Greg Barns
Barrister and writer
Greg Barns is an Australian barrister, political commentator and WikiLeaks Party national campaign director. He is the author of several books, including “What’s wrong with the Liberal Party”.
Victoria Police command has imploded. This was always a collapse that was waiting to happen, write Greg Barns and Peter Faris.
While one wouldn’t make a comparison between Pakistani dictator Pervez Musharraf and John Howard or Philip Ruddock, or even the UK Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, they all have one thing in common – they each think that the judiciary and lawyers get in the way of the fight against terrorism, writes Greg Barns.
The publication of an email in morning’s Australian, which details AFP plans to detain Mohammed Haneef if he was granted bailed, raises a series of questions which must be answered, writes Greg Barns.
Yesterday Tasmania’s Attorney-General Steve Kons announced he was following the lead of other states like Queensland and abolishing the double jeopardy rule. This is the rule that essentially says you can’t be tried for the same crime twice, writes Greg Barns.
This week one man’s year long campaign to end the secrecy which surrounds the appointment of silks in Victoria comes to a head, writes Greg Barns.
Today I am going to defend Peter Faris. Why? Because the Victorian Bar Council is apparently threatening him with disciplinary action over those comments he made earlier this year about drug abuse among barristers, writes Greg Barns.
Some people think that Melbourne lawyer Julian Burnside launched himself from obscurity to media stardom on the back of his appearances in the waterfront dispute and Tampa. Wrong. Burnside can thank former solicitor Andrew Fraser for bringing him to the media’s attention, writes Greg Barns.
What will the media do? One of their favourite legal commentators, Melbourne barrister Lex Lasry was appointed to the Victorian Supreme Court yesterday, writes Greg Barns.
Last week, the Western Australian Police managed to charge Ben Cousins with a drug offence that doesn’t exist. They then held a media conference for which the only purpose seems to have been to humiliate Mr Cousins and prejudice the community against him. Should he have some redress? wonders Greg Barns.
Ben Cousins gets charged with possessing an illegal drug and thousands of dollars of Western Australian taxpayers’ money will be wasted on processing, charging and prosecuting him. Why not spend the money more wisely, argues Greg Barns.
