Dear Mr Bissett

Thank you for your email of 19 March 2005.

Thank you for pointing out the error in our story. Immediate steps were taken
to correct the transcript on the website and remove the audio link. The
reporter has been counselled and acknowledges the error and the need for
absolute accuracy in reporting.

The story itself did deal with many of the issues you raise, especially the
retrospectivity and lack of discretion in the regulations.

Thank you again for raising this matter with the ABC.

Yours sincerely

Kieran Doyle
ABC Audience and Consumer Affairs


>To: currentaffairs@your.abc.net.au
>Date: Sat, 19 Mar 2005 06:48:46 +1100
>Subject: Andrew Phillips was not CONVICTED of a sex offence
>Priority: normal
>X-mailer: Pegasus Mail for Windows (4.21a)
>
>Attention: PM producers
>
>On PM last night it was reported: "a teacher who had to leave his job because
>he was convicted of a sex offence 13 years ago". It is a key issue in this
>debate that no conviction was recorded in 1992.
>See http://www.theage.com.au/handheld/articles/2005/03/16/1110913662789.html
>amongst others.
>
>I think this is an important point because the legislation appears to me to
>be a case of retrospective gefingerpoken in our justice system by the Bracks
>government. That makes this sacking a much more substantial issue in my
>opinion.
>
>-- 

>R. J. (George) Bissett
>Blog: http://tramtown.blogspot.com/