/qnotables22/ - ===Q Notables 2022===

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/16303105 (190949ZMAY22) Notable: Solomon Islands Government Statement - AUSTRALIA REMAINS PARTNER OF CHOICE, SAYS POLICE MINISTER VEKE

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>>122542

Solomon Islands Government Statement

AUSTRALIA REMAINS PARTNER OF CHOICE, SAYS POLICE MINISTER VEKE

May 16, 2022

Australia remains Solomon Islands partner of choice regardless of the security pact signed between the Governments of Solomon Islands and the Peoples Republic of China recently.

This was further re-emphasized by the Solomon Islands Minister for Police, National Security and Correctional Services, Hon. Anthony Veke at a meeting with Karen Andrews – Australia’s Minister of Home Affairs responsible for Federal Law Enforcement, National and Transport Security, Criminal Justice, Emergency Management and Multicultural Affairs in Brisbane last week.

Minister Veke noted that rumors of a naval military base in Solomon Islands was the main concern of Australia on the security pact but assured Minister Andrews that the matter should be “no cause for alarm”.

“A lot is being said in the media about this pact and what it entails, but I can assure you there will be no military base in Solomon Islands and Australia remains our partner of choice.” Mr. Veke said.

“And if there is to be any foreign police presence in the country, it is to contain internal upheavals and on our terms,” he added.

The two Ministers met in Brisbane on Saturday 8th May 2022 and tasked their officials, particularly their Commissioners of Police, to quickly meet and reactivate the AFP-RSIPF partnership programme now in its first phase but has been put on hold because of COVID-19 travel restrictions.

An MOU on mobility and capacity building of the combined law enforcement agencies with Australian border force has been discussed and needs to be pursued by officials as well.

They also discussed labor mobility, cyber security, cybercrime and agreed that the latter two are areas that know no boundaries and therefore require their close cooperation.

Minister Veke is now in Suva, Fiji together with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Jerry Manele, for further talks with the Fiji Government, the Forum Secretariat and Representatives of other Forum Island Countries on the SI/China security pact.

https://solomons.gov.sb/australia-remains-partner-of-choice-says-police-minister-veke/

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/16303115 (190955ZMAY22) Notable: Cardinal Becciu: Pope ordered auditor to resign over spying charge

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>>122441

>>122681

Cardinal: Pope ordered auditor to resign over spying charge

Nicole Winfield - May 18, 2022

VATICAN CITY — A Vatican cardinal testified Wednesday that Pope Francis himself ordered the ouster of the Holy See’s auditor-general, turning the tables on a scandal that had sparked questions about the Vatican’s commitment to financial transparency and accountability.

Cardinal Angelo Becciu opened a second day of questioning in the Vatican’s big financial fraud trial by saying Francis had recently authorized him to reveal the details of Libero Milone’s 2017 departure as the Vatican’s first auditor-general. He did so to clarify his previous testimony, during which he declined to respond to questions about Milone “out of love for the Holy Father.”

The Vatican announced June 20, 2017 that Milone had resigned two years into his mandate, without providing details. His ouster, as well as the removal of PriceWaterHouseCoopers as Vatican auditors, had long been cited by Cardinal George Pell, the Vatican’s former financial czar, and others as evidence of possible shady dealings by Becciu and the secretariat of state and a step back in the Vatican’s efforts at financial transparency and reform.

Three months after he left, Milone claimed in media interviews that he had been forced out after he uncovered evidence of possible illegal activity in the Vatican.

Becciu made clear Wednesday that it was Francis who ordered Milone out, because Milone had hired an outside investigative firm to spy on Vatican hierarchs like himself. He said Francis summoned him June 7, 2017 and asked him to tell Milone “that as of today he no longer had the trust of the Holy Father” and to ask him to submit his resignation.

“I have no responsibility concerning the resignation of Dr. Milone,” Becciu said. “I merely followed an order received by the Holy Father, that was taken in full autonomy without any involvement.”

It was the latest incidence in the Vatican’s sprawling financial trial of defendants asserting that Francis had approved every major undertaking related to the Vatican’s financial decisions and the scandal concerning the secretariat of state’s 350-million-euro ($367 million) investment in a London property, which is at the center of the trial.

Prosecutors accuse Italian brokers, Vatican officials and others of fleecing the Holy See of tens of millions of dollars in fees and commissions, and of extorting the Vatican of 15 million euros to get full ownership of the London building. Becciu is accused of abuse of office, embezzlement and witness tampering, charges he denies.

Becciu underwent a full day of cross-examination by Prosecutor Angelo Diddi, much of it concerning the investments made by the secretariat of state while he was the No. 2, or substitute, and signed off on fund opportunities proposed to him by technical experts in the administration office.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/cardinal-pope-ordered-auditor-to-resign-over-spying-charge/2022/05/18/5ffc4d16-d6df-11ec-be17-286164974c54_story.html

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/16303124 (191001ZMAY22) Notable: Soldier allegedly bullied by Ben Roberts-Smith was below standard, court told

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>>122465

Soldier allegedly bullied by Ben Roberts-Smith was below standard, court told

Michaela Whitbourn - May 19, 2022

A friend of Ben Roberts-Smith has defended the war veteran against accusations he bullied a comrade, telling the Federal Court he believed the soldier in question performed poorly during deployment in Afghanistan.

Person 36, a former SAS soldier who served alongside Roberts-Smith in Afghanistan in 2006, gave evidence on Thursday supporting the decorated former soldier in his defamation case against The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Canberra Times.

He said he did not hear Roberts-Smith bully, threaten, assault or spread rumours about a serving SAS soldier dubbed Person 1 during 2006. He became aware in 2013 that Person 1 had made a bullying allegation against Roberts-Smith.

Person 36 told the court that Person 1, who was called to give evidence by the newspapers this year, performed in a manner that was “questionable and potentially below standard” in Afghanistan in 2006 and “appeared to need extra supervision”.

Person 36 said that at one time Person 1 was very reluctant, slow and ineffective in using his specialist weapon on the thick walls of a mud compound that housed insurgents. On another occasion Person 1 had to be ordered three times to discard his lunch to attend to a task, Person 36 said.

Person 36 said he ultimately put forward a recommendation in a performance review that Person 1 be reviewed for his suitability as an SAS soldier. He said this was based on his “inability to perform basic tasks” and to show progression or improvement.

Under cross-examination by the newspapers’ barrister, Nicholas Owens, SC, Person 36 did not agree that Person 1 was a young soldier who needed mentoring. He also disagreed he was an ineffective mentor of Person 1.

He denied that both he and Roberts-Smith criticised Person 1 so relentlessly that he was unable to perform to standard in the men’s patrol.

“What I want to put to you is that once he was removed from an environment in which he was relentlessly criticised, Person 1 has gone on to have a very successful career in the SAS,” Owens suggested.

“I don’t believe that to be true,” Person 36 replied.

Person 1 has previously given evidence that Roberts-Smith told him in 2006 that “if your performance doesn’t improve on our next patrol you’re going to get a bullet in the back of the head”.

He told the court he interpreted the comment as a death threat and “it made me fearful for my own personal safety”. Person 1 alleged Roberts-Smith bullied and undermined him for years, including pushing him in the chest during a later incident in 2010 and telling him to “get out of my way, c-nt, or I’ll kill you”.

Roberts-Smith alleges a series of articles published by the media outlets in 2018 portray him as a war criminal and a bully. He denies all wrongdoing and has said he had raised legitimate concerns about Person 1’s performance. The media outlets are seeking to rely on a defence of truth.

Person 1 has agreed he made a mistake during a mission in Afghanistan in June 2006, during which he failed to bring oil for his machine gun and the weapon jammed a number of times while he was firing it. He has agreed that this put the lives of fellow soldiers at risk.

One of Roberts-Smith’s barristers, Bruce McClintock, SC, put it to Person 1 that his client had said words to the effect of “if you don’t improve your performance you’re going to get shot by the enemy”.

“No,” Person 1 replied.

Asked if he agreed that it was never acceptable to make a death threat against a fellow soldier, Person 36 said on Thursday that a “direct death threat”, meaning a comment that could not be misinterpreted, would not be acceptable.

The court has heard Person 1’s performance reviews improved when he was moved out of Roberts-Smith’s patrol in 2006.

A performance appraisal from July 7, 2006, five days after he was moved, recorded that Person 1 was “hard-working and [got] along with all members of the patrol” and “maintained a positive attitude despite the beating [his] confidence has suffered”.

The trial continues.

https://www.smh.com.au/national/soldier-allegedly-bullied-by-ben-roberts-smith-was-below-standard-court-told-20220519-p5amsn.html

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/16309167 (201042ZMAY22) Notable: Election 2022: In the final quarter, Anthony Albanese finds the wind has changed - Opposition Leader declares himself exhausted after the six-week campaign

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>>122446

Election 2022: In the final quarter, Anthony Albanese finds the wind has changed

DENNIS SHANAHAN - MAY 20, 2022

At the start of the election campaign Anthony Albanese used a football analogy for his plan to be “kicking with the wind in the final quarter”. Well, in the final quarter of the final quarter the wind has shifted as the Opposition Leader declares himself exhausted after the six-week campaign.

Albanese, too used to soft and shallow interviews, the beneficiary of low expectations and loose with detail, faces shifting political momentum on the eve of polling day after fumbling the ball, arguing with the line umpires, forgetting about his vice-captain and giving the appearance of a frenetic, if not panicky, attempt to be everywhere on the field.

Asked on the ABC about his football analogy Albanese replied: “I’ve got nothing left in the tank today. I’ve been to four states commencing here in Sydney, going to Adelaide and then travelling to two more states and I’ll keep going until 6pm on Saturday.”

What was believed to be a clear Labor victory for months has made the inevitable shift to a contest too tight to call which ALP President Wayne Swan says could come down to a handful of seats a few thousand votes across Australia.

The Prime Minister, with a less extensive poll-eve travel agenda, says the polls and betting markets don’t decide the election but the voters: “I’ve always respected the decisions of Australians and those quiet Australians, as I refer to them, out there working hard every day. They’re considering their choice very carefully,” he said on Friday.

The key issue for both is whether a change in the political wind will come with enough strength for the Coalition to peg back Labor’s early lead, particularly with so many people already casting their vote.

As the front runner the pressure is on Albanese to stay in front but the last few days have seen a return to mistakes, false statements, fights with the media and an attempt to avoid scrutiny and responsibility for Labor’s $8 billion higher deficit than the Coalition.

Again, it is a question of how much time is left and how many people will be swayed by his mistakes but he used the false of Australia’s border being closed to undermine the 48-year low in unemployment of 3.9 per cent and backflipped on swearing in a gang of two – himself and Penny Wong – on Sunday should Labor win so they could both go to the Quadrilateral summit in Tokyo next Tuesday, to swearing in a gang of three so Labor deputy leader Richard Marles could look after the shop in Canberra.

It is correct, indeed his duty, for Albanese if elected as prime minister to attend the meeting with the US, Japanese and Indian leaders to discuss regional security and China on Tuesday but, to make such a mess of his plans for transition government cant be excused by saying “he wasn’t asked” an obvious question.

After days of scrapping with the media over the release of Labor’s policy costings, down to an attempt to dump the media bus, Albanese left it to the finance team of Jim Chalmers and Katy Gallagher to be the mean team fronting the media.

Given voter hesitancy about Albanese is the biggest drag on the Labor vote, just as dislike of Morrison is the biggest drag on the Coalition vote, and the history of campaign errors this is a long way from running with the wind at your back to an assured victory.

Morrison’s final week, which began perhaps too late with his big housing policy, has been less frenetic and will be targeting key Sydney seats in the final hours of the campaign. It’s too late to bulldoze his way through but he’s hoping to do it quietly.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/election-2022-in-the-final-quarter-anthony-albanese-finds-the-wind-has-changed/news-story/14ce605b2b531aa644107aad78a765ce

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/16309198 (201056ZMAY22) Notable: Australian election on Saturday: What you need to know - reuters.com

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>>122446

Australian election on Saturday: What you need to know

John Mair - MAY 19, 2022

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australians vote on Saturday in a national election, with the conservative Liberal-National coalition seeking a fourth straight term and the Labor Party seeking a return to power after nine years in opposition.

Opinion polls have shown Labor leading, but the gap has narrowed in the final weeks of campaigning.

A strong showing by high-profile independent candidates campaigning on climate action, integrity and gender equality could lead to a hung parliament.

