THE DAWN ROWAN SAGA

MARCH 2011: MINISTER REFUSES ANY ACT OF GRACE PAYMENT

2011-03-09T14:49:00.000-08:00

LETTER FROM MINISTER GARY GRAY (2ND MARCH 2011) AND DAWN ROWAN’S RESPONSES

Preamble

The attached is a point-by-point set of responses from Dawn Rowan to the Minister’s letter refusing any compensation for the abuses perpetrated on her by the Commonwealth Government.

My (Dawn Rowan’s) responses are preceded by ==>> and highlight the deliberate efforts to mislead in the Minister’s 1½ page letter. I take full and sole responsibility for all the comments here.

==>> The original judgment by Justice Debelle found all four parties – the SA Government, Commonwealth Government, Channel 10 and the ABC TV - guilty and liable for my costs. The Appeal Court (three judges) reversed the liability of the Commonwealth and the two Television networks. The State of South Australia and its representatives remained the guilty party: but these three judges made me responsible (as the innocent party) for my costs (approx. $475,000) and the costs of these three parties. The guilty party – the SA Government – was ordered to pay only its costs! Bizarre!

==>> Further background factual information: see the original 300-page judgment - http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/sa/SASC/2002/160.html
Also this summary of the Saga: http://jmm.aaa.net.au/articles/4728.htm

****

HON GARY GRAY AO MP

Special Minister of State

Special Minister of State for the Public Service and Integrity

Ms Dawn Rowan

PO Box 60
ST ANDREWS VIC 3761

REF: C10/1768

Dear Ms Rowan

I am writing in reference to your request for an act of grace payment of approximately $3.5m for alleged psychological injury and financial loss due to the Commonwealth initiating legal action and bankruptcy proceedings and the alleged delay in removing an injunction over your funds.

Dawn Rowan’s response: ==>> This document is malicious, designed to injure/assassinate. Alleged psychological injury? My medical reports provide overwhelming factual evidence of the appalling psychological injuries I have sustained over the past 25 years.

==>> Alleged delay? For five years the Federal Government chose to keep my assets frozen: so that I was not able to freely access bank accounts and any other resources.

In reaching my decision, I have considered the information provided in your correspondence of 10 June 2010 and 2 November 2010, several letters of support and advice from my Department. I am aware of the circumstances of your involvement with the Commonwealth and the decisions made by the former Minister for Finance and Deregulation, the Hon Lindsay Tanner.

==>> ‘Aware of the circumstances?’ I have appealed for any documentation attached to be used by the Minister in arriving at his decision, to be made available to me for comment. Response? Refusal. Therefore this minister has come to this decision based on two documents submitted by me out of a 25-year legal process and thousands of pages of documents in the Commonwealth’s possession. Departmental documents provided to me by Hon. Jenny Macklin and Lindsay Tanner contain evidence of a malicious campaign conducted by some bureaucrats against me. For example: a comment – against medical reports – by some bureaucrats in Jenny Macklin’s department that “Ms Rowan is not suicidal because there is no evidence of her having attempted suicide’!!!!

You have stated: “I believe that the Annulment of the Bankruptcy, rather than a simple waiver of the debt, acknowledges that the procedures by the Commonwealth were improper and should never have occurred at all. It would follow logically that the Commonwealth accepts liability for the extreme suffering on a day-to-day basis I have experienced since 2005”.

I note that you maintain that the Commonwealth bears some liability to you despite the finding of the Full Court of the Supreme Court of South Australia in which the Commonwealth was cleared from any liability upon appeal. It is my view that the appeal decision is the final and operative position regarding the Commonwealth’s legal involvement with you. While I consider that you did not frivolously or vexatiously take action against the Commonwealth, you did so knowingly, and the order for costs is an ordinary consequence of such action.

==>> ‘Cleared from any liability’? This is a cowardly statement – hiding behind a legal rather than a moral argument. My application for an act of grace payment was at all times based on MORAL not legal considerations.

==>> Knowingly? What choice does an innocent person have, when scandalized in full public glare with false allegations made about them of sexual abuse, financial corruption, and unethical work practices released under parliamentary privilege (‘coward’s castle’)? AND DEFENDED FOR 25 YEARS BY THE PERPETRATORS AS ‘JUSTIFIED’... even after all allegations had been proved false and malicious in court?

==>> This ignores the fact that the three judges conducting the appeal did not disclose previous associations with the guilty parties in this disgraceful episode of character assassination and abuse of political power. It is a criminal offence for judges not to disclose any association with people before the court.

==>> Their ‘unbiassed judgment’, strangely, overturned the previous finding of Malice by the only Supreme Court judge – Justice Debelle – to have read the all the evidence and to have heard all the witnesses.

==>> How can FIVE Government departments (Police Department, Corporate Affairs Commission, Crown Solicitor’s Office and Community Welfare in SA. and one Commonwealth Government – Community Services) ‘lose’ the same cohort of documents without a malicious conspiracy being involved??? Justice Debelle states in his judgment (June 2002: see paragraphs 87-94) http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/sa/SASC/2002/160.html : ‘It is possible to understand that files from one department might have been inadvertently lost or destroyed. Coincidence cannot explain why files from five departments cannot be located.’

==>> This begs the questions which must be asked by Autralian citizens: Why was this done? How was all this coordinated? Who did it? And why? This is not just about me – this is about all of us. We are all potentially abused when our ‘democratically elected’ Government is free to perpetrate these frightening, malicious abuses of power against its own citizens!

==>> And why have the media been so silent about all this?

In accordance with his responsibilities for recovering debts under section 47 of the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 (FMA Act), the Secretary of the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs was required to recover the debt which resulted in you being bankrupted. While I understand this caused you stress, I am satisfied that the Commonwealth’s actions to recover the debt were reasonable and obligatory.

==>> Required to recover the debt? The Commonwealth Government claims to be ‘litigants of best practice’. They claim to be role-models for the Westminster system in Australia. God help us – in this context of denial of the truth, and exquisite practitioners of injustice. We are dealing here with a ‘LEGAL system’ not a ‘JUSTICE system’ – in which the truth is irrelevant. And the Commonwealth are indeed ‘best practice’ exponents of this shocking system!

==>> There is always a discretionary power that can be exercised by our elected politicians. Reasonable and obligatory? That is maliciously misleading.

Although the former Finance Minister exercised his discretion and waived your debt, he did not have the power to annul your bankruptcy.

==>> Didn’t he? The Commonwealth has complete discretion in terms of waiving so-called ‘debts’ owed to them. Check my earlier comment: there are discretionary powers frequently used here (often to politicians and their powerful mates).

As the Commonwealth was the only proved creditor in your bankruptcy, and as the debt no longer existed because it was waived, the bankruptcy was annulled.

==>> Re ‘proved’: This is because the Commonwealth was the only party to pursue me! See above: all three parties had the opportunity to pursue me for costs, but only the Commonwealth CHOSE to waste additional taxpayers’ money pursuing me to homelessness and destitution. Why did the two other parties – the ABC and Channel 10 – never pursue me for this alleged debt?

The former Minister also sought to expedite the annulment of your bankruptcy by waiving an additional amount of $6,283.74 which was owed to the trustee.

You also claim that there was a delay on the Commonwealth’s part in lifting the Mareva injunction. However, I consider that the removal of the injunction, which required a court order, was carried out in a timely manner.

==>> Five years of frozen assets... The Government alleges that’s in ‘a timely manner’???

While you claim to be in financial difficulty, and are reluctant to apply for social security benefits, it is not appropriate to use the act of grace mechanism to circumvent existing mechanisms or legislation which may lead to eligibility for Government benefits. It is open to you to test your eligibility for benefits with Centrelink.

==>> My financial condition has been fully documented for the Commonwealth Government. The word ‘claim’ is a carefully-chosen and misleading abuse of language. This is a smokescreen. This claim for compensation is a totally separate issue. It’s about losses incurred in my 25-year battle to clear my name, and be properly compensated for injuries perpetrated upon me by the Commonwealth Government.

==>> Minister Gray: what would you have done if you had been vilified in this way?

On the basis of all the information before me, I do not consider it appropriate to authorise an act of grace payment to you as I consider that the Australian Government has met its moral duty in providing discretionary relief to you by waiving your debt and there are no special circumstances that warrant payment in this case. Accordingly, I have declined, pursuant to section 33(1) of the FMA Act, an act of grace payment of approximately $3.5m to you.

==>> Regarding the Commonwealth’s having ‘met its moral duty’: I would challenge the minister to a public debate with me where he can attempt to justify his statement that he has ‘met [his] moral duty’ and that ‘there are no special circumstances’ in this case.

I have also enclosed an information sheet with the options you have in respect of the decision.

Yours sincerely

Gary Gray

2 March 2011

Shalom/Salaam/Pax! Rowland Croucher

http://jmm.aaa.net.au/

Justice for Dawn Rowan - http://dawnrowansaga.blogspot.com/

ACT OF GRACE PAYMENT - PLEASE ASK YOUR FEDERAL MEMBER TO ADVOCATE WITH HON. GARY GRAY

2011-01-25T14:57:00.000-08:00

Dear (Australian) friends,

On behalf of Dawn Rowan's Support Group, I'm asking a small favour from everyone of you as we reach the end of the campaign for justice for her:

1. Find your local Federal member of parliament (House of Representatives and Senate) from these lists:

http://www.aph.gov.au/house/members/memlist.pdf

http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/senators/contacts/los.pdf

2. Send them a copy of the letter below, with a personal note from you expressing your amazement that this can go on for thirty years!!!, and urging them to intervene/advocate for Dawn with Hon. Gary Gray to make a generous Act of Grace payment.

Thanks everyone (oh, and email me any responses you get).

Rowland

More: http://jmm.aaa.net.au/articles/4728.htm
http://dawnrowansaga.blogspot.com/

*****

To: The Hon. Gary Gray AO MP 25 January, 2011
Special Minister of State

Dear Minister Gray

I am writing as the convenor of supporters of Ms. Dawn Rowan.

Within the next fortnight I understand from your staff that you will be receiving a submission concerning Ms Dawn Rowan’s Act of Grace payment application.

It will detail the horrendous history of this case, which began in 1981, in which individuals and politico-legal entities have persecuted an innocent woman. The Christies’ Beach Women’s Shelter she led was defunded by the South Australian and Federal Governments due to false allegations against Dawn. She won the subsequent defamation and misfeasance (abuse of public office) case against the S.A. Government, the courts finding her innocent of every charge. The Supreme Court of S.A. determined it to be a ‘shocking defamation’.

Yet, perversely, costs to the value of Dawn’s home were awarded against her! As the proven innocent victim of government slander, she was the only one left with a debt!

You will be aware of the subsequent events: bankruptcy; later annulment of bankruptcy by Hon. Lindsay Tanner; Minister Jenny Macklin’s recommendation of a waiver of Dawn Rowan’s alleged ‘debt’ to the Commonwealth, and now, finally, an Act of Grace application in which her financial, professional and emotional deprivation and suffering will be acknowledged. She spent more than $1.5 million defending herself over 20 years of court hearings.

When Australian citizens/tax-payers have learned that an eight-figure sum of their money has been wasted prosecuting this case against an innocent woman (not to mention the astonishing fact that five Government departments destroyed or mislaid relevant documents relating to the case) they have been demanding some answers.

I want to pay tribute to Ministers Jenny Macklin and Lindsay Tanner, who have acted honourably and with integrity in the penultimate stages of this saga.

I encourage you to be generous in ascertaining and awarding a just and adequate payment as compensation for the suffering all this has caused Dawn Rowan.

I am happy to be contacted by phone or email if further information is required.

Yours faithfully,

(Rev. Dr.) Rowland Croucher
rccroucher@optusnet.com.au

PLEASE CONTACT PENNY WONG - THE NEW FINANCE MINISTER: September 11, 2010

2010-09-11T00:15:00.000-07:00

Friends, Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced her new cabinet today.

We urge you to contact Hon.Penny Wong, the new Finance Minister (after the retirement of Hon. Lindsay Tanner).

The email doesn't have to be long. Here's where to do it:

http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/senators/homepages/contact.asp?id=00AOU

Let's be courteous (congratulate her), and let her know there are many supporters of Dawn Rowan out in the electorate who will be expecting her to continue the good work Jenny Macklin and Lindsay Tanner have begun to provide some justice for Dawn Rowan.

Hopefully the last step in this long 20+ years of torture and vilification against Dawn - whose innocence has been affirmed during every stage of the court proceedings - will conclude shortly.

Let us encourage Finance Minister Penny Wong to make a generous 'Act of Grace' payment to Dawn Rowan as an acknowledgement of and compensation for the pain she has suffered through this tortuous process.

You might like to send a similar email to the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard -

http://www.pm.gov.au/PM_Connect/contact_your_pm_form

And to these powerful people -

http://www.roboakeshott.com/

Tony.Windsor.MP@aph.gov.au

senator.bob.brown@aph.gov.au

Note: we have no idea how much if anything the above four persons know about the Dawn Rowan Saga: so feel free to summarize the story in your own words and direct them to this blog ( http://dawnrowansaga.blogspot.com/ )

Please use your own words and email me with any responses you receive - rccroucher@optusnet.com.au

Thanks everyone!

(Rev. Dr.) Rowland Croucher (Convenor of Supporters of Dawn Rowan)

UPDATE: 14 JUNE 2010

2010-06-14T00:57:00.000-07:00

An email I received from Dawn a couple of weeks ago: "The Australian Government Solicitor (AGS) froze my assets with one hours' notice in a court hearing in Adelaide in 2005. My solicitors notified me it had happened 4 hours later.

"This 'Mareva Injunction' was the legal tool used to take COMPLETE control over every aspect of my finances, house & possessions in an instant ambush, & maintain absolute control for as long as it suited them. This was effortlessly achieved in our Australian 'Democracy' against an INNOCENT person, by gross abuse of power from the unlimited power & tax-payers' money available to the Commonwealth Government.

"For 5 years I have not been allowed access to any more than $500 per week, regardless of major funds needed for defending the Bankruptcy proceedings the AGS then conducted against me over the next 3 years. I was also unable to pay any large expenses such as local council rates, house maintenance, superannuation contributions etc, with predictable results.

"However, when the bankruptcy was annulled in October 2009 through the decency and kindness of Federal Ministers Lindsay Tanner & Jenny Macklin, the AGS ignored their responsibility to REMOVE the injunction, & it took 6 MONTHS to finally get this cruelty cancelled (25th May, 2010)!!!

"1 hour to impose......6 months to remove!!!!!! Double standard?..... Deliberate abuse of power?..... Persecution by the AGS because I had the temerity to stand against their injustice?..."

***

Dawn has just submitted to the Australian Finance Minister, Lindsay Tanner, a submission for an 'Act of Grace Payment' - compensating her (a little) for the seven-figure sum of $A dollars she has spent fighting for justice in the courts, forfeited in lost earnings and superannuation, not to mention the personal/psychological trauma she has suffered for the past quarter of a century.

I'm writing a brief email to Federal Minister Lindsay Tanner, *and would encourage each of you to do the same*. Put it into your own words, but mine will go like this:

*****

To: Lindsay.Tanner.MP@aph.gov.au

Dear Mr Tanner: first, thank you for the outstanding act of compassion you have shown to Dawn Rowan in annulling the bankruptcy order against her, and waiving her 'debt' to the Commonwealth.

We, her large group of supporters, have deliberately withheld exerting any pressure on you during recent months, while the Mareva injunction saga was resolved (it happened just a couple of weeks ago).

However, we understand that she is now submitting an application for an 'Act of Grace payment'.

I would urge you to extend your compassion and generosity just this one last time, to compensate her for the horrific financial and personal toll this has taken on her life over the past near-quarter century.

Yours respectfully

(Rev. Dr.) Rowland Croucher.

*****

On behalf of Dawn and her many supporters, could I encourage you to send a similar *brief* email to Mr. Tanner (Lindsay.Tanner.MP@aph.gov.au). Bounce any replies to me. Thanks!

*****

PS. If my fellow-clergypersons/ preachers want to use this material for preaching, try anchoring it in these texts: Luke 18:1-2, 2 Chronicles 19:4-6, Amos 2:6-7, 5:10-13.

NOVEMBER 2009 UPDATE

2009-11-07T22:03:00.000-08:00

Hi friends

Here's a little piece I've written for the Victorian Baptist Witness - December edition. So it's mainly about Baptists, but thanks to all others who've stood with Dawn over the past several years...

*****

In Harold Pinter's Play 'Party-time' people are drinking good wine and chatting with friends and smiling... but something is happening outside in the street, something terrible and oppressive and unjust. There's a moment of silence and discomfort but soon they forget it and go back to their wine and chatting and smiling...

In the Dawn Rowan Saga something terrible and unjust was happening, but fortunately some of us left the party, and were shocked at what we saw, and decided to do something. We were shocked at the corruption-in-high-places, and the desire of people with power to destroy someone who simply wanted to help battered women.

For example, how can five government departments lose the same cohort of documents and no one gets agitated and starts an investigation? How is it that a court can award some of the costs of a guilty party (the South Australian government) against the person declared at all points in the long legal process to be utterly innocent? Many lawyers have told us this sort of thing doesn't happen in Australia! Why would any politician - however malicious their motives - have the audacity to shut down a women's refuge on the basis of lies and 'unsubstantiated allegations'? (Check Wikipedia's article on Dr. John Cornwall - his only claim to fame according to whoever wrote that is what he did to Dawn Rowan!).

I've seen firsthand Dawn's expertise in the area of counselling victims of domestic violence - especially her brilliant therapy with adult survivors of childhood sexual and other abuse. If a government department or anyone wants all this stopped, you've got to ask legitimate questions about conspiracies. 'If you don't have a conspiracy theory about this you're being irresponsible' is a common Dawn Rowan quote.

Thanks to all of you - Alan Marr, and pastors and people and churches - and others - who've helped with your emails, attendance at the Vigils, financial support etc. Dawn has won the first battle: her bankruptcy has been annulled. Lindsay Tanner has verbally agreed to waive the 'debt' to the Commonwealth - though we have yet to see that in writing. The third battle which hopefully will 'win the war' has to do with the sensitive matter of compensation. Don't write to anyone about that, but you can email Lindsay Tanner and simply thank him for the positive attention he's giving to Dawn Rowan's situation (that's all, thanks).

On Sunday November 8th, Dawn's friends at East Doncaster Baptist Church rejoiced with her, and prayed for her. To Dawn, they said, we offer you our love and support and admiration for your courage in this long fight for justice.

(If anyone's been on another planet - or enjoying their party - and hasn't heard about all this, simply Google Dawn Rowan: it's all there).

Rowland Croucher

DAWN'S BANKRUPTCY IS NOW OFFICIALLY ANNULLED!

2009-10-03T01:03:00.000-07:00

From Dawn yesterday (2nd October 2009):

"I have in my hand a 'Certificate of Annulment', dated 12 Aug 09, (letter dated 25th Sept 09).

I understand this means that the bankruptcy is 'dead in the water'.

We've also had a verbal commitment from the Minister that the debt to the Commonwealth of Australia is waived although this is yet to be confirmed in writing."

We'll keep you up to date with developments.

After a quarter of a century we're hopefully coming to the end of this saga: thanks everyone for your support, emails, petition signatures, attendance at vigils etc.

===>>> If you'd like to help 'bless' Dawn (who's still broke and in debt) with a decent month-long holiday, please send gifts (tax-deductible for Australians) to Well-Being Australia (BSB: 063 191 Account 1012 2484): email me (rccroucher@optusnet.com.au) a copy of the transaction, and I'll send a receipt for your tax file. Or you can post a cheque to WBA: email me for the address.

Thanks again!

Rowland Croucher

THE PETITIONS HAVE WORKED

2009-09-18T23:51:00.000-07:00

1. Mr. Tanner, Australian Minister for Finance and Deregulation, has publicly indicated his desire to resolve the Dawn Rowan 'case'. We are hopefully very close to a settlement.

Click on the links here: http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/petitions/finance.htm

Thanks for all your letters, emails, helping at the Vigils, and collecting signatures for the two sets of petitions to the House of Representatives.

For the time being I'm holding the petitions to the Senate you've sent as they address the 'waiver' issue: thanks to all who collected those signatures.

2. Dawn desperately needs a month of Respite. How about we find $10,000 to give her a decent holiday (eg. a month's cruise which she'd love)? You can send gifts to our tax deductible entity, Well-Being Australia (BSB: 063 191 Account 1012 2484): email me (rccroucher@optusnet.com.au) a copy of the transaction, and I'll send a receipt for your tax file.

Thanks everyone! We'll keep you posted as developments occur.

Shalom!

Rowland Croucher (for Dawn Rowan).

GOOD NEWS - SEPTEMBER 1, 2009

2009-08-31T17:55:00.000-07:00

Thanks everyone for your support for Dawn. The good news is that Oz Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner has initiated a process of 'discussing' a possible settlement. Dawn and her lawyer met with officers representing the Minister yesterday (August 31). You can still send me the signed Senate Petitions, but let's not bother Mr. Tanner at this sensitive time. Watch this Blog for updates

EXAMPLE OF LETTER TO LINDSAY TANNER

2009-07-19T18:21:00.000-07:00

Please, everyone, keep up the pressure on Lindsay Tanner
(Lindsay.Tanner.MP@aph.gov.au)

Hon. Lindsay Tanner
Minister for Finance

20th July 2009

Dear Mr Tanner

You will have noticed Jimmy Carter's recent article on equality/justice for women. In the light of his comments, I refer yet again to the plight of a true Australian, whose desire has only been to help people in need.

Dawn Rowan's compassion for victims of domestic abuse led to her being falsely accused.

Since the courts declared her innocent, the Federal Government has bankrupted her!

