December 6, 2022

UOW expert commentary (6 December)

UOW academics provide expert comment, opinion and analysis on a range of ongoing and breaking news stories

Brittany Higgins and the pressure of sexual offence trials

Professor Julia Quilter can discuss the extreme scrutiny and pressure complainants are routinely subjected to in rape and other sexual offence trials in Australian courts. In an opinion piece for The Sydney Morning Herald she writes:

At the heart of sexual offence trials is a system of cross-examination by defence lawyers which intensely and systematically focuses on challenging the complainant and their account. In legal terms, the endeavour is to throw into question the complainant’s credibility and reliability. In more vernacular language the mission is to portray them as a liar. No matter how the statute books have been re-written – and they have been – this core feature of sexual assault trials has barely changed.

Professor Quilter is an expert in criminal law and justice. She is a Professor in the School of Law.

Interest rates

Dr Paul Mazzola is available for interviews about interest rates. Dr Mazzola is a Lecturer in banking and finance in the School of Business. He has more than 25 years’ banking and finance experience in the Australian, European and Asian Pacific markets.  

Medicare overhaul

Social welfare expert Dr Mona Nikidehaghani can provide commentary on calls to overhaul Medicare. Dr Nikidehaghani is an expert in the relationship between accounting and public policies. She is a Lecturer in the School of Business.

Energy prices

Associate Professor Rabindra Nepal can provide commentary on energy prices, with the government projecting that power prices will rise by about 20 per cent this financial year and a further 30 per cent next financial year. Professor Nepal is an internationally recognised scholar specialising in energy, environment and resources. He is an economist in the School of Business.

UOW academics exercise academic freedom by providing expert commentary, opinion and analysis on a range of ongoing social issues and current affairs. This expert commentary reflects the views of those individual academics and does not necessarily reflect the views or policy positions of the University of Wollongong.