Are you a victim of domestic violence? Here’s how to get help.
The very high profile recent court battles between Hollywood actor Johnny Depp and his former partner Amber Heard have got the world talking. And this is a good thing – we need domestic violence to come out from behind closed doors. Whether or not you agree with the very polarising outcome of the Depp vs […]
What is a Community Corrections Order?
In New South Wales, courts have a number of sentencing options available to them. One such option is a Community Corrections Order (CCO) for adult offenders, which involves a conviction being entered, and can, at times, be a harsh penalty, but CCO’s are a welcome alternative to a prison sentence. CCOs were introduced as a […]
What is a Conditional Release Order?
Conditional release orders (CROs) are a type of sentencing. They were introduced in 2018, to replace good behaviour bonds. When a person has been found guilty of a crime in New South Wales (either at a hearing or my entering a plea of guilty), a Judge or Magistrate can impose a CRO with a criminal […]
Family & Domestic Violence Leave Entitlement
Millions of Australians will be entitled to ten days paid domestic violence leave after a landmark decision by the Fair Work Commission (FWC). The decision, which currently affects those employed under the 123 current industry awards, is likely to set a precedent right across Australia, means that workers should be able to access the leave […]
You can be charged with drug supply, without actually selling drugs
In the news this week – a New South Wales man has confessed to trading cocaine for secret and unlawful access to a gym to work out during the Sydney Covid-19 lockdowns. Police arrested the man after an investigation that included surveillance and the interception of more than 25,000 text messages and phone calls. He […]
Let’s talk about sex – School Sex Ed is getting a major overhaul
Last year a young woman named Chantel Contos shared her personal experience of sexual assault at school online. She received an overwhelming number of responses, shares and support. The story, and the underlying issue – a lack of understanding of exactly what consent means, to our young people – went viral. Next, Ms Contos started […]
Affirmative Sexual Consent laws. What do they mean?
Sexual consent law reforms have passed in New South Wales Parliament, and they’re being described as a major step forward in delivering better justice for sexual assault survivors. Rape can be difficult to prosecute Police officers and lawyers will attest to the fact that rape cases can be difficult to prosecute, for a number of […]
What does it mean to appeal a criminal conviction?
The news that has dominated headlines recently is the story of Jarryd Hayne walking free from jail, having had his sexual assault convictions quashed. The former NRL star was convicted late last year of two counts of sexual assault. After a jury found him guilty his legal team launched an appeal against his conviction. Every […]
Supplying a prohibited drug in New South Wales
I bet that if you asked any parent what their greatest worry is, most would say their teenagers getting into trouble with drugs makes it into the top three concerns. A group of New South Wales high school parents are coming to terms with an even worse scenario this week – the news that a […]
Anti-Troll Legislation
Be aware of what you say online or you could find yourself in court In recent weeks the Federal Government has been working on introducing new legislation. These new laws have been dubbed “anti-troll” legislation, and specifically focus on cyberbullying. The laws, if enacted, would require companies such as Facebook, Instagram, Google etc, to reveal […]
RATs in the cupboard – Living with Covid
Children are back at school, people are returning to the workplace, borders have opened and … Covid-19 is running rampant across the country. Vaccinations and RAT testing As part of the plan for moving forward, double-vaccinations are required in many circumstances, and so is Rapid Antigen Testing. In recent days the Supreme Court of New […]
Cyber crime is on the rise – make sure you protect yourself
There’s been a couple of stories in the media lately which are testament to the ever increasing sophistication of online scams. These should act as a warning for us all to remain vigilant and to take appropriate steps to protect our privacy as we spend more and more time online. Almost 16 million Commonwealth Bank […]
Speeding in School Zones
It’s so easy to get caught out doing the wrong thing as a driver in a school zone, and it is one of the most common traffic offences, particularly here in the Northern Rivers. Why? Well, for a couple of reasons. Firstly, in the little villages in and around the hinterland, there are small country […]
What happens when a child is charged with murder?
One of the saddest stories to emerge in the past couple of weeks is that New South Wales Police have charged a 13-year old with murder over the fatal stabbing of a boy the same age. Police investigations are still underway, but it has been alleged by Police that the boys were engaged in a […]
Driving Under The Influence (DUI)
The celebrating season is here … so leave the car at home It’s no secret that drink driving continues to be a prominent road safety issue across New South Wales, despite the multi-millions of dollars that the State Government pours into education and law enforcement year after year. Every year hundreds of people die, or […]
Sexual harassment in the workplace
Sexual harassment, bullying, discrimination and workplace misconduct are all topics that are very difficult to ignore right now, particularly with the recent release of the Set the Standard report, the result of an extensive inquiry into the culture at Parliament House and it’s associated workplaces. The inquiry was one of several ordered by the Prime […]
Online dating? Make sure you take appropriate precautions and stay safe
A man from Wyong on the NSW Central Coast has been arrested and charged with the alleged sexual assault of two women he met on the dating app Tinder. Police investigations are continuing, but the man has been charged with four counts of sexually touching another person without consent. He has been refused bail and […]
New study shows police presence at music festivals can lead to drug overdoses
A new survey — purported to be the largest of its kind — suggests that a strong police presence at music festivals is a key factor in people ‘loading up’, that is taking all their drugs before entering festival gates, which can have serious consequences, potentially leading to illness and in some cases even death. […]
Class Action launched by attendees of Splendour in the Grass
A class action lawsuit has been launched for people who believe they were illegally strip searched by New South Wales Police at Byron Bay’’s iconic music festival Splendour in the Grass in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. The class action is the result of an inquiry conducted by the police watchdog, the Law Enforcement Conduct […]
Mobile phones and driving – know the rules
Most of us know by now that touching or holding a mobile phone while driving in Australia is strictly prohibited. Your mobile phone must be connected to your car via Bluetooth or in an approved, securely mounted cradle so it’s hands-free. For L-Platers and P-Platers, phones are not to be used at all while driving. […]
