1) Dan Oakes, Comedian objects to ‘brutal’ police, The Age, March 5, 2007:
“COMEDIAN Rod Quantock has lashed out at the “brutal and terrifying” police he says beat him and traumatised his daughter at the S11 protests in 2000…”
2) Natasha Robinson, Radical protesters get secret payout, The Australian, March 5, 2007:
“A SECRETLY negotiated $700,000 compensation payment to S11 riot protesters who sued police for damages has been branded a “good outcome” by the Victorian Premier amid fury from the state’s police union and the Opposition…”
3) Australian anti-globalisation protesters to get payout, Reuters, March 4, 2007:
“CANBERRA March 5 (Reuters) – Protesters who accused Australian police of using violent tactics at a World Economic Forum meeting have received a A$700,000 ($546,000) payment to end legal claims, prompting warnings the money set a bad example…”
4) Karen Collier, Police defend S11 payout, Herald Sun, March 5, 2007:
“VICTORIA Police is standing by a secret deal to pay $700,000 to S11 riot protesters. The force insists a settlement to end action against hundreds of officers accused of brutality during clashes outside the World Economic Forum in 2000 is appropriate…”
5) Bracks defends payout to injured demonstrators, ABC, March 5, 2007:
“Victorian Premier Steve Bracks says a decision to payout about $700,000 to demonstrators injured during violent protests six years ago was made based on independent advice…”
6) Jane Cowan, Vic Govt settles court case with injured S11 protesters, The World Today (ABC), March 5, 2007:
“ELEANOR HALL: Let’s go now to Victoria, and the State Government has agreed to a confidential settlement with protesters injured in the S11 demonstrations in 2000.
The deal reportedly includes a $700,000 payout, but police insist it’s not an admission that they were too heavy-handed, and they say they won’t be changing their style in future…”
7) Peter Mickelburough, Carly Crawford and Paul Anderson, Police heroes forgotten, Herald Sun, March 6, 2007:
“THE Bracks Government is facing a fresh political storm after approving payouts to wild protesters while dozens of police officers battle for help after being hurt in the line of duty…”
8) A community protests, Herald Sun, March 6, 2007:
“THE Victorian community has real cause to protest over the $700,000 settlement paid to activists who were among a rioting crowd outside the World Economic Forum in September 2000…”
9) Dan Harrison, Police compo ad attacks top cop, The Age, March 6, 2007:
“Police Association secretary Paul Mullett has fired another salvo in his bitter feud with the state’s top cop, launching a graphic video accusing the Chief Commissioner of denying compensation to injured police…”
10) Shelley Markham, Police step up fight for compo, Herald Sun, March 6, 2007:
“VICTORIA’S police union has stepped up its push for compensation for 26 officers injured on duty but barred from suing under a law that was in force for just two years…”
11) Michael Davis, Traumatised cop outraged by S-11 compensation, Herald Sun, March 6, 2007:
“A FORMER policeman is outraged protesters have been compensated for injuries at the 2000 World Economic Forum while he has waited eight years for compensation for injuries suffered in the line of duty…”
12) S11 police compo call surprises Nixon, The Age (AAP), March 6, 2007:
“Victoria’s police chief has denied claims by the union that officers who incurred injuries while on the job are being denied a compensation payout…”
13) Dan Oakes, Police row boils over on compensation bids, The Age, March 7, 2007:
“THE simmering row between the state’s two most powerful police has boiled over again, with Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon accusing police union secretary Paul Mullett of exploiting officers injured in the course of duty…”
14) Ian Royall, Peter Mickelburough and Shannon McRae, Traders chase G20 riot compo, Herald Sun, March 7, 2007:
“COLLINS St traders are pushing for hundreds of thousands of dollars in compensation because of disruption to business during the G20 riots last November…”
15) Andrew Bolt, Just a seedy deal, Herald Sun, March 7, 2007:
PREMIER Steve Bracks has now made three excuses for secretly paying $700,000 to S11 protesters. And each of them is false.
No, Premier, this wasn’t a decision made on the advice of a “private insurer”.
No, Premier, you’re wrong to say this “doesn’t set any precedent”.
And again, no, Premier, this won’t save us money.
But why are you talking money, anyway, instead of your duty to uphold the law?
Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah… That’s all for now. I’ll be happily butchering Bolt’s contribution tomorrow. Or the day after. Maybe.
