How Power Works

James Glissan
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Australian lawyer, former police officer and former police prosecutor James Glissan explains how power actually works in Australia. From criminal law, police powers and public rights to courts, institutions, media narratives and the systems behind the headlines, this show breaks down the rules people usually learn too late. Clear, direct, no spin, no telling you what to think, just the law, power and the hidden mechanics in plain English.

Episodes

  1. Australian Lawyer Answers Your Wildest Legal Questions

    1 day ago

    Australian Lawyer Answers Your Wildest Legal Questions

    What happens when you ask an Australian lawyer the legal questions people are usually too embarrassed, confused or curious to ask? In this episode, James Glissan answers a mix of strange, practical and unexpectedly revealing legal questions, from everyday legal myths to the rules people often misunderstand until it is too late. This is a plain-English legal breakdown for Australians who want to understand how the law actually works, not how people online pretend it works. This episode is general information only and is not legal advice.

    15 min

  2. 17 June

    Coogee Shark Attack: Why the Drones Weren’t Flying

    After the Coogee shark attack, one question kept coming up: why weren’t shark-spotting drones already flying over the beach? The answer is not really about sharks. It is about aviation law, risk management, Sydney Airport, flight paths, government decision-making, and the way public safety systems often work only after something goes wrong and one of us usually pays the price... In this video, James Glissan breaks down the law behind the headlines: why the drones were restricted, why an emergency exemption was later granted, and what this tells us about the way institutions manage risk in Australia. This is not legal advice. It is a plain-English explanation of the legal and regulatory issues behind a major public safety story. Subscribe for more breakdowns of Australian law, police powers, public rights, courts, institutions and how power actually works.

    13 min

  3. 7 June

    Do Australians Have Rights?

    Most Australians think they have rights. They do not. Not in the way they think. James Glissan, a former police prosecutor turned criminal defence lawyer, explains why Australia has no national Bill of Rights, what parliamentary supremacy means, and why the protections Australians assume they have are often more fragile than they realise.

    10 min

  4. 25 May

    ASIO’s New Powers Explained

    Australia is moving toward making extraordinary ASIO questioning powers permanent. In this episode, James explains what those powers are, how they work, and why civil liberties advocates are concerned about where they may eventually lead. The discussion covers compelled questioning, the absence of traditional warrant processes, the expansion from counter-terrorism to broader community tension concerns, and what these laws could mean for ordinary Australians and their families. James Glissan is a former police prosecutor and Australian lawyer who explains the legal system in plain English, without the spin.

    11 min

  5. 25 May

    Youth Crime Q&A: The Questions Australians Keep Asking

    Why does it feel like repeat youth offenders face no consequences? What is doli incapax? Why do children get bail after serious allegations? And what is juvenile detention actually like inside? James Glissan is an Australian former police officer, former police prosecutor, and now criminal defence lawyer who has worked across every side of the Children’s Court system. This episode explains the legal framework, the practical realities, and the uncomfortable tensions sitting underneath the public debate. New Q&A episodes are shaped directly by listener questions and current legal issues in Australia.

    13 min

  6. 25 May

    The Coles Down Down Ruling

    A Federal Court ruling found Coles misled consumers through parts of its Down Down pricing campaign. James breaks down what the Court actually decided, why the “was” price mattered, and why the same reasoning could affect Woolworths and other major Australian retailers. Key topics: Coles, ACCC, Down Down, Australian Consumer Law, supermarket pricing, Woolworths, consumer rights.

    11 min

  7. 22 May

    The Hidden Legal Risks in Australia’s 2026 Budget

    Family trusts, pre-1985 property and retrospective tax laws are all in play after Australia’s 2026 Federal Budget. James Glissan breaks down the legal mechanics behind the proposed changes, why they matter beyond tax, and what they reveal about the rule of law in Australia. This is legal analysis, not partisan political commentary.

    16 min
  • 7 Episodes

About

Australian lawyer, former police officer and former police prosecutor James Glissan explains how power actually works in Australia. From criminal law, police powers and public rights to courts, institutions, media narratives and the systems behind the headlines, this show breaks down the rules people usually learn too late. Clear, direct, no spin, no telling you what to think, just the law, power and the hidden mechanics in plain English.

Information

  • Creator
    James Glissan
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    7
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © James Glissan
  • Show Website
    How Power Works

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