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Tolerance for sexual offenses? There is so much of it, and there always has been. Pack-rape is a tradition in some parts of Australia, and until the mid-1970s, evidence laws requiring "collaboration" of evidence made it near impossible to get a conviction. In recent times, they might get convicted, but they don't get punished by the legal system, or rejected by the community.

The rape and murder of Leigh Leigh, on the northern beaches of NSW, is a case in point. Everyone knew that she had been pack-raped prior to her murder, but only one man was charged. The community she was in regarded these offenses as part of the "beach culture" of surfie gangs.

Even more serious is the case of Leslie Camilleri. This person had no less than 146 convictions for various types of criminal offenses, but never spent time in jail. Then in Sept 1998 he finally got sentenced for a month, but was given weekend detention, because he "wanted to play cricket." He then repeated raped an 11 year old girl, and was tried for that in Yass NSW. After lengthy questioning of his victim, he appeared due for conviction, so the Judge and Prosecutor agreed to drop the case. They said that they were "concerned" that because of media publicity to other pedophile cases in NSW, he might not be getting a fair trial.

So he walked. He then teamed up with another offender Lindsay Beckett, who also was a sex offender, and who was also on "weekend detention." In Oct 1997 they went down to Bega and picked up two girls, aged only 14 and 16. The girls were raped and tortured before being killed.

Where was the community outrage? No where. Only one journalist wrote a hostile article ("Resign Your Honour" Mike Carlton, SMH April 1999.) That judge, Justice Kirkham, and that Crown Prosecutor, Gordon Lerve, retain their positions. Even the families of the dead girls who were very sad about their decision, did not threaten or denounce them.

The sexual assaults of women in the Aborginal community are too well known to require comment. Recently, an Aboriginal who raped his 2 year old niece, then handed her over to another relative to be raped again, got only 13 years. With parole, he will be out in 6. By contrast, armed robbery, before the same court, can draw sentences of 15 to 18 years.

This goes all the way to the highest in the land. We all know that Geoff Clarke, elected representative of the indigenous community, is alleged to have assaulted many women. At a recent press conference, a prominent Aboriginal woman said that Clarke was a fine man and that the victims should "get over it."

But why pick on the Aboriginals? Why not look to the highest judicial officer in the land, our Governor General. A former Anglican Bishop, he played a role in covering up a series of sexual offenses by church employees.

BV, in a bit of a rush, so I can only touch upon some of your issues:

..tolerance for sexual offenses? There is so much of it, and there always has been...

I have to strongly dispute that. I cannot imagine what kind of circles you move in, to have formed that view.

...pack-rape is a tradition in some parts of Australia...

The only places I can think of where that holds true are Aboriginal communities, like Doomagee and Mornington Island, from where I've heard first-hand accounts of such events. No way is it a 'tradition' in Anglo Australia.

..the rape and murder of Leigh Leigh, on the northern beaches of NSW, is a case in point. Everyone knew that she had been pack-raped prior to her murder, but only one man was charged. The community she was in regarded these offenses as part of the "beach culture" of surfie gangs....

Absolutely not. That failure was due to the incompetence of the investigating police, not Newcastle culture. Will return to address the remainder of your very interesting post tomorrow.