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(2542)

If you're getting your pills tested, should we all see the results?

If you're getting your pills tested, should we all see the results?

Headlines: The Reserve Bank finally cut interest rates, man charged with online harassment of Antoinette Lattouf and a TikTokker finds an album of unseen photos of Scott Morrison from 1996. Deep Dive:...

18 Feb 202526min

How the Catholic Church protected Australia's worst paedophile

How the Catholic Church protected Australia's worst paedophile

Gerald Ridsdale, known as Australia’s most notorious paedophile priest, has died in prison, aged 90. Ridsdale was convicted eight separate times over the sexual abuse of 70 known victim survivors – wi...

18 Feb 202514min

Part 2: Why some stem cell treatments are banned in Australia

Part 2: Why some stem cell treatments are banned in Australia

Stem cell treatments are being offered around the globe as an almost ‘miracle’ intervention promising to help patients avoid major surgeries and treat untreatable conditions. While commercialised and ...

17 Feb 202519min

Part 1: Inside the hospital offering 'miracle' stem cell treatment

Part 1: Inside the hospital offering 'miracle' stem cell treatment

Tuesday Headlines: Big day for borrowers as the RBA meets to consider rate cut, new video emerges of Australian soldier Oscar Jenkins captured fighting for Ukraine, and Donald Trump has been personall...

17 Feb 202522min

How White Lotus is influencing your next holiday

How White Lotus is influencing your next holiday

The highly anticipated third season of cult TV show The White Lotus has dropped today and as much as we’ll be picking apart the storylines and theme, we’ll also be obsessing over the location. Koh Sa...

17 Feb 202515min

The Greens have a plan - but is anyone listening?

The Greens have a plan - but is anyone listening?

Monday Headlines: Australia building half as many homes compared to 30 years ago, Ukraine not part of fresh peace talks between US and Russia, and millions to be impacted by Sydney train chaos. Deep D...

16 Feb 202527min

Kishwar Chowdhury is high on Bengali cuisine and a Snoop Dogg collab

Kishwar Chowdhury is high on Bengali cuisine and a Snoop Dogg collab

Kishwar Chowdhury never imagined she’d find herself on national TV, but MasterChef took her to new heights giving her the platform to showcase Bengali cuisine to the world. The proud Bangladeshi-Aussi...

14 Feb 202530min

Asteroid hurtling towards Earth? Meet the team tasked with protecting us

Asteroid hurtling towards Earth? Meet the team tasked with protecting us

Did you know there’s a body responsible for monitoring asteroids, and planning what to do should they set a collision course with Earth? The International Asteroid Warning Network is a UN-backed agenc...

14 Feb 202518min

Populært innen Politikk og nyheter

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