Salvo boss 'delayed' reporting abuser

Salvation Army Commissioner James Condon did not report historical abuse, an inquiry has heard. Source: AAP

ONE of the Salvation Army's top leaders in Australia waited nine months before telling authorities about a known sex abuser, who was also his friend, an inquiry has been told.

Commissioner James Condon delayed reporting Colin Haggar, who was running an army crisis shelter for women and children in 2013, a witness told a royal commission hearing in Sydney.

The commission heard last week that Mr Haggar confessed in 1989 to the mother of an eight-year-old girl that he had sexually assaulted her.

He was dismissed by the army, but re-admitted in 1993 and promoted.

On Friday, the hearing was told that other army officers were concerned about Mr Haggar's continued contact with children and in early 2013 raised the matter with Mr Condon, commander of the army's eastern territory of NSW, Queensland and the ACT.

During this hearing, it has been revealed Mr Condon officiated at Colin and Kerry Haggar's wedding and went with Mr Haggar to police after he admitted assaulting the girl.

Simeon Beckett, counsel for the commission, said no records of that police report could be found.

On Friday, the commission heard it was nine months after concerns were raised with Mr Condon that Mr Haggar was involuntarily retired and demoted from lieutenant colonel to major.

Captain Michelle White, director of the army's Young Hope foster care service, said she was approached in early 2013 by two officers who had concerns about Mr Haggar.

They had told Mr Condon, but nothing had happened. Ms White explained there was a mandatory reporting obligation and followed up the matter with Mr Condon.

She pointed out she had a legal, ethical and moral obligation to report "my knowledge that we have an active Salvation Army officer with a known history of a child related sexual offence."

Ms White then met with Mr Condon who said: "Michelle, if what you are telling me is correct, there are hundreds of matters that should have been reported over the years, that haven't been reported".

He also told her "that couldn't be possible".

Ms White said she understood from Mr Condon it would now be reported, but later learned Salvation Army's obligations to report were being explored.

On August 23, she again wrote to Mr Condon and received a short reply that "this matter has been dealt with".

On September 4, she reported the matter herself to the Ombudsman and the guardian's office.

Ms White said Mr Condon wrote to her saying he wished she had not done it without telling them.

She interpreted it as a rebuke.

Ms White also said that she felt conflicted and was aware of the sensitivities and conflicts around friendships in the army.

In the days prior to the start of this hearing, she received an email on Facebook from Kerry Haggar, with whom she was friends.

Ms Haggar is a lieutenant colonel and on the army's executive committee.

The email said "the chain of events you set in place have caused devastation and incredible pain to many innocent people. In attempting to protect families you have caused irreparable damage to mine."

Ms White said she was upset and could understand Ms Haggar's distress, but thought it inappropriate.

Kate Eastman SC, counsel for the Salvation Army, said Ms Haggar had been stood down on Friday.

The commission also heard she will seek leave to be legally represented at the commission, which resumes on Monday.

15.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

Last drinks to last a little longer

The O'Farrell government's anti-violence measures, including last drinks at 3am and 1.30am lockouts, have reportedly seen assaults in the city fall since being introduced in February.

But Sydney's late-night revellers will have an extra hour to drink on Sunday thanks to daylight savings coming to an end.

At 3am on Sunday morning, clocks will have to be wound back an hour, giving people in the CBD and Kings Cross another hour to drink before last drinks are served.

Instead of drawing the line when the clock strikes 3am for the first time on Sunday morning, it's understood the O'Farrell government will not stop punters from having an extra hour of drinking.

Hospitality Minister George Souris says many people in NSW will likely use the extra hour to catch up on sleep, but his spokesman wouldn't comment on whether there were any concerns that drunken violence could rise that night.

Parliament this year passed a series of tough laws targeting drunken and drug-fuelled violence, including eight-year minimum mandatory sentences for fatal one-punch assaults if alcohol or drugs are involved.

The measures follow public outrage over the rise of serious drunken assaults in Sydney.

15.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

Peter Hore in custody after ICAC outburst

Serial pest Peter Hore has stormed a NSW corruption inquiry, leaving a police officer in hospital. Source: AAP

SERIAL pest Peter Hore has stormed a NSW corruption inquiry, leaving a police officer in hospital.

The special constable was bleeding from the head after he tried to restrain the man, who barged into the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) hearing room just before 11am (AEDT) on Friday screaming about his "brother" and a death in Newcastle.