THE PARLIAMENT

The House of Representatives has 151 seats, 76 of which are needed for a majority to form the government. In the last parliament, the conservative coalition had 76 seats and Labor 68, with seven minor party and independent members. All seats are up for election.

There are 76 senate seats; 12 for each of the six states and two each for two territories. In the last parliament, the coalition held 36 seats and Labor 26, with a crossbench of 14.

There are 40 seats up for election: six from each state and the four territory seats.

ECONOMY

* Challenges ahead for the winner include inflation, which at two-decade highs and picking up pace, interest rates that have just started rising for the first time in more than 11 years, while pandemic spending portends massive budget deficits in the years ahead. Fortunately, unemployment is its lowest in almost 50 years, and global prices for Australian commodities are sky-high.

CLIMATE

* A cohort of climate-conscious independent candidates threatens some safe government seats, agitating for greater action after three years of fire, floods and pandemic. It is possible they could unseat some prominent government members and even hold the balance of power.

* The major parties have a tricky path. People say they want action on climate, but are not always keen to pay for it. And in an election in which cost of living has been a central issue, retail power prices are a factor.

FOREIGN POLICY

* Foreign policy became an unlikely election issue after Prime Minister Scott Morrison sought to trumpet his national security credentials and claim Labor was not up to the job, only to be undercut by the Solomon Islands signing a security pact with China.

CHARACTER

* Morrison has promised a change in his style of governing, conceding he had been a “bit of a bulldozer”, after his personality became an electoral liability.

* Labor leader Anthony Albanese has offered an alternative based on his working-class roots and pragmatic style.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-australia-election-snapshot/australian-election-on-saturday-what-you-need-to-know-idUSKCN2N50H3

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/16309230 (201111ZMAY22) Notable: Roberts-Smith punched soldier who acted ‘jovial’ after bungled mission, court told

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>>122465

Roberts-Smith punched soldier who acted ‘jovial’ after bungled mission, court told

Michaela Whitbourn - May 20, 2022

A former elite soldier supporting Ben Roberts-Smith in his Federal Court defamation case has given evidence that the war veteran punched a comrade who acted “jovial” after a bungled mission in Afghanistan.

Roberts-Smith has admitted punching the soldier, dubbed Person 10, after the mission on July 15, 2012, during which Person 10 has said he inadvertently fired shots near a woman and child. Nobody was injured in the incident, the court has heard.

Roberts-Smith rejects an allegation that punching Person 10 amounted to bullying, and is suing The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Canberra Times for defamation over a series of articles in 2018 that he says accuse him of bullying fellow soldiers and the unlawful killing of Afghan prisoners. The media outlets are seeking to rely on a defence of truth.

A friend of Roberts-Smith, a former Special Air Service soldier known as Person 22, gave evidence on Friday that he was on the mission with Roberts-Smith and Person 10 in 2012.

Person 22 said Person 10 started shooting at one stage, but it was unclear “what he was shooting at”. He said Person 10 did not respond to requests for information about his target.

Person 10 told the court this year that shots were fired in the direction of his patrol, he perceived a threat and he “did not fire willingly at a woman and child”. He said a separate accusation that he fired at a “friendly call sign”, meaning other SAS troops, was false.

Roberts-Smith told the court last year that Person 10 “giggled” during a subsequent patrol debrief, and he punched him to underscore the gravity of the incident. Person 10 has denied giggling.

On Friday, Person 22 told the court that Person 10 was not laughing or giggling before Roberts-Smith punched him, but was “jovial” and “not grasping the situation”. He said Roberts-Smith had previously asked Person 10 if he had fired at a friendly patrol or women and children.

One of Roberts-Smith’s barristers, Bruce McClintock, SC, said last year that his client punched Person 10 and “he should not have done so” but the court should find it was “not bullying in that situation”.

But Person 10 said this year: “I’d say ... punching someone in the face, berating them in front of their patrol, could be a form of bullying.”

The trial continues.

https://www.theage.com.au/national/roberts-smith-punched-soldier-who-acted-jovial-after-bungled-mission-court-told-20220520-p5an2p.html

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/16309258 (201128ZMAY22) Notable: Exercise Southern Jackaroo: Australian Defence, Japanese and US Marines forces combine for exercise at Shoalwater Bay

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>>122446

>>122703

Exercise Southern Jackaroo: Australian Defence, Japanese and US Marines forces combine for exercise at Shoalwater Bay

Exercise Southern Jackaroo includes around 400 soldiers from the Australian Defence Force, 190 US Marines and 70 from the Japanese Self Defence Force.

Vanessa Jarrett - May 20, 2022

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Soldiers from Australia, the United States and Japan have descended on the Shoalwater Bay Training Area north of Rockhampton to take part in the annual combined forces army exercise, Southern Jackaroo.

In its 9th year, Exercise Southern Jackaroo began earlier in the month and involves around 400 soldiers from the Australian Defence Force, 190 US Marines and 70 from the Japanese Self Defence Force and runs until May 27.

Commanding officer of 6th Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Niessl, said the exercise was about the three international arms “working cohesively together”.

“Each group brings slightly different tactics, techniques, procedures, we have some language differences to work through and cultural differences … so this exercise helps to identify those differences and then work solutions,” he said.

“(It) enhances that mutual respect and trust so that when we do work together in the future we can do so positively.”

On Tuesday morning (May 17), personnel were carrying out section live firing with paint rounds.

Lieutenant Colonel Niessl said this improved their fire and precision at targets.

“It really makes their skills as instinctive as it possibly can be,” he said.

“All of this training has specific tasks and objectives and by the end of this training, we are planning to be more prepared, better ready to be able to respond to issues as they emerge.”

The defence force land at Shoalwater Bay offers a “fantastic training area” with high quality facilities.

It also offers space for air mobile and airborne operations and with the coastline, amphibious operations.

“The opportunity to train over large distances but complex terrain, the road system through the training area, a wide variety of different landscapes, from jungle to more open areas, so we get to practise our different procedures,” Lieutenant Colonel Niessl said.

Executive officer for Marine Rotational Force Darwin, Lieutenant Colonel Duncan French, said it was a pleasure to be invited to Shoalwater Bay for the exercise.

“It’s exceedingly important for this trilateral integration, if we are called to fight, we are not going to be able to do it alone, we have got to pair up with our partner nations and this is our opportunity to train safely and to ensure success down the road,” Lieutenant Colonel French said.

For many of the US Marines, it is their first deployment overseas.

“I can only imagine they are enjoying themselves; this is a fantastic part of the world to come and train,” Lieutenant Colonel French said.

Shoalwater Bay is spruiked within the armed forces across the world as one of the best training areas.

“The training opportunities here are about as good as it gets … to be able to train fully integrated with armour, artillery, fixed wing, asset, be able to use live weapons, this is a very rare opportunity and such a large training area,” Lieutenant Colonel French said.

The size and scope of Exercise Southern Jackaroo is similar to those in the US, however the unique aspect is the chance to train with the international forces.

“(To) work on some of the interoperability objectives … whether that’s being able to just successfully talk back and forth to one another, which seems like a simple task but can actually be so complicated with each military’s sets of equipment,” Lieutenant Colonel French said.

(continued)

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/16309330 (201152ZMAY22) Notable: Exercise Southern Jackaroo enhances international combat readiness - news.defence.gov.au

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>>122483

>>122703

Exercise Southern Jackaroo enhances international combat readiness

news.defence.gov.au - 17 May 2022

Hundreds of Australian soldiers, troops from the Japanese Ground Self Defence Force (JGSDF) and US Marines have started a major warfighting exercise at Queensland’s Shoalwater Bay training area.

Running until May 27, Exercise Southern Jackaroo is a trilateral training activity designed to enhance warfighting interoperability, strengthen international relationships and improve combat readiness.

Commander of the 7th Brigade, Brigadier Michael Say, said the combined arms activity would feature infantry live fire and tank integration.

“Exercise Southern Jackaroo is a great example of how our regional partners integrate with Australian forces to conduct realistic combat team training for combat operations,” Brigadier Say said.

“Our combined capability to coordinate ground forces demonstrates adaptability and interoperability that can be applied to disaster relief or warfighting operations.”

Marine Rotational Force - Darwin (MRF-D) Commanding Officer, Colonel Christopher Steele, said Southern Jackaroo built on past activities and enhanced collective strength.

“MRF-D is excited to continue the outstanding tradition of Southern Jackaroo alongside our trusted Australian and Japanese allies,” Colonel Steele said.

“We are looking forward to enhancing our combined interoperability and developing our relationships.”

JGSDF Training Unit Commander Lieutenant Colonel Ryozo Asano said it was a great honour to have the opportunity to participate in a trilateral exercise between with the United States and Australia.

“Considering the current world situation, the trilateral exercise is very significant, and it is very useful for improving the capability of units and all soldiers,” Lieutenant Colonel Asano said.

Taking part in the exercise are about 400 soldiers from the Australian Defence Force (ADF), 190 from the MRF-D and 70 from the JGSDF.

Up to 2200 MRF-D personnel will conduct combined training with the ADF this year, with Exercise Southern Jackaroo forming part of a series of warfighting training activities.

The MRF-D is part of the US force posture initiatives, which were expanded at AUSMIN 2021 to include enhanced air, maritime and land cooperation, and the establishment of a combined logistics, sustainment and maintenance enterprise.

https://news.defence.gov.au/international/exercise-southern-jackaroo-enhances-international-combat-readiness

https://twitter.com/DefenceAust/status/1527514480665628676

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/16309398 (201214ZMAY22) Notable: Satanic leader faces perjury charge after allegedly lying in ‘political stunt’ court case - Self-christened Brother Samael Demo-Gorgon - whose real name is Robin Bristow – founder the Noosa Temple of Satan

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>>122727

>>122729

>>122730

Satanic leader faces perjury charge after allegedly lying in ‘political stunt’ court case

Toby Crockford - May 20, 2022

The founder of a so-called Queensland Satanist temple will fight a potential perjury charge after a Supreme Court judge referred him for prosecution on Friday.

Self-christened Brother Samael Demo-Gorgon - whose real name is Robin Bristow – founded the Noosa Temple of Satan and for the past year has been fighting in the courts for Satanists to teach religious instruction in state schools.

This month he lost the fight against the Queensland Department of Education’s decision to refuse the temple’s application for Satanists to be allowed to teach religious instruction classes.

Now Bristow faces prosecution for lying under oath about his belief in Satan, while challenging the right of others to teach students to believe in God.

The Noosa Temple of Satan, on the Sunshine Coast, was formed in December 2019, in defiance of the Australian government’s proposal for a religious discrimination bill. The temple now boasts more than 8700 Facebook followers and has held several events.

“Satan has got great plans for the future of Australia, and we look forward to Scott Morrison’s religious discrimination bill. Hail Scott Morrison, and hail Satan,” Bristow said on Friday.

Judge Martin Burns had ruled the temple was not a religious denomination.

“... Mr Bristow’s attempt to obtain approval to deliver ‘Satanic’ religious instruction in state schools was nothing more glorified than a base political stunt,” Burns said.

“His persistence with that attempt through the medium of this proceeding has resulted in a deplorable waste of the resources of the state.”

Burns found the temple “has no genuine connection to anything pertaining to religion” - it existed solely to “push a political barrow” - and took issue with Bristow testifying otherwise.

“I have no doubt that the parts of Mr Bristow’s affidavit to which I have just referred are untrue. Whether his affirmation of those parts was deliberate and material to the outcome of this application will be for others to consider.”

On Friday, Bristow appeared before Burns in the Supreme Court, with the opportunity to convince the judge not to refer him for prosecution on perjury charges. But Bristow did no such thing.

“I wish to make no submissions. We do not resist,” barrister Chris Wilson, acting for Bristow, said.

Burns ordered a copy of the application’s affidavit, the exhibits tendered at the hearing, the transcript of Bristow’s evidence, and the final judgment be passed onto the Director of Public Prosecutions for consideration around the laying of a perjury charge against Bristow.

Outside court, Bristow said: “Satanists always tell the truth.”

Noosa Temple of Satan spokesman Trevor Bell explained the decision not to argue against Burns’ wanting to refer Bristow for criminal charges.

“This was not the forum to discuss the ins and outs of why Robin is innocent of perjury, that’s to be done in another place, so it was perfectly normal and appropriate to say to the judge: ‘Well, if you want to refer this matter, then do it.’

