New South Wales?
The New South Wales government has abandoned its plan for an electric scooter trial in Sydney, despite the move across Australia towards legalising them. As a result, it continues to be illegal to ride eScooters on roads and road-related areas...
The Offence of Contravening a Human Biosecurity Emergency Requirement or Direction
Since COVID-19 landed on our shores in early 2020, a range of orders and determinations have been issued by state, territory and federal governments which regulate Australian residents, ostensibly to limit the spread of the virus. In New South Wales,...
Government Criminalises Aussies Who Use Travel Bubble as a Stepping Stone
The Australia / New Zealand bilateral ‘travel bubble’ came into effect on 19 April 2021, enabling Australian residents to travel across the Tasman without having to obtain authorisation from the Australian government. But in a pre-emptive move to prevent citizens...
The Offence of Sexually Touching a Child Aged 10 to 16
A 42-year old police sergeant has been charged with three counts of sexually touching a child aged 10 to 16, as well as two counts of indecent assault. The officer, who is attached to the North West Metropolitan Command, was...
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...
Can I Have My Criminal Charges Dismissed Due to Mental Health? Section 14 Orders in NSW
On 27 March 2021, new laws came into effect in New South Wales to deal with situations where persons suffering from mental health issues come into contact with the criminal justice system. Among other things, the new laws cover: Applications...
The Offence of Intentionally or Recklessly Destroying or Damaging Property in NSW
A 21 year old has been handed a community correction order and ordered to pay more than $40,000 after a boozy night he says he was too drunk to remember. During sentencing proceedings in Downing Centre Local Court, the Presiding...