Why?

Dawn is an intelligent, once-energetic Australian who wanted to make a difference.

Jenny Macklin apparently understood that when she recommended to you a waiver of Dawn's 'alleged' debt to the Commonwealth.

Almost fifteen months later we are still awaiting your decision. Dawn is barely existing while trying to eke out an existence occasionally lecturing at a TAFE on domestic violence.

Please! Do I have to alert those World Elders of this case? Her story is attracting critical attention around the world. Comments from non- Australians about 'How can this happen in a modern democracy?' etc. are embarrassing.

I anxiously await your response.

Sincerely

(Rev.) Janice R Croucher
(a once-proud Australian).

PS 1. Are there any women on the panel you have appointed to advise you you on this matter?

2. Do they/you intend to act with integrity by personally interviewing Dawn and her legal advisor?

Dawn Rowan Update Q&A June 24, 2009

2009-06-24T04:46:00.000-07:00

1. What's happening? We don't know. Lindsay Tanner's 'three wise men' are presumably poring over the same documents examined over and over by bureaucrats before them (your taxes at work!).

===>>> 2. What has to happen to smarten things up a bit? Lindsay Tanner has to hear from us again - *en masse*. That means each of us writing a strong, courteous email to Lindsay Tanner (Lindsay.Tanner.MP@aph.gov.au) simply asking 'What's happening? This has gone on too long!' And encourage your friends/networks to do the same: also email your local Federal Member and ask her/him to intercede for Dawn.

3. What happened to the 1000+ signatures on the petitions? They were successfully submitted to the House of Representatives on May 25. We're now collecting more. Feel free to email me for an attachment you can get your friends to sign.

4. Is the Wikipedia article up? Yes, and is attracting some positive attention. Our thanks to the editors who have helped.

5. And the Vigils? More to come, when Dawn is up to it. It's been a hard time for her.

Thanks everyone for your support!

Shalom/Salaam/Pax! Rowland Croucher

http://jmm.aaa.net.au/

Justice for Dawn Rowan - http://dawnrowansaga.blogspot.com/

DAWN ROWAN IN WIKIPEDIA

2009-05-31T18:51:00.000-07:00

A friend has written up a precis of Dawn Rowan's story for Wikipedia. Check it out! It's a good summary of what happened...

Also - there's one there on Dr John Cornwall (interesting!)

We're waiting for the 'three wise men' ('advisors') to help Minister Lindsay Tanner make a decision about Dawn. Watch this space.

PS. Here's an interesting article on legal/judicial aspects of the awarding of costs against a litigant. (If the link doesn't work, Google The Age's article titled Money should be no barrier to pursuing a worthy cause.)

NEXT MINI-VIGIL POSTPONED

2009-05-27T17:14:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all who helped with last Saturday's mini-vigil at the Bourke Street Mall. The large banner was terrific - thanks Michelle and others who made it.

There were many signatures on the petitions: these will be submitted to the Federal Senate within the next few weeks. Anyone want another petition? Email me and I'll send one.

===>>> Dawn has decided to defer the next mini-vigil. There are now - hopefully fruitful - discussions between her lawyer and Lindsay Tanner's officers about resolving this injustice. We'll let you know if/when we resume.

Shalom/Salaam/Pax! Rowland Croucher

http://jmm.aaa.net.au/

Justice for Dawn Rowan - http://dawnrowansaga.blogspot.com/

STOP PRESS

2009-05-18T16:36:00.000-07:00

It's the middle of May - one year after Jenny Macklin's recommendation to waive the debt Dawn owes the Commonwealth of Australia - and Lindsay Tanner has finally done something.

What, you ask?

Wait for it (you'll be surprised...)

He's appointed three people to advise him re this matter.

Well, that's better than the continuing silence and inactivity.

We'd love to know who these three people are, and whether they'd be prepared to meet with Dawn and her lawyer personally, rather than engage in a protracted exchange of letters and emails.

===>>> Anyone who can be at the Bourke Street Melbourne GPO steps this Saturday (23rd May) anytime between 12 noon and 4 pm, would be most welcome. And it would be a good opportunity to meet Dawn personally.

===>>> And keep those signed petitions coming in (email me for a copy if you don't have one).

Thanks for your support everyone!

Shalom!

Rowland Croucher

MAY 9 2009 UPDATE

2009-05-09T03:39:00.000-07:00

(For any who need to know the details of perhaps the greatest contemporary travesty of justice by the politico-legal system against an Australian citizen see the Channel 7 TDT video on the frontpage of http://jmm.aaa.net.au - and chase the links near it).

1. Thanks again to all who supported the 26-hour Easter vigil. We gained over 1200 petition-signatures. Barney Zwartz wrote that excellent article in The Age. It got a mention on a couple of radio talk-back shows (we need to work harder in that arena) and a lot of people became aware of Dawn's plight. (The Diamond Valley Leader has also done a frontpage article on Dawn's story this week).

2. Keep hammering away at Lindsay Tanner's email inbox (Lindsay.Tanner.MP@aph.gov.au): politely, and firmly asking why it's taken so long to make a decision about waiving Dawn's debt to the Commonwealth. Mr. Tanner is obviously preoccupied these weeks with The Budget and we respect his excellent work on our behalf in terms of his Finance portfolio. But 22 years of Dawn's suffering is too long, and a whole year since Jenny Macklin's recommendation that the claim be waived is long enough, surely. Who was that guy in WA who was imprisoned unjustly and last week received a $3.5 million payment in compensation? Dawn's also innocent, and has been imprisoned longer!!!

3. Dawn and I had a useful 45 minutes with my local Federal Labor member, Mike Symon and his PA Pauline a couple of days ago. Dawn did a brilliant job - as usual - in summarizing her case. Mike has agreed to process the petitions in the House of Representatives when it meets again next week.

4. A group of Dawn's key supporters met last Saturday to plan the next phase of our protest, and we agreed to hold regular rolling 'mini-vigils' in very public places - like the GPO steps in Bourke Street - most Saturdays (to start with) 12 noon to 4 pm. I'll be asking a leader to take charge of the process each time to organize things.

===>>> Who's available Saturday May 23rd to join Dawn there between 12 noon and 4 pm? Just turn up: look for the banner and placards. Email me to confirm you'll be there, so we have an idea of numbers...

5. Dawn is receiving invitations to talk to churches and groups about her story. Email her (dawn.rowan@optusnet.com.au) if you'd like her to do that. Philip Island Baptist Church, Sunday May 17th is the next: with my wife (Rev.) Jan Croucher preaching there as well. Thanks Craig Semple and your people for all your support!

6. Please keep the petitions coming: they can be lodged progressively as we accumulate them. Make sure there's a *name* and *signature* on each line. Addresses aren't required these days. Post them back to me when you've got all you can. I'll send a Word document for you to print off if you email me (rccroucher@optusnet.com.au)

Finally a quote from our Australian Prime Minister's favourite theologian:

"Christianity stands or falls with its revolutionary protest against violence, arbitrariness, and pride of power, and with its plea for the weak. Christians are doing too little to make these points clear ... Christendom adjusts itself far too easily to the worship of power. Christians should give more offense, shock the world far more, than they are doing now." Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Shalom/Salaam/Pax! Rowland Croucher

http://jmm.aaa.net.au/

Justice for Dawn Rowan - http://dawnrowansaga.blogspot.com/

MORE VIGIL-PROTESTS

2009-04-22T03:26:00.000-07:00

Hi supporters of Dawn Rowan

Thanks again for your help with signatures on petitions, (please return them by post to the address on the form, before the end of the month) and especially for those who turned up to the Vigil outside Lindsay Tanner's office - about 150 of you.

We're continuing with 'rolling vigils' and a group of us is meeting within the next ten days to plan them. Major Melbourne intersections? Shopping Centres? Banners? Feel free to send your ideas to me.

A supporter has pointed out this significant item: The Commonwealth Ombudsman's site states under the heading dealing with debt: "If a person applies for waiver or write off, they should be kept informed of progress on their application, of any decision that is made, and the agency or officer making that decision. Applications for special treatment should be prioritised by agencies to ensure they are dealt with in a timely manner that takes account of people's special circumstances."

On the face of it twelve months for Lindsay Tanner to make a decision favourable to Dawn seems a long time, especially when all the relevant material was worked over by Jenny Macklin's advisors beforehand.

===>>> How about writing to the Finance Minister, Lindsay Tanner - Lindsay.Tanner.MP@aph.gov.au - and asking him if the Department of Finance has similar guidelines?

Thanks everyone!

Rowland Croucher

THE VIGIL: RETROSPECTIVE

2009-04-14T14:52:00.001-07:00

This is the first time - in 71 years of living, and about 40 years of stirring on social justice issues - that I've participated in a public protest.

I'm not 'that kind of person', but this gross injustice has got me wound up.

Being a clergyman, I'm generally treated with respect, sometimes with deference. So it's an interesting experience to be ignored by passers-by as if I were a lamp-pole. Our 'special advisor' Simon Moyle told us to expect anything - including being spat on, or even roughed up.

The West Melbourne police were terrific. They were there just after 6 am to greet us, and drove by - even waved - a couple of times during the Vigil. As someone said to radio station 3AW, these 'grey-haired protesters are unlikely to cause trouble'. The Federal Police also came by at least once (that we know of) and made sure we were not causing trouble to the 3rd or 4th highest-ranking politician in the country!

The media coverage, given that this was our first attempt at a public demonstration, was excellent. Special mention must be made of Barney Zwartz of The Age. How he did the research for his article on Dawn, plus write three or four other articles on Easter-themes over two days, beats me.

About 150 people turned up to help. We got about 1000 signatures on petitions, handed out about 5000 leaflets. Rev. Alan Marr (General Superintendent of the Baptist Union) and I made separate contacts with Lindsay Tanner's staff-members. ('He doesn't talk to those for whom he is considering a waiver of debts to the Commonwealth': I presume that also included the Governor-General who had a tax-debt waived).

The responses from people on the street were interesting. One young party-goer did a rap-dance for us. Another said 'That sucks!' when told what it was all about. Another 'sloshed' night-clubber offered to break a few windows for us! A couple of legal people said 'Issuing costs against the innocent party, and letting the guilty party off scot-free, is not supposed to happen in our legal system!'

When it was all over, a few of us adjourned to hot-cross buns and coffee at the West Melbourne ('Eighth Day') Baptist Church up the road. (The nearer evangelical Anglican Church wasn't interested in us). Gary Heard put together a very thoughtful service, inviting us to ask 'Where am I in the story of Good Friday?' Until now, I said to myself in the silent reflection-time, I'd be an anonymous person in the crowd, or at best I'd find out a few things for myself at night in secret as Nicodemas did. But in this situation I've moved towards engaging the Powers, as did Joseph of Arimathea.

I don't know a more worthy cause than this one. Why it would take nearly a year for Lindsay Tanner to issue a directive waiving Dawn's costs (as recommended by his colleague Jenny Macklin) is beyond my comprehension. It makes good political sense; it melds with the Labor Party's avowed 'social justice' stance; and it would save Lindsay Tanner from the negative news coverage he'll continue to receive on this story. We're now planning weekly 'rolling vigils' until this matter is settled. Feel free to join us!

Rowland Croucher

Easter 2009

ARTICLE IN 'THE AGE' DURING THE VIGIL

2009-04-13T03:55:00.000-07:00

This woman took on two governments and won, so why is she in debt and fearful of losing her house?

* Barney Zwartz

* April 10, 2009

[Dawn Rowan and the St Andrews home she may lose any day after 20 years of litigation. Photo: Jason South]

THIS woman may lose this house and be thrust penniless onto the street at any moment because she took on the South Australian and federal governments — and won.

Dawn Rowan's 22-year saga is an instructive case of how the law can seem to defy justice. Her last hope now is that the Commonwealth Government, which had her declared bankrupt, will forgive her debt. Her supporters held a 26-hour vigil outside Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner's office from 6.30am yesterday.

"For me, every day is torture since it began," Ms Rowan said yesterday. "I did not believe this could happen in Australia."

It began in 1987 with a farrago of lies in the South Australian Parliament, which eventually brought Ms Rowan a $500,000 payout — and may end with her eviction without notice. Along the route came a plethora of court cases and independent investigations that always vindicated her but gradually left her worse off. There was also the strange coincidence of five different government departments all losing the same papers relating to her case.

Ms Rowan, now 63, was a noted anti-domestic violence campaigner in the 1970s and '80s. She ran women's shelters and developed the concept of "the battered wife syndrome". A powerful and forceful personality, she offended important bureaucrats and politicians in South Australia, a Supreme Court judge said.

In 1987, when Ms Rowan was running the Christies Beach women's shelter, a report was released in State Parliament that claimed she sexually and physically harassed women in need, intimidated them, misappropriated funds, used unprofessional, inappropriate and exploitative client-counselling practices, was professionally negligent, used operating costs to augment salaries, failed to co-operate with community services department staff, and persistently overspent.

"They threw everything they could at me, except running a brothel and a stolen car racket. None of it was true, and they knew it," Ms Rowan says.

The case took a decade to come to court, with many procedural challenges on the way. But in 2001, Ms Rowan represented herself in a five-month trial against the SA and federal Governments (plus the ABC and Channel 10 for defamation).

Justice Bruce Debelle found that every accusation was false — and known to be so by then health minister Dr John Cornwall and the main compilers of the report when they published it in Parliament (except the charge of overspending, which was not due to mismanagement). Separate investigations into Ms Rowan by the South Australian police, the Corporate Affairs Department, a Senate select committee and the ombudsman all cleared her, she says.

Justice Debelle found that the accusations were a "shocking libel" motivated, in the case of some defendants, by malice (which removed the defence of parliamentary privilege) and found Dr Cornwall guilty of misfeasance (releasing the report under parliamentary privilege knowing it was false).

All the defendants appealed, and in 2004 three judges upheld the findings except for one key difference: they rejected malice. Then they awarded costs against her for the Commonwealth, ABC and Channel 10. Ms Rowan went back to the Supreme Court to allege bias against the judges but failed.

An application to appeal to the High Court also failed, and the Commonwealth had her declared bankrupt in 2007.

"The Commonwealth has been brutal. They froze my assets in Adelaide, which has been very humiliating, and allow me $500 a week to live on, which means my debt has grown," Ms Rowan says.

Ms Rowan's last hope was an appeal for clemency, which she says sticks in her throat because she is innocent. Community Services Minister Jenny Macklin supported her in a letter to Lindsay Tanner last May, but there has been no reply. Nor did Mr Tanner's office return calls to The Age.

Ms Rowan is now emotionally and physically exhausted. "I'm bloody good when I'm in performance mode, but apart from that I'm in bed with the pillow over my head," she says. But the fear remains that her bed and pillow can be taken at any moment, along with everything else.

http://www.theage.com.au/national/this-woman-took-on-two-governments-
and-won-so-why-is-she-in-debt-and-fearful-of-losing-her-house-20090409-
a24y.html?page=-1

http://tinyurl.com/dfa49z

And here's the YouTube summary of the vigil: the download is a bit patchy, but you'll get the feel of the event. Thanks Simon Moyle for putting this together.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=En7hWnIys7w

VIGIL PRESS RELEASE

2009-04-06T03:06:00.000-07:00

PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, April 6th, 2009, 5 pm.

PROTEST VIGIL OUTSIDE LINDSAY TANNER'S OFFICE

Several hundred protesters will hold a 26-hour 'Rolling Vigil' outside Federal Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner's Melbourne office this Thursday and Friday.

They are protesting Mr Tanner's tardiness in making a decision to free Dawn Rowan from a debt to the Commonwealth, which leaves her at risk of losing her home.

Dawn Rowan has been fighting for justice for over two decades, since the Commonwealth and South Australian governments closed down her Women's Refuge in the 1980s. This action was taken following 'unsubstantiated allegations' disclosed under parliamentary privilege - all of which were subsequently found to be untrue, malicious, and grossly defamatory.

Despite being judged innocent in several trials, Dawn Rowan is being pursued by the Commonwealth for costs - amounting to the value of her home in the Melbourne suburb of St. Andrews.

Rev. Dr. Rowland Croucher, who is coordinating the Vigil, said this week: 'This saga has cost tax-payers a seven-figure sum. Not to mention the "conspiracy in high places" which apparently coordinated the loss of relevant documents from five government departments! At any moment the Sherriffs could come and take Dawn's home from her. And I emphasize again, the courts have declared her innocent! It is the most despicable and protracted miscarriage of justice by the Commonwealth against an individual I have come across!'

Well-known human rights lawyer Julian Burnside QC says of the Dawn Rowan case: 'I have carefully considered your situation... You have exhausted all possibilities of legal recourse... It is now important that your story be known by the public rather than buried... Be more assertive in pushing this issue in the media. Exposure of the Commonwealth's shabby behaviour might cause a change of heart.'

Mr Tanner's ministerial colleague Ms Jenny Macklin recommended in May 2008 that in these unusual circumstances Dawn Rowan's debt to the Commonwealth be waived. She noted that Dawn's suffering and hardship had lasted long enough. Rowland Croucher added: 'Mr Tanner was extraordinarily swift in revoking the requirement for the recently-retired Governor-General to pay taxes he owed to the Commonwealth. Why is the Dawn Rowan case taking so much longer?'

Asked this week how she has survived all this injustice, Dawn said, 'Day to day survival over the past 24 years has been an experience of unrelenting physical, emotional and psychological torture. The awful loss of friends and reputation has been life-threatening. My quality of life has been destroyed. It's very frightening that any innocent person who speaks out - in our land of freedom, Australia - can be the victim of vicious Government retribution. I have been declared innocent, and yet only I have to pay costs - and of course, my fellow-tax-payers!'

The Vigil will commence at 6.30 am Thursday April 9th, and conclude 8.30 am Good Friday morning. Venue: corner of King and Little Lonsdale Streets, Melbourne CBD.

More information: Contact Rev. Dr. Rowland Croucher [phone]
Information and photos of Dawn Rowan: contact her at [home phone]. Photos of protesters: anytime at the site.
Background: Channel 7 Today Tonight Video - http://jmm.aaa.net.au
Dawn Rowan's Blog: http://dawnrowansaga.blogspot.com/
Summary Article: http://jmm.aaa.net.au/articles/4728.htm

*****

Note to readers of this Blog: email rccroucher@optusnet.com.au for a copy of the Petition we're asking thousands of Australians to sign. The petitions may be copied, and not altered, and names and signatures on one side only. Thank you everyone!

A media release from 'Friends of Dawn Rowan'
Contact: Rev. Dr. Rowland Croucher
[home address]
Phone: [removed for privacy reasons]

THE VIGIL AND A PETITION FOR DAWN ROWAN

2009-04-05T04:07:00.000-07:00

Just sent [Sunday April 5th] to people on Dawn Rowan's support-list. Email me at rccroucher[at]optusnet.com.au if you'd like your name added to that list.

Dear friends,

Thanks to the many here who have written to Federal ministers,
especially Lindsay Tanner, on behalf of Dawn Rowan, and included details
about Dawn's plight in your Blogs, Church Bulletins etc.

The time has come to accelerate the action, and I'm asking for your help. This morning almost all the East Doncaster Baptist people (where Dawn worships), signed a petition to the House of Representatives we're making available to churches and other groups. If you're able to encourage people - Australian citizens - to participate in this, please email me, and I'll send the petition as a Word attachment for you to print off copies. We have a couple of weeks to get names and signatures. A good and noble act of compassion for Easter! (See below for more).

You would all be most welcome at the Vigil... Details below...

Here's an 'email-out' just sent to Dawn's supporters:

*****

Well, the week of our Vigil to urge the Commonwealth - especially Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner - to act, has come: from 6.30 am Thursday morning April 9th until about 8.30 Good Friday morning several hundred of us will participate in a respectful Vigil outside Mr. Tanner's office.

Address: Corner King and Little Lonsdale Streets, in downtown Melbourne.

===>>> In today's Sunday Age there's a little story which made me jealous. Nine women, four men, four children and a small white dog visited Peter Costello's office to protest about Climate Change. They had given 24-hours' notice they'd be doing that (we've given Mr Tanner several weeks' warning). These people wanted to go in and hand Mr. Costello some black balloons and a letter. And guess what! Three federal police and two Victorian police officers showed up and barred their way.
After 'protracted negotiations' the group was allowed to pass on the balloons and letter to Mr. Costello's staff!

Why was I jealous? Well, that story got into The Age: nothing about Dawn Rowan has scored a story in The Age in two decades! (But one Age reporter has promised to cover the Vigil).

So would someone like to invite various police-persons to our Vigil if we can get a major newspaper to take some notice of Dawn's 24-year fight for justice? We're not even planning to meet Mr. Tanner (well, not this time).

:::::: TO THOSE ATTENDING THE VIGIL ::::::

===>>> Simply turn up, with your friends, and ask someone with a
'Justice for Dawn Rowan' badge who the team captain is. You'll be
invited to register by taking a badge and putting your Christian name on
it (and your email address on the back, if we need to contact anyone/
everyone afterwards).

The Captains: Rob Perkins (6.30 am Thursday to 12 noon), Chris Page
(12 noon to 6 pm), Gary Heard (6 pm to midnight), Jim Reiher and for
part of the time, Craig Campbell (midnight to 8.30 am Good Friday). Dawn
Rowan will be coming and going the whole time - as will my wife Jan and
myself. The Vigil ends with hot cross buns and coffee/tea and a short
Good Friday service at the Eighth Day (Baptist) Community - a couple of
minutes up the road (thanks Gary Heard and friends).

