Australia’s most decorated soldier, Ben Roberts-Smith, has been arrested and charged with five counts of war crime, murder, in relation to three alleged incidents during the Afghanistan conflict. Today, he has been released on bail. The charges mark a significant moment in a process that began years earlier, when Afghan families first brought their accounts […]
We’re shining a light on a case that exposes what can happen when the very people entrusted to protect vulnerable individuals abuse that trust, and what the law can do when the system fails to act. Our client was a recovering addict in a NSW prison. Her abuser, Wayne Astill, was her senior correctional officer.
Justice For Survivor Of Wayne Astill Read More »
Imagine summoning the courage to take your abuser to court, only to walk into the courtroom and find them sitting metres away from you, with no screen, no barrier, and no way to give your evidence safely. This is being reported in some regional NSW courts. Due to limited or no audio-visual link (AVL) technology
Some NSW Regional Courts Lack AVL for DV Survivors Read More »
If you have left, or are trying to leave, a domestic violence situation, one of your greatest fears may be that your former partner will come back. That living in your own home no longer feels safe. For years, NSW law contained a gap that made this fear worse. If a perpetrator had previously owned
NSW Domestic Violence Law Reform 2026: Breaking & Entering at a Former Home Read More »
The Hannah Thomas case has made headlines again after NSW Police asked for more time, again, to defend officers. Last week, our civil lawyer Anavi Arya appeared in the NSW Supreme Court as the state sought a further extension to prepare its defence, marking the second time police have requested additional time in this matter.
NSW Police Seek Second Extension In Hannah Thomas Civil Claim Read More »
You’ve been pulled over, blown over 0.15, and now you’re facing a high-range drink driving charge. It’s one of the most stressful situations a person can find themselves in, and the first question almost everyone asks is the same: Will I actually go to jail for this? The short answer is that jail is possible
Will I Go to Jail for High-Range Drink Driving in NSW? Read More »
NSW Good Character Sentencing Bill: A significant shift in NSW sentencing law is currently before parliament, and a public hearing is taking place that could determine its fate. The Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Amendment (Good Character at Sentencing) Bill 2026 proposes to remove “good character” as a mitigating factor at sentencing for all criminal offences in
NSW Good Character Sentencing Bill 2026: What It Means For Criminal Defendants Read More »
From 1 March 2026, the way NSW courts assess criminal responsibility for children aged 10 to 13 has fundamentally changed. The doctrine of doli incapax, the presumption that a child in that age group is incapable of criminal intent, has now been codified in statute through significant amendments to section 5 of the Children (Criminal
A new type of court order is now being used in New South Wales to supervise and monitor high-risk domestic violence offenders. The Serious Domestic Abuse Prevention Order (SDAPO) scheme commenced on 29 September 2025, introducing one of the most significant changes to NSW domestic violence law in years. Yet despite the scheme having now
Serious Domestic Abuse Prevention Orders (SDAPOs): How Are They Different to an AVO? Read More »
This could be huge. A significant change to NSW sentencing law is currently before parliament. If passed, the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Amendment (Good Character at Sentencing) Bill 2026 would remove a person’s “good character” as a mitigating factor in sentencing proceedings for criminal offences in New South Wales. This article explains what “good character” evidence
NSW Moves to Abolish Good Character as a Mitigating Factor at Sentencing Read More »
