Law Report

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Democracy in the misinformation age Oct 13, 2026

Show notes

What impact does 'fake news' have on public discourse, democracy and the justice system? And how can governments and journalists meet the challenge?

A former judge, a journalist turned researcher and a political strategist shine a light on democracy in the age of misinformation and disinformation.

Listen to a panel discussion moderated by the Law Report's Damien Carrick in Melbourne this month, organised by Liberty Victoria and ABC Friends.

Rogue OpenAI agents hacked into Medicare — is it a crime? Oct 06, 2026

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When OpenAI agents gained unauthorised access to the Medicare data portal, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he was extremely concerned about the privacy breach.

But are there any legal consequences? Could OpenAI be prosecuted for the hack? Could it be liable in a civil action?

As the technology develops at breakneck speed, the Law Report discusses what guardrails are necessary to keep people and data safe in the age of AI and social media.

Should smart glasses be banned in public places? Sep 29, 2026

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Concerns over privacy breaches linked to smart glasses are seeing authorities around Australia move to restrict where they can be used.

Western Australia has announced a complete ban in public schools, which takes effect next month.

Local councils are also taking action, with the City of Randwick in Sydney investigating whether it can prohibit smart glasses at public beaches.

And the Federal Government is considering restriction in Commonwealth workplaces.

But how effective is regulation at this level and do we need a different type of legal response?

Also in this episode: if you don't pay your gambling debts to an unlicensed bookie, can they take you to court to recover the money?

Is influencing someone to end their life a crime in Australia? Sep 22, 2026

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The Victorian government has pledged to implement a raft of reforms around domestic and family violence if it is re-elected in November.

One promise is to introduce a new manslaughter offence in cases where a person is found to have taken their own life due to family violence.

So, is it currently possible to convict a person of murder or manslaughter if they goad or encourage their partner to die by suicide?

This has happened in Britain and the United States.

And right now, Adelaide woman Jacinta Ann Drust is facing charges of murder and unlawful killing over the death of her boyfriend Antonio Cavaiuolo.

Ms Drust has pleaded not guilty to the charges. She denies the allegations and is entitled to the presumption of innocence.

The rapid rise of AI use in employment law disputes Sep 15, 2026

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A Sydney computing academic made headlines when he won a landmark case at the Fair Work Commission by relying entirely on artificial intelligence.

The Law Report explores concerns over the rapid rise in the use of AI by self-represented litigants in employment law disputes.

01 | Can a stranger inherit everything you own? Aug 14, 2026

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An elderly man goes into respite care and meets a nurse he's never known before.

Within days she's bought him a will kit and had a document drawn up that leaves everything to her.

He dies weeks later. Was that his clear settled wish, or something else entirely? Proving the difference is where it gets hard. And messy.

When it comes to wills, how big an issue are fraud and undue influence? And what sorts of questions arise over how a will is made?

Melbourne lawyer and elder financial abuse specialist James Dimond takes us inside these disputes, from a will signed by pressured witnesses to a father who cut out his son after his daughter convinced him her brother was a dangerous criminal, and the legal idea courts call "poisoning of the mind".

The Law Report's special series Over My Dead Body explores what happens when wills go wrong.

A reminder, this conversation does not represent or replace legal advice.

02 | The will written on a frozen fish packet Aug 14, 2026

Show notes

A frozen fish packet. An unsent text. A tractor fender. Courts have accepted all of these as valid wills.

You want to write a will and make sure that your assets go to those who you think deserve your generosity.

So, how can you make sure the will is binding? Does it need to be a formal document, printed out and signed with a pen? Or can a valid will be a word document, an email or text message? Can it be written on a frozen fish packet or the wall in your home?

Wills expert Professor Pru Vines of UNSW walks through the strangest cases courts have accepted, including a British man who left his entire estate to charity on fish and mince pie packaging, a dying Canadian farmer who scratched his wishes into a tractor after it rolled on him, an unsent phone text upheld in Queensland, and a woman who recorded her will on a smartphone while chastising her children.

The Law Report's special series Over My Dead Body looks at how courts decide whether an unconventional or irregular will is or isn't valid.

A warning, this conversation makes multiple references to suicide, so take care when listening.

It also does not represent or replace legal advice.

03 | He worked the farm for decades and got nothing Aug 14, 2026

Show notes

You work the family farm your whole life, then it's left to someone else.

When drafting a will, the law says you don't have to be fair or equal in deciding who will receive your estate.

So, after you pass away, can disgruntled family members or friends challenge your will in the courts? Conflicts over inheritance arise in many families but are particularly fraught and complex in farming families.

Andrew Lawson of the Australian Centre for Agriculture and Law at the University of New England explains why the farm behaves almost like a third party in the family, and how the courts weigh need over fairness.

He unpacks a $20 million farm fight where two siblings sued the estate and only one won, and the High Court case of a share farmer who toiled for decades on the promise the land would be his, only to see it left to someone else.

The Law Report's special series Over My Dead Body looks at farming family fallouts over inheritance and the unique challenges they create around succession.

This conversation does not represent or replace legal advice.

04 | Asked to be an executor? What you're really signing up for Aug 14, 2026

Show notes

If a relative asks you to be the executor of their will, should you accept? What can go wrong and what do you need to know before you agree to take on the role? When disputes arise, executors are the ones left to clean up the mess, often navigating difficult family dynamics. And saying yes to being an executor can make you personally liable for someone else's debts. Sydney lawyer Donal Griffin explains what the job involves, from settling the deceased's tax and debts to the risk of being held personally liable if you distribute too soon and a claim lands months later. He also covers the conflicts that arise when the executor is also a beneficiary, and the odd habit of people naming politicians and public figures they've never met to run their affairs. The Law Report's special series Over My Dead Body explores the challenges faced by executors when finalising and distributing an estate. This conversation does not represent or replace legal advice.

Alan Jones on trial Aug 11, 2026

Show notes

The criminal trial of former radio broadcaster Alan Jones has begun in the Local Court in Sydney.

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