/qresearch/ - Q Research

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THREAD ARCHIVES

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CURRENT DOUGH

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QAnon: where does the conspiracy go to from here?

PHILLIP ADAMS - MARCH 6, 2021

Not to be confused with Q&A, the relatively harmless chat show on Oz politics compered by my relatively harmless ABC colleague Hamish Macdonald, QAnon is the source of much dangerous conspiracy theorising and played a pivotal role in the storming of the US Capitol.

Believing the world is being run by a cabal of Satan-worshipping, cannibalistic paedophiles from whom only Donald Trump can save us, many QAnoners were disappointed when one of the cult’s more apocalyptic prophesies, “the Storm” that would bring down the cabal and all of Trump’s enemies in one cataclysmic coup, failed to eventuate on that hectic day. They are now looking for a new direction. Which this column, on this very day, will provide.

This is not the first time I have come to the aid of raving ratbags. You already know about my creation DENSA, an alternative to MENSA with membership only open to those monumentally stupid above and beyond the call of duty. Now, to help with those unsatisfied with QAnon, I unveil XRay, the cult that will see right through all official obfuscation and fake news to descend even deeper into delusion than QAnon. XRay shall, to use popular jargon, both weaponise and monetise madness. I’m applying to have it registered alongside Hillsong and Scientology as a religion, which will make it both tax-free and a good little earner. And whereas Scientology uses a variation of the lie detector – known as the E-meter – to “audit” its recruits, we shall use the army surplus X-ray machines I bought on eBay.

Here is a random sample of the nutty ideas available in return for a tithe of your income. Bigger contributions get even better revelations:

1. Trump may have been robbed of his second term but he remains the Second Coming.

2. Not only did the Moon landing not occur, but the Moon itself is a hoax.

3. 9/11 was also a hoax and was carried out by the Lizard People.

4. John F. Kennedy is alive and well and living in witness protection with Elvis.

5. 5G technology causes, among other ills, dandruff and erectile dysfunction.

6. The coronavirus, created by George Soros and Bill Gates, fills your brain with nano-engineered drones.

7. Climate change is manufactured in a laboratory in Wuhan to destroy the Western economy.

8. I’d think up more conspiracy theories about hydroxychlorowhatsit but can’t spell it.

9. Australia’s bushfires were caused by a Jewish laser-beam.

As you can see I’m running out of ideas – I pinched the last one from QAnon and DENSA member Marjorie Taylor Greene, the Republican congresswoman from Georgia.

OK, I admit it. I need help. Tell you what, you help with the nutty ideas and I’ll pay you in Qantas FFPs (got a heap I can’t spend). And don’t be afraid to be OTT. The OTTer the better – the more certain to attract ardent followers. QAnon is not alone in demonstrating that. Think Shirley MacLaine and all her past lives. Flying saucers. Fairies. The Bermuda Triangle. Terra Nullius. Aliens building the Pyramids. Trump’s Birther Movement.

I suggest you limber up your synapses and loosen your neurons by taking mescalin and LSD, reading Alice in Wonderland, listening to old Goon Show episodes, watching vintage Monty Python. Or subscribe to Pete Evans’ podcasts and follow George Christensen on Facebook. Or all of the above. It works for me.

PS. An Australian QAnoner claims a strong influence on Prime Minister Scott Morrison. How OTT is that!

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/life/qanon-where-do-they-go-from-here/news-story/898f360bb18995e76b596b8d8bcc3745

Phillip Adams is a prolific and sometimes controversial broadcaster, writer and film-maker. As presenter of Late Night Live, he has interviewed thousands of the world's most influential figures.

https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/latenightlive/

Manila calls on Myanmar junta to release Aussie Sean Turnell

AMANDA HODGE - MARCH 5, 2021

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The Philippines Foreign Minister has called on the Myanmar junta to release Australian economics professor Sean Turnell, as Indonesia urged its citizens to leave the strife-torn country and the US unveiled new measures aimed at blocking trade by the military and its conglomerates.

Foreign Minister Teddy Locsin made the plea in a tweet on Friday, in which he also urged the junta to release all foreign journalists ­detained since the February 1 coup that overturned the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

“I made the declaration against the detention of foreign nationals in state to state relations to gain moral authority to plead for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi’s Australian economic adviser,” Mr Locsin wrote, referring to the non-binding declaration signed last month by 56 countries, including Australia, aimed at protecting citizens abroad.

Professor Turnell, a long-time senior economics adviser to Ms Suu Kyi, has been detained since January 6 in Yangon and only this week was able to talk to his Sydney-based wife Ha Vu.

Family friend Tim Harcourt told The Weekend Australian that Professor Turnell had “made good friends with his captors” and had been reading, writing and meditating while in detention.

“He has of course been writing and reviewing economic articles from wherever he is. He has also been writing poetry to Ha and he has been meditating,” Mr Harcourt said. “He has been telling Ha; ‘I’m just reading what I can. If someone wants to send me books that would be great’.”

At least 54 civilians have been killed in an escalating crackdown on protests by Myanmar security forces. More than 1700 people — including 29 journalists — have also been detained as the junta tries to end the mass civil disobedience movement that has ground the administration to a halt. Still, thousands of civilians have continued to protest daily despite the violence, and the hundreds of online death threats posted by soldiers and police on the video sharing service TikTok, some of which have since been removed by the app’s administrator.

One video, cited by Reuters, shows a man in army fatigues aiming a gun at the camera and telling protesters, “I will shoot in your f..king faces … and I’m using real bullets”.

“I am going to patrol the whole city tonight and I will shoot whoever I see … If you want to become a martyr, I will fulfil your wish.”

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The rising death toll prompted Indonesia to issue a rare warning to its citizens in Myanmar on Friday to stay home and avoid travel, and to “consider returning to ­Indonesia” on an available commercial flight. Indonesia has been ASEAN’s most strident critic of the coup and has pushed for the regional bloc to help resolve the crisis that has already prompted the US, Britain, EU, Canada and New Zealand to impose targeted sanctions on the Myanmar military.

Ahead of a UN Security Council meeting on Friday, in which the US is expected to push for tougher measures against the junta, the US Commerce Department added Myanmar’s ministries of defence and home affairs, and two military conglomerates — Myanmar Economic Corporation and Myanmar Economic Holdings — to its trade blacklist.

The EU suspended support for development projects to avoid providing financial assistance to the military, worth up to $360m.

Myanmar’s generals have so far shrugged off the fresh sanctions, with the army’s vice-chief, Soe Win, telling a UN official this week that they had faced them ­before and survived.

But the junta lost a symbolic battle for legitimacy on Friday when its newly appointed UN envoy resigned in a statement that acknowledged the rightful role of his predecessor Kyaw Moe Tun, who was sacked last weekend for urging the general assembly to “use any means necessary” to ­reverse the coup.

The Security Council is under pressure to impose an arms embargo on the Myanmar junta.

A new Security Advisory Council on Myanmar — set up by two former UN investigators and a former UN special rapporteur on Myanmar — has also urged it to send a high-level delegation to the Southeast Asian country.

“There is an urgent need to get a very senior UN official on the ground in Myanmar,” Chris Sidoti, a council member and co-author of a UN report recommending senior Myanmar generals face genocide charges over the ­Rohingya crackdown, told The Weekend Australian.

“If that request comes from the UN Security Council itself, which decides to send its own delegation to Myanmar, it would be very difficult for the junta to say no to them.”

Mr Sidoti said the coup had ­exposed the Myanmar military for what it really was: “Not a national army committed to the protection of the people of Myanmar but a dictatorial force committed to exploitation and repression,” he said.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/world/manila-calls-on-myanmar-junta-to-release-aussie-sean-turnell/news-story/33b6872d92517b13156fc33b0336457f

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Philippines Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teddy Locsin Jr. Tweet

I signed the declaration against the detention of foreign nationals in state to state relations to gain moral authority to plead for the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s Australian economic adviser. I make that plea also for all detained foreign journalists in all humbleness.

https://twitter.com/teddyboylocsin/status/1367694410520031234

YouTube: Donald Trump can return when risk of violence abates

AFP - MARCH 5, 2021

Former US president Donald Trump will be allowed back on YouTube but only when the threat of his inciting violence abates, the head of the popular online video sharing platform said on Friday.

YouTube suspended Mr Trump’s channel in late January, joining other social media platforms in banning his accounts following the deadly January 6 Capitol riot.

“We will lift the suspension of the Donald Trump channel when we determine that the risk of violence has decreased,” YouTube chief Susan Wojcicki said during a streamed Atlantic Council think tank interview.

“Given just the warnings by the Capitol Police yesterday about a potential attack today, I think it is pretty clear that that ­elevated violence risk still remains.”

Ms Wojcicki said that when the Trump channel is reinstated, it will remain subject to the same “three strike” system as everyone else at YouTube.

Uploading videos that break YouTube rules such as those against inciting violence or falsely attacking election integrity would earn the channel more strikes and suspensions. Channels that get three strikes within 90-days are removed from YouTube. “This was the first strike,” Ms Wojcicki said of the Trump channel.

The Google-owned firm has faced criticism over its slow ­response following the violence in Washington, as well as the proliferation of conspiracy theories on the platform.

Mr Trump has been banned from other online platforms including Twitter and Facebook.

An independent board created by Facebook is reviewing the decision by the leading social network.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/world/youtube-trump-can-return-when-risk-of-violence-abates/news-story/8dd56c5c6857814086fd3fd4d36cb63b

‘It’s our turn’: Inside the Christian Right conference plotting a political takeover

Michael Koziol - March 7, 2021

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Craig Kelly was lauded as a hero, a federal MP likened his colleagues to nappies and people joked about needing a World War to distract from gender identity debates.

But the main lesson from the “Church and State” conference last weekend in Brisbane was how conservative Christian activists are attempting to grow their numbers and influence within the Coalition, and believe opposition to transgender rights will be key to their political success.

Several prominent Christian Right figures spoke of the need to be more explicit in their political activism, especially in the Liberals and Nationals, in the face of what they called an “existential” threat to the practise of Christianity.

Liberal National MP George Christensen said it was “simple maths” that getting more Christians into the Coalition would change its centre of gravity. “Politics is all about numbers,” he said. “The more people that you have in that broad church that are from the conservative Christian wing the more it’s going to lean in that direction.”

Conference convener Dave Pellowe, who once appeared in an infamous selfie with members of the neo-fascist Proud Boys group, implored the audience to join political parties. “When you add a bag of salt to a cup of water, it’s going to taste salty. It’s just a numbers game,” he said. “It’s not branch stacking, it’s participation. It’s what they’ve been doing with the Frankfurt School and the infiltration of the institutions for 50 years. It’s just turning up. And it’s our turn to turn up.”

Mr Christensen also advocated Christians take a “smarter” approach to debate by self-censoring some of their agenda until they were in power. “We have got to pick the battles that we can win on in the public arena in order to get elected and be in government, and then prosecute the other battles while you’re in government,” he said.

The Dawson MP said politics was driven by volunteers and donations, and so people should be clear when donating to a politician that they expect the MP to “hold true” to their Christian values.

“There’s a transactional tension that keeps people honest,” he said. “Politicians are like nappies - they need changing every so often and for the same reason. So when the politician reaches that reason threshold, you might want to suggest to them their welcome has run out, you’re no longer going to donate, you’re no longer going to volunteer.”

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Martyn Iles, the head of the Australian Christian Lobby, referenced his organisation’s campaign against Victoria’s recent ban on “conversion” therapy - or practices that attempt to change or suppress someone’s sexuality or gender identity - which he said yielded 13,000 calls to MPs.

“All of a sudden I’m actually seeing people rising up more and more and more,” he said. “Give this a couple of years and we’ll be able to put such a shockwave through any Parliament in the country they won’t even know what hit them. And we’re almost at that point.”

Mr Iles called upon Christians to be more politically visible, claiming this had worked for LGBTQI activists.

“[If] you meet someone from that movement, you know very quickly,” he said. “You also find them in hospitality, the arts and entertainment, in public facing positions where they’re visible all the time … retail, clothing shops and this kind of thing. They’re very, very muscular in saying ‘we’re proud of who we are and you my employer need to affirm my pride’.”

Mr Iles said Christians tended to “hide in plain sight”. “The more we are seen for who we really are, the more powerful our influence is actually going to be,” he said.

The ACL director also spoke at length about what he called “the transgender thing”, describing it as the weakest part of the LGBTQI rights movement because it was “where the lie is most fragile”.

In prepared remarks, he said governments had “given up [their] God-given duty” to “punish those who do evil and reward those who do good”, and implied that behaviour viewed by the church as sinful should be outlawed.

“[Governments should] say ‘that’s wrong, it’s out’, and ‘that’s right, it’s in’,” Mr Iles said. “What’s happening is the opposite. What they’re saying is, ‘that’s wrong, it’s in, that’s right, it’s out’.”

In a later panel discussion, Mr Iles joked that his father often said “we need a good war” to sort this out and “there’s a little bit of truth in that”, because society would not be so concerned about climate change or gender identity if we were at war with China.

Mr Pellowe then interjected: “We’re not advocating violence or revolution … today.” Mr Iles added: “Not yet, that’s down the line.”

In another conference session, Cardinal George Pell urged the audience “not to co-operate” with attempts to change “Christian language patterns” about gender, motherhood and fatherhood.

“Politely, stubbornly, persistently refuse to be silenced and refuse to give ground,” he instructed.

The Australian Christian Lobby did not respond to requests for further comment. Mr Pellowe said he had “nothing to add” and suggested buying the conference videos when available later this month.

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/it-s-our-turn-inside-the-christian-right-conference-plotting-a-political-takeover-20210303-p577fv.html

Pentagon may keep National Guard at Capitol

JESSICA MALCOLM - MARCH 6, 2021

The US government is considering extending the stay of National Guard troops brought in to beef up security at the US Capitol after the assault by Donald Trump supporters.

Officials told reporters that the time frame in question was “the next couple of months” but did not confirm what kind of threat the period might correspond to.

“We are in receipt of a formal request from the Capitol Police for continued National Guard assistance at the Capitol complex,” Defence Department spokesman John Kirby said.

Acting Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman last month reported threats from extremist groups to try to keep President Joe Biden from delivering his State of the Union speech.

The Capitol has been under tight security since January 6, when an angry mob of Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol, following a speech by the then president who urged them to stop politicians from certifying Biden’s election win.

More than 270 people are now being prosecuted for their participation in the attack.

Several hundred of them stormed the building, causing chaos and bloodshed.

Five people, including a Capitol policeman, died.

Since then, barriers have been erected to protect the area surrounding the Capitol and some 5000 National Guard soldiers remain mobilised in support of the police, but their mission is due to end on March 12.

Asked about the seriousness of the threat against the Capitol, while rumours of potential trouble last Thursday did not materialise, the spokesman for the Capitol stressed that “things have changed since January 6,” Kirby said.

While the House of Representatives opted to cancel its session on Thursday, the Senate carried on with business as usual, as troops kept watch along the razor-wire perimeter fence encircling the grounds.

Officials had warned that just two months after a deadly storming of the Capitol by Trump supporters, militia groups and QAnon followers had discussed a fresh attack on the legislature on or about March 4.

Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin “believes that our politicians absolutely deserve a safe and secure environment in which to work. And so we have to look at the capabilities there, on the Capitol complex, and ask ourselves if there are capabilities we can add that the Capitol Police don’t have right now,” Kirby said.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/world/pentagon-may-keep-national-guard-at-capitol/news-story/fe38710ad991b5f18c7fb8cd98ac1f13

Defence Minister Linda Reynolds delays her return to work, raising questions about her future

James Massola - March 7, 2021

Defence Minister Linda Reynolds has delayed her return to work following medical advice from her doctors in a move that will raise fresh questions about her political future.

Senator Reynolds was admitted to hospital on February 24 because of a pre-existing heart problem.

The hospital admission came after her former staffer, Brittany Higgins, went public with allegations that she was raped by a former colleague in the minister’s office in March 2019. In the lead-up to her taking medical leave, Senator Reynolds became visibly distressed in question time while under pressure from Labor over her handling of the matter.

There is growing speculation in some quarters of the Morrison government about whether Senator Reynolds — who was initially due back at work on March 8 — will ever return to her post, though her friends and allies in the government insist she will return.

Ms Higgins’ allegations sparked a national conversation about the workplace culture in Parliament House and the treatment of women in federal politics, and triggered three separate reviews.

The Defence Minister has faced growing questions over her handling of the matter, especially after The Australian revealed last week that she had described Ms Higgins as a “lying cow” in remarks to staff in her office when the allegations became public.

Senator Reynolds has since apologised to Ms Higgins for the comment and indicated her off-colour remark was not in relation to the rape allegation but to reports in the media.

A source close to the Defence Minister said the medical certificate extending Senator Reynolds’ medical leave of absence was issued before the “lying cow” comment was made public.

That source, who asked not to be named so that they could provide additional context about her condition, said the minister had been given new medication by her cardiologist, who wanted to delay her return to politics in order to judge the efficacy of the new treatment.

“[The decision] is being taken on a week-by-week basis,” the source said. “She wants to be back as soon as she can be.”

Senator Reynolds’ spokeswoman confirmed the delayed return to work in a short statement.

“Defence Minister Linda Reynolds continues to take sick leave which is being regularly assessed in consultation with her cardiologist,,” she said. “The Prime Minister is being kept updated.”

The Sun-Herald and The Sunday Age spoke to six members of the Morrison ministry to better understand Senator Reynolds’ situation and the potential for her to resume her senior position.

Though a decision has not been taken on when or if Senator Reynolds will return to duty, those ministers suggested that a return was unlikely to be in the next three weeks.

That is because Senator Reynolds would face another week of being grilled in question time in the week beginning March 15 and then, in the following week, she would face more detailed and sustained questions during Senate estimates hearings about her knowledge of Ms Higgins’ allegations.

One minister — who asked not to be named so they could discuss the situation — said Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s disposition was to always stand by, rather than move on, ministers in political trouble, as also evidenced by his support for Attorney-General Christian Porter.

Mr Porter has also faced calls to step down from some political opponents after he last week came forward to deny a historical rape allegation. He has since taken two weeks’ leave.

“The PM really doesn’t like moving people on, he values continuity, especially in a big portfolio like defence,” the minister said.

A second minister, who also asked not to be named, said Senator Reynolds had “shot herself in the foot” with the “lying cow” comment about Ms Higgins but “the ball is in her court” on whether to stay or quit the frontbench.

A third minister said Senator Reynolds had done an excellent job in a huge portfolio that included managing issues such as Australia’s $80 billion build of 12 submarines, and the Brereton report into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan.

If Senator Reynolds were to quit her ministry or even Parliament, cabinet ministers Peter Dutton and Stuart Robert would likely be among the frontrunners for the defence portfolio.

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/federal/reynolds-delays-her-return-to-work-raising-questions-about-her-future-20210304-p577yu.html

Officer Brigadier Ian Langford to keep Afghan medal

BEN PACKHAM - MARCH 6, 2021

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Defence has prevented one of its senior officers from handing back a distinguished leadership medal earned as a commander in ­Afghanistan during a period when Australian troops allegedly committed up to 16 war crimes.

Brigadier Ian Langford told superiors soon after the Brereton war crimes report was released that he wanted to hand back his Distinguished Service Cross, but was stopped from doing so ­because there was no formal process to deal with the request.

More than three months later, Defence’s response to the inquiry has stalled, shielding senior leaders — even those who want to speak out — from accountability for alleged war crimes on their watch.

An analysis by The Weekend Australian reveals 83 per cent of the war crimes allegations identified as “credible” by judge Paul Brereton occurred under the command of two senior officers — Brigadier Langford and Lieutenant Colonel Jon “Irish” Hawkins.

Brigadier Langford, one of the army’s most decorated senior officers and a potential future chief of army, was task group commander in Afghanistan from July 2012 to February 2013.

That rotation, which included the Special Air Service’s now-disbanded 2 Squadron and Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith, was marred by 16 credible allegations of war crimes — the highest of any of Australia’s 20 troop rotations in the Afghanistan war. There were nine credible allegations of war crimes during the January-July 2012 ­rotation, commanded by the now-retired Lieutenant Colonel Hawkins. Both men are highly ­respected in Defence circles and received the nation’s top medal for military leadership, the Distinguished Service Cross, for their 2012 commands.

Multiple sources close to Brigadier Langford said he was “deeply shocked” as he watched the Chief of the Defence Force Angus Campbell’s press conference releasing the Brereton ­report, which found 39 Afghan ­civilians and prisoners were allegedly murdered by up to 25 Australian soldiers.

He has told friends he was ­unaware of the alleged crimes by those under his command, and he approached Defence leaders about a week later saying he wanted to return the DSC.

He was told “a mechanism did not exist for him to do that”, and he would have to wait until one was put in place. The direction followed General Campbell’s order, which was later overturned by Scott Morrison, for meritorious unit citations to be stripped from about 2000 soldiers.

Brigadier Langford declined to comment when approached by The Weekend Australian.

Defence told The Weekend Australian it was aware of two ADF personnel “who have indicated their intention to voluntarily return their awards”.

But a process is yet to be established for awards to be handed back, or stripped against the ­recipient’s will.

Lieutenant Colonel Hawkins now runs a specialist security company, Omni Executive Pty Ltd, which won nearly $80m in Defence contracts in just five years, including more than $8m in work that didn’t go to competitive tender. The company is a major ­employer of special forces veterans, and conducts highly classified work for Special Operations Command and intelligence agencies including the Australian Signals Directorate.

Lieutenant Colonel Hawkins told The Weekend Australian: “I did not witness any wrongdoings by those in my command.

“Where complaints or allegations were raised directly with me, they were acted on and investigated in line with established protocol, as the Brereton inquiry report identified.”

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Brigadier Langford is currently the army’s director-general of ­future land warfare and a key ­author of its 2020 “accelerated warfare” statement on adapting to new technologies and threats.

Since his 2012 command, he has also earned a PhD in philosophy, attended Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, and led an internal think tank for Lieutenant General Rick Burr known as the Chief of Army ­Initiative Group.

“He was the golden child. But he was CO during a period that was very disturbing. For Defence, that has been deeply confronting,” one seasoned observer said.

Justice Brereton found “the criminal behaviour of a few was commenced, committed, continued and concealed at the patrol commander level”.

But he said senior officers, ­including task group commanders, “must bear moral command responsibility and accountability for what happened under their command and control”.

“Commanders are both recognised and accountable for what happens ‘on their watch’, regardless of their personal knowledge, contribution or fault,” Justice Brereton said in his report.

Since then, alleged war crime perpetrators have been referred to the newly established Office of the Special Investigator, at least 11 SASR soldiers have been sacked, and some whistleblowers are also reportedly facing dismissal.

Lawyer and former army ­officer Glenn Kolomeitz, who is researching a PhD on command responsibility for war crimes, said the fallout from the Brereton ­inquiry had “rolled downhill to ­individual soldiers”.

“It is increasingly apparent that commanders, including at the lower level of task group command, are being shielded from any real responsibility,” he said.

“Putting aside any potential criminal liability, we have seen soldiers subjected to adverse ­administrative processes including attempts at collective sanctions through the cancellation of unit citations.

“Yet very little has apparently happened to the task group ­commanders, including commanding officers during ­peak periods of ­alleged offending.”

The Weekend Australian is not suggesting Brigadier Langford or Lieutenant Colonel Hawkins knew war crimes were allegedly being committed by soldiers under their command, only that there was a spike in such allegations during the deployments they led.

A former senior army officer, who knows both men, said: “I am 100 per cent confident that neither knew war crimes were being committed. But there were warning signs, and broader command and control failings.”

Defence said it could not comment on the potential cancellation of honours and awards until its ­response to the Brereton inquiry was signed off by an independent three-person panel set up to oversee the process.

“Due time and consideration must be given to Justice Brereton’s extensive findings and observations, along with his 143 recommendations, many of which raise serious, complex and sensitive ­issues,” Defence said.

Brigadier Langford and Lieutenant Colonel Hawkins’ ­direct superior in 2012 was the then-special operations commander of Australia, Major General Gus Gilmore, who retired in 2019 and now works as a senior executive elsewhere in government. His immediate superior was then-chief of army David Morrison, who answered to the then-chief of defence David Hurley, the now-Governor-General.

Releasing the Brereton report in November, General Campbell said personnel “alleged to be negligent in the performance of their duty” would face disciplinary ­action, declaring “all options (are) on the table” to hold senior officers to account.

One former SAS soldier told The Weekend Australian: “The best thing (Campbell) could have done last year was take off his DSC and said ‘All honours and awards are on the table, including mine’.

“Every single person under the command should be throwing (their medals) on the table and saying ‘Let’s own this. And if we lose three letters after our names, so be it’.”

Current or former ADF members, or their relatives, can access counselling and support by contacting the Defence All-Hours Support Line on 1800 628 036 or Open Arms on 1800 011 046.

https://www1.defence.gov.au/adf-members-families/health-well-being/services-support-fighting-fit/need-help-now/all-hours-support-line

https://www.openarms.gov.au/

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/defence/officer-brigadier-ian-langford-to-keep-afghan-medal/news-story/d3e1a0a06d36888c75939c8879fe3359

Hopping mad: US campaign to ban kangaroo imports gains bipartisan support

Matthew Knott - March 7, 2021

Washington: The Australian embassy in Washington is pushing back against a bipartisan effort by American legislators and animal rights groups to ban the importation of all kangaroo products into the United States.

A Democratic congressman from California, Salud Carbajal and his Republican counterpart Brian Fitzpatrick from Pennsylvania last month introduced a bill into the US House of Representatives that would impose steep penalties on anyone importing kangaroo leather or meat into the US.

The coalition of animal rights groups behind the bill is running a sophisticated campaign called “kangaroos are not shoes” that features graphic images of dead kangaroos and joeys.

The group’s website, which encourages Americans to contact their local representatives about the issue, describes Australia’s kangaroo cull as the “largest land-based commercial wildlife slaughter in the world, ten times larger and far bloodier than the notorious seal slaughter in Canada”.

The website asks why two million kangaroos are being killed each year in Australia when other countries protect native icons such as the North American bald eagle, the New Zealand kiwi bird and the Chinese panda.

If passed into law, the legislation would be a massive blow to the Australian kangaroo industry given exports to the US are worth an estimated $80 million a year, making it the industry’s second-biggest export market after the European Union.

The primary aim of the Kangaroo Protection Act is to stop major brands such as Nike, Adidas and Puma from using kangaroo leather in their soccer shoes and bicycle cleats.

The bill has forced Australian officials in Washington to counter commonly-held views, including that kangaroo harvesters are targeting a “cute and cuddly” endangered species.

“When we heard this bill had been introduced we moved quickly because we wanted to make sure that lawmakers understood the basis on which the commercial kangaroo industry operates in Australia,” US ambassador Arthur Sinodinos said.

“It’s about providing context and information to dispel some misconceptions that are out there.”

Wayne Pacelle, the president of Animal Wellness Action, one of the groups lobbying for the bill, said he decided to launch the campaign after the death of thousands of kangaroos and other marsupials during the Australian bushfires of late 2019 and early 2020.

“People outside Australia consider kangaroos to be one of the primary icons and symbols of that continent so there’s an instinctive reaction when they hear that two million kangaroos are killed for their parts,” he said. “They are stunned.”

Pacelle said: “I believe we stand a very good chance of getting this passed.

“The animal welfare lobby in the US has passed a lot of major legislation, and there’s no domestic constituency for this enterprise. It’s an easy vote for Democrats certainly, and also for Republicans to show they are animal-welfare friendly.”

Selling kangaroo products conflicts with the long-standing US norm that only farmed animals - rather than those killed in the wild - should be exploited for commercial gain, Pacelle said.

