
Overview
Background
Dr Sarah Kendall is a comparative, interdisciplinary scholar with expertise in criminal law and procedure and evidence law. Her work focuses on law reform and legislative and policy development in the context of emerging and re-emerging national security threats, and domestic, family and sexual violence. Sarah uses a range of methods to conduct her research, including empirical (qualitative and quantitative) methods.
Currently, Sarah is researching the criminal law response to espionage, foreign interference and sabotage in Australia and other Five Eyes nations (the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand and the United States), examining the nature, effectiveness and appropriateness of this response. She is also continuing her research into the domestic violence offence of non-fatal strangulation as well as trauma-informed approaches to the criminal law and criminal trial. Sarah's research on espionage law has been recognised by a UQ BEL Faculty award for research excellence.
In addition to her research, Sarah has taught Foundations of Law and Evidence Law at UQ. She frequently gives guest lectures on espionage and foreign interference offences.
Availability
- Dr Sarah Kendall is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, Queensland University of Technology
- Bachelor of Science, The University of Queensland
- Bachelor (Honours) of Law, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy of Law, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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National security crimes
The nature, effectiveness and appropriateness of the criminal law response to national security threats, including emerging and re-emerging national security threats (such as espionage, foreign interference and sabotage).
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Preventive criminal laws
The nature and evolution of criminal laws that have a largely preventive focus, such as standalone preparatory crimes.
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Trauma-informed approaches to criminal justice
How criminal law, evidence law and the criminal justice system can become more trauma-informed, particularly for victim-survivors, witnesses and defendants.
Research impacts
Sarah is recognised nationally and internationally as an expert on Australian espionage and foreign interference offences. Her research has been featured in leading national and international peer reviewed journals, such as the Cambridge Law Journal, Sydney Law Review and Melbourne University Law Review. She also regularly writes for The Conversation about national security crimes and makes submissions to government inquiries in Australia and overseas.
In recognition of her expertise, Sarah has been invited to engage with the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor on its reviews of Commonwealth secrecy, espionage, foreign interference and sabotage offences, to contribute to edited collections and special issues, and to be interviewed for local, national and international media (including The New York Times, The Australian and The Guardian).
Sarah currently works at the Queensland Law Reform Commission (QLRC), leading the review of Queensland's non-fatal strangulation offence. Before joining the QLRC, she worked at the Department of Justice and Attorney-General Queensland in Strategic Policy and Legislation where she progressed the Criminal Justice Legislation (Sexual Violence and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2024 (Qld). She has also previously worked at the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) on a number of inquiries, including the Religious Educational Institutions and Anti-Discrimination Laws inquiry and Justice Responses to Sexual Violence inquiry. Sarah's doctoral research on the non-fatal strangulation offence and trauma-informed criminal trials has informed the work and practices of the QLRC and ALRC.
Works
Search Professor Sarah Kendall’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Other Outputs
A Russian-born ADF soldier and her husband have been charged with spying. What does this mean?
Kendall, Sarah (2024, 07 12). A Russian-born ADF soldier and her husband have been charged with spying. What does this mean? The Conversation
2024
Other Outputs
A trauma-informed non-fatal strangulation trial: victim-witnesses, brain injury and PTSD
Kendall, Sarah (2024). A trauma-informed non-fatal strangulation trial: victim-witnesses, brain injury and PTSD. PhD Thesis, School of Law, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/337a7f1
2024
Journal Article
Espionage law in the UK and Australia: balancing effectiveness and appropriateness
Kendall, Sarah (2024). Espionage law in the UK and Australia: balancing effectiveness and appropriateness. The Cambridge Law Journal, 83 (1), 62-98. doi: 10.1017/s0008197323000466
2023
Journal Article
Preparing for espionage, foreign interference and sabotage: preventive justice or unjust pre-crimes?
Kendall, Sarah (2023). Preparing for espionage, foreign interference and sabotage: preventive justice or unjust pre-crimes?. Monash University Law Review, 49 (3), 1-40. doi: 10.26180/27377187
2023
Other Outputs
Foreign interference through social media is an active threat. Here’s what Australia can do
Walker-Munro, Brendan and Kendall, Sarah (2023, 08 07). Foreign interference through social media is an active threat. Here’s what Australia can do The Conversation
2023
Journal Article
Environmental damage as a threat to national security: Australia's legal vulnerability to enviro-terrorism and enviro-sabotage
Kendall, Sarah and Walker-Munro, Brendan (2023). Environmental damage as a threat to national security: Australia's legal vulnerability to enviro-terrorism and enviro-sabotage. Public Law Review, 34 (1), 26-47.
