Will I Lose My Licence for Drink Driving in NSW? Being charged with drink driving can be confronting, particularly if you rely on your licence for work or family commitments. One of the first questions most people ask is: “Am I going to lose my licence?” The answer depends on the type of drink driving offence, your blood alcohol concentration, your driving history, and whether [...]

December 2024 marked a new chapter in NSW policing. For the first time, officers can stop and scan people in designated areas with slim electronic “wands.” These handheld metal detectors were legislated under the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) and Other Legislation Amendment (Knife Crime) Bill 2024, a measure to tackle rising knife crime. The concept is not new. Queensland introduced “Jack’s Law” in 2022, [...]

The Federal and NSW Governments enacted tough new laws as a reaction to the increasing antisemitic attacks in early 2025. This document explains their operation and includes descriptions of both their subject matter and their limitations. Why Now? The quick legislative response followed Nazi symbol graffiti on synagogues and homes in Sydney during a period of rising hate-related incidents. The NSW Premier, Chris Minns, claimed [...]

S 474.17 Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) Criminal law has developed over hundreds of years to regulate the actions that people take, and to protect people from those who would do them harm. However, new challenges relating to this timeless principle have arisen with the advent of modern communication technologies. Contentious interactions between people have been argued over in court for longer than Australia has [...]

In NSW, entering an early guilty plea of guilty can provide significant benefits. The timing of a defendant's guilty plea can also influence the sentencing outcome. Sentencing discounts are mechanisms used to incentivise early admissions of guilt, promote efficiency, and reduce the emotional and financial burdens of legal proceedings on the victims and the state. Defendants can receive a sentencing discount ranging from 1% to [...]

Drug possession and supply offences are dealt with in the Local and District Court.  Depending on the type of drug and the quantity, the offence will be categorised as a possession offence or a supply offence.  The penalty is also dependent on the type of drug and the quantity. What Is Drug Possession? Possession of prohibited drug is an offence under Section 10 of the [...]