WA: Govt lashes newspaper, editor after $20,000 contempt fine

AAP General News (Australia)
08-23-2005
WA: Govt lashes newspaper, editor after $20,000 contempt fine

The West Australian government has condemned the state's major daily newspaper and
its editor after they were fined $20,000 for publishing the identity of a nine-year-old
ward of the state.

Western Australia's Supreme Court has fined the West Australian $15,000 and its editor
PAUL ARMSTRONG $5,000 after they both pleaded guilty to contempt of court charges.

They were brought by the state's Attorney General JIM McGINTY after an article in the
newspaper last July about a nine-year-old ward of the state alleged to have committed
offences including threatening a pensioner.

The newspaper later published a photograph of the boy and an editorial describing him
as a menace to society and identifying him.

Western Australia's Community Development Minister SHEILA McHALE says the newspaper
clearly disregarded the law set out to protect the child.

AAP RTV tc/hn/bk/wz

KEYWORD: CONTEMPT (PERTH)

2005 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.