Law Reform
Creating a fairer drug policy in Victoria
Decriminalisation of drugs will aid in recognising drug use as a health issue and minimise the harmful stigma associated with its users.
13 March 2022
Op-Eds and Latest News
Criminal Law
Waiting for help as a survivor of sexual assault
Delays at court due to COVID are having an unintended impact on some of the most vulnerable in our society: victims/survivors of sexual assault.
15 November 2021
Legal Service
How SMLS utilises technology to provide accessible legal service and clinical legal education
SMLS utilises a remote legal service with an adaptable framework for client service delivery as well as for educating students about technological advances in legal practice, equipping them with frameworks for the knowledge, skills and attributes for being technologically proficient for their roles as legal practitioners into the future.
6 October 2021
Law Reform
Wage gap in Australia’s aged-care sector
Wage gap is a gendered issue. Industries dominated by women usually attract lower pay than male-dominated occupations. This reflects the lower social and financial value given to traditionally ‘female’ jobs.
30 September 2021
Law Reform
Stronger protections from hate speech in Victoria
The government supported an intersectional approach that recognises the compounding effects of vilification on the basis of multiple attributes, such as race and gender. Basically, this means that a person should be able to make a complaint of vilification based on more than one attribute.
21 September 2021
Migration Law
Australia’s response to the crisis in Afghanistan: our legacy of harsh immigration policies
We know that for some Afghan refugees and asylum seekers in Australia, our increasingly harmful migration laws have meant that loved ones have died waiting for the chance at a family reunion visa.
27 August 2021
Law Reform
Raising the Age
Every child deserves the chance to learn from their mistakes in a safe and supported way. The medical evidence is clear – children who are arrested by police, sent to court or locked away, are more likely to develop mental illness, disengage from school, become homeless and even die prematurely.
13 August 2021
Rental Law
Rental scams targeting international students
Consumer Affairs Victoria recorded 31 reports of rental scams last financial year and said some scammers were showing renters properties they had no right to rent out. In other instances, people are asked to hand over rent and bonds for properties they have never inspected. Scamwatch has reported a 56% increase in rental scams in 2020.
28 July 2021
Employment Law
The Exploitation of Migrant Workers in Australia
Migrant workers are denied equitable access to justice due to structural impediments such as language, economic, and legal barriers. Unless significant policy change is implemented, migrant workers protection will remain inadequate.
16 July 2021
Sexual Assault
Integrated Services for Survivor Advocacy
The Integrated Services for Survivor Advocacy (ISSA) partnership supports victims/survivors to recover from sexual assault and/or family violence by supporting them to navigate the legal system.
20 June 2021