Search

"Yet another disgrace": Rolf Harris’ net worth revealed

Disgraced TV star Rolf Harris died penniless after wiping out his estimated $31 million fortune, making it difficult for his victims to claim compensation. The convicted pedophile died of neck cancer and old age last year after spending his final years as a recluse with his wife at their luxury $10 million riverside mansion in Bray, Berkshire. Harris – a staple of children’s TV in the 1980s - was convicted of 12 indecent assaults, and managed to overturn only one of his convictions. The vile pedophile was released from prison in 2017. After his death, it was said that he left a $31 million fortune that he amassed during his career to his wife Alwen Hughes and daughter Bindi, 60. However, probate documents seen by The Sun show that his assets were said to be worth just $853,436.98 when he died. When expenses were taken out the net value of his estate was $0. It is believed that most of his fortune was spent to make it difficult for his victims, who were seeking compensation, to access his wealth following his death. A large part of his fortune is believed to have been used on around-the-clock carers for him and his wife Alwen, who died in September this year after suffering from dementia. His legal documents show that his will was last signed in March 2022, a year before his death, and was witnesses by two of his carers. Investigator and ex-detective Mark Williams-Thomas, who helped to convict Harris, said: “This is yet another disgrace. “He has obviously planned to get rid of money and assets and there is no way he’d have actually been penniless. “He had amassed a huge amount of wealth and I would assume he has squirrelled it away to avoid victims making claims on it, even after his death. The man had no shame.” Harris was known for a string of children's TV hits and was the face of British Paints for more than three decades before he was dumped by the brand when he was arrested in 2013. The following year, he was convicted a found guilty on 12 counts of indecent assault, and was sentenced to five years and nine months in jail. The assaults include one on an eight-year-old fan who asked for his autograph, two on girls in their early teens, and a catalogue of abuse against his daughter's friend of over 16 years. He was released on parole in May 2017 after serving three years behind bars. Image: Alan Davidson/ Shutterstock Editorial

Money & Banking

"Disgraceful": Government red tape causes funeral to be cancelled

A local council has cancelled a funeral just 24 hours before it was set to take place due to government red tape. Ever since Shellharbour local Judy passed away, her brother Ron had been working hard to give her a decent send off. However, less than one day before her planned funeral, the Shellharbour Council cancelled the service over an unpaid burial fee. Ron had been liaising with two government agencies to get payment to council for the burial, which <a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/sydney-council-cancels-funeral-after-government-fails-to-pay-burial-fee-on-time/60cfa883-6a45-4ff7-badd-1a2e4c52b6aa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A Current Affair</a> said was a matter of one government organisation waiting for a simple sign off from another government agency. Confirmation of the payment came through just one day after the funeral should have gone ahead. Ron was left heartbroken over the cancellation and said the council was "very disrespectful" in their dealings, and said he is owed an apology. "Disgraceful in fact. Low-life mongrels to do that to any family in this sort of situation," Ron told ACA. He says the most devastating part was calling family one by one, including Judy's intellectually disabled son, to deliver the news, as he recalled, "He was in tears. I had to get his support worker over just to calm him down." Shellharbour City Council told A Current Affair via email it was "unable to grant interment rights which are legally required before a burial because the fee hadn't been paid". They went on to say in a statement, "Shellharbour City Council acknowledges the complexity of the burial process and apologises for the hurt the family has experienced." Image credits: A Current Affair

Legal

Disgraced Olympian sentenced over failed drug plot

An Olympic silver medallist and his younger brother, who tried to smuggle hundreds of kilograms of cocaine worth about $200 million into Australia, have been sentenced a second time. Nathan Baggaley, 48, a former champion kayaker and his brother Dru Baggaley, 42, faced Brisbane supreme court on Monday after pleading guilty to attempting to import a commercial quantity of drugs. Dru and another man were intercepted by the navy in July 2017, after he was found using a seven-metre inflatable boat to pick up 650 kilograms of cocaine from a ship near Australia's east coast. The inflatable boat, which was launched from Brunswick Heads on the NSW north coast, had been bought by Nathan and was registered in his name. The brothers were previously found guilty of attempting to import cocaine by a Brisbane Supreme Court jury in April 2021. Nathan was sentenced to 25 years' imprisonment and his brother 28 years, but they later won appeals against their convictions and were ordered to face the retrial that was supposed to start on October 28, but instead pleaded guilty to the same charge. On Monday, Justice Declan Kelly sentenced Nathan to 13 years in jail and his brother 15 years. With time already served, they are now eligible for parole. During their sentencing hearing, Justice Kelly said there was insufficient evidence to prove Dru knew he was importing cocaine, after the court was told he thought he was collecting tobacco. “Dru was reckless that there was a substantial quantity of a border-controlled drug but there is insufficient evidence that he knew the precise quantity,” Justice Kelly said. He said that Nathan didn't initially know that it was an attempt to import a border-controlled drug until July 30 2018. "From that point in time he was aware of the attempt to import a substantial quantity of a border-controlled drug but was reckless as to the identity of that drug," Justice Kelly said. “It cannot be shown that Nathan knew the drug was cocaine or the precise amount of the drug.” Kelly accepted a defence barrister's submission the facts were profoundly different” compared to their 2021 sentencing, but said that regardless, the importation size was a "“very relevant factor” in his sentencing. Image: Erik S Lesser/EPA/ Shutterstock Editorial