How will you be invited to help? Giving out leaflets (10,000 are being
printed), asking people to sign a petition (to the House of Reps, and
possibly also the Senate), talking with people (please brush up on the
story at http://dawnrowansaga.blogspot.com/,
http://jmm.aaa.net.au/articles/4728.htm and the Channel 7 videos on
http://jmm.aaa.net.au/ ).

(And, by the way, if anyone wants to make a tax deductible donation,
email me: the Vigil-specific expenses will be about $1000).

Are we breaking the law doing this? No: the Melbourne City Council
spokeswoman told me we're OK so long as we're civil and don't impede
pedestrian traffic. (Promising to be civil, we're encouraging crazy
radicals or evangelists to help us by staying away :-) !

What to bring? Maybe fold-up chair, warm clothes (forecasts: Thursday 10-23, Friday 12-26, both days fine), big umbrella, sense of
humour and/or adventure (!), candles in something to prevent them
blowing out in the wind, a biro that works, and a desire to help someone
who's been battling 'The Powers' for too long. Don't bring banners:
we're having some printed.

:::::: TO EVERYONE: THE PETITION ::::::

Email me for a copy (Word attachment) of the petition for Australians. You may copy it (but with no alterations, otherwise it's
void). Every page has to be the same (but of course with different names
and signatures). Addresses? Optional these days, apparently. Please
invite your friends/neighbours/enemies/church members etc. to add their
name and signature. Then post them to me (the postal address is on the
form) by *April 22nd*.

Thanks everyone! I'll be in touch after Easter...

Shalom/Salaam/Pax! Rowland Croucher

http://jmm.aaa.net.au/

*Justice for Dawn Rowan* - http://dawnrowansaga.blogspot.com/

PLEASE KEEP 2009 MAUNDY THURSDAY FREE!

2009-03-13T14:50:00.001-07:00

We're inviting all of Dawn Rowan's supporters and friends to join in a 24-hour Vigil outside Lindsay Tanner's office (corner King and Little Lonsdale streets, Melbourne CBD), from

===>>> early Thursday morning April 9 to Good Friday morning.

(Only adult males between midnight and dawn).

Please invite your friends! Visit this Blog for more details (including the possibility that the Vigil will be called off if Lindsay Tanner makes an appropriate judgment about the fate of Dawn Rowan before then).

Rowland Croucher

PLEASE WRITE TO THE PRIME MINISTER!

2009-03-09T23:55:00.000-07:00

Here's a letter I've just sent online to the Prime Minister. You can adapt it and send one in just a few minutes, via this site - http://www.pm.gov.au/contact/index.cfm

Thanks!

*****

Dear Mr Rudd

Let me introduce myself: I was Tim and Peter Costello's pastor during their teenage years. How they're so different having listened to my preaching (sometimes about social justice) beats me!

I'm writing about DAWN ROWAN. I understand you're aware of this travesty of justice which has been going on for nearly 24 years.

At every stage of the court processes her innocence has been affirmed.

===>>> But the Commonwealth is wanting to bankrupt her, and take her home. Her crime? Helping 'battered women' and their children in a Women's Refuge in Adelaide, which for some inscrutable reason attracted the ire of ministers of the crown in the SA and Federal parliaments!!!

Please, please, confirm Jenny Macklin's recommendation to waive her debt to the Commonwealth, and urge your colleague Lindsay Tanner to do it soon.

Thank you!

More: http://dawnrowansaga.blogspot.com/

Yours faithfully

(Rev. Dr.) Rowland Croucher
Home phone: 03 9729 2517 .

2009-03-05T21:15:00.000-08:00

So we were wrong/optimistic about the ABC TV's Q&A program mentioning Dawn Rowan.

Yes, as my first option suggested, 66 online submissions about Dawn Rowan were not sufficient. See the 66 submissions here...

None of the major media outlets (except Channel 7 Adelaide) or newspapers will touch the story (or, last week, even a letter from Julian Burnside QC to the Age, then the Herald-Sun about the case). But this week Dawn's local paper, the Diamond Valley Leader had a letter and picture about Dawn...

As she often says: 'If you don't believe in conspiracies you're being irresponsible!'

===>>> Thanks to supporters of Dawn who submitted something. It was a significant exercise. Lindsay Tanner's people would have collated them all before the show. It all helps...

Remember the bit where The Opinion Editor for The Australian, Rebecca Weisser, began talking about a lady we're all persecuting, and Tony Jones quickly interjected 'which lady?' (it was the CEO of the clothing company)... Interesting, that reaction...

===>>> If Lindsay Tanner doesn't act before Holy Week, we'll be encouraging friends to attend the vigil outside his downtown Melbourne office.

And if you want a very interesting speaker for your church/friends' group Dawn's quite a brilliant communicator.

Watch this space!

*****

Meanwhile, here's an interesting email from one of Dawn's supporters to his local Member of Parliament:

The issues surrounding the Dawn Rowan saga are at the very centre of what many claim as our democratic system. Those issues are government not acting outside of powers, courts truly acting independently of government, and political representatives acting in the best interests of the people
(the electors) rather than any political party, or any powerful self-interest entity, such as the media. With the Dawn Rowan saga all of the above are under question.

TONIGHT'S ABC TV's Q&A

2009-03-04T16:23:00.000-08:00

Dear friends,

Thanks to all who have submitted questions to ABC TV's Q&A moderators about Dawn Rowan. Minister of Finance Lindsay Tanner, as you will know, is the person who has the 'last word' on Dawn's fate: a judgment he has intimated he will deliver 'soon'.

As of 11 pm Wednesday evening (March 4) there were 52 questions on the Q&A website about Dawn Rowan - more than on any other topic. It will be interesting to see if/how Q&A addresses this social justice issue tonight.

As those of us close to Dawn reviewed the possibilities, they seem to include:

1. The ABC will ignore the issue, possibly advised by their lawyers to follow this course of action as the ABC was one of the four parties which appealed the original judgment affirming Dawn's innocence. Or they will stick to safemacro-economic questions.

OR

2. Tony Jones will say something like 'Mr. Tanner. We've had more email submissions about someone called Dawn Rowan for tonight's program than about any other topic. Dawn Rowan: what's that all about?'

Mr Tanner then has two options, it would seem:

2A: TYPICAL POLITICIAN'S EVASIVE RESPONSE: 'It's a very complex question, and there's a lot of misinformation out there about this case. I am about to make a judgment on it soon, so it is not appropriate for me to go into the matter any further here.'

OR

2B: COURAGEOUS/COMPASSIONATE POLITICIAN'S RESPONSE: 'Yes, it's been going on too long. I am about to make a judgment on it, and I think Dawn Rowan will be satisfied with what I decide. Mind you, any judgment in favour of Dawn Rowan - whose innocence in all this I affirm, and for whom I feel deeply sorry for her having to fight the Commonwealth for so long - any judgment will be made against much of the advice I'm receiving from legal and bureaucratic sources...'

Anyone wanna bet on these - or any other - outcomes???

Watch at 9.25 pm tonight (Thursday) - see http://www.abc.net.au/tv/qanda/ for more, including the questions submitted by many of you...

And thanks again everyone for your participation and prayers...

Rowland Croucher

URGENT: PLEASE EMAIL QUESTIONS TO ABC'S 'QandA'

2009-03-01T16:38:00.000-08:00

For those who would like to add their voice to the call for justice for Dawn Rowan, Lindsay Tanner is appearing on Q&A on the ABC this week (Thursday night 9.25 pm), and viewers are encouraged to submit their own questions. If there are enough asking the question, perhaps it might be put to the Minister on air. You can submit a question by going to http://www.abc.net.au/tv/qanda/

There is a space type in your question. Don't forget to add your name and town at the bottom of the question (best to keep it all short, even though you have 200 words) then fill in your name, email address, phone number and State. Use your own words.

It can be as simple as "Wouldn't you agree that 24 years is way too long for someone to wait for justice, in this wonderful country of Australia? The right thing to do is to waive Dawn Rowan's debt to the Commonwealth. This woman has suffered long enough because of FALSE allegations leveled against her."

Gary Heard wrote "Why is it that the minister has waived a taxation debt of a (well-resourced) former Governor-General, yet has not waived the debt of Dawn Rowan, a pioneer in the Women's Refuge movement, whose debt emerges from a successful fight to clear her name which was muddied by unfounded allegations in a government report? She has waited for justice for 24 years. Minister Jenny Macklin has recommended this action... why the wait?"

The timing is important. Lindsay Tanner has indicated that a decision is near. Weight of voices is Dawn's best asset at this point.

You can check out Dawn's story by visiting http://dawnrowansaga.blogspot.com/

Thanks Gary!

EVERYONE IS URGED TO WRITE TO MR TANNER

2009-02-19T22:07:00.000-08:00

Here's a good letter, sent today by one of Dawn's supporters. Note that it is brief and courteous.

Feel free to borrow some of these ideas, and re-hash them in your own words...

Send your email to Lindsay.Tanner.MP@aph.gov.au

Thanks!

Dear Mr Tanner,

I am aware that you are close to making a decision in relation to the recommendation from Minister Jenny Macklin to waive the debt in relation to Dawn Rowan. I know that you are familiar with this case, and seek to remind you once again of the significant human cost which Dawn has borne for the 24 years since this fight to clear her name from baseless accusations began. In recent days she too has been joined in the fight against fires in the St Andrews area where her home is located. While we now recognise the great value of women's shelters in our community, it is ironic that one of the founders of the movement still fights against powers which she cannot hope to match. Where will she find shelter and hope from all that has assailed her for these 24 years.

I respectfully urge you to waive this debt, and to not prolong the time in doing so. Dawn's suffering has been immense, at immense personal cost, and as a result of her reduced capacity to work, so has our community's loss been added to it.

Your government has been active in seeking to address the suffering arising from the recent bushfires and in seeking to reduce the deleterious impact of the global economic situation on Australians. In the face of Dawn Rowan there is an opportunity to show that this compassion has a personal touch.

You continue to be held in our prayers in the face of the many and important responsibilities which are yours.

COUNTDOWN TO EASTER

2009-02-18T20:27:00.000-08:00

Dear supporters of Dawn Rowan

===>>> IT'S TIME TO WRITE - AGAIN - TO LINDSAY TANNER
===>>> Lindsay.Tanner.MP@aph.gov.au

===>>> Does anybody know of any other living Australian who is still fighting for justice after 24 years?

But Dawn Rowan's battle may nearly be over. Whether it's *won* or not is up to us - and our lobbying of Federal Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner and/or our local parliamentary representative/s.

Mr. Tanner has intimated that he is close to making a decision about waiving Dawn Rowan's debt to the Commonwealth.

There are some excellent reasons why he should do so:

1. Dawn is innocent of any wrongdoing: she's the victim of untrue, trumped-up allegations. At every stage in the Court proceedings she has been vindicated.

2. It is strange - to use the mildest word - that the innocent party has to pay any costs. It ought to be highly unusual that the guilty parties - particularly the two key individuals involved (Dr. Cornwall and Ms Judith Roberts) - can put together a bevy of lies, and not be liable for one cent! Similarly with people responsible for the five SA and Federal Governments' departments 'mislaying' a whole cohort of documents relating to the case! And why do Australian taxpayers have to foot the bill - millions of dollars - this travesty of justice has cost in legal and bureaucratic costs?

3. Dawn has been fighting for justice for nearly a quarter of a century. Besides being bankrupted, she's forfeited a $7-figure sum in lost earnings and unpaid superannuation, and over half a million dollars in legal fees and costs. Her professional life as a counsellor of victims of abuse has been destroyed. Not to mention the horrendous emotional cost she has borne - including being hospitalized as a result of an emotional breakdown.

4. A fourth reason Lindsay Tanner should waive this debt, is that his colleague Ms Jenny Macklin, as head of the department seeking to recover costs from Dawn, has already put in a formal recommendation to Lindsay Tanner that he do so. (She made this recommendation against the advice of some legalistic bureaucrats in her department).

5. Finally, it's bushfire season. The Black Saturday fire was stopped 500 metres from Dawn's place at St. Andrews; many of her neighbours died and many more lost their homes. If it hadn't been for a favourable wind change her home would almost certainly have burned. It would be a nice gesture to exercise some compassion for her at this time - and an atrocious response if Mr. Tanner sent in the bailiffs.

ACTION PLAN

A recent meeting of Dawn's 'Action Group' is recommending the following:

===>>> 1. An intensive publicity campaign, involving these supporters communicating with their networks:

1-1 Dawn's immediate core support-group: people who've actually asked that their names be added to a list to receive regular updates (currently 165 people). Most of these circulate news to other lists/networks.

1-2 Usenet Newsgroups familiar with the Dawn Rowan story: 10 secular and religious groups with posters numbering between 100 and 400 a day ('lurkers' who read these posts rather than posting themselves are usually reckoned as ten times this number). Google lists 16,500 entries on Usenet newsgroups about Dawn Rowan. (Of over 1 million Google web-entries for Dawn Rowan, 'our Dawn' has the top ten, and 19 of the top 20).

1-3 The DAWN ROWAN SAGA Facebook group - a recent and low-key venture currently numbering a core group of 170. Each of these is encouraged to multiply news-stories about Dawn to their networks. To join visit here.

Dawn Rowan is also personally on Facebook - invite her to be your FB friend (dawn.rowan@optusnet.com.au).

1-4 The Victorian Baptist and NSW Uniting Church clergy-lists. Pastors subscribing to these lists are encouraged to put news about Dawn into their church bulletins and Blogs, and many have done so.

1-5 Articles and Letters to editors of national, State and suburban newspapers: currently we're contacting some 'high flyers' to sign a letter about Dawn Rowan. Dawn's local suburban paper, the Diamond Valley Leader has published some excellent articles about her story. The Adelaide Independent Weekly has also published a detailed article on this case.

1-6 The Dawn Rowan Saga Blog, the main article on the John Mark Ministries site about Dawn's story and the Channel 7 video on the frontpage of the JMM site (this video is seen by over 8000 unique viewers every month).

===>>> 2. A small task force to research lodging - and publicizing - a submission to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. There are two, possibly three categories relevant to Dawn Rowan's situation.

===>>> 3. Letters/emails to Lindsay Tanner - Lindsay.Tanner.MP@aph.gov.au - and local parliamentary representatives - ongoing, are now especially important and urgent. Email and postal addresses can be found on the links at the side-bar of Dawn's Blog.

===>>> 4. Unless Mr Tanner makes a favourable decision before the week prior to Good Friday (April 10), we will be organizing a 24-hour Vigil outside Lindsay Tanner's Melbourne office - corner of King and Lonsdale Streets, during the week prior to Maundy Thursday (April 9). Already we have networks offering participants for about four days. If you - or your group/church - can encourage half a dozen people at any one time to occupy the footpath, without impeding pedestrian traffic, for up to a total 24-hour period in that week (or even part of a day/night), please contact me (Rowland Croucher rccroucher@optusnet.com.au) with your preferred day/night.

A senior Age writer has agreed to cover the vigil-story - if that event happens (and we hope it won't come to that). We'll also be sending out press-releases to all media bodies.

Your participation, prayer, and support are most appreciated!

--

Shalom/Salaam/Pax! Rowland Croucher

Justice for Dawn Rowan -

IF THE FIRES DON'T TAKE DAWN'S HOME, THE OZ. GOVERNMENT MAY!

2009-02-09T00:34:00.000-08:00

Dear friends:

Dawn Rowan has (physically) survived the St Andrews fires, and her home is safe, so far, though, as many of you have heard, 12 (or more) residents of that small town lost their lives, and many others their properties... Of the 1000 or so homes destroyed so far throughout Victoria, 550 were from the Kinglake/St.Andrews/Yarra Valley area.

Dawn is suffering from 'after-shock' and will possibly stay with us for a few days.

Regarding the dreaded decision about Dawn's future to emanate - sometime - from the Minister for Finance, Lindsay Tanner, Rev. Gary Heard (a constituent of Tanner's) received this today:

*****

Gary,

The advice from the Canberra office is that there has been a lot of detail being finalised in regard to Dawn Rowan's situation and that a recommendation from the Department is very close indeed. This will then go to Mr Tanner for final approval. It is likely to be only a couple of weeks, at the most, before it is completed.

Marg Gott

Electorate Officer for Lindsay Tanner MP
280 King St Melbourne 3000
Ph: 9602 2911 Fax: 9602 1122
marg.gott@aph.gov.au

*****

That is actually somewhat ominous. The message of the bureaucrats to Tanner is mostly 'You can't overturn the law'. But ministers of the Crown frequently exercise their discretion to act compassionately where 'the law is an ass'.

===>>> Dawn's support-group, guided by Rev. Simon Moyle, Baptist minister and peace activist, is recommending a series of escalating communications to Mr Tanner by all her supporters, and in letters to the press, culminating in a Lenten/Easter vigil outside his Melbourne offices if (a) there is no decision by then or (b) the decision is not compassionate. Churches and community groups will be asked to participate as they're able in this exercise.

Please browse this Blog and watch the video on the frontpage of our website for more... And please ask your friends/networks/congregations to write to Mr. Tanner. The email address and info is all on this Blog, and the emails are best written in one's own words...

Let me know how he replies (if you get one: he's been silent for the last month or so).

Thanks everyone: I'll keep you posted.

Shalom/Salaam/Pax!

Rowland Croucher

Justice for Dawn Rowan - http://dawnrowansaga.blogspot.com/

*****

Thanks to many of you for copying your letters to Mr Tanner to me. Here's a good one:

Mr Tanner,

Once more I have to ask -- what is happening regarding the Commonwealth's claim against Dawn Rowan? It is now more than a month since you last replied to my second email and I have to say that your comment that this claim 'may be a lengthy process' is difficult to understand considering how long the case has been dragging on already. How much money is the Commonwealth Government prepared to spend -- and go on spending -- in order to illegally recover payment from Ms Rowan who, after all, originally won her case for defamation decades ago? This is an appalling waste of public money.

If the Government can see good reason to drop cases like Dr Haneef's and reverse decisions in other matters, it must be possible for you to immediately arrange for your department to formally and forever waive the Commonwealth's claim against an innocent Australian citizen. Even the amount currently being claimed from Ms Rowan must be nothing but a drop in the Government's bucket of money, and the Government must have already spent much more than is being claimed in fighting this case. How much longer are you prepared to allow this travesty of justice to continue?

UPDATE DECEMBER 2008

2008-12-17T12:48:00.000-08:00

Dear friends,

If you're new to this story - one of the most pernicious miscarriages of justice against an innocent person in modern Australian history - please visit here for a quick summary, and/or watch the video on this page.

It's now up to Federal Minister for Finance, Lindsay Tanner, to use his powers to waive any and all of the Commonwealth of Australia's claims against Dawn Rowan. His colleague, Jenny Macklin (Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs) recommended that he do so.

Here's an email I've just received from Dawn:

*************************************************

Tanner’s Branch Manager sent a letter and file from Macklin’s Department to Dawn’s legal aid solicitor on 27th October 2008.

This File contained a letter from Macklin to Tanner dated 12th May 2008 (following the last email campaign from you all) strongly supporting that the debt be waived. It states, “The loss of a home is a significant final price to pay for defamation proceedings commenced in 1990 in relation to a report published more than twenty years ago. The long history suggests that there has already been considerable anguish and I fear that this will only be compounded by the Commonwealth finally recovering the money owed.”

Astonishingly, this file also contained a submission from Macklin’s Department totally OPPOSING the waiver, misrepresenting the facts of this case, with outright lies, half truths, omissions and misleading statements.

Astonishing because:

• It states “the debt arose as a result of the Commonwealth defending itself against UNJUSTIFIED court action taken by Ms Rowan.” [emphasis added]. Remember I was found completely innocent of all allegations.

• The cover letter WAS NOT SIGNED and no contact person identified – unheard of in any bureaucracy!!!

• Her department “does not consider that the non-waiver of the debt would result in ongoing financial hardship.”

• It then contradicts itself several times. For example:

(1). “that social security benefits are available for Dawn if she has limited earning capacity”

(2). “Ms Rowan has limited future earning capacity due to her age, mental health and damaged reputation.”

• MOST APPALLING: “Ms Rowan's psychiatrist considered that Ms Rowan suffers from ongoing poor health and constituted a suicide risk (psychiatric report from September 2005). However, FaSCIA [Macklin’s Department] does not consider there to be an ‘imminent’ risk, as there is no evidence of attempted suicide". !!!

QUESTION: If Ms Rowan is not under 24 hour surveillance by FaSCIA, how do they know whether suicide has been attempted?

QUESTION: With what psychiatric qualifications did FaSCIA bureaucrats arrive at this definitive assessment with no contact whatsoever with Ms Rowan or her psychiatrist?

*************************************************

We - Dawn's supporters - received advice that it would be good to allow Mr. Tanner to make a bold and compassionate judgment without his having to respond to many emails. It now seems that we were being too kind. Every week we have examples in the press of Commonwealth Ministers over-riding their department's recommendations when enough people raise a fuss about it! Remember, we Australians elect members to parliaments to make decisions. They can get advice from their departments, but in this case it is obvious that the advice these Ministers are getting is deeply flawed and lacking any compassion. Remember, my fellow-Australians, that millions of dollars of your taxes have been wasted by our Federal Government in trying to 'justify the unjustifiable' in this saga.

===>>> So please, everyone, in your own words write (again) to Mr. Tanner (lindsay.tanner.mp@aph.gov.au) asking him why it's taking so long? Please email copies of his response to me at rccroucher@optusnet.com.au.

Thank you everyone!

Happy Christmas!

(Rev. Dr.) Rowland Croucher

PS. From one of Dawn's supporters:

It was interesting to see that the Finance Minister waived the taxation debt of the former Governor-General last week... I mentioned this in an email just penned to his office, highlighting the more serious circumstances facing Dawn... Let's hope he gets the Christmas spirit in this matter.

