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)

The Weekend Briefing with Rove McManus

The Weekend Briefing with Rove McManus

Rove McManus is undoubtably one of Australia’s favourite TV personalities of all time, popularising the US format of late-night television on our own soil before taking on the medium in the States. ...

28 Touko 202126min

Why are mining electorates so important?

Why are mining electorates so important?

Coal mining employs around 50,000 people directly... so why does coal dominate Australian politics?! It came up again at the weekend’s NSW by-election where Labor got smashed and the Nationals were r...

27 Touko 202125min

Bitcoin – the environmental cost explained

Bitcoin – the environmental cost explained

Of all the things to destabilise Bitcoin... it turns out the environment has been a key factor. The digital currency has seen some wild price drops over the last two weeks. It peaked at 63,000 USD ...

26 Touko 202121min

Why losing your religion is harder than it looks

Why losing your religion is harder than it looks

Monica Dux has written a book called Lapsed... about walking away from Catholicism, her childhood religion. It’s a relevant story in today’s world because Catholicism in Australia has been in slow d...

25 Touko 202119min

Colombia in crisis: power of the people

Colombia in crisis: power of the people

Violent protests have broken out on the streets of Colombia. Demonstrations about tax reform have turned into massacres on the streets. Neighbourhoods have become battlegrounds as Colombians fight w...

24 Touko 202119min

How to keep calm as the property market surges out of reach

How to keep calm as the property market surges out of reach

There’s been a lot of talk this year about housing affordability after another surge in home and apartment prices. But interest rates have remained at record lows, meaning borrowing money is cheaper ...

23 Touko 202121min

The Royal Record - Queen Lizzy and The Briefing say "check it out "

The Royal Record - Queen Lizzy and The Briefing say "check it out "

The Royal Record is your weekly dose of Royal news, without the spin! Royal correspondent and expert Juliet Rieden and journalist Bryce Corbett use their insider info on The Royals to separate the fac...

22 Touko 20213min

The Weekend Briefing with Rick Morton

The Weekend Briefing with Rick Morton

Rick Morton’s book My Year of Living Vulnerably is topping best-seller lists around Australia for unpacking Australian masculinity. Jamila Rizvi sits down with Rick to talk about the male role model...

21 Touko 202128min

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