http://www.thepunch.com.au/tags/legal-affairs/ Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. en Copyright 2012 The Punch penberthyd@newsltd.com.au penberthyd@newsltd.com.au Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Politics, opinion, world news, sports news, latest news, views, Barack Obama, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Nathan Rees, Malcolm Turnbull, Peter Garrett, Barnaby Joyce, Australian, federal politics, opinion polls, election, The Punch, thepunch, punch ExpressionEngine 1.6.7 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 15 http://www.thepunch.com.au/images/punch-logo-rss.png http://www.thepunch.com.au/ 144 70 Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. Search The Punch keywords http://www.thepunch.com.au/search/ http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/outlaw-bikies-cannot-be-judged-outside-the-law/ Vince Focarelli – alleged leader of the feared New Boys street gang and, briefly, an Adelaide group of Comancheros bikies – had already walked away from three attempts on his life. It seemed unlikely that those who wished him harm were about to stop trying. Last weekend, Focarelli’s aura of invincibility was shattered with tragic results. A hail of gunfire left the man himself with a head wound and claimed the life of his son Giovanni, who was just 22. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/outlaw-bikies-cannot-be-judged-outside-the-law/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/outlaw-bikies-cannot-be-judged-outside-the-law/#item7672 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 How would you feel if you found out that your mere existence is such a burden on your parents they want $10 million compensation? It’s not clear whether 11-year-old Keeden, who has severe brain damage after a rare genetic condition caused a massive stroke, will ever understand what his parents are doing. Debbie and Lawrence Waller are suing their IVF specialist for “wrongful birth”, claiming he breached his duty of care by failing to take proper care that Lawrence’s genetic blood clotting condition would not be passed on. They say they love Keeden, but wouldn’t have gone ahead with the birth if they’d known because of his suffering. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/parents-who-wish-their-child-had-never-been-born/ How would you feel if you found out that your mere existence is such a burden on your parents they want $10 million compensation? It’s not clear whether 11-year-old Keeden, who has severe brain damage after a rare genetic condition caused a massive stroke, will ever understand what his parents are doing. Debbie and Lawrence Waller are suing their IVF specialist for “wrongful birth”, claiming he breached his duty of care by failing to take proper care that Lawrence’s genetic blood clotting condition would not be passed on. They say they love Keeden, but wouldn’t have gone ahead with the birth if they’d known because of his suffering. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/parents-who-wish-their-child-had-never-been-born/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/parents-who-wish-their-child-had-never-been-born/#item7654 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 How would you feel if you found out that your mere existence is such a burden on your parents they want $10 million compensation? It’s not clear whether 11-year-old Keeden, who has severe brain damage after a rare genetic condition caused a massive stroke, will ever understand what his parents are doing. Debbie and Lawrence Waller are suing their IVF specialist for “wrongful birth”, claiming he breached his duty of care by failing to take proper care that Lawrence’s genetic blood clotting condition would not be passed on. They say they love Keeden, but wouldn’t have gone ahead with the birth if they’d known because of his suffering. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/should-kids-give-a-toss-about-their-sperm-donor-dads/ Recently in South Australia, the local reproductive medicine outfit had, for want of a better term, a “sperm drive’‘. The campaign, conceived on the cheap, pleaded with Aussie blokes not to “waste’’ their sperm. It was wildly successful. The number of sperm donors in SA jumped 100 per cent. From two to four. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/should-kids-give-a-toss-about-their-sperm-donor-dads/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/should-kids-give-a-toss-about-their-sperm-donor-dads/#item5003 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 How would you feel if you found out that your mere existence is such a burden on your parents they want $10 million compensation? It’s not clear whether 11-year-old Keeden, who has severe brain damage after a rare genetic condition caused a massive stroke, will ever understand what his parents are doing. Debbie and Lawrence Waller are suing their IVF specialist for “wrongful birth”, claiming he breached his duty of care by failing to take proper care that Lawrence’s genetic blood clotting condition would not be passed on. They say they love Keeden, but wouldn’t have gone ahead with the birth if they’d known because of his suffering. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-campaign-to-ban-april-fools-day/ The Anti-Discrimination Commissioner plans to launch a federal High Court action to ban the recognition of April Fool’s Day in Australia on the grounds that it discriminates against stupid people. If successful the case could trigger a tidal wave of litigation from schoolboys who got their fingers caught in chewing-gum-box traps, teachers who have had shoes drop on their heads, co-workers who agree to go looking for a long stand and other victims of their own gullibility. They could in theory seek compensation from the federal government for having failed to protect them from hilarious practical jokes. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-campaign-to-ban-april-fools-day/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-campaign-to-ban-april-fools-day/#item2755 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 How would you feel if you found out that your mere existence is such a burden on your parents they want $10 million compensation? It’s not clear whether 11-year-old Keeden, who has severe brain damage after a rare genetic condition caused a massive stroke, will ever understand what his parents are doing. Debbie and Lawrence Waller are suing their IVF specialist for “wrongful birth”, claiming he breached his duty of care by failing to take proper care that Lawrence’s genetic blood clotting condition would not be passed on. They say they love Keeden, but wouldn’t have gone ahead with the birth if they’d known because of his suffering. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/court-calls-last-drinks-on-drunken-excuses/ Shane Scott almost made it. He was just 700m from his home when the motorbike he was riding - after drinking six or seven cans of Jack Daniels and cola at the pub - left the road. He died. Before getting on his bike he had argued with the publican and convinced him to let him make the 7km ride home. Shortly before giving him the keys, the publican had asked for his wife’s phone number so he could give her a call and get her to come pick Scott up. Scott’s response, according to the publican, was: “If I want you to ring my f**kin’ wife, I’d f**kin’ ask ya.” But crucially, according to people who were there that night, Scott didn’t seem drunk. He told the publican he was fine to ride home. Now the High Court has decided the publican shouldn’t be held responsible for what happened in a ruling that backs what any bartender working under responsible service laws will tell you - it’s often impossible to tell when someone is on their ear. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/court-calls-last-drinks-on-drunken-excuses/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/court-calls-last-drinks-on-drunken-excuses/#item1702 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 How would you feel if you found out that your mere existence is such a burden on your parents they want $10 million compensation? It’s not clear whether 11-year-old Keeden, who has severe brain damage after a rare genetic condition caused a massive stroke, will ever understand what his parents are doing. Debbie and Lawrence Waller are suing their IVF specialist for “wrongful birth”, claiming he breached his duty of care by failing to take proper care that Lawrence’s genetic blood clotting condition would not be passed on. They say they love Keeden, but wouldn’t have gone ahead with the birth if they’d known because of his suffering. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Mark-Wilhelm-has-a-future-Dianne-Brimble-does-not/ It’s been seven years since Brisbane mother-of-three Dianne Brimble died naked and alone on the floor of a stranger’s cruise ship cabin. In that time, through a 16-month inquest and subsequent court appearances, we have heard about the bungled police operation, incompetent security staff and – perhaps most stunningly – been shown just how appallingly human beings can behave. Ms Brimble was a mother of three children and it’s those young adults whom we should all consider today. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Mark-Wilhelm-has-a-future-Dianne-Brimble-does-not/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Mark-Wilhelm-has-a-future-Dianne-Brimble-does-not/#item1523 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 How would you feel if you found out that your mere existence is such a burden on your parents they want $10 million compensation? It’s not clear whether 11-year-old Keeden, who has severe brain damage after a rare genetic condition caused a massive stroke, will ever understand what his parents are doing. Debbie and Lawrence Waller are suing their IVF specialist for “wrongful birth”, claiming he breached his duty of care by failing to take proper care that Lawrence’s genetic blood clotting condition would not be passed on. They say they love Keeden, but wouldn’t have gone ahead with the birth if they’d known because of his suffering. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-sanctity-of-marriage-argument-is-nonsense/ The present political consensus among the major parties against permitting and recognising same sex marriages is so obviously an intellectual surrender to the religious right that one looks for a single phrase rhetorical demolition of this anti-gay pretence of a position that would show it in all of its hypocrisy. I do not, for a moment, believe that those politicians (including speakers at the recent Labor Party National Conference) who go on about protecting the “sanctity of marriage” believe the nonsense they espouse. I also fail to believe that they believe that a majority of the Australian people support the continued refusal to recognise single sex marriages. I believe that the political imperative is to avoid the anger of that noisy minority, the religious right, which, itself, is hardly representative of most people of a religious persuasion in Australia. The political imperative also concerns the possible swing vote of the Family First in the Senate. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-sanctity-of-marriage-argument-is-nonsense/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-sanctity-of-marriage-argument-is-nonsense/#item973 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 How would you feel if you found out that your mere existence is such a burden on your parents they want $10 million compensation? It’s not clear whether 11-year-old Keeden, who has severe brain damage after a rare genetic condition caused a massive stroke, will ever understand what his parents are doing. Debbie and Lawrence Waller are suing their IVF specialist for “wrongful birth”, claiming he breached his duty of care by failing to take proper care that Lawrence’s genetic blood clotting condition would not be passed on. They say they love Keeden, but wouldn’t have gone ahead with the birth if they’d known because of his suffering. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/hurt-suing-over-it-may-hinder-your-road-to-recovery/ IT’S so tempting to see misfortune as a money spinner. Slipped on a grape at the supermarket? Sue! Stressed out by an overbearing boss? Claim! Hurt your neck in a car accident? Collect! But here’s something to consider before you speed dial a lawyer – a compensation payout may make life worse. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/hurt-suing-over-it-may-hinder-your-road-to-recovery/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/hurt-suing-over-it-may-hinder-your-road-to-recovery/#item854 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 How would you feel if you found out that your mere existence is such a burden on your parents they want $10 million compensation? It’s not clear whether 11-year-old Keeden, who has severe brain damage after a rare genetic condition caused a massive stroke, will ever understand what his parents are doing. Debbie and Lawrence Waller are suing their IVF specialist for “wrongful birth”, claiming he breached his duty of care by failing to take proper care that Lawrence’s genetic blood clotting condition would not be passed on. They say they love Keeden, but wouldn’t have gone ahead with the birth if they’d known because of his suffering. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/assisted-suicide-a-ticking-time-bomb-for-all-of-us/ While the National Conference of the Labor Party has been protecting the sanctity of other people’s marriages (a topic for another day, perhaps), the House of Lords in the UK has been grappling with the complexities of helping one’s loved one board the plane to Switzerland. The case is called R (on the application of Purdy) v Director of Public Prosecutions. Under the Suicide Act 1961, suicide is not illegal in England. However, the piece of legislation makes it a criminal offence to assist another to take their own life. But assisted suicide is not an offence in Switzerland. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/assisted-suicide-a-ticking-time-bomb-for-all-of-us/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/assisted-suicide-a-ticking-time-bomb-for-all-of-us/#item836 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 How would you feel if you found out that your mere existence is such a burden on your parents they want $10 million compensation? It’s not clear whether 11-year-old Keeden, who has severe brain damage after a rare genetic condition caused a massive stroke, will ever understand what his parents are doing. Debbie and Lawrence Waller are suing their IVF specialist for “wrongful birth”, claiming he breached his duty of care by failing to take proper care that Lawrence’s genetic blood clotting condition would not be passed on. They say they love Keeden, but wouldn’t have gone ahead with the birth if they’d known because of his suffering. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/haneef-lawyer-let-guantanamo-inmates-come-to-australia/ Like Peter denying Jesus after the arrest, as dawn was breaking and the cock was getting ready to crow, Australia is given a third chance to acknowledge its inconvenient associations. Will we, like Peter, deny any association with or responsibility with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the detainees in Guantanamo? We probably will. We denied our own citizens in Guantanamo until the opinion polls started to turn dirty. Australia, through the support of the Howard government for the actions of the Bush Administration’s war on terror, has as much responsibility for the Uighurs, who were found to have been wrongly detained, as does the US and the Bush Administration. We should accept the Uighurs as refugees and permanent residents. If they are returned to China, they face certain persecution and, possibly, death. To do otherwise would display a flaw in our national character. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/haneef-lawyer-let-guantanamo-inmates-come-to-australia/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/haneef-lawyer-let-guantanamo-inmates-come-to-australia/#item185 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 How would you feel if you found out that your mere existence is such a burden on your parents they want $10 million compensation? It’s not clear whether 11-year-old Keeden, who has severe brain damage after a rare genetic condition caused a massive stroke, will ever understand what his parents are doing. Debbie and Lawrence Waller are suing their IVF specialist for “wrongful birth”, claiming he breached his duty of care by failing to take proper care that Lawrence’s genetic blood clotting condition would not be passed on. They say they love Keeden, but wouldn’t have gone ahead with the birth if they’d known because of his suffering.