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Sky News AU
an hour ago
- Sky News AU
Former South Australian premier Jay Weatherill picked to co-lead Victoria childcare review following shock alleged child sex crimes revelations
Former South Australian premier Jay Weatherill and a Victorian public service veteran have been chosen to lead an urgent review into childcare safety in Victoria following shocking revelations of alleged offences against children by a childcare worker. Victoria Police launched a major investigation after Melbourne man Joshua Dale Brown, 26, was arrested and charged with over 70 child sex offences against eight alleged victims who had been in his care. Mr Brown had worked at 20 childcare centres across the state since 2017, and hundreds of families have been urged to have their potentially affected children tested for 'infectious diseases". A second man, Michael Simon Wilson, 36, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with child sex offences as part of the ongoing police probe. Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan said Victorians were 'horrified' by the allegations and on Wednesday announced that an 'urgent review' into childcare safety in the state had been commissioned. 'I know that right across our state, (Victorians) turned to one another and asked how this sort of alleged offending could ever be possible within a childcare centre,' the premier said in a statement. The premier said she wanted the review to look at potentially having CCTV installed in childcare centres, and she also announced a 'Victorian register' will be created. Ms Allan on Thursday then revealed the review will be co-led by Mr Weatherill, who served as South Australia Premier between 2011 and 2018, and Victorian public service veteran Pamela White, who has held senior roles within the sector for over three decades. '(Mr Weatherill) is recognised for his leadership in early childhood and tertiary education and was appointed in 2020 to lead the Minderoo Foundation's Thrive by Five early learning reform campaign,' Ms Allan stated. The 'short and sharp' review will hone in on steps the state government can take immediately, the premier said. A deadline of August 15 has been set for the review to report back to the government – which Ms Allan said will adopt all recommendations the review puts forward. Ms Allan has also outlined that the use of personal devices will be banned in the state's childcare centres by September 26, with the possibility of fines of up to $50,000 being imposed on centres if the new rule is breached after that date. 'My Government will take every action possible – as soon as possible – to strengthen safety standards in early childhood education and care, to keep Victorian children safe,' she said. The Victorian Department of Health activated a public health response this week following the arrest of Mr Brown - whose charges include sexual penetration of a child under 12, producing and transmitting child abuse material, and recklessly contaminating goods to cause alarm or anxiety. The department urged parents of children who have potentially been exposed to Mr Brown to be screened for infectious diseases. Victorian Police Acting Commander Janet Stevenson on Tuesday said the investigation is 'incredibly distressing and confronting' for all those involved. 'The most important thing for our investigators was that we needed to identify the [alleged] victims involved,' Acting Commander Stevenson said in a statement. 'These are some of the most vulnerable members of our community and the conversations police have had to have with their families were no doubt life changing in the worst possible way.'
Perth Now
5 hours ago
- Perth Now
Family's heartbreak after cop mowed down
The family of a Perth cop killed in the line of duty when he tried to stop a car thief, before being dragged under the vehicle, have revealed their heartbreak at his future being 'taken away'. Reagan Chown, 25, was sentenced in the WA Supreme Court on Thursday to 15.5 years' jail for the manslaughter of Constable Anthony Woods in June 2023. He will be eligible for parole after serving 13.5 years behind bars. Chown was behind the wheel of a stolen Holden Cruze when he reversed and dragged Constable Woods, 28, under the vehicle. Reagan Chown has been jailed for more than 15 years for the manslaughter of Perth cop Anthony Woods in 2023. 9News Credit: Channel 9 Chown had pleaded not guilty to a charge of manslaughter but was found guilty by a jury earlier this year. The court was told police had pursued the stolen vehicle, which had reached speeds of up to 83kmh in a 40km zone, before it stopped in a cul-de-sac in the Perth suburb of Ascot. Constable Woods tried to arrest Chown and tasered him, but the 25-year-old put his car in reverse and hit the accelerator, dragging, trapping the officer under the car. Constable Woods died from his injuries in hospital. On Thursday, Constable Woods' mother Natalie read a victim impact statement to the court before Chown was sentenced. Ms Woods said her heart was ripped away on the day Anthony died and she felt like she had 'died'.'He was doing his duty and he was protecting his community and his future was taken away,' she said. 