WLS in the media

Media Enquiries

For media enquiries contact our Chief Executive Officer, Katrina Ironside, on 02 8745 6900 or katrina.ironside@wlsnsw.org.au

2024

September 2024

• Article: With my own two hands: Carolina Soto, Women’s Legal Service NSW (nswbar.asn.au)
• Bar Association, 18 September 2024

May 2024

• Media Mention: He called himself The Destroyer and ransacked his partner’s home. Here’s how police took him down.
  SMH, 4 May 2024 

April 2024

• Media Mention: Lynda stayed with her abuser so he couldn’t kill her.  It ended in tragedy.
  SMH, 30 April 2024 

January 2024

• Article: Sydney woman wins court battle to clear name after being charged with assaulting husband
  ABC News, 8 January 2024 

2023

December 2023

• Article: Is it safe enough? Changes to the Family Law Act.
  Law Society of NSW Journal 8 December 2023

September 2023

• Media Mention: ‘Terrifying’: What happens when police officers abuse their partners
  SMH 1 September 2023 

August 2023

• Media Mention: Experts call for a justice system overhaul to better support victim-survivors of sexual assault
  ABC News 29 August 2023
• Media Mention: Domestic violence perpetrators are weaponising subpoenas and advocates want Australia’s law changed to stop it
  The Guardian 19 August 2023
• Media Mention: Drew Douglas died in Sydney after a delayed police response. New figures highlight a growing problem
  ABC News 19 August 2023

June 2023

• Media Mention: Police who face DV charges investigated by colleagues, keep weapons 
  SMH 15 June 2023

March 2023

• Media Mention: Call for a more diverse family law workforce
  Law Society of NSW Journal 17 March 2023

2022

October 2022

• Media Mention: Coercive Control: NSW Bill on DV changers to go before Upper House next week
  ABC News 31 October 2022
• Media Mention: Push to give sexual assault complainants ‘complete immunity’ from defamation suits
  SMH 3 October 2022

March 2022

• Media Mention: Advocates speak up against harassment
  SBS News 18 March 2022

January 2022

• Article: Affirmative consent: What the ‘common sense’ NSW law reforms mean
  Law Society of NSW Journal 31 January 2022

2021

November 2021

• Media Mention: ‘New court initiatives help uncover higher prevalence of family violence and other risks’
  Mirage News 10 November 2021

September 2021

• Media Mention: Federal Government accused of ignoring another Respect@Work recommendation
  ABC Radio National Breakfast 17 September 2021

June 2021

• Media Mention: Sexual assaults reported to police, spike ‘sharply’ amid public reckoning
  9 news 10 June 2021

May 2021

• Media Mention: Are AVOs Worth The Paper They’re Written On?
  The Quicky by Mamamia, 11 May 2021

• Media Mention: Experts still waiting for specialised rape courts 15 years after taskforce created
  The Telegraph 8 May 2021

• Media Mention: More NSW Police officers charged with domestic violence as victims face ongoing problems getting help
  ABC News, 10 May 2021

April 2021

• Media Mention: ‘Massive problem’ Australia is ignoring
  Sunshine Coast Daily, 30 April 2021
• Media Mention: “Massive increase” in domestic violence legal aid prompts funding call
  The Daily Advertiser, 27 April 2021
• Media Mention: The findings of two significant Coronial Inquests
  The Law Report, 13 April 2021
• Media Mention: ‘Tsunami’ of women seeking legal help and services can’t keep up
  SMH, 13 April 2021

March 2021

• Media Mention: Barriers to justice: ‘We are still governed by the idea that women lie about sexual assault’
  The Guardian, 20 March 2021
• Media Mention: Coercive control underpins most domestic violence deaths but making it illegal is complicated
  ABC News, 1 March 2021

February 2021

• Media Mention: Holistic reform’ key to NSW’s DV response
  Bega District News, 24 February 2021
• Media Mention: NSW police response to DV ‘needs fixing’
  Sound Telegraph, 23 February 2021
• Article: Strengthening protections for people experiencing sexual and domestic violence
  Law Society of NSW Journal, 1 February 2021

