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.
The legal rights outlined are particularly important in providing safeguards against abuses by governments and their agents. The fundamental rights, developed over hundreds of years, have been adopted in international treaties. Some of the rights along with the reasons for their existence are detailed to provide an understanding of their importance and fragility.
Dr Cavanagh presented an article at the Hunter Regional Law Society on Friday 28 March 2025. The presentation focuses on what happens when expert evidence is misleading, when it is not based on facts and is not the opinion of…
Table of Contents On April 24, 2024, Dr Robert Cavanagh, barrister-at-law, presented a lecture to the bar association entitled: “Prerogative of Mercy, Pardons, and Criminal Law Review Commissions: Why bother changing a system that has been in existence for 100 years?”…
Table of Contents Sue Higginson, a member of the NSW Parliament for the Greens, has called on the Attorney General, the Hon. Michael Daley and the Premier, to ensure the immediate release of Kathleen Folbigg. Ms Higginson points out that…
A petition was commenced to try and help convince the minister that there is genuine public concern to try and help Mark stay in Australia supported by his family and that sending him to PNG and his almost certain death…
A petition was signed on May 26 2015 and delivered to the Governor of NSW asking for the case to be reviewed. The petition is presented below in full.