Legal

“Truly disgraceful”: Landlord cops backlash after posting photo of evicted tenant

A landlord in Victoria has been slammed online after posting a photo of a former tenant who was evicted, and was forced to live in their car. The picture was originally posted to the private Landlords Victoria Facebook page, but was then leaked to X (formerly Twitter), and shows an old Nissan sedan with a tarp over the top, where a person was living after getting evicted from a rental. The landlord had described the tenant’s living situation as “karma” for the financial toll her eviction process had taken on him, claiming he dealt with years of legal battles. He claims he was left out of pocket to the tune of “thousands of dollars”. “Took me almost three years to get this person out of my rental,” he wrote in the post. “It seems she had trouble finding a new place to live." <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ALAB?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ALAB</a> <a href="https://t.co/2WEn1hyBnf">pic.twitter.com/2WEn1hyBnf</a> — Purplepingers (@purplepingers) <a href="https://twitter.com/purplepingers/status/1790345077816279280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 14, 2024</a></blockquote> “I am thousands of dollars out of pocket in legal fees and lost rent not to mention the stress and frustration with VCAT ... Looking at this karma must be real.” The landlord added that it “must be bloody freezing” and gloated that the woman was “not (in) an enviable position”. The landlord's post welcomed a wave of criticism, as many took aim at the landlord for broadcasting, and even taking pleasure in his former tenant's hardship. One social media comment accused the landlord of “publicly shaming and degrading her", while another said the post was “truly disgraceful”. While several people were disgusted by the landlord’s lack of empathy, others defended his rights as a property owner. “I wouldn’t want to see my tenant in that situation. But the fact is unless they pay the rent on time it won’t be me turning them out onto the street,” one person wrote. Image credits: X (Twitter)

Money & Banking

Disgraced police officer Roger Rogerson dies

Disgraced police officer and convicted murderer Roger Rogerson has passed away at the age of 83. The crooked ex-cop suffered a brain aneurysm in his cell at Long Bay prison in Sydney, where he was serving a life sentence for the murder of a 20-year-old, and died just days after. He was receiving end-of-life care at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick and died at 11pm on Sunday. Rogerson began his career in the police force at the age of 18 in 1959, and was known as one of the most decorated officers in New South Wales, before links to organised crime and corruption were uncovered. After rising through the ranks of the force and winning 12 commendation awards, he was found responsible for the 1981 fatal shooting of drug dealer Warren Lanfranchi, but was found to have been acting in the line of duty. However, Lanfranchi's girlfriend, Sallie-Anne Huckstepp, afterwards claimed Rogerson deliberately killed him over a drug dispute. Rogerson was also charged with the attempted killing of undercover officer Michael Drury in 1984, who turned down a bribe in exchange for evidence tampering in a heroin trafficking trial. Rogerson was acquitted of the charges in 1989, but he had been dismissed from the police service by then for depositing $110,000 in bank accounts under a false name. He was then jailed for four years for perverting the course of justice over that matter, and was jailed for another 12 months in 2005 for lying to the Police Integrity Commission. In 2014, Rogerson, and his fellow former detective Glen McNamara, were arrested over the execution murder of 20-year-old student Jamie Gao. Both disgraced officers were both found guilty in 2016 over the killing and handed life sentences, with Rogerson's final appeal over that conviction failing last year. Image credits: Nine - Under Investigation

News

"Disgraced actor, bully, monster": Craig McLachlan opens up on assault allegations

Craig McLachlan has opened up about how the incident assault trial took a toll on his mental health and career. The former Neighbours actor was charged with seven counts of indecent assault and six of common law assault in 2019, after four women, who he starred alongside with in the stage production of the Rocky Horror Show came forward. McLachlan has long denied the allegations, and was eventually cleared of all charges. Now, the former actor is appearing on the new season of SAS Australia, and has spoken candidly about how his life changed after the trial. “When I started on Neighbours, I was in people’s lounge rooms night after night, day after day,” he told SAS producers. “But there was something that happened about five years ago that was shocking for the public and shocking for me." “Craig McLachlan, disgraced actor. Workplace bully, monster. “So I’m here to exorcise some pretty extreme pain with some pretty extreme pain.” Speaking with SAS Chief Instructor Ant Middleton and DS Jamie ‘Jay’ Morton, McLachlan said he is still angry about what happened, and carries a lot of emotional weight from the trial. "I suffer extreme social anxiety. I find it very difficult to trust situations where there are a lot of people, especially women." “I’m more anxious about being in a new group of people than I am about climbing up the side of a mountain." “I know that sounds bizarre, but for me, I’m afraid it’s true.” Middleton sensed McLachlan was becoming angry when talking about the case, to which McLachlan responded, "I was charged with 14, 15, 16 offences ... It’s one thing to be so publicly crucified, it’s another thing to be charged. I was found not guilty of any wrongful behaviour. It’s because I was f***ing innocent ... I’ve been profoundly hurt, so there’s always going to be some residual anger." McLachlan went on to share how he was "abandoned" by close friends in the entertainment world when the allegations first came to light. He said, "People who only months before looked me in the eye and said 'You create the most wonderful work environments imaginable' ... abandonment, total abandonment. A tiny handful of courageous people I have friendships with over 30 years were always there, but the vast majority - gone." He said the abandonment from his friends "really f**king hurt", to which the SAS team told him he has "gotta let it go". "That’s why I’m here," McLachlan said. "For me, the big takeaway from this experience will be moving forward, to find that I can function without anger and fear. But beyond that, learning to trust people again." Image credits: Channel Seven - SAS Australia

