Articles

The offence of knowingly displaying Nazi symbol in public without a reasonable excuse is contained in Section 93ZA of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW). Astor Legal are the only firm in Australia who have successfully defended against these charges. Contact us online or call us on (02) 7804 2823 if you have been charged with a […]

In Australia, the right to remain silent is an important legal safeguard, though it differs from the well-known Miranda Rights in the United States. Common law and legislation in Australia set out that refusing to answer police questions generally cannot be used against you. However, there are some exceptions in serious criminal matters. If police […]

One of the most common issues people who are charged by police have is the cost of a criminal lawyer. This is not an easy question to answer as there are numerous factors involved in providing an estimate. These include the complexity of the case, whether it is a fixed fee or non-fixed fee basis […]

The ability of police to force a person to unlock their phone has improved since the recent introduction of digital evidence access order legislation in New South Wales. This has extended police powers, allowing law enforcement to compel individuals to provide passcodes to electronic devices. The are hefty penalties including fines and imprisonment for a […]

What is the most common crime in each Victorian suburb? The crime rate in Victoria is rising. With this in mind, our criminal law specialists wanted to analyse the crime data from the last five years to discover the most common crimes across Victoria, as well as in each suburb, and to understand how crime […]

NSW Parliament recently passed anti-protest laws, in the form of amendments to existing legislation that govern the extent of protesting. The effect of these amendments has broadened the scope for criminality in the context of protesting, and conversely limited the right to protest in NSW. This is despite the right to protest being an integral […]

New vaping laws will be introduced from 1 October, with changes aimed at regulating the supply and manufacture of vapes. However, there has been criticism of the new reforms as well as the government’s ability to adequately enforce them. When are Vapes Getting Banned in Australia? Disposable vapes, whether they contain nicotine or not, have […]

Is your neighbourhood getting safer? Despite the general picture painted, there has been a slight decrease in overall crime numbers in the past 5 years across New South Wales, according to the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR). Interestingly, crime in NSW is higher in regional NSW than in Sydney.  With this research we […]

Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) laws are now in place across Australia’s states and will soon be implemented in the ACT by November 2025. These laws allow terminally ill individuals to seek medical assistance to end their lives, provided they meet strict eligibility criteria. Each state has established safeguards to regulate the process rigorously. These include […]

New coercive control laws have been introduced in New South Wales to address non-physical forms of domestic abuse. The Crimes Legislation Amendment (Coercive Control) Act 2022 amends the Crimes Act 1900, creating a new offence of coercive control that came into effect on 1 July 2024. The aim of the new offence is to protect […]