Daruk Training School: Former MP Alasdair Webster charged

Alasdair Webster, the former Macquarie federal Liberal MP, has been hit with a string of child sexual abuse charges alleged to have occurred during his tenure at the notorious Daruk Training School.

Former federal MP Alasdair Webster has been stung by a string of historic indecent assault charges over his alleged involvement with the infamous Daruk Training School.

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A former federal MP has been slapped with a string of historic indecent assault charges for his alleged involvement with the infamous Daruk Training School in Berkshire Park.

Alasdair Webster, who was the federal MP for Macquarie from 1984 to 1993, was the chief superintendent of the school from 1973 to 1984.

The 86-year-old from Springwood is the latest former staffer to be charged after investigations into alleged rampant sexual abuse at the all-boys’ school in the 1970s and 1980s.

Daruk Training School opened in 1960 and closed in 1984, catering for boys aged 10 to 14.

Police said in March they had interviewed 80 former pupils that allegedly suffered sexual abuse at the school.

Daruk Training School was home to hundreds of state wards and juvenile offenders from 1960-1991. Picture: State Library of NSW

Home to hundreds of state wards and juvenile offenders, Daruk was allegedly run like a military camp.

Four other officials at the school have been charged since 2018, including 77-year-old Frank Valentine who is serving a 13-year jail sentence.

Webster is charged with 10 counts of indecent assault, buggery, attempted buggery, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm for incidents that allegedly occurred between October 1977 and March 1983.

Alasdair Webster was the federal Liberal Macquarie MP from 1984 to 1993.

Police will allege Webster touched four victims’ genitalia and forced them to perform oral sex on him.

Other allegations are too graphic to publish.

Webster did not appear during a brief mention in Penrith Callover Court this morning, and his case was adjourned to May for the prosecution to prepare a brief of evidence.

His lawyer has previously said he would fight any allegations made against him.

He will next appear in Penrith Local Court on May 26.