Media
ROEBUCK VICTIM EMERGES: Fairfax/ABC must compensate the victims of their employee’s sex attack
The Sun newspaper in England has revealed what Fairfax Media and the ABC stubbornly refused to about their cricket commentator Peter Roebuck and the dirty details of his death.
Australians are entitled to ask why does it take an English newspaper to blow the whistle on an Australian high-profile serial sex predator whose activities it seems were widely known within media and cricket circles?
We were willing to report what he heard. It was no secret. There was merely a consensus among sports journalists that it was more polite to shut up about it. And when we did speak truth to their power, we were attacked by snarky ABC and Fairfax folk for interrupting their mourning period or potentially sullying their brands.
The details – and this is just one victim’s account and it does seem clear enough there’ll be more, maybe many more – are ugly:
■ Itai Gondo, a 26-year-old IT student says he was “groomed” by Peter Roebuck on Facebook, offering him to pay him money to live in his “blue house”;
■ Before they met, Roebuck physically threatened the lad, “OK my boy, bring stick in case I need to beat you!” suggesting the convicted assault-thug continued to mete out physical thrashings to the boys in his care;
■ Gondo says they spoke for two hours in a plush hotel suite before Peter Roebuck launched a “sickening sex assault.” The victim says “I was in shock while it was happening;” and
■ The victim of the attack is traumatised, refusing to show his face to camera, and disclosing that Peter Roebuck had “ruined his life” and that he had contemplated suicide, so profound was his trauma and distress.
It’s a very disturbing story. And one that Fairfax and ABC management would do well to reflect on in coming days.
The victim – and the other boys paid to live in Peter Roebuck’s house – were attracted to his orbit by reason of the prestigious position he held at the ABC and Fairfax and the cachet this gave him in the cricket world. They stayed for the money, subjected to physical and sexual horrors that are yet to fully be exposed.
The victim of the attack is traumatised, refusing to show his face to camera, and disclosing that Peter Roebuck had “ruined his life” and that he had contemplated suicide, so profound was his trauma and distress.
Even on the public domain facts, physical/sexual attacks on three boys that led to assault convictions, a Melbourne radio host who revealed he was targeted by him in inappropriate ways at age 18, an attempted rape, an accommodation arrangement that suggests Roebuck maintained a sick harem of underprivileged Zimbabweans from which he could pick to satisfy his brutal whims, there is enough for his former employers to be gravely concerned.
The public ought expect that they hold to the same standards they demand of others in this situation, that they conduct an urgent inquiry into the extent of their employee’s wrongdoing and immediately offer help, compassion and compensation to victims of Peter Roebuck’s sexual and physical attacks and while they’re at it offer a belated apology and end to the stonewalling that has so far characterised their shameful behaviour.
Only then will justice be done in this troubling, sorry saga that has so exposed some of the loudest critics of the failings of others.
Peter Roebuck has never been the point. Making the point about hypocrisy at the highest level of two powerful media organisations has been our priority. Perhaps now that the shock of the death of their commercially-beneficial cricket-commentator, these organisations can show some responsibility and focus on the welfare of those left behind: the potentially very many victims of Peter Roebuck’s physical and sexual abuse.
They can no longer whitewash the reputation of Peter Roebuck, all they can do is ensure that the mess he left behind is cleaned up as quickly and with as much human dignity and honesty as possible.
UPDATE: Hedley Thomas at The Australian has spoken with one of Peter Roebuck’s victims. Disturbing stuff.
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One serious question I have relates to Jim Maxwell’s account of the brief (two minute) meeting in the room just before the triple with pike from the high-board.
Roebuck wanted to see a lawyer (and it seems he needed one) and ‘get in touch with the boys in the house’
Now … why was he so desperate to contact them?
Was it to reassure them amid the impending publicity storm?
Or was it to ensure their lines were properly rehearsed?
I say, if the GayBC and Faifax had to pay up for all the butty rumpsters they employ they would be out of business.
Fairfax and the ABC have “serious questions to answer”
The abc is full to the brim of Poitiers and lezzo’s. What else do you expect from the piss weak public service in this fairy left wing organization
Roebuck, a devious creature, wanted to cover up his cruel crimes. This baseless accusation is as good as the Mark Colvan’s ‘Roebuck was a victim of apartheid’ line.
Criminal charges can and should be laid by the AFP against Age and ABC staff who knew and covered up Roebuck’s pedophilia.
Pity Roebuck is dead, we would have much to discuss.
There have been lot’s of apologist posts here and elsewhere bleating that “the guys were adults”
I have searched the ABC and Fairfax websites in vain in the matter of Kristy Fraser-Kirk, Mark McInnes and David Jones Limited for just one reference to Ms Fraser-Kirk being “over 18 so she could look after herself”.
There are no such references.
And why not?
Well, harassment cases of this sort hinge on the matter of relative power and abuse of that power.
I would venture that Ms Fraser-Kirk was infinitely more empowered to defend herself that these poor young blokes from the back-blocks of Africa.
I have seen the video-tape of the caning incident from 1999.
Appalling!!!
Front elbow is too low, weight all on the back foot, too much bottom hand, no follow through.
With flaws in technique like that one is always going to pull the stroke to the leg side.
Disgraceful!!!
(note – references to “bottom hand” are in no a double-entendre)
I like a good caning…
So do i craig, but only a very VERY stiff cane.
ooohhhhh …. I’ve been MUCH naughtier than that.