“In terms of Mr Bristow’s evidence, I can assure you it was entirely truthful.”

https://www.theage.com.au/national/queensland/satanic-leader-faces-perjury-charge-after-allegedly-lying-in-political-stunt-court-case-20220520-p5an1o.html

>GOD WINS.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/16309413 (201216ZMAY22) Notable: Q Post #4396 - God wins. Q

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>>122750

Q Post #4461

Jun 13 2020 14:03:17 (EST)

Only when evil is forced into the light can we defeat it.

Only when they can no longer operate in the [shadows] can people see the truth for themselves.

Only when people see the truth [for themselves] will people understand the true nature of their deception.

Seeing is Believing.

Sometimes you can't tell the public the truth.

YOU MUST SHOW THEM.

ONLY THEN WILL PEOPLE FIND THE WILL TO CHANGE.

It had to be this way.

This is not another 4-year election.

GOD WINS.

Q

https://qanon.pub/#4461

—

Q Post #4396

Jun 3 2020 01:44:26 (EST)

God wins.

Q

https://qanon.pub/#4396

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/16313539 (210103ZMAY22) Notable: Newspoll: Labor in front of Coalition but lead narrows - May 20, 2022

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>>122446

Newspoll: Labor in front of Coalition but lead narrows

SIMON BENSON - MAY 20, 2022

Popular support for Labor has fallen sharply in the final week of the campaign amid a rejection of both major parties as Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese head to the polls with voters unable to decide who would make the better prime minister.

But without a late swing to the Coalition, Labor remains on track to win the election with a two-party-preferred lead of 53-47.

According to an election-eve Newspoll, commissioned by The Weekend Australian, Labor would be positioned to form majority government if the results are replicated at the polling booths on Saturday.

It would confirm Mr Albanese as the first modern day leader from the Labor Left to win office from Opposition.

The final Newspoll of the campaign shows Labor ’s primary vote falling two points over the past week to 36 per cent confirming a tightening in the electoral race in the final days of the campaign.

However, the Coalition’s primary vote has failed to lift in response, remaining stuck on 35 per cent. If replicated today it would mark the worst result at an election for the Liberal and Nationals parties since Newspoll began in the mid-1980s.

Combined, the level of support for both major parties would mark a record low heading into an election.

The slide in support for Labor in the final days of the campaign follows another significant campaign gaffe for Mr Albanese after he wrongly claimed in an interview that Australia’s borders were still closed.

The leakage from Labor’s base of support has primarily gone to the Greens, which has increased its primary vote from 11 per cent to 12 per cent. This is almost a point higher than its last election result.

The Newspoll shows the Coalition has failed to engineer any lift in support from the record low unemployment numbers released on Thursday and its housing policy offering young home buyers access to their superannuation.

The Newpoll results show a primary vote swing of 6.4 per cent against the government since the last election and a 4.5 per cent swing on a two party preferred vote.

A 53/47 result in Labor’s favour would represent a greater two party preferred result than the Rudd-slide of 2007 but result in potentially less seats due to the rise in support for independents and minor parties.

Pauline Hanson’s One Nation will go to the polls with a primary vote of five per cent, a fall of one point on last week’s Newspoll, while Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party also fell a point to three per cent.

Support for independents and other minor parties increased two points to nine per cent, suggesting increased support for the Climate 200 candidates.

In a sign that Australians are divided on the choice they are faced to make today, in the head to head contest, Mr Morrison and Mr Albanese are now level pegged on who voters say would make the better prime minister.

Mr Morrison fell a point from 43 per cent to 42 per cent while Mr Albanese remained stable on 42 per cent. This marks a significant narrowing of the gap since the second week of the campaign when Mr Morrison led by nine points on the back of Mr Albanese’s first week gaffes over the unemployment and cash rate figures.

Yet voters overall remained unimpressed with performance of both leaders.

Despite Mr Albanese’s campaign controversies in the final days of the campaign, the Opposition leader’s approval ratings improved in the final survey, on the back of some of his lowest ratings since becoming leader three years ago.

Satisfaction with Mr Albanese’s performance lifted three points from 38 per cent to 41 per cent against a fall in dissatisfaction from 49 per cent to 46 per cent.

This resulted in a net satisfaction rating of minus five – marking a modest recovery from the minus 14 he recorded following the first week of the campaign.

Mr Morrison fell two points in his overall ratings with a one point fall in satisfaction to 41 per cent and a single point rise in dissatisfaction to 54 per cent, resulting in a net approval rating of minus 13.

The final Newspoll of the 2022 campaign was conducted between May 13 and May 19 and surveyed 2,188 voters across Australia. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 per cent.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/newspoll-labor-lead-over-coalition-narrows/news-story/937dbfe8479e9380d93da4121f63c09d

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/16313588 (210116ZMAY22) Notable: Election 2022: Scott Morrison left to chase a second poll miracle - Scott Morrison has appealed to the hardworking “quiet Australians” to return the Coalition while Anthony Albanese has committed to leading a “government for women”, as both men extend their campaigns on polling day to key marginals in a final dash for victory

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>>122446

Election 2022: Scott Morrison left to chase a second poll miracle

GEOFF CHAMBERS - MAY 20, 2022

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Scott Morrison has appealed to the hardworking “quiet Australians” to return the Coalition while Anthony Albanese has committed to leading a “government for women”, as both men extend their campaigns on polling day to key marginals in a final dash for ­victory.

The leaders will start the final day of the six-week campaign in Melbourne where there are several battleground seats before travelling to their Sydney bases to vote and wait for the count.

Despite internal and public polling showing a late shift to the government, Labor remained ­confident it would claim the ­required 76 seats to form a majority government.

Coalition strategists have ­directed resources into 20 at-risk seats across the country, with six of those considered to be in danger of falling to Labor and Climate 200 independents.

Mr Albanese joined former prime minister Julia Gillard and South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas on the hustings in the Liberal-held Adelaide electorates of Boothby and Sturt before making a flying stop in the Tasmanian marginal seat of Bass and arriving in Melbourne on Friday night.

Ms Gillard, Australia’s first ­female prime minister who has shied away from publicity since quitting politics, made a pitch to women voters on behalf of Mr ­Albanese.

“What I want to see for this country is a government that cares about values and includes women. And I know that a government led by Albo will do precisely that. I am very confident it will be a government for women,” Ms Gillard said.

As Mr Morrison warned about the risks of weaker border security under Labor and people-­smugglers resuming operations, a fishing vessel and two dinghies were intercepted by the Sri Lankan navy on Wednesday.

Local authorities said they had “apprehended 40 individuals who attempted to illegally migrate to a foreign country by sea”, including four people-smugglers.

The Weekend Australian ­understands that a “table top” ­exercise was held last Friday to war game the readiness of Australia’s response to potential illegal maritime ventures arriving in local waters. The exercise, led by Home Affairs Department secretary Mike Pezzullo, included Operations Sovereign Borders, Defence, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Unlike Bill Shorten, who froze his campaign on the eve of the 2019 election while Mr Morrison crisscrossed the nation, the Opposition Leader blitzed three states on Friday.

With the Coalition re-election strategy focused on winning Labor seats and offsetting expected losses across the country, Mr Morrison made a final pitch to the “quiet Australians” who helped him claim an upset win in 2019.

“I’ve always respected the ­decisions of Australians and those quiet Australians, as I refer to them, out there working hard every day,” Mr Morrison said. “They’re considering their choice very carefully and that’s why I say to them, we have a great opportunity to secure their future.”

(continued)

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/16313665 (210128ZMAY22) Notable: Election 2022: Albanese’s got this – now the Liberals need a good think - Peter van Onselen - theaustralian.com.au

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>>122446

Election 2022: Albanese’s got this – now the Liberals need a good think

PETER VAN ONSELEN - MAY 21, 2022

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Predictions in politics are always fraught with danger. Three years ago Scott Morrison took great delight rubbing my nose in getting it wrong. But I’m happy to have another go, and predict that Labor will form government after Saturday’s results are tallied.

It should be able to form majority government, but at the very least looks set to govern in minority. The Coalition has had wars on too many fronts to pull off another victory coming from behind.

Teal independents are likely to win a few seats off Liberal MPs but, irrespective of whether they exceed those expectations or underwhelm, they have sapped much-needed resources from the Coalition’s contest with Labor.

The aftermath will require the Liberal Party and the Coalition to have a long, hard think about who they represent and their ideological lines in the sand.

While there are Labor seats being targeted, and one or two may fall, for the most part Labor pick-ups are going to be a bridge too far for a prime minister on the nose – one whose own colleagues have labelled him everything from a “horrible, horrible person” to a “complete psycho”, “hypocrite” and “fraud”.

The personal assessments were a dagger in the heart of a leader who needed everything to go his way to orchestrate a comeback. But no one can take away his remarkable 2019 victory.

Of course my prediction that Labor wins includes the potential for a close victory to become a blowout on the night and result in a resounding win, remembering Labor never wins with majorities to match the Coalition’s.

Gough Whitlam’s majority was just five and Kevin Rudd won with only an eight-seat majority. For context, Tony Abbott won the 2013 election with a 15-seat majority and John Howard won in 1996 with a majority of 20.

What won’t happen at this election is a Morrison comeback like in 2019. A second miracle is off the table. I make that prediction in full knowledge that it will be thrown in my face by conservative commentators and government insiders alike if I’m wrong. But I won’t be. Anthony Albanese will be the next prime minister of Australia.

Which will leave the conservative side of politics to ponder: what went so wrong? A prime minister who was popular during the pandemic saw his personal numbers collapse. An opposition leader who struggled at the beginning of the campaign and was viewed as a seat warmer when he took over a shattered party after the 2019 loss will become only the fourth Labor leader to lead the party into government since World War II.

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/16314827 (210542ZMAY22) Notable: The origins of the beloved democracy sausage? It's a long-time love affair - In Australia, the grease from a barbequed sausage helps keep the wheels of democracy turning - Michelle Elias - sbs.com.au

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>>122446

The origins of the beloved democracy sausage? It's a long-time love affair

In Australia, the grease from a barbequed sausage helps keep the wheels of democracy turning.

Michelle Elias - 21 May 2022

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It's election day, and just when you thought you'd met your quota of big decisions, you're faced with some others: bun or sliced bread? Tomato, mustard or barbecue? Onion or no onion?

For some, deciding what trimmings and toppings decorate their sausage sandwich may vex them more than deciding how they stack the candidates.

With most voters casting their ballot paper around midday, you could speculate it’s well timed around the enjoyment of the democracy sausage.

The authoritative voice on how the unassuming sausage sandwich came to earn iconic election day status is historian and Emeritus Professor of Politics at La Trobe University, Judith Brett.

Professor Brett's 2019 book on how Australia embraced compulsory voting titled: From Secret Ballot to Democracy Sausage: How Australia Got Compulsory Voting, explains the election snag's ascent over time.

Ninety-two per cent of enrolled voters had their say in the 2019 election, making Australia a country with one of the highest voter turnouts in the world.

As Professor Brett explains in her book, barbecues and cake stalls at polling stations have played a big part in giving election day an atmosphere of celebration.

With compulsory voting drawing millions to the polls, local communities take advantage of the fundraising opportunity to set up posts outside primary schools, community halls, surf clubs and churches.

In an interview with CNN in 2019, Professor Brett said there's a long history of linking election day with food in Australia.

"Certainly, there's a photo in the 1930s of a polling booth with a cake stall outside, so I think community organisations saw it was an opportunity to fund-raise," she said in the interview.

By the 1980s, the popularity of portable gas barbecues saw the classic sausage sizzle become a common feature of community gatherings and, of course, election days.

"At the 2010 Queensland election some Brisbane friends set up a website for groups to register their election-day fundraising offerings," Professor Brett writes in her book.

The group, Snagvotes, hoped to encourage participation, bring the community together and offer support to those running the stalls.

It was a hit, with Twitter and Facebook accounts born soon after. A map linking polling places to food stalls came next.

By 2011, the election sausage sizzle came to be known as the "democracy sausage", and in 2016, it was crowned the Australian National Dictionary Centre's word of the year.

The origins of the term are obscure, but a handful of tweets carrying the #democracysausage hashtag popped up in 2010.

The term and the sizzle are so widespread Twitter has adjoined a sausage sizzle emoji to the Ausvotes22 hashtag.