“A disgrace”: Grace Tame slams Scott Morrison

Grace Tame has hit out at former Prime Minister Scott Morrison, describing his secret acquisition of several government portfolios as a “disgrace”. Appearing on Thursday night’s episode of Q&A, Ms Tame was asked about her thoughts on Mr Morrison’s self-appointment to five ministerial portfolios during his time as Australia’s leader, and the 23-year-old activist had plenty to say. “The gaslighting, the dishonesty, was another level that we witnessed,” she said. “He wasn’t even a good enough villain – he had the ambitions of Voldemort with the brains of Peter Griffin,’ she added, referring to the villain of the Harry Potter series and main character of the TV series Family Guy. “It’s very important that we have people in positions of power that we can trust. “It was a disgrace – we need better than that.” Her comments come after Mr Morrison became the first former Prime Minister to be censured in federal parliament - a rare move to show parliament’s condemnation of his actions. Mr Morrison was condemned by members of the House of Representatives for failing to disclose that he had appointed himself as the minister for health, finance, home affairs and industry, energy, resources, science and treasury. During the Q&A episode, Ms Tame also revealed that she has considered stepping back from her public life, given that the man who sexually abused her as a child has continued to harrass her. “I’ll be honest with you, yes I do (think about stepping back),” she said. “I’ve had a really hard 24 hours. This morning I was meeting with the Department of Public Prosecutions. “The child sex offender who abused me has been menacing and harassing me all this year. “He hasn’t really stopped for the last 12 years, behind the scenes.” Images: Twitter / Getty Images

“What a disgrace”: Grace Tame slams footy star’s child abuse verdict

Content warning: This article includes mentions of child sex abuse (CSA) and child exploitation material. Activist Grace Tame has slammed the Australian legal system after former NRL star Brett Finch avoided jail time for sharing child sex abuse (CSA) material. Finch, a former halfback, pleaded guilty to one charge of using a carriage service to transmit, publish or promote child abuse in August, but was sentenced to a $1000 two-year good behaviour bond on Wednesday. The 41-year-old was under the influence of drugs when he left a series of messages on a gay chat-line expressing a desire to perform sex acts on young boys. In Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court, Finch admitted to feeling disgust at himself for making the calls, saying his intention behind them was to obtain cocaine. Ms Tame shared her outrage in a series of posts on social media on Wednesday night, describing the verdict as a shame on Australia. “This pathetic verdict is a shame on our nation. The fact that Judge Phillip Mahony accepted the distorted narrative alleged by Brett Finch that his production of child abuse material was a means of scoring drugs shows just how undervalued children are in Australia,” she wrote over a screenshot of a news story about Finch’s sentencing. “The buck continues to stop with innocent lives. What a disgrace. “Let’s be real here: of all the avenues to score cocaine, a paedophile ring is probably THE LAST PLACE you’d need to look. In the words of Robin Williams, ‘that’s like getting chemotherapy because YOU’RE TIRED OF SHAVING YOUR HEAD’.” The 27-year-old said that whether his story was true or not, the outcome of his actions remains the same. “It does not change the fact that he produced child exploitation material,” she continued. “It does not change the fact that he engaged with convicted paedophiles, therefore aiding and enabling the cycle of abuse culture and providing the social cue of legitimacy to a crime against humanity.” In response to his claims that the messages were just “s**t talk”, Ms Tame said it served to “dehumanise and objectify” children. “Yeah, that’s all it ever is, isn’t it, just “s**t talk?” she wrote. “It’s just “s**t talk” to dehumanise and objectify an underage member of your own species.” During Finch’s sentencing, Judge Phillip Mahoney described the content of the athlete’s messages as “highly depraved” and “morally reprehensible”. While the maximum penalty for the offence is 15 years, the Crown had asked that Finch be sentenced to full-time custody. Judge Mahoney found that there were some exceptional circumstances surrounding Finch’s offending, accepting that he had been motivated by a “patently absurd” attempt to source drugs rather than out of sexual interest in children. He noted that Finch hadn’t created or shared any images and had acted alone and while under the influence, with the offending being “entirely unsophisticated”. “I accept that he is genuinely remorseful for his offending conduct,” the judge said, noting Finch’s lack of a criminal record and his involvement in junior football coaching and charity work. The court heard that Finch was at the height of his drug use at the time, which had started in 2013 and peaked with his use of 12 to 25 grams of cocaine a week. There was evidence that he failed to adapt to life after his NRL career, and that he was ashamed of his actions and had been abused in public, prompting him to rarely leave his home following the arrest. Under his release order, Finch must be of good behaviour, not travel interstate or overseas without permission, and must undergo drug testing and treatment. If you or someone you know have been a victim or affected by child sexual abuse, support is available. You can contact Bravehearts on 1800 272 831 or Blue Knot on 1300 657 380 for support. Images: Instagram / Getty Images

