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Top 10: Olympics, George Pell and criminal bust wrap up fortnight
In this fortnightly wrap-up, Protégé brings law students, graduates and other young lawyers the top 10 updates from the legal space.
Naomi Neilson
1: Australian criminal lawyer caught up in major syndicate bust
2: ABC lists costs of Porter defamation proceedings
The ABC managing director has confirmed the exact costs of a mediation that put an end to the defamation proceedings brought by Christian Porter. He has also told a Senates estimate hearing that if the proceedings were to continue, the ABC would have faced up to $1.5 million in defence costs.
3: Media companies hear penalty for breaching George Pell suppression order
Speaking of media costs, the Victorian Supreme Court has handed down a penalty to major media companies that breached suppression orders by publishing the details of Cardinal George Pell’s now-overturned child sexual abuse conviction. In total, the offending media companies now owe over $1 million.
4: What are the legal consequences of cancelling the Olympics?
Cancelling the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games will lead to a host of legal and financial consequences according to one law academic – but is seemingly the only option as Japan remains in a state of emergency. As the country declares a third COVID-19 state of emergency, several prefectures are being severely affected.
A Western Australian lawyer’s “heinous” conduct of possessing and distributing over 17,550 images and 1,390 videos containing child exploitation material will be passed onto the Supreme Court’s full bench to determine whether his name will be removed from the roll in addition to his three-year prison sentence.
6: Greenpeace triumphs over AGL in Federal Court
After a Federal Court hearing last week, a judge has found that Greenpeace did not violate copyright laws in its campaign naming AGL as Australia’s biggest polluter.
7: SA Coroner’s Court to test out stronger powers as reforms commence
As part of an amendment passed in March, the South Australian Coroner’s Court has now extended powers to ensure that important evidence is provided in inquests. Under these new powers, the court can now compel a witness to answer a question or give evidence even if what they say may incriminate or expose them to penalty.
8: Sydney law school formally commits to Uluru Statement of the Heart
The University of Sydney has used its commitment to officially endorse the Uluru Statement of the Heart to call on the Commonwealth government to follow their lead by enshrining a First Nations voice to Parliament in the Australian constitution.
9: NSW Law Society throws support behind $28m investment in Justice Advocacy Service
The Law Society of NSW has welcomed a new government initiative that helps people with a cognitive impairment navigate Australia’s justice system. The NSW government elected to extend the funding and committed to a court-based program.
10: Women in leading judiciary roles ‘key to advancement’, Chief Justice says
Reflecting on the resilience she had to learn as one of 30 female practising barristers in a pool of 600, ACT Supreme Court Chief Justice Helen Murrell said that the success she has had and the success of other females who remained at the Bar were helped by the ongoing support that they provided one another.
Naomi Neilson
Naomi Neilson is a senior journalist with a focus on court reporting for Lawyers Weekly.
You can email Naomi at:
