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(2531)

Canada’s shame unearthed: the discovery of hundreds of bodies of First Nations children

Canada’s shame unearthed: the discovery of hundreds of bodies of First Nations children

Joanna, a Briefing listener, wrote to us via Instagram to ask us to do a story on the discovery of First Nation’s children in Canada. Hundreds of bodies have been found in unmarked graves. We’re jo...

5 Heinä 202123min

The plight of the Afghan war interpreters

The plight of the Afghan war interpreters

In the last two weeks dozens of people from Afghanistan have been evacuated to Australia because the war is ending - many had worked as interpreters for Australian troops. Harry Moffitt worked alon...

4 Heinä 202121min

Michael Clarke's new love since cricket: Fatherhood

Michael Clarke's new love since cricket: Fatherhood

Michael Clarke has been called Australia’s controversial cricket captain. This kid from the western suburbs, with his blonde tipped hair, famous girlfriends and love of fast cars, took the conservativ...

2 Heinä 202120min

Inside Britney Spears’ conservatorship nightmare

Inside Britney Spears’ conservatorship nightmare

In this Briefing we’re going to take you into the world of Britney Spears - from where it all began to now - where she’s fighting to free herself from a 13-year conservatorship that she says is abusiv...

1 Heinä 202121min

Could a dumb phone be the answer to our smartphone addiction?

Could a dumb phone be the answer to our smartphone addiction?

Many Australians are addicted to their phones. We spend countless hours staring at our devices. A recent Monash University study found 43.3 per cent of respondents spent over three hours a day on the...

30 Kesä 202122min

Why Singapore decided to ‘live with Covid’?

Why Singapore decided to ‘live with Covid’?

Three of Singapore’s most senior government officials wrote an article in the national newspaper, the Straits Times, to say the island nation was considering major changes to how it deals with Covid-1...

29 Kesä 202120min

50 risks you should take with your kids

50 risks you should take with your kids

Ever heard the term helicopter parenting? Well, it’s about parents hovering over their children making sure they are never put at risk. Daisy Turnbull says not letting children take risks leaves th...

28 Kesä 202120min

Tokyo talks: Should the Olympic Games go ahead?

Tokyo talks: Should the Olympic Games go ahead?

The Tokyo Olympic Games begin on July 23rd. It’s the world’s biggest event, but with Covid-19 still running amok in Japan, locals are concerned the games will see cases skyrocket. We thought we’d as...

27 Kesä 202120min

Suosittua kategoriassa Politiikka ja uutiset

aikalisa
rss-ootsa-kuullut-tasta
tervo-halme
ootsa-kuullut-tasta-2
politiikan-puskaradio
rss-vaalirankkurit-podcast
viisupodi
rss-podme-livebox
otetaan-yhdet
et-sa-noin-voi-sanoo-esittaa
rss-asiastudio
the-ulkopolitist
mtv-uutiset-polloraati
rss-polikulaari-humanisti-vastaa-ja-muut-ts-podcastit
rss-kaikki-uusiksi
rss-hyvaa-huomenta-bryssel
rss-merja-mahkan-rahat
rss-kuka-mina-olen
rss-raha-talous-ja-politiikka
rss-tasta-on-kyse-ivan-puopolo-verkkouutiset