Politicians as divergent as Jamie Raskin, who served as the Democrats’ lead impeachment manager during Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial, and Republican Matt Gaetz, one of the most pro-Trump members of Congress, have signed on as sponsors of the bill.

Australian officials and the kangaroo industry are hopeful that the bill, like most pieces of legislation introduced into Congress, does not become law. But it could still have an impact if it spurs corporations to cut kangaroo products out of their supply chains to avoid a backlash.

Kangaroo Industries Association of Australia executive officer Dennis King said: “The bill is misguided, it’s not grounded in the facts. No threatened species are commercially harvested in Australia, nor are any kangaroos harvested for their hides. It’s all part of a government-regulated, humanely managed wildlife management program that has operated for 30 years.”

The industry argues that kangaroos, far from being a threatened species like the panda, are so abundant that their population needs to be controlled. The Australian government estimates that there are 43 million kangaroos in NSW, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia, up from 27 million a decade earlier.

“Even if there were no commercial industry, conservation culling would occur anyway to avoid overpopulation and mass starvation during droughts,” King said.

“Kangaroos may look cute and cuddly but they can do immense amounts of damage to farmers’ properties,” he added.

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/world/north-america/hopping-mad-us-campaign-to-ban-kangaroo-imports-gains-bipartisan-support-20210304-p577p6.html

https://kangaroosarenotshoes.org

How extreme right-wing groups have ‘weaponised the internet’ in Australia

The alleged attack by a neo-Nazi on a Channel 9 security guard has highlighted a rising threat in Australia as extreme far-right groups spread hate.

Jack Paynter - MARCH 8, 2021

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The brazen and unprovoked alleged attack on a Channel 9 security guard this week has highlighted the “dangerous” and alarming rise of the far-right movement across Australia.

The speed at which neo-Nazi leader Thomas Sewell allegedly escalated to violence sent shivers down the spine of civil rights activists who have been monitoring the behaviour of these individuals over recent years.

Far-right groups – spurred on by the dream of an “Australian Hitler” – have dramatically increased their activities on Australian soil in recent years as new cells pop up.

The Grampians, the National Museum in Canberra, the Story Bridge in Brisbane, Swinburne University and the Brisbane Synagogue are some of the places where these groups have congregated to spread their message of hate, white supremacist and neo-Nazi ideology.

A relatively new group to Australia – the National Socialist Network – claims to have an active footprint in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra, Perth and a number of regional cities.

The nation’s spy agency, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, says increasing numbers of young Australians – some just 14 years old – are being radicalised by both extreme right wing and Islamist groups.

ASIO director-general Mike Burgess told a parliamentary committee last year that right-wing extremists now represented between 30 and 40 per cent of the agency’s priority caseload.

“Many of these individuals and groups have seized on COVID-19 as proof of their ideology, and are using the pandemic to amplify their messages of hate online,” he said.

“We are seeing young Australians – some just 14 years old – being radicalised.”

Anti-Defamation Commission chairman Dvir Abramovich, one of the nation’s leading anti-hate campaigners, said far-right extremist groups had “weaponised the internet”.

“They are using it now to reach out to young, disaffected white men to try and recruit them,” he said.

Dr Abramovich said the government needed to reach some kind of agreement with social media companies and tech giants to stop access to extremist ideologies.

“Today with a click or a swipe you can find horrifying anti-Semitism, neo-Nazi and white supremacist ideology that would make those Nazis proud,” he said.

“In the same way you withdraw a deceptive product from the shelf, (social media companies) need to stop these neo-Nazis and white supremacists, they need to withdraw accessibility to those platforms.

“They also need to include more human monitoring, because if they read some of the stuff that is being posted, surely they would realise that they are violating community guidelines.”

(continued)

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It comes as Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton this week revealed UK-based neo-Nazi group Sonnenkrieg Division would become the first far-right group formally listed as a terrorist organisation in Australia.

A parliamentary committee in Victoria also recommended outlawing the Nazi swastika symbol in the state, which Premier Daniel Andrews indicated the government would support.

There are calls for other extreme far-right groups to be banned in Australia too, including the National Socialist Network and Proud Boys.

Dr Abramovich said it would allow the full weight of law enforcement agencies to be brought in to combat the threat.

“It allows them to suspend bank accounts and seize property but it also makes any activity they are involved in illegal,” he told NCA NewsWire.

“By classifying them as a terrorist organisation it provides law enforcement with the tools, resources and reach to actually deal with the national threat.”

Mr Dutton also asked the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security to look into the influence of extremist groups that fell short of the legislative thresholds for proscription and advise on changes to listing laws to ensure they addressed all threats.

“Whether a particular group is listed or not, our laws focus on threat and criminality, and we will act against those who advocate violence,” a spokeswoman for Mr Dutton said.

There are 27 organisations listed as terrorist organisations under the Criminal Code.

Dr Abramovich said Brenton Tarrant, the Australian terrorist who carried out the March 2019 Christchurch mosque attack that killed 51 people, self-radicalised online before committing the massacre.

He said Tarrant frequented social media platforms and was sharing ideas with Australian extremist groups online.

“We can’t ignore this form of extremism, you only need one lone individual to actually believe the white race is under threat and that they need to act,” Dr Abramovich said.

“They dream of a Fourth Reich with an Australia Hitler at the helm.

“We don’t need to wait for a Christchurch in our cities to act. The danger that they are spewing can easily cross the line into real world lethal attacks, especially because these groups and these individuals are inspired heroes or martyrs who have carried out massacres, people like Brenton Tarrant.

“I’m glad Minister Dutton has already begun the process of classifying one white supremacist group as a terrorist organisation and I hope he is going to extend these classifications to other local groups.”

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Alfred Deakin Institute terrorism and radicalisation expert Professor Michele Grossman told NCA NewsWire the capacity of far-right groups to mobilise and get people to do things had increased over the past three years.

“There certainly has been an increase in what you might call far-right extremist narratives that have been primarily enabled by online environments,” she said.

“They didn’t just start with Christchurch, but what has changed is this capacity to mobilise, better organise and because of social media and the broader media environment, their capacity to inspire people to go off and conduct lone actor attacks has increased.

“What they do is reinforce particular ways of seeing the world and particular solutions to problems and it’s especially concerning when those solutions are taken offline and out into the physical world, in terms of things like conducting violence, then we really have to worry.”

Professor Grossman said proscription was useful in enabling governments to respond and manage threats but could also have the “unintended halo effect” of increasing the status of a particular group that could generate further support.

“We will never be able to completely eliminate harmful material in digital environments, instead what we need to do is try to tackle it through building resilience to what people may encounter online,” she said.

“You need to build people’s ability to be critical about what they see and what they’re reading and build their resilience to toxic messages that seek to get them thinking about harming others or the community in general as a way of addressing their grievances.”

Sewell, 27, was arrested and charged by counter-terrorism police with affray, recklessly causing injury and unlawful assault after Monday’s incident but has already been spruiking his “white replacement” conspiracy views over encrypted messaging after being released on bail.

He has also appealed for donations to fund his defence in court.

“They’re alleging a crime was committed, we’re obviously going to fight that in court,” he told his followers.

“They’ve been monitoring us for years and they’ve never once raided me personally or our HQ … we have as an organisation committed no crimes.”

Most members of the Australian neo-Nazi groups hide their identities by wearing face coverings in photos, but Jacob Hersant of the National Socialist Network is one who has revealed himself.

He told NCA NewsWire his group sought to spread the message and creed of national socialism to as many people as possible and, “ultimately survive as a free and distinct nation”.

“This means strengthening our community, increasing in numbers and building understanding on National Socialism and the importance of national and racial survival,” he said.

In a statement, ASIO said the agency had been dedicating additional resources to the evolving far-right threat and primarily investigated individuals or groups based on their use or advocacy of violence.

https://www.news.com.au/technology/online/security/how-extreme-rightwing-groups-have-weaponised-the-internet-in-australia/news-story/ed0950b6bcc9aab54d25280a944f554b

>>13165211

Foreign Minister Marise Payne suspends military aid to Myanmar

BEN PACKHAM - MARCH 7, 2021

Australia has suspended its military aid program with Myanmar and redirected development aid to humanitarian needs, amid escalating security crackdowns against protesters by the country’s military junta.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne announced the escalation in Australia’s response to the February 1 coup in a statement on Sunday night, condemning the use of lethal force and violence against civilians.

Australia has resisted calls to halt its military co-operation program with Myanmar’s military, worth $360,000 in 2020-21 and $330,000 the previous year, in an effort to maintain lines of communication with the regime that continues to detain Australian economist Sean Turnell.

“Australia has had a limited bilateral Defence Co-operation Program with Myanmar’s military, restricted to non-combat areas such as English language training. This program will be suspended,” Senator Payne said.

“Australia’s development program is also being redirected to the immediate humanitarian needs of the most vulnerable and poor including the Rohingyas and other ethnic minorities.

“We will prioritise the most pressing humanitarian and emerging needs and seek to ensure our humanitarian engagement is with and through non-government organisations, not with government or government-related entities, as is currently the case in some parts of the program.”

She said Australia would also continue to review its sanctions against Myanmar, which currently include an arms embargo and targeted sanctions against individual military figures.

Human Rights Watch last week described Australia’s assistance program to the Myanmar military as “totally unacceptable”, and said its review of that aid “should have been concluded 30 seconds after the soldiers started shooting down protesters on the streets”.

Senator Payne reiterated Australia’s call for Professor Turnell’s release, and that of State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, President Win Myint, and others subjected to arbitrary detention since the coup.

