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(2540)

Dave Sharma on the Liberal electoral failure

Dave Sharma on the Liberal electoral failure

The Liberal Party has a new leader – and an uncertain future. Australia voted to send a message in last month’s election….the Morrison government was out of touch and no longer listening. Dave Shar...

31 Mai 202219min

Should we be worried about 'flu-rona'?

Should we be worried about 'flu-rona'?

Everyone knows someone who’s been floored by the flu. And many say this flu virus is the worst they’ve ever experienced. They say they feel way worse than when they had covid. Medical experts are wor...

30 Mai 202220min

Menstruation leave in Australia

Menstruation leave in Australia

Menstruation is having a bit of a moment in Australia. Victoria and South Australia made tampons and pads free last year. The federal government poured $58 million into endometriosis from this year’s...

29 Mai 202222min

Laura Henshaw is making us healthier

Laura Henshaw is making us healthier

Laura Henshaw looks like a model. But when she speaks? She defies all those stereotypes about what a woman who has been beautiful for a living might be. Laura started modelling at nineteen and when sh...

27 Mai 202232min

Greensland:  the rise of the Greens at election 2022

Greensland: the rise of the Greens at election 2022

Everyone’s talking about the Labor Party’s big win in last weekend’s election. But the Greens too, have had an incredibly successful campaign, looking to pick up at least three seats in the House of ...

26 Mai 202223min

The Liberal Party's problem with women

The Liberal Party's problem with women

Women voted to send Scott Morrison a message on Saturday: the Liberal Party has a problem with women….and his government was going to pay for it. Today’s Briefing takes a deep dive on how - and more...

25 Mai 202223min

Could the Biloela Tamil family finally be on their way home?

Could the Biloela Tamil family finally be on their way home?

Asylum seekers Priya and Nades came to Australia separately by boat from Sri Lanka a decade ago. They met in detention and were given bridging visas before moving to Biloela, a small town in central ...

24 Mai 202221min

How much power will the 'teal independents' have?

How much power will the 'teal independents' have?

The big story out of the weekend’s federal election is the so-called ‘teal independents’. Six women elected in key Liberal seats by campaigning for more action on climate change, greater focus on int...

23 Mai 202219min

Populært innen Politikk og nyheter

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