The body of Hore's housemate was last week found hog-tied and half-naked at a cricket ground in the city.

Police have previously said there was no suggestion Hore had any involvement in the 52-year-old's death.

The injured officer was taken away from the ICAC's Sydney CBD offices by ambulance while Hore was led from the seventh floor in handcuffs.

"We're the second coming," he yelled.

"Stop trying to assault me ... Don't try to break my wrist."

He was later seen banging on the walls of the paddy wagon in which he was transported from the building.

Police have confirmed a 54-year-old man is in custody at Sydney City Police Station and charges are expected to be laid.

The injured officer is at St Vincent's Hospital recovering from what are described as minor injuries.

ICAC Commissioner Megan Latham, who was asked to leave the hearing room as Hore was tackled to the ground, returned to call an adjournment and said some staff were "traumatised".

She later said those in the public gallery may be required to make statements to investigators.

"I understand there were some people in the room who were able to film what was occurring," she said.

"Cameras in this room follow the speaker, so it may be that we don't have any actual footage of the event so if anyone can assist we are grateful."

Hore wore a long beard and a t-shirt with the letters "WTF" and told reporters he was "only trying to introduce myself".

A woman who arrived at the commission with Hore later told reporters she did not speak English.

The notorious gatecrasher has disrupted a string of major events including the Melbourne Cup, the funeral of rock singer Michael Hutchence and the Socceroos' 1997 World Cup qualifier against Iran.

15.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

Drinking levels hit a 17-year low

Australians are drinking less wine and beer and more cider, figures show. Source: AAP

AUSTRALIANS are drinking less, but opting for better quality booze.

Official data shows total consumption of alcohol fell for the sixth straight year in 2013, to a 17-year low.

Over the year, Australians aged 15 or over consumed an average of 9.88 litres of alcohol, or the equivalent of 2.2 standard drinks a day.

Beer drinkers consumed less in 2013 than they have in 67 years, while wine drinking hit a seven year low, Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures show.

The nation's thirst for cider gained momentum, with cider consumption rising to about double what it was four years ago.

The ABS was unable to shed much light on the reasons for the decline in consumption of beer and wine, but CommSec chief economist Craig James said anecdotal evidence suggested Australians were embracing quality ahead of quantity.

"That is certainly the case with beer, where craft beers are gaining favour over mainstream brands," Mr James said.

Affordability of alcohol has reached its best rate in 20 years, which, coupled with the fall in consumption, reflects a more selective consumer, he said.

"But it may also be a case where Aussies are paying greater attention to health issues," Mr James said.

He noted that other data showed people were buying more sporting and recreational equipment over the past year.

Longer term influences such as random breath testing, immigration, better diets, higher disposable income and a greater variety of leisure pursuits were also contributing to the 17 year low, he said.

The data showed consumption of full strength beer continued to fall, but mid-strength beer had lifted slightly.

Beer still outweighs wine in terms of the amount of alcohol consumed.

Spirit drinkers stayed slow and steady, with consumption of spirits remaining stable over the decade.

"It remains to be seen whether alcohol consumption picks up over the coming year in line with stronger economic growth and record wealth levels," Mr James said.

15.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

Cadet in Skype scandal leaves Defence

KATE, the RAAF cadet at the centre of the Australian Defence Force Academy "skype scandal", has left the defence force.

Defence has confirmed that Officer Cadet "Kate" was no longer a member of the Australian Defence Force, a Department of Defence spokesperson said.

For privacy reasons no further details were provided.

However it's understood she left this week after seeking a discharge on medical grounds.

In March 2011, Kate - not her real name - was 18 and embarking on a career in the defence force after being accepted to ADFA.

But then she agreed to sex with a fellow cadet Daniel McDonald in his room on the ADFA campus.

Unknown to her, he filmed their encounter on his computer webcam and streamed the vision live to other cadets viewing in a nearby room.

Appalled at the betrayal, slow progress in the defence investigation and a lack of support, Kate went to the media, with her story broadcast on Network Ten on April 5, 2011.

Community outrage prompted defence to embark on a range of reforms. That culminated in March 2012 with the launch of Pathway to Change, a five-year strategy for cultural change.

As the scandal unfolded, a large number of serving and former defence personnel came forward to recount their own experiences of sexual abuse, harassment and bullying.

The Defence Abuse Response task force is now examining many of those allegations.

15.03 | 0 komentar | Read More