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(2529)

We rate Joe Biden’s first 100 days in office

We rate Joe Biden’s first 100 days in office

On January 20 Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States. On today’s episode of The Briefing - Biden marks 100 days in office, let’s see how he’s going. Prof. David Smith...

29 Apr 202120min

Why is Australia fascinated by MAFS?

Why is Australia fascinated by MAFS?

Why are Australians so fascinated by Married at First Sight? It’s the show we love to hate, or is it … hate to love? Ever since MAFS appeared on our screens in 2015, it’s consistently been one of th...

28 Apr 202121min

The inside story of the Super League implosion

The inside story of the Super League implosion

Twelve of Europe’s top soccer clubs planned to shake up the sport. Instead, the project collapsed spectacularly in just 48 hours. How did the power brokers mis-read the market ….and fans? Murad Ahm...

27 Apr 202117min

Should Australia join America’s war on carbon?

Should Australia join America’s war on carbon?

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been representing Australia at a virtual summit of world leaders discussing climate change. The summit was convened by US President Joe Biden, who has put tackling c...

26 Apr 202121min

An Aussie journo kicked out of Xi’s new China

An Aussie journo kicked out of Xi’s new China

Tensions between Australia and China are at their worst in decades. Our global campaign to blame China for the Covid-19 pandemic pushed our relationship to the brink. The Australian Financial Revie...

25 Apr 202121min

The Weekend Briefing with Flex Mami

The Weekend Briefing with Flex Mami

Jamila Rizvi sits down with Internet sensation and ultimate millennial “slashy” Lillian Ahenkan, otherwise known as Flex Mami. She’s a DJ, TV presenter, podcaster, author, entrepreneur and “Professi...

23 Apr 202125min

Looking over the vaccine horizon to the UK & US: part two

Looking over the vaccine horizon to the UK & US: part two

PART TWO - The UK, Europe and the United States are forging ahead with mass vaccines. Australia is well behind in terms of progress. So, what is life like in London, Washington and Madrid now the vac...

22 Apr 202118min

Looking over the vaccine horizon to the UK & US: part one

Looking over the vaccine horizon to the UK & US: part one

The UK, Europe and the United States are forging ahead with mass vaccines. Australia is well behind in terms of progress. So, what is life like in London, Washington and Madrid now the vaccination nu...

21 Apr 202119min

Populært innen Politikk og nyheter

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