Articles

Jaywalking is illegal in most of Australia. The penalties vary from state to state. It is a term that originated in the USA but has been adopted in countries throughout the world, including Australia. Jaywalking is seen to present a danger to both pedestrians and traffic which has led to its criminalisation in many jurisdictions. […]

Central Coast Mariners forward Angel Torres has been charged with sexual assault and suspended by Football Australia. The suspension is currently on a ‘no-fault’ basis until the matter is resolved – something that could take over 12 months. The club released a statement emphasising that no finding of guilt has yet been made. Angel Torres […]

Lawyers are regularly asked about the difference between battery and assault. Both concepts deal with the use of physical force against another person. This article explores both ideas and how they are dealt with today. What is assault? An assault is any deliberate action where a person intentionally or recklessly instils in another the fear […]

Cipher phones and apps used by organised crime organisations to facilitate and plan large-scale criminal acts have led to the Australian Government introducing reforms to the Crimes Act 1900. As a result of successful police operations, the Dedicated Encrypted Criminal Communication Device Prohibition Orders Bill 2022 was introduced to directly address the use of cipher […]

In Australia, tasers are primarily used by law enforcement officers like the police to incapacitate those who pose a threat to themselves, others or the police. Tasers are strictly regulated and subjected to guidelines which aim to minimise their misuse. Police officers undergo training to ensure that they are handling and operating tasers safely and […]

Every adult over the age of 18 who is registered on the electoral roll may be summoned to serve for jury duty in NSW. If you are summoned for jury duty, you will go through a selection process to determine whether you will be a part of the 12-person jury for the matter. In a […]

In Australia, double jeopardy laws have evolved through significant reforms to balance the rights of the accused and ensure the prosecution are able to re-agitate proceedings where appropriate. The principle is intended to protect the rights of individuals by ensuring that the criminal justice system does not abuse its power. However, some have argued that […]

The criminal justice system regularly deals with persons who make a complaint to police about their partner, but later decide that they want to know how to get domestic violence charges dropped. There may also be circumstances where a complainant has explicitly told police that they do not want their partner charged, but police lay […]

When police apply for an Apprehended Violence Order (AVO), often the first question that many people ask is whether the AVO will appear on a police check. Often people are concerned about the consequences of an AVO being made against them. As such it is crucial to speak to a specialist AVO lawyer who can […]

The Australian government has announced that it will be moving forward with legislation to make doxxing a criminal offence. The move follows the leak of personal information of more than 600 participants in a WhatsApp group chat. It has been hailed as an attempt to combat cyberbullying and harassment, however, critics have raised concerns about […]