1. thesundaymail.com.au NEWS 25
Dollar
Anger over Complaint:
Alicia Gali says
she wasn’t
warned that
her rape claims
could lead to
cripples
exports
rape advice
her being sent
to jail.
Kelmeny Fraser
EXPORTERS are calling for
government intervention to
deflate the strong Australian
dollar in a desperate attempt
to stop tumbling profits.
New lawsuit targets Australia Radical suggestions by
major Queensland exporters
include more aggressive tac-
Kay Dibben Ms Gali contacted an Aust- tics by the Reserve Bank to
Crime ralian consular officer, tell- moderate the mighty rise of
ing her that she had been the dollar against other
A QUEENSLAND woman drugged and raped and did currencies or a cap on the
who is suing the luxury not know whether she amount of movement of the
United Arab Emirates resort should go to hospital. dollar in any one year – a
where she claims she was Flashback: The Sunday Ms Gali claims the female proposal that could signal
drugged and raped by Mail’s earlier coverage. officer told her if drugs were a return to a fixed exchange
co-workers is trying to sue detected in her system, she rate.
the Commonwealth of Aus- could face life imprisonment. Economists say the pro-
tralia. given leave to bring a However she says she was posal would mean pumping
Alicia Gali, 29, claims a Queensland claim against Le not warned that a rape piles of cash into the market to
consular officer in Dubai, Meridien Al Aqah Beach complaint could lead to moderate the dollar, with po-
from whom she sought ad- Resort, Fujairah, where she her being jailed for tentially little effect, or wind-
vice, never told her that by worked as a salon manager. adultery. ing the clock back decades.
complaining to police she She claims that in June Ms Gali’s Supreme But exporters struggling to
risked being sent to jail. 2008, she was raped by three Court application to survive the crippling effects of
Ms Gali spent eight or four male employees at bring a claim against a dollar valued at $US1.06 said
months in jail for adultery the resort’s staff quarters, the Commonwealth of the volatility of the market
and drinking alcohol with- after consuming part of a Australia will be was killing many Queensland
out a permit. drink in the staff bar. heard in Brisbane on industries.
In March, Ms Gali, who Lawyer Michelle James, of Tuesday, three days
has suffered depression and Maurice Blackburn, said in a before expiry of the High Drama
experienced flashbacks, was statement that a distressed limitation period. AGENDA P55-57
fraserk@qnp.newsltd.com.au
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