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/16314853 (210546ZMAY22) Notable: For Australian voters, a meaty decision - When voters go to the polls Saturday for Australia’s parliamentary elections, they’ll find themselves facing a difficult choice: Do they want onions on that? - Michael E. Miller and Frances Vinall - washingtonpost.com

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>>122446

>>122757

For Australian voters, a meaty decision

Michael E. Miller and Frances Vinall - May 18, 2022

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SYDNEY — When voters go to the polls Saturday for Australia’s parliamentary elections, they’ll find themselves facing a difficult choice: Do they want onions on that?

Election day Down Under isn’t just about democracy — it’s also about “democracy sausages.” From the Top End to Tasmania, thousands of Australians will follow the smell of sizzling meat from the polling booth to a nearby food stall where they will buy a crispy sausage on white bread.

Like grease on a napkin, the tasty tradition has so saturated Australia that it’s become shorthand for the electoral process itself. On Twitter, election-related tweets are accompanied with a sausage-on-bread emoji. A website guides hungry voters to the nearest sausage-slinging polling site. And sated citizens often post pictures of their democracy sausages on social media — the Aussie version of the American “I voted” sticker.

“It’s a very uniquely Australian phenomenon,” said Anika Gauja, a political scientist at the University of Sydney. “It’s a sort of an expression of the community and the collective aspects of voting in Australia.”

In the study of democracy sausages — sausagology? — Gauja’s expertise is second to none. She began surveying the sausages on sale at polling places around Sydney during the 2016 federal election. Three years ago, she tried so many snags — as sausages are sometimes called here — that she felt sick.

Gauja said she gorges herself on democracy sausages because the simple, inexpensive food says something about the country’s strong egalitarian ethos. She goes so far as to call it “Australia’s national dish.”

In the United States, elections are often decided by who can motivate more supporters to leave work and cast a ballot. Lines can be long, and the people in them hangry. Some food stands set up on Election Day in the United States have drawn threats of felony charges.

But in Australia, compulsory voting and Saturday elections mean polling sites often feel more like community festivals.

“It’s not a contested thing” as it is in the United States, said Judith Brett, the author of a book on Australia’s electoral process. “People vote on their way to the beach. They’ve got the kids. They might meet friends. You can buy something to eat and drink.”

Community groups have sold jams, cakes and other goods at the polls for around a century, she said. But it was only in the 1980s, when portable gas barbecues became widespread, that fundraisers — often to benefit schools — began selling sausages.

The term “democracy sausage” didn’t heat up until about a decade ago, Brett said.

That’s when Annette Tyler sent out a hungry tweet. It was the night before a state election in Western Australia and Tyler, then in her late 20s, asked people to share photos of the sausage options at their polling place using the hashtag #democracysausage.

The snag snaps started pouring in. The data manager and a few friends began plotting the stalls on a map — and quickly compiled almost 1,200 of them.

“It started out as me just out of kind of wanting to know where I could find a sausage,” Tyler said. “But we found there was a [knowledge] gap and, being a bunch of data nerds, we thought we’d run with it.”

That’s how DemocracySausage.org was born. By the 2019 federal election, the number of documented stands on the site had more than doubled to 2,420. This year the number of stalls is on pace to grow again.

The website doesn’t have advertising, which means Tyler and her friends lose money on it. But it’s worth it, she said.

“Election days in some ways are inherently divisive: Team A versus Team B,” Tyler said. “But pretty much everyone gets aboard the democracy sausage. It’s nice to be the one thing that is unifying about the day and can support the local community.”

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/16314909 (210604ZMAY22) Notable: Video: Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirms unauthorised vessel from Sri Lanka has been intercepted

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>>122446

Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirms unauthorised vessel from Sri Lanka has been intercepted

Jess Davis - 21 May 2022

The Prime Minister has used his last appearance before voting closes to confirm an unauthorised vessel from Sri Lanka has been intercepted on its way to Australia.

Speaking after casting his ballot in his home electorate of Cook in Sydney, Mr Morrison told journalists reports of an interception were correct.

"I can confirm that there's been an interception of a vessel en route to Australia. That vessel has been intercepted in accordance with the policies of government and they're following those normal protocols," he said.

"In the interests of full transparency in the middle of an election campaign, the Labor Party was advised of this and a statement has been issued by the border protection authorities."

Minister blames Labor for boat attempts under her watch

The Home Affairs Minister, Karen Andrews, told media the interception was the second in recent days.

"The first vessel was intercepted in Sri Lankan waters by the Sri Lankan Navy … this morning the Australian Border Force has intercepted a further vessel near Christmas Island," Ms Andrews said.

"Those ventures indicate, very clearly, what a risk a Labor government poses to our national security.

"This is not scaremongering, this is a reality, and it has been demonstrated by the two attempts we are aware of."

A mass text message has since been sent out warning of the intercepted vessel and encouraging voters to "keep our borders secure by voting Liberal today".

However, Home Affairs Shadow Minister Kristina Keneally said Labor supported Operation Sovereign Borders, including offshore processing, regional resettlement and boat turn-backs where safe.

"The people-smuggling trade is vile and risks the lives of the people at sea," Senator Keneally said.

"To be clear: If you attempt to come to Australia by boat you will not make it and you will be turned around, or sent to Nauru."

The Australian Border Force issued a statement confirming a vessel was intercepted in a "likely attempt to illegally enter Australia from Sri Lanka".

"The Australian government's policy remains unchanged. We will intercept any vessel seeking to reach Australia illegally and to safely return those on board to their point of departure or country of origin," the statement said.

"Measures and safeguards are in place to enable actions and activities to be undertaken in accordance with Australian domestic law and Australia's obligations under international law.

"The overriding priority for all agencies involved in Operation Sovereign Borders is the safety of all persons involved, including potential illegal immigrants and vessel crews as well as Australian personnel."

"In line with long-standing practice, we will make no further comment."

The last boat turn-back occurred in January 2020.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-21/scott-morrison-confirms-unauthorised-vessel-intercept/101087492

https://www.abf.gov.au/newsroom-subsite/Pages/illegal-maritime-venture-intercepted.aspx

https://twitter.com/PeterDutton_MP/status/1527851233809031168

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/16315617 (211144ZMAY22) Notable: With Anthony Albanese at the helm, Labor is projected to win 2022 federal election

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>>122446

With Anthony Albanese at the helm, Labor is projected to win 2022 federal election

Brett Worthington - 21 May 2022

Anthony Albanese will return Labor from the political wilderness to government, seizing power from the Coalition after it has been almost a decade in office.

While it remains unclear if Labor can form a majority, the ALP is on track to finish ahead of the Coalition and more likely to reach a minority government, the ABC has projected.

"The Coalition cannot get into government," ABC election analyst Antony Green said.

This win means Mr Albanese will replace Scott Morrison as Prime Minister, making him the 31st person to hold the nation's top job.

The son of a single parent who grew up in public housing, Mr Albanese has reached the pinnacle of his career after 26 years in the parliament.

Labor started the campaign, notionally, with 69 seats.

The Liberal Party has suffered major losses to so-called "teal" independents, which look to take the seats of Mackellar, Goldstein, North Sydney.

Labor has also picked up Liberal seats in Reid, in Sydney, and Chisholm, in Melbourne, while the Coalition has lost the seat of Ryan, in Brisbane, to the Greens.

Finance Minister Simon Birmingham said his Liberals needed to take stock from the swings it was seeing against it in once-safe seats.

"It is a clear problem that we are losing seats that are heartland seats, that have defined the Liberal Party for generations," he said.

"And so, if we lose those seats, it is not certain that we will, but there is clearly a big movement against us and there is clearly a big message in it, and we need to heed that message."

More to come.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-21/labor-anthony-albanese-projected-to-win-2022-federal-election/101084660

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/16315888 (211317ZMAY22) Notable: Scott Morrison resigns as leader after election bloodbath for Liberal Party - Anthony Albanese prepares to become the nation’s next Prime Minister

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>>122446

>>122763

Scott Morrison resigns as leader after election bloodbath for Liberal Party

Scott Morrison has resigned as leader of the Liberal Party after shocking election results, as Anthony Albanese prepares to become the nation’s next Prime Minister.

Samantha Maiden - May 21, 2022

Scott Morrison has conceded defeat and announced he will quit the Liberal leadership, declaring he accepts the verdict of voters.

The Prime Minister said today he would stand down as leader but that he plans to remain as the Member for Cook for now.

”To my colleagues tonight, who have had to deal with very difficult news, and have lost their seats tonight, I as leader take responsibility for the wins and the losses,’’ he said.

”That is the burden and that is the responsibility of leadership.

“As a result I will be handing over the leadership at the next party room meeting to ensure the party can be taken forward under new leadership which is the appropriate thing to do.

“I’ve had the great privilege to lead this great party and lead this great nation.”

However, Mr Morrison said he planned to stay in parliament and three years from now he “looked forward” to the re-election of a Liberal Government.

Mr Morrison, who was first elected Prime Minister on August 24, 2018, left Kirribilli House shortly after 10:32pm with his wife Jenny Morrison.

Speaking at the Sofitel Hotel in Sydney shortly after, Mr Morrison declared he “accepts the verdict” of Australian voters and conceded Labor leader Anthony Albanese had won the election.

Shortly after 10:45pm, the Prime Minister offered his congratulations to the Labor leader as a man shouted from the crowds “you’ve done us proud!”.

“I’ve spoken to the leader of the opposition and the incoming Prime Minister Anthony Albanese,’’ Mr Morrison said.

“I congratulate Anthony Albanese and the Labor Party and I wish him and his government all the very best.

“Now there are many votes still to count, that is true.

“But I believe it’s very important that this country has certainty. I think it’s very important that this country can move forward.

“I think it is important for our nation to heal and to move forward.

“But at the same time, three years ago I stood before you, and I said I believed in miracles. I still believe in miracles. I still believe in miracles as I always have. And the biggest miracles, as I said three years ago, were standing beside me and here they are again tonight with Jenny.”

Mr Morrison said Australians had endured a great deal over the course of the pandemic.

“There’s another great miracle I want to give thanks for tonight and that’s the miracle of the Australian people,’’ he said.

“What Australians have endured over these past few years has shown a tremendous depth of character and resilience.

“We hand over this country as a government in a stronger position than we left it than we inherited it when we came to government those years ago under Tony Abbott.”

While Morrison is expected to stand down as leader, there’s a question over who will replace him with Treasurer Josh Frydenberg all but conceding he was likely to lose his seat.

Mr Frydenberg paid tribute to the Prime Minister flanked by his wife Amie just minutes earlier.

“To be the deputy leader of our party has been an enormous privilege and to serve as Scott Morrison’s deputy, a person of great decency, a person who loves his family, a person who is of deep faith and a person who has shown extraordinary leadership in extraordinary time,’’ he said.

“So I thank Scott Morrison for what he has done for our country to leave Australia in a stronger position than when he found it.”

Mr Frydenberg isn’t the only Liberal frontbencher who risks being swept from parliament.

Defence Minister Peter Dutton, who came close to losing the seat he had held since 2001, said it was a “terrible day” for the Liberal Party.

“We have, as a Liberal family, suffered a terrible day today,’’ he said.

“And there are colleagues around the country, good people, who have potentially lost their seats. There are still thousands and thousands of postal votes and pre-poll votes to count. So there’s some hope in some of those seats. In many, the race is very tight.

“I want to acknowledge the pain they’re going through tonight, their families, their supporters.”

Housing Minister Michael Sukkar, whose super for houses policy was hailed as a vote winner is facing a tough fight to retain the seat of Deakin.

Education Minister Alan Tudge has also suffered a savage swing in the seat of Aston, but looks set to hang on.

https://www.news.com.au/national/federal-election/scott-morrison-to-speak-after-election-bloodbath-for-liberal-party/news-story/99a2f640ec772634b014b36a355fd006

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/16319237 (220125ZMAY22) Notable: Video: Labor leader Anthony Albanese speaks after Scott Morrison concedes defeat - news.com.au

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>>122446

>>122763

Labor leader Anthony Albanese speaks after Scott Morrison concedes defeat

Alexis Carey - May 22, 2022

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Australia has spoken – and Anthony Albanese will officially be Australia’s 31st Prime Minister.

The Labor leader has emerged victorious over Scott Morrison after an epic, six-week election campaign, ending the Coalition’s almost decade-long reign.

Addressing the media pack as he left his Marrickville home to head for a celebratory event at the Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL with partner Jodie Haydon, Mr Albanese said the win was an “incredible honour”.

“I want to unite people. People want to come together, look for common interest, look towards the sense of common purpose,” he said.

“I think people have had enough of division. What they want is to come together as a nation, and I intend to lead that.”

