Son of ACT Government Commissioner Charged with Child Sexual Abuse Offences
A Canberra man who is the son of a senior government commissioner has been charged with multiple serious child sexual abuse offences following a police investigation. Jeffrey Norman Rose, a 36-year-old concreter from Kambah, appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday, February 6, where he faced allegations including grooming, supplying cannabis to a minor, and sexual intercourse with a young person.
Court Proceedings and Bail Conditions
Magistrate Glenn Theakston granted Rose bail despite what he described as "some reservation, some concern" about the decision. The prosecution opposed conditional release, with prosecutor Colin Balog citing "strong evidence" that Rose possessed child abuse material involving the alleged victim's friends. Police had seized electronic devices from Rose's home during a raid, allegedly finding imagery of multiple underage girls on two mobile phones.
The court heard that a woman came forward to police mid-last year, reporting crimes she alleged occurred in 2021. Rose is accused of twice having sex with the teenage girl after "plying her with cannabis" and obtaining abuse material from her. He did not enter pleas to any of the charges during the bail hearing.
Family Connection to Government Role
The accused is the son of Barbara Causon, who serves as the acting ACT commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People. This connection adds a significant dimension to the case, given Causon's official role in child protection policy within the territory government.
Defence solicitor Manon McPherson from the Aboriginal Legal Service argued for bail, noting there had been no alleged offending in five years and that her client had been immediately compliant with police, providing access to his electronic devices without resistance.
Strict Bail Requirements Imposed
Magistrate Theakston imposed numerous strict conditions on Rose's bail release. These include a prohibition on spending unsupervised time with children under 16 years of age, a ban on accessing social media and mobile messaging applications, and requirements to report regularly to authorities.
The magistrate acknowledged that potential offences against other alleged victims remained "speculative" at this stage of proceedings, with the court having evidence only of photos depicting "five young women." However, prosecutor Balog indicated that "significant further evidence" would likely emerge in coming weeks as police continue their investigation.
Ongoing Investigation and Support Services
Police revealed they had not yet contacted potential additional alleged victims identified during their investigation. The prosecution expressed concern that Rose might have incentive to contact these individuals and dissuade them from cooperating with investigators.
Rose is scheduled to return to court in March for further proceedings. Authorities have provided reference number 8129951 for anyone with information related to this case who wishes to contact police.
Support services are available for those affected by sexual violence. These include Lifeline (13 11 14), the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre (6247 2525), Bravehearts (1800 272 831), and Kids Helpline (1800 551 800).
