Criminal law: February 2026
Recent judgments address ambiguities in proving ‘immediately before or after’ harm and correct misconceptions about how totality applies to fine‑based sentences.
By Thomas Spohr - 1 min read
New tenancy reforms strengthen the rights of domestic violence victims
An outline of new tenancy reforms allowing victims of domestic violence to end their tenancies immediately without liability. By KELLIE McDONALD.
By Kellie McDonald - 1 min read
‘Going dark’: unprecedented government measures to access encrypted data
Arthur Kopsias APM examines the new laws giving law enforcement and security agencies greater powers to access your encrypted data.
By Arthur Kopsias - 11 min read
Protecting your clients from stalking & abuse in the digital age
Technology-facilitated stalking and abuse is a very real problem and so too is the harm it causes. HELEN CAMPBELL examines the remedies now available.
By Helen Campbell - 1 min read
New laws get tough on child sex abuse
The NSW government has overhauled the law around sexual offences .The terms ‘sexual touching’ and ‘sexual act’ are introduced, as is a ‘similar age’ defence….
By Andrew Tiedt - 2 min read
The constitutional cost of combatting espionage and foreign interference
The Federal Government has introduced three Bills to combat foreign interference in our political and electoral systems. Two have been passed. By HANNAH RYAN.
By Hannah Ryan - 2 min read
Concurrent evidence conclaves: getting the most out of your hot tub
The giving of concurrent evidence needs to be carefully planned and structured. There are numerous procedures and rules to be followed. By CAMPBELL BRIDGE SC.
By Campbell Bridge SC - 1 min read
Early Appropriate Guilty Pleas for child defendants
The Early Appropriate Guilty Plea reforms make significant changes to the NSW criminal justice system by reforming the way committals are conducted. By ANNE WHITEHEAD…
By Anne Whitehead and Aaron Tang - 2 min read
Uncovering tensions in religion and secular law
The Court of Appeal has considered whether a party should be permitted to give evidence in the District Court while wearing a niqab. By TALITHA…
By Talitha Fishburn - 2 min read
New sentencing options: giving with one hand and taking with the other
The Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Amendment (Sentencing Options) Act 2017 makes sweeping changes to non-custodial sentences. By THOMAS SPOHR.
By Thomas Spohr - 12 min read
An ‘unacceptable risk’ – post-sentence detention under the new Terrorism (High Risk Offenders) Act
The Terrorism (High Risk Offenders) Act 2017 (NSW) introduces a scheme of post-sentence supervision and detention for high risk offenders. By NATALIE MARSIC.
By Natalie Marsic, Director, Criminal Law, NSW Crown Solicitor's Office - 2 min read