Stewart Johnston was sentenced in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court in Elizabeth, 24km north of Adelaide city centre, last Thursday (27 February), after pleading guilty to a charge of possessing child exploitation material.
Johnston became well known for exposing the shocking abuse of residents in Makk and McLeay Nursing Home, a part of the South Australian Government's Aged Mental Health Care Service, in Oakden, northeast of Adelaide in 2018. He continued to advocate for reform in aged care for years.
The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety was launched by the Morrison Government in September 2018 after more than 5000 submissions received from aged care consumers, families, carers, aged care workers, health professionals and providers. It also followed an ABC Four Corners special investigation into the aged care sector and the abuse and neglect of the elderly in nursing homes.
Johnston, now 51, launched his own political party ahead of the 2022 Federal election, called Care Watch Australia.
He received a sentence of one year and 22 days with a non-parole period of six months and 15 days, meaning he will be eligible to apply for parole in September. In January 2024, he pleaded guilty to possessing child exploitation material.
