Hired guards might need to be the way if this catches on.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-01/former-policeman-sues-dead-driver-insurer-for-one-million/10772362

The copper deserved $2 million.

Hey Canem Malum,

If a member of the public was to assist with the accident and went through exactly the same thing, they would get no compensation but get the same mental issues, possibly worse.

It would be hard to walk past and not help but you'd be tempted to not stop and help if you're going to end up a basket case..

And what if becoming affected by it costs you your own job and peace of mind, with no compensation?

I'm trying to understand why taxpayers have to pay a million bucks because some junkie wanted to get behind the wheel.

If you play stupid games you win stupid prizes.
He won his stupid prize, he's dead.

But why are taxpayers winning his stupid prizes too?
Did Australian taxpayers create this situation to deserve theft of their tax; which they paid out to improve the nation in good faith but which ended up being spent to pay for a junkies mistakes?

Maybe the junkie should've just been left to die without anyone else being harmed as a result; if taxpayers must pay for his mistakes, that's the corner I'm pushed into into making my decision.

But what if he'd hit others and there were other people injured?
And the trauma to the officer was from the innocent injured not the perpetrator?

Increase the penalties for amphetamine use whilst driving.
Maybe he'd have been caught and put off the road already and this situation might've been avoided.

That's all I can come up with...

Armchair Critic,
I totally agree !

Hi there STEELEREDUX...

I apologise for the delay. For some unknown reason, Optus took a dive for 15 hours or so (our providers).

As far as what these fellows were doing, in NSW there's a 'catch-all' if you like, e.g., gathered for 'a common purpose' or 'where's there's a reasonable suspicion, of a breach of the Queen's peace.' However, you tended to invalidate my argument when you mentioned there's a public footpath running adjacent to the curtilages of this blokes property. I wasn't aware of the physical layout of the complainant's property; I wrongly assumed it was your standard block of land.

For this reason, it would be difficult for police, other than through 'admissions,' to prove they were there to do something unlawful to the bloke, his partner or to his property. Whereas, if the bloke is waving his Bat around 'outside' his Property line, and in a public place, he's also rendered himself liable of, 'making threats - while armed with an offensive weapon...'I think' the citation reads? Steele, my knowledge of the crim. Law, is as rusty, as am I.

And it's also true if police were to go with, 'loiter with intent' it requires the crown to prove 'intent' and that 'intent was unlawful.' Unfortunately, I've forgotten most of the 'pedestrian' laws if you like - the normal 'move on' powers used to prevent unlawful assembly, etc. (Public Order Act - C'Wealth) as well as many of the NSW State Statutes. Normally dealt with by Uniforms.

Be assured Steele; all States possess a suite of measures to prevent people from gathering for a common (unlawful) purpose. And will only act when a bona fide complaint is made, or a breach of the Queen's peace is imminent. Police are generally loathed to become in any way involved, in Industrial Disputes where the 'scabs' are driving in and out of a factory, while the regular workforce noisily demonstrates outside, the Gates.

I hope this goes in some way in explaining the general thinking when confronted with offences of the Public Order kind? Thanks, Steele for your kind wishes.

I wonder if those Judges, magistrates, lawyers & the ignorant public ever consider the "gut feelings" of attending police officers ?
When people do wrong they don't do wrong by the book, they do wrong by the situation of the moment as Police Officers do right in the situation of the moment.
Let the culprits whine & whinge until proven innocent not the other way round. These crapheads don't consider anyone else so why should anyone consider them ?
Lucky for them I'm not a Police Officer because there's no patience left to test.
The public has to show more support for the Police instead of the crapheads.