Law Report

It's 150 years since the birth of William Ah Ket, Australia's first lawyer of Chinese descent.
He was involved in two significant legal victories that kicked back against laws that discriminated against Asian Australians in the early 20th century.
The Law Report explores the life and career of this remarkable Australian, his achievements and how his legacy resonates today.

This year marks 50 years of the Family Law Act – legislation that revolutionised the way Australians divorce. Two former family law judges sit down with Damien Carrick to revisit a time before no-fault divorce, when unhappy spouses often employed private detectives to prove adultery.

What is it like to have the responsibility of deciding if a violent offender should be released from prison and allowed back into the community?

In a legal first, the Federal Court has handed down a sexual harassment decision under protections recently introduced to the Fair Work Act.

If a child is injured by tear gas in a youth detention centre, are the authorities liable? And can a protester injured by police during a demonstration seek damages?