Mr Albanese then headed off to address his crowd of exuberant supporters – including son Nathan and ex-wife and former Deputy Premier of NSW Carmel Tebbutt – who had gathered at the venue in his electorate of Grayndler in Sydney’s inner west.

An emotional Mr Albanese took to the stage amid chants of “Albo, Albo”, and immediately thanked Australia for the “extraordinary honour”.

“Tonight the Australian people have voted for change. I am humbled by this victory. And I am honoured to be given the opportunity to serve as the 31st Prime Minister of Australia,” he said.

“My Labor team will work every day to bring Australians together. And I will lead a government worthy of the people of Australia. A government as courageous and hardworking and caring as the Australian people are themselves.”

He thanked Mr Morrison for his “gracious” congratulations and for his service, before acknowledging his own humble beginnings.

“My fellow Australians, it says a lot about our great country that a son of a single mum who was a disability pensioner, who grew up in public housing down the road in Camperdown, can stand before you tonight as Australia’s Prime Minister,” he said.

“During this campaign I have put forward a positive, clear plan for a better future for our country. And I have shared the two principles that will a government that I lead. No-one left behind because we should always look after the disadvantaged and the vulnerable.

“But also no-one held back, because we should always support aspiration and opportunity.”

Earlier in the night, outgoing PM Scott Morrison fronted his supporters to concede defeat, acknowledging that it was a “difficult night for Liberals and Nationals around the country”.

“Tonight, I have spoken to the Leader of the Opposition, and the incoming Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, and I’ve congratulated on his election victory this evening,” Mr Morrison said.

“In this country, at a time like this, when we look around the world, and particularly when we see those in the Ukraine fighting for their very freedom and liberty, I think on a night like tonight, we can reflect on the greatness of our democracy.”

Going into the election, the Coalition had 75 seats to Labor’s 68, plus eight crossbenchers.

But the so-called teal independents have pulled off a stunning upset, stealing a string of high profile, safe Liberal seats.

(continued)

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/16319257 (220129ZMAY22) Notable: Federal election 2022: ‘Morrison’s defeat suits me very well’: French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian

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>>122446

>>122763

Federal election 2022: ‘Morrison’s defeat suits me very well’: French Foreign Minister

JACQUELIN MAGNAY - MAY 22, 2022

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One of France’s most senior politicians, outgoing foreign affairs minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has publicly welcomed the defeat of the Scott Morrison government as the cancelled submarine contact continues to irk the French.

Mr Le Drian was handing over to his successor, Catherine Colonna in Paris on Saturday when he referred to the Australian election results and the loss of the Liberal-National Party coalition being in control after nearly a decade in power.

“I can’t stop myself from saying that the defeat of Morrison suits me very well,’’ said Mr Le Drian, adding that Mr Morrison’s move to cancel the French submarine contract was clear evidence of “brutality and cynicism, and I would even be tempted to say of unequivocal incompetence”.

Mr Le Drian’s candid remarks showed that France is still smarting from Mr Morrison’s decision late last year to switch to a new security pact with the United States and the United Kingdom (AUKUS) and the sudden ripping up of a lucrative $90bn 12 submarine deal with France’s Naval group.

It is well established that French president Emmanuel Macron believes the Australian government had stabbed him in the back when the French deal was disbanded in September last year, but the French fury continues without any sign of abatement.

Mr Le Drian’s remarks come after Macron even accused Morrison of lying to him about the status of the submarine deal when having dinner at the Elysee Palace in June, when it emerged that only days earlier Morrison had begun top secret discussions at the G7 with US president Joe Biden and UK prime minister Boris Johnson about a possible AUKUS pact.

But Mr Morrison had rejected such claims saying he had made it clear to Macron that a conventional diesel-powered submarine was not going to meet Australia’s strategic requirements.

’We stand united’: Ardern

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she spoke to Anthony Albanese before he gave his acceptance speech, congratulating him on his win, while also acknowledging Scott Morrison.

“I spoke to Anthony Albanese … as he was preparing to address his supporters. It was a warm conversation and I’m really looking forward to formally meeting with him soon,” she said in a statement.

“Anthony and I have had the chance to meet before and I have no doubt we’ll have a strong working relationship that will serve both countries well.

“Australia is our most important partner, our only official ally and single economic market relationship, and I believe our countries will work even more closely together in these tumultuous times.”

Ms Ardern said that she also wanted to acknowledge the “strong working relationship” she had with Mr Morrison.

“I would also like to acknowledge the strong working relationship I had with Scott Morrison. I am confident that the close and unique relationship between New Zealand and Australia will continue under Mr Albanese’s leadership,” she said.

“I hope to meet Prime Minister Albanese in the near future, and look forward to working with him on a range of issues including supporting New Zealanders living in Australia, making trans-Tasman business even easier, deepening our partnership with our close friends in the Pacific, and advancing our interests on the world stage.

“Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand are at our best when we work together; when we acknowledge our mutual interests, our shared values and the uniqueness of our perspectives; when we stand united as allies and whanau, recognising the strength in our diversity.”

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/16319276 (220132ZMAY22) Notable: Indian PM Narendra Modi congratulates new Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese

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>>122446

>>122763

PM Narendra Modi congratulates new Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese

ANI - 22 May 2022

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (May 21, 2022) congratulated Australia`s Labor Party leader Anthony Albanese for his party`s victory in the country`s federal election, which makes him Australia`s prime minister-elect. PM Modi said that he is looking forward to working towards the shared interest between India and Australia in the Indo-Pacific region.

"Congratulations @AlboMP for the victory of the Australian Labor Party, and your election as the Prime Minister! I look forward to working towards further strengthening our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and for shared priorities in the Indo-Pacific region." tweeted PM Modi.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Saturday night projected Labor will form a government for the first time since 2013, with Anthony Albanese to become the country`s 31st Prime Minister.

Anthony Albanese thanked people for voting for him. "Thank you Australia," he Tweeted.

"Tonight the Australian people have voted for change," he added.

Australia`s conservative Prime Minister Scott Morrison conceded election defeat in national elections on Saturday.

Taking to Twitter today, the high commissioner said that Anthony Albanese had travelled to New Delhi as a backpacker in 1991 and led a parliamentary delegation in 2018.

"Australia`s Prime Minister-elect @AlboMP is no stranger to India having travelled the country as a backpacker in 1991 and led a parliamentary delegation in 2018. During the campaign, he committed to deepening India-Australia economic, strategic and people-to-people links," he said.

Speaking to his supporters, Morrison said: "Tonight I have spoken to the leader of the opposition and the incoming Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese and I have congratulated him on his election victory."

Morrison also said he would stand down as leader of the Liberal party. The result marks an end to the coalition`s nearly-nine-year hold on power and Morrison`s tenure as Prime Minister. Morrison became prime minister in 2018.

Meanwhile, at the upcoming Quad Summit in Japan on May 24, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with his new Australian counterpart. Albanese has confirmed that he will attend the Quad summit in Japan next week as well.

Addressing the special ministry of external affairs briefing, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said, "In their (India-Australia) interaction, the two leaders will review the India-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership and exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual interest."

https://zeenews.india.com/india/pm-narendra-modi-congratulates-new-australian-counterpart-anthony-albanese-2465959.html

https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1528033523545669633

https://twitter.com/AusHCIndia/status/1528006552955006976

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/16319294 (220135ZMAY22) Notable: Video: US late show host Stephen Colbert roasts Scott Morrison on election day - "The Australian PM has been dogged by scandal, everything from allegations of racism to his friendship with a prominent QAnon conspiracy theorist"

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>>122446

>>122763

US late show host Stephen Colbert roasts Scott Morrison on election day

An American late-night talk show host had his audience in stitches as he made fun of Scott Morrison, just hours before the polls closed in Australia.

Chantelle Francis - May 21, 2022

Scott Morrison has been roasted on a popular American late-night talk show as Australians took to the polls to vote in the federal election.

In the opening segment of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, where Colbert shares news in a comedic way, he took aim at Mr Morrison – just hours before polls closed down under.

In “news out of Australia”, Colbert told viewers that the stakes were high for the “conservative Prime Minister”.

“Ever since Morrison was elected, the Australian PM has been dogged by scandal, everything from allegations of racism to his friendship with a prominent QAnon conspiracy theorist,” Colbert said, as Australian media reports were shown on screen.

“That’s not good – of course down there politicians’ reputations go down the drain counterclockwise.”

Colbert didn’t stop there, bringing up possibly Mr Morrison’s most hated rumour.

“Morrison’s press got so bad that last year the Prime Minister went on the radio to deny he’d ever pooped his pants at McDonald’s,” Colbert said.

The longstanding rumour is that Mr Morrison soiled himself at Engadine McDonald’s after his beloved Cronulla Sharks lost the grand final in 1997.

Mr Morrison last July went on radio to “clear up” the rumour declaring it was the “biggest urban myth ever”.

That wasn’t the end of it.

The supposed incident was even brought up in a radio interview on Wednesday this week ahead of the election, where Mr Morrison again denied it ever happened.

“No surprise Scott’s re-election campaign hasn’t been going the best,” Colbert continued.

“So he launched a reboot this week to get some good press, which brings as to the latest Morrison news: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison tackled a child to the ground during an election photo-op.”

Colbert then showed the footage as the audience gasped and laughed.

“Yeah … to which his campaign responded, ‘can we go back to the McDonald’s pooping thing?’,” Colbert finished.

Mr Morrison was playing a training game with kids at the home of the Devonport Strikers in Tasmania on Wednesday when he made a run towards the goal that went horribly wrong.

He collided with Luca Fauvette, who plays under-eights, and knocked him to the ground.

Fortunately, he was fine and appeared on breakfast television the next day to say so.

In a funny interview that actually ended with him rapping, Luca revealed Mr Morrison had also called him later in the day to check on him.

The video of the tackle went viral on social media and made headlines across the country.

The polls for the federal election closed at 6pm Saturday.

https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/us-late-show-host-stephen-colbert-roasts-scott-morrison-on-election-day/news-story/93f12d2e0ed30740080a6ab542a9cbc9

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/16320263 (220528ZMAY22) Notable: The six ‘giant killer’ independents who destroyed Scott Morrison’s government - Six usually safe Liberal seats. Six accomplished women running as independents. Six body blows for Scott Morrison’s government.

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>>122763

The six ‘giant killer’ independents who destroyed Scott Morrison’s government

Six usually safe Liberal seats. Six accomplished women running as independents. Six body blows for Scott Morrison’s government.

Sam Clench - May 22, 2022

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Six usually safe Liberal seats. Six accomplished women running as independents. Six body blows for Scott Morrison’s government.

Anthony Albanese will become prime minister tomorrow, but the most striking feature of election night was the wave of victories for the so-called “teal independents” challenging sitting Liberal MPs across the country.

While Labor and the Greens picked up plenty of seats, this group of six dealt the most pain to the Liberals, ripping away chunks of its heartland.

And in an even bigger blow for the Liberal party these women are exactly the type of politician who should be representing the Coalition.

Monique Ryan was labelled “the giant killer of this election” by ABC News anchors early on Sunday morning, with her on the cusp of beating Treasurer Josh Frydenberg in Kooyong.

Mr Frydenberg – widely seen as a leadership contender – was the highest profile victim of the night, and his looming loss has important ramifications for the Liberal Party’s future. It leaves outgoing Defence Minister Peter Dutton as the clear favourite to take over from Scott Morrison.

Dr Ryan has yet to formally claim victory and Mr Frydenberg has not conceded – he’s waiting until more postal votes are counted – but it seems to be a matter of time.

She told the ABC that “independents are here to stay”.

“We felt that the government wasn’t listening to us, and so we have changed the government,” Dr Ryan said.

“We have come together as a community and expressed what we want, and I think that this is going to be a permanent sort of a change, not just a protest against one thing.”

Allegra Spender, the daughter of former Liberal MP John Spender and fashion designer Carla Zampatti, took Wentworth from Liberal Dave Sharma.

Wentworth was, until quite recently, a reliably safe Liberal seat, but that changed with the resignation of former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull.

In the aftermath of his knifing it was claimed by an independent, Kerryn Phelps. Mr Sharma subsequently won it back. Now the Liberals have lost it again.

“You look at the values of this community. We are socially progressive, we are environmentally focused. They were not reflected in the parliament, and were not reflected in the Liberal Party, which has moved to the right. And this is about coming back to the values of the community, to be honest and actually represent them,” Ms Spender said today.

