Australia: Crime

New South Wales has introduced strict legislation targeting landlords who knowingly permit tenants to sell illicit tobacco and vapes from their premises. With penalties reaching $165,000 and potential imprisonment, property owners must now actively monitor tenant activities and report suspicious behavior. The legislation also grants landlords new powers to terminate leases when closure orders are issued, fundamentally changing the landlord-tenant relationship in commercial retail settings.

An undischarged bankrupt faces strict legal obligations including cooperating with trustees, disclosing all property and financial changes, and obtaining consent before international travel. What are the criminal penalties for breaching these restrictions, and how can early disclosure and proper legal advice help navigate trustee negotiations more effectively than denial or delay?

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

New South Wales has introduced permanent legislation allowing police to use metal detector wands to scan people for knives in designated public areas, following successful trial operations that seized 380 weapons. The reforms expand police powers while raising concerns about civil liberties, racial profiling, and the potential for these scans to become stepping-stones for more invasive searches, despite knife crime being at an all-time low in NSW.

A case on appeal in NSW focused on whether a sentence handed down for drug supply charges was excessive.

Being charged with habitually consorting with recognised offenders in Queensland is a serious criminal matter carrying up to 3 years imprisonment. However, police cannot charge you simply for knowing someone with a criminal record—the prosecution must prove you received official warnings and continued to associate with at least two recognised offenders after those warnings.

If you are questioned by police about a suspected offence, you are not obliged to answer their questions. Exercising your right to silence is a fundamental protection under Queensland law and does not mean you are guilty.

Legal fees can be a sensitive topic, but they are often a major factor when choosing a criminal defence lawyer Brisbane. Many clients have never been involved in the criminal justice system before and are unsure...

A criminal conviction can have serious and lasting consequences, such as affecting employment, travel, reputation, and even your ability to hold professional licences.