Smack me harder!!!
You can try, try, and try again, but your vain attempts will still not get you a job at Newscorp!
Brother Abbott don’t miss Sunday School we have much joy to have.
Roebuck had a sickness of the mind that no medicine or operation can fix.
His suicide, far from atoning for his sins, has only prevented further suffering of current and future victims from this deviant monster.
Hey Julian!!
That is you isn’t it Julian Burnside QC … posting as Cardinal Pell.
It certainly looks like your work!
PS have you figured Twitter out yet … you know, if you want to say something libellous, best whisper it not broadcast it.
ABC = Appalling Buggery Cover-up
ABC = All Bum Chums
ABC = Arse Beating Coach
ABC = Awning Busting Commentator
ABC = Animated Bottom Caning
ABC = African Bottom Chasers
ABC = Anal Burglary Corporation
ABC = African Boy Collector
Of course, in the ABC and Fairfax world of utilitarianism, there is nothing wrong with the relationships Roebuck seems to have maintained. He provided shelter and education, and they, presumably, some sort of gratification. The ancient Greeks called in pederasty. Pederasty was also rife through English public schools late into the 20th century.
better brush up the Tux Vexnews, you’re off to The Walkleys.
ABC = Australian Buggery Corporation
He must have worked with the HSU
Brother Abbott we must gather around to support the dearly departed for he was one of us.
I have been a member of the Australian Buggery Corporation all my life.Very useful before I have my labiaplasty.
Both entrances need some surgery Wenchy as both have done more miles than a HX Kingswood Taxi.
It seems that Burnside QC is confusing Vexnews for his twitter account again and is posting his usual defamatory garbage about Tony Abbott and Cardinal Pell.
Comrades many a young Zimbabwian cricketer is relieved that they no longer face the prospect of a good arse caining should they not perform out on the cricket field.
As you know Zimbabwian cricket is enjoying a renaissance evidenced by a strong showing against New Zealand just a few weeks ago. We have come along way since the fairy like footsteps white farmer Heath Streak took to the crease in his latter years.
During your summer i recieved a call from Malcom Fraser informing me that Andy Fowler was gleefully singing god save the queen after the Sydeney Test, well may god save the queen because nothing will save Andrew Hilditch for picking Michael Beer and Xavier Doherty.
That’s you again isn’t it Julian?
Posting as Cardinal Pell …. it cetainly looks like your work Julian Burnside QC.
It has all the venom and inaccuracy we have come tom expect from left wing leech lawyers.
If you live with another man to get your university fees paid then you are homosexual. These were not boys, they were adult men. Many men, and women choose to live with rich men for the financial gain, and that is what these men were doing. Peter liked caning adult men, and Zimbabwe gets them used to being caned while they grow up.
This 26-year-old Zimbabwean man, and the others living at Peter Roebucks house were all ‘grown men’, not ‘boys’ selling their souls for money.
Andy, you are no more than an apologist for the worst form of abuse.
Cut out this bullshit of “they were men” …. the full phrase is “they were over the age of consent but so dirt poor that their only option to eat, get a roof over their head and some basic education was to allow themselves to be fiddled with by a sicko”
By your standards male mangers should be allowed to touch up their secretaries because it is simply part of the employment transaction.
Methinks your rationalisation maybe tells us a fair bit about what lies just under the surface of your psyche.
Ohhh … and to correct your typo … they weren’t “selling their soles” …. they were “selling their arseholes”
Where is Darren Hinch when you need him?
I’m doing porridge…………in my luxury apartment.
Hinch got 5 months home detention on 21st July, which expires on 21st December.
He may have loaded up on this one and will pull the trigger when the PPO (Pedophile Protection Order) expires.
Look forward to it.
These men may have been poor, but they were not stupid. they were going to University, bright men, not uneducated men. If a grown man going to University cannot make a choice about what he is willing to do for money, then at what age can they be allowed to decide. Many poor third world brides marry older rich men in the West to get themselves out of poverty, not Ideal, but we don’t live in an Ideal world, but hopefully a free one. We do not know if these men were having sex at the house, they were probably being caned, but then Zimbabwe has been caning these lads since they were five, now that’s what I call real abuse.
We know he is British but with such a big hooter what is his spiritual background?
Ohh .. no worries Andy.
Because caning has been de rigueur in Zimbabwe, Roebuck is absolved of any responsibility for predatory behaviour.
Do you work for the Silly Moaning Herald Andy?
Can’t think of any other reason to be apologist for this boy trawler.
Toad of Toad Hall, What do you mean by predatory behaviour?
So you would ban wealthy older men from the internet. Mail order brides, even young men going out to have a drink and lying about their jobs etc in order to pick up women?
Perhaps you would like the age of consent increased to fifty years of age ?
Most of the men who moved in seem to be saying that doors were always left open, and there was no abuse. But if a women is seduced by a rich older,and probably ugly man, who uses his wealth to manipulate her into sex or marriage should this be thought of as predatory? What about pop stars, or film stars who bed young women ? There will always be men or women who are willing to sell themselves for financial gain.
Toad of Toad Hall, Get you facts right, he was not a ‘boy trawler’,
perhaps you could say he was a man trawler.
Adrian Jackson: you have a vile wicked one track mind. Are you dating Marta?