Professor Turnell had been a longtime adviser to Ms Suu Kyi.

Reuters reported an official from Ms Suu Kyi’s party died overnight in police custody, while protests were held in at least half a dozen cities.

Security forces cracked down on many of the protests across the country on Sunday, Reuters said.

Police fired teargas and stun grenades in the direction of protesters in Yangon and in the town of Lashio in the northern Shan region, video showed.

Senator Payne said Australia had raised “our grave concerns about the military coup” with Myanmar’s military leaders, and was working towards a peaceful solution to the crisis with ASEAN neighbours, and Japan and India.

“We continue to strongly urge the Myanmar security forces to exercise restraint and refrain from violence against civilians.,” she said.

“We call on the Myanmar regime to engage in dialogue. Australia will continue to play a constructive role, including in consultation with international partners, particularly ASEAN, in support of the Myanmar people.”

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/marise-payne-suspends-military-aid-to-myanmar/news-story/60c28b5371f11735a00c0b9e248145ae

https://www.foreignminister.gov.au/minister/marise-payne/media-release/statement-myanmar-0

Daniel Andrews suffers broken ribs, spine damage after ‘nasty’ fall

STEPHEN LUNN and ANGELICA SNOWDEN - MARCH 9, 2021

Victoria’s Premier Daniel Andrews has revealed he will be in intensive care over the next few days after suffering vertebrae damage and “several broken ribs”.

Mr Andrews said he fell on a set of “slippery stairs”.

“Early this morning, I was admitted to hospital after slipping and falling on wet and slippery stairs,” Mr Andrews said in a statement.

“A CT scan has revealed several broken ribs and vertebrae damage, and subsequent medical advice has recommended I remain in intensive care for the next few days,” he said.

He said he was taken to hospital by an ambulance.

James Merlino will continue to act as Premier for the next few days.

Earlier, Deputy Premier James Merlino confirmed the Premier was taken to hospital for X-rays as a precaution, although he could not confirm where he was injured.

“(The Premier) had a nasty fall this morning as he was preparing for work,” Mr Merlino said.

“He was taken to hospital for some X-rays,” he said.

“I expect he will be on his feet shortly.”

Mr Merlino could not confirm if the Premier was taken to hospital by ambulance or his security detail.

Mr Andrews was due to appear at a media conference at 9am. There are understood to be no head injuries. Mr Merlino will stand in as acting premier on Tuesday.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/daniel-andrews-hospitalised-after-nasty-fall/news-story/f475513bf285b4a09a233a9398f372cc

https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/statement-premier-89

>>13169267

Australian Sean Turnell ‘tried to flee Myanmar with secret state financial information’, junta leader Min Aung Hlaing says

AMANDA HODGE - MARCH 9, 2021

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Sean Turnell, the Australian economics professor detained in Myanmar, has been accused by junta leader Min Aung Hlaing of trying to flee the country with “secret state financial information”, just one day after Australia suspended its military aid program with Myanmar amid escalating security crackdowns against protesters.

The Sydney professor and long-term economic adviser to deposed civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi was detained in Yangon on February 6 — five days after the coup that toppled her government — while he was putting the finishing touches on a sweeping economic plan aimed at lifting Myanmar out of its COVID-19-induced slump.

“An attempt to flee the country by the former government’s foreign economic adviser, Sean Turnell, was stopped in time and secret state financial information was found through him. Union-level ministers are taking legal actions in relation to that issue,” state-owned MRTV quoted Senior General Min Aung Hlaing as saying.

Australia has called repeatedly for the junta to free Professor Turnell but the new accusations bode poorly for his swift release.

The federal government had resisted initial calls to halt its military assistance program, worth $360,000 in 2020-21, repeatedly insisting that its aid to Myanmar was under review.

But Foreign Minister Marise Payne’s Sunday night announcement that Australia would suspend that program and redirect development aid through non-government organisations in response to the use of lethal force against civilian protesters suggests any talks between Australia and Myanmar aimed at securing his release had broken down.

At least two more people were killed by security forces on Monday and several more wounded as tens of thousands of people participated in a nationwide strike called by some of the country’s biggest trade unions to force the generals to the negotiating table.

Witnesses in the northern town of Myitkyina said the two men had been shot in the head.

Some 18 unions, which include those covering construction, agriculture and manufacturing sectors, urged all workers in Myanmar to down tools to maintain the momentum of the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) aimed at reversing the February 1 coup which toppled the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

“To continue economic and business activities as usual … will only benefit the military as they repress the energy of the Myanmar people,” the group said in a joint statement.

“The time to take action in defence of our democracy is now.”

The mass movement has already crippled the banking sector, shuttered hospitals, brought sections of the country’s rail networks to a halt and hollowed out government departments.

From Monday the junta has said any civil servant who continues to strike faces immediate dismissal.

Late on Sunday security forces began occupying major hospitals and universities in Yangon and Mandalay to enforce the new edict.

That did little to dissuade the crowds which included many women answering the call to join the so-called Htamain (sarong) movement by hanging the traditional garment on clothes lines across streets, or tying them to poles to unnerve soldiers who are said to believe that touching or walking underneath one can sap their potency.

Medical workers were among the first to instigate civil disobedience against the coup, which has seen close to 60 protesters killed by security forces and close to 2000 people detained, including Aung San Suu Kyi herself, and Professor Turnell.

(continued)

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International condemnation has failed to end the killings with weekend footage showing soldiers aiming their guns at civilians watching from their balconies, and the bloodied body of a Muslim official from Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party who, the junta said, died in custody after he fainted.

The body of U Khin Maung Latt, 58, was released to his family on Sunday with a bloodstained cloth around his head and activists and NLD colleagues say bruising to his head and body suggest he was badly beaten during his detention.

“It seems that he was arrested at night and tortured severely,” Ba Myo Thein, an upper house MP before the coup dissolved parliament, told Reuters. “This is totally unacceptable.”

Not even death can guarantee freedom from military harassment in Myanmar however.

On Saturday the junta ordered the exhumation and post-mortem examination of 19-year-old protester Kyal Sin (also known as Angel) who died on Wednesday after she was shot in the head during a protest in Mandalay.

The young woman, who was wearing a T-shirt that read “everything will be OK” when she was shot, has become an icon of Myanmar’s protest movement.

Clearly eager to distance itself from her death, the junta insisted after the autopsy soldiers could have been responsible because the bullet wound was to the back of her head, though a photo taken of her just before she was killed showed her with her back to the soldiers.

Physicians for Human Rights on Sunday condemned the “violent invasion and occupation of public hospitals and wanton excessive force against civilians”

“If it was not obvious before, it is absolutely clear now; the Myanmar military will not stop violating the rights of the people of Myanmar until the international community acts decisively to prevent and account for these outrageous acts,” it said in a statement.

Just what can be done is still unclear after the UN Security Council failed on Saturday to come to any agreement on how to react to the violent junta in Myanmar, almost certainly thanks to the veto power of Russia and of China whose foreign minister assured Myanmar at the weekend that Beijing’s friendship would weather all future developments.

“No matter how the situation in Myanmar changes, China’s determination to promote China-Myanmar relations will not waver, and China’s direction of promoting China-Myanmar friendly co-operation will not change,” Wang Yi said on the sidelines of China’s annual parliamentary gathering.

China was also “willing to contact and communicate with all parties on the basis of respecting Myanmar’s sovereignty and the will of the people, so as to play a constructive role in easing tensions”, he added.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/world/australian-sean-turnell-tried-to-flee-myanmar-with-secret-state-financial-information-junta-leader-min-aung-hlaing-says/news-story/37fb31dfd3eb115df6b494b4f5fd1ff0

This year, we’ll march on Anzac Day to remember them

GREG BROWN and RHIANNON DOWN - MARCH 9, 2021

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Anzac Day marches will be held in every capital city after Scott Morrison said he wanted the national day to proceed, arguing that if people were free to “protest” and “party” then they should be free to honour the nation’s war veterans.

The Victorian government was on Tuesday considering plans to declare this year’s Anzac Day march in Melbourne a “major event’’ which would allow up to 5000 people to participate.

The NSW government ­increased the number of veterans ­allowed to march on April 25 from 500 to 5000 following the Prime Minister’s intervention and an outcry from veterans. The decision was made after a crisis meeting between NSW Police Minister David Elliott, health officials and veterans groups.

“If people can party and if ­people can protest, then we can ­remember as a nation, and honour our veterans on Anzac Day,” Mr Morrison said. “I would like to see that done as fully and as safely as possible, and I think that is not ­beyond our wits to achieve that. I want Anzac Day on.”

Marches and remembrance services were cancelled last year as the COVID-19 pandemic escalated and forced large-scale ­restrictions. Instead, families par­ticipated in emotional, candlelit driveway vigils at dawn to mark the occasion.

Former governor-general Sir Peter Cosgrove told The Australian it was time to “get one of our great national days back”.

Sir Peter, who served in Vietnam with 9 RAR, said he was “saddened” by the initial plans for just 500 people to be allowed to march in Sydney.

Bigger crowds had been ­allowed at last Saturday’s Mardi Gras, which was attended by 30,000 people at the Sydney Cricket Ground and featured 5000 parade participants.

“I was saddened at what I saw as the de facto demise of Anzac Day as a national day, which for many has been as prominent or more so than many of our other national holidays,” Sir Peter said

“I hope that in all of the usual places around Australia, veterans and those who observe and ­respect Anzac Day can gather and march or watch in the way we have done since 1916 when, on the shores of the Suez Canal, ­Monash and others made their first commemoration.”

