Madison news - In the news: February 2

Winehouse inquest in doubt
The inquest into Amy Winehouse’s death may be invalid after the revelation that the coroner conducting the inquest did not have the correct qualifications.

In October 2011, Suzanne Greenaway recorded that the 28-year-old singer died as an “unintended consequence” of drinking too much alcohol. However, it has now been discovered that Greenaway resigned from her job a mere month after completing the investigation into Winehouse’s death because she did not meet the strict guidelines for the appointment of coroners.

This could mean all 30 of the inquests she worked on, included Winehouse’s, could be declared illegal. However, officials insist that this will only happen if the verdicts she recorded are challenged in the High Court.

Equal pay breakthrough in the community sector
The workplace tribunal has made an historic equal pay decision. They have decided to raise the pay of more than 150,000 community sector workers, which consequently will narrow the pay gap between men and women in the sector.

Once annual award increases are factored in, the Fair Work Australia decision is expected to boost the pay of the mostly female workforce by between 40 to 65 per cent over the next eight years. Eighty-seven per cent of the 30,000 social community service workers in NSW are women.

The Prime Minister Julia Gillard stated that the ruling is a “significant advance for equal pay for women". Despite her positive reaction, employer groups have reacted with hostility toward the majority decision by the full bench of the tribunal. Some are worried by the effect this may have on other industries.

The decision is regarded as the most important equal pay case since 1972, when equal pay for work of equal value was formally recognised.

Backstreet Boy’s sister Leslie Carter dies aged 25
Singer and sister of Aaron and Nick Carter, Leslie Carter has died in upstate New York. She was 25-years-old. A publicist for the Carter family has confirmed the death but has released no details as to how she died.

A statement from the family says that they are grieving their loss and have requested privacy during this time. Carter's single ‘Like Wow’ was on the soundtrack for Shrek in 2001 and in 2006 she appeared in all episodes of the Carter family reality show, House of Carters' 

Apparently the family have been ‘blind-sided’ by the death and a source revealed, "The family legitimately doesn’t know what happened. They’re still trying to find out."

Nick Carter has dedicated his upcoming tour to his sister.

Leslie Carter leaves behind husband, Mike Ashton and their 10-month-old daughter, Alyssa Jane.