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 July 28

Episodes249

Newest first

Oct 1, 2024 · 28 min
Corporations and free speech
To what extent should employers be able to restrict employees from expressing their views and opinions in public?
Sep 24, 2024 · 28 min
What's behind Mexico's plan to elect judges?
Mexico is set to become the first country in the world to allow voters to elect every one of its 7,000 judges.
Sep 17, 2024 · 28 min
Protecting the integrity of the jury system
What happens when serious juror misconduct jeopardises a trial? And how can jurors be protected from outside pressures?
Sep 10, 2024 · 28 min
New 'justice visa' for exploited migrant workers
A new 'world-first', 12-month visa allows migrant workers to stay in Australia while they pursue unpaid wages or compensation for other forms of workplace exploitation.
Sep 3, 2024 · 35 min
Investigating war crimes in the Israel-Gaza conflict
Nearly one year into the Israel-Gaza war, how can the International Criminal Court move forward with its investigation into the conflict?
Aug 27, 2024 · 28 min
Should the Attorney-General have power to block prosecutions of war crimes and crimes against humanity?
Allegations of atrocity crimes cannot be prosecuted in Australian courts without consent from the Government's top legal officer, who also has the power to block prosecutions.
Aug 20, 2024 · 28 min
Women in Law
Join playwright Suzie Miller (Prima Facie) for an insightful conversation about women working in the law.
Aug 13, 2024 · 28 min
Is there a role for restorative justice in sexual assault cases?
Playwright Suzie Miller (Prima Facie) explores a pilot program in New York that brings together survivors and perpetrators to address the impacts of harm from sexual assault.
Aug 6, 2024 · 28 min
Reforming sexual assault law in Australia
Playwright Suzie Miller (Prima Facie) speaks with those at the forefront of change in sexual assault law in Australia.
Jul 30, 2024 · 28 min
Combatting illegal trade in human organs
International prosecutions have focused concern on the 'hidden crime' of commercial trade in human organs. So, what is the best way to respond to organ trafficking and 'organ transplant tourism'?
Jul 23, 2024 · 28 min
Solving Britain's prison crisis; kids who don't repay the 'bank of mum and dad'
Prisoners are being released early in a bid to tackle overcrowding in Britain's jails. And, buying property with help from the 'bank of mum and dad' is becoming increasingly common, so what can go wrong if the loan terms aren't clearly spelt out?
Jul 16, 2024 · 28 min
How does a judge know if an offender is truly sorry?
When calculating a sentence, a judge weighs up many considerations, including remorse. But is it really possible to determine if an offender is genuinely sorry?
Jul 9, 2024 · 28 min
Children and medical consent
In a dispute over the medical treatment of a gravely sick child, who gets the ultimate say? Three recent court rulings in New South Wales deal with this profoundly difficult issue.
Jul 2, 2024 · 28 min
A deep dive into diplomatic immunity
The case of the careless driver with diplomatic immunity who soured Britain's relationship with the US. And the former high commissioner in Canberra who was held accountable for exploiting a domestic worker.
Jun 25, 2024 · 28 min
Should foreign judges sit on Hong Kong's highest court? Anti-discrimination laws in religious schools
Two English judges have resigned from Hong Kong's Court of Final Appeal. Should four Australian judges stay or go? The Australian Law Reform Commission has made a set of recommendations on how anti-discrimination laws should operate in religious schools.
Jun 18, 2024 · 28 min
How stressful is it to be a judge or magistrate?
New research examines the impact of heavy workloads on the well-being of judicial officers and the quality of justice delivered.
Jun 11, 2024 · 28 min
Protecting First Nations sacred sites: are Australian laws fit for the task?
Traditional owners have welcomed an announcement by Parks Australia that it would plead guilty to damaging a sacred site at Gunlom Falls in Kakadu National park. The move follows a landmark High Court decision which found that statutory bodies can be held criminally liable for damaging cultural sites.
Jun 5, 2024 · 12 min
BAD NEIGHBOURS S2 E5 | Fences
Bad fences make bad neighbours! The Law Report explores your rights and responsibilities when it comes to fences and boundaries.
Jun 4, 2024 · 28 min
Trump's legal woes; Bad Neighbours: fences
What are Donald Trump's legal options after the former US president was found guilty of falsifying business records in the 'hush money' trial?
May 29, 2024 · 12 min
BAD NEIGHBOURS S2 E4 | Cars and apartments
From abandoned cars to electric vehicle charging, the Law Report shifts gears on your rights and responsibilities when it comes to cars in strata blocks.