January 2021

• Media mention: Hayne, de Belin trial outcomes could deter sexual assault victims from pursuing charges
  SMH, 2 January 2021

2020

November 2020

• Media mention: Sexual consent laws face overhaul to address ‘freeze response’
  SMH, 18 November 2020

October 2020

• Media mention: ‘Second-class citizens’: Call for action over the Australian visa the UN says is a problem
  ABC News, 31 October 2020

• Media mention: Deaths in custody: David Dungay’s mother tells NSW parliament ‘the system is broken’
  The Guardian, 27 October 2020

• Media mention: ‘Why don’t they just leave?’ Domestic violence court reforms proposed to dispel myths
  SMH, 21 October 2020

• Letter to the editor: Consulting on coercive control
  Law Society of NSW Journal, October 2020

• Media mention: Australia is not ready to criminalise coercive control – here’s why
  The Conversation, 1 October 2020

September 2020

• Media mention: ‘Worst is yet to come’: Legal services desperate for money ahead of domestic violence wave 
  SMH, 30 September 2020

• Opinion piece: Why we need a thorough consultation process on how to effectively address coercive controlling violence
  Liz Snell, Women’s Legal Service NSW, 23 September 2020

• Media mention: ‘Incredible pressure’: Thousands of women turned away from domestic violence legal services
  SMH, 22 September 2020

• Media mention: NSW Parliament to consider new DV laws
  Canberra Times, 18 September 2020

June 2020

• Media mention: NSW victims of crime now have a new obstacle to collecting compensation,
  Crikey, 29 June 2020

• Media mention: Victims of violent crime alarmed at changes to victims support scheme,
  The Sun Herald, 28 June 2020

May 2020

• Media mention: Slain Wife Had an AVO
  Daily Telegraph, 22 May 2020

• Media mention: Domestic Violence Victims to Gather Own Evidence Under Reform
  Sydney Morning Herald, 22 May 2020

• Media mention: Fury as Carr Cuts DV Probe Short
  Daily Telegraph, 21 May 2020

April 2020

• Media mention: Victims Of Violence Will Now Have To Gather Evidence Themselves To Get Compensation In NSW,
  BuzzFeed News, 28 April 2020

March 2020

• Media mention: Urgent letter to NSW gov: Act on damning child protection review,
  NITV, 2 March 2020

February 2020

• Media mention: Women’s court advocates face growing domestic violence referrals,
  SMH, February 27, 2020

2019

October 2019

• Media mention: New tenancy laws offer victims of domestic violence a way out
  The Big Smoke, Australia, 5 October 2019
  

September 2019

• Media mention: Video shows One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts blaming family law system for male violence
  ABC News, 21 September 2019

• Media mention: ‘Flawed’, ‘window dressing’, ‘bargaining chip’: Family lawyers rubbish new inquiry
  Lawyers Weekly, 19 September 2019

•  A fraction of fathers lose access to their kids: why the Family Court isn’t anti-men
  SMH 18 September 2019

• Media mention: ‘Stitch Up’: Labor and Greens fail to stop family law inquiry,
  SMH 20 September 2019

August 2019

• Media mention: Community legal centres in NSW outraged by funding cuts to early intervention programs
  ABC News 30 August 2019

May 2019

• Media mention: Doctors, Lawyers And Nurses Just Launched A Push To Decriminalise Abortion In New South Wales
  ABC BuzzFeed News 2 May 2019

April 2019

• Media mention: ‘Woefully inadequate’: harsher penalties and legal overhaul recommended to target sexual harassment
  Sydney Morning Herald, 1 April 2019

March 2019

• Journal Article: New tenancy reforms strengthen the rights of domestic violence victims
  Kellie McDonald, Law Society Journal of NSW, March 2019

February 2019

• Journal Article: Stalking and abuse in the digital age: what you can do to protect your clients
  Helen Campbell OAM, Law Society Journal of NSW, February 2019

