What is an Extended Supervision Order in New South Wales?
The Supreme Court of New South Wales ruled last week that a ‘high-risk’ convicted child sex offender can return to the region where he broke into a home and sexually assaulted a four-year old girl. Residents of Grafton in Northern...
R Kelly Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Sex Trafficking
R & B Singer R Kelly has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for sex trafficking women and girls. The charges relate to his use of managers and aides to meet girls and keep them obedient - an operation...
The Offences of Human Trafficking and Procuring a Child for Sexual Activity in Australia
Former socialite Ghislaine Maxwell has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for helping deceased financier Jeffrey Epstein to sexually abuse young girls. In December 2021, Ms Maxwell was convicted of a range of offences, including: Sex trafficking, Conspiring to...
‘Hey Dad!’ Star Granted Parole and Will Be Deported
Australian Actor Robert Hughes will be deported from Australia at the end of this month, having been granted parole for child sexual offences. Mr Hughes is best known for his starring role in the television series, Hey Dad…! In 2014,...
Hillsong Church Admits Founder’s ‘Indiscretions’
Hillsong Church has admitted to a global staff meeting that its founder Brian Houston made ‘indiscretions’ against two women. The announcement was made by the current head of the organisation, Phil Dooley, at an extraordinary meeting of 800 global staff...
Should Child Sex Offenders Be Allowed to Rely on Otherwise Good Character?
The weight given to character references as a consideration in sentencing is at the heart of a battle brewing in Tasmania between a victim of sexual assault and legal groups. The issue has come under the spotlight in the context of...
Catholic Church Liable for Child Sexual Abuse by Priest
In what has been described as an Australian ‘legal first’, the Catholic Church has been found ‘vicariously liable’ for the child sexual offences committed by notorious Ballarat offender, priest Bryan Coffey, more than 50 years ago. Father Coffey was convicted...
Sydney Christian School Faces Fresh Allegations of Child Sexual Assault
The Anglican school at the centre of several child sexual assault allegations is on the wrong side of the law once again. A former pupil of Trinity Grammar School in Sydney has alleged that he was repeatedly sexually assaulted in...
The Offence of Sexual Intercourse with a Child Under the Age of 10 Years in NSW
Another former Catholic Brother has been sentenced to imprisonment for multiple child sexual offences. Systemic sexual abuse The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse heard accusations against thirty brothers from Kendall Grange Special School for Boys in...
New Laws Put an End to ‘Gag Orders’ on Victims of Child Sexual Abuse
New South Wales Parliament passed laws this week which will allow courts to break unfair settlements and ‘gag orders’ placed on victims of child sexual abuse. Recommendation of the Royal Commission The issue of paltry settlements accompanied by strict non-disclosure...