(continued)

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World War II veteran Nevin Phillips, 96, who served on-board HMAS Kanimbla in the Pacific, was devastated when last year’s Anzac Day celebrations were called off at the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

The proud navy man, who survived the Battle of Leyte Gulf — the biggest navy battle of the war — signed up for service at just 18 years old out of a belief in service. “My job was taking soldiers from ship to shore,” he said. “We would go all the way up the island all the way from New Guinea. We would do a landing and go back to Australia, pick up some more troops and take them to another place.

“I lost my hearing when a cannon fired right above my head.”

The grandfather, who lives in Doncaster in Melbourne’s east, has marched almost every year in memory of his fallen mates and his father Herbert, who had his horse shot out from under him during the Battle of Beersheba.

Granddaughter Lauren, 25, said the whole family would go to watch him march every year with pride and this year may be his generation’s last chance.

“He’s 96 and if he doesn’t get the opportunity to march this year, there is no guarantee if he will make it to 97,” she said.

In Victoria, The Australian understands veterans were briefed about plans for a pared-back Anzac Day march — with 5000 servicemen and women — in a closed-door meeting with army personnel last week. Older veterans would be ferried to the event via car and family members would not be permitted to march with their relatives.

The Victorian government is yet to sign off on the proposal.

“RSL Victoria continues discussions with the Victorian government and other stakeholders to allow Anzac Day activities across the state to take place while observing all related COVID-19 restrictions,” chief executive Jamie Twidale said.

Celebrations will go ahead without number restrictions in Western Australia, South Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland, while Tasmania will have a scaled-back march.

Mr Elliott said RSL NSW had been too conservative in its initial plans for the Sydney march.

“It was quite clear the civilian community and the veterans community wanted to commemorate Anzac Day as close to normality as possible,” he said.

“The restriction that the RSL placed on themselves were a bit unfair. So I called in the RSL, the Office for Veterans Affairs, the police and the Department of Health. We thrashed out a plan to see more than 5000 veterans being able to march.”

The NSW RSL so far has received less than 200 registrations from veterans in the ticket ballot for the Sydney CBD March.

In 2019, 12,000 veterans and descendants marched on Anzac Day in the Sydney CBD.

West Australian Premier Mark McGowan confirmed the commemorations would go ahead as usual in the state, with plans to allow crowds up to 10,000 for the dawn service.

An SA Government spokeswoman said there would be no restrictions on this year’s Anzac Day march or Dawn Services.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/this-year-well-march-on-anzac-day-to-remember-them/news-story/0eaeeb06f6b9441c9cbc0cab1dcff713

Coronavirus: Anthony Fauci praises Australia response, lockdowns

NATASHA ROBINSON - MARCH 10, 2021

America’s chief medical adviser Anthony Fauci has praised Australia’s response to the coronavirus pandemic as he pledged to closely co-operate with Australia to stamp out the virus in the Pacific.

In an online conversation with Australia’s chief medical officer Paul Kelly hosted by the US Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr Fauci said American had never managed to lock down as effectively as Australia had, and so had lost control of the virus.

“If you look at the monitoring of how well we locked down, we never really locked down completely,” Dr Fauci said. “We had a terrible economic impact, but we never really locked down as well or as completely as Australia did.

“And I think a combination of the other things that Australia did effectively really led to the fact that they’ve done really quite well when you compare Australia to other countries in the world.”

Dr Fauci said the US was facing a major issue with the spread of multiple variants of COVID-19, including the UK and SA strains but also local New York and California strains.

“Luckily what we’re seeing is that luckily for us, the vaccines that are being distributed do very well against 117 (the UK strain). We’re trying to find out now what the impact of the home-grown variants is with regard to monoclonal antibodies and vaccines.

“So here is the challenge. Are we going to chase each variant in an almost whack-a-mole way, or are we going to try and get a vaccine that has a good degree of cross-protection against several strains and get the level of virus so low that we don’t really have an outbreak proportion.

This may require coming back intermittently and boosting either against a prevalent wildtype or against the prevalent variant. And in that regard, both strategies are being pursued in the United States.

“For example, Pfizer is planning on giving a boost of wildtype because we know of the good cross-protection for example against 117. We are working with Moderna to develop a South African isolate specific vaccine boost that might be able to protect against that.”

“Bottom line is we really cannot predict very accurately what’s going to happen on a seasonal basis, but the best thing we can do is get as much control over the existing replication and dynamics of the virus.”

Professor Kelly said during the conversation that as Australia’s vaccination program continues and the country starts to open up, people will need to adjust to the fact that there will be rising numbers of cases.

“In many ways we can only go one way with this which is to have more cases, and as we start to open up that will be an issue,” Professor Kelly said. “We will have to have a conversation with the Australian public about tolerance of outbreaks because they will be inevitable.”

Professor Kelly revealed that Australia has recorded 140 cases of the UK strain and 25 of the SA strain, mostly in hotel quarantine. “It’s starting to become the largest proportion of the few cases that we’ve had but mostly they’ve remained in hotel quarantine,” he said.

The two chief health advisers also discussed vaccine hesitancy, with Dr Fauci saying that the desire to avoid further constraints on day to day life would be a major factor in driving people to get the vaccine and combating vaccine hesitancy.

Dr Fauci said that Australia was one of the US’s strongest research partners and the two countries were expecting to work together to stamp our COVID-19 in the Pacific.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/coronavirus-anthony-fauci-praises-australia-response-lockdowns/news-story/38c451fb4874f8b58c110daef0d936ac

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Daniel Andrews’ recovery could take ‘months’, decision looms on surgery

Michael Fowler and Melissa Cunningham - March 10, 2021

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A decision on whether Daniel Andrews requires surgery for a fractured spine will be made on Wednesday as the Victorian Premier remains in intensive care in a Melbourne hospital after injuring himself in a fall.

A senior government source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Mr Andrews’ recovery “certainly won’t be quick”, with a more precise time frame dependent on the impending decision of The Alfred hospital trauma centre doctors on surgery.

The source confirmed the Premier had fractured his T7 vertebra, which could require screws to be inserted and a months-long recovery period.

Concerns over the seriousness of Mr Andrews’ condition have gradually increased since he was taken to hospital early on Tuesday after slipping on wet stairs at a holiday home in the Mornington Peninsula while getting ready for work.

He broke ribs on his left and right sides, as diagnosed on Tuesday, but has been cleared of internal injuries such as a punctured lung. The Premier has not sustained head injuries and was conscious and speaking on Wednesday, the government source said.

He was initially treated at the Peninsula Private Hospital in Langwarrin and had a range of scans but on Tuesday evening, after an MRI was assessed by specialists, it was decided to move him to The Alfred.

The T7 is the seventh thoracic vertebra, found in the middle of the chest between the seventh and eighth pairs of ribs. It plays important roles in the support of the spinal cord, ribcage and muscles of the chest.

Leading orthopaedic surgeon Dr John Cunningham – who is not Mr Andrews’ doctor – said based on the description of the Premier’s injuries he would expect him to be out of work for anywhere between six and 12 weeks, depending on the type of treatment he opted for.

“This is my bread and butter, I see these sorts of fractures all the time,” Dr Cunningham said.

“They really knock people for six. Even after successful treatment, they can have lingering symptoms for some time. He will likely be able to recover from this, but it’s going be a while before he’s standing up in Parliament or in front of the press for hours on end.”

Dr Cunningham said any harm to the spinal cord itself usually occurred at the time of the injury and it appeared Mr Andrews had “got through that period”.

“But, secondly, you need to consider ongoing deformity because what can happen is the thoracic spine [upper and middle section] can start to collapse and you can see people develop an arch or a hump. The question of whether or not to operate now – and I say this in general terms – is to do with the chances of him developing an ongoing deformity or what we call a kyphosis.”

Kyphosis is a spinal disorder in which an excessive outward curve of the spine results in an abnormal rounding of the upper back.

There was a very small risk of paraplegia or permanent neurological injury, because surgeons would focus on the thoracic spinal cord.

(continued)

>>13177387

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Dr Cunningham said for injuries such as Mr Andrews’, the common treatment was to have corrective surgery soon after the injury. Alternatively, a patient could use a high back brace around the thoracic spine, helping them stay upright and preventing spinal deformity while their fracture heals.

“It is very difficult to be prescriptive when it comes to spinal trauma,” he said.

“You’ve got to really take into account a patient’s whole general health, their workplace and how much time they can take off. I would think that Daniel Andrews would be a man who wants to take the least amount of time off work as possible.”

Dr Cunningham said the benefit of surgery over a back brace was that it was quicker, but it ran the risk of needing more surgery down the track.

“They get up, they get out of bed quicker,” he said. “You’ve got to get over the post-operative pain, but he would probably be home after maybe three or four days. and then recuperating for a couple weeks after that.”

Regardless of the decision on surgery, Mr Andrews is expected to remain in intensive care for several days and will almost certainly be absent for next week’s sitting of Parliament, with Deputy Premier James Merlino set for an extended stint as acting Premier.

Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien said he texted Mr Andrews on Tuesday and wished him well for his recovery.

“You put politics aside for a time like this – you don’t like to see anybody going through that sort out of pain, so I do genuinely wish him well,” he said.

Mr Andrews’ colleague and Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said she had no specific updates on his condition “other than to say he is in good spirits”.

