Justice
Lehrmann judge’s six ideas to fix court secrecy
Justice Michael Lee told a lawyers’ conference that despite laws aimed at increasing transparency, courts were moving in the opposite direction.
- by Harriet Alexander
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Perspective
Crime
Adult crime, adult time: Responsibilities can’t come without rights
We can’t have it both ways. If young people are to be treated like adults in the criminal justice system, how can we deny them the right to vote?
- by Cameron Atfield
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Indigenous justice
Mother’s disgust after WorkSafe refuses to lay charges over Veronica Nelson’s death
A coroner found that Nelson, 37, would still be alive if prison staff had responded to her cries for help. But WorkSafe closed the case without any charges.
- by Erin Pearson
Alienation of middle class from litigation a justice system ‘failure’
One of the country’s most prominent judges has labelled the affordability of litigation as a justice system “failure”, revealing he is troubled by a lack of trust in the courts.
- by Riley Walter
‘Do the right thing’: Danny Hodgson’s plea as state tries to railroad lawsuit
The State Solicitor’s Office has lodged an application to overturn a compensation bid by one punch attack victim Danny Hodgson.
- by Claire Ottaviano
‘Forgotten kids’ in detention falling between cracks
Qld youth workers are in despair over kids spending 20-plus hours a day confined to a room, while judges last week described one child’s isolation as a disgrace.
- by Cheryl Goodenough
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Disability
Sensors, escape-proof windows, 24-hour supervision: Inside a sex offender’s NDIS-funded home
Clinical experts and justice officials fear the NDIS is ill-equipped to deal with sex offenders, putting the safety of the public and support workers at risk.
- by Chris Vedelago
Last weekend, a five-year-old broke into a house to steal a car
A youth crime crisis in some areas of regional Australia is fuelling long-standing tension between Indigenous residents, the wider community and police.
- by Jordan Baker
‘Battle for my independence’: Ombudsman slams Daniel Andrews’ ‘legacy of fear’
In her final report to parliament, outgoing Ombudsman Deborah Glass has described “a battle for my independence, with gender overtones”.
- by Annika Smethurst
Updated
Crime
‘Pursuit of notoriety’ drives youth crime to decade high
The latest crime data shows Victorian children are committing crimes more frequently as, police say, they chase social media status.
- by Lachlan Abbott
‘Backwards and archaic’: Victoria ditches plans to give children presumption of bail
The government has been accused of betraying Aboriginal youths and walking away from its commitments after dropping the plans.
- by Rachel Eddie