Peter O'Brien | O'BRIEN CRIMINAL & CIVIL SOLICITORS

New Northern Territory Bill Bolsters Juvenile Injustice in NT

Criminal Defence, juvenile justice / By Peter O'Brien / March 25, 2019

The Northern Territory (NT) Government aims to pass new youth justice laws. These contradict, undermine, and go against the damning findings and recommendations from the Royal Commission into the Don Dale Detention Centre. Some call the laws “Juvenile Injustice“. The Royal Commission’s (RC) Report of 2017 found “shocking and systemic failures” over many years in […]

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High Court Clarifies Meaning of Criminal Damage

Criminal Defence / By Peter O'Brien / March 15, 2019

Grajewski v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) [2019] HCA 8 This week, the High Court handed down its majority decision in the matter of Grajewski v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW). As reported last year, O’Brien Criminal & Civil Solicitors represented the appellant, Paul Grajewski, a protestor who harnessed himself to a ship loader at a

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Cardinal George Pell Guilty of Grave Sins

Criminal Defence, Royal Commissions / By Peter O'Brien / March 4, 2019

In a time of child abuse scandals and cover-ups surrounding the Catholic Church, Cardinal George Pell was found guilty of five charges last week for child sexual offences by a unanimous jury verdict. Pell, the Vatican Treasurer and third most senior Catholic official in the world, was convicted for one count of sexually penetrating a

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Rockett Launch Towards Universal Medicine

Defamation / By Peter O'Brien / February 18, 2019

Although Serge Benhayon was found to be a ‘leader of a socially harmful cult’ by a Supreme Court jury, the self-proclaimed spiritual leader continues to practice the disturbing ideas he preaches. The wealthy founder of Universal Medicine, who believes he is the reincarnate of Leonardo da Vinci, suffered a crushing blow in his defamation case

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Indigenous Australians Grossly Over-represented in Custody

Criminal Defence, prison, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, human rights / By Peter O'Brien / February 11, 2019

The over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the criminal justice system is a national disgrace. For decades, Indigenous Australians have been grossly over-represented in custody across the country. Although Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 3% of the total population in Australia, they constitute over 27% of national prison population.

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Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety

Criminal Defence / By Peter O'Brien / February 11, 2019

In October 2018, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the Terms of Reference for the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. O’Brien Criminal & Civil Solicitors is available to represent you if you are called or wish to appear at the Royal Commission. The terms of reference for the Royal Commission includes: Quality and

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Lawyer X Brings Australia’s Criminal Justice System Into Disrepute

Criminal Defence / By Peter O'Brien / February 8, 2019

The criminal justice system has been brought into disrepute after an anonymous lawyer in Victoria was found to be a secret police informant. The notorious case of Lawyer X, also known as Informer 3838, was a criminal defence barrister who represented many figures in Melbourne’s so-called ‘underworld,’ including major drug traffickers, murders and Mafia members.

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The Ellis Defence Is Finally Abolished

Criminal Defence / By Peter O'Brien / January 31, 2019

In a time where child abuse allegations and cover-up scandals are rocking the Catholic Church, the NSW government has made it easier for survivors of institutional child abuse to sue churches. The “Ellis Defence”, which prevented abuse survivors from suing unincorporated organisations for compensation, was abolished earlier this month. This decision came after the recommendations

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NSW Police Powers: On-The-Spot Fines at Australia Day Music Festivals

Criminal Defence / By Peter O'Brien / January 29, 2019

NSW Police were given new powers to issue $400 on-the-spot fines to people caught with drugs at music festivals over the Australia Day long weekend. In what appears to be a step closer towards a police state, 47 people were slapped with the $400 fines across two music festivals: Electric Garden and Hardcore Til I

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Defamation Law and the #MeToo Movement

Defamation, Criminal Defence / By Peter O'Brien / January 21, 2019

Defamation law in Australia has become a controversial topic in the wake of the #MeToo movement. Since victims of sexual harassment and sexual assault began to make claims against abusers on social media platforms, the law on Defamation has been pinned down by some public opinion. Undeniably, the proliferation of the #MeToo movement has had

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