Legal

Disgraced TV star tracked down after fleeing Australia

Convicted paedophile and ex-Australian TV star Robert Hughes has been tracked down to his new residence in the UK after fleeing Australia following a stint in prison. The 73-year-old, who played Martin Kelly on Hey Dad! from 1987 to 1993, was released in June after more than six years in custody for the sexual abuse of young girls, including Sarah Monahan, who played his on-screen daughter Jenny. He was deported from Sydney’s Long Bay jail, moved to Villawood Detention Centre, then went to Salisbury in England. Several of the victims Hughes targeted in the 1980s and ’90s, including Ms Monahan, have spoken publicly about the abuse they endured. “He will never say sorry. He’ll never say it. I’m not going to beg for it. I’m not going to ask for it,” she said. “I don’t think he’ll ever change. he’s too set in his ways. He’s too old to ever change. And he’s too arrogant." According to court documents, the bulk of Hughes’ crimes were committed before he secured the lead role of Martin Kelly on the hit Channel 7 sitcom that ran for 7 years. In 2014 he was handed a 10-year-and-9-month prison sentence after receiving 10 convictions for child sex offences that included sexual intercourse without consent and multiple acts of indecent assault. Hughes has repeatedly denied wrongdoing. Image: Getty

Legal

“You’re a disgrace”: Young activist confronts Scott Morrison

A 20-year-old self-described “progressive activist” was ejected from a western Sydney venue after gatecrashing a private event Scott Morrison was holding there and heckling the Prime Minister about the 2019-2020 bushfire response. Adisen Wright, who is listed online as a Young Labor Left supporter according to <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/federal-election-2022-scott-morrison-campaign-event-crashed-in-sydney-by-activist-linked-to-alp/e4f59354-e81c-4b05-a2fa-6cf7c8f00ff2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">9News</a>, shared the video of his interaction with Mr Morrison on <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@adisenofficial/video/7085648368055192833?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1&q=adisenofficial&t=1649805085346" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a> with the caption, “Help me. I tried asking the PM a question and have been detained”. The four-minute video starts with Mr Wright in a friendly manner, saying, “Scomo … I just wanted to say hi, I’m pretty astounded as a young bloke here, it’s good to see you”. “Can I get a photo, is that alright?” he asks, panning the camera to show Mr Morrison’s face. When Mr Morrison realises he’s being filmed, he asks whether Mr Wright is part of the “press pack”, to which Mr Wright says, “No, no, I’m a local, I live up in the (Blue) mountains”. “I just want to ask one question, ScoMo,” he says, before Mr Morrison realises he is still being filmed and confronts Mr Wright about it. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been confronted by a self-described ‘social activist’ who gatecrashed a private function to tell the PM he was a ‘disgrace’ over his handling of bushfires and floods. DETAILS > <a href="https://t.co/wyZAj8DBSl">https://t.co/wyZAj8DBSl</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AusPol?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AusPol</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AusVotes?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AusVotes</a> <a href="https://t.co/6uOXhkRaO8">pic.twitter.com/6uOXhkRaO8</a> — Herald Sun (@theheraldsun) <a href="https://twitter.com/theheraldsun/status/1514008020543754240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2022</a></blockquote> After Mr Morrison tells Mr Wright that the event, held at the Nepean Rowing Club in Penrith, is private and walks away, the situation quickly becomes heated as Mr Wright continues to try and talk to the prime minister. “ScoMo, across the river here, across the Nepean River, people lost their houses and they were burnt,” Mr Wright says, before shouting, “You’re a disgrace! You are a disgrace!” Mr Wright then walks out of the venue with a police officer following behind him who goes on to question him for a few minutes. “Look, I didn’t know it was a private event. I genuinely didn’t. So I apologise for that,” he tells the officer in the clip. “But I just wanted to ask a question because look … I obviously care about government and in our area we got, our house was incredibly impacted. “We just want some action.” NSW Police said officers were called to the venue at about 7.35pm, where they issued a move-on direction to Mr Wright, who left without incident. Images: TikTok

News

Grieving family slam Senator’s “disgraceful” Covid vaccine claim

The family of a man who died in his sleep has been left “devastated” after a politician falsely claimed his death was caused by the COVID-19 vaccine and concealed by the government. Daniel Perkins had no signs of illness when he suddenly died in his sleep at his Shellharbour home in December. His family, including his wife, Nikki, and their two eight-year-old sons, Logan and Jordi, have been grieving and finding every day difficult. Then on Tuesday, in a speech to parliament, One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts included Mr Perkins in his list of “victims” of COVID-19 vaccine injuries that have been “hidden behind government data”. Senator Roberts said that “the very least we can do for the victims of Covid vaccines is to say their names”, and said Mr Perkins was “a 36-year-old healthy father from Albion Park (who) died of a heart attack in his sleep following his second Pfizer injection”. But, Mr Perkins’ family isn’t aware of any evidence suggesting the vaccine contributed to his death. His brother-in-law, Shane Anderson, spoke to <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/public-health/family-of-nsw-father-daniel-perkins-slams-politicians-disgraceful-covid-vaccine-claim-c-6273002" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7News</a> on Thursday and shared how his sister was “devastated” after seeing how her partner’s death was being used by Senator Roberts. “The frustration and anger that I had this morning just knocks you off your feet a bit because you think, ‘How dare you? How dare you bring my brother’s name into it at such a terrible time in our life,” he said. “We are just totally gutted that that was even suggested when we, as the family, don’t even have that information.” Mr Anderson said the family was also disappointed since the information was “entirely untrue” and was “used without prior approval”. “My sister had no one ring her up and ask for any of that kind of information, or even whether that was the case,” he added. Mr Perkins’ family was told he had an “enlarged heart” at the time of his death, but that a definitive cause of death required an investigation by the coroner. The final post mortem results are still pending, as reported by 7News. “For a politician to comment on something when it’s still under investigation is just absurd,” Shane said. “We’d be more than willing to have a chat if it was true … (but) there’s been no information given to the family that would even suggest that is the case, and to be used in federal parliament as a pinboard is just disgraceful. “If I could get an apology from him that would be very much appreciated.” Mr Anderson said that “every day is hard” for his nephews and sister in the three months since Mr Perkins’ death. “(The boys) have days where they say, ‘Dad used to do this with me’ or ‘Dad used to take me there’ and they’ll stop for a split second and have that ‘oh no’, but generally, they are two young eight-year-old boys living their life as they should,” he said. “We’re just trying to do events and take them to all these things and keep them in a happy space.” Senator Roberts is yet to comment on the situation. Image: 7News

