An aged care worker has avoided a conviction for hiding tobacco inside her bra and smuggling it into a Geelong prison. Deanne Sobey, 30, was visiting her partner at Marngoneet Correctional Centre when the incident occurred on March 31 last year. The Geelong Magistrates’ Court heard prison authorities caught the woman in the act as she handed two small balloons containing tobacco to her partner, who was serving a sentence at the jail. The man swallowed one of the packages before guards swooped on the pair and searched Sobey, who was found with a further four balloons on her body. Sobey pleaded guilty on Monday to a charge of attempting to introduce tobacco to a prison. Defence lawyer Ronald Davis said his client was pressured to smuggle the tobacco at hands of her partner, who was a long-term smoker. “He put quite a bit of force on her and she felt compelled,” Mr Davis said. “She knows that it was wrong.” The court heard the incident led to the man being moved to another prison, while Sobey was banned from visiting him. Mr Davis urged the court to spare Sobey a conviction amid concerns about the effect it could have on her employment within the aged care industry. Magistrate Peter Mellas said the offending was serious, but noted Sobey had pleaded guilty and did not have a prior criminal record. He chose not to impose a conviction as he fined Sobey $1000. “You need to think very long and hard about what happened here,” Mr Mellas said.
February 25, 2020
RSLWA chief executive John McCourt was punched in the head and called a racist by a stranger on Friday night as anger over a new Anzac Day policy turned violent. Mr McCourt yesterday described the last 24 hours as “the worst of my life” — as RSLWA continues to get roasted over a new policy that discourages the organisation’s 130 branches from holding Acknowledgement of Country services and flying the Aboriginal flag at Anzac Day and Remembrance Day services. “I was accosted on my way home last night,” the 65-year-old said.
February 24, 2020
A s.185 (Enterprise agreement) application from St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland for the St Vincent De Paul Society Queensland Employee Agreement 2020 (Social, community, home care and disabilities services) has been approved by Deputy President Saunders in Newcastle on 21 February 2020.
February 24, 2020
A s.185 (Enterprise agreement) application from Glenn-Craig Villages Pty Ltd T/A CraigCare for its Glenn-Craig Villages Pty Ltd (Trading as CraigCare) ANMF and HSU Emperies Agreement 2019 has been granted by Fair Work Deputy President Masson in Melbourne on 21 February 2020.
February 24, 2020
Rochester and Elmore District Health Service has a s.394 (Application for unfair dismissal remedy) to defend before Commissioner McKinnon in Court 3 – Level 6 and Conference Room B – Level 6 in Melbourne (Gleeson).
February 24, 2020
A s.365 (General protections) order sought by Amy Tickle against Tricare Labrador Aged Care Pty Ltd has been granted by Deputy President Boyce in Sydney on 21 February 2020. Case synopsis: Application to deal with contraventions involving dismissal – request for extension of time to file application – combined reasons for delay give rise to exceptional circumstances – extension granted.
February 24, 2020
Wellington’s Regional Healthy Housing Group has appointed it’s first Executive Officer. Amanda Scothern, who is currently the Programme Manager for Timor Leste with the International Women’s Development Agency in Melbourne will take up the role in early April.
February 24, 2020
After the Bell Aus Pty Ltd has a s.394 (Application for unfair dismissal remedy) on its legal desk for answering before Deputy President Young in Court 4 – Level 6 and Conference Room C – Level 6 in Melbourne (Dufty).
