The following lecture notes relate to a presentation give to ‘the floor’ of the Sir Owen Dixon Chambers by Dr Robert Cavanagh.
The presentation used the case of Kathleen Folbigg as a case example to examine the limitations of the criminal appeal process in Australia as it relates to victims of injustice and to propose an alternative approach – creating a Criminal Case Review Commission.
Mark Basa has been at the Villawood Detention Centre for several years. Without warning and in the middle of the night, he was recently taken from Villawood to Perth where he stayed for a number of weeks. Then, again in the middle of the night and without warning, he was taken in chains to Christmas Island.
This is a request for a coronial inquest into the disappearance of Bruce Gavin Schuler to be opened by the Queensland Goverment. It is only open to residents of Queensland to sign but it requires 10,000 signatures to succeed. The…
David Harris died in 2019 and a coronial inquest is pending. He suffered schizophrenia for most of his adult life and died alone, his body not discovered for two months. This is the story of his life.
Political prosecutions are commonplace in authoritarian jurisdictions but they seen more in democracies now too. Their existence is a major problem and represent a crime against democracy.
Mark’s father presents a compelling, heartfelt portrayal of his son’s plight, and asks for our help in keeping his son in Australia.
We are physiologically ‘designed’ to feel and respond to fear. Almost universally, we use fear in our interactions with others. However, it is also a tool for politicians to ensure the population remains complaint and accepts injustice.