ACT: Opposition wants to stop criminals profiting from stories

AAP General News (Australia)
08-03-2007
ACT: Opposition wants to stop criminals profiting from stories

CANBERRA, Aug 3 AAP - The ACT opposition wants new laws to stop criminals profiting
from their stories, after the man who ran down Treasurer Peter Costello's chief-of-staff
reportedly demanded money from a newspaper.

Nealle Andrew Simpson, 28, of Monash in Canberra, was last month fined $2,000 after
pleading guilty to driving off from an accident without stopping.

Mr Costello's staffer Phil Gaetjens, 52, suffered a fractured skull and ribs in the
accident near Parliament House on June 29 and was in a coma for a week.

He is expected to make a full recovery.

When approached by News Limited to tell his side of the story earlier this week, Simpson
reportedly demanded payment.

ACT Opposition Leader Bill Stefaniak said the ACT needs legislation to stop criminals
profiting from their misdeeds, including by selling their stories.

He said a number of other Australian jurisdictions already had such laws and the ACT
should follow suit.

"Such laws acknowledge the harm suffered by victims and deal with unjust enrichment
and indirect gain from crime," Mr Stefaniak said in a statement.

"If the Stanhope government will not introduce such a law, the Liberals will introduce it."

AAP ag/jt/mn

KEYWORD: PROFIT

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.