A Melbourne academic and former Fair Work Commission deputy president will be allowed to travel overseas on an expensive business trip after being charged with possessing child abuse material.
Justice Alan Boulton, 74, was charged last month after the illicit material was allegedly mistakenly displayed during a Monash University lecture in February.
Alan Boulton has been charged with possessing child abuse material.Credit: Peter Rae
He faced Melbourne Magistrates’ Court remotely on Thursday, dressed in a suit and tie, where his defence lawyer Holly Baxter argued against bail conditions that would have prevented him from leaving the country.
Baxter said her client had travelled overseas and returned home in May, while the investigation was underway, and banning him from travel would mean he would be unable to go on a business trip to Europe that he booked last month.
Alan Boulton is a former judge and FWC deputy president.
“A serious amount of money has been spent on that trip,” she said.
Baxter said her client would willingly provide police with his itinerary and flight details. She noted Boulton had no previous criminal history.
Magistrate Brett Sonnet agreed to allow Boulton to travel overseas, denying the prosecution’s request, telling the court he needed to take Boulton’s age and lack of criminal history into account.
Sonnet did impose some bail conditions, including that Boulton live at no more than two undisclosed addresses and not interfere with prosecution witnesses.