She said she hoped the election results showed “you can’t ignore women anymore”.

“It’s saying in a positive, in a very constructive way, that we want the parliament to represent our community in its fullest terms. We want the parliament to be the best of us, to work with everyone, with respect. These are the values the community seeks.”

Sophie Scamps’ successful campaign against Liberal MP Jason Falinski in Mackellar, held by the party since 1977, was one of the more surprising wins for the contingent of independents.

The former athlete and GP campaigned on climate change, integrity and health. She said her victory proved voters wanted to be “genuinely represented” in parliament.

“What a night! We did it Mackellar! We made history together, and now it’s time to start creating a better future together,” she told her supporters this morning.

(continued)

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/16320287 (220535ZMAY22) Notable: Anthony Albanese wins, but it’s a victory by default for Labor - Dennis Shanahan - theaustralian.com.au

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>>122763

Anthony Albanese wins, but it’s a victory by default for Labor

DENNIS SHANAHAN - MAY 22, 2022

Anthony Albanese will be the next Australian Prime Minister … and he will set a swathe of new firsts in political history.

Albanese is an old school Labor story of a rise from rags to the Lodge and a left winger to boot. Good on him.

But these are the positive firsts. Not the least of other firsts will be a victory in a new age of political fragmentation when Labor’s win, hopefully outright, will be on the back of the Coalition being wiped out by a new independent movement in the inner city.

The old red and blue political divisions have been redefined between Labor and the Liberals to a red velvet in the affluent suburbs of the inner city and a blue collar in the outer suburbs and regions.

Just like the ALP of the old days facing a split in the progressive vote to the Greens, the Coalition faces a new split in the conservative vote to ill-defined independents who have handed Labor victory by default.

The Coalition failed in its attempt for a fourth term but the ALP was the beneficiary of a ragtag bunch of minor parties chipping away at the government from both sides.

Labor had wins and losses as did the Coalition, while the independents and Greens only had wins. There will be the biggest cross bench in Australia’s history and a Senate yet to be shaped.

There are extremely difficult times for Australia and testing times ahead for Albanese after a vote for change with little scope for real change.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/anthony-albanese-wins-but-its-a-victory-by-default-for-labor/news-story/75b7d87c9b61157a16dc6d772c306deb

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/16320305 (220545ZMAY22) Notable: Video: Emotional Scott Morrison fights back tears in church following election loss

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>>122763

Emotional Scott Morrison fights back tears in church following election loss

NICHOLAS JENSEN - MAY 22, 2022

Scott Morrison has fought back tears as he addressed his church’s congregation in southern Sydney, saying he was glad his final words as Prime Minister would be to those who supported him most throughout the campaign.

Shortly before 9am, the outgoing Prime Minister and his family departed Kirribilli House for their local church in Sutherland in Mr Morrison’s seat of Cook.

At the Sunday service, Mr Morrison addressed the Horizon Church’s congregation, fighting back tears as he thanked hundreds of parishioners for their support throughout his term as Prime Minister.

Mr Morrison said he was happy his final words as leader of the country would be to his congregation, in his own community.

“Whether you’re a Prime Minister, a pastor, running a business, teaching in schools, working in the police force, it doesn’t matter. We’re each called to trust and obey … That’s how we live our faith each and every day, regardless of what your job is, and to express it in how you do that.”

Standing alongside Pastor Brad Bonhomme — who officiated the service and paid tribute to the outgoing Prime Minister — Mr Morrison became increasingly emotional as he read scripture to the congregation.

Following the two-hour service Mr Morrison and his family departed the church from an underground car park.

Outside the church parishioners said they had been instructed not to speak to the press, adding that the Morrisons deserved privacy following Saturday’s election result.

“The family is exhausted … and been under a lot of pressure. It was nice they could attend church today, but now they deserve their privacy,” one parishioner said.

The Australian understands he has now returned to his family home in the Shire.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/emotional-scott-morrison-chokes-back-tears-in-church-following-election-loss/news-story/4eff6fd1c425d2852cf9e2c003d9e5c0

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/16320374 (220607ZMAY22) Notable: Peter Dutton will run for Liberal leader, outgoing Home Affairs minister Karen Andrews and Trade minister Dan Tehan consider tilt

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>>122763

Peter Dutton will run for Liberal leader, Tehan and Andrews consider tilt

James Massola and Anthony Galloway - May 22, 2022

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Peter Dutton will throw his hat into the ring to lead the Liberal Party and is the strong favourite to win majority support, but at least two other Liberals are said to be weighing their chances and could step into a leadership contest.

Discussions about Scott Morrison’s replacement as Liberal leader began within hours of the polls closing on Saturday evening, with the next opposition leader facing a difficult task of rebuilding the party after nine years in government and a historic wipeout of moderate MPs.

Shell-shocked Liberals told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age on Sunday the party first needed to pause and understand the reasons for the party’s loss before beginning to consider who the next leader should be.

With the loss of Treasurer Josh Frydenberg from the seat of Kooyong all but certain, Dutton is the clear front-runner to be the next leader.

Colleagues are also urging outgoing Home Affairs minister Karen Andrews and Trade minister Dan Tehan to run for the leadership. Both spoke on Sunday morning about the ramifications of the loss and the need for the party to learn lessons.

Dutton has told colleagues who have been ringing him and urging him to stand that he expects to announce his candidacy in a matter of days.

His message to colleagues, according to MPs who had spoken to him but asked not to be named so they could speak freely, is that the opposition has to take a sensible approach to policy and there should be no “night of the long knives” recriminations over the thumping election loss.

“This talk of lurching to the right, making it a Trump style-thing, is a nonsense,” one MP said.

Another MP said Dutton was the most experienced member of the party room and would be able to hold the base together while taking a pragmatic approach on policy.

“If Josh was still there might be a question but he’s not. Dutton already has the votes of 60 to 70 per cent of the party room. The idea that it will be anyone else is bullshit,” a second MP said.

“Labor would write him off as a crazy right-winger at their peril, he is pragmatic.”

That second MP said that MPs Dan Tehan and Karen Andrews were not realistic alternatives for the leadership.

However, there is also a considerable number of MPs, particularly on the moderate side, who argue Dutton is not the answer to winning back the inner-city seats in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, which fell to climate-focused independents, Greens and Labor.

(continued)

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/16320863 (220932ZMAY22) Notable: Pacific leaders congratulate Labor's Albanese on election result - Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama congratulate Albanese

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>>122763

Pacific leaders congratulate Labor's Albanese on election result

Kirsty Needham - MAY 22, 2022

SYDNEY (Reuters) - The Solomon Islands has congratulated Australia’s Labor leader, Anthony Albanese, on his election victory, saying much “remains to be done” in the bilateral relationship, as Pacific islands neighbour Fiji welcomed the party’s climate policies.

Albanese said he would be sworn in as the 31st prime minister on Monday along with four senior party members, even as vote counting continues, before heading to Tokyo to attend a “Quad” summit on Tuesday with U.S. President Joe Biden and the prime ministers of Japan and India.

The Solomon Islands’ recent signing of a security pact with China was a major election issue for outgoing Prime Minister Scott Morrison, with Western allies concerned it could provide a gateway for a Chinese military presence in the Pacific.

China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, is expected to visit the Solomon Islands this week, local media have reported, although Reuters could not confirm that with Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare’s office.

In a statement on Sunday, Sogavare said his nation “remains Australia’s steadfast friend and development partner of choice”.

The Solomon Islands are grateful for Australia’s financial, medical and security support over the years, he said, adding “much however, remains to be done”.

Sogavare had written to Albanese and “assured him of taking Solomon Islands’ relationship with Australia to another level under Albanese’s tenure”.

Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama congratulated Albanese in a tweet, writing: “Of your many promises to support the Pacific, none is more welcome than your plan to put the climate first.”

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that she had called Albanese on Sunday, and that the two countries would continue to work together “deepening our partnership with our close friends in the Pacific, and advancing our interests on the world stage”.

“Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand are at our best when we work together,” she said.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-australia-election-reaction/pacific-leaders-congratulate-labors-albanese-on-election-result-idUSKCN2N803L

https://twitter.com/FijiPM/status/1528186822177718272/

https://solomons.gov.sb/sogavare-congratulates-albanese-on-election-victory/

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/16320873 (220942ZMAY22) Notable: U.S. Embassy Australia Tweet: "Congratulations to @AlboMP and the Australian Labor Party on their victory in the Australian federal election. We look forward to working with your government on our shared vision for a peaceful and more prosperous world." – Chargé d’Affaires Michael Goldman

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>>122763

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken Tweet

Congratulations to Australia's new Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese. Australia is a vital ally, partner, and friend of the United States, and we look forward to working with @AlboMP and his government to advance security and democracy in the region and around the world.

https://twitter.com/SecBlinken/status/1528246531362631681

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U.S. Embassy Australia Tweet

"Congratulations to @AlboMP and the Australian Labor Party on their victory in the Australian federal election. We look forward to working with your government on our shared vision for a peaceful and more prosperous world."

– Chargé d’Affaires Michael Goldman

https://twitter.com/USEmbAustralia/status/1528279010815315968

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/16320878 (220948ZMAY22) Notable: Cardinal Angelo Becciu implicates Pope Francis in financial corruption megatrial

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>>122441

>>122681

Cardinal Angelo Becciu implicates Pope Francis in financial corruption megatrial

PAOLA TOTARO - MAY 21, 2022

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The gloves are off in Vatican City as Angelo Becciu, the disgraced cardinal at the centre of a financial corruption megatrial, moved to implicate Pope Francis in a bid to save himself.

Becciu opened a marathon two-day tribunal hearing this week by denying he had orchestrated the mysterious 2017 resignation of the Vatican’s first auditor general, Libero Milone, appointed to work alongside Cardinal George Pell to clean up and reform the Holy See’s sclerotic and antiquated financial systems.

Rather, Becciu claimed on Wednesday that Francis himself had ordered the removal of Mil­one. Becciu had previously refused to answer questions on the sacking, citing “love of the Holy Father” for his silence but told the tribunal that the pontiff had now given him permission to speak.

Milone, he alleged, had hired an outside firm to investigate him as well as the activities of other senior Vatican officials and thus had lost the “trust of the Holy Father”. Francis had not only asked him to seek Milone’s resignation but apologised for giving him the unpalatable task.

His unexplained removal along with the cancellation of a PricewaterhouseCoopers contract as Holy See auditors has since been widely cited by seasoned observers as well as Pell as evidence the new financial team had come very close to unearthing illicit economic activities within the Secretariat of State.

Three months after his resignation, Milone broke his silence and told Italian media and The Australian he had been interrogated for hours by Vatican police and forced to leave his post after he had requested documentation that he believed would uncover evidence of potentially illegal financial transactions in the Vatican.

In a series of heated exchanges during this week’s seven-hour interrogation by senior Vatican prosecutor Alessandro Diddi, Becciu appeared to lose patience, responding to forensic questioning with “I don’t remember” and at one point banging his fist on the table, insisting while his memory was failing him, he had “always and only worked for the good of the Holy See”.

Tempers became so frayed at one point that tribunal president Giuseppe Pignatone was forced to briefly halt proceedings in a bid to calm the protagonists.

Hundreds of documents, phone chats lifted from laptops, letters, meeting minutes and newspaper articles were projected on the walls of the Vatican Museum hall turned courtroom as Diddi fired questions on issues ranging from the circumstances of the controversial €350 million ($621 million) London property investment to the decision to host one of his co-defendants, Cecilia Marogna, a self-styled “intelligence agent” in his apartment overnight.

“She came one evening to speak to me and it got late … when she was leaving, the nuns who assist me told me she was frightened to go to her hotel because of Covid and asked if she could stay,” Becciu said.

“I said yes. She slept in their quarters. I found her again the next day at breakfast when we said goodbye.”

In an unexpected personal statement filed to the court on Thursday, Marogna explained her job in what a US newspaper described as “James Bond-style” terms, stating her responsibilities to the Holy See ranged from trying to free a captive nun in Colombia to meeting Russian emissaries of Vladimir Putin who wished to negotiate the return to the Russian Orthodox Church of holy relics held in a cathedral in southern Italy.

She is accused of using Vatican payments to buy luxury goods.

(continued)

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/16325675 (230710ZMAY22) Notable: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese Tweet: Good to speak with @POTUS today and reaffirm the long-standing alliance between our two countries. I look forward to continuing our conversation in Tokyo on Tuesday.

