Why Some Lawyers Win Cases While Others Waste Your Money
Criminal lawyers are often criticised for adjourning cases from court date to court date, while doing very little in between. They are accused of ‘dragging cases out’ and having little interest in getting charges dropped at an early stage in...
Teenaged Terrorism Suspect Must Face Supreme Court
A Victorian judge has ordered that a teenager accused of plotting a terrorist act must face the Supreme Court, instead of the Children’s Court. The 17-year-old’s home was raided in May this year, during which police allegedly discovered a range...
Australian Politicians Who Commit Crimes
With the ousting of our Prime Minister last week, Australia now has our fourth leader in just three years. Most of us have a healthy scepticism when it comes to politics - and not many of us truly think that...
Extravagant MPs: What does the law say about excessive spending?
Parliamentary Speaker Bronwyn Bishop is on probation after she claimed a $5,227 helicopter ride to attend a Liberal Party fundraising dinner. While this may seem like an extravagant use of taxpayer money, Bishop denies breaking any entitlement rules. And while...
What Happens if State and Federal Criminal Offences Conflict?
When it comes to criminal law, you may have noticed that both state and federal governments have enacted a range of criminal offences. In NSW, the major piece of legislation that sets out criminal offences is the Crimes Act 1900,...
Government Backs the Border Force Act
We recently wrote a blog about new laws which just entered into force this month, under the Australian Border Force Act 2015. Since the Act came into force this month, teachers, medical professionals and others working in detention centres could...
Teaching About Encryption to be Made Illegal
What does the Defence Trade Controls Act have to do with education and research? Quite a lot, under laws due to come into force next year. The Defence and Strategic Goods List (DSGL) is a compilation of technologies and goods...
Whistleblowers Face Prison for Revealing Conditions in Detention Centres
Ever heard of the Australian Border Force Act? Chances are, you probably haven’t. This law was passed recently, quietly, and by both parties of parliament with little fanfare, and will come into effect in July 2015. You probably have, however,...
The Depp Dog Debacle: Which Side Are You On?
Johnny Depp recently came to our shores to shoot the fifth ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ movie, and like many travelling stars, chose to bring his pets along with him. He came in by private jet and the dogs, two Yorkshire...
Should We Share Intelligence With Iran to Combat Terrorism?
With events planned across the country to mark the ANZAC centenary this weekend, Australian leaders have spent the week alongside other world leaders discussing how to best address the threat posed by terrorism. The discussions follow on from raids conducted...
