ABC host Louise Milligan has hit back at a mystery high school graduate from a ‘prominent family’ after he allegedly threatened her over her investigation into an ultra-conservative Catholic group and its alleged links to schools.
The Four Corners journalist revealed on Monday her safety had been ‘threatened’ by a graduate of Redfield College in Dural, north-west Sydney.
The private college is one of several schools named in an upcoming Four Corners investigation that will air on the public broadcaster on Monday night.
Louise Milligan has hit back after receiving threats ahead of the release of a program that will look into an ultra-conservative Catholic group and its links to high schools
The ABC journalist revealed she had been sent a threatening message from a graduate of Redfield College in Dural, north-west Sydney
The segment will explore the different schools and their close link to the Catholic offshoot Opus Dei and serious allegations of ‘disturbing practices’ in the classrooms.
Misinformation about sexual health, homophobia, opposition to consent education and encouraging girls to not get the HPV vaccine are among the accusations former students have made about the schools.
Milligan said she had made a report to police after receiving the threatening message from the Redfield College graduate.
‘To the 2021 old boy of Redfield College from a prominent family who threatened my safety on social media ahead of our investigation into his alma ahead of tonight’s Four Corners, police are investigating,’ she wrote on Twitter.
‘You cannot threaten women. Enough. I trust the school will assist NSW Police.’
She added in another series of tweets: ‘I should add that I have never met this person.
‘And that when he sent these despicable threats, he had not seen any of our story. And of course I mean alma mater.’
Daily Mail Australia contacted NSW Police who said Victoria Police would likely handle the investigation given Ms Milligan lives in Melbourne.
Victoria Police said it could not comment on specific individuals out of privacy.
Redfield College is one of several schools named in an upcoming Four Corners investigation that will air on the public broadcaster on Monday night
Tangara School for Girls, Wollemi College and Montgrove College are among the schools that have also been investigated in the ABC segment
Daily Mail Australia contacted the ABC for comment.
Opus Dei was founded in the 1920s and remains an ultra-conservative Catholic organisation.
Redfield College is an all-boys private school that counts NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet among its previous students.
Tangara School for Girls, Wollemi College and Montgrove College are among the schools that have also been investigated in the ABC segment.
The schools are operated by the Parents for Education Foundation (PARED) and are not part of the Catholic diocese.
A letter was sent to parents this week warning them the upcoming ABC program was an ‘attack on the Catholic faith’, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.
The letter also claimed it was an attack against Mr Perrottet ahead of the state election on March 25.
The ABC released a statement saying the program is not an attack on the Catholic faith but an investigation into Opus Dei.
‘[It] investigates serious allegations that are clearly in the public’s interest to be informed about, including opposing consent education, encouraging students to make decisions contrary to medical advice, harm to students as a result of their education, homophobia and recruitment of students under the guise of pastoral care,’ it read.
Redfield College is an all-boys private school that counts NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet among its previous students
Redfield College headmaster Matthew Aldous said ‘specific concerns’ were immediately dealt with by staff when they were brought to their attention.
‘It’s ludicrous to suggest that anything short of that would be done in this day and age,’ he said.
The NSW Education Standards Authority told Daily Mail Australia it had launched an investigation into the allegations.
‘Prior to week commencing 23 January NESA had not received formal complaints about these schools that warranted an investigation in line with school registration requirements,’ a spokesman said.
‘Recent allegations being made by the ABC have been shared with us, and we are investigating these.
‘NESA assesses and acts on any complaints received in accordance with its powers under the education and teaching legislation.’
PARED released a statement to Daily Mail Australia saying it was ‘concerned by the matter’s raised by the ABC’s Four Corners’.
‘They are of a serious nature and should be treated appropriately,’ it read.
‘In fact, in our response to the ABC’s questions to us last week, we asked the ABC to provide specific information of any allegations to us and/ or to the NSW Police and other relevant authorities.’
PARED said it would be ‘fully cooperating’ with NESA as it launched an investigation.
Daily Mail Australia contacted Redfield College.
