Former Aussie minister free

SYDNEY, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- Former Australian Tourism Minister Merri Rose, in prison for using threats to get an unspecified benefit, was released early, a report says.

A Corrective Services spokesman said Rose was released from Numinbah prison with no special conditions placed on her, The Australian reported.

Rose, who was a minister in the Beattie government, served three months of an 18-month sentence for using threats to demand a benefit. The nature of the threat has never been made public, The Australian said.