IN BRIEF – November 8, 2018

SCRAR to hold Q&A about refugees

SURFCOAST Rural Australians for Refugees (SCRAR) is hosting a Q&A session in Torquay to inform people on the impacts of indefinite detention of kids and adults on Nauru. A panel of four people with first-hand experience working with asylum seekers and refugees both in Australia and on Nauru will answer questions. The session will be held at Torquay Community House, 14 Price Street on Wednesday, November 14 from 6.30-8pm. RSVP by phoning the Torquay Community House on 5261 2583.

Henderson leaps back into pool debate

CORANGAMITE federal member Sarah Henderson has launched a petition calling for the Surf Coast Shire to support an aquatic centre in Torquay. The petition comes about a week after the Liberal Nationals and Labor pledged $10 million for the facility on the same day if their respective parties won this month’s state election. Ms Henderson – who has criticised the shire repeatedly for what she says is the council’s inaction on the issue – said the shire only had until Thursday, November 15 to apply for a matching $10 million grant from the federal government’s Building Better Regions Program. The petition is at sarahhenderson.com.au/surf-coast-aquatic-centre.

IBAC charges two police officers

THE Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) has charged two Victoria Police officers with a range of offences including perjury, misconduct in public office, and obtaining property by deception and theft. Two officers, an inspector and a sergeant, were charged with 23 offences on October 1. The charges are the result of an IBAC investigation,
Operation Salina, into allegations that a police officer fraudulently took possession of a number of vacant properties. The matter concerning the sergeant is scheduled to start at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on November 26, and proceedings for the inspector are scheduled to commence at Geelong Magistrates’ Court on February 5, 2019.