“I’ve extended my best wishes to [wife] Cath and the kids, and I look forward to him having a very speedy recovery, but that one has to be a full recovery.”

In a statement on Tuesday, the Premier thanked family, friends, colleagues and the public for their well wishes.

“Cath, the kids and I are extremely grateful to the Ambulance Victoria paramedics who showed such care and kindness to our family … For now, we’d like to ask that our family’s privacy is respected,” he wrote.

Where is the T7 vertebra?

The T7 vertebra is the seventh thoracic vertebra, found in the middle of the chest between the seventh and eighth pairs of ribs. It plays important roles in the support of the spinal cord, ribcage, and muscles of the chest. For injuries like the Premier's, the most common treatment is to have corrective surgery soon after the injury. Alternatively, a patient can use a high back brace to prevent spinal deformity while their fracture heals.

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/daniel-andrews-recovery-could-take-months-as-decision-due-on-surgery-20210310-p579gp.html

Originally Midnight Riders #306 >>69015

Rocco Galati @roccogalatilaw

Australian Health Minister hospitalized, "in serious condition", day after receiving Covid, Astra-Zeneca, Vaccine.

https://twitter.com/roccogalatilaw/status/1369294004408492034

Former political staffer Anna Jabour speaks of sexual misconduct in Parliament House

A former political staffer who worked under Prime Minister Julia Gillard has spoken out about the abuse she faced working for Labor.

Anna Jabour - MARCH 10, 2021

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COMMENT

I arrived in Canberra as a political staffer when I was just 21, starry-eyed and pinching myself about landing a job with the Prime Minister.

I thought Parliament House would be filled with some of the smartest people in Australia, who were driven by a sense of justice and purpose.

A few months after I arrived, I left, never wanting to work there ever again.

Being taken advantage of – being abused – is something I thought could never happen to me, but it did.

He was a male colleague, a respected friend who I thought I could trust. He was almost a decade older than me.

He told me how rare I was, how smart I was, how he’d never met anyone like me, then he coaxed me into bed and never spoke to me again.

I wasn’t experienced and I was taken advantage of. At first, I felt devastated, ugly and confused. Then I felt manipulated and used.

I’m still scarred.

Not only because of what happened to me, but because some of those who are infamous for their misconduct are still working there.

Over the last few weeks, both sides of politics have reacted with indignation to the horrifying revelations about Brittany Higgins’ alleged rape and her subsequent treatment, including senior ministers of the government.

The Opposition immediately called for an inquiry into the toxic workplace culture that engulfs Parliament, which Scott Morrison subsequently ordered.

But Labor needs to look in its own house too, because I was a Labor adviser.

In fact, one of the people I used to look up to the most, who turned out to be one of the most toxic figures, is currently a senior Labor figure.

A slew of individuals behind the scenes, as consultants and in state governments, who were also among the worst offenders are still lurking there.

Others have moved on and work for big corporations, landing one well-paid job after another.

When I went to Canberra, I was excited by the opportunity to work for a PM. Not just any PM, but the country’s very first female leader, Julia Gillard.

As the weeks wore on, I began to sense a dark shadow hung over the place – an unease I felt and that other women felt, of being looked at as an object rather than a brain.

(continued)

>>13177491

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There were conversations about it, and about the culture of Parliament House, that shocked me.

Young women were in relationships with male staffers – men they appeared to love but who were married or lived with spouses.

Some of the men were in relationships with multiple women from different offices or in other states. Most were in significantly more senior positions than the women.

Most of the time, the women were aware of the other relationships, but they believed they themselves were the women who were loved the most by the man who was courting them.

They were promised monogamy, they were given gifts, they were offered the world … if only they would just keep quiet and not mention it to anyone else.

It jarred me. It disenchanted me. It gutted me.

But this was the Canberra bubble, I was told. You can’t talk about it, I was urged, and should turn a blind eye to it like everybody else.

The things that went on in this place were off limits for those outside, who wouldn’t understand what it was like.

People didn’t understand the pressure these men faced, I was told. They were away from home half the year – to do their duty and be a parliamentarian, or to work for one.

They were entitled to their relationships, they were entitled to their dalliances, no one needed to know and it shouldn’t be reported.

But there didn’t seem to be any concern for the women involved – just the men. This imbalance was evident across the board.

Everywhere I looked, everyone I had looked up to, there were misdemeanours that were alleged or excused due to the pressures men faced in the workplace.

I couldn’t excuse it.

Parliament House was the most misogynistic workplace I had ever entered and I didn’t have the tenacity to push through the bullsh*t.

I know I’m not alone.

When a person is taken advantage of by someone in a position of power, most of the time, you don’t report it and turn inward instead.

Should you speak up, you’re likely to be managed out or made to feel like it’s your fault.

Most of the time you move on and blame yourself.

The review into Parliament’s workplace culture doesn’t give me faith that things will change in a meaningful way.

Sometimes, some things never change.

Until I see accountability applied to some of the people in the ranks on both sides of politics, and a genuine concern for the wellbeing of staffers, I can’t have faith that anything will shift.

It will take a generation.

It will take a host of Brittany Higgins – women from all sides of politics who are prepared to pay a hefty personal toll to come forward and voice what happened to them and will likely continue to happen to others.

It takes guts. And it once again puts the enormous responsibility on victims, not perpetrators or those who turn a blind eye.

Anna Jabour is a former Labor political adviser

https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/former-political-staffer-anna-jabour-speaks-of-sexual-misconduct-in-parliament-house/news-story/b929730ed2f7a3ca6f2ddc3356fdab26

https://www.1800respect.org.au

https://www.lifeline.org.au

https://www.ntv.org.au

https://www.dontbecomethatman.org.au

Scott Morrison to join 'historic' Quad talks with Joe Biden, Yoshihide Suga and Narendra Modi

Stephen Dziedzic - 10 March 2021

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will soon hold virtual talks with US President Joe Biden and the prime ministers of both India and Japan in the first-ever leaders' meeting of the Quad.

It is a significant development for the informal coalition, which has coalesced partly to balance China's growing economic and military clout.

The meeting early on Saturday morning (AEDT) is likely to focus heavily on joint efforts to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

Reuters has reported that the leaders will announce a plan for new financing agreements to support an increase in manufacturing capacity for COVID-19 vaccines in India.

The news agency quoted a US official saying the plan would "reduce manufacturing backlogs, speed vaccination and defeat some coronavirus mutations".

The official also said some of the additional vaccines would be offered to South-East Asian countries.

An Australian Government source did not deny that report but did not provide any further information.

Beijing regards the Quad grouping with suspicion

The race to vaccinate against COVID-19 has created a new arena for strategic competition across the globe.

China's government has intensified its vaccine diplomacy in the region, offering its locally made Sinopharm jab to several South-East Asian nations including Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Australia has also pledged money to help provide some vaccines to South-East Asia, although the bulk of the government's efforts have been focussed on the rollout in Pacific Island countries.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the four leaders would also discuss "economic cooperation and … the climate crisis".

All four Quad countries have repeatedly emphasised that the group is not a formal security alliance but a gathering of like-minded countries which want to preserve common rules in the region.

But it has been driven by China's dramatic rise, and the realisation in all four capitals that they need to intensify efforts to confront strategic challenges posed by Beijing, as well as shaping governance and behaviour across the Indo-Pacific.

Beijing still regards the Quad with suspicion, accusing the United States of orchestrating the group to contain its rise.

Mr Morrison told reporters in Canberra that the meeting with Joe Biden, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga would be "historic".

"It was one of the first things, the first thing I should say, I discussed with President Biden and I was so pleased the new administration were also so enthusiastic about this program, and that President Biden is taking this to another level and seeing the Quad as his first engagement in this way, and to elevate it in this way," he said.

"It is another key step forward in how Australia has sought to keep Australians safe, by ensuring that we're working with our partners, with our allies in particular."

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-10/scott-morrison-to-join-quad-talks-with-joe-biden-and-indian,/13233738

https://twitter.com/WHNSC/status/1369382968058339329

>>13183787

Quad members hype ‘China threat’ theory to bolster their boldness

Mu Lu - Mar 10, 2021

The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, also known as Quad, between the US, Japan, India, and Australia has been seen as a group to counter China. But the four-country group hasn't formed a cohesive force from within. Instead, the four have been busy with their own calculations.

The US will hold the first leaders-level meeting of the Quad on Friday. Various topics involving China will be discussed. Days before the meeting, Japan, India, and Australia couldn't help but again hype the "China threat."

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga spoke with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on the telephone on Tuesday, when they shared "serious concerns regarding unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the East and South China seas, China's Coast Guard Law and the situation in Hong Kong and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region."

On the same day, Japan's ambassador to Australia, Shingo Yamagami, told The Australian Financial Review Business Summit that Australia "is not walking alone" in dealing with China as Japan had similar experiences "about 10 years ago."

These interactions before the Quad summit have reiterated the cliché over China, trying to create an image that the group is united. The three countries aim to strengthen deterrence against China by bolstering each other's boldness. They were also aiding the US strategy to step up pressure on China.

The current framework of the Quad was built during Trump's presidency to serve US strategic competition with China. The US is fond of forming an alliance against a certain country, because it believes it can stack the odds in its favor and economize the consumption of its diplomatic and financial resources. Prompted by the intent to contain China, the Biden administration has continued this aggressive and confrontational posture.