IT'S TIME to resume lobbying Lindsay Tanner

2008-11-10T22:29:00.000-08:00

Dear friends of Dawn Rowan (who are also friends of justice and compassion),

We've been withholding pressure on Minister Lindsay Tanner to give him 'space' to deal with this issue without the distraction of answering many emails...

Unfortunately, he and his department have obviously been gobsmacked by the financial crisis, and Dawn Rowan's file has probably slipped under a pile of others.

===>>> It's time to resume lobbying for Dawn. I've talked with her today, and she's increasingly devastated by the terrible weight of this protracted process. Her lawyer is doing a brilliant job of advocacy on her behalf. Two Sundays ago a group of us, her close friends, helped repair her home.

Dawn would dearly love to resume her counselling practice without all this hanging over her: her home is ideally suited for that purpose, and those of us who are in the counselling business know there's a great need for a helping hand-and-heart for those in dire need.

*****

So please write - in your own words - to Lindsay Tanner. His email address: Lindsay.Tanner.MP@aph.gov.au . You could emphasize that

* Justice and compassion demands a waiver of 'financial debt' to the Commonwealth

* Minister Jenny Macklin has - several months ago - sent him a recommendation to this effect

* All of the legal proceedings against Dawn have unanimously declared her innocent

* No doubt many of the people in the Canberra bureaucracy are being asked to reverse their stance on this matter: which would be hard for a minister to over-ride (unless he has real courage, and 'a heart')

* Please - soon - bring this matter to a dignified close and do the right thing by an innocent person, whose only goal throughout her adult life has been help people we call the 'underdog'.

*****

Thanks everyone!

This has surely been one of the most amazing miscarriages of justice by elected governments in modern Australian history.

More *here*, if you'd like to 'brush up' on this saga:

* http://dawnrowansaga.blogspot.com/

* TV Channel 7 video - http://jmm.aaa.net.au/

* The story - http://jmm.aaa.net.au/articles/4728.htm

===>>> PLEASE SEND THIS TO YOUR FRIENDS/NETWORK AND ASK THEM TO HELP!

On behalf of Dawn's many friends,

Shalom/Salaam/Pax!

(Rev. Dr.) Rowland Croucher

Justice for Dawn Rowan

******************************************************************

Here's one person's letter, fired off within minutes of reading this:

Dear Mr Tanner

I felt privileged this past weekend to be in Canberra for the National
Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast, and was especially encouraged by the
presence and participation of the leaders of the three main parties - Mr
Rudd, Mr Turnbull and Mr Truss.

We were challenged by the presentation of Mama Maggie from Cairo, and by
Imam Mohammed and Pastor James Waye from Nigeria, as we were confronted by
the injustices that are rampant in their parts of the world.

They made me realise that similar injustice is present in our own country,
and that is why I am writing to you about Dawn Rowan. I have had contact by
correspondence on the subject, most recently with Jenny Macklin who, I
understand, sent a recommendation to you to the effect that justice and
compassion really do demand the waiver of what has been called a financial
debt by Ms Rowan to the Commonwealth.

As you will be aware, all legal proceedings against Dawn have unanimously
declared her to be innocent, and I am aware that she continues to live under
great stress, and longs to return to her helping profession as a counsellor.

I realise the pressures you have been under in recent days with the global
economic crisis, and its consequence for your own portfolio, but I would be
so very grateful if you could do whatever is possible to see that justice is
done, and genuine compassion shown, in this sad case which has dragged on
for so long.

With grateful thanks in anticipation for your help, and with kind regards,

David Cohen
Rev David M.S. Cohen

Website: www.moringa.org.au

AUGUST 2008 UPDATE

2008-08-07T23:05:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone for your interest in this case, and your support of Dawn...

She's still having a battle: especially when she gets a threatening letter from the Insolvency and Trustee Department. Fortunately she has a good Legal Aid lawyer who's helping...

No word yet from Lindsay Tanner, Minister for Finance and Deregulation. Probably there's a new round of bureaucratic 'toing and froing' again before he'll give his finding.

===>>> ACTION: Why not write a simple email, in your own words, asking Lindsay Tanner's people what's happening? Maybe remind him courteously that Dawn has suffered enough and a quick and compassionate resolution of her situation would be a kind/smart move! Email address: Lindsay.Tanner.MP@aph.gov.au

Thanks: and please email copies of responses to me...

--

Shalom/Salaam/Pax!
Rowland Croucher
Justice for Dawn Rowan - http://dawnrowansaga.blogspot.com/

LINDSAY TANNER'S REPLY TO MANY EMAILS

2008-06-25T02:47:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all who wrote to Lindsay Tanner encouraging him to concur with Jenny Macklin's recommendation.

Here's his response:

16/06/2008, at 11:02 AM, Tanner, Lindsay (MP) wrote:

Dear _ _ _ _

Thank you for your email in support of Ms Dawn Rowan, requesting that I waive her debt to the Commonwealth.

I am aware of the history and circumstances of Ms Rowan's case and that a number of representations have been made on her behalf both to the previous Government and this Government.

There are a number of steps still to be undertaken before I can make a decision with respect to Ms Rowan's waiver request, including provision of advice from the relevant Government agencies and from Ms Rowan herself. Upon receipt of this information, I will be in a position to make an informed decision.

I appreciate your concerns and thank you for raising this matter with me.

Yours sincerely

Lindsay Tanner

*****

Rowland's comment: My instinct is that we now leave this with Mr. Tanner and (for those of you who pray) with God. The chances of a waiver? All we can say is that it would not be in the Government's interests for two of its ministers to publicly differ on this matter!

RESPONSE FROM LINDSAY TANNER

2008-06-02T21:32:00.000-07:00

3rd June 2008

Dear friends (from Dawn),

I have now received correspondence from Lindsay Tanner's office consisting of an Application for Waiver of Debt (about 9 pages!).

This is a major step forward.

However here are some questions I'm working through at the moment:

* Does a 'debt waiver' legitimize the 'debt'? Justice would require that the notion of 'indebtedness' be removed from my records...

* Is a 'waiving of the debt' equivalent to an annulment of all record of bankruptcy, which I would need to have done to clear my name?

* And what about the million-and-a-half dollars I'm out of pocket as an innocent person, pursued brutally by the Howard Government, in particular, doing 'whatever it takes' to destroy me?

* I've been delighted with the kindness expressed by Jenny Macklin and her staff. In 22 years of personal agony I've never been treated with any respect and concern... until now.

* More good news: The Adelaide newspaper The Independent Weekly has published a brilliant article in last Friday's (30th June) edition on the whole saga. We can't find the story on their website yet: it will probably appear later this week. (Could someone please send it by email to me at dawn.rowan[at]optusnet.com.au and to Rowland at rccroucher[at]optusnet.com.au . Thanks. We'll get it on to the blog asap.)

* If you haven't written to Lindsay Tanner's office encouraging him in this process, please send an email to him at Lindsay.Tanner.MP@aph.gov.au .

We'll keep you all posted!

Regards

Dawn Rowan

LATEST DIAMOND VALLEY LEADER ARTICLE

2008-05-20T18:35:00.000-07:00

Some good news about her bankruptcy battle has brightened Dawn Rowan's day. Picture: MARK FRECKER

Hope on the horizon for St Andrews counsellor

Will Jackson

21May08
Some good news about her bankruptcy battle has brightened Dawn Rowan's day.

Some good news about her bankruptcy battle has brightened Dawn Rowan's day.

ST ANDREWS counsellor Dawn Rowan has been given a glimmer of hope in her fight to stop the Federal Government seizing her home.

Jagajaga federal Labor MP Jenny Macklin has revealed she is seeking to have Ms Rowan's bankruptcy debt to the Commonwealth waived.

The Government has been pursuing Ms Rowan for $397,000 in legal fees incurred in a long-running defamation battle.

It won a bankruptcy order last September, allowing it to seize her home and assets.

Ms Macklin, the Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Minister, has been reviewing the case after lobbying from Ms Rowan's supporters.

In a letter to Ms Rowan last week, Ms Macklin said while she had no power to halt the debt recovery, Minister for Finance and Deregulation Lindsay Tanner could waive such debts." "

"Accordingly, I am writing to (Mr Tanner) asking him to consider the waiver of your debt," Ms Macklin wrote.

Ms Rowan, whose only remaining assets are her house and car, told the DV Leader it was an enormous relief to "finally" be treated with kindness.

"I've never had anyone treat me as anything but a criminal for the past 22 years," she said.

Ms Rowan, 62, was named in a damning 1987 government report into a South Australian crisis shelter she helped run.

Shelters in the Storm contained anonymous claims of physical, sexual and verbal harassment of Christies Beach clients, as well as intimidation, inappropriate counselling practices, professional negligence and misappropriation of funds.

The allegations were proved false and Ms Rowan successfully sued two television stations and the federal and South Australian governments in 2002.

All but the State Government appealed successfully, but the Federal Government was the only party to pursue her for costs.

Ms Rowan said she believed Mr Tanner would agree to Ms Macklin's request, but there was still potential for the television stations to pursue her for legal costs.

Visit the Diamond Valley Leader website

GOOD NEWS!!!

2008-05-14T01:46:00.000-07:00

(at least for now).

Dawn received a fax from Hon. Jenny Macklin's office today which says, in part:

'Even though I have no power to halt the debt recovery, you will be aware that the Minister for Finance and Deregulation [Hon. Lindsay Tanner] has the power to waive debts in circumstances such as yours.

'Accordingly, I am writing to the Minister for Finance and Deregulation asking him to consider the waiver of your debt.

'Please let me, or my Electorate Office, know if I can further assist you in this difficult time.

'Yours sincerely,

Jenny Macklin'.

****

I hope to talk with Jenny Macklin's Canberra office tomorrow (Thursday, May 15) to check about what else we can disclose.

But this is very good news. Hon. Lindsay Tanner has the final call (and he's a bit preoccupied at the moment with the Federal Budget).

There are still quite a few questions to be faced/answered. You'll hear from me again in a few days.

Jan and I are meeting with Dawn again tomorrow. To those of you who pray, let us give thanks for this milestone event, and pray for an uncomplicated positive decision by Mr. Tanner!

Thanks again to all of you for lobbying for justice for Dawn.

===>>> Why not email Jenny Macklin and thank her? (JMacklin.MP@aph.gov.au )

Rowland Croucher

DIAMOND VALLEY 'LEADER' ARTICLES ON DAWN ROWAN

2008-05-11T14:58:00.000-07:00

The Diamond Valley Leader - the local newspaper in Dawn's region of Melbourne - has published four articles about Dawn. The earliest
(or http://tinyurl.com/5h3b4w)

Another... (or http://tinyurl.com/6m57yn)

Another... (or http://tinyurl.com/6zk6z4)

And the latest (or http://tinyurl.com/3l4vdx)

You can contact these good people to thank them here...

DO THE 'RIGHT THING' JUDITH ROBERTS 'AO'!!

2008-05-11T00:37:00.000-07:00

From Dawn Rowan:

Some of you might have read (on the frontpage of the Melbourne Herald Sun May 6 2008) that high profile lawyer-businessman-TV funnyman Steve Vizard has has this week handed back his ORDER OF AUSTRALIA award.

He said 'This is partially out of respect for the ORDER, to protect it,' and 'because it is the right thing to do.'

Steve Vizard collected his ORDER OF AUSTRALIA medal for services to the community, in 1997.

Vizard also said his decision to hand back the ORDER OF AUSTRALIA was brought on by his civil conviction concerning his financial dealings described by the judge as 'dishonest and a gross breach of trust'.

The Herald Sun article also says 'Previously an award could be revoked for a criminal conviction. Last September that was extended to include Civil penalties.'

Comment: Although this change to the Australian Awards rules is not retrospective, Steve Vizard, having received his award in 1997, in the light of these changes (ie. to include a ban on persons with CIVIL CONVICTIONS) has decided to 'do the right thing'.

Judith Roberts has a CIVIL CONVICTION in the Rowan Vs. Cornwall and Others case for 'gross defamation' in the judgment of June 2002. Justice Debelle was scathing in his condemnation of her behaviour as Chair of the 'Independent' Review into the management of Women's Shelters in South Australia, conducted in 1987.

See Justice Debelle's judgment (especially para. 79).

Just before the Full Bench Appeal in this case was about to start, Judith Roberts, at the time guilty of MALICIOUS Defamation, was curiously awarded an AO for 'services to the community'. How does the award process evaluate the decency and credibility of its recipients?

Given Steve Vizard's act of decency and respect for the Australian Awards system, I call upon Judith Roberts to also do the decent thing and hand back her AO, since she remains guilty of the civil charge of Defamation.

Or will she hang on with the shallow technical defense that these changes are not retrospective?

****

Here's the latest article in Dawn's local paper, the Diamond Valley Leader...

MAY 4TH - THE LATEST

2008-05-04T04:06:00.000-07:00

A statement released a few days ago by Dawn's lawyer, in response to a Leader journalist's question. (More details will be posted here if anything unfolds):

'It may be that Minister Macklin has misunderstood what Dawn requested
of the Government. Dawn has not asked for the Secretary of the
Department to not pursue her for the legal costs that she owes - that
would have been pointless as the Department has already pursued her to
the limits of the law. Dawn was, after all, recently made bankrupt at
the request of the Commonwealth Government.

Rather, what Dawn asks is that the Minister intervenes and uses the
powers that the government has under S.34 of the Financial Management
and Accountability Act to now waive that debt. Dawn's supporters have
been advised by the Govt that the Finance Minister would only act on a
recommendation from the relevant Minister, i.e. Jenny Macklin.

This is a source of enormous frustration for Dawn, because both the
former and current governments have not even acknowledged that they do
in fact have the power in their hands to assist her.'

HOW ARE PUBLIC SERVANTS BRIEFING MINISTERS OF THE CROWN ABOUT DAWN ROWAN?

2008-04-13T02:57:00.000-07:00

Here is a letter written by former minister Mal Brough in response to a Liberal colleague's enquiry about the Dawn Rowan case. Presumably the same bureaucratic advice will be given to current Ministers who have to decide on this matter. (If the link above doesn't work, try this one in the Dawn Rowan Documents Blog: http://tinyurl.com/3pbtsw ).

Dawn Rowan, April 12, 2008.

'LEADER' NEWSPAPER ARTICLE

2008-04-12T02:47:00.000-07:00

The suburban Leader newspaper in Dawn's area has published several articles about Dawn. Here's one... Or here: http://tinyurl.com/6m57yn

INTERVIEW WITH DAWN: WHAT IS SHE ASKING OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?

2008-03-12T14:36:00.000-07:00

See here.

or here: http://tinyurl.com/2e5jzt

Here's a sample letter to Jenny Macklin to guide you as you email/write to her.

Thanks everyone. Let's keep this pot boiling...!

UPDATE: FEBRUARY 25, 2008

2008-02-25T01:55:00.000-08:00

Dear friends,

Thanks to all of you for contacting so many of the new Labor parliamentarians on behalf of Dawn. They are now - slightly to very - aware of her plight. But more needs to be done: and it's still urgent! They have been told in no uncertain terms than an innocent woman is being slowly executed by ongoing abuse/injustice driven by the legal system, parliament and government bureaucracy...

[See the video at http://jmm.aaa.net.au/ for background to the story; and Dawn's Blog - http://dawnrowansaga.blogspot.com/ for up-to-date news].

The situation at the moment: the Federal Court-appointed Administrator of Dawn's Estate (yes, it's called her 'Estate' even though she is still alive!) has applied a caveat on her property in St. Andrews, outside Melbourne, Victoria. The acquisition of her home could be executed at any moment, at the pleasure of the Administrator. Can you imagine living with this sort of tension - and after 21 years of her life being on hold after the first SA government-ordered bomb landed on her, and her colleagues at the Christies Beach Womens Shelter, in Adelaide (November 1986)?

===>>> Dawn's private psychotherapy/counselling practice has collapsed; she's had almost no income since 2000; she's been critically depressed - a result of the constant cruelty and injustice; she has suffered gross character assassination; she can't pay for insurances, superannuation or financial advice; she cannot participate in any professional conferences; she lost the sponsorship of a World Vision child; she's been unable to pay for home repairs, maintenance, car servicing, dental treatment, holidays, entertainment, recreation, visitors at home, visiting others, household apliance replacements, plumbing improvements, energy and water-saving systems etc. etc.

After 40 years working with people in severe crisis, Dawn is now at 62 left with nothing. What a sad and disgraceful waste, that someone with Dawn's compassion and skill is not able to function for the good of others, particularly those suffering the long-term effects of extreme trauma, which is Dawn's area of specialist expertise.

===>>> What can we do? The Finance Minister, Lindsay Tanner, has the final call. But he is waiting for a recommendation from Jenny Macklin, Minister for Community Services (etc.), the Department responsible for the ongoing execution of the costs order against Dawn. Lindsay Tanner will, we hope, offer an 'Act of Grace/Waiver': which he knows he has the power to exercise.

So: 1. Let us continue putting pressure on any member of parliament we can contact (including your local member) but especially Hon. Jenny Macklin (contact details below). 2. Please send a copy of your letter/email to me - and especially any responses. 3. Please also send me the email addresses of any concerned friends who could be added to this list. 4. Bounce this email to your networks.

Thanks so much.

(Rev. Dr.) Rowland Croucher

*****************************

The Hon. Jennifer Macklin
Minister for Families, Housing,
Community Services and
Indigenous Affairs
149 Burgundy Street (PO Box 316), Heidelberg
Vic 3084
Tel : (03) 9459 1411, Fax : (03) 9457 5721
E-mail: JMacklin.MP@aph.gov.au
Canberra Tel: (02) 6277 7560
Canberra Fax: (02) 6273 412

****

An article by Dawn Rowan: AUSTRALIA - DIRTY POLITICS, DIRTY LAW

Politicians (the government) APPOINT all judges. Party political ideology dictates WHO the appointed judges will be. That is, the Government appoints the individuals they want to perpetuate their political ideology. The higher the court, the more political the appointments.

[For example: John Howard's appointments to the Australian High Court and Federal Court; State Government appointments to the various State Courts; President Bush's highly controversial politically-motivated appointments to the U.S. Supreme Court).

Courts throughout the so-called 'Western democracies' are stacked with POLITICAL appointments for POLITICAL purposes.

Question: What therefore happens when a Government commits a crime against an innocent citizen? More....

'Act of Grace payments and waivers'

2008-01-18T20:39:00.000-08:00

Dear friends,

Things are moving fast. If you're not quite up to speed on the Dawn Rowan Saga, please read the summary at http://tinyurl.com/3ybjyg.

1. The Prime Minister, Hon. Kevin Rudd, has responded to an email, and forwarded the matter to the Attorney-General.

2. Dawn's case has now been bounced to The Hon Jenny Macklin MP who is the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.

(http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/internet/facsinternet.nsf/aboutfacs/ministers.htm)

See the letter from Lindsay Tanner below:

From The Hon Lindsay Tanner:

Thankyou for your email of January 9 2008.

I have raised Ms Rowan's case with the Attorney-General, who has advised me that the issue is being handled by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. He has indicated that he will brief me on the case in the near future.

As I am the Minister with responsibility for deciding on Act of Grace payments and waivers on behalf of the Commonwealth, it would be inappropriate for me to meet with Ms Rowan. It is conceivable that I may be faced with an application of this kind at some point. It would be difficult to fulfil my responsibility in this instance if I have previously engaged in lobbying or actively investigating with respect to the matter.

Yours sincerely
Lindsay Tanner MP
Minister for Finance and Deregulation
Federal Member for Melbourne
www.lindsaytanner.com

2. So it's now up to us to contact Jenny Macklin - JMacklin.MP@aph.gov.au. Send a nice, polite letter, maybe something like the one below, (you can probably omit the reference to me, unless you think it's important), from a Baptist minister/colleague (and copy it to your local member, and maybe others):

Dear Mr Tanner,,

I have emailed you before on this matter--as have many others, full of hope that a new Government would bring a 'breath of fresh air' into a sordid case of legal vindictiveness by the previous Howard Government. So far there is no news of action, though there may well be action going on behind the scenes. But no action means disaster for an innocent woman, so we are daring to risk making a nuisance of ourselves for her sake!

May I again underline, that Rev. Dr. Rowland Croucher is a highly respected Baptist Minister, who, within the John Mark Ministries with its many overseas links, and the Victorian Baptist Ministers Network, has very wide and influential internet connections. There is widespread dismay about this case, and it is simply NOT going to go away.. On the other hand, action NOW to stop the bureaucratic wheels from crushing an innocent woman will win widespread acclaim. This is an appalling precedent in our Australian public life!

To a non-lawyer like myself, the crux of the matter is that, in 2002,
Justice Debelle found that the two main players in this matter--Dr John
Cornwall, a Minister of the Crown in South Australia,, and Ms Judith
Roberts, AO, guilty of malicious defamation, with misfeasance in Dr
Cornwall's case. They had submitted evidence that both knew to be false.

Dawn Rowan was completely exonerated, and damages awarded.

To my knowledge, that apportionment of blame/innocence has never been
legally overturned. Yet it is the innocent that is being pursued and
crushed. But by some judicial "sleight of hand" all costs have been awarded against the innocent party, and she is being pursued into bankruptcy.

While in my opinion, only a Judicial Inquiry can reverse that legal travesty of justice--a painful process to all concerned--the urgent need is to make the decision NOW to act against injustice, and to STOP the bureaucratic process..

I am sending a copy of this email to my local member, Nicola Roxon, and the the Attorney General, Robert McClelland--as I have done on previous occasions.. May I stress again how closely many of us are following this matter.

Yours sincerely,

Alan Wright (Rev.)
Westgate Baptist Copmmunity.
Yarraville.