'Each anniversary, birthday and any moment we shared with him is now painful for us.' Constable Woods (left, with his wife Emily) died after he was dragged under a stolen vehicle being driven by Chown. Supplied Credit: Supplied Justice Joseph McGrath said during sentencing that Chown deliberately put his car into reverse and moved it backwards by putting his foot on the accelerator. He said Chown was criminally negligent for the circumstances, rejecting his defence that being tasered made him not criminally responsible for Constable Woods' death. 'Police were still pursuing you to charge you with reckless driving, and you were driving a stolen vehicle,' Justice McGrath said. 'The police had every reason to form a belief that you intended to flee. 'You had reached the end of the road. 'That you are not criminally negligent is unacceptable.' Justice McGrath said Woods was trapped under the car when Chown reversed at speed, losing control of the vehicle. Constable Woods was attempting to stop Chown in the stolen car when he was killed in the line of duty. WA Police Credit: Supplied 'I am satisfied you intended to flee from police and that you ignored the officers command and put the car into reverse and put your foot on the accelerator,' he said. 'You decided to get away and tried to escape. 'The movement of the car was done by you.' 'It would be fanciful to make a finding that Constable Woods somehow did wrong here, officers make split second decisions, (you) was speeding through Epsom Ave high on meth when officers intervened. 'This does not come close to some unauthorised discharge.' Chown's defence lawyer told the court his client had become addicted to drugs working as a FIFO worker. He said it was a combination of being away from his family, who lived regionally, having too much time off work in-between his shifts and his drug addiction – for which Chown said he was 'disgusted'. Justice McGrath accepted that Chown did not intend to kill the officer.
9 News
6 hours ago
- 9 News
Car thief who killed 'larger than life' WA policeman jailed
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here Reagan Ainslie Chown, 25, was convicted of manslaughter over the late-night June 8, 2023 incident that led to Constable Anthony Woods' death. He was sentenced in the Western Australian Supreme Court today to a head sentence of 15 years and six months, and a minimum term of 13 years and six months. Fallen WA Police officer Anthony Woods. (9News) Woods' mother Natalie said her heart was "ripped" away the day her son died. "My beautiful son Anthony was so full of life, energy and ambition," she said as she read her victim impact statement to the court. "He was doing his duty and he was protecting his community and his future was taken away." Ms Woods said her family continued to suffer and "each anniversary, birthday and any moment we shared with him is now painful for us". "Whatever he did, he had a great passion ... he was larger than life, but his love for his family was number one," she said. Chown and two others fled from police in a stolen Holden Cruz in a high-speed chase before turning into a cul-de-sac and coming to a stop. Woods, 28, opened the driver's door and tried to detain Chown, who was behind the steering wheel with the engine running. Chown put the car into reverse and accelerated in a bid to escape. The officer fired his Taser into the moving car before falling and being dragged under the vehicle, where he became trapped. CCTV footage played during the trial in May showed the Holden reversing at speed, mounting a kerb and stopping after it hit a bollard. During the video, Woods can be heard twice saying "stay where you are" and "Taser" as the vehicle moved backwards. The officer died several days after the incident from complications of cardiac arrest caused by mechanical compression of the chest and abdomen. Chown was under the influence of methamphetamine and in possession of the drug when the incident happened. Constable Anthony Woods with his wife, Emily. (Supplied) During his trial, he argued he was not responsible for the tragedy because the officer shot him with a Taser and it caused him to lose control of a stolen car. Justice Joseph McGrath said Chown intended to flee police and ignored the officer's lawful commands. "Undoubtedly, the Taser caused you pain and discomfort, but your course of conduct was set and it was done consciously and deliberately," he said. "Even if you were not tasered, you would have reversed and that was your intention." Woods, who had just passed his probation, was farewelled before about 2000 police officers, family, friends and dignitaries at Perth's Optus Stadium. Chown was initially accused of murder but the charge was downgraded to manslaughter a week before his trial. He was also convicted of stealing the car and reckless driving to escape police and was also sentenced for those offences. Western Australia Perth police crime national CONTACT US