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>>122763

THE WHITE HOUSE

Readout of President Biden’s Call with Prime Minister-Designate Anthony Albanese

MAY 22, 2022

President Biden spoke with Australian Prime Minister-Designate Anthony Albanese to congratulate him on his election as Australia’s 31st prime minister. President Biden reaffirmed the United States’ steadfast commitment to the U.S-Australia alliance and his intent to work closely with the new government to make it stronger still. President Biden expressed deep appreciation for the Prime Minister-Designate’s own early commitment to the alliance, reflected in his decision to travel almost immediately to Tokyo to attend the Quad Summit—a vital opportunity to exchange views and continue to drive practical cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. President Biden looks forward to a close partnership between our administrations that will benefit the American people, the Australian people, and the world, starting with consequential meetings in Japan this week.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/05/22/readout-of-president-bidens-call-with-prime-minister-designate-anthony-albanese/

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese Tweet

Good to speak with @POTUS today and reaffirm the long-standing alliance between our two countries.

I look forward to continuing our conversation in Tokyo on Tuesday.

https://twitter.com/AlboMP/status/1528322832564121600

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/16325684 (230713ZMAY22) Notable: Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida Tweet: It is my great pleasure to collaborate closely with you to further develop (Japan-Australia) relations, as “Special Strategic Partners” which share universal values, and to realize a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific”. I look forward to seeing you in Tokyo soon.

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>>122763

Indonesian president Joko Widodo Tweets

Congratulations Anthony Albanese @AlboMP on your election as Prime Minister of Australia!

Look forward to working closely with you in advancing our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including the concrete implementation of IA-CEPA

https://twitter.com/jokowi/status/1528569773188976641

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My most sincere thanks to former PM Scott Morrison @ScottMorrisonMP for your friendship and tireless dedication in advancing RI-Australia cooperation.

https://twitter.com/jokowi/status/1528569775139348480

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Canadian President Justin Trudeau Tweets

Congratulations, @AlboMP, on being elected Prime Minister of Australia. Our countries are close friends – and I’m looking forward to building on that with you, moving forward with progressive ideas, tackling climate change, and delivering results for people in both our countries.

https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau/status/1528074391782817792

—

And to @ScottMorrisonMP: Thank you for your valuable partnership over the past four years. I’m wishing you nothing but the best in your future endeavours. My full statement on the results of the general election in Australia:

https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau/status/1528074393439592448

Statement by the Prime Minister on the results of the general election in Australia

https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/statements/2022/05/21/statement-prime-minister-results-general-election-australia

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Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida Tweets

I express my heartfelt congratulations to @AlboMP on your election as Prime Minister of Australia.

https://twitter.com/kishida230/status/1528343780344352769

—

It is my great pleasure to collaborate closely with you to further develop (Japan-Australia) relations, as “Special Strategic Partners” which share universal values, and to realize a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific”. I look forward to seeing you in Tokyo soon.

https://twitter.com/kishida230/status/1528343781850124288

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/16325691 (230716ZMAY22) Notable: Anthony Albanese sworn in as Australia’s 31st Prime Minister in Canberra following historic Labor election victory - Anthony Albanese is officially Australia’s 31st Prime Minister after a swearing in ceremony in Canberra ahead of a crucial international dialogue with the US, India and Japan

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>>122763

Anthony Albanese sworn in as Australia’s 31st Prime Minister in Canberra following historic Labor election victory

Anthony Albanese is officially Australia’s 31st Prime Minister after a swearing in ceremony in Canberra ahead of a crucial international dialogue with the US, India and Japan.

Tyrone Clarke - May 23, 2022

Anthony Albanese has been sworn in as Australia’s 31st Prime Minister alongside senior Labor frontbenchers before he heads to Tokyo for talks with the US, India and Japan.

Labor secured an historic victory on Saturday night but has not yet been delivered a majority with the party so far holding 72 electorates with 14 seats in doubt.

Mr Albanese’s frontbench team including Treasurer Jim Chalmers, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles were also sworn in before the leader's Quad meeting overseas.

Inside the lavish Government House the five ministers awaited Governor-General David Hurley and Linda Hurley before they and gathered guests sang the national anthem.

The Prime Minister was joined by his partner Jodi Haydon and son Nathan Albanese as he became only the fourth Labor leader to win government from opposition since World War Two.

The entire ministry has been divided among the five senior members, with the remaining frontbench to be sworn in once Mr Albanese returns from Tokyo.

Ms Gallagher will take on the roles of Minister for Women and Attorney-General and Mr Marles will become Minister for Employment in the interregnum period.

Mr Marles will be acting as Australia’s Prime Minister as Mr Albanese visits Japan.

While Mr Albanese cannot hold claim to governing in majority, Labor is expected to reach the magic number of 76 following a decimation of Liberal Party in heartland inner city seats.

At least 77 seats are likely to be called for Labor and 54 for the Liberal-National Coalition.

The Greens are looking at clinching four seats, in what leader Adam Bandt has labelled a “Greens-slide”.

Six new “teal independents” are set to make up the new crossbench which is currently at 16 MPs.

Among Labor’s key victories were Higgins in Melbourne – which the Liberal Party has held since 1949 – former indigenous affairs minister Ken Wyatt’s seat of Hasluck, former attorney general Christian Porter’s seat of Pearce – both in Western Australia - and Boothby in Adelaide.

In New South Wales, Labor is narrowly ahead in John Howard's old seat of Bennelong, but had lost ground in Gilmore where former state transport minister Andrew Constance is ahead by less than 500 votes.

https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/politics/watch-live-anthony-albanese-sworn-in-as-australias-31st-prime-minister-in-canberra/news-story/cd751190142d42580ad141f77b123001

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/16325727 (230734ZMAY22) Notable: Peter Dutton ‘will be leader’ amid pending stoush on Liberal direction, says Alan Tudge

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>>122772

Dutton ‘will be leader’ amid pending stoush on Liberal direction, says Alan Tudge

GREG BROWN, MAX MADDISON and PAUL GARVEY - MAY 23, 2022

Liberal MP Alan Tudge says Peter Dutton “will be leader” of the new opposition amid a push from conservative MPs to focus on winning outer suburban seats from Labor at the next election.

Mr Tudge said Mr Dutton would be an “incredibly effective” opposition leader and backed a woman to become deputy Liberal leader.

“There are people like Sussan Ley, Jane Hume, Michaelia Cash who are all very capable people able to assume that role,” Mr Tudge said.

Liberal sources confirmed Mr Dutton had the numbers to become leader, with a party room ballot to be held by mid next month.

Bass MP Bridget Archer said she would consider running for deputy leader if she believed the party planned on going further to the right.

“I’ve seen some early commentary around that the party should move further to the right and I will certainly work hard to prevent that from occurring,” she told the ABC.

Ms Ley also left the door open to running as deputy, saying the party needed to do more on both women and climate change.

“I heard the message about women, I heard the message of climate,” she told Sky News on Monday morning.

“We needed to do better on both of those positions.”

Liberal MPs say it is possible for the deputy leader to be in the Senate, noting former senator Fred Chaney was deputy to former leader John Hewson.

There is a widespread view among Liberal MPs that the party has an image problem with women that needs to be rectified.

With Mr Dutton unpopular in Sydney and Melbourne seats that were won by teal independents, Liberal MPs have told The Australian the pathway to victory at the next election was by winning seats from Labor in the outer suburbs.

“There is too much of an obsession with the teal seats,” one MP said.

Conservative Liberal MPs say winning the outer Melbourne seat of McEwen at the next election would be easier than winning inner city Kooyong, in a strategy that would confirm the realignment of the political system.

Moderate MPs would likely be resistant to any push to abandon the affluent heartland seats in the capital cities, with the debate to set the philosophical direction for the Liberals.

Sources said there would likely be a party room meeting in Canberra in the first or second week of June.

With Labor state premiers helping Anthony Albanese’s election campaign, West Australian Premier Mark McGowan was early off the blocks in slamming Mr Dutton.

“He’s an extremist. I don’t think he represents modern Australia at all, he doesn’t seem to listen, he’s extremely conservative, and I actually don’t think he’s that smart,” Mr McGowan said.

“I’ve seen him present on things, I don’t really pick up there’s much there. As opposed to Morrison, Morrison was a clever guy. I don’t think Peter Dutton is fit to be Prime Minister.”

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/dutton-will-be-leader-amid-pending-stoush-on-liberal-direction/news-story/5870fd1126934b85d46d61bfe0e439f7

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/16325738 (230740ZMAY22) Notable: West Australian Premier Mark McGowan labels Peter Dutton an ‘extremist’ and not ‘that smart’

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>>122781

West Australian Premier Mark McGowan labels Peter Dutton an ‘extremist’ and not ‘that smart’

ANGIE RAPHAEL - MAY 23, 2022

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West Australian Premier Mark McGowan has labelled Peter Dutton an “extremist” and not “that smart”, saying he is unfit for the Liberal Party leadership.

During the same press conference, Mr McGowan also launched a blistering attack on Clive Palmer supporters, whom he dubbed “misfits and losers”, and the national press gallery for “bullying” new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Asked about Mr Dutton potentially becoming the new leader of the Liberal Party, Mr McGowan said he was not fit to be the Prime Minister someday.

“He’s an extremist and I don’t think he fits with modern Australia at all,” the Premier told reporters on Monday.

“I’ve seen him present on things. I don’t really pick up there’s much there, as opposed to Scott Morrison.”

Mr McGowan said it was important for the new Labor government to improve Australia’s relationship with China.

“These things are difficult but it is an opportunity to get back onto a surer footing with our major trading partner,” he said.

“We, as a state, export half of the nation’s exports and the vast majority of that goes to China because it’s the biggest market.

“Iron ore, gas, lots of other mineral products, lots of agricultural products go to China.

“So having a good relationship with your biggest customer is kind of important.”

Security was the other major factor in having a diplomatic relationship with China, he added.

“The biggest power in our region is China,” he said.

“Our strongest ally is and will remain the United States, but that doesn’t mean you have a hostile relationship with China.

“What we saw over the federal election campaign was the Liberal Party tried to weaponise these things for political purposes … that’s what used to happen back in the Cold War.

“I just urge a reset on the relationship.”

Mr Albanese told reporters on Monday that Australia’s relationship with China would remain “difficult”.

“It is China that has changed – not Australia,” he said.

“What we should do is put Australia’s national interest first and not attempt to play politics with national security issues.”

Mr McGowan said he believed a major factor for WA voters in the election was the Liberal Party’s opposition to the hard border, which kept the state safe during the height of the pandemic.

He said the Liberals essentially supported Mr Palmer’s fight to bring down the border for about two months before backing down.

The Premier recalled he even received a phone call from Mr Morrison telling him the state would lose the court battle and should give up.

“Hopefully, they’ve learned a lesson that Clive Palmer is a bit like kryptonite – you don’t want to touch him because inevitably with these things, particularly political things, it goes bad,” Mr McGowan said.

“It was a terrible look and actually, not just a terrible look. It was just the wrong decision.”

(continued)

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/16325759 (230801ZMAY22) Notable: West Australian Labor Premier Mark McGowan launches post-election spray, attacking Peter Dutton, Liberals, Clive Palmer and press

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>>122782

McGowan launches post-election spray, attacking Peter Dutton, Liberals, Clive Palmer and press

Hamish Hastie - May 23, 2022

Western Australian Labor Premier Mark McGowan has questioned the intelligence of former defence minister Peter Dutton and launched an attack on the Liberals, Clive Palmer and the national press gallery after his party’s strong election result on Saturday.

McGowan said he hoped the Albanese government would get Australia’s relationship with China on a surer footing given how heavily WA relies on the superpower for trade.

Throughout the campaign, Dutton, who is in line to be the next leader of the Liberal party, warned Australia needed to prepare for war in the face of a more aggressive China.

On Monday McGowan suggested it was “absolutely crazy” to talk about conflict with a country of 1.4 billion people with nuclear weapons and accused Dutton of weaponising the China relationship for his own political gain.

He labelled Dutton an extremist and insulted his intelligence.

“He’s an extremist and I don’t think he fits with modern Australia at all, and he doesn’t seem to listen, he’s extremely conservative,” he claimed.

“I actually don’t think he’s that smart, I’ve seen him present on things I don’t really pick up there’s much there as opposed to Scott Morrison who is a clever guy.

“I don’t pick up that Peter Dutton is fit to be Prime Minister.”