3. Let's go - now! Thanks!

--

Shalom/Salaam/Pax! Rowland Croucher

http://jmm.aaa.net.au/

SUMMARY OF THE DAWN ROWAN SAGA

2008-01-04T03:47:00.000-08:00

Note: all of this is on the public record, and can be viewed in the court transcripts etc.

1981: Dawn appointed manager of Christies Beach Women's Shelter, Adelaide

1983: A behind-the-scenes sabotage of Dawn and the Shelter begins

1987: Police and Corporate Affairs ordered by Dr. John Cornwall, Health and Welfare Minister to investigate (ie. find something illegal) in the shelter. These investigations cleared the shelter of any wrong-doing, and in fact praised the work of the shelter. But Corwnall five days after receiving the final reports, released under parliamentary privilege damaging 'unsubstantiated allegations' against Dawn and the shelter. Funding was ordered to be withdrawn three weeks later. The shelter had to cease operations, and all the workers lost their jobs.

1990: Dawn filed an action in the Supreme Court of South Australia against the SA Government, Federal Government (as the co-funding body they had to agree to the shelter's closing), Channel 10 TV and ABC TV.

2002: Justice Debelle handed down a 300-page judgment completely exonerating Dawn and her co-workers of any wrongdoing whatsoever. He severely condemned the use of unsubstantiated allegations in parliament - allegations which the two key players, Dr. John Cornwall and Mrs Judith Roberts AO knew to be false. Justice Debelle found Ms Roberts guilty of malicious defamation, and Dr. Cornwall guilty of misfeasance (abuse of public office). The court discovered that five - yes, five - Government departments had 'lost' a cohort of all the relevant documents pertinent to this enquiry (four SA and one Commonwealth department). The judge ordered compensation for personal damages of $225,000 (compounded to $500,000 with 14 years interest added) to Dawn - almost all of which was spent on legal expenses (not tomention loss of earnings and destruction of her personal and professional life.

August 2003: All the other parties appealed the judgment.

November 2004: Dawn won the appeal, but the full bench of the Supreme Court of SA found the Commmonwealth and the two TV networks not liable for the damages done to Dawn as a result of the defamation. The Commonwealth immediately commenced action against Dawn to bankrupt her.

An application to be heard by the High Court of Australia was denied.

2006: Dawn took out an action alleging undisclosed bias by the Full Bench judges - Justices Bleaby, Sulan, and Besanko - as a result of discovering their connections with Ms Judith Roberts. (Adelaide is not a large city). Their judgment - handed down six weeks later - denied any bias. They ordered Dawn to pay a lump sum to the Commonwealth of $380,000 (which coincidentally was the value of her home and a few other assets). Note that the Commonwealth and the State of SA have consistently refused to disclose the millions of taxpayers' dollars spent destroying this innocent woman.

2007: The Commonwealth Government took action in the Australian Federal Court to enforce bankruptcy. This is now in the final stages of being enforced.

In several communications with the Federal ministers responsible, it has been pointed out that the Government is completely free to exercise discretion in pursuing the bankruptcy or not.

Summary: As Julian Burnside QC, a highly respected Australian human rights lawyer put it: 'I have carefully considered your situation... You have exhausted all possibilities of legal recourse... It is now important that your story be known by the public rather than buried... Be more assertive in pushing this issue in the media. Exposure of the Commonwealth's shabby behaviour might cause a change of heart.'

Comment: 'Shabby' is a mild word for it. 'Deliberate torture' is closer to the truth. Why is Dawn paying any damages to anyone, when all the court-hearings found the SA government guilty? Why did the guilty individuals get off scot-free? The SA Government is also pursuing Dawn for costs - to the tune of $60,000 would you believe!!! If true justice were to prevail, Dawn should be compensated for lost earnings, legal expenses, pain and suffering - and a couple of million dollars would not suffice to cover for all that.

Please pray for Dawn: she is very low, emotionally. And continue to make representations on her behalf to any Federal Labor ministers you know.

See http://dawnrowansaga.blogspot.com/ and http://dawnrowandocuments.blogspot.com/ for links to the legal transcripts etc.

Channel 7 This Day Tonight video - and excellent summary: http://jmm.aaa.net.au/video/dawn_low.swf

(Rev. Dr.) Rowland Croucher

January 4th 2008.

NEW YEAR'S DAY LETTER TO THE AGE

2008-01-01T04:13:00.000-08:00

Dear friends of Dawn Rowan,

Feel free to adapt any of this for your submissions to a newspaper/ Federal parliamentarian.

Dawn has in the past week received two letters towards finalizing bankruptcy proceedings: one exempting her from paying out any cash (she hasn't got it anyway); the other from the court-appointed administrator who has executed a caveat over Dawn's St. Andrews property.

Dawn is feeling very depressed and fragile. Please pray for her.

*****

Letter sent to The Age Newspaper:

I turned 70 last month. I have graduated from one overseas and five Australian tertiary institutions. And I still don't get it.

John Howard's government wouldn't (couldn't?) say sorry to Aborigines for what Michael Mansell suggests was a 'well-intentioned benevolent policy [which] saw the removal of thousands of Aboriginal children from their families' - the so-called 'stolen generation' (Age letters January 1, 2008).

Howard was also not inclined to apologize to anyone for the Iraqi debacle where hundreds of thousands were killed/displaced due to a failed policy.

But Alexander Downer and S. A. Premier Mike Rann want an unconditional apology from David Hicks: even though he was imprisoned for five years without trial, and pleaded guilty to get the hell out of Gitmo (who wouldn't?).

Back to the SA Premier: when I google 'Dawn Rowan' I discover that an innocent woman (no one denies that) was 'grossly defamed' by a previous SA government, and Rann wants $60,000 from her because she took legal proceedings alleging undisclosed bias by the judges of the SA Full Court (which they denied).

Worse: the Federal (Howard) Government, having been released from liability by this Full Court judgment, has now finalized legal action bankrupting her, and is currently proceeding to acquire her property and possessions.

The Federal and SA Governments have spent millions of taxpayers' dollars pursuing this innocent woman, inflicting psychological torture and destroying her professional reputation. Julian Burnside QC describes their actions against Ms Rowan as 'shabby'.

The Rudd Government has ordered a full judicial inquiry into the bungled Dr Haneef case - 'including the possibility of an apology'. Might I also suggest that a similar inquiry be held into the Dawn Rowan fiasco? She has suffered a worse fate than Hicks or Haneef - for 21 years!

(Rev. Dr.) Rowland Croucher

(7 Bangor Court,
Heathmont 3135)

1st January, 2008

Note: Visit http://dawnrowandocuments.blogspot.com/ for an excellent letter sent on 19 December 2007 by Senator Natasha Stott-Despoja to the Federal Attorney-General, with a copy to Lindsay Tanner, Minister for Finance and Deregulation.

UPDATE (CHRISTMAS EVE)

2007-12-23T21:07:00.000-08:00

Thanks everyone for your support of Dawn...

Lindsay Tanner, Federal Minister for Finance, is being 'briefed' about the case

Dawn got a letter this week saying her money will not be part of the bankruptcy settlement (she's not earning enough)

And that's all!

Stand by: if they come to take her house - which could happen anytime - I'll be mobilizing everyone to contact the press/radio/TV to get a crowd out there...

Some Liberal pollies in the last government argued that 'we can't override the legal process' - but they did (through Kevin Andrews) in the Dr Haneef case...

Happy Christmas!

Shalom/Salaam/Pax! Rowland Croucher

URGENT: CONTACT LABOR PARLIAMENTARIANS

2007-12-02T15:54:00.000-08:00

Here's a letter sent by a friend to his local re-elected Labor candidate. You can use it to frame your own:

Dear _ _ _ _

First, my warm congratulations on your re-election, and particularly your
elevation as Minister for _ _ _ _ ! A huge responsibility, but one for which
you are well equipped. Like the rest of the cabinet, you will be very
busy! But it is an exciting time, with Kevin Rudd providing the sort
of leadership that is needed. God knows just how much it is needed in the
deep and complex issues our world is facing, and from the heart I say a
profound "God bless"!

In these next few days you will,of course, be swamped by the calls of
duty - which makes me hesitant in even approaching you at this time. But I
have contacted you before about this matter - the vindictive, even though
legal, pursuit of Dawn Rowan: a lady known to be innocent, but who dared to challenge the South Australian, supported by the Federal Government.

She ran Women's Refuges in Adelaide, aroused the hostility of "big wigs"
with friends in the South Australian parliament, was shamelessly defamed in
parliament - so that she took them to court for defamation, and won, with
$500,000 damages awarded.

The SA Government, supported by the Federal Government, appealed. Although Dawn won the appeal, the judges removed the liability of the Commonwealth, ABC & Channel 10 and, going against established legal precedence, ordered Dawn to pay all their costs and her own: and remember she is an innocent person!!! Surely they should have been paid by the guilty party: the Government of South Australia!!!

At this moment, all her assets are being assessed - and she will soon be declared bankrupt and stripped of her house and everything that she owns!

All it needs, I understand, is for a Minister of the Crown to say to the
bureaucrat administering this - "Hold it--pending further investigation."
Without such a stoppage, she is finished, and a terrible injustice will have
been perpetrated.

Please, can you ring/see Robert McLelland, Attorney General, and encourage
him to put it on "hold" until, in due course, the case can be re-examined.

All strength to your elbow!

_ _ _ _ (Rev)

P.S. During the legal process, the relevant files in 5 SA government departments apparently "went missing"! It was carefully planned skulduggery! And no one has been called to account for this criminal activity!!!

17 NOVEMBER 2007

2007-11-16T14:42:00.000-08:00

There's really nothing new to report since the last entry here, a month ago.

Dawn is working with her Legal Aid lawyer to put together a list of her 'assets and liabilities' so that the process of dismantling her life and possessions - especially her home - can continue.

It's federal election time here in Australia, but the bureaucracy - with its cold, hard, uncaring, legalistic approach to matters legal - still functions.

But perhaps if the Howard Government is tossed out (quite a possibility) we can begin again with the new boys and girls of the Centre/Left, who claim to be more compassionate. It still wouldn't hurt for us all to appraise our local candidates of Dawn's situation...

I have another letter here from a right-wing Liberal federal parliamentarian (Peter Dutton, Federal Member for Dickson, Queensland, Minister for Revenue & Assistant Treasurer). When I get it transcribed, I'll post it here with Dawn's comments, if she's up to it.

Dawn is still very depressed. Pray for her.

******************************************************

"Where, after all, do universal rights begin? In small places, close to home - so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world. Yet they are the world of the individual person; the neighbourhood he lives in; the school or college he attends; the factory, farm, or office where he works. Such are the places where every man, woman, and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerted citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world. " Eleanor Roosevelt.

*************************************************************

Rowland Croucher

UPDATE: TUESDAY 16 OCTOBER 2007

2007-10-15T15:52:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,

Events are moving very quickly. As some aspects are confidential (due to legal toings and froings) you'll forgive me if I'm not specific at this time in those areas. Watch this space!

Here's what I think can be published here:

1. Dawn is very low, depressed, reclusive: as is perfectly understandable. I have not spoken to her in the last couple of weeks, but last week my wife Jan met her briefly, and yesterday we sent her flowers. Please pray for her.

2. The bankruptcy processes are proceeding: papers came to Dawn's (Legal Aid) lawyer in the past couple of days. A key question at the moment is: 'What further legal options are there, if any?' I'll keep you posted.

3. A small group has been formed by those of us close to Dawn to support her at this time. We met last Friday night (without Dawn, who was too ill) to update each other, and study alternative options for Dawn.

4. Even if lawyers/'hard men' like Philip Ruddock and Mal Brough (see the last blog entry) seem to think that the 'due litigation process' has to continue irrespective of the fact that we are dealing here with a real, live, breathing/crying human being, I reckon all our pollies and wannabe pollies at this election-time ought to be appraised of the manifest injustice being meted out to Dawn by the cold judicial process. (And Coalition propaganda wants us to be afraid of the 'hard men' in the Union left! How hypocritical!).

I'm a swinging voter: the bane of party politicians and pollsters. I vote for issues and people of perceived integrity. But this time I'm campaigning to vote out the Howard Government. I have five friends in the House of Reps and the Senate, and they have been unable to persuade their cold hard colleagues who are running with this bankruptcy action to desist. So I visited the local Labor Party candidate's office yesterday (first time I've ever done anything like that), and had a good talk with Mike Symon's campaign manager, promising help to get him elected in this marginal seat of Deakin. I've corresponded and lunched with the sitting Liberal Member (Phil Barresi), and also met personally with Kevin Andrews (Immigration): they did all they could, but unfortunately nothing changed.

Kevin Rudd, in his first speech as leader, vowed to reassert values of equity, sustainability, and compassion.

Let's give him and his colleagues a chance to prove it!

Over to you all to do what you can: as Julian Burnside QC has written (see his quote on this Blog): let's tell the world about this government's shabby behaviour towards an innocent person.

Thanks for your prayers and support!

Rowland Croucher

FINALLY... SOMETHING FROM MAL BROUGH

2007-10-09T23:53:00.000-07:00

I've just posted on to the Dawn Rowan Documents Blog the only response I've heard of by Mal Brough to Dawn's dire situation. If you read it carefully, you'll note how cold and legalistic it is. Again, our point is that something can be technically 'legal' but at the same time be unjust and immoral. And Dawn disputes the idea that the Commonwealth made any meaningful attempt to settle out of court.

Here's an informed response from Bob Moles, a legal expert in the area of miscarriages of justice, and author of A State of Injustice who has followed this case closely. It is reproduced here with his permission:

I find the response by the Minister to be particularly disappointing.

It fails to have regard to the equity, justice and substantial merits of the case which were all in favour of Dawn Rowan.

It is particularly disappointing that the Minister refers to the duty to act as a "model litigant".

If regard had been had to that issue from the outset, this matter would never have occurred, and Ms Rowan's reputation would never have been put in question.

Let me know if you require something more,

Best wishes to all,

Bob

Dr Robert N Moles
Networked Knowledge
http://netk.net.au

*** PLEASE CONTINUE TO CONTACT MEMBERS OF OUR FEDERAL PARLIAMENT ON DAWN'S BEHALF!***

THE BANKRUPTCY JUDGMENT

2007-09-27T22:24:00.000-07:00

I've just been talking by mobile (from Queensland on holidays) to Dawn and here's a statement I've just released:

'Friday September 28th 3 pm. Dawn has just had a teleconference with the Federal Bankruptcy Court in Adelaide and the outcome is not good. The Court has ignored her various submissions, and ordered bankruptcy to proceed.

'The Commonwealth now has the power to pursue Dawn and make her destitute. Let us continue the pressure on Federal members of parliament which may still avert this course of action. See sidebar of this Blog - http://dawnrowansaga.blogspot.com/ for contact details. And let us continue to pray for Dawn.'

WATCH THIS SPACE

Thanks everyone for your continuing support.

Rowland Croucher

VIDEOS OF TODAY TONIGHT AUGUST 23, 24

2007-09-12T02:45:00.000-07:00

August 23

August 24

CHANNEL 7 TRANSCRIPTS

2007-08-31T23:33:00.000-07:00

Channel 7 Today Tonight Adelaide
EPISODE ONE: 23 August 2007
The Story of Dawn Rowan

Program

Rosanna Mangiarelli presenter

First tonight, one of this State’s most appalling miscarriages of justice. Dawn Rowan is a pioneer in exposing and combating domestic violence - the kind of crusader all communities need. However, for the past 20 years she's been fighting a bitter legal battle against both the State and Federal governments over baseless allegations that shut down the shelters she established. Despite the court’s finding Dawn to be the innocent victim, she's now about to be made homeless. Graham Archer has the shocking details.

Graham Archer; Dawn Rowan .... and it's also 18 years of living with the real terror of bankruptcy and losing everything I owned. But I thought that was a possibility only if I lost. I didn't think that was a possibility if I won.

Graham Archer: Because in the end you won but you lost?

Dawn Rowan: That's right.

Mark Parnell MLC: My big fear is that cases like this have a chilling effect in the community. They send a message to people that you might be a victim of bad government behaviour, but just shut and go away, because if you do challenge them they will throw everything at you and they have no morality when they are doing it.

Graham Archer: Tomorrow is "D" for Dawn Rowan. The day the Commonwealth and State governments move in to take her home. Does that effectively mean that you're homeless?

Dawn Rowan: Yes that effectively means that I'm homeless, and because I work from home, when I'm able to work - that I won't have a place to work as well.

Dawn Rowan: As we reported some months ago, during the 80's Dawn and her colleagues were pioneers in the area of family violence, setting up the first shelters for women and children fleeing violence at home. It was controversial and at times dangerous work.

Man who assaulted his wife: ....I just picked her up and dragged her across to my place and I told her I was going to give her the biggest kicking of her life, but I pre-planned that. I told a few blokes at work that I was going home to give it the biggest kicking of it’s life, cause I'd had a guts full

Graham Archer: Though independent, the shelters relied on funds from State and Federal welfare departments which resented the lack of control and sought to convert the shelters into emergency housing for all comers. The women led by Dawn fought a brave battle but became the targets themselves of personal vilification. You were characterized as a trouble maker?

Dawn Rowan: Oh absolutely. An empire builder. The mouth from the south.

Graham Archer: This culminated in the report commissioned by the then State Minister Dr John Cornwall which under parliamentary protection unleashed an appalling barrage of unfounded accusations about how the shelters operated. Dawn - and her Christies Beach shelter was singled out for special attention. The list included allegations of financial mismanagement and much worse.

Dawn Rowan: Sexual harassment of women in a women’s shelter. Physical and verbal violence of women in a women’s shelter; and they're there because of those issues. Inappropriate exploitative counselling, which is a shocking, shocking allegation to make.

Graham Archer: Was any of it true?

Dawn Rowan: Absolutely not. Not one bit of it.

Graham Archer: Four separate enquiries found the allegations to be baseless. But the damage to the women's reputations and their future job prospects had been done. No apology was offered and Dawn's only redress was to be through the courts. She embarked on a legal battle which lasted almost 20 years. The 2002 the trial judgement cleared her entirely and was scathing of those who'd defamed her.

Justice Debelle from court transcript: 'The allegations were a shocking defamation.'

Graham Archer: It (the judgment) singled out Cornwall and the Review chair, Judith Roberts as being motivated by malice.

Justice Debelle from court transcript: 'I find there is sufficient evidence that members of the Review Committee did not honestly believe what they were stating about the Christies Beach shelter was correct.'

Graham Archer: There were many alarming aspect to the case including that all five government departments involved lost substantial portions of their files.

Justice Debelle from court transcript: 'Some files were destroyed or lost after this action had commenced.'

Graham Archer: However, despite the strength of the judgement, both the State and Federal governments - using tax payers' funds – appealed. And after a 16 month wait for the results, the findings of malice against Roberts and other committee members were overturned. The consequences were devastating. Dawn became responsible for the legal costs of the Commonwealth Government throughout the 15 year case and the appeal. Dawn was innocent but now faced ruin.

Graham Archer: So having been falsely accused of criminal conduct by a Government Minister and his staff?

Dawn Rowan: Yes.

Graham Archer: After being appallingly defamed?

Dawn Rowan: Yes.

Graham Archer: Having to resign?

Dawn Rowan: Yes.

Graham Archer: Move States?

Dawn Rowan: Yes.

Graham Archer: Having seen documents and notes go missing?

Dawn Rowan: Yes.

Graham Archer: The court has now found that you have to pay the governments costs?

Dawn Rowan: That's right.

Graham Archer: The Commonwealth Government's costs because they've been let off by the Full Court? And we'll never know what this has actually cost the taxpayer?

Dawn Rowan: No

Graham Archer: No government is innocent in this. But the Rann Government in 2002 chose to fight her to the bitter end, even though they had no legal or moral grounds. And the Federal Government have done the same. And due to a legal technicality she must pay their entire costs - which means now losing her remaining possession - her home.

Mark Parnell MLC: She's been overwhelmingly vindicated by any number of enquiries and legal process and yet she's the one who continues to be the victim and it really is not just.

Graham Archer: According to Mark Parnell, Greens MLC, this case is a classic reminder that we have a legal system and not a justice system.

Mark Parnell MLC: The answer to this is very simple: the State government and the Federal government need to back off they don't need to exercise every bit of legal power they have to extract money from Dawn.

Graham Archer: It's easy to blame the system but individuals make these decisions surely they should be made on moral grounds as much as legal grounds?

Mark Parnell MLC: I think that's right. And I think the real tragedy of this case is the people who really were the guilty parties - way back two decades ago - they're the ones who aren't suffering at all.

Rosanna Mangiarelli: Our attempts, and those of scores of others, to have justice prevail have fallen on deaf ears. And the Minister who has the ultimate say - who could call off the dogs - Mal Brough is saying nothing.

Mark Parnell MLC: Mal Brough has not responded to any of the thousands of approaches that have been made to him. He is the Minister responsible for funding the women's shelters.

Graham Archer: So tomorrow, Dawn will walk into court for the last time into and face the inevitable outcome of having her one remaining - a most precious asset - her home would be taken from her ... So you're running out of options aren't you?

Dawn Rowan: Yes.

Graham Archer: In fact it would be fair to say that you've run out of options?

Dawn Rowan: Yes. If they proceed to bankruptcy and leave me homeless and penniless at the age of 61 with no superannuation I certainly don't have any options in being able to survive.

***

EPISODE TWO: CHANNEL 7'S PRECIS:

HERE'S A SUMMARY FROM TODAY TONIGHT OF THE COURT PROCEEDINGS ON 24TH AUGUST 2007:

The citizen versus the State

Reporter: Graham Archer

Broadcast Date: 24 Aug 2007

This is the story of a 20 year battle that has left an Adelaide woman facing homelessness at the hands of the State and Federal governments despite being completely innocent of any wrong doing.

