There has recently been a renewed focus on the Visa status of people who have committed serious criminal offences. Depending upon the kind of visa that you have, authorities have long had the ability to cancel the visa if you commit serious criminal offences or are subject to serious criminal penalties. This is alongside the general authority to not grant visas to people with significant criminal records. This has been a fraught issue. Many people live in Australia for long periods of time, often for decades, whilst remaining citizens of other […]

Every twelve months, at the conclusion of the secondary school year, graduating students from all over Australia converge in Queensland (and no doubt elsewhere) to celebrate ‘schoolies’. For most, schoolies is a time of excitement, festivity and fun. For some, schoolies will include having sex with another person. For a few, this sex will be a crime. The term ‘sex’ can encompass a variety of activities but, as a matter of law and for the purpose of this article, sex has its widest meaning and includes non-penetrative but overtly sexual acts, […]

It has become increasingly clear that gun crime is a concern in NSW. Indeed, we have previously written about gun crime in Sydney, and posited that the only way to reduce it is by dedicating more of our state resources to investigating and prosecuting the illegal possession and use of firearms. Worryingly, last month in NSW, we experienced what was dubbed one of the “worst crime weeks” by the NSW Police, after 10 people were shot in the space of 5 days. As a result of this trend, a national crackdown […]

Malicious Bushfires Unfortunately bushfires are a common part of life in Australia. Most fires are contained quickly and only minor damage occurs. However as we have seen time and time again all over the country, these fires can have devastating consequences. 2013 has so far proved to be a difficult year for bushfires, with weather conditions such that there have been a number of total fire bans across NSW. More disturbing than the fires themselves, is the fact that many bushfires are man-made fires, either accidentally or maliciously lit. For example, […]

Sydney Shootings Over recent weeks there have been a number of reports of shootings in various suburbs of Western Sydney. It is arguable that people have switched off from this violence, and consider it to be part and parcel of the gang activity which is notorious in some of those areas. For many people involved in the criminal justice system, the most interesting part of the situation is the clearly prolific possession of firearms. There are strict gun law in force in NSW and throughout Australia. However, it is clear that […]

With the Labour Day long weekend just behind us, and the summer months fast approaching, Sydneysiders are preparing for many weekends relaxing and soaking up the sun. It is also that time of year for music festivals. Parklife, the first major mainstream festival of the season was held in Sydney over the weekend. The NSW police praised the majority of the revellers on their good behaviour while noting the offences that allegedly occurred.   According to a NSW Police media release there were six people charged with offensive conduct, twelve with […]

On 14 August 2012 NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell announced that the right to silence in the criminal justice system would be amended. This announcement was in response to a perceived upsurge of gang violence in Sydney’s Western Suburbs. During the announcement, Mr O’Farrell referred to the British system which is very similar in principle to what is proposed to be introduced here. However, Mr O’Farrell appears to have failed to realise that there are basic safeguards in place in Britain that do not form part of his proposal. For example, under […]