New normal: knife laws inconvenient, but here to stay
In a move likened to roadside breath testing, police will randomly target areas where violence has previously occurred and wand people for weapons in new laws.
crime, law and justice
Man accused of killing ex-girlfriend wants city trial
A man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend wants his trial to be held in Melbourne, away from the regional city of Ballarat where the alleged murder occurred.
Infectious virus samples missing after state lab bungle
An investigation has been launched after a laboratory lost hundreds of infectious virus samples, but a state government has played down the public health risk.
Influencer admits identity theft to aid drug dealer
An Instagram influencer who faced criticism after posting a video about feeding a cooked chicken to a wild crocodile has admitted to misuse of drivers licences.
Family violence order ‘stopped ex-MP from filing tax’
Personal turmoil and an inability to access documents from an ex-partner's house have been blamed for a former politician's failure to submit tax returns.
Barrister remains banned from law over ‘reckless’ debts
A judge found a barrister with 33 years of experience was "not a fit and proper person" to practise law in part over debts and unpaid taxes totalling $640,000.
Aussie hub to keep Pacific police ready, China at bay
The opening of a Pacific policing base and training centre in Australia comes a day after China donated boats, 4WDs and motorcycles to Vanuatu police.
‘Cheap and late’: PM heckled at firebombed synagogue
An angry crowd has met Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as he visited a synagogue to see for himself the destruction caused by a suspected terrorist attack.
Road blocked as Israeli adviser’s charges withdrawn
Dozens of protesters have blocked a busy city thoroughfare as a private prosecution against a former Israeli advisor was struck out in court.
Restaurateur who held up anti-Israel sign ‘no neo-Nazi’
A high-profile restaurateur who held up a Nazi swastika at a pro-Palestinian rally has avoided conviction after a magistrate accepted he was deeply remorseful.
Women’s despair after losing contraception class action
More than 1000 women who suffered chronic pain and bleeding have lost their class action against pharmaceutical giant Bayer over a contraceptive device.
COVID-19 vaccine negligence claims ‘needle in haystack’
A class action accuses the government of negligence in approving COVID-19 vaccines, but lawyers say the case has no chance of making it to a hearing.
Children ‘sacrificial lambs’ under harsher crime laws
Proposed legislative changes to juvenile offending laws have been heavily criticised by stakeholders at a public parliamentary hearing.
Alleged bikie boss arrested after international manhunt
An accused Hells Angels kingpin has been deported to Australia after spending weeks in a Manila airport terminal.
Man jailed for stabbing police officer who put gun away
A police officer was stabbed in the shoulder after putting away his firearm and attempting to draw a stun gun to stop a man charging him with a knife.
Injecting room boss ‘ready to quit’ over drug inaction
Nearly 5000 places hand out free syringes but only two take the next step and supervise drug users, which must change soon, say key reform advocates.
Killer driver to be extradited after days on the run
A dangerous driver who fled interstate just days before he was to be sentenced for killing an off-duty paramedic will return home for sentencing.
‘Russian roulette’: deadly drug alert as imports surge
Federal police are warning commonplace drugs like cocaine and MDMA are increasingly laced with a powerful type of synthetic opioid.
Neo-Nazi kept ‘shrine’ to Third Reich in bedroom
An admitted neo-Nazi who intimidated a Jewish man at a bus stop kept a shrine in his bedroom that included images of German soldiers committing atrocities.
Sacking of cop who tasered 95yo ‘too little, too late’
A senior constable who fatally tasered a 95-year-old woman has been dismissed from the police force less than a week after being found guilty of manslaughter.
Crime-hit city businesses embrace youth justice laws
A city reeling from crime backs controversial youth justice laws, saying juvenile offences have contributed to business closures and tarnished its reputation.
Drunk driver killed family matriarch on her birthday
A 50-year-old driver had drunk two bottles of wine before mounting the kerb and hitting and killing a woman pedestrian on her birthday.
Young gay and lesbian staff target of sexual misconduct
Most young LGBTQI employees say they have been sexually assaulted or harassed in the workplace and supporters blame a culture that devalues their identity.
Easey Street families stare down alleged double killer
A man charged over one of Australia's most notorious cold case murders has faced court 47 years after the deaths of Suzanne Armstrong and Susan Bartlett.
Drug decriminalisation push nipped in the bud, for now
A broad consensus for treating drug use and possession outside the justice system in a government-run drug summit butts up against current policies.
Hunter Biden case dismissed after president’s pardon
A gun case against US President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden has been formally dismissed by a federal judge.
Laos ‘profoundly saddened’ by tourist poisoning deaths
Authorities in Laos are under pressure to get to the bottom of a mass methanol poisoning tragedy that claimed the lives of two Australian teenagers.
US summons for India’s Adani, nephew on bribery claims
A summons has been issued for the head of the Adani Group, Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, and his nephew Sagar Adani over US bribery allegations.
Bali Nine have served ‘more than enough time’: advocate
A supporter of one of the Bali Nine drug smugglers says returning the group to Australia to be with loved ones will make a difference in their rehabilitation.
Australian offer to help Laos tainted alcohol probe
As friends and family mourn the loss of Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, the prime minister has offered federal police to help the investigation in Laos.
‘National shame’: Landmark inquest shines light on DV
Findings on the deaths of four Aboriginal women at the hands of their partners have been handed down by a coroner.