Latest news with #MichelleRowland
Perth Now
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
Family law reform to stop pets being weaponised
Law reforms will stop family pets from being used to continue carrying out domestic violence when relationships break down. The changes came into effect on Tuesday, and build on previous amendments made by the Albanese government to family law in its first term. The new legislation provides a specific framework for deciding ownership of pets and preventing the use of animals to continue to perpetrate violence. The reforms also give family law courts a new power to help stop sensitive information being viewed or used as evidence in proceedings where the harm in doing so outweighs the need for it. The economic impacts impacts of family violence will be considered when property and finances are being divided between separated couples. The government said the changes highlight Labor's strong commitment to addressing and ending the scourge. The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia will be funded to expand their world-leading initiative called the Lighthouse model, which improves risk screening, triage and assessment of family law matters. Information sharing arrangements to protect families against safety risks and the wellbeing of children being placed at the centre of all parenting decisions, were established under previous amendments made by Labor. Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said the changes strengthened deterrence while supporting fairer outcomes. "These once-in-a-generation reforms aim to support victim-survivors of family violence to get a fairer outcome in family law matters and prevent long-term disadvantage," she said. "The Albanese government thanks all those involved in the development and implementation of these vital reforms, particularly victim-survivors and family law professionals who shared their stories to inspire change." 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Lifeline 13 11 14 Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491
Perth Now
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Surprise law that doesn't exist in all states
New Attorney-General Michelle Rowland has been called to address 'pathetic' gaps in bestiality laws, where only three states currently outlaw materials showing acts of the animal torture. While the act of bestiality is illegal, only NSW, Western Australia and Tasmania have banned the possession, distribution and production of materials depicting bestiality. NSW Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst said the 'pathetic' gaps in legislation mean authorities don't have the means to convict criminals for committing the horrific crimes. Ms Hurst, who championed stronger laws in NSW, has called for the Commonwealth Criminal Code to introduce new offences for using a carriage service to possess, produce or share animal sexual abuse materials within or outside Australia. She's also calling for a federal taskforce to target offenders perpetrating these crimes. 'Many dangerous criminals are escaping conviction because of gaps in our laws. We must make sure our laws protect children and animals,' she told NewsWire. NSW Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst says the current bestiality laws are lacking on a national basis. NewsWire / Simon Bullard. Credit: News Corp Australia She has called on the new federal Attorney-General Michelle Rowland to act immediately. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia 'While further legislative changes are looking very hopeful in NSW, there is still the enormous issue that across the country, laws are still lacking. 'Given the gravity of the crimes, federal legislation in this space is sorely needed and should be urgently prioritised by the new federal Attorney-General.' Ms Hurst used the example of Northern Territory man Adam Britton who was slapped with a 10 year and five month jail sentence after he pleaded guilt to 60 charges of bestiality, animal cruelty and possessing child abuse material in August 2024. However authorities were unable to charge or convict him of the creation and sharing of bestiality materials due to the lack of such laws in NT legislation. 'There is no law in the NT to prohibit the distribution of such materials so while he was convicted of bestiality, he escaped charges for distribution,' he said. Adam Britton was given a 10-year sentence after pleaded guilty to 60 charges of bestiality, animal cruelty and possessing child abuse material. Credit: Supplied RSPCA NSW general counsel Kathryn Jurd, who has spent eight years running and prosecuting cases for the RSPCA, said differences in state legislation should not act as a barrier to law enforcement charging people with offences which reflect the full extent of their actions. 'When law enforcement discover these heinous crimes, they need to be in a position to charge in a way that reflects exactly what the person has done, what the evidence is capable of proving they have done,' she said. Speaking to the seriousness of cases involving animal sexual abuse material, she said features which 'regularly reoccur' in bestiality cases included the presence of children in the footage, and perpetrators being found in possession of child sexual abuse material. 'People who create animal sexual abuse material don't abide by state lines and the point of the creation of this type of material is often for it to be disseminated globally,' she said. 'Most people would support uniformity, particularly on a topic where there's so much consensus for really strong criminal law coverage across Australia.' An RSPCA lawyer says people who create animal sexual abuse material don't abide by state lines. Credit: News Regional Media While Ms Rowland declined to comment on Ms Hurst's demands, stating that they were a state issue, new shadow attorney-general Julian Leeser gave in-principle support to strengthened laws. 'Acts of bestiality are completely abhorrent,' he said. 'Should the Albanese government seek to introduce national laws to prohibit the creation, possession, and distribution of bestiality materials, I am sure on principle we would be predisposed to support it,' he said.
