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(2526)

Why Turia Pitt wants you to be selfish and tell it straight

Why Turia Pitt wants you to be selfish and tell it straight

Turia Pitt is one of those names everyone in Australia knows. In 2011, she was caught in a grassfire during a 100-kilometre ultramarathon and suffered burns to 65 percent of her body. Since then, she’...

10 Okt 202540min

Trump sends troops to Israel + What Netflix's Monsters gets wrong

Trump sends troops to Israel + What Netflix's Monsters gets wrong

Netflix's Monsters series The Ed Gein Story is trending globally but despite it’s popularity the reviews are not in its favour, with critics pointing out it may be the most sensationalised instalment ...

10 Okt 202516min

Tesla investigated after crashes + Taylor Swift's billionaire showgirl era

Tesla investigated after crashes + Taylor Swift's billionaire showgirl era

Headlines: Man who threatened PM prepared to ‘sacrifice self’, Abbie Chatfield ordered to pay $79k for defaming former friend, man who raped French woman Gisele Pelicot handed extra time on sentence, ...

9 Okt 202523min

THE BEEFING: The Beckham family feud

THE BEEFING: The Beckham family feud

The Beckham family has long projected the image of a glamorous, tight-knit dynasty, with David and Victoria at the centre of a global brand. But behind the curated Instagram posts and luxury campaigns...

9 Okt 20258min

Israel & Hamas agree on Gaza peace deal + How renewables overtook coal

Israel & Hamas agree on Gaza peace deal + How renewables overtook coal

Renewable energy overtook coal as the world's leading source of electricity for the first time, with countries like Sri Lanka already running on about 50% renewables. With just four major economies cr...

9 Okt 202512min

Hackers hit Qantas with ransom demand + The price of a Saudi punchline

Hackers hit Qantas with ransom demand + The price of a Saudi punchline

Headlines: Manhunt underway in Sydney after man shot dead in ‘brazen’ daylight attack, former William Tyrell investigator 'reading between the lines’ in missing Gus Lamont case, AFP to be allowed to s...

8 Okt 202522min

Rent prices up 44% in five years + Is Trump a fascist?

Rent prices up 44% in five years + Is Trump a fascist?

The word fascist is one of the most politically charged, and controversial, labels being used to describe US President Donald trump. He's been called a fascist leader by human rights experts, politica...

8 Okt 202518min

Gov accused of ‘ISIS bride’ cover-up + Inside the mind of a sovereign citizen

Gov accused of ‘ISIS bride’ cover-up + Inside the mind of a sovereign citizen

Wednesday Headlines: Australians detained by Israeli forces deported to Jordan, Government accused of ISIS brides cover-up and inaction over sexual assaults, new research finds women have greater gene...

7 Okt 202522min

Populært innen Politikk og nyheter

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