Bushfires: Laws, Your Work, Animals, Claims and What To Do

Your legal rights, workplace rules, health and insurance around bushfires in Tasmania. Firefighters’ Powers Firefighters have incredibly broad powers and protections during bushfires. This includes entering on to private land or Crown land, and taking such lawful measures as they need to do to fight the fire – any damage the cause in the course of firefighting is deemed for insurance and liability purposes “caused by fire.” (Fire Service Act s111) Legal protections can extend to anyone that the Fire Service have asked to help in firefighting (which can often include Parks or Forestry employees). Obstructing, impeding or hindering a person who assisting a Fire Service member in carrying out f

Weird Laws in Tasmania and around the world

After a few weeks of serious legal posts, it is time for something lighter: the weird and wonderful laws of Tasmania, and around the world. For example, in Tasmania, falsely claiming to be an architect carries a $100 fine, and taking or possessing a meteorite is worth a fine of nearly $1600. We also need to be careful when posting glass, gold, silver, gems or other items. Mail-carriers and stage coaches' liability is limited to $20.00 unless you tell them that the goods are worth more than this. With the exception of certain businesses, like newsagents pharmacies and bottle shops, it is illegal to open your business on the morning of ANZAC Day - fines max out at more than $30 000. There are

Legal News 2019 Death by SNAFU: The Shooting of Jason Challis

The Northern Territory Coroner has handed down his findings in to the death of a solider, in a situation described as a shambles and a failure of the entire Australian Army chain of command. The death of Private Jason Challis was unnecessary and avoidable. The trauma caused to three other servicemen involved in unintentionally shooting him in the head and knee was preventable. The military exercise where Pvt Challis lost his life was "shambolic", and the Australian Army failed to comply with its own doctrine and past reports. These are the findings of the Northern Territory Coroner Judge Greg Cavanagh who handed down his inquest findings last week. The Coroner said that this "was not the fai

2018 in Law: Lawyer X

A gangland lawyer turned in to a police informer - and paid the price. The second major legal event in 2018 also involved attempts to obtain a suppression order - however, unlike in our previous article, the Courts were not willing to suppress the wrong-doing of Victoria Police. The Gangsters’ Secret-Keeper Victoria Police had long attempted to arrest and jail Tony Mokbel and other organised crime figures in Victoria - but struggled to obtain enough evidence to convict. The alleged kings of organised crime, Mokbel and others are allegedly responsible for murders, drug trafficking, brothels and other activities in Victoria and around Australia. In 2006, Kuwaiti-born Mokbel fled to Greece; ex

2018 in Law: CENSORED

The biggest legal news item in 2018 was one that we cannot talk about. On 11 December 2018 a person was found guilty of crimes, by the Victorian County Court. Under a suppression order issued by their Chief Judge it is contempt of court to say who was found guilty, or for what crimes. Under the Court’s order, the number of alleged victim(s), number of charges or the nature of the charges cannot be published “within all States and Territories” or via the internet where accessible in Australia. This has resulted in a battle between the courts and Crown Prosecutors – who want the suppression – and the media who want to publish right now. Why the Silence? Rules suppressing the names of victims a

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