Law Report

By ABC listen

What's Law Report about?

From courtroom dramas to miscarriages of justice, to how the law affects you — and so much more. The Law Report is your accessible guide to the big legal stories unfolding in Australia and across the world.

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Law Report episodes:

04.23.2024
Jury selection in Trump's 'hush money' trial; monitoring dangerous offenders after release from prison
Donald Trump's high profile criminal trial gets underway in New York. And meet the tough former prosecutor who became responsible for monitoring the reintegration of Victoria's most dangerous criminals.
04.16.2024
Judge rules, on balance of probabilities, Lehrmann raped Higgins
In a high-profile defamation case, justice Michael Lee found that former political staffer Bruce Lehrmann, on the balance of probabilities, raped his then colleague Brittany Higgins inside Parliament House in 2019.
04.09.2024
Do Queensland's criminal defence laws need to be reformed?
If someone is charged with a violent crime like murder or assault, what defences can they argue? That depends on what part of Australia you live in.The Queensland Law Reform Commission is conducting a review of the criminal defences which...
04.02.2024
Two hundred years of the NSW Supreme Court
Next month, the Supreme Court of New South Wales marks its 200th birthday. A new book, Constant Guardian: Changing Times, tells the history of the court. In his first extensive interview since his appointment in 2022, NSW Chief Justice Andrew...
03.26.2024
Movements in work safety: Victoria's first industrial manslaughter prosecutions and feedback on OH&S laws
The Law Report makes the law accessible.
03.19.2024
Protecting IP rights: a guide for divorcees and inventors
Dividing up intellectual property rights in a divorce settlement. And the case of a mining equipment company that legally can't stop competitors from copying its invention.
03.12.2024
"Trapped in silence": The campaign to end NDA misuse
The global campaign to end the misuse of non-disclosure agreements. And record damages awarded in a sexual harassment case make it clear courts won't tolerate employers who intimidate complainants.
03.05.2024
Non-disclosure agreements in sexual harassment cases
How are non-disclosure agreements used in the settlement of sexual harassment claims? Damien Carrick speaks to the co-authors of a new study, "Let's talk about confidentiality".
02.27.2024
Do we have healthy industry competition in Australia?
Do we have healthy industry competition in Australia? Do we have the right regulatory framework? Damien Carrick speaks to the chairwoman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, Gina Cass-Gottlieb.
02.20.2024
Julian Assange: Will Britain's High Court approve new appeal against US extradition?
Lawyers for Julian Assange will appear in Britain's High Court this week in what could be the final attempt to stop the WikiLeaks founder from being extradited to the United States, where he faces espionage charges.
02.13.2024
Mother of US school shooter found guilty of manslaughter; the death penalty in China
Should a parent be held legally responsible for the crimes of their child? And Australian writer and academic Yang Hengjun is given a suspended death sentence in China after being found guilty of espionage.
02.06.2024
Derek Bromley to make new parole bid 40 years after murder conviction
After 40 years in jail — a new attempt to secure parole for the man said to be Australia's longest-serving Indigenous prisoner. Warning: this episode mentions Indigenous people who have died.
01.30.2024
ICJ issues interim measures in Israel genocide case; UK faces legal challenge over Northern Ireland amnesty law
The Law Report makes the law accessible.
01.23.2024
South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the ICJ
The International Court of Justice has held the first public hearings in South Africa's genocide case against Israel. And there's concern over the New Zealand government plan to wind back the principles of the country's founding document, the Treaty of Waitangi.
01.16.2024
High tech solutions to age-old crime of livestock theft
'Facial recognition for cows', GPS animal tags and DNA testing represent some of the technology being developed to help investigate and solve livestock theft and other farm-related crimes. This episode first aired in February 2023.
01.09.2024
Justice, but not in my language: Aboriginal interpreter shortage in NT courts
Lawyers in the Northern Territory say the shortage of Indigenous interpreters has become so critical that it's significantly contributing to the over-representation of First Nations people in the criminal justice system. This is the first in a two-part special investigation...
01.02.2024
Could sending an emoji land you in legal trouble?
Think twice before you fire off that lighthearted emoji – there could be serious legal consequences. This episode first aired in August 2023.
12.26.2023
Singing to the Sea
One year has passed since the Federal Court confirmed native title over more than 40,000 square kilometres of sea country in the Torres Strait region. For the first time the claim brought together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians to...
12.19.2023
'Sovereign citizens' in the courts
We've all heard of 'sovereign citizens', a term referring to people who don't believe the law applies to them. But how much do we know about this group and its impact on the courts? This episode first aired in May...
12.12.2023
Avoiding the legal risks of office Christmas parties
After a long Covid hiatus the office Christmas party is back with a vengeance. We all want to enjoy ourselves, but also have to be mindful of the risks.
12.05.2023
Grant Donaldson SC on balancing open justice and national security
The outgoing Independent National Security Legislation Monitor's final report recommends an overhaul of legislation that Grant Donaldson says can be 'unnecessary and oppressive'.
11.28.2023
Battle of the burger chains; hundreds sentenced in Italy mafia trial
Hungry Jacks has won a legal fight against McDonalds over the use of its Big Jack and Mega Jack trademarks. And a court in Italy has handed prison sentences to more than 200 people over their links to the ‘Ndrangheta crime...
11.21.2023
Jurors who do their own research; prosecuting violence in sport
If a juror does their own research in a trial, does that mean that any guilty verdict reached by the jury is dangerous and should be quashed? And a look at when violence in sport crosses the line and becomes...
11.14.2023
Why did the High Court rule indefinite immigration detention unlawful?
