Laws

The Queensland government says new data shows the state's 'adult crime, adult time' laws are working, but a criminologist believes it is a "premature" claim.

North Queensland police say there is a worrying rise in the number of children — some as young as 12 — riding high-powered modified e-bikes that can reach speeds up to 80kph.

A women's refuge boss says the government's inability to electronically track accused perpetrators outside Perth could drive them into country communities.

Police have issued more than 46,000 fines in six months to Adelaide drivers caught using mobile phones and are "disappointed" at the number of repeat offenders – including one driver detected 41 times.

Almost one year on from the alleged murder of Molly Ticehurst, supporters are travelling to Canberra to push for a national approach to domestic violence laws.

Searches of people since December have yielded a weapon in one in four instances, Tasmania Police say — adding that some people, upon seeing officers equipped with metal detection wands, will "produce the weapon in advance".

Currently police are only allowed to use handheld metal detectors to search people for weapons without a warrant in some places, like shopping centres and train stations.  

Further sweeping changes will be made to Queensland's youth justice laws as the state government looks to expand its flagship "adult crime, adult time" policy.

We have a "relatively low" smoking rate, but the Cancer Council says 66 Australians are still dying from smoking-related illness every day.

There are five times as many dog attacks in NSW as there were two decades ago and victims are backing an overhaul of legislation after a series of inquiries laid bare potentially life-threatening failures within the system.

Privacy rights have been raised after a content creator from the United States covertly filmed women in Sydney using smart glasses. These are your rights when it comes to being filmed or recorded in public.

Concerns have been raised about the bail process for NSW Police officers charged with domestic violence-related offences, with a former magistrate saying the decision should be made independently of police.

Hobart tenant Katie found out the "sublet agreement" she had signed with a company called Arx Pty Ltd could be invalid — and she had no tenancy rights in Tasmania.

There are concerns a lack of communication from WA Police means gun owners are missing out on critical information, one week before new firearms laws come into effect. 

Concerns have been raised about the bail process for NSW Police officers charged with domestic violence-related offences, with a former magistrate saying the decision should be made independently of police.

The growing prevalence of 3D-printed weapons in the community has law enforcement agencies on edge, and printing businesses say requests for guns and parts is not uncommon. 

A 19-year-old West Australian man who shared Islamic State beheading videos online becomes the first person convicted under new Commonwealth counter-terrorism laws covering social media use.

Victorian bail reforms, including scrapping remand as a last resort for youth offenders, will become law after the legislation passed both houses of parliament in a sitting that stretched late into last night. 

Indonesia's parliament passes contentious revisions to the country's military law that critics say could take the country back to the draconian "New Order" era of former strongman president Suharto.

Chilling video footage of the lead up to Lilie James's brutal murder at a Sydney high school has been released as part of an inquest into her death.