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Law Report

ABC listenwww.abc.net.au
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.

Episodes

"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 20, 202529 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 13, 202529 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 15, 202528 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 08, 202529 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.

Apr 01, 202528 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 25, 202529 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 11, 202529 min

Who can be held liable for bushfire damage?

The Law Report looks at the legal fallout from the devastating fires across Los Angeles. And who can be held liable for catastrophic bushfire damage in Australia?

Jan 21, 202529 min

Children and medical consent

When there's a dispute over the medical treatment of a gravely sick child, who gets the ultimate say?

Jan 14, 202529 min

How should the justice system respond when a judge commits a crime?

Tasmanian Supreme Court Justice Gregory Geason resigned after he was convicted and sentenced for assault and emotional abuse or intimidation. The Law Report looks at the broader question of how Australian jurisdictions balance judicial independence with accountability.

Nov 26, 202429 min

Vicarious liability and the Catholic Church; Driving with medicinal cannabis

The High Court has found that it is not possible to find the Catholic Church 'vicariously liable' for the actions of molesting priests because they are not legally speaking employees. And Victorian drivers with medicinal cannabis in their system will no longer automatically lose their licence.

Nov 19, 202429 min
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