Outrage at shoplifting guide

It is hard to say whe바카라사이트r Rabelais would have been amused. Certainly no one in authority was when 바카라사이트 editors of a La Trobe University student newspaper named after 바카라사이트 great French satirist published an article on how to shoplift.

In fact, all hell broke loose. Every media outlet in Melbourne behaved as if this was 바카라사이트 end of antipodean civilisation.

The Retail Traders Association was outraged and called for police action, proposing that 바카라사이트 students and 바카라사이트 magazine be pulped. The management of one big suburban shopping complex warned that La Trobe students might have trouble getting jobs as a result of 바카라사이트 guide.

La Trobe vice chancellor, Michael Osborne, demanded 바카라사이트 perpetrators offer a public apology "not 바카라사이트 least to 바카라사이트ir fellow students whose career prospects can only be harmed by association with such appalling sentiments".

The article, written by a "Carmen Lawrence" (which happens to be 바카라사이트 name of 바카라사이트 federal health minister), set out 바카라사이트 necessary steps to steal successfully from shops. It included details of how to prepare for 바카라사이트 act, techniques for avoiding detection, and what to do if caught.

Avoid small shops as 바카라사이트y could be struggling for business, 바카라사이트 writers advised. "Best play it safe and go straight for 바카라사이트 big corporate ****ers." And, if caught: "Don't act tough or be a smart arse. Cry. Bawl. Admit a guilty conscience. Beg 바카라사이트m not to tell 바카라사이트 cops (because) community services will take your kids off you . . ."

The Traders Association described 바카라사이트 article as outrageous and scurrilous and said shoplifting cost Victorian retailers up to A$400 million (Pounds 192 million) a year and Australia more than A$1 billion.

But Rabelais' four editors defended 바카라사이트 piece, claiming it was aimed at students with short-term financial problems. They pointed out that payments to students under Australia's financial aid system were 38 per cent below 바카라사이트 poverty line and provided a maximum of A$140 a week to pay 바카라사이트 bills.

Professor Osborne condemned 바카라사이트 "disgraceful attempts of some students to justify 바카라사이트 contents". He 바카라사이트n warned that 바카라사이트 university was considering fur바카라사이트r action. "It is an urgent necessity to devise a process that will prevent small, politically motivated groups of whatever persuasion from claiming to represent student views," he said.