News and Events

An inquiry is underway in New South Wales following an explosion in the number of strip searches undertaken by police in the state. Ten Daily reports, 19 December 2018

The Project speaks to RLC's police powers solicitor Sam Lee about the huge increase in police strip searches in NSW, and discusses Safeandsound.org.au, RLC's new initiative to change strip-search laws.

The number of people accessing Legal Aid services for family law and domestic violence matters increased by 25 per cent over the past year, reports Lisa Visentin for the Sydney Morning Herald.

A Fair Work Ombudsman investigation into 638 farms has found more than half underpaid workers, falsified pay records or failed to provide pay slips. FWO inspectors recovered more than $1 million in unpaid wages for 2,500 workers. Anna Patty and Zoe Wilson report for the Sydney Morning Herald.

Redfern Legal Centre's Police Powers solicitor, Samantha Lee speaks to David Murray from The Australian about NSW's policies on police pursuits.

The head of RLC's Police Powers practice, Sam Lee, discusses concerns around the sharp increase in police strip searches in NSW, describing a degrading incident involving a young woman strip-searched at a music festival. Hagar Cohen reports for The World Today

The use of police strip searches in NSW has doubled between 2016- 2017, with increased complaints prompting an investigation by the state's police conduct watchdog, the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (the LECC), into whether NSW Police are abusing their strip searching powers. Hagar Cohen reports for The World Today

On 28 March 2018, the Treasury Laws Amendment (Australian Consumer Law Review) Bill 2018 (Cth) was passed and will enact the first suite proposals of the Australian Consumer Law Review. The Bill covers most of the Final Report’s well-developed legislative proposals.

UP TO $1 billion is being stolen by dodgy Australian firms failing to pay thousands of workers the wages are legally entitled to; a troubling new report finds. Benedict Brook reports for new.com.au.

A landmark study has found endemic levels of underpayment among international students, backpackers and other migrant workers in Australia, with fewer than one in ten taking action to recover unpaid wages. Anna Patty reports for The Sydney Morning Herald