Law Report

In the lead-up to the referendum vote, the Law Report discusses the constitutional implications of the proposal for an Indigenous Voice to parliament. Also in the program, could pill testing of illicit drugs save lives? 

What recommendations does the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability make in its final report to the federal government? And, in a legal first, a South Australian woman has been sent to jail for impersonating a registered health practitioner. 

A patient in Australia became the first to donate organs after undergoing voluntary assisted dying. The podcast explores the legal and regulatory frameworks governing the process. It also covers topics like eligibility for voluntary assisted dying, creating a sensory-rich garden for a boy with autism, negotiating building modifications in a planning dispute, implications of planning disputes on human rights, and the inappropriate housing of children in watchhouses.

Exploring the upcoming constitutional referendum in Australia for an Indigenous voice to Parliament, the dynamics between government and advisory bodies in Scandinavia, the ongoing process of reconciliation and land rights acknowledgment in Scandinavia, the native title settlement between the Nungar people and southwest Western Australia, the potential impact on state and territory treaty processes if the voice to parliament constitutional referendum fails, and the factors that contribute to the success or failure of a referendum.

A Voice to parliament could see Indigenous knowledge and holistic approaches used to help close the gap. We hear from Indigenous leaders with different views.

Can you sue your Judge? "Mr Stradford", a father of two, has been awarded $300,000 in damages in recognition of the significant distress he experienced after he was wrongfully jailed by Federal Circuit Court Judge Salvatore Vasta.

If you knew that something illegal, dangerous, negligent or corrupt was happening in your workplace – what would you do? Who would you turn to for advice? A new report from the Human Rights Law Centre has found that there has not been a successful case brought by a whistleblower under the federal laws designed to protect employees speaking out about wrongdoing. They’ve now launched a new legal service to give  whistleblowers the support they need to navigate these laws.This week, we also look at the case of Bill Spedding, who will receive $1.8 million in damages for malicious prosecution. In dismissing an appeal by the State of NSW, three judges of the Supreme Court described what happened to the tradesman as the worst case of false and concocted allegations by police – they had ever seen. 

In recent years, a number of jurisdictions around Australia have introduced Vulnerable Witness Intermediary Services. These services assist complainants such as children and those with intellectual and cognitive disabilities to give evidence in court or answer questions in police interviews. While this service in Australia is currently only offered to complainants, the ACT will follow in the steps of Northern Ireland and extend its Vulnerable Witness Intermediary Service to defendants.  

Grassroots meetings in Far North Queensland aim to build support for the Indigenous Voice referendum. The podcast discusses concerns, division, and the aim to bring Indigenous and non-Indigenous people together. The funding issue in Aboriginal communities due to administrative costs is explored. The importance of Indigenous representation in parliament and controversy surrounding the leaked report on the Brittany Higgins case are also discussed.

This podcast explores the legal consequences of using emojis in communication, covering topics such as securities fraud, defamation, harassment, and threatening violence. It discusses specific cases where emojis have had legal implications, including forming a binding contract and being evidence of threats or defamation. The podcast highlights the ambiguity of emoji meanings and advises caution in using them.