Caring

"Utter disgrace": Online trolls target Cleo Smith's parents

As the search for Cleo Smith exceeds its second week, her distraught parents have been the target of online trolls. According to Western Australia Police, Cleo's mum Ellie Smith and stepdad Jake Gliddon have been "nothing but helpful" during the investigation, and have been ruled out as suspects. Despite a public statement from police saying they believe Cleo's parents are innocent, vile accusations have been sent to the family online. The majority of comments left on Ellie's page have been filled with hope and support for Cleo to be found. However, Jake's Facebook has become a stomping ground for sick trolls to voice their accusations against the couple. Other users have been reporting the comments, but many of them have stayed on the page and are now days old. Commenters have accused them of withholding information from the police, while others have said the couple should be subject to a polygraph test to "clear your names". Shockingly, one person suggested the couple did not look sad enough during media appearances, which is the same criticism Lindy Chamberlain received during the media search for Azaria. Other comments including the sickening suggestion that Ellie and Jake may have intentionally harmed Cleo. A family friend, who did not wish to be named, branded the comments an “utter disgrace”. “Most of the Facebook comments are being made by parents themselves and I think that’s disgusting,” he told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/cleo-smith/cleo-smith-search-parents-ellie-smith-and-jake-gliddon-target-of-sickening-online-trolls-ng-b882056362z" target="_blank">Perth Now</a>. “Just imagine if it happened to them and they had to read all these horrible comments during undoubtedly the hardest time of their lives." “The police have cleared Jake and Ellie from being suspects. I have known them for years and I can tell you they are the best people I know and my heart aches for them.” He went on to say the trolls who are just "sitting behind their keyboards" should stop the negative and hurtful comments, adding there was "no right way to act when your child is stolen from you". Image credit: 7News

Family & Pets

National disgrace: Report reveals young Aussie gymnasts abused for decades

A new report has revealed the abuse young Australian gymnasts have received for decades, making it the country’s national disgrace. Mostly young girls, have admitted to being molested, abused, and bullied by the same people who hired to protect them. Taxpayer-funded sporting authorities did not intervene for unexplainable reasons. However, some have claimed that they chose to turn a blind eye to the abusive system as they were obsessed with winning. One girl revealed to the just completed Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) review into gymnastics that her male gymnastics coach would press his genitals against her leg while helping her stretch. “When we were being stretched in the gym he would have an erection, which I would feel him pushing repetitively on my hips or back while grunting and sighing,” she said. “He would often stretch me for much longer than the other girls. This was all done so publicly, at an age when you aren’t sure exactly what’s right or wrong or even normal, by someone your own parents respected and told you to respect.” Another young person revealed that her massage therapist sexually abused her when she was just eight or nine years old. “This man abused me in various ways, often with my Mum in the room,” she said. “I would lie face down on the massage table with tears streaming down my face in silence. I remember it being incredibly painful, but I did not want to complain.” The report also revealed that some girls, some who were not yet teenagers, would warn each other about coaches who preyed on gymnasts once they reached puberty. “As a group we tried to have signs and signals to help us avoid it even slightly,” one victim said. “We whispered things like ‘he’s got wandering hands today, try and avoid him if you can.’” Another victim revealed she had been routinely body-shamed, including at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). They ran the country’s national high-performance gymnastics program from 1981-2012. “The first time I was called fat at the AIS, I was 11 years old and weighed 22 kilograms,” she said. “There was another girl in my group who was called fat at nine years old when she weighed 18 kilograms. It goes to show that it really didn’t matter what we looked like or how little we weighed, we were called fat regardless.” Almost 200 past and present gymnasts gave shocking testimonies of their experiences in the sport. The Commission was told: “We know people that have like attempted suicide, people that harm themselves, people that are bulimic, anorexic, because of this. People have been admitted to hospital, been involved with the police, developed psychosis.”

