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(2540)

Craig Foster on the human lottery

Craig Foster on the human lottery

Craig Foster was Australia’s 419th Socceroo and 40th Captain of our national men’s soccer side. He’s since had an illustrious career as a sports analyst and broadcaster.Craig Foster has always been pa...

13 Maj 202233min

Are you the black sheep?  Voting against family tradition

Are you the black sheep? Voting against family tradition

What happens when your political leanings completely contradict those of your family and friends? In 2019 the Coalition received more voted from older Australians while younger Aussies favour t...

12 Maj 202222min

TikTok trial: Amber Heard v Johnny Depp

TikTok trial: Amber Heard v Johnny Depp

Hollywood stars Johnny Depp and Amber Heard are embroiled in a bitter court battle - and it's all playing out like a pretty disturbing film. Both sides of the dispute argue they’re the victims ….with ...

11 Maj 202222min

The rental crisis gripping Australia

The rental crisis gripping Australia

Australia is in the grip of a rental crisis. The number of rental vacancies is at a record low. On this episode of the Briefing, we hear from families living in their car; another family of five li...

10 Maj 202220min

The brother who never gave up

The brother who never gave up

The man found guilty of the murder of US doctor Scott Johnson on Sydney’s northern beaches more than 33 years ago, was sentenced last week. Scott Phillip White was handed a sentence of 12 years and ...

9 Maj 202222min

Election ads: from Google to Grindr

Election ads: from Google to Grindr

More than half of anyone born after 1997 uses social media as their main source of news. Google, Twitter, gaming and even Grindr, are being targetted by politicians and wanna-be politicians in the fed...

8 Maj 202219min

Antoinette Lattouf: How To Lose Friends and Influence White People

Antoinette Lattouf: How To Lose Friends and Influence White People

Our very own Antoinette Lattouf joins us on The Weekend Briefing. Antoinette's book 'How to Lose Friends and Influence White People' has just hit the shelves and is available at all good bookstores....

6 Maj 202231min

Everything you need to know about Roe v Wade

Everything you need to know about Roe v Wade

A 50 year old US federal law guaranteeing the right to abortion could be overturned. The draft Supreme Court ruling would strike down the 1973 Roe v Wade case – and would see abortion become a state ...

5 Maj 202220min

Populärt inom Politik & nyheter

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