On 1 July 2008, NSW underwent the biggest shake-up of liquor licensing laws in 25 years with the passing of the Liquor Act 2007 and cognate legislation and the making of associated regulations. The new package creates a new liquor regulatory authority, establishes different categories of liquor licenses and implements a new fee structure. Outlined...

This paper outlines the current debate over the Commonwealth Government's filtering scheme for internet content and the practice of governments in other countries. It concludes: 'With the limited exceptions of Germany and Italy, mandatory ISP level filtering is not a feature of any of the countries reviewed. In place, rather, are voluntary ISP filtering schemes...

This e-brief updates the paper Child Pornography Law published in August 2008. Specifically, it reviews the proposals for reform relating to child pornography recommended in Penalties Relating to Sexual Assault Offences in New South Wales, a report by the NSW Sentencing Council, chaired by Supreme Court Judge James Wood. The report is in two volumes...

It was recently reported that, in response to ‘the soaring incidence of alcohol-related violence across Sydney’, the New South Wales government is considering changes to the liquor laws and also to the criminal law of intoxication. Specifically, all pubs, clubs and bottle shops would have to close at 2 am. The report also said the...

This Briefing Paper looks at the operation of local government in NSW. It examines the history and constitutional foundation of local government, together with the salient features of the Local Government Act 1993 and the service and regulatory functions set out by the Act. The paper commences with a brief snapshot of the facts and...