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(2556)

No campaigner Warren Mundine lays out his case against the Voice

No campaigner Warren Mundine lays out his case against the Voice

Warren Mundine is a Bungulung man and one of those leading the charge opposing the referendum for an Indigenous Voice to parliament. He was the national president of the Australian Labor Party in 2006...

19 Sep 202314min

Russell Brand: Celebrity, power, sex and what's next

Russell Brand: Celebrity, power, sex and what's next

In this extra episode of The Briefing: Comedian, actor, writer, podcaster and conspiracy theorist, Russell Brand, has come under fire. While Brand has been a celebrity for more than twenty years, over...

19 Sep 202311min

Yes leader Noel Pearson on winning the soft No

Yes leader Noel Pearson on winning the soft No

Noel Pearson is one of Australia's most respected Indigenous leaders - fighting for Constitutional recognition since the Howard era. With just four weeks to go until the referendum, he sits down with ...

18 Sep 202312min

10 years in limbo: The 12,000 refugees still waiting for residency

10 years in limbo: The 12,000 refugees still waiting for residency

In this headlines-free extra episode of the Briefing: Meet the 12,000 people on temporary protection visas who are blocked from the government’s new pathway to permanent residency. That’s because they...

18 Sep 202310min

Allergy nation: Why your risk is predicted to explode by 70%

Allergy nation: Why your risk is predicted to explode by 70%

It’s spring, so let’s talk allergies!Australia is considered the allergy capital of the world. Allergic disease currently affects more than four million Australians and that number is expected to rise...

17 Sep 202316min

BONUS: Are we ready to vote? On the road with those saying 'Yes'

BONUS: Are we ready to vote? On the road with those saying 'Yes'

2023 Australian of The Year Local Hero and founder of Turbans 4 Australia, Amar Singh, is six weeks into his roadshow around Australia to promote the Voice. Travelling around Australia, he is hoping t...

16 Sep 202313min

Sean Kelly on politics

Sean Kelly on politics

Welcome to On Topic with the Weekend Briefing, a special series where Jamila Rizvi talks to some of her favourite guests - old and new - about a single, fascinating subject. Over the next two months, ...

15 Sep 202324min

Are influencers really influencing fashion?

Are influencers really influencing fashion?

In this headlines-free extra episode of the Briefing: How are social media influencers shaking up Australia's fashion industry? Content creators are certainly making a name for themselves in this spac...

15 Sep 202312min

Populært innen Politikk og nyheter

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