When campaigning in WA earlier this month Dutton said the rhetoric around China was simply his government being honest with Australians and McGowan’s personal attacks said more about McGowan than him.

McGowan said the Liberal’s party poor result at Saturday’s election showed they were no longer appealing to mainstream Australia.

“They’re out on the fringe, they’re more inclined to pursue their own hobbyhorses rather than listen to what the public wants and I think that reflects in the voting,” he said.

WA Liberal senator Michaelia Cash defended Dutton and said McGowan should focus on fixing the state’s own health crisis and ensuring the Albanese government didn’t reintroduce a mining tax.

“The arrogance and hubris of McGowan knows no bounds. If he is saying someone who is strong on defence and strong on border security is an extremist, then quite frankly, I strongly disagree and I think most Australians would too,” she said.

“Mark McGowan should be smart enough to work out what’s going on in the world and that this country needs to maintain a strong defence force and strong borders.”

McGowan refused to take any credit for Labor’s 7.6 per cent increase in its primary vote in the state despite recognition from his federal Labor colleagues and Cash that there was a McGowan factor at play that helped turn WA red.

McGowan lead his party to victory with a record 53 of 59 seats lower house seats at the 2021 state election and remains a hugely popular premier.

“I think the most important thing was Anthony Albanese, the federal team and the work they did to provide a positive alternative for the federal government,” he said.

On Sunday Cash said voters at polling booths were telling her they were going to “vote for Mark McGowan” while Labor’s newly elected candidate for Swan Zaneta Mascarenhas said the state Labor government had shown the WA public what a good Labor government could do.

The coalition cabinet had included four WA members and the premier said WA Labor MPs should have a stronger showing in Albanese’s cabinet.

Shadow resources and trade minister Madeleine King is expected to be a shoo-in for cabinet while Burt MP and shadow defence industries minister Matt Keogh is also a good chance.

UAP ‘misfits’ and press gallery ‘bullies’

McGowan blasted volunteers for Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party who heckled him at a polling booth on Saturday.

“I’m pleased that West Australians and Australians more generally didn’t elect any Palmer people,” he said.

“That’s a good thing for the country, I saw their actions on the polling booths, I saw how the Palmer people behave.”

He said that in his view they were “misfits and losers and they scream and yell at voters, they shove things in people’s faces, they’re offensive and rude people and I’m glad that Australia hasn’t supported them.”

McGowan saved his final spray for Canberra press gallery journalists who travelled to WA during the campaign.

“The press conferences I went to [with Anthony], they were screaming and interrupting and rude and insulting, intimidating and bullying,” he said.

“Sort of stuff that in the workplace, you get sacked for. They need to reflect on their behaviour, I’ve never seen anything like it.”

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/mcgowan-launches-post-election-spray-attacking-peter-dutton-liberals-clive-palmer-and-press-20220523-p5anqo.html

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/16325822 (230935ZMAY22) Notable: Vatican airs dirty laundry in trial over London property - Testimony so far has provided plenty of insights into how the Vatican operates, with a cast of characters worthy of a Dan Brown thriller or a Shakespearean tragicomedy

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>>122441

>>122681

Vatican airs dirty laundry in trial over London property

Nicole Winfield - May 23, 2022

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Vatican City: The Vatican’s sprawling financial trial may not have produced any convictions yet or any new smoking guns as prosecutors work through a first round of questioning of the 10 suspects accused of fleecing the Holy See of tens of millions of euros.

But testimony so far has provided plenty of insights into how the Vatican operates, with a cast of characters worthy of a Dan Brown thriller or a Shakespearean tragicomedy.

Recent hearings showed a church bureaucracy that used espionage, allowed outsiders with unverified qualifications to gain access to the Apostolic Palace and relied on a pervasive mantra of sparing the pope responsibility — until someone’s neck was on the line.

Here are some revelations so far in this unusual airing of the Vatican’s dirty laundry:

What’s the trial about?

The investigation was borne of the secretariat of state’s €350 million ($520 million) investment in a London property, which was such a debacle that the Vatican sold the building this year at a cumulative loss of more than €200 million.

Prosecutors have accused Italian brokers, the Vatican’s longtime money manager and Vatican officials of swindling the Holy See out of tens of millions in fees and commissions and of extorting it of €15 million to finally get control of the London building.

Pope Francis wanted a trial to show his willingness to crack down on alleged financial impropriety. Three years on, though, the investigation has cast an unwelcome spotlight on some of Francis’ own decisions and how Vatican monsignors managed a €600 million asset portfolio with little external oversight or expertise.

What about the tangents?

The original investigation has spawned tangents, including one in which a once-powerful cardinal, Angelo Becciu, is accused of embezzlement for having donated 1€25,000 in Vatican money to a Sardinian charity run by his brother.

Linked to him is another codefendant, Cecilia Marogna, a security analyst who is accused of embezzling €575,000 that Becciu had intended as payment to liberate a Colombian nun held hostage by al-Qaida militants. They both deny wrongdoing, as do the other defendants.

Becciu famously clashed with Australian Cardinal George Pell when in 2014 Pope Francis appointed the former Archbishop of Sydney to head the newly-created Secretariat for the Economy and told him to clean up the Vatican’s murky finances.

Becciu forced out Pell’s auditors and had the upper hand in the power struggle after Pell returned to Australia to face charges. But after Pell was acquitted at a High Court appeal, he returned to Rome in September 2020. Pell has not been dragged into the current legal furore.

Spies, spies everywhere

Marogna’s story, detailed for the first time last week, is a remarkable tale which, if corroborated, would be a chapter of its own in the storied history of Vatican diplomacy.

She and Becciu say she gained entry in the Apostolic Palace on the basis of an email she wrote Becciu in 2015 about security concerns. Based on her grasp of geopolitics and apparent connections to Italian intelligence, she became an adviser to Becciu, then the Number 2 in the secretariat of state.

According to her statement, Marogna became a conduit to Becciu for everything from Russian emissaries seeking the return of holy relics to efforts by Catalonia’s separatist leader to establish a channel of communication with the Vatican.

Becciu testified that he turned to Marogna in 2017 after a Colombian nun was kidnapped in Mali, and Marogna suggested that a British intelligence firm could help liberate her. Becciu testified that Francis approved spending up to €1 million for the operation and insisted that it be kept secret even from the Vatican’s own intelligence chief.

The tale suggests Becciu, with the pope’s approval, created a parallel Vatican intelligence operation using an Italian freelancer.

In previous testimony, a Vatican official told prosecutors that Becciu’s replacement, Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, had brought members of the Italian secret service into the Holy See to sweep his office for bugs, again bypassing the Vatican’s own gendarmes.

(continued)

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/16325827 (230940ZMAY22) Notable: Afghan soldier absent on day of alleged killing, says Ben Roberts-Smith witness

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>>122465

Afghan soldier absent on day of alleged killing, says Ben Roberts-Smith witness

Michaela Whitbourn - May 23, 2022

An Afghan soldier who was allegedly directed by Ben Roberts-Smith to order the unlawful execution of a prisoner was not present on the day in question, according to a former elite soldier supporting the war veteran in his defamation case.

Person 39, a former Special Air Service soldier whose identity cannot be revealed for national security reasons, gave evidence in the Federal Court on Monday about his service alongside Roberts-Smith in Afghanistan in 2012.

He was asked about a key detail relating to a mission in October that year, during which The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Canberra Times have alleged Roberts-Smith directed an Afghan soldier working with the SAS, dubbed Person 12, to shoot a prisoner or order one of his subordinates to do it.

Under the rules of engagement, prisoners could not be killed.

Person 39, a former British Special Boat Service soldier, described himself as Roberts-Smith’s senior on that deployment, adding that “I still view myself more as a mentor kind of older person”.

He said he was informed at a briefing in 2012 that Person 12 had been stood down from working with the SAS in late July, meaning that the Afghan soldier could not have been present with Roberts-Smith in October. Person 39 agreed he had neither met nor worked with Person 12.

Roberts-Smith is suing the newspapers for defamation over a series of articles in 2018 that he says accuse him of war crimes including the unlawful killing of Afghan prisoners. He maintains any killings were carried out lawfully in the heat of battle.

The newspapers are seeking to rely on a defence of truth and allege Roberts-Smith was involved in six unlawful killings, including by directing Person 12 to shoot a prisoner or to order one of his subordinates to do it. Roberts-Smith has denied the alleged incident took place and has said Person 12 was not there on the day in question.

The presence or otherwise of Person 12 on the mission in October 2012 has been a much-debated issue in the defamation trial. Roberts-Smith conceded in court last year that, based on material produced by the Defence Department, the explanation in his written outline of evidence that Person 12 had been stood down was wrong. However, he maintains the Afghan soldier was not there.

Some of Roberts-Smith’s witnesses have maintained Person 12 had been stood down for shooting at a dog and inadvertently injuring an SAS soldier, while others have said they were mistaken about this account. Roberts-Smith’s witnesses have denied colluding over this evidence.

A serving SAS soldier dubbed Person 14, called to give evidence by the newspapers in February, told the court he witnessed Roberts-Smith tell an interpreter during the October 2012 mission to direct Person 12 to shoot a prisoner, “or I will”. That direction was ultimately relayed and a member of the partner force shot the Afghan man dead, he said.

The trial continues.

https://www.smh.com.au/national/afghan-soldier-absent-on-day-of-alleged-killing-says-ben-roberts-smith-witness-20220523-p5anoh.html

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/16325838 (230958ZMAY22) Notable: Southern Jackaroo 2022: The Australian Army, United States Marine Corps (USMC) and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) are removing the barriers to success in combat during Exercise Southern Jackaroo 2022 at Shoalwater Bay training area near Rockhampton

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>>122483

>>122703

Jackaroo removes fences to improve interoperability

Major Jesse Robilliard - 23 May 2022

The Australian Army, United States Marine Corps (USMC) and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) are removing the barriers to success in combat during Exercise Southern Jackaroo 2022 at Shoalwater Bay training area near Rockhampton.

Running until May 29, Exercise Southern Jackaroo is a trilateral training activity designed to enhance warfighting interoperability, strengthen international relationships and improve combat readiness.

USMC officer Lieutenant Daniel Chiavacci has been conducting urban clearances under the supervision of Australian Army instructors.

“For the first day, we were able to get our hands on the Australian EF88 rifle and use non-lethal bullets to conduct an urban clearance,” Lieutenant Chiavacci said.

“On day two, we’re doing a combat marksmanship package with Australian instructors – some of the basic shooting skills we need to know, every single day.”

“Southern Jackaroo has been a really good experience.

“The way they have broken us up into the different combat teams to be integrated with the partner nations has been a really valuable experience.”

Corporal Sam Jamieson, from the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (6 RAR), has taken JGSDF, ADF and UMSC soldiers through instinctive combat shooting training.

“The Japanese guys have a great attitude towards combative behaviours. They are really keen to learn and, with the marines, we have seen the same positive attitude and the same willingness to learn and get out here training with us,” Corporal Jamieson said.

“Southern Jackaroo has been a really good exercise so far in terms of our ability to work in the combative space and we look forward to doing more of that during the rest of the exercise.”

6 RAR sniper Private Matthew Godden was part of a trilateral sniper patrol during Southern Jackaroo.

“We have three Japanese snipers, a Japanese interpreter, a USMC sniper and myself,” Private Godden said.

“It’s interesting seeing all the different ways that they can operate as snipers but, in the grand scheme of things, sniping around the world is pretty much the same.”

The Australian Army, USMC and JGSDF have utilised multiple translators to overcome the language barrier.

Private Godden said the language barrier didn’t stop him and one of his Japanese sniper colleagues tackling a live-fire range as a pair.

“Doing the live-fire serial with my Japanese colleague, he remembers the English catch words, I remember the Japanese catch words, and the basic structure of it worked quite well.”

More photographs can be viewed on the Defence image gallery.

https://images.defence.gov.au/assets/S20221584

https://news.defence.gov.au/international/jackaroo-removes-fences-improve-interoperability

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/16329018 (232209ZMAY22) Notable: Studio 10’s Erin Jayne Plummer dies at 42 - Details about her cause of death have yet to come to light, MISSING MEDIA/FILES: ClipboardImage.png

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Vax strikes again ?!

https://www.msn.com/en-au/entertainment/other/studio-ten-s-erin-jayne-plummer-has-died-suddenly-aged-42/ar-AAXAJLk?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=10a1901ffece4ad3a5919a6f27805e88