2018

December 2018

• Media mention: Supermarket went to ‘extraordinary lengths’ for sacked domestic violence survivor,
  Sydney Morning Herald, December 2018

• Media mention: A day in the life of Carolyn Jones, Senior Solicitor, Women’s Legal Service NSW,
  Law Society of NSW Journal, December 2018

November 2018

• Media mention: A new bill could make abortion law in NSW even more complicated
  SBS News, 15 November 2018

• Media mention: New plan to stem prison numbers,
  Law Society of NSW Journal, November 2018

October 2018

• Media mention: Charges pending over unborn twins tragedy
  The Australian, 2 October 2018

June 2018

• Media mention: Tenancy reforms help women leave violence
  City News, 6 June 2018

May 2018

• Media mention: Shame and fear silence Northern Rivers rape victims
  The Northern Star, 4 May 2018

March 2018

• Radio interview: Avenues for compensation around family violence
  The Law Report, ABC Radio, 27 March 2018

2017

December 2017

• Media mention: Family Wars (page 33)
  The Law Society of NSW Journal, December 2017

August 2017

• Media mention: Give DV victims a chance to flee, lawyers tell government
  Lawyers Weekly, 18 August 2017

• Journal article: Recording and sharing intimate images without consent 
  or read on the Law Society website (page 80)
  Liz Snell, The Law Society of NSW Journal, August 2017

June 2017

• Media mention: Hi-tech stalking of women rises as one in five report harassment
  The Daily Telegraph, 17 June 2017

• Media mention: Frontline domestic violence services face uncertainty
  ABC Radio National Breakfast, 17 June 2017

May 2017

• Media mention: Foreign brides win right to stay in Australia after domestic violence allegations
  The Daily Telegraph, 16 May 2017

2016

November 2016

• Media mention: Dixie Link-Gordon: ‘Violence is woven into Australia’
  The Guardian, 23 November 2016

• Journal article: “Sense and Sensitivity: Therapeutic records in family law proceedings”
  or read on the Law Society website (page 72)
  Carolyn Jones, The Law Society of NSW Journal, November 2016

October 2016

• Media mention: Details emerge on domestic-violence program
  SBS News, 28 October 2016

• Media mention: Turnbull calls Australia’s domestic violence ‘a disgrace’
  SBS News, 28 October 2016

September 2016

• Journal article: “Proposed Tenancy Reforms: Improve rights for DV victims”
  or read on the Law Society website (page 75)
  Kellie McDonald, The Law Society of NSW Journal, September 2016

August 2016

• Media mention: Confidentiality in family law requires more clarity
  Lawyers Weekly , 23 August 2016

July 2016

• Media mention: “One mother’s view on fast-track adoption: ‘I want my children back'”
  The Sun Herald, 10 July 2016

• Media mention: “Breaking the lease: domestic violence and residential tenancy”
  Life Matters, 6 July 2016

• Media mention: Domestic violence victims given the power to terminate rental contracts early
  SMH, 5 July 2016

June 2016

• Media mention: “Can video or audio recordings be used in Family Court?”
  The Law Report, 28 June 2016
  

• Media mention: “Female imprisonment numbers soar amid calls to free the majority of inmates”
  SMH, 18 June 2016

May 2016

• Media mention: Is Australia Slowly Getting Its Act Together Against Revenge Porn?
  Junkee, 27 May 2016

April 2016

• Journal article: “Safety in family law”
  Janet Loughman, Alternative Law Journal, April 2016

February 2016

• Media mention: “Years of ADVOs failed to protect allegedly murdered mother of five Sharon Michelutti”
  Sydney Morning Herald, 7 February 2016

January 2016

• Media mention: “Don’t call it ‘revenge porn’, victims’ groups say”
  Crikey, 15 January 2016

• Media mention: “Top prosecutor warns Australia’s revenge porn laws are too weak to properly protect women”
  News.com.au, 10 January 2016

2015

December 2015

• Media mention: “Domestic violence complainant charged with contempt”
  Sun Herald, 20 December 2015

