In historic cases the potential for a sentence to rehabilitate, incapacitate or deter the offender is largely insignificant – leaving the focus solely on retribution.
Despite arguments that it is too loose, ambiguous and easy to hide behind, the ‘public interest’ is an integral part of the discourse, law, regulation and governance of modern democracies.
Conscience protections for those opposed to same-sex marriage should not be seen as excusing bigotry. Rather, it is a legitimate means of best promoting everyone’s welfare.
Whether or not a prospective citizen would face a longer wait in Australia compared to Germany, Canada or the UK comes down to their individual circumstances.
The car, the phone and the internet have changed the way the sex work industry operates, but debates about regulation have not advanced with new technologies.
Consensual sex work, like non-commercial sex, mostly happens behind closed doors. Yet stigma toward and ignorance about sex workers makes people panic when we try to talk about reform.
Understanding laws that govern sex work can be complicated and confusing, especially because laws are not uniform globally, or even within each country.
The effectiveness of the changes to the ADF’s role in counter-terrorism operations will depend heavily on the willingness of state police to accept military advice and assistance.
Jason Ferris, The University of Queensland; Adam Winstock, King's College London; Larissa J. Maier, University of Zurich, dan Renee Zahnow, The University of Queensland
Responsible Service of Alcohol laws should be coupled with public discussion that encourages people to take responsible for their own drinking behaviour.
Research is revealing that both families who have experienced adolescent family violence and those working with them feel the criminal justice system is not an appropriate way to respond to it.
In this episode of Change Agents, Andrew Dodd speaks with Amee Meredith and Caterina Politi, who lost family members to random acts of violence, on their campaign to reform 'one-punch' laws.
Proposed new laws will restrict parole and bail to those merely associated in some way with terrorism, even when they have not be arrested for – or convicted of – a specific terrorism offence.
Fiona McGaughey, The University of Western Australia; Dave Webb, The University of Western Australia, dan Peta-Jane Hogg, The University of Western Australia
Any proposed solution to the problem of modern slavery must engage with the business community and government policies on migration and migrant labour.
Image-based abuse, more commonly known as ‘revenge porn’, affects many Australians from across diverse communities and in different types of relationships.