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(2531)

US tariffs attack our med prices + Who wins from interest rate holds?

US tariffs attack our med prices + Who wins from interest rate holds?

Afternoon Headlines: Australia is investigating "concerning" new tariffs from Trump on pharmaceuticals, QANTAS reveals around 5.7 million customers impacted by latest cyber-hack and Penny Wong refusin...

9 Juli 202512min

Trump slammed over Epstein list denial + Our 'underwater Chernobyl'

Trump slammed over Epstein list denial + Our 'underwater Chernobyl'

Wednesday Headlines: Democrats demand release of Epstein files as Trump hits out, Nagi Maehashi speaks out over her recipe in mushroom case, ‘Racist’ cop Zachary Rolfe responds to coroner’s findings, ...

8 Juli 202521min

What now? Two-minute mushroom trial recap

What now? Two-minute mushroom trial recap

Erin Patterson has been found guilty of murder and attempted murder, after serving up a beef Wellington dish laced with poisonous death cap mushrooms at a lunch at her home in 2023. She pled not gui...

8 Juli 20251min

RBA’s shock call on rates + Inside ‘the mind’ of Erin Patterson

RBA’s shock call on rates + Inside ‘the mind’ of Erin Patterson

Afternoon Headlines: RBA holds interest rates at 3.85 per cent, Donald Trump nominated by Benjamin Netanyahu for Nobel Peace Prize, and Scarlett Johansson becomes the highest grossing actor in Hollywo...

8 Juli 202514min

Mushroom trial evidence released + Red flags of a child predator

Mushroom trial evidence released + Red flags of a child predator

Tuesday Headlines: Erin Patterson guilty of murder, 100 families may sue childcare centre over Joshua Brown alleged abuse, Death toll from Texas floods surpass 90 as locals campaign for early warning ...

7 Juli 202523min

Guilty verdict: Two-minute mushroom trial recap

Guilty verdict: Two-minute mushroom trial recap

Erin Patterson has been found guilty of murder and attempted murder, after serving up a beef Wellington dish laced with poisonous death cap mushrooms at a lunch at her home in 2023. She pled not gui...

7 Juli 20251min

Erin Patterson guilty of murder + 'Racist' NT cop shot Kamanjayi Walker

Erin Patterson guilty of murder + 'Racist' NT cop shot Kamanjayi Walker

Afternoon Headlines: NT coroner hands down findings into 2019 Yuendumu police shooting of Kumanjayi Walker and Trump's Department of Justice and FBI concluded there is no evidence Jeffrey Epstein kept...

7 Juli 202513min

Do we need antisemitism training? + Trickery & traps in real estate

Do we need antisemitism training? + Trickery & traps in real estate

Monday Headlines: Jewish leader wants mandatory antisemitism training introduced after spate of antisemitic attacks in Melbourne, a Queensland zoo worker is stable after being mauled by a lion, death ...

6 Juli 202522min

Populärt inom Politik & nyheter

motiv
p3-krim
spar
flashback-forever
rss-viva-fotboll
svenska-fall
rss-krimstad
aftonbladet-daily
rss-sanning-konsekvens
aftonbladet-krim
rss-vad-fan-hande
olyckan-inifran
dagens-eko
fordomspodden
rss-aftonbladet-krim
svd-ledarredaktionen
rss-frandfors-horna
rss-klubbland-en-podd-mest-om-frolunda
spotlight
blenda-2