West Australian
02-06-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
New Attorney-General Michelle Rowland called to implement national bestiality material laws
New Attorney-General Michelle Rowland has been called to address 'pathetic' gaps in bestiality laws, where only three states currently outlaw materials showing acts of the animal torture. While the act of bestiality is illegal, only NSW, Western Australia and Tasmania have banned the possession, distribution and production of materials depicting bestiality. NSW Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst said the 'pathetic' gaps in legislation mean authorities don't have the means to convict criminals for committing the horrific crimes. Ms Hurst, who championed stronger laws in NSW, has called for the Commonwealth Criminal Code to introduce new offences for using a carriage service to possess, produce or share animal sexual abuse materials within or outside Australia. She's also calling for a federal taskforce to target offenders perpetrating these crimes. 'Many dangerous criminals are escaping conviction because of gaps in our laws. We must make sure our laws protect children and animals,' she told NewsWire. 'While further legislative changes are looking very hopeful in NSW, there is still the enormous issue that across the country, laws are still lacking. 'Given the gravity of the crimes, federal legislation in this space is sorely needed and should be urgently prioritised by the new federal Attorney-General.' Ms Hurst used the example of Northern Territory man Adam Britton who was slapped with a 10 year and five month jail sentence after he pleaded guilt to 60 charges of bestiality, animal cruelty and possessing child abuse material in August 2024. However authorities were unable to charge or convict him of the creation and sharing of bestiality materials due to the lack of such laws in NT legislation. 'There is no law in the NT to prohibit the distribution of such materials so while he was convicted of bestiality, he escaped charges for distribution,' he said. RSPCA NSW general counsel Kathryn Jurd, who has spent eight years running and prosecuting cases for the RSPCA, said differences in state legislation should not act as a barrier to law enforcement charging people with offences which reflect the full extent of their actions. 'When law enforcement discover these heinous crimes, they need to be in a position to charge in a way that reflects exactly what the person has done, what the evidence is capable of proving they have done,' she said. Speaking to the seriousness of cases involving animal sexual abuse material, she said features which 'regularly reoccur' in bestiality cases included the presence of children in the footage, and perpetrators being found in possession of child sexual abuse material. 'People who create animal sexual abuse material don't abide by state lines and the point of the creation of this type of material is often for it to be disseminated globally,' she said. 'Most people would support uniformity, particularly on a topic where there's so much consensus for really strong criminal law coverage across Australia.' While Ms Rowland declined to comment on Ms Hurst's demands, stating that they were a state issue, new shadow attorney-general Julian Leeser gave in-principle support to strengthened laws. 'Acts of bestiality are completely abhorrent,' he said. 'Should the Albanese government seek to introduce national laws to prohibit the creation, possession, and distribution of bestiality materials, I am sure on principle we would be predisposed to support it,' he said.
Sky News AU
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Albanese government looking for 'other ways' to tackle online threats, will not revive misinformation laws
The Albanese government has said it will not revive controversial misinformation and disinformation laws, but will look for 'other ways' to tackle online threats. In a statement to Sky News, a government spokesperson ruled out reviving the misinformation laws, despite Labor holding increased power in the parliament. 'Seriously harmful mis- and disinformation poses a threat to safety, the integrity of elections, democracy, and national security,' the spokesperson said. 'The Australian government will continue to find other ways to support Australians with trusted and reliable information… while safeguarding values like freedom of expression.' The original legislation, introduced by former communications minister Michelle Rowland, was dropped after failing to attract support in the Senate. The proposed laws had threatened online platforms with fines of up to five per cent of their annual revenue for failing to curb misinformation. The bill failed to garner support from any Senator outside of the Labor Party, with critics warning it would have a chilling effect on public debate. Independent Senator David Pocock labelled the bill as the 'totally the wrong approach' and warned it threatened freedom of expression. Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said her party would reject the bill due to concerns it would not 'deal with the real issues' driving misinformation. Following the bill's failure, the government signalled its intention to pursue alternative proposals for regulating online content. These include strengthening laws against non-consensual deep and sexually explicit fakes and introducing laws to enforce truth in political advertising. The Institute of Public Affairs recently speculated that the new Communications Minister, Anika Wells, might attempt to quietly revive the bill. The Albanese government has shut down those claims.
Sky News AU
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
'Signs' Labor preparing to revive controversial misinformation bill, Institute of Public Affairs' John Storey claims
The Institute of Public Affairs' John Storey has claimed the re-elected Albanese government could be moving to revive its controversial misinformation bill. The bill, which Labor introduced to combat mis and disinformation online, was defeated in Parliament after the Coalition and crossbench joined forces to shoot down the proposal. Critics of the legislation argued it would have had a chilling effect on free speech given the bill's capture of opinion and uncertainty over what would define misinformation. For its part, the government argued the laws were limited in scope and necessary to protect the public and preserve faith in Australia's democratic institutions. Then Communications Minister Michelle Rowland argued it would target "seriously harmful content" while preserving free speech. Speaking to Sky News, Mr Storey claimed Labor's re-election, with a significantly increased majority, meant the controversial bill could soon be back on the table. "A lot of people are concerned that the thumping electoral victory that Labour had a week and a half ago will enable them to push forward a far more radical agenda than they did in their first term and there's no doubt that if Labour could, they would implement far more radical internet censorship laws than Australia currently has," he said. "There's every sign that now that they have that large majority, they will do that." The right-wing think tank's director of law and policy explained two key factors led him to believe the Albanese government would soon attempt to re-introduce the laws. First, Mr Storey noted Labor had "never repudiated the misinformation and disinformation bill". "When it failed to pass the Senate last year, Michelle Rowland, the Communications Minister at the time, said how important it was to protect democracy from misinformation and disinformation and that they were a threat to national security. However, we don't have the numbers in the Senate," he said. "That's hardly a repudiation. That's hardly saying: 'Look, we've listened to the concerns about free speech and we're ditching this policy'. "It suggests if we get another chance, we'll do it again." Secondly, Mr Storey pointed to the elevation of Ms Rowland to Attorney-General, claiming her promotion despite a failure to push through the controversial bill suggested Labor wanted to revive it. "These are all signs that need to be put to the Prime Minister. Do you intend to introduce these laws into parliament again?" he said. Labor has not suggested it would seek to re-introduce the misinformation bill following the election, with the controversial legislation having barely been mentioned since the government canned it in November last year. Despite this, Mr Storey claimed the bill could still be implemented in the coming months, suggesting Labor could even attempt to implement it indirectly. "One thing I think Anthony Albanese may have learned from his first term, where he said on election night: 'Oh, we're going to introduce this voice and it was this radical proposal'. I think he might be a little more subtle this time," he said. "It may be that they don't introduce a misinformation bill by just reintroducing the old bill. What it could be is enhancing the powers of the eSafety Commissioner to effectively give her powers over misinformation. "There's currently a review of the Online Safety Act and some of the proposals in that review sound awfully like what was proposed under the misinformation bill."
