SA:Rann meeting over MP child porn charge

AAP General News (Australia)
04-21-2011
SA:Rann meeting over MP child porn charge

ADELAIDE, April 21 AAP - South Australia's beleaguered Premier Mike Rann is in an executive
council meeting after cutting short an interstate trip after the arrest of a Labor MP
on child porn charges.

Reporters are waiting outside the building in Adelaide's Victoria Square where the
premier is being briefed about the charging of the MP, who cannot be named due to automatic
suppressions on child sex charges.

The man was arrested at his house in Adelaide's northeast suburbs on Wednesday and
later charged at the city watch house with two counts of possessing child pornography
and two charges of taking steps to access child pornography.

Mr Rann flew back to Adelaide on Thursday morning, telling journalists he was returning
earlier than expected.

He refused to answer questions but will issue a statement later on Thursday after an
executive council meeting.

Detectives said their investigation was continuing.

The MP was released on bail on Wednesday to face court on May 20.

Under SA law he cannot be identified until his committal, unless he gives his consent.

He returned home earlier on Thursday but had not spoken to the waiting media outside.

A visitor to the MP's home told ABC Online the matter was an "absolute nightmare" and
"there has to be some kind of mistake".

Politicians from both sides say they are shocked by the allegations.

But they were not prepared to talk on the record until after the premier makes his
position clear.

The arrest comes as support for the Rann government has slumped to an all-time low,
according to a poll on Wednesday.

The poll of 442 voters conducted by the Adelaide Advertiser found support for Labor
was at its lowest level since 1993 with the party's primary vote falling to just 24 per
cent.

AAP lk/apm

KEYWORD: MP UPDATE

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