News

TV show Neighbours disgraced as alleged claims of racism leave set

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> Neighbours star Shareena Clanton has slammed Neighbours and its production company for its "non-response" claims to racism on set. Clanton has revealed she has "evidence and documentation" to support the claims announced yesterday. She shared on Instagram saying that she has "clear documentation" of complaints she made to the show's HR department as well as incidents where other actors used the "N-word". Clanton also has evidence of another senior staff member calling himself a "slave-driver" in reference to their working relationship. Her condemnation comes after a second Neighbours star revealed racist incidents they experienced onset from 2014 to 2016. Clanton was furious about Fremantle Media's response, saying it was a "non-response" on Instagram. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CNSmYtLLcvl/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CNSmYtLLcvl/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Shareena Clanton (@shareenaclanton)</a> </div> </blockquote> "The non-response from Fremantle Media held no accountability/action/remorse/reform," she said. “I did not “make up”/“allege” anything. These events happened. I have evidence and documentation that confirm the truth of these racist comments and ongoing disrespectful/inappropriate behaviours/crass comments on @neighbours. “I have no qualms critiquing such power structures. What do I have to gain here by speaking truth to one of the most powerful and multi-million dollar global production houses like Fremantle Media? I’m the one at risk of being blacklisted,” she pointed out. Meyne Wyatt played Nate Kinski and tweeted that the industry "needs to do better". He mentioned a specific incident during his time on the show where the "c-word" was used. “It involved the C word and I called it out and it didn’t happen around me again,” he said, but he added that he walked in on it, “so I have no doubt things were being said behind my back”. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CNUN7kcBbK0/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CNUN7kcBbK0/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Meyne Wyatt (@meyneg)</a> </div> </blockquote> Wyatt was the first Indigenous series regular after 30 years of Australia's best-known TV show and that racist attitudes were "prevalent throughout the industry". “I don’t see a lot of Indigenous actors on the show or on any prime time Television series, whether it be Neighbours, Home and Away, anything on Channel 7, 9 or Ten for that matter,” he added. “Stan and Netflix take note!” “The comments and jokes and innuendos were ridiculous!” he wrote. “It made for a very unsafe environment for anyone in the LGBTQIA+ community and the s*** needs to be stamped out. Racism and Homophobia needs an active and present force behind it to be driven out! Neighbours do better! The Film and TV Industry do better! Australia do better!” </div> </div> </div>

Legal

Melbourne crowd's "disgraceful" act after Djokovic wins 18th Australian Open

A chorus of boos was heard around Rod Laver Arena before Novak Djokovic and Banil Medvedev addressed the crowd following the Australian Open final. Djokovic secured an incredible ninth titled title at Melbourne Park - his 18th grand slam crown - by defeating Medvedev in straight sets as he put on a stunning display in the Victorian capital. Jayne Hrdlicka, the chair of Tennis Australia appeared on stage during the post-match ceremony on Sunday night and would not have been expecting the backlash that erupted over some of her comments. After congratulating the two players, Hdlicka thanked several people while also addressing the pandemic. Needless to say, a few of her remarks were not well received by the Melbourne crowd. The first moment which spurred a negative reaction was Hrdlicka’s mention of the recent COVID-19 vaccine rollout. “It’s been a time of heartfelt challenge. It’s been a time of deep loss and extraordinary sacrifice for everyone,” Hrdlicka said. “With vaccinations on the way, rolling out in many countries around the world, it’s now a time for optimism and hope for the future.” The comment sparked outrage amongst fans, who could be heard booing from the stands. Professor Lisa Harvey-Smith tweeted: “People booing vaccines at the #ausopen need to take a long hard look at their privilege. Disgraceful behaviour.” The crowd once again booed after Hrdlicka thanked the Victorian Government for their support. Premier Daniel Andrews has plenty of supporters in his home state, but there are also many who are unhappy with the strict lockdowns he’s imposed as Victoria fought to prevent the spread of COVID-19. “There are many other people to thank that enabled this great night to take place in the last couple of weeks,” Hrdlicka said. “The top of that list is a Victorian Government, without you we could not have done this.” Spectators repeatedly interrupted Hrdlicka, with the TA chair eventually losing her patience and coldly saying: “When you’re finished …” Hrdlicka added: “You are a very opinionated group of people, but whether you’re at home or here tonight, we are really thankful that you’re here. We look forward to seeing you next year.” There was plenty of criticism reserved for the crowd's response. Former Australian tennis star Rennae Stubbs tweeted: “These fans booing are disgraceful! Honestly!!! Grow up!” Journalist Isabelle Lane posted: “Embarrassing scenes at this #AusOpen presentation. Tennis Australia boss Jayne Hrdlicka booed by parts of crowd when mentioning the coronavirus vaccine rollout and thanking the Victorian government for the event. Hrdlicka notably failed to thank the people of Melbourne/Vic.” Cricket reporter Danyal Rasool tweeted: “Booing the Victorian government, one of the few in the world that actually took the measures that made it possible for them to sit in the crowd to boo in the first place, is a next-level self-awareness fail.”

