Election censorship concern

February 2, 2010

South Australians will face online commenting restrictions when writs are issued for the March 20 State Election.

The Advertiser revealed today that a new law came into force on January 6, requiring internet bloggers, and anyone making a comment on next month’s state election, to publish their real name and postcode when commenting on the poll. Read more

Tags: 2010 election, censorship, law, South Australia | 18 Comments

Alcohol interlock becomes mandatory

January 6, 2010

About 2700 serious drink-driving offenders across South Australia will have interlocks fitted to their vehicles when tough new laws come into full effect this month, following the success of the voluntary interlock scheme.

South East police operations manager Sgt Andy Stott said the push to make interlocks mandatory for serious offenders was necessary in the fight against repeat offending. Read more

Tags: alcohol, law | Leave a Comment

Tougher penalties for arson

December 24, 2009

Arsonists and vandals will face harsher penalties under changes to South Australian property damage laws that came into force this week, replacing the cost-based penalty scheme with an increased likelihood of prison sentences.

Arson will now attract a maximum penalty of life in prison. Read more

Tags: arson, justice, law | Leave a Comment

Hoon seizure loophole closed

November 11, 2009

Amendments have been made to legislation regarding the clamping, impounding and forfeiture of motor vehicles, following outrage at destruction of a car before it was forfeited to the Crown two years ago.

The forfeiture order against Joel Flier’s car by the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court on August 6, 2007 was the first in South Australia after anti-hoon laws were introduced. Read more

Tags: hoons, law | Leave a Comment

Family law stacked against fathers

November 5, 2009

My brother is going through the Family Law Court system, but I guess that’s not quite right as the whole family has really been put through the mill as grandmother, great-grandmother, aunty and father have all had sleepless nights, worried and been excluded from the child’s life. Read more

Tags: blog, children, families, family law, law, opinion | 48 Comments

Belt up or else

November 4, 2009

Despite proof that a seatbelt will double a person’s chance of surviving a crash and continuous shock-factor education campaigns, South Australian motorists continue to risk their lives by not belting up.

That’s why drivers and passengers across the South East can expect tougher policing on seatbelt laws this month, as the authorities clamp down on people who fail to wear correctly fitted seatbelts during a statewide “Belt Up” operation. Read more

Tags: law, motoring, Police, seatbelts | Leave a Comment

Heyward murder trial date set

October 19, 2009

The Supreme Court will hear the Heyward murder trial in Mount Gambier, beginning on February 8, 2010.

At a directions hearing in Adelaide on Friday, Supreme Court Justice Michael David ruled the joint murder trial of slain woman Glenys Heyward would be held in Mount Gambier. Read more

Tags: court, Heyward, law | Comments Off

More tough new rules for P platers

September 29, 2009

In a move to further reduce South Australia’s road toll, the State Government will introduce legislation banning P1 and P2 drivers from getting behind the wheel of cars with eight cylinders under the hood.

Several new measures aimed at provisional licence holders aged under 25 will be introduced to State Parliament next month. Read more

Tags: law, legislation, motoring, youth | Leave a Comment

Special Justice plan wins support

September 18, 2009

A move to increase the authority of South Australian Special Justices of the Peace has been supported by southern region Law Society Council member, Thomas Rymill, who said it would be “nice to see practicality back in the system”.

The proposed changes to the Magistrates Court Act will be introduced to Parliament next week, currently unsupported by the Opposition. Read more

Tags: court, justice, law | Leave a Comment

Young drivers targeted over mobiles

July 21, 2009

Young people face tough new laws that ban all use of mobile phones while driving.

Learner and P1 drivers will be banned from using all mobile phone functions from August 31 as part of the State Government’s young driver graduated licensing scheme. Read more

Tags: law, mobile phones, motoring, youth | Leave a Comment