File photo of the Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott. (Reuters)
A woman who leaked details of a Aus$60,000 (US$52,000) scholarship awarded to Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott's daughter Frances today escaped with a two-year good behaviour bond.
Library assistant Freya Newman, 21, used another staff member's log-in without permission to find information about the discretionary award given to Frances Abbott in 2011 at the exclusive Whitehouse Institute of Design.
Stories were published in the media, sparking a scandal with accusations that Abbott's daughter had been given special treatment.
It emerged that PM Abbott knew the institute's chairman, although he insisted the scholarship was handed to his daughter solely on merit.
Frances was only the second recipient of the prize, which was not advertised to other students.
Magistrate Teresa O'Sullivan said she was satisfied Newman, who pleaded guilty to leaking restricted data, was not driven by greed or any desire to embarrass PM Abbott.
"I accept she was motivated by a sense of injustice," she told Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney, adding that it was at the "lower end" of offending.
The offence carried a maximum penalty of two years' jail.
Newman left court to clapping from supporters, but made no comment.