News

"Absolute disgrace": Sam Newman fumes at Eddie McGuire's exit

Controversial media personality Sam Newman has claimed the way Eddie McGuire has been treated is an "absolute disgrace" after the Collingwood president handed in his resignation on Tuesday afternoon. McGuire faced copious amounts of criticism after his response to a damning report that accused Collingwood of fostering "systemic racism", which ultimately forced him to step down immediately rather than at the end of the season as planned. The 56-year-old was on the verge of tears as he fronted a press conference to announce his resignation. “I tried my best and I don’t always get it right, but I don’t stop trying,” McGuire said. “Today, effective immediately, I step down from the presidency of the Collingwood Football Club. “From the moment I became the president of the Collingwood Football Club on my 34th birthday back in 1998, my sole motivation was to heal, unite, inspire and drive a new social conscience, not just into this club, but sport and the community in general and build an organisation that would be a place for opportunity for all people.” Newman was a longtime panellist on The AFL Footy Show alongside McGuire and the former Geelong ruckman delivered a scathing response to his comrade’s departure. “It is an absolute disgrace what is happening to Eddie McGuire,” Newman told FIVEaa Adelaide on Tuesday. “Eddie McGuire is a great person, a great member of our community here in Melbourne, and in fact, he’s a great Australian. “He might have erred like everyone might have erred, but he’s tried his heart out to rectify what has gone on at that club. “It is completely unfair what they’re doing to him, and they should be ashamed of themselves. “Why would you single him out? He has tried his hardest. He has set up Indigenous foundations at that club. “This has nothing to do with racism … he is being condemned absolutely unfairly by all and sundry, because they think it’s a great, politically-correct, point-scoring opportunity. “They’re invested in chaos and division.” McGuire and veteran AFL reporter Caroline Wilson have endured a love-hate relationship over the years, but the journalist believed the Collingwood boss "hubris" contributed to his downfall. “There were so many things over the past week or so that just went from bad to worse for him,” <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.3aw.com.au/caroline-wilson-responds-to-eddie-mcguires-shock-departure/" target="_blank">Wilson told 3AW on Tuesday</a>. “Even today, unfortunately, there were just a few signs of the hubris that brought him down in the end. “Everything we say is underlined by the fact we know that he did so much good and that the club, in many ways, is in such a better position ... than when Eddie found it. “He came to Collingwood so determined to unite all the factions and you couldn’t say, last week, that’s what he’d done. “You’d have to say last week they were a club savagely divided. “I think that it’s sad that it’s ended like this for him. “From people I’ve been talking to today, the one thing they were all united on, in the end, was that he had to go and they couldn’t possibly get past this until he did go.”

Legal

"Disgraceful": Anti-mask protestors slammed after swarming busy shopping centre

A group of anti-mask protesters who swarmed a popular shopping centre in Bondi Junction on Sunday have been slammed on social media. Footage has been circulating of people holding up signs that read “masks increase your risk of infection!” While marching through the Westfield shopping centre. The irresponsible display didn’t sit well with many including public relations director and socialite Roxy Jacenko who posted footage of the protestors on her Instagram Stories, slamming them as “disgraceful”. “Sorry. But people have died,” she wrote. “Put a f**king mask on. This does not sit well with me.” She was also concerned about the children, who were being taught to disregard the advice of professionals. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> A great way to convince people to wear masks is for the government to make them free for those in need, another is to check out the right wing religious fringe who oppose mask wearing. This from Bondi Junction shops today <a href="https://t.co/VkRqUWIbxF">pic.twitter.com/VkRqUWIbxF</a> — David Shoebridge (@ShoebridgeMLC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShoebridgeMLC/status/1345584985223270401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2021</a></blockquote> NSW Greens MP David Shoebridge also posted footage of the protesters, noting that checking out the “right wing religious fringe” who oppose mask wearing was a great way to convince people to wear masks. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the protesters sang “I would rather be a human than a slave” and “you can stick your sanitiser up your arse”. New restrictions came into effect on Sunday that require people in Greater Sydney to wear a mask in places like shopping centres and on trains. The move to make masks mandatory has been supported by experts including University of New South Wales Professor of Epidemiology Mary-Louise McLaws. “Masks are an important part of the infection prevention bundle,” she told the Today show on Sunday morning. “Making it mandatory takes away the decision making by somebody who may not realise that they have the early phase of COVID, and they can spread it just by breathing out and of course by talking.”

News

Samantha Armytage’s COVID stance deemed “disgraceful”

Samantha Armytage has taken a stance in support of Melbourne’s small business owners in the height of COVID-19 restrictions. Harry Hutchinson risked an almost $10,000 fine to reopen his menswear store in Melbourne, admitting he became tired of the government’s strict restrictions that have seen businesses closed for months. “I don’t mean to be breaking the law, but I feel so strongly about small business surviving... they’re doing it tough, I’m not the only one,” Mr Hutchinson said in an interview during the morning show. “We’ve got to get back to work, the economy has got to survive.” Samantha Armytage defended the rule-breaker, promising Sunrise would do all they could to support him. “You are a wonderful Australian, you are the type of person we all need that we look to, you are hardworking you are honest, we wish you all the best,” she said. Program fans took to social media to quickly slam the breakfast host for supporting someone who blatantly ignored the rules. “Samantha Armytage, how dare you sit up there in Sydney and encourage this person to, in his own words, 'not care',” one person said on Twitter. “He is a bloody salesman not an expert in communicable diseases. All those who visited his shop should be fined also.” Another outraged response said: “Sunrise encouraging people to break the law and risk a 3rd wave and a shop owner who thinks he knows what police are thinking police are sick of people like you who continue to place people at risk of contracting this virus.” A third one added: “This is disgraceful, as to be expected from Sam Armytage and the Seven Network.” There were supportive viewers of the host however who praised Armytage for her support. “Keep reporting these stories,” one person said. “We need to hear more than Government press releases repeated.”

