Welcome to HSC Legal Studies: News Watch

When Apple released its new iPad 3, it was advertised as being capable of using 4G technology - which is must faster than 3G.  However, it was quickly shown that 4G would not work on the new iPad.  Apple has finally succumbed to pressure from regulators both here in Australia and in the UK to drop any advertising connecting the iPad 3 and 4G.  See 'Apple strips "4G claim" from iPad marketing' SMH, 14 May 2012.

The ACCC took Apple to the Federal Court in late March and was successful in achieving an undertaking by Apple to display advertising explaining that the new iPad was not compatible with 4G and to offer a refund to anyone who had purchased an iPad 3 before 28 March 2012. See this ACCC media release. 

There are an estimated 455 boarding houses in NSW, accommodating over 5000 residents. Of these, 31 are licensed boarding houses, with capacity to accommodate 687 people. (Source: More than board and lodging: the need for boarding house reform, NSW Ombudsman, August 2011, pg 2.) The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates that there are roughly 6000 people living in boarding houses. Most of those premises are not currently required to be licenced, which means that the living conditions and relationship between residents and landlords are unregulated.

The NSW Government has announced its intention to introduce legislation to protect people living in boarding houses.  See 'Reforms planned for boarding houses' SMH 10 May 2012. The Tenants' Union has welcomed this announcement.  See their media report.

The NSW Coroner has handed down her findings on the death of six people in a boarding house between 2009 and 2010.  They were found to be over-sedated, under-nourished and living in 'Dickensian' conditions.  See this media report:

• 'Sydney's "Dickensian" scandal: six dead', SMH, 11 May 2012

We will keep you posted on this proposed reform.  For more information about boarding houses see our research guide on shelter - scroll down to 'boarding and lodging'.

Are we living in a war zone? For the last year there has been a media report most weeks concerning a drive by shooting incident. Are there more drive by shootings happening?  And if so why? 

If you look at the statistics, the number of drive by shootings has decreased since a spike in 2002.  Look for yourself at the data produced by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research: Number of incidents of selected firearms offences recorded by NSW Police Jan 2000 to Sept 2011 (published April 2012).  See this opinion piece "Shootings a concern, but don't panic" by Josephine Tovey, SMH, 21 April 2012. 

Most of the recent drive by shootings have taken place between Auburn, Fairfield and Bankstown according to this data map produced by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research  (April 2012): Recorded criminal incidents of ‘unlawfully discharge firearm’ and ‘discharge firearm into premises’ October 2010 to September 2011.

This week ABC's  The Law Report has explored the recent drive by shooting incidents and the calls for more gun controls as it has been suggested that these offences are carried out with illegal weapons.   See The Illegal Hand guns, 24 April 2012.

See an earlier post on recent legislation passed targeting this spate of drive by shooting incidents.  A number of these shooting incidents can be linked to different bikie gangs.  See "Nomads suspected over attacks on Hell's Angel's turf" by Nick Ralston, SMH, 18 April 2012.  The police have responded by setting up Strike Force Kinnarra, which is putting more police on the streets in an attempt to curb any further shootings.  See media report, 17th April 2012. 

We have just published a research guide on Drive By Shootings - if you are exploring this issue for law reform in action or for crime.

Welcome to term 2!  Our new website is now live.  Have a look at:  

•  HSC Legal Studies in NSW - links to all our web-based resources for students and teachers.
•  Find Legal Answers - new and revised
• Australian Legal System Online is now available online in full text. An overview of the elements of our system and how it developed, covering how law is made, what the law deals with and the roles of the legislature, judiciary and executive.
• HSC Legal Studies: World Order - research guide giving you links to information about world order, responses to world order - including the United Nations, contemporary issues including piracy, human trafficking, terrorism and child soldiers.  This guide will help you locate key international instruments, case studies, resources and media reports.
• HSC Legal Studies: Shelter - research guide giving you links to information about shelter, securing shelter including home ownership, landlord and tenant - renting, residential parks, boarding houses, and social housing and contemporary issues such as homelessness, affordability and discrimination.  This guide will help you locate key legislation, resources and media reports and cases.

We would love your feedback.  Send us an email any time: liac@sl.nsw.gov.au - also let us know if there is a topic you would like to see included.  We will have research guides on the remaining syllabus topic areas ready in the next few weeks.  Consumers and Global Environmental Protection coming soon!

On 17 March a Brazilian man died after police stunned him using a taser. He was being pursued by police because he fitted the description of a suspect in a nearby break-in and robbery at a convenience store.  To read more about this incident see the following reports in the media:

• 'Man who died after Sydney police fired taser may not have been suspect', SMH, 18 March 2012
• 'Death after taser shock sparks call for moratorium' by Malcolm Brown, SMH, 19 March 2012
• 'Police should release details on taser use', SMH, 19 March 2012
• 'Ombudsman to scrutinise taser death probe', SMH, 20 March 2012

In response to this event, a media report detailing police use of tasers was released.  According to their statistics, the police are using tasers less.  In 2011 there were 881 reports of taser use, a 23% reduction on the 1151 reported incidents of taser use in 2010.

To explore this issue more fully see our research guide on tasers.