2023
Other Outputs
Could using open-source information online get you arrested for foreign interference?
Walker-Munro, Brendan and Kendall, Sarah (2023, 05 04). Could using open-source information online get you arrested for foreign interference? The Conversation
2023
Other Outputs
Amid warnings of ‘spy hives’, why isn’t Australia using its tough counter-espionage laws more?
Kendall, Sarah (2023, 02 22). Amid warnings of ‘spy hives’, why isn’t Australia using its tough counter-espionage laws more? The Conversation
2022
Journal Article
The Erosion of Academic Freedom: How Australian Espionage Law Impacts Higher Education and Research
Kendall, Sarah (2022). The Erosion of Academic Freedom: How Australian Espionage Law Impacts Higher Education and Research. Sydney Law Review, 44 (4), 503-535.
2022
Conference Publication
Support for Non-Fatal Strangulation Victims During Trial: Are Cases Informed by Victim Brain Injury and PTSD?
Kendall, Sarah (2022). Support for Non-Fatal Strangulation Victims During Trial: Are Cases Informed by Victim Brain Injury and PTSD?. Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology Conference, Darwin, NT, Australia, 28-30 November 2022.
2022
Conference Publication
Preparatory Offences as a Measure to Prevent Cyber National Security Crime
Kendall, Sarah and Frost, Dominic (2022). Preparatory Offences as a Measure to Prevent Cyber National Security Crime. Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology Conference, Darwin, NT, Australia, 28-30 November 2022.
2022
Journal Article
Network activity, account takeover and data disruption warrants: how novel law enforcement powers impact media freedom
Kendall, Sarah and Frost, Dominic (2022). Network activity, account takeover and data disruption warrants: how novel law enforcement powers impact media freedom. Australian Journal of Human Rights, 28 (2-3), 249-265. doi: 10.1080/1323238x.2022.2135258
2022
Other Outputs
Universities must act to prevent espionage and foreign interference, but our national laws still threaten academic freedom
Kendall, Sarah (2022, 03 31). Universities must act to prevent espionage and foreign interference, but our national laws still threaten academic freedom The Conversation
2022
Other Outputs
Why Australia’s tough national security laws cannot stop foreign interference in our elections
Sarah Kendall (2022, 02 23). Why Australia’s tough national security laws cannot stop foreign interference in our elections The Conversation
2022
Journal Article
How Australia's foreign interference laws undermine press freedom
Kendall, Sarah (2022). How Australia's foreign interference laws undermine press freedom. Alternative Law Journal, 47 (2), 1037969X2210959-129. doi: 10.1177/1037969x221095915
2022
Other Outputs
Foreign interference law and press freedom
Kendall, Sarah (2022). Foreign interference law and press freedom. UQ Press Freedom Policy Papers St Lucia, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
2022
Journal Article
Crimes of communication: the implications of Australian espionage law for global media
Ananian-Welsh, Rebecca and Kendall, Sarah (2022). Crimes of communication: the implications of Australian espionage law for global media. Communication Law and Policy, 27 (1), 1-27. doi: 10.1080/10811680.2021.2014293
2021
Other Outputs
Espionage is set to overtake terrorism as Australia’s top security concern - are our anti-spy laws good enough?
Kendall, Sarah (2021, 12 08). Espionage is set to overtake terrorism as Australia’s top security concern - are our anti-spy laws good enough? The Conversation
2021
Journal Article
Risk and uncertainty in public interest journalism: the impact of espionage law on press freedom
Ananian-Welsh, Rebecca, Kendall, Sarah and Murray, Richard (2021). Risk and uncertainty in public interest journalism: the impact of espionage law on press freedom. Melbourne University Law Review, 44 (3), 764-811.
2021
Journal Article
Prosecution and defence strategies in non-fatal strangulation cases: are they influenced by victim brain injury and PTSD?
Kendall, Sarah (2021). Prosecution and defence strategies in non-fatal strangulation cases: are they influenced by victim brain injury and PTSD?. Criminal Law Journal, 45 (5), 297-315.
Funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Sarah Kendall is:
- Available for supervision
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Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Sarah Kendall directly for media enquiries about:
- espionage
- foreign interference
- national security crimes
- sabotage
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