Leaping into the New Year
*Keep reading to find out how the leap year affects crimes and cases*
Happy new year
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
With the first Gazette of 2024, we would like to welcome the new batch of law students taking the leap to University this year - as well as all the incredible graduates from 2023 who have forayed into the working world! With new students and staff stepping foot onto Griffith University, we also take this opportunity to acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First Australians of Nathan Campus land - the Jagera people and the Turrbal people.
The beginning of a new year presents an opportunity to hit that mental reset button, set those goals, and continue building off of the various foundations that you laid the year before.
We here at Griffith University Law Society have even bigger and better events coming your way this year - and more importantly, have identified a clear ‘student first’ approach. As such, we want you to know that we are always open to suggestions and ways to improve and advance the Griffith Law experience!
Laws in 2024
Photo by BoliviaInteligente on Unsplash
Although laws don’t reset, change, or get reviewed at the beginning of each year, it is a common occurrence.
One major legal change that has been a forefront in recent Australian news is that:
“Importation of all disposable vapes containing nicotine will be banned”
With the exception of pharmaceutical products, the highly popular “flavoured air” will now be almost impossible for the average Australian citizen to get their hands on. Read more about the changes to Vaping Regulations here.
Another legal milestone that we could be seeing in 2024 is a Federal Election - however, this is not required to be held until May, 2025. With a fresh face in Queensland Parliament following the departure of Annastacia Palaszczuk, and with the possibility of an election occurring as early as August this year, we may soon see a new political party or prime minster leading our country.
The 29th of february
2024 is a leap year, meaning that we have a whole “extra day” to attack that pre-trimester prep. We bring your attention to a fascinating case surrounding the 29th of February, where a child was born on the leap year of 2000… and committed a crime 18 years later, on the 28th of February.
With leap years only occurring every 4 years, the teen’s birthday held some legal contention - with the court heatedly debating whether he should be tried in the Children’s court (after all, they committed the crime after only four birthdays). It was determined that the defendant was not yet “at least” 18, which resulted in the crimes being tried in the Children’s Court.
It was also deemed that as of March 1st 2018, they would have been considered an adult as his birthday would be complete - marking them as having spent at least 18 years alive. Interesting? We agree! You can read more here.
Photo by Matt Walsh on Unsplash
Bad advice from jeremy
Wait… you said that you don’t have any new year resolutions?! I’ve got you covered with my Top 3 for 2024:
1. Write a new years resolution
Pretty self explanatory, and a staple in becoming a new you (after all, it is a new year). Additionally, kind of a job requirement for me when it comes to writing this list. Without a new year’s resolution, where would I end up? Where would you end up? Exactly, this is a must do.
2. Study before the exam actually begins
Ok… so maybe “open book exams” is supposed to mean that I open my book before the exam. This seems to be a common misconception, and definitely something to strive for in 2024.
3. Stop relying on caffeine
Look, if Michael Jordan was dropped from his High-School basketball team and made it professional, then I think I just might be able to pull off an even greater miracle. Yes, I will make an excuse for each coffee I have each day… and yes, I will be back here next year to write the same goal. But hey, for now I can say - wow, you really drink that junk?
Let us know your New Years Resolution in the comments below!