Not Just a Lawyer

Series Finale (or is it?)

Children trying to seek refuge in Australia have been detained on Nauru. They argue that Australia is still responsible for them. Australia made a carefully worded agreement with Nauru to avoid responsibility. If Australia has no responsibility, Australia says it is not obliged to ensure the human rights of these children. Um, okay, weird flex about not protecting literal human children, Australia...

Very short, sharp episode about the close link between the Roman Empire and Nazism. Why the “Roman salute” explanation is still scary as heck.

Billionaires who fail to denounce nazis and fascists are, you guessed it, bad. In Australia, we do not (as far as we know at this stage) have a fascist with overwhelming political power in parliament. But we cannot ignore what is happening in the US. This not-lawyerly episode discusses one concrete action you can take now to strengthen your community. It is aimed at Australians but may be applicab...

And as bad as ever. NT reinstating dangerous and degrading practice of using spit hoods, still criminalising children. Reporting from The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/oct/14/northern-territory-spit-hood-ban-lifted-clp-ntwnfb

Acknowledgment of Country. CW: the case that started it all is a high-profile sexual assault matter. Breaking news on the ACT Supreme Court’s decision in this highly-publicised, complex and super-interesting matter. I translate from legalese and give cringe-worthy facts their day in the sun, but most importantly, I help you understand this important case. Read the full decision here: https://www.c...

Acknowledgement of Country. A not-very-lawyerly episode. My swimming teacher experience and coastal upbringing have given me some knowledge, and I share that with you! Disclaimer: I’m not your swimming teacher (see, I’m still lawyerly). Great resources: https://www.surflifesaving.com.au/beach-safety/rip-currents/ and https://www.royallifesaving.com.au/about/campaigns-and-programs/Water-Safety and...

Acknowledgment of Country. Call to action to allies of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander folks: don’t freeze, don’t be silent. VOICE TREATY TRUTH

Acknowledgement of Country. An easy to understand guide to the science behind Kathleen Folbigg’s pardon. Sources: omim.org and The Guardian at https://amp.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/may/07/kathleen-folbigg-science-sheds-new-light-on-case-of-mother-convicted-of-murdering-her-children and ABC at https://amp.abc.net.au/article/102406772. For more information about rock pocket mice: https://w...

Acknowledgement of Country. Kathleen Folbigg case encounters science. Science is very important. Justice is very important, but I can’t do this issue justice so I refer you here: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/full-story/id1482061243?i=1000612189847

Acknowledgement of Country. Voice, treaty and truth are all important. Referendum on the Voice is imminent, so the Australian National University (ANU) answers some burning questions. Find their answers here: https://www.anu.edu.au/about/strategic-planning/indigenous-voice-to-parliament

Acknowledgment of Country. Voice, Treaty and Truth. Cool stuff happening in Coffs Harbour (Gumbaynggirr Country). To access the Guardian’s podcast with Professor Megan Davis, click here: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/audio/2023/jan/20/the-details-on-the-indigenous-voice-to-parliament-with-megan-davis To see the website for the Gumbaynggirr Giingana Freedom School, click here: https://...

Acknowledgement of Country. A short, sharp explainer of an interesting High Court decision about defamation. Google LLC v Defteros [2022] HCA 27. Credit to Parisa Hart for her article in Ethos, Summer 2022

Acknowledgment of Country. What is the AAT? What’s all the fuss?

Acknowledgement of Country. I share the most important thing I have learned this year. On a tangentially-related note, I encourage you to donate life via organ and tissue donation here: https://www.donatelife.gov.au

Acknowledgement of Country. Jury can’t make up its mind? Has all the facts and all the law but still needs more? Shazam! They need a Black direction, courtesy of the High Court of Australia (Black v The Queen [1993] HCA 71; 179 CLR 44). Bonus movie review: Joh’s Jury. Enjoy, or get frustrated trying!

Acknowledgement of Country. The sexual assault trial DPP v Lehrmann has been aborted, because a juror disobeyed the Chief Judge’s direction. Find out more here: https://www.courts.act.gov.au/supreme/judgments/director-of-public-prosecutions-v-lehrmann-no-5

Acknowledgement of Country. What is a King’s Counsel? And a refresher on the cab rank rule.

Acknowledgement of Country. Very short update on spit hoods and QLD.

Acknowledgement of Country and NAIDOC week. Update and breaking news: Commonwealth Attorney-General decides to stop prosecution of Bernard Collaery. Issues include open justice & rule of law. See previous episodes Season 2, 22 & Season 2, 44 for important background. Australian Financial Review article available here: https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/dreyfus-orders-bernard-collaery-cas...

Acknowledgment of Country this NAIDOC Week. Update on the “no rights without remedy” petition. Spoiler: there will be remedies! Except, maybe, if the ACT police are allegedly involved. Here’s the report: https://www.parliament.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/2023764/JCS-Report-7-Report-into-the-Inquiry-into-Petition-32-21-No-Rights-Without-Remedy.pdf#page13

Acknowledgement of Country. If we can’t enforce our rights, what do they really mean? A petition before the ACT Legislative Assembly seeks to give them meaning. If you want to hear an in-depth forum on International Human Rights Day (10 December 2021), which is online and free, register here: https://hrc.act.gov.au/making-human-rights-complaints-accessible-in-the-act/

Acknowledgement of Country. Quick recap on Case Theory (please see Season 1, Episode 22) and past defamation episodes (please see Season 2, Episodes 20 and 34). Discussion of how these 2 issues are arising in the media coverage of new NSW police efforts to work out what happened to William Tyrrell who has been missing since 12 September 2014. Helpful analysis of this situation by Paul Barry of ABC...

Acknowledgment of Country. Interested in the biopsychosocial model of health? Or, maybe you would be if I broke it down for you into a word of less than 6 or 7 syllables? Get put off by words that sound impressive but are too complex? I know I am! Listen to me explain what “biopsychosocial” means (it’s easy to understand, I promise) and then check out the Ologies podcast episode on Dolorology (the...

Acknowledgement of Country. Hear all about the Law Council of Australia’s Lawyer Project Report. I provide and easy to understand summary of the 56 page report. The full report can be found here: https://www.lawcouncil.asn.au/publicassets/330febe2-323d-ec11-9443-005056be13b5/The%20Lawyer%20Project%20Report.pdf