As states and territories plump more and more for harsh new ‘law and order’ legislation, and curtail bail options, the number of prison places needed through the nation is likely to surge dramatically. Private prison operators have sometimes been seen as a solution to curbing jail running costs…but are such companies as efficient and effective and humane as claimed? Rick Sarre takes a look.
Long term barrister and passionate justice advocate John Lawrence has written about the ‘collapsing’ NT legal system as a new government tries to legislate to prevent crime. That hasn’t worked anywhere, and is unlikely to fare any better in the NT, which faces unique challenges.
Much-ballyhoed bike ’safety’ claims look somewhat different when subjected to a ‘whole-of-life(style)’ analysis by dedicated research Colin Clarke. Do helmets lead to immobility and obesity, at a greater cost to public health than accepting accidents will happen whenever you poke your nose into the great outdoors? Why have $15 fines become $240 (when they should be about $35) and become a new way for police abuse by selecting poor citizens for harassment?
