Former High Court Judge, Justice Dyson Heydon faces further sexual harassment complaints
Poppy Morandin. The High Court has confirmed that three further complainants have come forward alleging that they were sexually harassed by former judge, Justice Dyson Heydon. These complainants will add to the list of six women who were found by an independent investigation commissioned by the High Court and conducted by Dr Vivienne Thorn ...continue reading
Chinese Drug Trafficker on Death Row Escapes Lawful Custody by Tunnelling Through Sewers to Road Outside
By Sahar Adatia and Jimmy Singh. It’s the kind of plot you’d only ever see play out in a movie, except of course this was real life – in mid-September 2020, a man facing the death sentence in Indonesia for drug trafficking managed to escape from jail by tunnelling through the sewage system, and ...continue reading
NSW Police Commissioner Defends Officers Who Performed ‘Unlawful’ Arrest on Curtis Scott
By Poppy Morandin and Jimmy Singh. NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller has sought to defend the actions of police officers involved in the wrongful arrest of NRL player Curtis Scott. The bodycam footage of the arrest shown in court sparked outrage, with it depicting Scott, who was passed out drunk at the foot of ...continue reading
Latest BOSCAR statistics and the need for greater focus on rehabilitation: An interview with Deputy Mayor of Dubbo and Barrister Stephen Lawrence
By Poppy Morandin. Recent release of crime statistics detailing a quarterly update for this year, have revealed that crime across most of NSW has remained stable or fallen in the two years to June 2020. A major exception to this finding was within the crime category of sexual assault, which has risen 9.4% over ...continue reading
NSW Teacher Charged With Child Grooming Offences
By Poppy Morandin and Jimmy Singh. A 27-year-old man who formerly worked as a student teacher has been charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old female student. The arrest followed an investigation by the Detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad beginning in June of this year, after the alleged victim reported that ...continue reading
Penalties on Publishing the Identity of Sexual Assault Survivors in NSW: Interview with Sexual Abuse Survivor, Activist and Jewish Community Leader Manny Waks
By Poppy Morandin and Jimmy Singh. Changes to Victoria’s Judicial Proceedings Reports Act have stopped survivors of sexual assault in Victoria from utilising their real names when publicly sharing their stories of abuse. The recent changes, which took effect in February 2020, mean that it is now an offence for victims, as well as ...continue reading
The New Laws on Mental Health in the Criminal Justice System: The Diversionary Pathway
There is an available legislative framework for a NSW court to determine criminal proceedings where the accused or defendant has mental health issues relevant to the case. This legislative framework is echoed in The Mental Health (Forensic Provisions) Act 1990 (NSW) (‘The Act’). It is a response to the increasing contact with the criminal ...continue reading
Concerns Reignited for Prisoners Amid Further Outbreaks of COVID-19
By Poppy Morandin. There are reportedly 70 inmates in lockdown within Silverwater Correctional Complex after coming into close contact with a staff member who has tested positive for COVID-19. Within their advocacy efforts, The Greens have issued an open letter to Anthony Roberts, Minister for Corrections detailing the “significant concerns…about the lockdown at Silverwater ...continue reading
Law on the Age of Criminal Responsibility in NSW: An Interview with Greens MP David Shoebridge
By Poppy Morandin and Jimmy Singh. Despite a strong campaign to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 14, the decision has been deferred to 2021, following concerns that further work needs to be done regarding processes and services for children who exhibit offending behaviour. The issue was discussed at the meeting ...continue reading
Man Charged Over Alleged Sexual Act with Underage Girl on Bus in Hunter Region
By Sahar Adatia and Jimmy Singh. A man has been charged over an alleged sexual act that took place in front of an underage girl on a bus in New South Wales’ Hunter region last month. The incident is said to have occurred around 1:45pm on 24 June 2020 when a 16-year-old schoolgirl boarded ...continue reading