The Sydney Morning Herald smh.com.

au Friday, March 28, 2008 News 9

Court
Pensioner strikes
car rego out Jones
offence
review Bellinda Kontominas
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THE radio broadcaster Alan

Jones has had his conviction for
naming a juvenile in a criminal

revealed
matter dismissed by a court.
Mr Jones, who did not appear in
court yesterday, had been found
in contempt of court, fined $1000
and put on a nine-month good-
behaviour bond after paraphras-
ing an article in The Daily Tele-
Adele Horin
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ation from the RTA’s records access graph that named the youngster,
unit said that an ‘‘ongoing review who was a witness in a rape trial.
THE State Government is con- into all fees and charges, including But Judge Michael Finnane
ducting a secret review of its all concessions’’ was being conduc- overturned the conviction at the
pensioner exemptions for car ted by David Putt, the general Downing Centre District Court
registration fees even though manager, strategy and systems. yesterday.
the Minister for Roads, Eric It said Ann King, a group gen- Although he said Mr Jones and
Roozendaal, ruled out any eral manager in the RTA’s licens- the broadcaster Harbour Radio
changes before the state elec- ing, registration and freight
tion last year. directorate, would include the as-
The Roads and Traffic Auth- sociation in consultations regard-
ority, in a letter to the Combined ing the ‘‘current review of
Pensioners and Superannuants pensioner concessions’’. It also
Association of NSW dated March said she would notify the associ-
3, acknowledged that it was con- ation of the review’s outcome. View finder ... Helen Cross, a professional photographer, helps Sue McLeod come to grips with a digital camera. Photo: David Jenkins
ducting a ‘‘current review of pen- The association’s policy co-
sioner concessions’’. ordinator, Paul Versteege, said
NSW is the only state to exempt
pensioners from paying any fees
or taxes on vehicle registrations.
As the population ages and self-
funded retirees move onto the age
clearly the Government and the
RTA were thinking about the
exemptions, and that was not
necessarily a bad thing. ‘‘If the sys-
tem is not changed it will collapse
Blind use cameras to capture their world Alan Jones ... acted honestly.
pension under new federal eligi- and the hardest hit will be those Jane Lyons
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The results will be on display at student, Ms Cross is infuriated by
bility rules, the Government has pensioners on very low incomes.’’ a four-day exhibition that opened people’s attitudes. ‘‘What are had breached the law, he dis-
become concerned about a surge The scheme, which saves indi- WHEN Sue McLeod takes on Wednesday at Customs House [blind people] going to get out of missed the charge on the
in pensioner concessions. The viduals about $260, cost the state photographs, there are two in Circular Quay. it? That’s the biggest one. grounds that Jones was generally
Treasurer, Michael Costa, warned $166 million in forgone revenue things she can’t leave home ‘‘We are delighted to be Actually, they are getting a hell of of good character and had not
last June of their ‘‘frightening’’ ef- in 2005-06. It is under pressure without. Digital camera? Check. running this initiative, which a lot out of it,’’ she said. acted dishonestly by making the
fect on the budget. because the number of people in Seeing-eye cane? Check. enables participants to gain ‘‘They can still take photos, broadcast.
The RTA is known to be con- NSW aged 65 and over is set to Blind since a meningitis attack important skills and exposure to have them printed and somebody Judge Finnane said that by
cerned that the concessions are double, reaching 2 million by at the age of three, Ms McLeod is a great creative medium whilst talks them through it. Why naming the juvenile during a
being exploited, and said in a 2044. Changes to the pension aware of the raised eyebrows she also enhancing the community’s shouldn’t they be allowed to have broadcast that had lasted merely
ministerial briefing note last year assets test introduced by the Fed- receives. ‘‘Really? Really, Sue?’’ awareness of social issues in an archive of their memories too?’’ minutes, Mr Jones’s comments
that 64,000 vehicles exempt from eral Government in September she says, parodying the sceptics. Sydney,’’ said Doug Taylor of Ms McLeod, who says she is ‘‘did not materially add to the
fees were registered to pensioners also brought about 25,800 self- ‘‘Yeah,’’ she responds defiantly, ‘‘I United Way Sydney, which hooked on photography and damage already caused’’ by the
who did not hold a driver’s li- funded retirees in NSW onto the can take photos.’’ launched the project. hopes to have her own camera publication in The Daily
cence, 800 cars worth $45,000 or pension rolls. Couples with assets Ms McLeod, 40, is part of Local When United Way approached some day, believes it has given Telegraph.
