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News.com.au
37 minutes ago
- News.com.au
First photo of alleged child rapist Michael Simon Wilson revealed
The full identity of an alleged child rapist, linked to a Victorian childcare worker charged with child sexual abuse, has been revealed. Michael Simon Wilson, 36, was charged with child rape and bestiality offences in April, with a first image released of the man on Thursday. The publication of Mr Wilson's charges followed confirmation of charges against childcare worker Joshua Brown on Tuesday. Victorian Police charged Mr Brown with 70 offences after he allegedly abused eight children at a Point Cook childcare centre in Melbourne. It is alleged some children were as young as five months. A widespread investigation has now been launched, with Victoria's chief health officer saying 1200 children have been recommended to undergo infectious diseases testing as a precaution. He is also accused of using his bodily fluids to tamper with food, reported. Mr Wilson and Mr Brown are reportedly known to each other, though the nature of the relationship is unclear. Mr Wilson's alleged offences are not believed to involve childcare centres or any of Mr Brown's alleged victims. Police allege he raped a teenage boy in Hoppers Crossing in April. On Thursday, the Herald Sun reported it was the investigation into Mr Wilson's alleged offending that led them to Mr Brown. Mr Brown was arrested on May 12 and is due to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on September 15. Mr Wilson will appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on the same day. The charges have sparked urgent calls for reform in the childcare sector, with Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan promising immediate action. The state government will immediately begin building a register for childcare workers, she said, and will bring forward a policy to ban personal devices in centres. 'To avoid delay, we'll be putting all Victorian childcare centres on notice,' she said. 'They will be required to adopt this ban on personal devices, effective from September 26. 'Childcare centres who don't comply with this ban will have this placed on them as a condition of licence and may face fines of up to $50,000. The premier will also commission an 'urgent review' into childcare safety, with more details expected at the end of the week. The review will examine the possibility of installing CCTV cameras in centres and the deploying a 'four eyes' principle, meaning children should not be left alone with a single adult. It will also review whether the five-year working with children check time frame should be shortened. Federal Education Minister Jason Clare said on Wednesday the problem of predators in childcare settings was 'serious' and required 'serious action'. 'It's one of the reasons why I put this on the top of the agenda when education ministers met last week,' he said. 'Let me be clear – when education ministers met to discuss child safety last week, we didn't discuss this case, but we discussed – what are the next steps that we need to take as a nation to make sure that our kids are safe in early education and care?' The federal government has already banned personal mobile phones in centres and changed rules around mandatory reporting from seven days to 24 hours following complaints about sexual or physical abuse. Mr Clare promised further reforms, including cutting off funding for centres that fail to meet minimum standards. He also flagged changes to background checks for workers. 'It's taken too long to do the work necessary to make sure that our Working with Children Check system is up to scratch,' he said. 'I've spoken a number of times with the Attorney-General, Michelle Rowland, the new Attorney-General, and I think I can safely speak on her behalf – she agrees, and is determined to take the action necessary here to make sure that our working with children checks across the nation are up to scratch. 'That'll be something that will be discussed by Attorneys-General when they meet next month.' He cautioned that a working with children check was not a 'silver bullet'. 'In too many examples, a perpetrator is eventually caught and arrested and sentenced, there's somebody that got a Working with Children Check because they had no prior criminal record,' he said. 'And so it's only one of the things that we need to focus on here if we're serious about making sure that we keep our kids safe.'
ABC News
41 minutes ago
- ABC News
Queensland and federal governments strike funding deal for 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games
A new deal has been struck between the Queensland and federal governments to fund venues — including a major stadium — for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Billions of dollars in federal funds initially earmarked for an indoor arena will now go towards minor venues and the new stadium at Victoria Park. Under the new deal, the state and Commonwealth will jointly pay for the construction of minor venues through a 50:50 funding split. About $1.2 billion in federal funds will also go to the new stadium at Victoria Park, while $584 million will be held in reserve to go towards the stadium or minor venues. Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said the deal delivered certainty for infrastructure delivery for the Brisbane Games. "Today's landmark agreement is the beginning of a new partnership that sets the pathway to deliver 2032 as the best Games ever," he said. The state and Commonwealth will stick to the $7.1 billion funding envelope they had previously agreed to. The federal government will continue to chip in $3.435 billion, while the Queensland government will pay the remainder. Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King described the federal government's investment as "unprecedented". "Our agreement with Queensland will see both governments work together to deliver 16 new and upgraded venues across the state and a new Brisbane stadium at Victoria Park," she said. The Commonwealth had previously committed $2.5 billion of its funding towards the construction of a new indoor arena at Roma Street. The new LNP state government scrapped the proposal several months ago, instead announcing its desire to deliver a privately-backed indoor arena at Woolloongabba.
ABC News
42 minutes ago
- ABC News
Reagan Chown sentenced to 15 years in jail over manslaughter of Constable Anthony Woods
A meth-addled drug addict who ran over and killed a police officer after a high-speed car chase through the streets of Perth has been sentenced to more than 15 years in prison. Reagan Chown reversed the stolen car over Constable Anthony Woods, who was trying to apprehend him in June 2023. The vehicles had come to a stop at a cul-de-sac in Ascot and Constable Woods approached Chown's vehicle, opened the driver's door and used his taser. Chown had claimed he lost control of the vehicle after he was tasered but a jury later found him guilty of manslaughter. In the WA Supreme Court on Thursday, prosecutor Justin Whalley said it was a "serious example of criminal negligence manslaughter" and a "clear message" needed to be sent to those refusing police instructions or trying to evade officers. Chown, appearing via a video call from Albany Regional Prison, was sentenced to 14 and a half years for manslaughter and one year for reckless driving.