• Media mention: “Legal firm welcomes Royal Commission report”
  ABC Local, 16 December 2015

• Media mention: “Public allegations of domestic violence carry risks, experts warn”
  Daily Life, 16 December 2015

• Media mention: “Family Court – calls for reform”
  ABC Radio: The Wold Today, 8 December 2015

November 2015

• Media mention: “Domestic violence legal services at Penrith Court face closure”
  The Daily Telegraph, 24 November 2015

• Media mention:“Women in Prison: The Hidden Story”
  or read on the Law Society website (page 28)
  The Law Society of NSW Journal, November 2015

October 2015

• Media mention: “Laws to prevent ex-lovers who distribute ‘revenge porn’ are inadequate, a NSW inquiry hears”
  ABC News, 30 October 2015

June 2015

• Journal article: “Technology-Facilitated Stalking and Abuse: Putting our Legal Framework to the Test”
  or read on the Law Society website (page 78)
  Charissa Sun, The Law Society of NSW Journal, June 2015

May 2015

• Media mention: “Video evidence for domestic violence victims a ‘game changer’ says Andrew Scipione”
  Sydney Morning Herald, 31 May 2015

• Media mention: “Community legal service cuts bound to hurt”
  Penrith City Gazette, 27 May 2015

• Media mention: “Legal aid overhaul could ‘hinder help for victims of domestic violence’”
  The Australian, 20 May 2015

March 2015

• Media mention: “Indigenous Australian women still fighting discrimination”
  SBS NITV, 6 March 2015

February 2015

• Journal article: “10 laws that need to change in 2015 – Victims Rights”
  or read on the Law Society website
  Mari Vagg and Liz Snell, The Law Society of NSW Journal, February 2015

January 2015

• Media mention: “NSW Police fail victims of domestic violence with flippant social media post”
  Daily Life, 20 January 2015

2014

December 2014

• Journal article: “Women victims of violence defending intervention orders”
  Alicia Jillard and Julia Mansour, Alternative Law Journal, Vol 39(4), 2014

• Media mention: “Surrogacy Explored”
  Law Society Journal, December 2014 (at page 16)

November 2014

• Media mention: “If your friend is receiving abusive texts, show her this”
  Mama Mia, 22 November 2014

October 2014

• News article: “Royal commission legal demand ended NSW delay on abuse payout”
  The Australian, 30 October 2014

• News article: “Crown tells abuse victims sorry”
  SBS News, 30 October 2014

• News article: “Allegations heard that Crown involved in hiding crucial evidence from victims of child sex abuse”
  The Daily Telegraph, 29 October 2014

• News report (audio): “Crown solicitor lawyer says surveillance of Bethcar abuse victims could have helped state’s case”
  PM – ABC Radio, 28 October 2014

• News article:  “Government lawyer: I was wrong to fight sex abuse victims of notorious Bethcar Children’s Home, Brewarrina”
  The Daily Telegraph, 28 October 2014

• News article:  “NSW gets $3.7 million abuse lesson”
  The Herald Sun, 24 October 2014

• Media mention: “Fondling breasts of girl, 14, ‘not sexual'”
  SBS News, 24 October 2014

• Media mention (audio): “Crown solicitors accused of ‘rank hypocrisy’ over Bethcar abuse litigation”
  PM ABC News, 23 October 2014

• Media mention: “NSW government tried to ‘wear down’ women abused in state foster home” 
  The Guardian, 23 October 2014 

• Media mention: “NSW ‘no model’ for abuse cases”                                                     SBS News, 24 October 2014

• Media mention: “NSW government solicitor admits flaw in handling of compensation cases”
  The Guardian, 23 October 2014

• Media mention: “State lawyers accused of trying to wear down 15 sex abuse victims in hope they ‘would go away’ royal commission told”
  The Daily Telegraph, 23 October 2014

• Media mention:”NSW promises flexibility on abuse cases”
  Yahoo 7 News, 23 October 2014