In the 1980’s Dawn Rowan and her colleagues were pioneers in the controversial and quite risky area of domestic violence. Independently they ran specialised women’s shelters aimed at providing safe houses, counselling and support for women and children fleeing violence at home. It was a silent crime which affected many.

It was highly controversial work and the state and federal governments which funded the shelters resented their independence and wanted to turn the facilities into general refuges for all-comers.

Dawn was an outspoken advocate for the cause and fell foul of the Minister of Community Welfare the irascible Dr John Cornwall. Having already threatened to withdraw funding Cornwall initiated a review of the shelters particularly targeting Dawn and her Christies Beach shelter. In August 1987 he used the protection of parliament to table the review “Shelters in the Storm” and make public a series of extremely damaging though baseless allegations about Dawn and her shelter. These included allegations of misappropriation of funds, professional negligence, sexual and physical harassment of clients and inappropriate counselling.

Despite a police investigation and enquiries by the Corporate Affairs Commission, the Ombudsman, and a Senate committee all finding no evidence of wrong doing, the government refused to apologise or make good the wrongs.

Dawn Rowan’s only option to reinstate her reputation was through court action. It was to be a 15 year battle during which all five government departments involved lost large portions of their files. In 2002 Justice Debelle found in Dawn’s favour awarding her around $500,000 plus costs.

However the State and Federal governments appealed to the full bench and a legal technicality meant Dawn had to pay the federal government costs for the entire case. It would run into millions of dollars. Dawn, despite having been the wronged party, would be made homeless and bankrupt.

On the 28th May 2007 the Commonwealth government will sue for bankruptcy and take possession of Dawn’s remaining asset, her home.

UPDATE: 24th August 2007

After an adjournment the matter came before the Federal Magistrates Court for a sequestration order for bankruptcy to be made on Friday the 24th August. This was 'D' day for Dawn Rowan.

After rejecting any argument for further adjournment the Registrar proclaimed that the Order would be made.

However something bizarre happened. Dawn rose to her feet and apologised to the court, said she had approached the matter in the entirely the wrong way and she wished to settle the matter privately and make any party who'd be damaged 'whole again'.

Every time Dawn was addressed she recited two carefully worded phrases. The Registrar was obviously confused and adjourned the matter offering Dawn a chance to make written submissions before she made her Order for bankruptcy. It was a victory of sorts.

Outside the court Dawn's 'advisers' said they had told her to revert to 'scriptual law' which means to settled a debt she must apologise and deal with it privately. Apparently by disengaging in the legal process Dawn had disenfranchised her creditors and was relieved of her debt. Game over!

We'll see what happens!

(http://todaytonightadelaide.com.au/story.php?id=414 )

*****

TRANSCRIPT OF TODAY TONIGHT 24TH AUGUST 2007:

Channel 7 Today Tonight Adelaide

24 August 2007 The Story of Dawn Rowan (continued from last night)

Rosanna Mangiarelli - presenter

We begin tonight with another puzzling chapter in the Dawn Rowan saga. Last night, we told you how the womens' shelter pioneer was facing the prospect of bankruptcy in court today. Though Dawn had been shockingly defamed by a series of baseless attacks stemming from a Government review of her shelter movement, she ended up being ordered to pay all the Federal Government costs. However, what happened in court this morning has left most observers baffled. Graham Archer attempts to make sense of it all.

Graham Archer

Something very bizarre happened in the Federal Magistrates court today. Former Adelaide women's shelter pioneer Dawn Rowan was due to be bankrupted by the Federal Government over her 20 year defamation case which she won on all the facts but lost on costs. Today she face losing her home.

Dawn Rowan – previous program

And it's also 18 years of living with the real terror of bankruptcy and losing everything I owned. But I thought that was a possibility only if I lost. I didn't think that was a possibility if I won.

Graham Archer – previous program

Because in the end you won but you lost?

Dawn Rowan – previous program

That's right.

Graham Archer

But when the court sat, instead of disputing the claim, as would be normal legal procedure, Dawn stood up - apologised to the court - and said she would settle the matter privately and make her creditors whole again. Each time the magistrate addressed her, Dawn repeated the same two phrases, responding to the hand signals of a friend seated in the court. Whatever she was doing confused the court and succeeded in gaining an adjournment, denied her at the beginning of the hearing. It was a dramatic change of strategy from her position a few days ago.

Graham Archer – previous program

So you're running out of options aren't you?

Dawn: Yes.

Graham Archer: In fact it would be fair to say that you've run out of options?

Dawn: Yes. If they proceed to bankruptcy and leave me homeless and penniless at the age of 61, with no superannuation, I certainly don't have any options in being able to survive.

Graham Archer

Outside, according to Dawn's advisers, by reverting to ancient law - where a dispute is settled by an apology and a pledge to make good the original damage - Dawn has now circumvented the entire legal process. And because Dawn is indisputably in the right - in fact she is the wronged party - there is no debt to settle. Honour is restored with an apology to the court. Game over. Whatever the magistrate decides to do now - it appears she needed to buy time to figure out exactly went on in her court this morning - we're trying to do the same.

*****

And here's the ABC Adelaide's website's version of the story:

Former shelter boss fights bankruptcy case

Posted Fri Aug 24, 2007 2:03pm AEST

* Map: Christies Beach 5165

The former administrator of a Christies Beach women's shelter has responded to efforts to have her declared bankrupt by reading a prepared script over and over at a Federal Magistrates Court hearing in Adelaide.

In 1987, a State Government review of the shelter made false claims, including misappropriation of funds, sexual harrassment and breaches of client confidentiality.

Shelter administrator Dawn Rowan successfully sued the state and federal governments and was awarded damages of $500,000.

But a legal technicality has forced her to pay the Commonwealth's multi-million-dollar legal bill.

The Commonwealth's lawyer told the court that Ms Rowan should be declared insolvent.

Ms Rowan would not respond to any of the magistrate's questions today, other than to read from handwritten notes, repeating saying that she wanted to settle the matter privately.

That was refused.

The magistrate reserved her decision on whether to declare Ms Rowan bankrupt.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/08/24/2014222.htm

*****

SEE HERE FOR SOME INSIGHTS INTO THE 'STRAW MAN' ALTERNATIVE LEGAL THEORY.

WATCH THIS SPACE!

Rowland Croucher

ADJOURNED AGAIN

2007-08-23T21:58:00.000-07:00

Friday 24th August 2007, early afternoon: Just received a brief phone call from Dawn after the hearing in Adelaide:

"The case has been adjourned for another three weeks - legal technicalities. Can't talk about it over the phone. Will be in touch early next week."

Keep up the pressure on the Fed pollies!

Thanks everyone for all your help and encouragement for Dawn: including the Channel 7 Today Tonight team, which aired another segment on the case Thursday night, and is due to do another one tonight (6.30pm Adelaide time). (I'm hoping to get a video copy of both programs to post here).

Rowland Croucher

BANKRUPTCY HEARING

2007-08-14T16:40:00.000-07:00

UPDATE: The next (adjourned) bankruptcy hearing is scheduled for 24th August at the Federal Bankruptcy Court in Adelaide. Unfortunately, whatever Dawn's emotional health at that time, she feels she has to be there, as the court can appoint someone else to act for her!

She'll be driving to Adelaide next week.

Please pray for strength for Dawn at this difficult time.

Thanks for all the letters, cards, emails sent to various parliamentarians: let's hope a miracle occurs and the relevant ministers act with compassion.

Rowland Croucher

15th August, 2007

MICHAEL LEUNIG...

2007-08-12T04:18:00.000-07:00

wrote a brilliant article in the Saturday Age (August 11, 2007), which expresses as well as anything Dawn has read how she feels.

The last two paragraphs:

Later in life I saw it again and again - even in intellectual and cultural life - the most innocent thing, the most natural unadorned and beautiful idea or the most weak, wretched and vulnerable situation was sometimes, perversely, the thing that was most viciously targeted and abused. Nothing awakens fiendish and destructive anger like the presence of the naked and the powerless - and the vast contemporary culture of popular perversity is energised by an eternal envious loathing of innocence and integrity.

Thank you, thugs, for your precious and profound lesson in life. Your vulgar indiscretion gave the game away - the same deeply human and deeply canine game we see played out at the highest levels of polite society in more cunning and sophisticated ways by the guilty, who alas, all too rarely stand accused or face trial.

Read the whole article here...

2007-08-03T18:48:00.000-07:00

4th August 2007.

Here's a question asked in the South Australian Parliament last week:

Legislative Council [of South Australia]

QUESTION WITHOUT NOTICE: Justice for Dawn Rowan

August 1st, 2007

On the 1st of August, Mark Parnell asked the Minister for Police a question about justice for Dawn Rowan.

The Hon. M. PARNELL: Twenty years ago, the Christies Beach Women's Shelter was shut down by the state government. This followed the publication by a review committee appointed by the then minister for community welfare, Dr Cornwall, of a report entitled `Shelters in the Storm' and the subsequent tabling of that report in the Legislative Council of the South Australian Parliament on 11 August 1987. The report contained a list of unsubstantiated allegations primarily aimed at Dawn Rowan, who was the shelter's manager.

Despite being grossly defamed in this discredited report, Dawn Rowan and the Christies Beach Shelter were cleared by subsequent investigations by SA Police, the Ombudsman and a parliamentary select committee. Attempting to restore her reputation, Dawn Rowan fought for justice through the courts, with the South Australian Supreme Court finding overwhelmingly in her favour. Yet, despite being overwhelming vindicated and winning her main action (while representing herself in court against a line-up of seven top barristers), she is about to be bankrupted.

The commonwealth and state governments are now pursuing her for legal costs for a small part of the action that was overturned on appeal, whilst the perpetrators of the original injustice will not suffer personally in any way. While the commonwealth government is the primary party to the bankruptcy action, the state government has chosen to join it. The bankruptcy hearing is next due to be held on 24 August 2007, and Dawn Rowan is facing the shattering prospect of losing her family home. My questions to the minister are:

1. Why is the South Australian government perpetuating the injustice to Dawn Rowan which began in 1987?

2. What message does it send to the community when a citizen can be grossly defamed by the state yet still be treated so unjustly?

Answer: The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Police): I will refer those questions to the Attorney-General and bring back a reply, as this matter obviously comes within his jurisdiction. I am not aware of the current situation in relation to any court case against Ms Rowan, although I am aware that at some stage we incorporated a statement or declined to do so—I cannot remember which—in relation to her particular action.

An honourable member: We did.

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: We did, yes. That is right, we did incorporate it, but it was some years ago now. I will refer the question to the Attorney.

~~~~

Thanks Mark. We'll look forward to the reply!

Meanwhile, the urgent need now is for everyone to contact Senator Nick Minchin (senator.minchin@aph.gov.au): apparently the (Federal Government) ball is in his court now.

Rowland Croucher (for Dawn Rowan)

PUZZLE... HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN IN AUSTRALIA?

2007-07-19T23:46:00.000-07:00

The human mind works in predictable ways. If our government is trying its best to destroy Dawn Rowan, and we have a 'fair go' theory about how Australians are supposed to relate to one another, then somewhere in the back of our minds we might be tempted to ask 'What's Dawn done to bring this on to herself?' So the easy way to avoid 'cognitive dissonance' is to assume she could have accepted a payout and walked away. There's a theory going around Adelaide to this effect.

Here's a summary of Dawn's response to all this:

The facts: 1. THE COMMONWEALTH - FOUND GUILTY BY THE ONLY JUDGE TO VIEW ALL THE EVIDENCE - HAS NEVER MADE AN OFFER TO SETTLE (DESPITE EFFORTS BY ONE OF THEIR QC'S TO SUGGEST SUCH A COURSE). TWO THIRDS OF THE WAY THROUGH THE INITIAL TRIAL THEY OFFERED TO 'WALK AWAY' FROM THE CASE IF DAWN DROPPED THE ACTION.

2. DURING THE 1998 MEDIATION PROCESS *** INITIATED BY DAWN *** THREE OF THE PARTIES OFFERED ONLY $200,000 - WHICH COVERED BASIC LEGAL COSTS, BUT NOT LOST TIME OR LOST SALARY OR, MORE IMPORTANTLY, LOSS OF REPUTATION THROUGH DEFAMATION. THE COMMONWEALTH REFUSED TO BE PART OF THIS PROCESS.

URGENT: PLEASE CONTACT MAL BROUGH BY EMAIL ASKING HIM TO ACT.

UPDATE: The next (adjourned) bankruptcy hearing is scheduled for 24th August at the Federal Bankruptcy Court in Adelaide. Unfortunately, whatever Dawn's emotional health at that time, she feels she has to be there, as the court can appoint someone else to act for her! Please pray for strength for Dawn at this difficult time.

THANKS EVERYONE FOR YOUR HELP.

ROWLAND CROUCHER, July 20/23/28, 2007.

JULY 2007: ADJOURNMENT

2007-07-03T23:39:00.000-07:00

July 19, 2007: Probably several of you got the same letter I did (today) from the Attorney-General, Philip Ruddock. It said, in part: 'I understand the bankruptcy proceedings were issued on instructions from the Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FACSIA)... The question of whether to pursue Ms Rowan for costs is a matter for FACSIA to consider. There is no general principle preventing the Commonwealth from enforcing costs orders in its favour. In fact, Commonwealth financial management legislation (section 47 of the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997) requires agencies to pursue recovery of debts in most cases'.

My response: 'What does "in most cases" mean?' Could this government - even this government - find an exception on compassionate grounds in this case?'

FACSIA is under the jurisdiction of Mal Brough. It is important that Mr. Brough hears from many of us - from varying locations around Australia - in the next week, to draw this matter to his urgent attention. It's easy: do it here.

Meanwhile Dawn is still very low, and her doctor is unwilling to give his approval for her to face court at this time. Please pray for her.

Rowland Croucher

~~~

Today: 4th July 2007: Dawn has collapsed emotionally, and has a Stress Disorder prohibition from her doctor preventing her going to Adelaide for the Bankruptcy Hearing which was to have been held tomorrow (5th). All the parties have agreed today to adjourn the case for a few weeks.

Which is good news (for now) - AND GIVES US ALL MORE TIME TO CONTACT FEDERAL PARLIAMENTARIANS ON DAWN'S BEHALF. (See below for addresses/contact details)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DID YOU REALIZE ??? (see videos and updates below)

*** THAT SOMEONE IN AUSTRALIA CAN WIN A COURT CASE AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT, I.E. BE DECLARED INNOCENT, BUT STILL HAVE TO PAY THE GOVERNMENT'S COSTS?

*** THAT OFFICIAL RECORDS RELATING TO THIS CASE CAN 'GO MISSING' FROM FIVE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS (INCLUDING POLICE, CORPORATE AFFAIRS AND CROWN SOLICITORS DEPT) AND NO ONE IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE?

*** THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SPENT $500,000 TO BRING DAVID HICKS HOME, BUT SPENT MUCH MORE TO DEFEND THE INDEFENSIBLE AGAINST AN INNOCENT PERSON?

*** THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT DISCLOSE TO THE TAXPAYER ANY INFORMATION ON HOW MUCH WAS SPENT BUT... ARE SEEKING $400,000 (THE VALUE OF DAWN ROWAN'S ASSETS) WHICH WILL LEAVE DAWN HOMELESS AND PENNILESS AFTER 40 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE DISADVANTAGED IN OUR COMMUNITY?

~~~

*** JULIAN BURNSIDE QC: 'I have carefully considered your situation... You have exhausted all possibilities of legal recourse... It is now important that your story be known by the public rather than buried... Be more assertive in pushing this issue in the media. Exposure of the Commonwealth's shabby behaviour might cause a change of heart.'

VIDEOS

2007-05-25T17:01:00.000-07:00

===>>> PLEASE WRITE/EMAIL URGENTLY FEDERAL MEMBERS ON DAWN'S BEHALF TO DEMAND THAT THEY WITHDRAW THEIR GROSSLY UNJUST AND IMMORAL COST-CLAIM.

More... see below, especially 'The Amazing Dawn Rowan Saga' and watch the recent Channel 7 Today Tonight program here and on YouTube: part one and part two. Also here. If you're doing a postcard campaign and want pictures of Dawn, use this one. More here...

** From Dawn: 'The three judges on the FULL COURT of the SA Supreme Court ordered me to pay the costs of the Commonwealth, ABC & Channel 10, PLUS my own costs of the Appeal, WHICH I WON. The legal precedent is that a Bullock or Sanderson Order is awarded to a successful litigant. Which means that the costs of parties joined in an action who are subsequently found not liable, but have been legitimately included in the action, are paid by the party found guilty, ie THE STATE OF SA., who also would pay my costs as the innocent party.

The three judges on the Full Court did the opposite - a misuse in my opinion, of judicial power. These three judges only declared their specific knowledge of, and association with, Judith Roberts, when handing down their judgment in the Undisclosed Bias action I took against them, April 2006.

This is the highest court of appeal in SA. My application to be heard by the High Court was refused on very suspicious grounds. So much for JUSTICE to the brutalized innocent in our 'robust democracy and justice system'.

Regards Dawn

===>>> UPDATE 21 JUNE 2007 From Dawn: The Bankruptcy Hearing of the 28th May was adjourned until 5 July, in Adelaide, in the Federal Magistrate's Court. The execution (literally!) will be ordered on this date. However the actual seizure of my home will take some 6-8 weeks after that.

===>>> THERE IS STILL AN URGENT NEED TO DEMAND JUSTICE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WHO HAVE THE POWER AT ANY MOMENT TO CEASE AND DESIST FROM THIS ACTION. PLEASE HELP BY CONTACTING FEDERAL MEMBERS - ESPECIALLY MAL BROUGH AND PHILIP RUDDOCK.

===>>> UPDATE 5.30 pm MONDAY MAY 28: THE LATEST... AFTER THE (FIRST) BANKRUPTCY HEARING

Dawn and I are in Adelaide airport before flying back to Melbourne. The Registrar agreed to adjourn until 5th July... predominantly because the Commonwealth solicitor presented Dawn with about 60 pages of documents ten minutes before the hearing - and expected her to digest and argue the contents!!!! Remember Dawn represented herself: she didn't have a lawyer who could scan/understand 60 pages in ten minutes. Aussie friends: your taxes at work!!!!

Dawn now has to supply within 14 days a list of her assets and liabilities. The Commonwealth then reply with legal argument to this list within another 14 days.

Dawn applied to transfer this legal action to Melbourne, on hardship grounds, which the Commonwealth opposed. This will also be argued during the hearing on July 5.

Another massive stress, distress, expense and unpaid time and effort for Dawn.

But the good news is that this adjournment gives us all further opportunity to pressure the Commonwealth to do the humanitarian/decent/just thing and withdraw their demand for any money from Dawn.... who, remember, is the innocent victim in all this.

~~~

FROM DAWN ROWAN.... URGENT!!!

Today, Fri 25th May 3pm. Commonwealth solicitor has notified me that the hearing in Adelaide WILL GO AHEAD after having said late yesterday that they would probably be adjourning it and not to bother coming over.

This despicable backflip is typical of the treatment they have put me through for 21 years!!!!!!! The intent is to keep me as psychologically stressed as possible. This is continuing TORTURE deliberately inflicted to exhaust and immobilize me with depression, is an extreme, coercive tactic routinely used by torturers and mind controllers.

The hearing is at 2.15pm, Monday 28th May in the Federal Court in Adelaide..... They will continue to sabotage justice with whatever dirty tactics they can invent.

Dawn Rowan

===>>> Go here to vote on whether Dawn was treated fairly/unfairly...

And/or vote here:

Was Dawn Rowan (Today Tonight story) treated unfairly?

88% have so far voted Yes (but note that more recently - early July - the voting has been stacked against Dawn by some group: now who would do that? The good news is that Dawn's enemies-in-high-places are taking our campaign seriously).

Vote at www.opinion.com.au!

NEW BLOG

2007-05-24T19:43:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,

It's now Friday morning, May 25th, 2007 (whatever the date and time you read on this Blog) and we've just heard that the bankruptcy hearing set for Monday 28th may be postponed. Dawn and I - Rowland - have already purchased tickets to fly to Adelaide. This is the way Dawn has been, to use an expression well-known to Australians 'mucked around' for 20 years.

We'll keep you posted.

Meanwhile, we've set up this new blog with a new template, layout and title here. You might still have the former blog in your favorites. It will help to update that with this one to stay abreast of developments.

URGENT: Right now, why not send an email to your Federal Member of Parliament about Dawn? Refer them to this site if you wish. Click here to find their email addresses.

And if you think Dawn Rowan's situation is unique, visit Dr. Bob Moles' excellent site with a wealth of information about Australian and other miscarriages of justice. If you hunt around you'll see he's au fait with Dawn's situation (See, eg., this one, and scroll down to 25th May, 2007).

Rowland Croucher

Technorati Profile

UPDATE: MAY 20, 2007

2007-05-24T19:41:00.000-07:00

***** BANKRUPTCY HEARING *****

The Commonwealth Government is enforcing bankruptcy - proceedings to be held in Adelaide Monday may 28th. the S.A. Government is joining the fray to destroy Dawn, and will at the same time petition to claim costs against her.

An offer has been made via Dawn's lawyer to forestall this drastic procedure, but so far no response...

