MONDAY 25TH
Legislative loophole exposed by alleged child sex abuse at Mosman pool
A legislative loophole requiring councils to report suspicions of child abuse, but not the contractors operating their facilities, meant the Mosman Swim Centre did not have to report a complaint of an “inappropriate hold” nine months before a swimming teacher was arrested on multiple charges of child sex abuse.
New Zealand bans military-style semi-automatic guns
New Zealand is to ban military-style semi-automatic rifles, with the government announcing a buyback just days after a shooting at two mosques killed 50 people. The country will also ban assault rifles, high-capacity magazines, and certain modification parts, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Thursday.
Christchurch: Why avoiding terror laws might be best for victims
At the accused's first appearance before the Christchurch Law Courts, only a single charge of murder was filed. Further charges of murder will inevitably follow in order to accurately reflect the scope of violence, however there has been no indication that New Zealand authorities intend to use their terror laws.
Nanny State NSW: Sydney Fringe Festival fight to prevent ‘no dancing’ ban
Red tape overkill in NSW almost saw ballet banned from a key venue of a performing arts festival because authorities deemed any type of dancing as an activity that could lead to drunken violence.
TUESDAY 26TH
'We are looking to litigate': ASIC puts 30 'dud' super funds on notice
The corporate regulator is considering legal action against more than 30 underperforming superannuation funds and predicted "close to 100" super funds could cease to exist.
Surrogacy, assisted reproductive technology laws outdated after 25 years, WA review finds
Western Australia's surrogacy and human reproductive technology laws are outdated, discriminatory and require a major overhaul, a wide-ranging review of the legislation has found.
We’ve let wage exploitation become the default experience of migrant workers
Australia’s Fairwork Commission has so far this year examined more than a dozen cases of wage theft. Those cases involve hundred of workers and millions of dollars in underpayments. And it’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Woman's dying wishes determined by Facebook relationship status
The Facebook profile of a woman who recently died from cancer is among the resources used by a court to determine who should carry out her final wishes.
WEDNESDAY 27TH
'Dire consequences': lawyers aghast at Queensland's new definition of murder
Moves to broaden the definition of murder in Queensland could have “dire and unintended consequences” for women who kill their abusive or violent partners, or for parents who “leave the pool gate open”, lawyers have warned.
Social media bosses face jail over terror content after Christchurch
Executives from Facebook, Google, Twitter and other social media companies could face jail time if their platforms fail to remove terrorist content under a legislative crackdown being prepared by the Morrison government in response to the Christchurch terrorist attack.
'It felt like a violation of my rights': the issue of consent during childbirth
Lack of adequate consent and understanding about birth-related procedures has led to women being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, left to care for their newborn while also battling symptoms including difficulty sleeping, an increase in feeling angry and irritated, memory problems or feeling destructive.
Victorian father loses legal battle to stop child having hyphenated surname
A Victorian father has lost a legal battle to prevent his child from having a hyphenated combination of his parents’ surnames, with authorities ruling in favour of the double-barrelled last name.
THURSDAY 28TH
Lawmakers accused of trying to "sell Australia's gun laws" to NRA
Australia's prime minister on Tuesday accused an influential minor political party of trying to "sell Australia's gun laws to the highest bidders" by asking the U.S. gun lobby for donations.
French Muslim group sues Facebook and YouTube over Christchurch video
A group representing Muslims in France is suing Facebook and YouTube over the broadcast of a video showing the mass shootings at two mosques in New Zealand on March 15. The French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM) has filed legal papers against the two tech companies over their response to a video of the terror attack in the city of Christchurch, in which 50 people were killed.
'Huge victory': three children win David and Goliath case over asbestos death
Three Aboriginal children whose father died from mesothelioma in the NSW Central West have won a battle for compensation after a judge threw out the state government’s legal defence and rebuked its handling of the landmark case.
Queensland man first to settle toxic PFAS groundwater claim
A Queensland man has become the first person in Australia to settle a claim with the Commonwealth over PFAS groundwater after part of his Darling Downs property was contaminated.
FRIDAY 29TH
Queensland consent laws confuse juries and need reform, women's advocate argues
A jury's query about whether a Hong Kong nanny telling her accused rapist "I don't want" meant "no" under Queensland's sexual consent laws shows the need for reform, women's advocates say.
Father on trial for Vic forced marriage
A 15-year-old Melbourne bride married under sharia law was forced into the union by her father, a jury has heard. But the 44-year-old dad, who cannot be named for legal reasons, denies arranging a forced marriage, instead insisting the pair were celebrating an "engagement ceremony" in January 2015.
Smart talking: are our devices threatening our privacy?
Millions of us now have virtual assistants, in our homes and our pockets. Even children’s toys are getting smart. But when we talk to them, who is listening?