Law Report

Latest Episodes:

Trump's war on journalists: libel or lawfare? May 26, 2026

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There's been a wave of defamation suits from within the Trump administration targeting the US news media. Is it legitimate litigation or lawfare?

America's Erin Patterson? The Kouri Richins poisoning case May 19, 2026

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In a case that's transfixed the US, a woman who wrote a children's book about grief following her husband's death has been sentenced to life in prison for his murder.

Does EMDR therapy taint a witness's recollection? May 12, 2026

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Imagine you are a victim of crime and need therapy to help deal with a traumatic memory. Would you go ahead if it meant that your case might not be prosecuted because the treatment could deem your evidence unreliable or inadmissible in court?

What does an election look like when there are no financial ground rules? May 05, 2026

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There are no political donation laws in Victoria following a High Court decision that overturned legislation in place for nearly a decade.

Scam victims want compensation as HSBC settles ASIC action Apr 28, 2026

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The Law Report speaks to victims who are calling for the banking giant to compensate them, and asks, how effective are Australian laws in dealing with sophisticated scams?

Why was Ben Roberts-Smith granted bail on war crimes charges? Apr 21, 2026

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Australia's most decorated living soldier Ben Roberts-Smith has been granted bail after being charged with five counts of the war crime of murder. Why was he granted bail? And why did the judge find there were exceptional circumstances and bail did not impose any unacceptable risks?

Euthanasia: How Australia's approach compares to other countries Apr 14, 2026

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In countries where voluntary assisted dying is allowed, there are very different legal frameworks. A high-profile case in Spain raises questions of whether the procedure should only be allowed if there is a terminal illness. Should the medical criteria also include mental distress? And how does mental illness impact on the idea of agency and choice?

A cultural approach to reducing Indigenous reoffending Apr 07, 2026

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Indigenous incarceration rates are off the scale in Australia. For the last four years, the District Court of New South Wales has been trialling the Walama sentencing list, a program aimed at reducing recidivism.

How accurate is facial recognition software? Mar 31, 2026

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The Law Report is asking some big picture questions about the pros and cons of facial recognition software use by police and retailers.

High Court says government can't use ankle bracelets, curfews to monitor former immigration detainees Mar 24, 2026

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Should the Federal Government have powers to restrict the movement of former immigration detainees in the community?