Caring

"Total disgrace": Why Woolies is facing more boycotts

Woolworths customers have responded in fury after more stores transitioned into being completely cashless this week. A trial was announced for 11 stores across Sydney and Melbourne earlier this year and now the grocer has since expanded the move to three more stores. Five of the original 11 stores that have trialled cashless payments have experienced temporary closures, which mean that a total of nine Metro locations currently are enforcing mandatory digital payments. Melbourne’s Bourke Street and Elizabeth Street Metro stores introduced cashless payments in July. On Monday the Caulfield North and Yarraville stores did the same. Sydney Metro stores on York and George Street in the city, as well as Manly, on the Northern Beaches, also made the transition in July. Rosebery in Sydney’s south introduced the change on Monday. Customers have been swift in slamming the new system which they say requires them to pay for their goods using the available EFTPOS machines. One shopper said that she had been a loyal customer to the supermarket for over 20 years and would “shop elsewhere” if Woolies went cashless at any of its stores. “Please consider what you are doing. Giving people the choice to pay with cash is and always will be essential in my view,” her post on the retailer’s Facebook page read. Another shopper said the change was a disadvantage for disabled people, who they said only used cash because “they do not understand when they use a card they are actually spending money”. “You are a total disgrace going card only. Apart from that a lot of older people only use cash,” they wrote. Someone else labelled Woolworths as “the biggest bully out” due to its decisions “I am boycotting Woolworths and any other business who will not accept my legal tender cash. I vow to never attend a Woolworths store again, and instead I will choose to trade with stores who respect me,” one other shopper declared in a post. Other angry customers also argued that it was wrong for the supermarket to refuse cash, as it was “legal tender”. Woolworths says the stores that were subject to a physical cash ban had already been experiencing payments that are predominantly cashless. “We know that cash remains an important payment option for many of our customers and 99.14 per cent of our stores will still accept cash. That is all of our supermarkets and majority of our Metro stores,” a response from a Woolworths employee read. Woolworths has said in a statement that the cashless was brought in to offer a seamless checkout experience “for busy inner-city customers”. “We want Woolworths Metro to be the easiest place to pick up your next meal, top up your grocery shop or buy your next coffee,” a spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia. “To help make shopping as seamless as possible for busy inner-city customers we’re trialling card only transactions in a handful of Metro stores in CBD locations. “We will closely monitor the feedback from our customers as we trial this new offer.”

News

Sam Armytage slammed for “disgraceful” racial comment

A Sunrise segment from 2015 has caused global outrage after resurfacing online amid Black Lives Matter protests, prompted by the unjust death of George Floyd. Twitter user Wolverine reshared a controversial clip, which showed Samantha Armytage criticised for a comment during an interview with British non-identical twins Lucy and Maria Aylmer. The post has now been shared more than 32K times, and has even made news in the UK. “The Aylmer twins come from a mixed race family in the UK,” Sam said to introduce the twins at the time. “Maria has taken after her half-Jamaican mum with dark skin, brown eyes and curly, dark hair but Lucy got her dad's fair skin – good on her – along with straight red hair and blue eyes.” The “good on her” comment immediately prompted a side-eyed glance from co-host David Koch and sparked a furore on social media. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Can't believe this was said on Australian national TV <a href="https://t.co/HknWrhES48">pic.twitter.com/HknWrhES48</a> — WOLVERINE (@EttyTweets) <a href="https://twitter.com/EttyTweets/status/1268844020559753216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2020</a></blockquote> Samantha Armytage did apologise for the comment in April 2015, saying she would be “mortified if anyone thought I would say or think anything racist”. “It's not in my nature. To anyone who I might have offended, I'm sorry,” she said. However, her apology has not stopped the clip from being met with renewed anger after she copped a lashing from people online who labelled her “racist” and “offensive”. “What in God’s name did I just hear?!? Sam Armytage are you serious??? Wow,” one person said on Twitter. “This is disgraceful. you should be ashamed of yourself,” another added. “Omg. I literally froze like wtf when she said “good on her”. That’s like deep rooted embedded racism,” a third angry comment read. Another said: “What a tremendously STUPID thing to say! You insulted BOTH these girls (& the entire Black community) with that ridiculous statement!” Channel Seven and Sam Armytage have been contacted for comment.

News

Our Partners

Over 60

News

Shop

Catalogues

Contests

Entertainment

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Property

Games

Information

Keep up to date

Search

"Yet another disgrace": Rolf Harris’ net worth revealed

"Disgraceful": Government red tape causes funeral to be cancelled

Disgraced Olympian sentenced over failed drug plot

“Truly disgraceful”: Landlord cops backlash after posting photo of evicted tenant

Disgraced police officer Roger Rogerson dies

"Disgraced actor, bully, monster": Craig McLachlan opens up on assault allegations

“A disgrace”: Grace Tame slams Scott Morrison

“What a disgrace”: Grace Tame slams footy star’s child abuse verdict

Disgraced TV star tracked down after fleeing Australia

“You’re a disgrace”: Young activist confronts Scott Morrison

Grieving family slam Senator’s “disgraceful” Covid vaccine claim

"Utter disgrace": Online trolls target Cleo Smith's parents

National disgrace: Report reveals young Aussie gymnasts abused for decades

TV show Neighbours disgraced as alleged claims of racism leave set

Melbourne crowd's "disgraceful" act after Djokovic wins 18th Australian Open

"Absolute disgrace": Sam Newman fumes at Eddie McGuire's exit

"Disgraceful": Anti-mask protestors slammed after swarming busy shopping centre

Samantha Armytage’s COVID stance deemed “disgraceful”

"Total disgrace": Why Woolies is facing more boycotts

Sam Armytage slammed for “disgraceful” racial comment

Our Partners