In an historic decision, the High Court has ruled that indefinite immigration detention is unlawful. And could convicted terrorist Abdul Nacer Benbrika be released following a successful appeal against a conviction that saw him stripped of Australian citizenship.
11.07.2023
Naming sexual assault suspects in the media; surveillance in the workplace
When should the identity of an accused facing sexual assault charges be named in the media? And how closely can your employer monitor you?
10.31.2023
Judicial capacity building in the Pacific
What are the unique challenges facing justice systems in the Pacific region?
10.24.2023
Chief Justice Susan Kiefel speaks to the Law Report
In a wide-ranging interview, the outgoing High Court Chief Justice Susan Kiefel speaks to Damien Carrick about her unlikely journey to the top judicial job, women in the law, and her support for joint judgments.
10.17.2023
Voice referendum aftermath; Queensland introduces legislation to criminalise coercive control
What can Australia learn from the outcome of the Voice referendum? And Queensland's government has introduced legislation to make coercive control a standalone criminal offence.
10.10.2023
Constitutional implications of Indigenous Voice proposal; could pill testing save lives?
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?
10.03.2023
Disability royal commission delivers findings; 'Fake nurse' jailed in Australian legal first
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...
09.26.2023
Victorian nurse becomes first voluntary assisted dying patient to donate organs
For the first time in Australia, a patient who chose to undergo voluntary assisted dying has donated their organs for transplant. So, how did the strict legal and regulatory frameworks governing the processes in Victoria interact in this case?
09.19.2023
'Voices' to parliament in Scandinavia
The Law Report makes the law accessible.
09.12.2023
The Voice and how Indigenous knowledge can help close the gap
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.
09.05.2023
Judge liable for wrongful imprisonment and a Palawa lawyer's case for No
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.
08.29.2023
New legal service for whistleblowers and Australia’s worst case of malicious prosecution
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...
08.22.2023
ACT leads the way in assisting vulnerable people in court
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...
08.15.2023
Community conversations on the Voice referendum; the Sofronoff inquiry leak
Can grass roots community meetings help build support for the Indigenous Voice referendum in Far North Queensland? And the ACT government is considering charges over the unauthorised release of the inquiry report into the Lehrmann sexual assault prosecution.
08.08.2023
Could sending an emoji land you in legal trouble?
Think twice before you fire off that lighthearted emoji – there could be serious legal consequences.
08.01.2023
02/ Justice, but not in my language
Hundreds of thousands of Australian residents, a figure now approaching one million, don't speak English well, or at all. The growing demand for interpreters and the shortfall in those who are suitably qualified to work in the legal sector is...
07.25.2023
01/ Justice, but not in my language
Lawyers in the Northern Territory say the shortage in Indigenous interpreters has become so critical that it's contributing to the vast over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the criminal justice system.
07.18.2023
Singing to the sea
This episode revisits the historic Federal Court decision to confirm native title over more than 40,000 square kilometres of sea country in the Torres Strait region last year. For the first time the claim brought together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander...
07.11.2023
'Tsunami of suffering': Robodebt royal commission findings explained
The Robodebt royal commission has made damning findings about government ministers and public servants who created and administered the automated debt recovery scheme from Centrelink recipients. And why is the technology company that created ChatGPT being sued in US courts?
07.04.2023
National Anti-Corruption Commission begins investigations; juror misconceptions in sexual assault trials
The National Anti-Corruption Commission commences operation this week. And a New Zealand researcher investigates how jurors respond to evidence in sexual violence cases. (Warning: the conversation discusses sexual violence and child abuse)
06.27.2023
Kids' book points refugee mums to legal help
When refugees arrive in Australia, they face huge challenges. So, how do they access the support they need? Perhaps counterintuitively, a newly launched children's book is designed to help refugees get legal assistance.
06.20.2023
Does Australia need a Criminal Cases Review Commission?
Why did it take the justice system 20 years to work out that Kathleen Folbigg was wrongly convicted over the deaths of her four infant children? Does Australia need a better way to investigate possible miscarriages of justice?
06.13.2023
US lawyer faces sanctions over ChatGPT use; what family courts can do for Indigenous Australians
A New York Judge is considering what sanctions to impose on a lawyer who spectacularly misused ChatGPT. And Australia's only Indigenous federal judge Matthew Myers wants more First Nations people to use the family law courts to get the best...
06.06.2023
Ben Roberts Smith loses defamation case, Kathleen Folbigg released from prison
A judge has thrown out the defamation action brought by Ben Roberts Smith one of Australia’s most decorated soldiers against three newspapers. The judge was satisfied, to the civil standard of the balance of probabilities, that allegations Mr Roberts-Smith was involved or...
05.30.2023
PwC tax leaks scandal; overcoming obstacles for deaf & blind jurors
The deepening crisis engulfing accounting giant PwC – is this a case of a few bad apples or is there a deeper structural problem? And the Victorian Law Reform Commission is proposing legislative changes to enable deaf and blind people to serve on...
05.23.2023
How does a judge know if an offender is truly sorry?
When calculating a sentence, a judge weighs up many considerations, including remorse. But is it really possible to determine if an offender is genuinely sorry?
05.16.2023
'Green transition', mining & Indigenous rights
In the race to decarbonise the economy, is there a risk of undermining the rights of Indigenous people? Mining companies Rio Tinto and BHP are proposing to develop north America’s largest copper mine on land considered sacred to the local Apache...

