Policing and detention
Media and commentary related to our work to provide critical oversight of NSW Police, prisons and youth detention centres, to protect human rights and ensure fair and lawful treatment.
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CityHub: Controversial New Hate Speech Laws Passed In NSW
JEC Director of Policy and Advocacy, Alastair Lawrie calls for the Minns Government to address serious gaps in the new hate speech laws.
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2SER: How the Commonwealth Government Can Protect Children
JEC Principal Solicitor, Jonathan Hall Spence explains how the Australian Government has the constitutional powers to protect children.
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The Saturday Paper: NSW Police Force’s use of AI raised watchdog concerns
NSW Police stopped using its controversial STMP program in 2023, but its new AI tool has attracted criticism.
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LSJ: State systems are hurting kids, but the Commonwealth can protect them
This op-ed from Principal Solicitor, Jonathan Hall Spence explains the actions the Australian Government can take to protect children in custody.
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The Saturday Paper: Serco’s ugly legacy in Australia’s immigration detention system
Principal Solicitor Jonathan Hall Spence explains how Serco’s operations have harmed access to healthcare for people in detention.
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Finance Career: Serco replacement picked
The Australian Government has given a $2bn immigration detention contract to a controversial American company.
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ABC News: Transgender woman reaches settlement with NSW corrective services over her treatment in prison
Our client, Melissa Yarnold, hopes her experience will lead to a safer justice system for trans people.
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Q News: NSW trans woman ‘put through hell’ by police complaint
Our client, Melissa Yarnold, wants her story to help change the system police do not discriminate against trans and gender diverse people.
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Star Observer: “Hell on Earth” Transgender Woman Settles Discrimination Case Against NSW Police
Melissa Yarnold was placed in a men’s prison, where she alleges she was subject to sexual harassment and discrimination.
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No Filter: Police shootings, mental health crises and the shattered families pushing for alternative first responders
StreetCare member Alex* spoke about his experiences of over-policing in his social housing community.
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2SER: Push back against NSW knife laws
Solicitor Kate Sinclair spoke to 2SER about our concerns with new laws that give police undefined powers.
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Experts at Mental Health forum agree: we must change our response to people in crisis
We brought together a panel of health and legal experts, mothers of people who have been killed by police and Rose Jackson, the NSW Minister for Mental Health.
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Australasian Lawyer: Legal bodies push back against pitched NSW knife ‘wanding’ legislation
Australasian Lawyer reported on our efforts to resist new police search legislation.
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NIT: “Why throw more money into failed law and order responses?”
CEO Jonathon Hunyor spoke to the National Indigenous Times about proposed new police search powers.
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The Guardian: NSW knife laws allowing suspects to be scanned without a warrant could be ‘abused by police’
CEO Jonathon Hunyor spoke to the Guardian about proposed new powers for police.
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Mental health call outs: who should respond?
We’re hosting a forum to examine alternative responses to mental health crisis.
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The Daily Aus: Children fined during the pandemic in NSW
Our CEO Jonathon Hunyor commented to the Daily Aus about COVID-19 fines.
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9 News: Disadvantaged kids unfairly targeted by $5000 Covid fines, report finds
COVID fines research we commissioned appeared in 9News coverage.
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NIT: First Nations and disadvantaged children targeted by NSW police during COVID
Our CEO Jonathon Hunyor urged reform of the fines system in the National Indigenous Times.
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Report shows marginalised children targeted with COVID fines
Our new report highlights the urgent need to learn from the COVID-19 pandemic and reform the fines system for children.
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SMH: Boy racks up $1047 fine in one day for riding without a helmet
We were featured in a Sydney Morning Herald article highlighting the injustice of fines by NSW Police.
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2SER: Taking police to court over trespass
Senior Solicitor Grace Gooley spoke to 2SER Breakfast about unlawful house visits by NSW Police.
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SMH: Police visited Megan’s home 153 times in less than two years. Now she is fighting back.
Our major test case against NSW Police was covered in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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Mothers sue police over months of disruptive and intimidating home visits
The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) is representing Megan* and Joanne*, two mothers suing NSW Police following months of disruptive and intimidating visits to their homes. PIAC has filed cases for both women in the NSW Supreme Court, asking the Court to decide if the visits were a misuse of power and amount to trespass.…
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The Australian: Open letters from top lawyers, advocacy groups and academics say NSW youth bail laws will increase crime
A combined 68 lawyers, academics and advocacy groups say proposed reforms will only increase crime and devastate Aboriginal and vulnerable communities.
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NSW Indigenous groups warn of danger posed by harsh bail laws for children
On Monday, a coalition of 12 groups including the ALS, the Public Interest Advocacy Centre and NSW Aboriginal Land Council revealed that multiple government sources had “indicated off the record that a proposal to introduce punitive law and order measures – including changes to bail laws that will result in more children going to jail…
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Minns warned against ‘political stunt’ to fix regional youth crime
Premier Chris Minns made a last-minute trip to Moree last month amid concerns about serious property crime being committed predominantly by young people. Minns has committed to a regional crime package and the Police Minister Yasmin Catley has also acknowledged a worsening problem in regional NSW. A range of groups – which include the Aboriginal…
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Aboriginal and legal groups horrified at secret plan to throw more children in jail
A coalition of Aboriginal and legal organisations says a secret proposal to tighten NSW bail laws for children would make NSW regional communities more dangerous. Multiple government sources have indicated off the record that a proposal to introduce punitive law and order measures – including changes to bail laws that will result in more children…
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NSW Police fall short in response to consorting laws criticisms
The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) has published NSW Police Force responses to recommendations made in the LECC’s review of consorting laws. The LECC review showed the laws are largely not being used to disrupt the serious, organised crime for which they were intended but are being misused, including against people under the age of…