more were exempt, and 524 worth $849,000 excluding their Eyes – Our Community Through Trish Wetton, the head of the her more than another skill set. ‘‘Whilst it was no excuse from
exempt vehicles had ‘‘personal- home qualify for some pension. A Different Lens, a photography Forsight Foundation, she was not ‘‘To be honest with you, my liability in law that Mr Jones re-
ised plus’’ number plates at a cost The president of the National project that is equal parts self- sure how Ms McLeod and the two Snap ... visual records aren’t only for the sighted. Photo: Sue McLeod attitude is stronger towards lied on The Daily Telegraph, the
of at least $400 a year. Welfare Rights Network, Michael expression, art therapy and other blind participants could things, more confident,’’ she said. fact that he did, to some extent
But Mr Roozendaal, asked about Raper, said the swelling of pen- social conscience. take part. the eye of the beholder – or The response, Ms Cross said, Once afraid to venture beyond ameliorates the seriousness of
the RTA review, again denied that sioner ranks with people with high Forty-five children and adults ‘‘It really wasn’t for blind people helper. ‘‘There are other ways to was dramatic. ‘‘I thought at first the footpath bisecting her local the offence,’’ Judge Finnane said.
changes were planned. A spokes- incomes and assets could ‘‘put at from a range of disability, to participate in, but they gave it to take pictures without seeing,’’ we would never get past the point park, Ms McLeod has recently ‘‘I have also found that he
woman said the Government was risk the future of these state con- rehabilitation and social justice me and I sat down and thought, she said. ‘‘We worked on all the of point and click, but they really returned from New Zealand, her acted honestly, and that he had a
‘‘committed to maintaining these cessions for the full-rate pen- organisations were given digital ‘Now, how can I utilise this other senses; we worked on wanted to know, ‘how can I do first overseas trip. belief that what he was doing was
concessions for those in genuine sioners who desperately rely on cameras and taught how to use initiative?’’’ she said. ‘‘I started off sound and smell, touch.’’ this?’. Sue was a little bit more up ‘‘If we talk about things, you go lawful, but this belief was not
need’’. An RTA spokesman said the them’’. Pensioners who qualify for them. They were then paired with as the person that would be their She also taught one of against it because she suffers from to explore it, you don’t wait for us based on reasonable grounds.’’
review had not been endorsed by concessions now range from a professional photographer who eyes and then Helen took over.’’ photography’s most important cerebral palsy and she was quite to guide you to find it,’’ Ms But the conviction was dispro-
the RTA executive group, was singles receiving the full pension guided them through their artistic However, Helen Cross, the languages: emotion. ‘‘How you weak . . . she absolutely blew me Wetton said. ‘‘It’s [photography] portionate to the seriousness of
never brought to the attention of of about $14,000 to singles who brief: a self-portrait, a day in your photojournalist who mentored interpret a picture, how you away by the end of it.’’ given them another conceptual the offence.
the chief executive, and was with- have private income of up to life, and people, places and Ms McLeod, quickly taught her emotionally feel about something Having watched the technical feeling – another dimension to Judge Finnane said Mr Jones
out status. The letter to the associ- $40,000 a year. moments that make your day. that photography was not all in – that can be a picture.’’ and emotional changes in her the edge of the path.’’ was unlikely to reoffend.

Conman Foster challenges sentence

THE conman Peter Foster is ap- extended to build a fake Fijian still could be extradited to
erie nce
pealing against his jail sentence
for money laundering, com-
resort, was sent to Foster’s
Australian bank account, trig-
Micronesia to face charges there
– but it is not the charge to which
da y ex p © Disn
ey
hol i
plaining the court punished
him too severely, and for the
gering federal anti-money-
laundering laws.
he pleaded guilty in Australia.
‘‘What he should be sentenced
yo ur dream
wrong offence.
In December Foster was
Yesterday Foster’s barrister,
Anthony Glynn, SC, told the
for is money-laundering,’’ Mr
Glynn said, or receiving the pro- Create
sentenced to 41/2-years’ jail in Court of Appeal the sentencing ceeds of his fraud in Australia.
Queensland for receiving more judge put too much emphasis on The panel of three judges re-
than $300,000 he swindled the fraud against the Bank of the served their decision to a date
from a Micronesian bank. The Federated States of Micronesia. to be fixed.
money, from a line of credit Foster admits the fraud – and Tim Dick

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