EDITORIAL: There is still hope that the mystery of the disappearance of Rachel Antonio will be solved

FOR every suspected murder that remains unsolved it means we have both a killer who walks among us, and a family who can never truly lay a loved one to rest.

FOR every suspected murder that remains unsolved it means we have both a killer who walks among us, and a family who can never truly lay a loved one to rest.

In the case of Bowen teenager Rachel Antonio that has been the case for more than 18 years, after the schoolgirl disappeared in Bowen on Anzac Day 1998.

Robert Hytch who has denied any involvement in the disappearance of Rachel Antonio.

A coroner earlier this year concluded that Rachel had been killed by her alleged boyfriend, Robert Hytch, who has strenuously denied any involvement in her disappearance and is contesting the coroner’s findings. (Hytch had previously been acquitted of Rachel’s manslaughter at a retrial.)

During the past month, The Courier-Mail’s David Murray has pieced together a groundbreaking series that details shortcomings with both the police investigation and subsequent prosecution of Hytch, all of which leaves more questions unanswered and new avenues for police to reopen their investigations.

This special investigation has included the publication of never before seen evidence and records of interviews, Rachel’s diary and letters – in which she details a relationship with Hytch – accompanied by a five-part podcast, Searching For Rachel Antonio.

In the immediate aftermath of a disappearance or suspected murder, police are often working against the clock and with limited resources, and as such it is almost inevitable that some mistakes are made and evidence possibly overlooked.

As the final days of the inquest into the murder of Sunshine Coast teenager Daniel Morcombe heard last week, no investigation is ever perfect. In the Morcombe case it emerged that Daniel’s killer may have been initially overlooked in favour of what senior police then thought were more likely suspects, and vital DNA evidence never gathered.

Rachel Antonio feeds a baby wallaby in 1997, the year before her disappearance.

Ultimately it was the dogged perseverance of Daniel’s parents, Denise and Bruce, which proved the driving force in finally bringing his killer to justice, and delivering some finality for the family.

And as The Courier-Mail reveals today in the Antonio case, not only does the man identified by the Coroner as Rachel’s suspected killer have a history of alleged violence against a previous partner, but it now emerges there are log books that could lead police to where Rachel’s father believes her body may be.

While police and SES volunteers searched thousands of hectares around Bowen after Rachel disappeared, at no stage was the local rubbish tip ever searched. That the former manager of the dump has pinpointed the exact location where rubbish from the day would have been dumped, there are new possibilities that after all this time Rachel’s remains could be unearthed.

Then there is the mystery of the pool manager and unexplained phone calls, a potential witness that coroner David O’Connell said “has further information in relation to something”.

There are too many questions, and clearly there are no guarantees, especially so long after her disappearance, but for a family left in limbo for nearly two decades any new leads must be given serious attention.

Maybe the Antonios will not get the closure that the Morcombe family managed to achieve after 11 years, but while there is still hope every effort must be made. We wish the police the best in their efforts, and our thoughts remain with the Antonio family.

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HONESTY THE BEST POLICY FOR TURNING THE ECONOMY AROUND

TODAY’S Federal Budget update is likely to confirm what most people have known for some time – the Australian economy is overdue for a circuit breaker to tackle the twin problems of weak growth and a spiralling deficit.

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann. Pic: AAP

At a fiscal level, as Finance Minister Mathias Cormann intimated yesterday, even an expected boost from higher-than-expected commodity prices is not going to make up for what is chronically weak revenue growth.

Recent data that showed the Australian economy contracted by 0.5 per cent in the September quarter underscores the challenges we face in the post-mining investment boom environment, with wages stagnant.

Mr Cormann also appeared to step back from previous projections of a balanced Budget by 2020-21, warning that commodity price gains would not be enough to offset the drag coming from low profit growth and wages.

The inability of successive governments to return Australia to a sustained growth path – or to rein in a deficit that, as of May, was expected to come in at $37 billion this year – has now reached the point where our AAA credit rating could be downgraded.

While this in itself would not be a catastrophe – placing us on a similar footing as the UK, the US and New Zealand – over the medium term, it would add to the cost of borrowing for both the public and private sectors, not to mention doing immense damage to the Coalition’s economic credentials.

One of the most effective circuit breakers the Government could deliver would be absolute honesty combined with conservative forecasting.

We may then be able to have a mature and informed conversation about the sort of tough decisions that need to be taken in what are very uncertain times.

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Lachlan Heywood, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details are available at couriermail.com.au