NSW: Govt wants opposition to apologise to paedophile's victims

AAP General News (Australia)
12-08-2004
NSW: Govt wants opposition to apologise to paedophile's victims

SYDNEY, Dec 8 AAP - The NSW government today called on opposition frontbencher Andrew
Tink to apologise to victims of a convicted paedophile after he took up the criminal's
cause.

Mr Tink, who is the opposition's legal affairs spokesman, lodged a complaint with the
NSW Judicial Commission protesting against a decision by former Supreme Court judge Jeff
Shaw to deny a review of Roger Cheney's case.

Cheney was convicted in 1995 of sexually molesting young children, kidnapping and acts
of indecent assault.

NSW Attorney-General Bob Debus today asked that Mr Tink apologise for "callously" taking
up the cause.

"We need to know why he spent taxpayers' money and time defending Cheney who was convicted
of kidnapping, indecent assault and rape?" Mr Debus said.

"We need to know why he refuses to apologise to victims."

But opposition leader John Brogden today said Mr Tink had not endorsed the criminal's
cause but simply referred his letter on.

"Andrew Tink has not endorsed and does not support the application made by this convicted
child molester," Mr Brogden told reporters.

"He simply passed the correspondence on to the proper authority, that's all he's done."

After his conviction, Cheney's appeal was dismissed and he was refused special leave
to appeal again.

A petition brought forward by the Goulburn jail inmate in March was dismissed by Justice Shaw.

Mr Shaw has since resigned after being charged with drink driving and negligent driving.

Mr Tink, who has argued for mandatory sentencing for sexual assault offenders, last
month lodged a complaint with the NSW Judicial Commission on Mr Cheney's behalf.

He has said Mr Shaw's involvement did not prompt the action.

AAP tam/nf/bes/bwl

KEYWORD: SHAW

2004 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.