--- title: "Student paid $30,000 \"hush'' money by Department over false porn charges" description: A former student wrongly accused of visiting pornography websites was paid $30,000 by the South Australian Department of Education to remain silent. --- Latest Guide | Transform how you manage policies with our interactive guide [![Ideagen School Governance Horizontal 2024](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/hubfs/Ideagen%20School%20Governance%20Horizontal%202024.svg "Ideagen School Governance Horizontal 2024")](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au) * * Search ** Search [![Subscribe](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3786587/5eb7c708-5720-4c0c-874c-53f035b1dac7.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3786587/5eb7c708-5720-4c0c-874c-53f035b1dac7) - [ Boarding Schools ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/boarding-schools) - [ COVID-19/Coronavirus ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/covid-19-coronavirus) - [ Child Protection ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/child-protection) - [ Early Learning ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/early-learning) - [ Excursions ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/excursions) - [ Gov, Risk and Compliance ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/governance-risk-compliance) - [ Human Resources ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/human-resources) - [ Overseas Students ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/overseas-students) - [ Privacy & Complaints Handling ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/privacy-complaints-handling) - [ School Gov & Executives ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/school-governance-executives) - [ School Registration ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/school-registration) - [ Social Media ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/social-media) - [ Student Wellbeing ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/student-wellbeing) - [ Workplace Safety ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/workplace-safety) - [ Weekly Wrap ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/weekly-wrap) ###### Article ## Student paid $30,000 "hush'' money by Department over false porn charges 22/10/13 A former student wrongly accused of visiting hundreds of pornography websites was paid $30,000 in “hush” money by the South Australian Department of Education to remain silent on the matter, according to the [ABC](http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2013/s3871005.htm). The former student was wrongly accused of accessing pornography through his school internet account nine years ago, when in fact, an investigation later found that a teacher had used the student’s internet log-in to view the sites. “We were never given any documents, we were never provided with anything to show what it was that I was supposed to have accessed. It was just allegations against me,” the former student said. He was suspended for five days and eventually dropped out of school, never finishing his high school certificate. Last year, the former student raised the issue with the Department of Education, and was offered $30,000, on the condition he keep the details of the case confidential. The case led to a Royal Commission that criticised the senior officials involved in organising the settlement money. The teacher has since, been stood down on full pay. ###### Share this [mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/2013/10/23/student-paid-30000-hush-money-by-department-over-false-porn-charges%20&body=Check%20out%20https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/2013/10/23/student-paid-30000-hush-money-by-department-over-false-porn-charges](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/2013/10/23/student-paid-30000-hush-money-by-department-over-false-porn-charges%20&body=Check%20out%20https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/2013/10/23/student-paid-30000-hush-money-by-department-over-false-porn-charges) ##### About the Author ![](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(24).png) **CompliSpace** CompliSpace is Ideagen’s SaaS-enabled solution that helps organisations in highly-regulated industries meet their governance, risk, compliance and policy management obligations. ## Resources you may like ###### Article ##### Setting your boarding staff up for success: why policy clarity matters Boarding governance touches on child safety, complaints handling, student health, and much more.... 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