Law Report

ABC Australia

From courtroom dramas to miscarriages of justice, to how the law affects you — and so much more. The Law Report is your accessible guide to the big legal stories unfolding in Australia and across the world.

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249 episodes
Updated Tuesday

Episodes249

Newest first

Jul 1, 2025 · 28 min
Could a landmark US Supreme Court ruling expand Trump's powers?
US President Donald Trump has praised a landmark Supreme Court ruling that struck down 'universal injunctions' issued by lower court judges, made in response to his executive order on birthright citizenship. What are the implications for numerous Trump administration policies blocked by court injunctions? And for the legal boundaries of presidential power?
Jun 25, 2025
Law Report Special: Antoinette Lattouf v ABC
The Federal Court has ruled that the ABC wrongfully dismissed journalist Antoinette Lattouf for reasons including that she "held a political opinion opposing the Israeli military campaign in Gaza." In this special episode, the Law Report looks at what the verdict means for the ABC, and employers and employees more generally.
Jun 24, 2025 · 28 min
'Pseudolaw' in the courts: Can you pay a legal debt with an IOU?
Warren Tredrea, a prominent Adelaide football personality who unsuccessfully sued Channel 9 for unfair dismissal, has argued in court that his legal debt to the media organisation was settled with a written IOU note. Is this an example of 'pseudolaw'? And how do pseudolegal arguments impact on the courts' work?
Jun 17, 2025 · 28 min
NSW flood insurance crisis; Marking 50 years of Australia's Racial Discrimination Act
Huge property loss is upending the lives of communities in flood-hit parts of New South Wales — what's happening to the rise in insurance claims in areas prone to flooding? And a look back at 50 years of the Australian Racial Discrimination Act.
Jun 10, 2025 · 28 min
How art is transforming the lives of First Nations prisoners
Can art change lives? Confined 16 is an exhibition in Melbourne of First Nations artists who picked up the paint brush while they were in prison.
Jun 3, 2025 · 28 min
The case for stronger whistleblower protections in Australia
The return of high-profile whistleblowing cases to court has renewed calls for legislative reform in Australia to better protect, provide oversight and support to, those who expose wrongdoing in the public and private sectors.
May 27, 2025 · 28 min
The mushroom murder trial; Tasmanian supermarket sued for banning entry to 'therapy alpaca'
A Victorian woman is on trial accused of poisoning her lunch guests by serving them a meal laced with death cap mushrooms. And a Tasmanian couple banned from taking their alpaca into a supermarket is accusing the store of disability discrimination.
May 20, 2025 · 28 min
"What's in your drugs?": Pill testing at music events
Does pill testing save lives? Damien Carrick visits a pop-up service at a Melbourne music event where substances are checked, and staff talk to partygoers about reducing risk when using drugs.
May 13, 2025 · 28 min
Queensland reviews strangulation offence
In 2016, Queensland was the first Australian jurisdiction create a stand-alone offence of non-fatal strangulation. Since then, every other state and territory has followed its lead - most recently Victoria. Almost a decade on, the Queensland Law Reform Commission is conducting an inquiry into the offence.
May 6, 2025 · 28 min
Labor's election landslide; How companies use AI tools to disqualify job applicants
What's behind the Labor Party's overwhelming election victory? And can AI-based technology be used to discriminate against job applicants?
Apr 29, 2025 · 28 min
How family law courts deal with disputes over gender affirming hormone therapy for children
Two recent court decisions could help shape the debate, and perhaps the law, on when children can be given puberty blockers and cross-sex hormone therapy.
Apr 22, 2025 · 28 min
Federal Court Chief Justice Debbie Mortimer on open justice in the digital age
The Hon. Debbie Mortimer, Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Australia, joins Damien Carrick in a conversation about live streaming court cases, suppression orders and access to court documents.
Apr 15, 2025 · 28 min
High Court upholds Queensland's "no body, no parole" laws; Endangered glider possums in court
A Queensland man convicted of murder has failed to convince the High Court to strike out laws that were used to deny him parole for refusing to cooperate with authorities searching for one of his victims. And the fate of endangered forest glider possums could be a little safer following a ruling that allows a community environmental group to prosecute the Forestry Corporation of New South Wales.
Apr 8, 2025 · 28 min
Can Trump's tariffs be challenged in court? Should we ban non-complete clauses?
U.S President Trump's announcement of reciprocal tariffs has sent shockwaves through the world economy, but are these liberation day tariffs constitutional? Meanwhile, in the federal budget, the government included a surprise announcement that it will ban certain non-compete clauses. What will this mean for small businesses as well as low wage employees?
Apr 1, 2025 · 28 min
Trump's war on the US judiciary
The Trump administration's clashes with the US judicial system are escalating, and two federal judges are in the eye of the storm.
Mar 25, 2025 · 28 min
Race, language and the Law
An emoji, a protest placard and a tweet by a soccer fan have all led to criminal charges in Britain. Were the prosecutions appropriate?
Mar 18, 2025 · 28 min
Supporting survivors of sexual assault in the justice system
How can we improve the experience of survivors of sexual assault in the legal system? The Australian Law Reform Commission has released the findings of a major inquiry into justice responses to sexual violence.
Mar 11, 2025 · 28 min
Do you have a legal right to work from home?
The federal opposition has vowed to roll back remote work entitlements for public servants if it wins the next election — a policy the Labor government says was stolen from US president Donald Trump. Meanwhile, the Fair Work Commission has ruled in favour of a dad who wanted an extra "work from home" day.
Mar 4, 2025 · 29 min
High Court delivers ruling in KMD detention case; Closing arguments heard in Lattouf v ABC trial
What steps does a mentally ill offender have to take to convince authorities they no longer pose a risk to the community or to themselves? And the Federal Court has heard closing arguments in the high-profile employment law dispute between freelance journalist Antoinette Lattouf and the ABC.
Feb 25, 2025 · 28 min
Do expanded federal surveillance laws go too far? And report warns private practitioners abandoning Legal Aid work
To what extent should police be allowed to hack into phones, computers and encrypted communication to counter online crime? And new research says private practitioners are abandoning Legal Aid work.