Law Report

An Alice Springs local court judge has ruled that Constable Zachary Rolfe will face a murder trial for the death of 19 year old Yuendumu man, Kumanjayi Walker. In a separate development, a NSW coroner referred a death involving corrective services officers to prosecutors.

And with restrictions easing and some borders opening up, what are the legal and financial challenges ahead for business?

The Victorian Sentencing Advisory Council has released an in-depth study into how non-consensual recording or distribution of sexual images or videos offences are handled by Victorian courts.

It's the first report of its kind in Australia. What's surprising is the connection between prosecutions and domestic violence.

All around Australia if an accused pleads guilty to a criminal offence, they become eligible for a reduction in prison time. But just how big an incentive should we give an accused if it’s a serious crime? The South Australian parliament has passed legislation reducing the maximum possible prison discount from 40% down to 25%. And during NZ's national election, our Kiwi cousins voted on two referendum questions. One was a private members bill which was literally pulled out of the NZ Democracy Biscuit Tin. Meanwhile in upcoming presidential election US citizens will also vote on a staggering number of state-based ballot propositions. In Colorado voters will be asked whether grey wolves should be re-introduced into the northern Rockies.

Over the next few months two justices of the High Court of Australia will retire. What is the process for choosing their replacements? How different will our process be from what’s taking place right now in the USA with the US Supreme Court vacancy?

Also, the Federal Court has just fined price comparison site iSelect $8.5 million after it admitted to misleading and deceptive conduct. This comes just few days after the court imposed a $7 million fine on ticket reseller Viagogo.

But these two wins, follow two courtroom losses for the ACCC, both involving products spruiking their green credentials, flushable toilet wipes and disposable picnic ware.

There have been over 660 COVID-19 deaths in residential aged-care facilities.

The Royal Commission into Aged Care special report on COVID 19 has made a number of recommendations aimed at improving the safety and quality of life of residents.

The pandemic has also increased the vulnerabilities of elderly where-ever they live. Physical, financial and emotional abuse as well as neglect and chemical restraint have all made worse.