• Media mention: “NSW lacked ‘compassion’ for abuse victims”
  SBS News, 23 October 2014

• Media mention: “State’s lawyers refused to acknowledge sex abuse of Aboriginal girls to avoid liability, royal commission hears”
  Sydney Morning Herald, 23 October 2014

• Media mention: “NSW government lawyers accused of ‘wearing the plaintiffs down’ over child abuse allegations”
  ABC News, 23 October 2014

• Media mention (audio): “Royal commission: Aboriginal children abused by owner of children’s home”
  The World Today – ABC Radio, 22 October 2014

• Media mention: “Sex abuse victim tells royal commission the NSW government legal strategy seemed ‘like they wanted to drag out our hurt'”
  Sydney Morning Herald, 22 October 2014

• Media mention: “Abuse inquiry hears of NSW horror house”
  7 News, 22 October 2014

• Media mention: “Girl, 5, raped and flogged for being late for dinner at foster home, inquiry told”
  The Guardian, 22 October 2014

• Media mention: “State government solicitor planed secret surveillance of sex abuse victims, royal commission hears”
  Sydney Morning Herald, 22 October 2014

• Media mention: “NSW abuse victims put through legal hell”
  SBS News, 22 October 2014

• Media mention: “Bethcar Children’s Home: Resident broke own arm to escape sexual abuse, royal commission told”
  ABC News, 22 October 2014

• Media mention: “Reforms to NSW domestic violence laws empower victims”
  The Australian, 21 October 2014

• Media mention: “Body-mounted police cameras to be used as domestic violence evidence”
  Sydney Morning Herald, 20 October 2014

• Media mention: “High-tech stalking the new front in domestic violence”
  Sydney Morning Herald, 19 October 2014

September 2014

• The Australian Medical Association (NSW) made a video based on the GP Toolkit for doctors on providing care to victims of domestic violence.

August 2014

• Media mention: “Women ‘may fall prey’ to birth pay”
  The Australian, 25 August 2014

July 2014

• Media mention: “I’m sure my song can outsell misogynist Robin Thicke’s tanking album”
  The Sunday Telegraph, 20 July 2014

• Media mention: “Family violence lobby joins court reform push”
  The Australian, 18 July 2014

June 2014

• Television Interview: Senior Solicitor Alira Morey speaking about the parliamentary Inquiry into Child Support
  ABC News 24, 27 June 2014

• News article: “New police powers allow on-the-spot AVOs in NSW domestic violence cases”
  ABC News, 3 June 2014

May 2014

• News article: “Does someone hurt you at home?”
  NSW Doctor, June-July 2011 

• News article: “Doctors have duty to act on suspicions of domestic violence”
  Sydney Morning Herald, 2 May 2014

• News article: “GP toolkit for domestic violence”
  Medical Journal of Australia, Vol 20, Issue 8, 2014

April 2014

• Media mention: “Doctors better equipped”
  Prime News, 3 April 2014

March 2014

• News article: “Legal dirty tricks drag out domestic victim trauma: advocates”
  Sydney Morning Herald, 29 March 2014

• News article: ‘Better understanding needed: detailed analysis required for AVO figures to be more accurate’ (At page 14.)
  Western Weekender, 21 March 2014

• News article: “Child protection measures too strict for domestic violence women”
  The World Today, ABC Radio National, 20 March 2014

• News article: “NSW child protection to fast-track adoption for vulnerable kids”
  AM, ABC News Radio, 20 March 2014

• News article: “O’Farrell government plan to tackle domestic violence offenders through GPS tracking”
  Sydney Morning Herald, 15 March 2014

• News article: “Frontline police now ‘better equipped’ to deal with domestic violence, Assistant Commissioner Mark Murdoch says”
  Sydney Morning Herald, 11 March 2014

• News article: “Domestic violence: police often blame victims”
  Sydney Morning Herald, 10 March 2014

• News article: “Zoe’s law bill delayed in NSW upper house amid abortion fears”
  Sydney Morning Herald, 7 March 2014