Australia: Criminal Law

New South Wales legislation introduced in August 2026 would significantly expand police powers to compel individuals to unlock their digital devices during organised crime investigations, even without a search warrant. The proposed reforms would increase penalties for non-compliance to seven years imprisonment while enabling forensic extraction of entire device contents including encrypted messages, location history, and deleted data.

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New South Wales has announced a permanent pill testing service at music festivals, marking a significant policy shift from its previous enforcement-first approach to drug use. The service will operate at up to 15 festivals annually, offering free and anonymous drug checking backed by $4.3 million in funding. While the initiative follows a promising 12-month trial that showed reduced hospital presentations and meaningful behavioral changes, the program operates within a narrow framework that leaves criminal