Urgent: please contact the Prime Minister - the Hon John Howard MP

Tel: (02) 6277 7700 Fax: (02) 6273 4100
email: http://www.pm.gov.au/contact/index.cfm

and/or the attorney-general, Hon. Philip Ruddock at
ag@ag.gov.au

~~~

HERE'S THE EMAIL I'VE JUST SENT TO THE PRIME MINISTER (and COPIED TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL):

THE HON. JOHN HOWARD
PRIME MINISTER
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

20th May 2007

Re: Dawn Rowan

I wish to draw to your attention a gross injustice perpetrated by the Governments of South Australia and the Commonwealth against a citizen declared at all times in the court process to be innocent.

The Commonwealth and SA governments are now pursuing her for costs, whilst the perpetrators of the injustice against Ms Rowan will not suffer personally in any way.

Please visit http://dawnrowan.blogspot.com/
or
http://jmm.aaa.net.au/articles/4728.htm
or
Channel 7's TT program of May 14, 2007 (link on front page http://jmm.aaa.net.au)
for a summary of her case.

A bankruptcy hearing against Ms Rowan is set down for next Monday, May 28th May, 2007. If it succeeds she will be homeless and destitute.

I respectfully request that your government exercise compassion and clemency in this case of a gross miscarriage of justice against an innocent person.

Yours faithfully

(Rev. Dr.) Rowland Croucher

~~~

UPDATE MAY 1, 2007

2007-05-24T19:40:00.001-07:00

Dear friends

Thanks for all the wonderful support you have provided over these 'lean years' of litigation.

The Federal Government (Philip Ruddock) are now proceeding to bankrupt me... a completely innocent citizen, grossly abused under parliamentary privilege, grossly defamed, who fought for 21 years to get justice -- and has been at all times declared innocent by the judgments, (which are on the public record).

This political action will leave me homeless, penniless, at 61 years of age, having worked for 40 years and supported myself throughout my life.

My total 'legal' costs, as permitted by the legal system (an actual joke!) have amounted to approximately $800,000, paid upfront/already. My actual costs of running the legal action for the past 17 years is 1 1/2 million dollars (not including lost earnings).

In relation to the Commonwealth's pursing me to bankruptcy, a recent communication from Philip Ruddock stated 'The Commonwealth is entitled to act firmly and properly to protect ***ITS*** (my emphasis) interests.'
Question: Whose interests is the Australian Government elected to represent????

The emotional cost of the last 21 years of torture includes severe post-traumatic stress symptoms, as documented in medical records which I'll post here in the near future.

Dawn Rowan
[dawn.rowan[at]optusnet.com.au]

PO Box 60,
St. Andrews,
Victoria,
Australia 3761

May 1. 2007

LETTER TO MINISTER REQUESTING WAIVER ON COMPASSIONATE GROUNDS

2007-05-24T19:38:00.000-07:00

LETTER TO MINISTER REQUESTING WAIVER ON COMPASSIONATE GROUNDS

On the 17th October 2006, the Commonwealth issued a bankruptcy notice demanding $380,000. I responded as follows, to ministers Brough and Ruddock, requesting a waiver of this punitive action on compassionate grounds.

Dawn Rowan
PO Box 60
St Andrews
VIC 3761

18 October 2006

FOR THE URGENT ATTENTION OF:

The Honourable Mal Brough MP
Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
Box 7788
Canberra Mail Centre ACT 2610

Dear Minister,

Re: Bankruptcy Proceedings Issued By The Australian Government Solicitor

I am writing to you in the hope that you will be able to assist me with
respect to bankruptcy proceedings that have been instituted against me
following sixteen years of litigation. Although I was successful in that
litigation the outcome has had a catastrophic effect on me, my health and my career. It has now culminated with the Commonwealth serving me with a Bankruptcy Notice no doubt with the ultimate intention of forcing me into bankruptcy.

I am approaching you in the hope that you will intervene and bring an end to what has been a disastrous last fifteen years of my life.

In the briefest terms can I explain.

Background

I was born in 1946 and educated in Adelaide.

I chose to follow a career as a secondary school music teacher and did so for ten years.

Thereafter I was interested in directing my activities to counselling women and children who had been subject to domestic violence and cruelty. I undertook and completed a degree of Bachelor of Social Administration and applied for and was ultimately appointed the administrator of two women’s shelters in Adelaide.

The shelters were jointly funded by the Commonwealth and State Governments and from 1978 myself and a number of other workers devoted ourselves to counselling and assisting a large number of people who attended the shelters for assistance.

Joint Report – Defamation

On 11 August 1987 a report was published by a joint committee which had been set up by the State and Federal Governments. The report was from an
independent review committee which had been commissioned to examine the
management and operation of the women’s shelters.

The report was ultimately published and received extensive media coverage from television stations and the press. The report contained unwarranted and untruthful allegations of sexual and financial impropriety on the part of myself and others associated with the management of the shelters.

The impact of the report was devastating. I had devoted my career and life to counselling women and children and given up everything to pursue this career. I had considered it was a most worthwhile cause and I had intended to devote my life to that career.

As a consequence of the report, funding was withdrawn and the Christies
Beach shelter closed.

The impact on my health was immediate and I remained on sickness benefits for two years.

I fled the State and relocated in Victoria, but my professional reputation, my ambitions and my health had been effectively destroyed.

I was left without means of income.

Although I obtained some employment in Victoria for approximately twelve
months I ultimately had to resign from that position because of my health and political pressure.

Litigation

Because the allegations in the report were completely false and misleading, because my career had been ruined and I was without income I took legal advice and commenced defamation proceedings out of the Supreme Court in South Australia.

Whilst I had little in the way of funds, I obtained legal representation and proceedings were instituted on 26 June 1990.

The Defendants to the proceedings were the authors of the report (these
being the State and Commonwealth employees, as well as the State and Federal Governments). I also sued the two television stations who had published the findings of the report.

The legal proceedings were extensive and protracted and the Defendants for the next ten years took numerous steps to have the proceedings defeated.

The trial eventually commenced in June 2001 and proceeded for sixty-seven days. For sixty of those days I was without legal representation and fought the case on my own.

The State, the Commonwealth and the television stations were all represented by Counsel, an army of solicitors and in some cases Queens Counsel.

In a judgment delivered on 21 June 2002 Justice Debelle, a senior and highly regarded member of the bench published his reasons. He described the allegations as a “shocking defamation”.

I was ultimately awarded the sum of approximately $585,000 in damages,
together with the costs of the action.

In subsequent contribution proceedings the amount to which the Commonwealth was found liable to pay was $39,117.42.

Although the award of compensation was less than I had expected I felt that my action in bringing the litigation had been vindicated. Needless to say the years in preparing the case for trial, the trauma of fighting the case in court without legal representation and the associated affect on my health meant that I had been without income for virtually all of that period.

Appeals

Because of apparent unlimited resources the State, the Commonwealth and the two television stations all lodged appeals.

In order to defend the judgment I was forced to retain solicitors and
barristers.

My health deteriorated, I was unable to work and spent a vast amount of time instructing lawyers to defend the appeals.

I was required to sell a property which had been left to me by my mother in order to pay legal costs associated with the appeal and the subsequent appeal to the High Court.

Eventually the Full Court allowed the appeal.

For reasons for which I am unable to understand the two television stations and the Commonwealth were exonerated. The damages awarded to me were reduced, but I retained the judgment against the State of South Australia.

Whilst I was awarded 75% of my costs against the State, I was ordered to pay the costs of the Commonwealth and the two television stations.

The total claims for costs of the Commonwealth and the two television
stations exceeded $1 million and the liability to pay these sums would have meant that even though I had succeeded in the litigation overall, the result would have been my bankruptcy.

Faced with this I had no further alternative than to instruct my lawyers to appeal to the High Court.

Because the High Court considered that the matter was not of public interest and only involved legal costs my application for special leave to appeal was refused.

Subsequent Action by the Commonwealth

The end of the court processes left me in poor health and financially ruined as I faced costs orders of the television stations and the Commonwealth of over $1 million.

The two television stations have not pursued me for their legal costs. The Commonwealth, however, has been relentless.

Since the dismissal of the High Court proceedings the Australian Government Solicitor, on behalf of the Commonwealth, has:

· Made a demand for costs in excess of $600,000.

· Obtained an injunction against me, freezing my assets.

· Relentlessly pursued the claim for costs against me and
eventually obtained an order for lump sum payment of costs of $380,000.

· Issued a Bankruptcy Notice against me with a view to
obtaining a Bankruptcy Order.

As a consequence of this I have had funds from the sale of a house that I owned frozen and have had access to my bank accounts limited.

In September 2005, in the course of the injunction proceedings, I requested my solicitors to write to the AGS outlining my position. I requested that my situation be referred to the Minister with a view that the Australian Government Solicitor be instructed to refrain from pursuing its claim against me.

I enclose herewith a copy of the letter that my solicitors sent to the AGS, together with the medical report that was referred to in that letter.

I do not know what transpired as a result of that letter.

The Current Position

The Bankruptcy Notice issued by the Australian Government Solicitor demands payment of $380,000 by 17 October 2006. I presume that if that sum is not paid the Australian Government Solicitor will issue a petition against me with a view to having me declared bankrupt.

I do not know if the two television stations will join in those proceedings, but to date neither of them have made demands against me for costs. I believe that if the Commonwealth were to withdraw its demand the two television stations would not pursue me.

My current position is as follows:

· I have a house at St Andrews in Victoria. It is my home
and a place where I am trying to re-establish my practice as a counsellor. The house is valued at about $500,000, but is subject to a mortgage of nearly $130,000.

· I previously had a holiday home at Coronet Bay in Victoria. This was sold in August 2005 for $190,000. Those funds were frozen by the Commonwealth as part of its court proceedings and are currently in a solicitor’s trust account in Melbourne.

· There is a balance of about $30,000 held by the State Crown being the balance of court costs due to me. The State, however, is claiming $17,000 of that sum.

· Overall I have spent over $380,000 in legal fees and have no money in the bank. All of my personal financial resources have gone into the litigation over the last fifteen years. I have less than $40,000 in a
superannuation fund.

The Future

As a result of the last fifteen years I remain shattered and confused. I
have ten years of my working life left, but with no realistic prospect of obtaining fulltime work or employment.

If the bankruptcy proceedings continue I will certainly lose my house and everything that I have worked for over the years.

With the limited finances that I have I would prefer to attempt to rebuild my career as a counsellor and attempt to retain my health and my dignity. I do not want to lose my home and become reliant on Centrelink payments.

Although the Commonwealth was excused from liability by the Full Court,
there is no doubt that its officers were involved in the preparation of the report that ultimately was found to be grossly defamatory and which ruined my career. Although the television stations were involved in the defamatory conduct they have exercised clemency and have not to date pursued their claims for costs against me. It is only the Commonwealth that has adopted a relentless approach to have me ruined.

In the circumstances, therefore, I am again asking for clemency with the
request that you intervene and instruct your department to refrain from
pursuing its claim for legal costs.

I have forwarded a copy of this letter to the Australian Government
Solicitor with the request that it take no further bankruptcy proceedings pending your consideration of my position.

I would be most appreciative of any assistance that you are able to afford.

I remain

Yours sincerely,

DAWN ROWAN

Copy to: The Hon Philip Ruddock MP
ATTORNEY-GENERAL

AN EXPLANATORY NOTE: and TV PROGRAM TRANSCRIPT

2007-05-24T19:36:00.000-07:00

This Blog has been set up as part of a group of Blogs produced by me, Rowland Croucher.

That's why you'll see my biodata here, not Dawn Rowan's.

Hopefully, when Dawn has been freed from this tyrannous situation, she'll have the mental space to manage this Blog herself. But Jan and I are committed to supporting her through this whole ordeal.

See the initial story we published, for info about how we met Dawn.

She's a very courageous person, and I would encourage all Australians who read this to communicate with their federal parliamentary representatives to advocate for Dawn.

~~~

TRANSCRIPT OF CHANNEL SEVEN ADELAIDE'S TODAY TONIGHT PROGRAM, 14/5/2007

Monday 14 May 2007 - Channel 7 Today Tonight (Adelaide) - Dawn Rowan

This version of the transcript has been edited by Dr Robert N Moles

In order of appearance

Leigh McCluskey, Presenter

Graham Archer, Producer and interviewer

Program Leigh McCluskey

Tonight, a special investigation into a battle that has spanned 2 decades and which is about to leave an innocent Adelaide woman homeless. Dawn Rowan by any definition is a hero - a pioneer and champion in the struggle against violence in the home. It was dangerous and often unpopular work. However, her real adversaries were the State and Federal governments who appeared to resent her independence and success.

Dawn and her colleague became the targets of the most appalling smear campaign - and though the courts have found in her favour, the Federal government is moving in to take all she has in the world. Graham Archer has the story.

Graham Archer

The citizen versus the State. Would you recommend it?

Dawn Rowan

Well put it this way - suicide seems a very sensible option to me. It's diabolical. I couldn’t even begin to tell you the damage it’s done me.

Graham Archer

What you are about to see is the chilling reality of what happens when an ordinary citizen takes on the State.

Dawn Rowan

Torture. It's psychological, social, financial and physical torture.

Graham Archer

To those who know what she's been through Adelaide's Dawn Rowan is a hero. A genuine pioneer in the struggle against child abuse and domestic violence. It was a task few had the stomach to tackle.

Documentary interview

....I just picked her up and dragged her across to my place and I told her I was going to give her the biggest kicking of her life - but I pre-planned that. I told a few blokes at work that I was going home to give it the biggest kicking of it’s life – ‘cause I'd had a guts full.....

Dawn Rowan

Battered wives at that point were considered whingeing bitches who deserved what they got - and were sleeping on the beaches and in chook houses and things like that.

Graham Archer

The work was dangerous and, of course, many labelled Dawn and her colleagues as ratbags and radicals.

Dawn Rowan

We were considered just the screaming lunatic fringe, nationally - nationally this was, not just South Australia, but the women’s shelters were considered to be troublemakers - because we were outspoken and we were very well organized.

Graham Archer

However their independently run shelters offering protection to battered women - such as Dawn's at Christies Beach - were ground breaking in what they attempted.

Dawn Rowan

And the nature of the work we did there was quite pioneering as well. And that was about genuinely empowering women to go back either to home or separately with connections within the community to be completely rehabilitated.

Graham Archer

But their vision wasn't shared by the State and Federal governments who funded the shelters - and who resented their independence.

Dawn Rowan

Government wanted to deny, minimise and trivialise the problem. I got the distinct impression that they were put out by the effectiveness of the shelters and that - and basically, they were embarrassed by the degree of success.

Graham Archer

Dawn was one of the most dedicated and articulate advocates for the cause - and her critics were many.

Dawn Rowan

You were characterized as a trouble maker? Oh absolutely - an empire builder - the mouth from the south.

Graham Archer

For years she fought to support shattered families - and hold off those determined to undermine her - who were planning to take over and turn the shelters back into emergency housing for all comers.

Dawn Rowan

We felt that complete rehabilitation services were necessary for families that had experienced domestic violence (including the children) - there was a whole complexity of issues that were different to say - running a safe bed for the night for homeless men.

Graham Archer

When the shelters wouldn't submit to the Government's demands - Dawn and her colleague became the target of extraordinary and largely baseless attacks. These smears would lead to a legal battle that after almost 20 years - is about to leave Dawn herself homeless.

Dawn Rowan

And it's also 18 years of living with the real terror of bankruptcy and losing everything I owned. But I thought that was a possibility - only if I lost. I didn't think that was a possibility if I won.

Graham Archer

Dawn's most powerful antagonist was the Minister of Health and Community Welfare - the cocksure and quarrelsome Dr John Cornwall.

File Tape

I'm never happy to meet you the way you carry on - you are the most irresponsible person in public life in South Australia. You are the original ‘middle-aged larrikin’.

Graham Archer

Cornwell’s tactics were hardly subtle - and included the threat to withdraw Shelter funding - which prompted Dawn and her supporters to demand he hand back his “Father of the Year” award. For Cornwall - this meant war. He instantly set up a hand-picked “Independent Shelter Review Committee”. Dawn and her Christies Beach Shelter were singled out for special attention.

Were you ever consulted in that review?

Dawn Rowan

No, no, not at all. In fact the day that the Review was announced, I completely collapsed at work.

Graham Archer

To head the committee he picked this woman - Judith Roberts. Though qualified as a nurse - Roberts was a ‘networker’ who had spent years on numerous Government Boards.

Dawn Rowan

She is basically on almost every health, education and welfare committee known to mankind in Australia, both State and Federally.

Graham Archer

And I take it - at the time - no fan of yours?

Dawn Rowan

Asoluteley not. There had been difficulties between her and I for some years.

Graham Archer

In August 1987 - without warning - Cornwall dropped his bombshell - releasing the Review's Findings in Parliament.

Cornwall in Parliament

There are a plethora of allegations and some are very serious indeed.

Graham Archer

The Report "Shelters In The Storm" was pure poison - chronicling the most appalling allegations about Rowan and Shelter staff - including their failure to keep proper financial records, professional negligence, mis-using - even stealing public funds - and much, much worse.

Dawn Rowan

Sexual harassment of women in a womens’ shelter, physical and verbal violence of women in a womens’ shelter - and they're there because of those issues, inappropriate exploitative counselling, which is a shocking, shocking allegation to make.

Graham Archer

Was any of it true?

Dawn Rowan

Absolutely not. Not one bit of it.

File tape

I've worked in the shelter for 6 years and I have never seen anything remotely like those suggestions.

Graham Archer

Some of the allegations of sexual harassment were put forward by Roberts herself - from unnamed sources.

Dawn Rowan

They only left out running a brothel and - you know – operating a stolen car racket - you know everything else was just about lumped in.

Graham Archer

Roberts even went on Channel 10 and the ABC to repeat the allegations. Dawn and the others were devastated.

Dawn Rowan

I – I - I was completely - I should have been hospitalised at that stage. I could not believe this was possible in a democracy.

Graham Archer

What made the attack even more extraordinary was that a police investigation into the Shelter finances had been completed days before - and found no wrong-doing whatsoever.

Dawn Rowan

And if you were going to table a report making allegations about criminality about someone - you'd want to check with police to ensure you were on safe ground wouldn't you? That's right yes? Investigations were instigated - but they didn't wait for the results before they released the Report - in fact judged us - sentenced us - without a trial.

They were ordered to go back an keep digging - and that's what the detectives told me.

Graham Archer

Their Report - which was not made public - contradicted the Review’s Finding on almost every point - and concludes with a recommendation that the government "Prevent a recurrence of rumours, innuendo and ill founded allegations being made."

It was buried. The Shelter was also cleared by a corporate affairs investigation, the Ombudsman and a Parliamentary Select Committee Inquiry. Dawn had no option but to resign. The funding was cut and the shelter movement collapsed.

Dawn Rowan

It has pretty much destroyed my personal credibility, my professional credibility, my capacity to contribute - to the field of - particularly to the field of family violence.

Graham Archer

But even after the allegations were shown to be almost entirely false - there was no attempt to undo the damage - or even utter an apology. Dawn Rowan's only way to set the record straight and regain her dignity was through the courts.

Dawn Rowan

The only possibility was to then go to the law.

Graham Archer

It was to be a David and Goliath battle - spanning 2 decades. The list of court appearances alone runs to 58 pages - and we may never know how many millions of taxpayers dollars the State and Federal government poured into defending their inexcusable actions.

Dawn Rowan

This is the brutal and unrelenting pursuit by the State Government of South Australia and the Commonwealth government - of an innocent person - which has been, for me, 20 years of torture - leading to State sponsored execution.

Graham Archer

Mediation collapsed when Dawn's adversaries failed to agree on a settlement proposal. And in court - Cornwall, Roberts and the others denied any wrong doing. However, in June 2002, at the end of a torturous trial in which Rowan represented herself - Justice Debelle's 300 page judgment sent the missiles flying - back - smack into the governments bunkers.

Dawn Rowan - News story

Surrounded by supporters and a hug from her proud niece Felicity - Dawn Rowan emerged victorious from the Supreme Court this morning. “This has been 15 years of hell and there's been many, many people injured by this …"

Dawn Rowan

It was a strong judgment in my favour and was very critical of the main defendants.

Graham Archer

Hs findings were clear - the treatment of Dawn was appalling.
Justice Debelle from the judgment

The allegations were a shocking defamation.

Graham Archer

The judge flayed a number of the government people involved - starting with the "evasive" Dr Cornwall.

Justice Debelle from the judgment

I accept his evidence only where it is corroborated by objective facts.

Graham Archer

He was equally critical of Judith Roberts who, incidentally, during the case had been awarded an Order of Australia. However, she was in the judge's view

Justice Debelle from the judgment

A most unimpressive witness. There was a considerable degree of self justification in her evidence and at times she became an advocate for her own cause. Some of her evidence was plainly wrong.

Graham Archer

Things got much harder for Dawn when it was revealed slabs of the files from all 5 governments departments involved in the case went missing.

Justice Debelle from the judgment

Some files were destroyed or lost after this action had commenced.

Graham Archer

Amongst them was the SA police's own investigation file stored in State Archives which disappeared during the case.

Justice Debelle from the judgment

A request was made for its retrieval but somewhere the file was lost in the process of retrieval.

Dawn Rowan

The police lost their complete file into their investigation into Christies Beach.

Graham Archer

Even the notes of the Review Committee itself had been destroyed or lost.

Dawn Rowan

No record of it.

Graham Archer

So there was no record of the review?

Dawn Rowan

No.

Graham Archer

Meetings?

Dawn Rowan

No.

Graham Archer

Notes?

Dawn Rowan

No.

Graham Archer

Minutes?

Dawn Rowan

All gone.

Graham Archer

In fact, Roberts admitted destroying much of that paperwork herself. "She says in an affidavit she was given verbal legal advice to destroy her working documents. But she could remember who'd given her that advice? Nope ..."

Graham Archer

The state's Corporate Affairs Commission also lost parts of their file.

Dawn Rowan

Departments like Corporate Affairs just can't get away with ‘oh we lost it’ ‘we can't find it’ - it's extraordinary.

Graham Archer

But that's what happened. Roberts had even claimed at one stage of the case that she didn't know Dawn Rowan at all.

Dawn Rowan

When she was being questioned by the State Crown Solicitor she'd make statements like did you know Dawn Rowan - she'd say no.

Graham Archer

So she denied knowing you?

Dawn Rowan

Yes initially.

Graham Archer

In court?

Dawn Rowan

Yes in court.

Graham Archer

Cornwall was found guilty of abusing his power and Roberts - and some of her committee - found to be motivated by malice.

Justice Debelle from the judgment

I find there is sufficient evidence that members of the Review Committee did not honestly believe what they were stating about the Christies Beach shelter was correct. Those members were guilty of malice.

Graham Archer

It's not what you'd expect from public servants is it?

Dawn Rowan

Absolutely not - absolutely not. They admitted each one of them that - they didn't make any effort to establish if any of these allegations were credible or not .

Graham Archer

The judge awarded Rowan damages of around $500,000 with costs.

Dawn Rowan

But none of my costs to this day have been ordered to be paid for my costs in that first trial.

Graham Archer

But having already spent millions of taxpayer dollars in fighting Dawn, the governments State and Federal simply plunged their hands deeper into the public purse and appealed.

You must have been confident that you'd survive?

Dawn Rowan

Absolutely. He said repeatedly the evidence abundantly supported his findings.

Graham Archer

The appeal proceeded - followed by a 16 month wait for the findings which in the end were almost as big a shock as the original review 18 years previously.

Dawn Rowan

Look, the whole judgment I found shocking – devastating.

Graham Archer

In fact Dawn won again. The Full Bench found the facts of the case were unquestionably in her favour. But having said that - there was a catastrophic legal twist. They overturned the finding of malice against Roberts.

Dawn Rowan

They upheld Cornwall’s misfeasance and they upheld Judith Roberts defamation, on the media programs, but they refused to find malice.

Graham Archer

This was a crushing blow because it meant Dawn became liable for all the Federal Government’s legal costs for the entire case and the appeal.

And what kind of a cost judgment are you facing?

Dawn Rowan

I am now legally liable for millions of dollars of costs of the 2 television stations and the Commonwealth Government and my own costs of that appeal to the tune of $300,000.

Graham Archer

After 18 years of struggle Dawn had won - but faced ruin all the same.

So having been falsely accused of criminal conduct by a Government Minister and his staff?

Dawn Rowan

Yes.

Graham Archer

After being appallingly defamed?

Dawn Rowan

Yes.

Graham Archer

Having to resign?

Dawn Rowan

Yes.

Graham Archer

Move States?

Dawn Rowan

Yes.

Graham Archer

Having seen documents and notes go missing?

Dawn Rowan

Yes.

Graham Archer

The court has now found that you have to pay the governments costs?

Dawn Rowan

That's right. The Commonwealth government's costs because they've been let off by the Full Court.

Graham Archer

And we will never know what this has actually cost the taxpayer?

Dawn Rowan

No.

Graham Archer

In recent weeks the Commonwealth have frozen her assets and are now moving in to take what's left of her assets. Only her home - her own shelter from the storm - and where she still manages to conduct what's left of her career as a counselor - now just how much is that again?

Dawn Rowan

That's $380,000 - and I have a mortgage of $120,000 on my house.

Graham Archer

Does that effectively mean that you're homeless?

Dawn Rowan

Yes - that effectively means that I'm homeless. And because I work from home when I'm able to work - that I won't have a place to work as well.

Graham Archer

So what chance has an individual got in standing up against politicians and their servants who have unlimited resources and nothing personal to lose? After trying to set right an obvious wrong Dawn Rowan faces homelessness and bankruptcy. Could the gap between justice and the law be stretched much wider?

Dawn Rowan

If I knew then what I know now - I would have done what Penny Eastern did and commit suicide after 4 days. I don’t believe there is any possibility in Australia and certainly in South Australia of getting any justice when grave, grave injustices and injuries have been done to innocent members of the public by the state.

HOW DEMOCRACIES BECOME DICTATORSHIPS

2007-05-24T19:33:00.000-07:00

[Australian readers might like to read this through Australian eyes and 'tick the boxes'.

Federal election 2007: what are you willing to do about it? Dawn Rowan].

