Category Archives: Democracy and Justice

It’s not a test of Hansen but of the High Court

Andrew L. Urban. Pauline Hanson seeks leave to appeal to the High Court, having been found by the Federal Court to be in breach of section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, and if the case proceeds, the High Court … Continue reading

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Hey, look at this: a judge with morals, brains and balls

Andrew L. Urban. “Justice Jackman has emerged as a voice of reform and accountability in the legal world, particularly after he issued an extra­ordinary rebuke in June of six fellow judges for their “egregious” delays in handing down judgments,” writes … Continue reading

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Built to fail? NACC: the integrity body undermined from the start

In April 2026, Nick Feik, Michelle Fahy and Elizabeth Minter published the results of their investigation into the National Anti-Corruption Commission in The Point.* and find that the NACC’s three current deputy commissioners as a group represent the least qualified … Continue reading

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Judge’s flawed reasoning in Rebel Wilson defamation

Andrew L. Urban Federal Court judge Elizabeth Raper has exonerated Rebel Wilson for posting lurid comments about her young The Deb co-star Charlotte MacInnes to her millions of followers because it was on social media. “People will tend to scroll … Continue reading

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US & UK now in synch re women = women; Australia lags behind

Andrew L. Urban Now that the US Supreme Court has upheld state laws barring biological males (transgender women) from women’s and girls’ school sports and the UK Supreme Court having earlier unanimously ruled that “woman” and “sex” in the Equality … Continue reading

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Lowy calls for action at Royal Commission

Andrew L. Urban Senior Jewish community leader, businessman and philanthropist Steve Lowy told the Royal Commission into antisemitism that of the thousands of online attacks against his family extended to his wife, a board member at Sydney Jewish school Moriah … Continue reading

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Tickle v Giggle: the ABC can’t handle the truth

The ABC can’t handle the truth. Cannot bring themselves to publish a Sal Grover opinion column. As The Australian’s Senior Reporter Rachel Baxendale writes: “The ABC has refused to publish an opinion article by women’s sex-based rights campaigner Sall Grover, … Continue reading

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Giggle v Tickle is pretended justice but good business for the legal profession

Andrew L. Urban Charles Dickens maintained that  “The one great principle of the English law is to make business for itself”. Yesterday in the Federal Court’s decision to uphold Tickle’s  appeal against Giggle for Girls, my cynical antenna detected such … Continue reading

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Frank Valentine – guilty by say-so: the book that cries ‘foul’

Andrew L. Urban It is probably the worst possible time to publish another book arguing how a man was wrongfully convicted of historical sexual abuse of teenage girls. I am aware of this. FRANK VALENTINE GUILTY BY SAY SO As did my … Continue reading

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Fatal flaw in proposed speech law

The planned new vilification offence is clearly targeted at those who promote racial hatred. But it has a fatal flaw, says CHRIS MERRITT, Vice President of the Rule of Law Education Centre.  Its legitimate goal is at risk of being undermined … Continue reading

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