In the media

Bundamba man to face child exploitation offences
A 21-year-old Bundamba man has been charged with child exploitation offences following a Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) investigation (06 October 2016). More...

Should allegations of corruption be made public?
Queensland's Crime and Corruption Commission is investigating whether allegations of corruption against individuals should be made public, while the media says such reporting holds governments accountable (06 October 2016). More...

Taskforce tackles serious and organised crime across Queensland
The fight against organised crime and the ongoing threat it poses to the community is the focus of an expanded multi-agency taskforce in Queensland (05 October 2016). More...

Judges admit to emotion in court but say they avoid bias
Australian judges and magistrates admit to experiencing strong personal feelings toward cases they have presided over, new research finds (29 September 2016). More...

In practice and courts

OIAC Queensland: OIC 2015-16 Annual Report
The 2015-16 Office of the Information Commissioner Annual Report was tabled in Parliament on 26 September 2016. The report outlines performance against key activities and established targets across three service areas. More...

CCC Annual Report tabled in Parliament – 30 September 2016 The CCC's 2015-16 Annual Report was tabled in State Parliament today and details how the CCC continues to protect Queenslanders against major crime and public sector corruption. More...

Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) Public Forum - 5 October 2016
On Thursday 6 October and Friday 7 October 2016, the CCC conducted a public forum to examine whether publicising allegations of corrupt conduct is in the public interest. The CCC intends on writing a report following the forum. More (CCC Qld Media Release)... More (CCC Qld Website)...

Published – articles, papers, reports

Impacts of changes to trading hours of liquor licences on alcohol-related harm: a systematic review 2005–2015
Public Health Research & Practice: 30 September 2016 - Claire Wilkinson, Michael Livingston, Robin Room
This paper outlines a systematic review of the literature to examine recent (2005–2015) research about the impact of changing the hours of sale of alcohol on alcohol-related harms.

The revised group risk assessment model (GRAM 2): assessing risk of reoffending among adults given non-custodial sanctions
Efty Stavrou, Suzanne Poynton; NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research: 29 September 2016 Out of 81,199 adult offenders, 26% reoffended within two years of the index appearance.

Cases

Case Note: Lyons v State of Queensland [2016] HCA 38: Discrimination in Jury Selection
The High Court has dismissed an appeal in the case of Lyons v State of Queensland [2016] HCA 38. The High Court found that the Supreme Court of Queensland had not erred in holding that the appellant was not discriminated against during the jury selection process (05 October 2016).

Case Note: Prince Alfred College Inc v ADC [2016] HCA 37: Limitation of Actions in Sexual Assault
Today the High Court unanimously allowed an appeal from the Full Court of the Supreme Court of South Australia in the case of Prince Alfred College Inc v ADC [2016] HCA 37 (05 October 2016).

Prince Alfred College Incorporated v ADC [2016] HCA 37
Appeal allowed with costs. Limitation of actions – Extension or postponement of limitation periods – Extension of time in personal injury matters – Principles upon which discretion exercised – Where extraordinary delay – Where deficiencies in evidence due to passage of time – Where absence or death of witnesses – Where loss of documentary evidence – Where earlier decision by claimant not to institute proceedings – Whether just in all the circumstances to grant extension of time.
Tort – Vicarious liability – Course of employment – Where boarding school employed housemaster – Where housemaster sexually abused boarder – Consideration of correct approach to vicarious liability of employer for intentional criminal acts of employee – Whether employment gave "occasion" for wrongdoing – Whether employee placed in special position vis-à-vis victim – Whether features of special position warrant finding of liability.
Procedure – Courts and judges generally – Determination of issues – Whether appropriate for trial judge to determine all litigated issues.

Lyons v Queensland [2016] HCA 38
Discrimination law – Disability discrimination – Where deaf person summoned for jury service – Where deaf person required assistance of Auslan interpreters to participate as juror – Where deaf person excluded from jury panel – Whether exclusion was unlawful discrimination.
Juries – Persons constituting jury – Jury deliberations – Whether permissible for interpreter to be present in jury room during deliberations – Whether deaf person who requires assistance of interpreter in jury room eligible for jury service under Jury Act 1995 (Q).

Legislation – Queensland

Bills Updated in the last week

Domestic and Family Violence Protection and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016
Introduced on 16/08/2016 Stage reached: Report from Committee on 4/10/2016.

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