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Peter O'Brien

Peter O'Brien is the Principal Solicitor of O'Brien Criminal & Civil Solicitors and Australia's leading expert in intentional torts litigation, with over 25 years of experience securing landmark victories in malicious prosecution and unlawful imprisonment cases. Author of Intentional Tort Litigation in Australia and recipient of the Law Council of Australia President's Medal, Peter has achieved record-breaking compensation for clients and is widely recognised for his unwavering commitment to access to justice.

McVicker v ABC: Why an Unflattering News Story Isn’t Automatically Defamatory

Defamation / By /

On 22 September 2026, the Queensland Court of Appeal dismissed Robert McVicker’s defamation appeal against the ABC. His company had bought online travel agency Bestjet weeks before it went into administration. That is because a news story can name you, and sit beside the word “collapse”, without carrying the defamatory meaning you say it does.

McVicker v ABC: Why an Unflattering News Story Isn’t Automatically Defamatory Read More »

Person signing loan documents at a kitchen bench with a laptop showing a home loan dashboard and financial statements nearby

$600 Million and 17 Fake Documents: What the Sydney Fraud Syndicate Charges Actually Allege

Criminal Defence / By /

NSW Police have uncovered one of the largest fraud syndicates in the country’s history: up to $600 million in fraudulent loans allegedly taken from Australian banks. A 28-year-old Sydney woman is among those charged, facing 17 counts of making false documents to obtain financial advantage, over an alleged $14.5 million in fraudulent loans linked to

$600 Million and 17 Fake Documents: What the Sydney Fraud Syndicate Charges Actually Allege Read More »

A desk covered in loan application folders and bank statements with a magnifying glass, representing a financial fraud investigation into loan documents

NSW Police ‘Implied Licence’ Bail Checks: Is It Even Lawful?

Civil Law / By /

Two mothers have settled a trespass claim against NSW Police after alleging that repeated visits to check on their teenage sons went far beyond anything the law actually allows. The settlement, reported recently by the ABC, was reached on the eve of trial, after one of the families says police visited more than 100 times

NSW Police ‘Implied Licence’ Bail Checks: Is It Even Lawful? Read More »

A NSW Police officer knocking at the front door of a suburban Sydney house at night, illustrating a bail-compliance check

First Jail Sentence Under NSW’s Coercive Control Law: What Police v Fairleigh Signals

Criminal Defence / By /

In February 2026, a NSW court handed down the first full-time jail sentence under the state’s coercive control offence. This is what the new law was written for, and it tells us a lot about how these cases will be prosecuted and defended.  Callum Fairleigh was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, with a non-parole period

First Jail Sentence Under NSW’s Coercive Control Law: What Police v Fairleigh Signals Read More »

First Jail Sentence Under NSW Coercive Control Law — What Police v Fairleigh Means

The National Redress Scheme Closes to New Applications on 30 June 2027: Why Survivors Shouldn’t Wait

Civil Law / By /

The National Redress Scheme confirmed in its August 2026 board update that it will close to new applications on 30 June 2027. The Scheme itself is winding up entirely on 30 June 2028. For survivors of institutional child sexual abuse who haven’t yet decided how, or whether, to seek redress, this date is very important.

The National Redress Scheme Closes to New Applications on 30 June 2027: Why Survivors Shouldn’t Wait Read More »

institutional child sexual abuse survivors

Medical Business Retaliates Against a Reviewer By Doxxing Them

Defamation / By /

A reviewer leaves an honest one-star review of a business. Happens every day, right? However, unusually, the business doesn’t just disagree in its public reply. Instead, it publishes the reviewer’s full name and email address.  That’s not just a bad customer service moment. It’s a privacy breach, potentially defamation, and one of the more disorienting

Medical Business Retaliates Against a Reviewer By Doxxing Them Read More »

Medical Business Retaliates Against a Reviewer By Doxxing Them

“Submit the Footage and You’ll Be Fine”: What a Reddit Mistaken-Identity Radar Thread Gets Right

traffic / By /

A driver posted to r/AusLegal describing a highway patrol stop: a car of the same make and similar colour had sped past them moments earlier. Shortly after, a highway patrol officer pulled them over, alleging they were doing 30 km/h over the posted limit off a radar reading. Thankfully, the driver had a dashcam. It

“Submit the Footage and You’ll Be Fine”: What a Reddit Mistaken-Identity Radar Thread Gets Right Read More »

"Submit the Footage and You'll Be Fine": What a Reddit Mistaken-Identity Radar Thread Gets Right, and Where It Doesn't

NSW’s New Organised Crime Laws: What Doubled Penalties and Facial Recognition Powers Mean If You’re Ever Investigated

crime / By /

Big changes are coming organised crime. On 6 August 2026, the NSW Government introduced the Crimes and Other Legislation Amendment (Further Organised Crimes Reforms) Bill 2026, backed by a $126.6 million budget package. The Bill has not passed yet, but is expected to soon.  Premier Chris Minns stated: “Organised crime has changed, and our laws

NSW’s New Organised Crime Laws: What Doubled Penalties and Facial Recognition Powers Mean If You’re Ever Investigated Read More »

NSW's New Organised Crime Laws

What the Charges in Sydney’s $80M Vape and Tobacco Bust Actually Mean

Criminal Defence / By /

On 13 August 2026, investigators from the Multi-Agency Strike Team executed five warrants, dismantling two criminal networks allegedly built on illicit vape and tobacco importation. Seven people have been charged, and the dollar figure attached to the bust? an estimated $80 million.  The charge sheet is the important thing in a case like this. “Directing

What the Charges in Sydney’s $80M Vape and Tobacco Bust Actually Mean Read More »

Title banner: Directing a Criminal Group, Proceeds of Crime Charges Explained, with a gavel and scales against a dark, smoky cityscape background.
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