What's Law Report about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Law Report episodes:

Jury selection in Trump's 'hush money' trial; monitoring dangerous offenders after release from prison

Judge rules, on balance of probabilities, Lehrmann raped Higgins

Do Queensland's criminal defence laws need to be reformed?

Two hundred years of the NSW Supreme Court

Movements in work safety: Victoria's first industrial manslaughter prosecutions and feedback on OH&S laws

Protecting IP rights: a guide for divorcees and inventors

"Trapped in silence": The campaign to end NDA misuse

Non-disclosure agreements in sexual harassment cases

Do we have healthy industry competition in Australia?

Julian Assange: Will Britain's High Court approve new appeal against US extradition?

Mother of US school shooter found guilty of manslaughter; the death penalty in China

Derek Bromley to make new parole bid 40 years after murder conviction

ICJ issues interim measures in Israel genocide case; UK faces legal challenge over Northern Ireland amnesty law

South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the ICJ

High tech solutions to age-old crime of livestock theft

Justice, but not in my language: Aboriginal interpreter shortage in NT courts

Could sending an emoji land you in legal trouble?

Singing to the Sea

'Sovereign citizens' in the courts

Avoiding the legal risks of office Christmas parties

Grant Donaldson SC on balancing open justice and national security

Battle of the burger chains; hundreds sentenced in Italy mafia trial

Jurors who do their own research; prosecuting violence in sport

Why did the High Court rule indefinite immigration detention unlawful?

Naming sexual assault suspects in the media; surveillance in the workplace

Judicial capacity building in the Pacific

Chief Justice Susan Kiefel speaks to the Law Report

Voice referendum aftermath; Queensland introduces legislation to criminalise coercive control

Constitutional implications of Indigenous Voice proposal; could pill testing save lives?

Disability royal commission delivers findings; 'Fake nurse' jailed in Australian legal first

Victorian nurse becomes first voluntary assisted dying patient to donate organs

'Voices' to parliament in Scandinavia

The Voice and how Indigenous knowledge can help close the gap

Judge liable for wrongful imprisonment and a Palawa lawyer's case for No

New legal service for whistleblowers and Australia’s worst case of malicious prosecution

ACT leads the way in assisting vulnerable people in court

Community conversations on the Voice referendum; the Sofronoff inquiry leak

Could sending an emoji land you in legal trouble?

02/ Justice, but not in my language

01/ Justice, but not in my language

Singing to the sea

'Tsunami of suffering': Robodebt royal commission findings explained

National Anti-Corruption Commission begins investigations; juror misconceptions in sexual assault trials

Kids' book points refugee mums to legal help

Does Australia need a Criminal Cases Review Commission?

US lawyer faces sanctions over ChatGPT use; what family courts can do for Indigenous Australians

Ben Roberts Smith loses defamation case, Kathleen Folbigg released from prison

PwC tax leaks scandal; overcoming obstacles for deaf & blind jurors

How does a judge know if an offender is truly sorry?

'Green transition', mining & Indigenous rights