Monthly Archives: February 2014

A Vatican investigation into claims of child abuse by a Catholic priest concentrated on the alleged accuser rather than the alleged perpetrator, and stated that an offer of compensation was made “for actuarial reasons and to appear pastorally concerned”. The … Continue reading →

A European police officer who called a suspect a “foreign pig” and a “dirty asylum seeker” has been found not guilty of breaching laws against racism. A federal tribunal found in favour of the officer, who detained an Algerian man … Continue reading →

Two Queensland police officers have been charged with rape. The 29-year-old constable and 28-year-old first year constable have both been charged with five counts of rape and one count each of assault with intent to commit rape and deprivation of liberty. … Continue reading →

McDonald’s has been fined for illegally employing a 14-year-old girl to work several night shifts, including one shift of nearly 15 hours. The company’s Australian arm was fined $15,000 in the Perth Magistrates’ Court for employing a child under 15 … Continue reading →

Quote of the Moment: You don’t want a wimp running border protection. Tony Abbott, defending Immigration Minister Scott Morrison, in reference to the death of a refugee in the Manus Island detention centre.

Assistant Health Minister Fiona Nash’s former chief of staff had links to the alcohol industry, and played a key role in stripping Australia’s peak drug and alcohol body of its funding. Alastair Furnival told staff at the Alcohol and other … Continue reading →

An American teenager who killed four people drink driving has been spared jail time, after a defence witness claimed that he suffered from “affluenza”. Ethan Couch’s blood-alcohol level was three times the legal limit for an adult, and there were … Continue reading →

Immigration officials made no effort to interview refugees who alleged that Defence personnel had deliberately burned their hands as a punishment. The government strongly denied the claims, and accused the ABC of bias in their reporting of the allegations. Minister … Continue reading →

Only a small minority of Australians believe that the ABC is biased towards the Labor Party, according to a recent survey. Polling conducted by Taverner Research, and commissioned by conservative newspaper The Australian, found that only 17% of respondents- slightly … Continue reading →

Sixteen Victoria Police officers have been accused of trying to derail an investigation into a fellow officer, who crashed his car into a hotel with a blood-alcohol level over twice the legal limit. Dean Robinson, then a Bendigo senior constable, crashed … Continue reading →