Child abuse
‘Wilful blindness’: Big fines for tech giants that ignore abuse material
Companies such as Apple, Microsoft, Google and Meta face fines of almost $800,000 a day if they don’t come clean on their progress in combating child exploitation and sex abuse material on their platforms.
- by Angus Thompson
Latest
Editorial
For subscribers
Ugly Australians are helping to drive Filipino online child sex trade
In a shameful claim to infamy, Australians are the third-biggest users of the Philippines online child sex trade.
- The Herald's View
Exclusive
Crime
The children for sale – and the Australians who exploit them
Anna and her two cousins were repeatedly abused by family members for online customers to see. Warning: This story contains distressing content.
- by Clare Sibthorpe and Daniel Ceng
Toddler murderer sentenced to 32 years behind bars
Brendan Pallant, 36, had been found guilty of bashing a toddler to death after moving in with the boy’s mother.
- by Melissa Meehan
‘Horrifying’: Alarm over NSW’s child protection failures
A scathing report by the NSW Ombudsman has raised a raft of concerns about children in care.
- by Amber Schultz
Daughter of acclaimed author Alice Munro alleges sexual abuse by stepfather
The Nobel Prize winner’s daughter says her mother stood by her husband when she was told of the abuse. The Canadian author died eight weeks ago.
- by Elizabeth A. Harris
Investigation
For subscribers
Inside the AI ‘deepnude’ apps infiltrating Australian schools
The websites are currently legal in Australia, but many do not have adequate controls preventing them from generating images of children.
- by David Swan
Judge lashes Xavier College’s ‘troubling’ conduct in school abuse claim
The victim, a 69-year-old who cannot be named for legal reasons, successfully appealed an agreement struck in 2011 between him and the Society of Jesus in Australia.
- by David Estcourt
‘We failed’: Victoria flags truth-telling process for child abuse victims
Glen Fearnett hoped for change after he spoke out about being abused at a Melbourne school. Victim-survivors will now be given a platform to tell their stories.
- by Bridie Smith and Rachel Eddie
Exclusive
Courts
Stepmother jailed for bashing six-year-old WA girl over the head with cricket ball stuffed in a sock
A Perth woman has been jailed for 18 months after violently beating her six-year-old stepdaughter, leaving horrific bruises.
- by Rebecca Peppiatt
Exclusive
Crime
Abuse victim sues parole board for letting paedophile priest access children
A man abused by notorious priest Michael Glennon has launched legal action believed to be the first attempt in Victoria to extend culpability for historical clerical abuse.
- by Chip Le Grand