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.

Avsnitt(2552)

Why are more women lifting weights than ever before?

Why are more women lifting weights than ever before?

Women are lifting heavy in 2024 than it’s ever been.  There’s been a 20% increase in female participation in competitive lifting and bodybuilding events in the U.S, and here in Australia, there are no...

3 Okt 202416min

The state of the world's girls in 2024

The state of the world's girls in 2024

Headlines: Melbourne and Sydney pro-Palestine protestors push ahead with plans for protests over October 7 weekend, Labor plans to address shrinkflation, Australia’s rental prices might finally be com...

2 Okt 202422min

Are JD Vance and Tim Walz friends?

Are JD Vance and Tim Walz friends?

Tim Walz and JD Vance have gone head-to-head in what will be their only chance toconvince the American voting public to pick their leader in the upcoming election inNovember. Hosted by CBS News at the...

2 Okt 202419min

How drones are exposing vulnerable animals at risk from logging

How drones are exposing vulnerable animals at risk from logging

Headlines: Iran strikes Israel as IDF ground invasion of Lebanon continues, Julian Assange says he pleaded ‘guilty to journalism’, NDIS changes revealed, and a naked Donald Trump effigy. Deep dive: Fr...

1 Okt 202424min

Why Netflix's Menendez brothers series is murder porn

Why Netflix's Menendez brothers series is murder porn

Experts have called Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s new Netflix show, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, murder porn. The series explores the real-life brutal murders of Kitty and Jose Menendez...

1 Okt 202413min

SpaceX's five-month rescue mission for stranded astronauts begins

SpaceX's five-month rescue mission for stranded astronauts begins

Headlines: Israel prepares ground invasion of Lebanon, new code of conduct for dating apps in Australia, house prices slow nationally and New Zealand takes back haka world record. Deep dive: SpaceX ha...

30 Sep 202421min

How Lebanese Australians feel about the escalating violence

How Lebanese Australians feel about the escalating violence

Violence is building in Lebanon as the war is Gaza spills over multiple fronts. Over the weekend Israeli strikes killed several high-ranking Hezbollah leaders, while also injuring and killing many Leb...

30 Sep 202412min

How to delete yourself from the internet

How to delete yourself from the internet

Headlines: Thousands gather for protests across Australia amid increased violence in the Middle East, Budget surplus, 8 in 10 Aussie CEOs think WFH will be over in three years and SNL launches season ...

29 Sep 202423min

Populärt inom Politik & nyheter

aftonbladet-krim
motiv
p3-krim
blenda-2
rss-krimstad
fordomspodden
flashback-forever
rss-viva-fotboll
svenska-fall
rss-sanning-konsekvens
spar
aftonbladet-daily
svd-dokumentara-berattelser-2
rss-vad-fan-hande
rss-krimreportrarna
rss-frandfors-horna
rss-flodet
olyckan-inifran
kungligt
svd-ledarredaktionen