Vic journalists admit database access August 1, 2013 - 11:40AM Three Fairfax journalists have admitted accessing a restricted ALP database but have avoided conviction. The Age journalists Ben Schneiders, Nick McKenzie and Royce Millar accessed the database in November 2010. Detectives raided The Age offices in Melbourne in December 2011 as part of an investigation into the alleged unauthorised access of an ALP database before the 2010 state election. Victorian Chief Magistrate Peter Lauritsen on Thursday agreed to place the three and a former City of Melbourne councillor, Fraser Brindley, who was also charged with accessing the database, on diversion. Under diversion, a first-time offender can acknowledge responsibility for the offence and be released without conviction. The men must also be of good behaviour for 12 months. The Age journalists have undertaken to co-write a story and for the paper to write an editorial about the matter.