WA MP found guilty of indecently dealing with a child
A jury has found West Australian MP James Hayward guilty of two counts of child sex abuse and acquitted him of two others.
sexual assault
Bruce Lehrmann denies false sex abuse claims are ‘rare’
Expert analysis claiming that false sexual assault complaints aren't common will be opposed by Bruce Lehrmann's lawyers in his cases against two broadcasters.
Sisters hope to put trauma behind them as abuser jailed
Ultra-Orthodox Jewish principal Malka Leifer has been jailed 15 years for sexually abusing two Melbourne sisters when they were students between 2004 and 2007.
Sisters validated after ultra-Orthodox abuser jailed
Sisters sexually abused and groomed by their former ultra-Orthodox Jewish principal Malka Leifer felt validated as a judge jailed her for 15 years.
Catholic Church can be sued by Pell accuser’s family
The Catholic Church has lost its challenge over a ruling opening it to liability for damages in a claim brought by the father of an alleged sexual abuse victim.
High-profile rape accused seeks to keep name suppressed
A high-profile man accused of rape will seek a suppression order in response to pending legislative changes in Queensland that might release his name.
Former childcare worker on more than 1600 charges
A former childcare worker's matter has been brought before Brisbane Magistrates Court after he was accused of committing more than 1600 child abuse offences.
MP fighting child abuse charges ‘confessed to wife’
West Australian MP James Hayward sent an email to his wife admitting child abuse before he was charged, his trial has been told.
‘Impulsive’ serial sex offender to remain behind bars
A serial sex offender with a long history of randomly attacking women in supermarkets and hospitals will stay on a detention order.
Chief monk faces court over child sex abuse at temples
A chief incumbent monk has been charged with 13 sex offences allegedly perpetrated against three children he met at two Melbourne temples almost 30 years ago.
Pauline Hanson overturns $250k defamation loss
Pauline Hanson has had a court win after three judges found her claims ex-One Nation senator Brian Burston sexually abused staff were substantially true.
Chief monk faces court over child sex abuse at temple
A chief incumbent monk has been charged with 13 sex offences allegedly perpetrated against three children he met at a Melbourne temple more than 20 years ago.
Diary bared ex-teacher’s alleged underage relationships
A former English teacher's alleged child abuse of four of his students across two decades was exposed after a mother stumbled across her daughter's diary.
Phone data sought in high-profile man’s rape case
A request by a high-profile man accused of rape to access months of data from his alleged victim's mobile phone is still being considered, a court has heard.
No red flags when alleged childcare abuser sought card
"Appropriate steps were taken" in the screening of a former childcare worker facing over 1600 abuse charges, Queensland's attorney-general has told a hearing.
Sergeant accused of rape, creating child abuse material
Investigators are seeking to extradite a Victorian police officer from Queensland after he was charged with a further 78 offences.
FBI agents’ murder leads to Australian pedophile busts
The murder of two FBI agents by a pedophile computer programmer unearthed an elaborate global online child abuse network extending to Australia.
FIFO worker jailed for five years over mining camp rape
Former BHP employee Ryan John Zabaznow has been jailed for more than five years after a jury found him guilty of raping a workmate at a Pilbara mining camp.
Accused child abuser faces court from aged care bed
An elderly accused child sexual offender has faced a Melbourne court from an aged care bed in Queensland over the historical abuse of seven boys.
Almost 200 Victorian schools facing child abuse claims
A law firm is pursuing action against multiple Victorian schools after hundreds of former students made historical abuse allegations.
Dark web link to childcare worker’s 1623 abuse charges
Police have revealed details of the long, painstaking operation that led to an ex-Gold Coast childcare worker being charged with 1623 offences against children.
Beale’s bail varied so he can chase French rugby offer
Suspended Wallaby Kurtley Beale has had his bail varied awaiting trial on sexual assault allegations, so he's able to take up an offer to play rugby in France.
No silver bullet to improve understanding of consent
Addressing stubbornly high sexual assault rates and low convictions will require more than just law changes, consent advocates and legal experts have warned.
Minister backs national overhaul of sexual consent laws
The social services minister says there needs to be stronger sexual consent education and she will work with universities to reduce on-campus assaults.
Gillard’s ex Tim Mathieson to admit to sexual assault
Australia's former 'first bloke' Tim Mathieson will plead guilty to committing a sexual assault before his split with Julia Gillard became public.
Senator clears up position on reporting rapes to police
Former Liberal minister Linda Reynolds has clarified her stance on potential law changes that could impact a rape survivor's decision to make a police report.
Julia Gillard’s ex-partner to admit to sexual assault
Australia's former 'first bloke' Tim Mathieson will plead guilty to a sexual assault charge as he faced a Melbourne court.
Universities grilled on canned sexual consent campaign
Universities Australia has defended a decision to stop the rollout of a consent campaign, saying it would need to do additional focus group testing.
Ex-deputy principal jailed over explicit teen chats
A former deputy principal has been jailed for explicit chats online in which he sought sex with an undercover cop he believed was a 14-year-old girl.
Justice system ‘protects the bad guys’ in rape cases
The delicate balance between protecting an accused's right to innocence and a complainant's right to justice in rape cases is being examined by parliament.
Judge rejects ex-teacher’s ‘bizarre’ teen text claims
A former deputy principal's claims he posted an online ad seeking teens to make his ex-partner jealous has been criticised as "bizarre" and "preposterous".