Teen car chase through mall + Character reference ban for sex offenders
The Briefing29 Syys 2025

Teen car chase through mall + Character reference ban for sex offenders

Calls are mounting to abolish the use of character references in court sentencing, following Queensland’s recent legislation restricting their use in cases involving convicted sex offenders.

Character references have long played a controversial role in high-profile cases, including when former Prime Minister John Howard gave one to Cardinal George Pell, describing him as ‘a person of both high intelligence and exemplary character’. More recently in the case of paedophile Ashley Paul Griffith who has pleaded guilty to over 300 charges, also benefited from character references.

In this episode of The Briefing Helen Smith, is joined by victim-survivor Josh Byrnes, the ACT representative from Your Reference Ain’t Relevant campaign, to explain how character evidence works in court and why advocates want them abolished.

Afternoon headlines: Teens arrested in Melbourne CBD after a police pursuit, Opposition leader Sussan Ley calls for independent inquiry into the 'entire triple-zero ecosystem' and Bad Bunny to headline 2026 Super Bowl half-time show

Further listening: How to stop teen machete murders

Follow The Briefing:
TikTok: @thebriefingpod
Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast
YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcast
Facebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jaksot(2553)

We're in a housing crisis. So why are 100,000 homes sitting empty?

We're in a housing crisis. So why are 100,000 homes sitting empty?

Australia has more than 100,000 houses sitting empty. Is an obvious solution to our housing crisis staring us in the face? This week, data analysis commissioned by the Greens showed those in every day...

20 Elo 202414min

Why can’t we seem to stop the global mpox spread? + Headlines

Why can’t we seem to stop the global mpox spread? + Headlines

Is mpox (previously known as Monkeypox) a runaway train? The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared mpox a “public health emergency of international concern”, following a rise in the number of c...

19 Elo 202420min

Racehorse Black Caviar had nine foals before she died. Was it too many?

Racehorse Black Caviar had nine foals before she died. Was it too many?

One of the greatest racehorses of all time was euthanised after a short illness over the weekend. Australian thoroughbred Black Caviar was considered the world’s best sprinter, clocking up 25 wins for...

19 Elo 202410min

Cruising might be causing a climate crisis + Headlines

Cruising might be causing a climate crisis + Headlines

Cruise ships have doubled in size in the last two decades - and so has their impact on the environment. A new report from European lobby group Transport and Environment is warning that by 2050, cruise...

18 Elo 202419min

Michael Theo's seven non-negotiables for Love On The Spectrum

Michael Theo's seven non-negotiables for Love On The Spectrum

We fell in love with Michael Theo on Love on the Spectrum and now he’s embarking on an exciting new career. Since the show Michael has been busy hosting his podcast, doing Ted Talks and now is jumping...

16 Elo 202428min

Baby food in Australia fails WHO standards. So what are they eating?

Baby food in Australia fails WHO standards. So what are they eating?

An alarming new study our this week has found no baby or toddler foods in Australian supermarkets meet World Health Organisation standards. But how can this be possible, and what does this actually me...

16 Elo 202411min

Brooke Schofield has been cancelled - but does that matter anymore?

Brooke Schofield has been cancelled - but does that matter anymore?

Brooke Schofield has been cancelled. But in 2024, does that matter to anyone anymore? Since the term entered the zeitgeist, 'getting cancelled' was once the worst thing that could happen to a public f...

15 Elo 202422min

Here's what happens if you ignore the government's travel advice

Here's what happens if you ignore the government's travel advice

The federal government has advised Australians not to travel to Lebanon, and any Australians in Lebanon to return home due to a "volatile security situation and the risk of the security situation dete...

15 Elo 202412min

Suosittua kategoriassa Politiikka ja uutiset

aikalisa
rss-ootsa-kuullut-tasta
ootsa-kuullut-tasta-2
tervo-halme
politiikan-puskaradio
rss-podme-livebox
et-sa-noin-voi-sanoo-esittaa
viisupodi
otetaan-yhdet
rss-asiastudio
rss-mina-ukkola
rikosmyytit
the-ulkopolitist
rss-vaalirankkurit-podcast
io-techin-tekniikkapodcast
linda-maria
rss-kiina-ilmiot
rss-kaikki-uusiksi
rss-hyvaa-huomenta-bryssel
rss-kuka-mina-olen