Labor MP’s visa bid for accused Adass Israel teacher

Labor’s Michael Danby intervened for an­ultra-orthodox Jewish school to back a visa for a teacher who then allegedly abused students.

Labor MP Michael Danby intervened on behalf of an ­ultra-orthodox Jewish school to help seek a visa for a teacher who then allegedly abused several of her students.

One of the students, now aged 27, is suing Malka Leifer and the Adass Israel school in Melbourne’s southeastern suburbs, claiming Ms Leifer repeatedly assaulted her over four years in the mid-2000s.

The Victorian Supreme Court yesterday heard that Mr Danby — whose Melbourne Ports electorate covers suburbs with large Jewish populations — had written twice in support of Ms Leifer’s temporary residency.

The first letter, to the school, asked the Immigration Department to “favourably” consider the school’s request. Another letter, sent to the department two months later, again asked for the visa application to be granted, saying Adass Israel believed Ms Leifer had special religious expertise.

The court has heard Ms Leifer began abusing the former student within a few years of starting at the school, where she rose to become principal. She resigned in 2008 when the allegations came to light and left for Israel, where proceedings are under way to extradite her. She has previously denied the allegations, but is not mounting a defence in the civil case.

Mr Danby is overseas, but a spokesman said child abuse was “a pernicious evil … anyone found responsible should face the full consequences of the law”.

Christopher Blanden QC, representing Adass Israel, said the school had “no quibble” with the abuse allegations and was only contesting whether it was liable for Ms Leifer’s actions.

The alleged victim told the court she had never received an apology from the school or anyone associated with it, and that it had twice rejected her requests for financial assistance to pay for counselling.

The hearing continues.