~~~

Towards a Dictatorship in 10 easy steps

Naomi Wolf " (Guardian)
Tuesday April 24, 2007 [Posted here 1 May 2007]

Last autumn, there was a military coup in Thailand. The leaders of the coup took a number of steps, rather systematically, as if they had a shopping list. In a sense, they did. Within a matter of days, democracy had been closed down: the coup leaders declared martial law, sent armed soldiers into residential areas, took over radio and TV stations, issued restrictions on the press, tightened some limits on travel, and took certain activists into custody.

They were not figuring these things out as they went along. If you look at history, you can see that there is essentially a blueprint for turning an open society into a dictatorship. That blueprint has been used again and again in more and less bloody, more and less terrifying ways. But it is always effective. It is very difficult and arduous to create and sustain a democracy - but history shows that closing one down is much simpler. You simply have to be willing to take the 10 steps.

As difficult as this is to contemplate, it is clear, if you are willing to look, that each of these 10 steps has already been initiated today in the United States by the Bush administration. More...

~~~

Naomi Wolf's The End of America: A Letter of Warning to a Young Patriot will be published by Chelsea Green in September.

Guardian Unlimited© Guardian News and Media Limited 2007

THE AMAZING DAWN ROWAN SAGA

2007-05-24T19:31:00.000-07:00

She sued the Federal and South Australian Governments, defended herself in a five-month court-case - and won!

~~~

In 1987 the South Australian government ceased funding the Christies Beach womens shelter, due, it said, to 'unsubstantiated allegations' of misappropriation of funds, sexual misconduct, intimidation, physical harassment, and unprofessional conduct.

Fifteen years later - June 21st 2002 - Supreme Court judge Justice Debelle said all these allegations were false, and the then womens shelter administrator Dawn Rowan, who largely represented herself, was awarded damages of half a million dollars. Taxpayers have paid millions, says Dawn, for the S.A. and Federal Governments to 'defend the indefensible'. The saga isn't finished yet. There's an appeal pending - costs again courtesy of the Australian taxpayer!

~~~

I first met her via a phone call at an odd Easter hour six years ago.

'Hi, my name's Dawn Rowan. You don't know me, but I've just heard you on the ABC. I've got to talk to you. Urgently!'

The radio program had been about the classical Christian discipline of Spiritual Direction - how we help one another to try to understand the ways of God.

In our first session she quickly tossed in her two main agendas. 'I'm a therapist, working with the adult survivors of childhood ritual, satanic, emotional, sexual and physical abuse. I want to know where God was when those babies were born to be tortured.'

'The second: I'm taking two governments and two TV networks to court. I'm up against the most powerful elites in our nation, and I need support somewhere!'

Two hundred counselling-hours later we're still talking.

People like Dawn Rowan make interesting counsellees. I have clients who are psychiatrists, psychologists and, in my specialised work, many clergy and their spouses, and it's intimidating to talk with someone who is analysing - albeit sometimes unconsciously - your counselling techniques. Dawn has herself been a counsellor since 1970 - in schools and the women's liberation centre in Adelaide - before she managed the Christies Beach Womens Shelter. But I found her at all times to be emotionally genuine, scrupulously honest about her feelings and the events we discussed, able to cry (which happened frequently) and very fluent when she got angry about the abuse she felt she had received from various authority figures.

A dedicated feminist activist, Dawn, now 60, was probably the first person to identify the syndrome of 'battered women' back in 1981.

'I identified a pattern of abusive strategies used by violent men and a pattern of responses by victims/survivors of this abuse and the common impacts on their lives. My 1981 analysis of the nature and extent of family violence and child abuse in our community is now accepted as commonplace knowledge. But back then I was described by those who were threatened by this new information as a 'liar, exaggerator, and an empire-builder'. Even the 'ideological watchdogs' of the women's movement attacked me and sabotaged my efforts to alert everyone about the realities of domestic violence through community education and training of professionals. We set up the Christies Beach Shelter on a profoundly different philosophy to that of the prevailing feminist position - to empower women and their children to access real choices.

'I've learned that being twenty years ahead of your time is dangerous.'

Are you still a feminist?

'I no longer define myself as a feminist. I've too often experienced in my counselling practice the results of women abusing others - or of being acquiescent in the abuse by others of children in their care. I'd rather help with a no-blame philosophy of human behaviour.'

Dawn's case was heard in the South Australian Supreme Court over five months in 2001.

A qualified social worker (and high school music teacher) with no legal training, Dawn Rowan represented herself against four legal teams - including a QC, senior and junior barristers, briefing solicitors and other supporting legal staff. She ran the case with the assistance of her 20-year old niece, Felicity Lockwood, who also has had no legal training. Only in the final submissions stage did she get the help of a barrister - for one week.

On 21st of June 2002, after deliberating for nine months, South Australian Supreme Court judge Justice Debelle handed down a 300-page judgment. You can read it on the Australasian Legal Information Institute's website

Read the full judgment here.
(For non-legal readers, scroll down on this site to 'CONTENTS', which helps navigate to the facts of the case).

In a landmark ruling he found that she had been completely vindicated after living for 15 years with vilification, humiliation and injustice.

Says Dawn angrily: 'And these are the politicians we elect to high office in our sick system! Millions of taxpayers' dollars have been spent defending the indefensible.'

Dawn's summary:

'This has been a 15-year legal campaign waged by the Federal Government (both Labor and Liberal) and the South Australian Government (both Labor and Liberal), to defend themselves against charges of misfeasance (abuse of public office), defamation, negligence and conspiracy.

'We'd spent many exhausting years in the early 1980s trying to get adequate funding through the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP). We were so frustrated we even created 'SAAP Sucks!' badges. The levels of public funding were insulting. At the time the cost to accommodate one person per night in a hospital was $250, in a gaol $180, and in a women's shelter $10 a night! Our shelter in Christies Beach ran a 24-hour, seven days a week service for approximately 300 women and their children a year with just five staff.

'The saga really came to the boil in October 1986. Representatives of the South Australian women's shelters unanimously called for the withdrawal of Dr. Cornwall's Father of the Year award, which had been bestowed on him some months before. He was then the Minister for Health and Welfare in the Bannon Labor government.

'This was duly reported in the Adelaide Advertiser the following morning.

'Within three or four days Dr. Cornwall announced in parliament that he was establishing an 'Independent' Review (Rowland: always put 'Independent' in 'quotes'!) of the management and administration South Australian shelters. But I believe he was really targeting the 'bully girls' as he called us, at Christies' Beach. He saw me - probably with some justification - as the 'ringleader' in all this.

'"Independent?" Dr Cornwall appointed all the members of the 'independent review' committee, including the chairperson Mrs. Judith Roberts, who continues to chair (or is a member of) numerous health welfare and education boards and committees, both in South Australia and nationally.

'Our shelter at Christies Beach was singled out in the final report of the 'independent' review with 'unsubstantiated allegations' of misappropriation of funds, physical and verbal harassment and intimidation of shelter clients, professional negligence, sexual harassment of clients, and inappropriate and exploitative counselling practices.

'On 11th August 1987 Dr Cornwall announced in the SA parliament, under parliamentary privilege, that he was defunding Christies Beach women's shelter on the grounds of this list of 'unsubstantiated allegations' contained in the report Shelters in the Storm which was produced by the Roberts committee.

'But a couple of months before, in June 1987, the minister and some committee members, obviously realising how damaging the allegations would be, actually sought formal legal advice from Mr. Brad Selway of the Crown Solicitors' office regarding their liability in defamation should the report be released under parliamentary privilege.

'In 1990 I filed proceedings against thirteen defendants - for defamation, negligence, and misfeasance (abuse of public office). The defendants were:

* The Commonwealth of Australia ·the State of South Australia ·Dr. Cornwall ·Mr. Christopher Sumner (State Attorney-General)

* Ms Susan Ryan (Federal Minister for Community Services)

* Mrs Judith Roberts ·Miss Judith Blake (a member of the Review Committee who was also chair of the Whyalla YWCA which ran a women's shelter)

* Mrs Rosemary Wighton (Review Committee member who happened to be Deputy CEO of The Dept of Community Welfare, which administered shelter funds)

* Ms Colleen Johnson (Review Committee member, a senior financial manager in Dr Cornwall's Health Department)

* Ms Robyn King (Review Committee member who represented The Commonwealth)

* Ms Harrison Anderson ('independent' paid consultant to the committee)

* The Australian Broadcasting Corporation

* Network Ten.

'In 1998 the charge of conspiracy was added following further examination of the relevant documents. Two more defendants were added: Ms Susan Varden (then CEO of the Department of Community Welfare, and currently CEO of Centrelink) and Mr. Peter Bicknell (then manager of the unit within the DCW which administered shelter funds).'

In a landmark legal judgment Justice Debelle found that:

* All the unsubstantiated allegations were false. 'The allegations', he said, ' were a shocking defamation'.

* Dr Cornwall, Mrs Judith Roberts, Mrs Rosemary Wighton and Ms Harrison Anderson were guilty of malice

* The Roberts committee and the consultant Harrison Anderson were guilty of defamation for the contents of the report.

* Mrs Roberts, the ABC and Channel Ten were guilty of defamation in regard to current affairs TV programs broadcast on 12 August 1987.

* Dr Cornwall was guilty of misfeasance

Justice Debelle said, in para 687: 'These were serious libels. They charged the plaintiff and others at the Christies Beach shelter with conduct quite inappropriate in any field of employment, but the more so in a women's shelter. The allegation of misappropriation of funds was, in effect, an accusation of theft. The allegations of sexual misconduct, intimidation, physical harassment, and unprofessional conduct, went to the very essence of the plaintiff's employment as Administrator of a women's shelter. When these allegations are viewed as a whole, it is difficult to think of a more serious defamation, particularly of a woman employed in a women's shelter.'

At this point in our interview we had to pause while Dawn tried to control her emotions. My wife Jan was with us, and we found ourselves sitting either side of Dawn embracing her while she sobbed.

In a while she resumed her story.

THE MYSTERIOUS MATTER OF THE MISSING DOCUMENTS

'In my research I found that a whole cohort of documents related to this matter were missing. Government and other departments that we expect to keep good records "mislaid" key documents: in this case four SA and one Commonwealth Department. Mysterious eh? That motivated me to add the conspiracy charges. Documents tend not to go missing all by themselves!

'In paragraphs 87, 94 and 97of his finding the judge said:

"One curious feature of this litigation is the fact that files kept by the relevant departments, have, to a large extent, been lost or destroyed. Some files were destroyed or lost after this action had commenced. There were four State Government departments and one Commonwealth Government department involved in this matter. The four State departments were the DCW, the Crown Solicitors' Office, the Police Department and Corporate Affairs Commission. The Commonwealth Department was the Department of Community Services... It is possible to understand that files from one department might have been inadvertently lost or destroyed. Coincidence cannot explain why files from five departments cannot be located...'

"It is not possible to identify a particular issue where the absence of document has had a material consequence. No conclusions can be drawn because of the absence of documents. Nevertheless, a sense of disquiet remains."

Dawn added: 'It's obviously very difficult in law to prove conspiracy, but it was worth a try!'

The outcome? Justice Debelle awarded damages of $340,000, which -with interest - totalled $585,000.

Dawn, how to you feel about the findings?

'First, they have made legal history in some respects. People can now more freely challenge the notion of parliamentary privilege. Politicians will have to be more careful about abusing their power and privilege. They are liable to be found guilty and punished for the 'tort of misfeasance' - abuse of public office.

'I'm disappointed in the level of damages awarded.

'But I want to pay tribute to Justice Debelle. He had a complete knowledge and understanding of the facts. His judgment was strong.'

How much did it all cost you Dawn?

'Well, for a start, I have lived in terror. These "allegations" - every one in every detail - were 180 degrees opposite to reality. When the public statement about defunding was made, I felt that if I had said anything in public I would be found dead in the gutter. I totally collapsed. I'd only been given five minutes' notice - at 4.55 pm on August 11th 1987 - before the announcement (made under parliamentary privilege) was headlines in TV news bulletins at 5 pm, 6 pm and 7 pm. I managed to get myself to a friend's house, then was immobilized for three weeks. My personal and professional reputation was destroyed. My worldview was shattered, and my self-confidence disappeared. I have lived ever since - for 24 hours every day - with the terrible feeling that people see me as some sort of criminal. Once publicly accused you are never fully cleared regardless of legal outcomes. I still get distressed - as you've noticed many times - when I talk about it. And have you noticed that the media has kept an ominous silence about it all?

'Some of my documents relating to the case vanished - from a friend's home in Victoria, where I had been storing them for security.

'Financially, I've spent about three quarters of a million dollars in costs - that includes hundreds of weekends studying and preparing for this case. In terms of lost earnings: add another $1½ million. Emotionally, I'm not really up to working still. And did you know self-represented litigants get not one cent's payment for their own preparation and court time - even if they're vindicated as I was? (That was a high court decision to discourage non-legally-trained people running their own cases.) Some out-of-pocket expenses - photocopying, travel, etc. can be reimbursed. And note that damages awards pay only 4% simple interest. If interest were calculated at market rates, the damages would have been three times as high, ie. about $1½ million

'Within five weeks I fled to Victoria to find some means of surviving this total personal destruction. Since then I've had roughly an hour a week of therapy for 15 years.'

And how much has this 15-year battle cost taxpayers?

'Well,' she said, 'do your own calculations. The outlay of taxpayers' money is not just up the wall but over the roof! Factor in these costs:

* the Roberts Committee Review (which met for eight months)

* a three-month CIB investigation into the shelter in 1987 - no action taken

* a three-month Corporate Affairs investigation in 1987

* a Corporate Affairs trial against Dawn Rowan and two other shelter workers in 1988 for trivial breaches of the complex new Incorporations Act of less significance under the law than failing to register your dog. No charges were recorded.

* a South Australian parliamentary Upper House Select Committee which investigated the circumstances surrounding the defunding of the Christies Beach Womens Shelter (12 months in 1988-9) which criticised in the strongest possible terms the inclusion in the Roberts Review report of the unsubstantiated allegations

* SA Ombudsman's Investigation (1989) - found that the DCW's actions were unreasonable and unjust

* a Strike-out application taken out against Dawn Rowan by the defendants (date?) which was dismissed

* Stay of Proceedings taken out against Dawn Rowan by the defendants 1996 (which, again, was lost)

* Five-month trial in the SA Supreme Court 2001 - they lost

* Current appeals by all defendants against Justice Debelle's judgment (probably another 18 months)

* Defendants' application to stay the payment of damages to Dawn Rowan ordered by Justice Debelle - dismissed.'

Was the court-case an experience of unremitting seriousness?

'Mostly yes, but Justice Debelle had a sophisticated and wry sense of humour. The funniest moment for me was when the barrister for the Commonwealth Government tried to deflect responsibility for this whole debacle to the South Australian Government, by insisting that the Roberts Committee had the characteristics of a State committee, not a Commonwealth SAAP/State committee. Summarising his case he said "If the committee looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and walks like a duck, it's a duck!" When I responded to this the next day I added "But, your honour, Mr Stanley did not ask 'But what does it smell like?' Upon which there was enthusiastic laughter (from most quarters!).'

Where to from here with the case?

'The 13 defendants are appealing all the findings of the judgment. When? Who knows. Probably 12-18 months' time.'

Finally, what do you think of our political and legal systems?

'Anyone who doesn't believe in conspiracies in high places is being simply irresponsible. Our Westminster system of parliamentary privilege can be grossly abused. Of course I'm not the only one to have experienced that! And our legal system, I believe, is not primarily a system of justice, but of order...'

And where is God?

'I'm a "deconverted" Christian. I'd like to think that a beneficent God is up there somewhere, but I can't figure out why people are allowed to get away with such terrible human injustices and wickedness. I have trouble with institutional Christianity but the Jesus I've studied was a rebel and fought for social justice - so I would have really felt at home with him.'

~~

Dawn Rowan is director of New Beginnings, a counselling and psychotherapy practice in Melbourne for men, women and children who have experienced severe abuse.

For the latest, visit:
http://www.austlii.edu.au/form/search/?method=title&query=Rowan&meta=%2Fau&mask_path=au%2Fcases%2Fsa%2FSASC

~~~

UPDATE (May 4, 2006)

Dawn: 'The South Australian Supreme Court has ordered me to pay the Commonwealth's costs, heavily discounted to $380,000, effective as from last Thursday.

'The other two parties - the ABC and Network Ten - are also submitting claims for their costs in this action.

'And the State of South Australia is wanting me to pay their costs for the bias case submission against these three judges; the bias claim was dismissed.'

Dawn, what's the 'bias claim' all about?

'I made a submission to the Supreme Court claiming a "perception of bias" on the part of at least two of the three judges, which was not disclosed at any time in the trial: for example, one of the three judges had been in association with Judith Roberts on at least ten committees of various kinds, including the Flinders University Council.'

~~~

Rowland Croucher is a Melbourne counsellor and author. When asked why, as a clergyman, he's getting involved in this messy business he replies: 'Interfering clerics and prophets have, for 3000 years, been the bane of those who benefit from an unjust political system.' For a letter in The Melbourne Age Newspaper a couple of years ago, visit here

~~~

'Let the Minister Beware": Personal Liability of Politicians (Rowan v Cornwall).

'... The sort of conduct that may be dismissed as little more than "robust politics" may now carry a very special and damaging sanction'. This article documents the fact that innocent citizens abused under parliamentary privilege now have a legal remedy via MISFEASANCE, which is abuse of public office. More: