Teen car chase through mall + Character reference ban for sex offenders
The Briefing29 Sep 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.

Episoder(2557)

A music legend reveals 50-year love affair with Sydney Opera House

A music legend reveals 50-year love affair with Sydney Opera House

The Sydney Opera House, an iconic building synonymous with Australia, turns 50 today.  Iva Davies is the founder and frontman for Icehouse, one of the most significant and successful bands in Australi...

20 Okt 202310min

Why are black models boycotting Melbourne fashion week?

Why are black models boycotting Melbourne fashion week?

More than a dozen Black Australian models are boycotting Melbourne Fashion Week (MFW) to highlight the fashion industry’s mistreatment of people of colour. From being paid significantly less than whit...

19 Okt 202321min

Why kids need security at Jewish and Islamic schools in Australia

Why kids need security at Jewish and Islamic schools in Australia

Guards armed with guns are an unusual sight in Australian public life - but not if you go to a Jewish school, synagogue or some other faith-based institutions. The additional measures are allowed beca...

19 Okt 202310min

The dirty little secret hiding in your protein powder

The dirty little secret hiding in your protein powder

In Australia there’s no requirement for regular testing to confirm what’s inside your protein powder. The protein powder market is mostly unregulated and in some cases undeclared poisons have been fou...

18 Okt 202321min

Why are women less likely to be saved by CPR?

Why are women less likely to be saved by CPR?

Fewer women in Australia are trained and confident to administer first aid than men, according to an alarming survey by St. John Ambulance. Even worse, women are less likely to receive CPR in a life-t...

18 Okt 20239min

Fact or Fiction: the fake Israel-Gaza war posts going viral online

Fact or Fiction: the fake Israel-Gaza war posts going viral online

Misinformation and disinformation about the Israel-Gaza conflict is currently flooding social media platforms. Changes in the verification process for some big platforms has let doctored images, misla...

17 Okt 202319min

A heavy toll: why do we pay to drive on roads?

A heavy toll: why do we pay to drive on roads?

A recent report forecasted that this financial year, toll operators will rake in $3.7 billion in toll revenue. What's scary is that over 80% of toll roads in Australia (all of which are located in Bri...

17 Okt 202310min

Meet the Australian teen leading the push to go nuclear

Meet the Australian teen leading the push to go nuclear

Could a Brisbane teenager have the solution to achieving net zero? 17-year-old Will Shackel launched the ‘Nuclear for Australia’ campaign a year ago, and has since launched a petition that’s received ...

16 Okt 202319min

Populært innen Politikk og nyheter

giver-og-gjengen-vg
aftenpodden
aftenpodden-usa
forklart
stopp-verden
i-retten
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
popradet
nokon-ma-ga
det-store-bildet
dine-penger-pengeradet
rss-ness
aftenbla-bla
hanna-de-heldige
rss-gukild-johaug
e24-podden
fotballpodden-2
frokostshowet-pa-p5
rss-dannet-uten-piano
grasoner-den-nye-kalde-krigen