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(2537)

New female Liberal leader + The two words banned inside the party

New female Liberal leader + The two words banned inside the party

Sussan Ley has made history as the first female to lead the Federal Liberal Party. So, can she help rebuild a broken party? In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Former Liber...

13 Maj 202515min

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial begins + Exposing Australia's 'weak' rapists

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial begins + Exposing Australia's 'weak' rapists

Tuesday Headlines: The new leader of the Liberal party will be unveiled today, Hamas release American-Israeli hostage, the trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs has begun in New York City, the supermarket wars ...

12 Maj 202521min

PM’s new cabinet + Who can save the Liberal party?

PM’s new cabinet + Who can save the Liberal party?

Who will lead the Liberal Party? Ahead of tomorrow’s crucial vote, we look at the top candidates and what the Liberals need to do to win back Australians In this edition of The Briefing, Natarsha Bel...

12 Maj 202513min

Backroom battles in Canberra + When religion & abortion rights collide

Backroom battles in Canberra + When religion & abortion rights collide

Monday Headlines: Albo to reveal ministerial lineup today, Pope calls for ‘no more war’ in first Sunday message, a tonne of cocaine seized off NSW's east coast, and Brisbane has secured the Royal Edin...

11 Maj 202522min

Luisa Dunn on grey hair fame, beauty tricks & saying no to injectables

Luisa Dunn on grey hair fame, beauty tricks & saying no to injectables

Luisa Dunn has transformed her natural grey hair into a powerful statement and an Instagram following of over 1.4 million. The model and activist harnessed the power of her beauty and career in market...

9 Maj 202544min

Day 9: Two-minute mushroom trial recap

Day 9: Two-minute mushroom trial recap

Erin Patterson has been charged with the murders of three relatives and the attempted murder of another; after allegedly serving up a beef wellington dish laced with poisonous death cap mushrooms at a...

9 Maj 20251min

Surprise name in Lib leader race + Who is F1 star Oscar Piastri?

Surprise name in Lib leader race + Who is F1 star Oscar Piastri?

Afternoon Headlines: The battle for the Liberal Party leadership begins and the 2025 Archibald prize goes to Julie Frager becoming the 13th women to win Deep Dive: Oscar Piastri is Australia’s only ho...

9 Maj 202516min

World’s first American pope elected + Silent killer of our music scene

World’s first American pope elected + Silent killer of our music scene

Friday Headlines: America's Robert Francis Prevost announced as new pope, More than 30 people have been arrested over a number of homophobic attacks linked to dating apps, Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa P...

8 Maj 202520min

Populärt inom Politik & nyheter

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