But today, as the interests of countries are diversified, it is impossible for them to blindly follow the US' steps just because of Washington's claims. There is not much the US can give to its allies in exchange. Not to mention that the US' selfish nature has become increasingly known to the world.

Against this backdrop, US allies who have a complex relationship with China apparently cannot count on the US to compensate for their losses when they follow Washington to confront China. Hence, it is not in line with their pursuits to judge what they should do from only the dimension of US geopolitical struggles against China.

Even though Canberra is a resolute follower of Washington, people in Australia are struggling with the deterioration in China-Australia relations. For example, on the same occasion when Yamagami tried to show sympathy to Australia, Jane Golley, director of the Australian Centre on China in the World at the Australian National University, called for an end to the megaphone diplomacy on China and for trying to work behind the scenes.

Japan and India's attitudes toward China are more complicated. It is obviously not in their interests to make them stand one-sidedly against China. Particularly India. New Delhi's move to reopen the door to Chinese investment after border disengagement has clearly shown that India needs cooperation with China rather than long-standing confrontation.

The Quad is not an alliance of like-minded countries as the US claims. The three countries other than the US would probably take a tactic of coordinating with the US in narratives while sticking to their own approaches on China, so as to deal with the embarrassment of being between the pressure from the US and their own interests with China.

Before they can assure that they will not be brought into another pit by the US, perhaps they have no other choice but to find relief in bolstering each other's boldness.

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202103/1218012.shtml

Scott Morrison says he will act as health minister but Greg Hunt will return to work next week

abc.net.au - 10 March 2021

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says Health Minister Greg Hunt will be back at work when Parliament sits next week, after a brief hospital stint for a bacterial infection.

Mr Hunt was admitted to hospital yesterday with a suspected infection.

In a statement today his office said testing overnight had led to a diagnosis of Cellulitis, a bacterial infection in his leg.

It said the Minister was improving and was expected to be discharged from hospital "in the coming days".

"He'll be fine by next week, he'll be back up on his feet," Mr Morrison said.

"Minister Hunt and I have worked hand in glove over this last year and until he returns I will be personally addressing the ministerial responsibilities on health and aged care."

The Prime Minister said he had total confidence in the AstraZeneca vaccine. Mr Hunt's office said his condition "is not considered to be related to the vaccine".

He is expected to make a full recovery.

Fellow Cabinet minister Dan Tehan said he spoke to the Health Minister yesterday and that Mr Hunt was confident he would be out of hospital "sooner rather than later".

"I don't think there is a fitter or more active member than Greg," Mr Tehan said.

"So if there's anyone who can bounce back it will be Greg, but when I spoke to him yesterday he was going well."

Mr Hunt is the third senior Cabinet minister now on sick leave, with Attorney-General Christian Porter and Defence Minister Linda Reynolds also currently on leave.

Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne is acting Defence Minister and Employment Minister Michaelia Cash is filling in for Mr Porter.

The next Parliament fortnight kicks off next week.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-10/greg-hunt-sick-leave-hospital-infection-prime-minister/13233056

>>13183855

Greg Hunt has been hospitalised with cellulitis. So what is it? And how serious is it?

abc.net.au - 11 March 2021

As Health Minister, Greg Hunt is no stranger to hospitals. But this week, he's found himself playing an unfamiliar role — patient.

Mr Hunt was diagnosed with cellulitis on Wednesday, a day after being admitted to hospital with a suspected infection.

In a statement, his office said he was on the mend and is expected to be discharged "in the coming days".

"He'll be fine by next week, he'll be back up on his feet," Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.

So what is cellulitis? And how serious is it? Here are a few fast facts.

What is it?

Cellulitis is a spreading inflammation of the skin, usually caused by a bacterial infection — and if you've got it, there's a pretty good chance you'll know about it.

Those suffering from the infection may experience red, painful and swollen skin that is warm to touch, but more severe cases can also lead to fever, blisters, chills and nausea.

It can occur anywhere on the body, including the face, but is most often encountered on the lower legs and in areas where the skin is damaged or inflamed.

While no-one is immune to developing cellulitis, those who smoke, have diabetes or poor circulation are at a higher risk.

Cellulitis accounted for almost 60,000 hospitalisations and 11 per cent of all potentially preventable hospitalisations in Australia in 2013–14.

How do you get it?

The infection occurs when bacteria, such as staph, enters through the skin.

It could be as simple as a cut, scratch or insect bite, or a pre-existing skin condition like eczema or psoriasis.

However, cellulitis can also occur in areas without any visible skin damage.

While the bacterial infection can't always be prevented, a common cause of infection is via the fingernails.

"Handwashing is very important as well as keeping good care of your nails by trimming and cleaning them," noted healthdirect.

"Generally, maintaining good hygiene such as daily showering and wearing clean clothes may help reduce the skin's contact with bacteria."

How serious is it?

While cellulitis is treatable with a course of oral antibiotics, in more serious cases, antibiotics may need to be administered intravenously in hospital.

And without any medical attention, the condition can prove dangerous.

When bacteria from cellulitis spreads into the bloodstream, it can lead to sepsis — a serious blood infection capable of causing organ failure and death.

"People with cellulitis can quickly become very unwell and a small number of people may develop serious complications," advised healthdirect.

However, it should be noted that in most cases, patients respond to antibiotics in "two to three days and begin to show improvement".

So how do I avoid it?

It's not known how or where Mr Hunt may have developed the bacterial infection.

But while cellulitis is "not generally contagious", there are ways to reduce your risk.

In addition to handwashing and paying attention to hygiene, it's recommended that those more susceptible to the condition should:

• Wear appropriate footwear, gloves and long pants during situations where it is easy to get scratched or bitten (such as bushwalking or gardening)

• Look after your skin by regularly checking your feet for signs of injury

• Moisturise the skin and trim fingernails and toenails regularly

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-11/greg-hunt-cellulitis-what-is-it-how-do-you-contract-it/13235598

Julian Assange's father, John Shipton, in Katoomba and Hazelbrook

B.C Lewis - MARCH 10 2021

Sixty Blue Mountains residents gathered in Katoomba on Tuesday [March 9] to meet the father of the imprisoned founder of WikiLeaks - Julian Assange and hear from his campaign.

Julian Assange's father, John Shipton, spoke in Carrington Place as part of a regional tour. Assange is in Belmarsh prison in London. He has been accused of hacking and conspiracy charges in the United States.

John Shipton says his whistleblower son's matter will only be solved with Australia's involvement.

"Right around the world there's increasing momentum to releasing Julian Assange."

He spoke of several cross Parliament party groups around the world supporting the move.

"Twenty four of the world's human rights NGO's signed a letter which was on the front page of The New York Times three weeks back for the extradition [from Britain to America] to be stopped."

He said his son had been "held in detention for 10 years … under a deluge of ceaseless malice".

"This is our power rising up and our resistance to the implication that journalists and Australians ought to be intimidated to the point where they're held in arbitrary detention for 10 years under a deluge of malice, ceaseless malice.

"Due process again and again is abandoned."

Assange and WikiLeaks drew fury from the US Government after publishing thousands of pages of once-secret reports and documents in 2010, generated by American military and intelligence agencies, including detailed descriptions of CIA hacking capabilities.

But a London court ruled in January against the U.S extradition because of fears for Assange's mental health.

"We have 24 parliamentarians in Australia, the first cross parliamentarian group. They take those concerns … it's very positive … plus you and me. It's authority rising up."

Mr Shipton, an architect and former Leura resident who designed and built the Leura amphitheatre in the mid 1980's, also spoke at the WikiLeaks Cafe in Hazelbrook on Wednesday (March 10).

He thanked Mountains residents for listening and suggested they use the site his son founded - "use the facilities that WikiLeaks has created".

Political activist, Graeme Dunstan, who is travelling alongside Mr Shipton as "peace bus captain" said "we sense we are on a home run now". The group heard local MP Susan Templeman was supporting moves to bring Assange home.

Jacob Grech, who is also travelling with the tour and acted as MC, gathered the audience for a group picture at the end of the event to "send love and support for our boy in Belmarsh".

Blue Mountains for Assange organiser Warren Ross said, "There was a great turn out from our community at short notice. The takeaway for us all is that our actions do matter; contacting MPs, getting onto the Wikileaks site and sharing the information, speaking up, occupying public space, that is how we are going to free Julian Assange".

Ward 1 Cr Kerry Brown added: "We need to save Julian Assange because his human rights are also our human rights. We are all in this together to call out secret, ruthless and lawless government behaviour."

https://www.bluemountainsgazette.com.au/story/7160688/wikileaks-dad-in-town-to-send-love-and-support-for-our-boy-in-belmarsh/

https://wikileaks.org/

Former Hong Kong lawmaker moves to Australia

Kirsty Needham - 9 March 2021

Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Ted Hui has arrived in Australia where his family will settle after the Australian government provided an exemption to its closed border policy and assistance with flights, he says.

A former Democratic party lawmaker, Hui left Hong Kong late last year after facing criminal charges over the 2019 pro-democracy protests.

His arrival in Australia comes as 47 pro-democracy activists have been charged in Hong Kong with conspiracy to commit subversion under a new national security law, because they participated in an unofficial primary last July to select the strongest candidates for a legislative council election.

Hui, a member of the legislative council since 2016, was preselected to represent Hong Kong island for the election.

He said it had been painful to watch in the past week as his close colleagues were jailed after being denied bail in marathon hearings in the subversion case.

"As a participant in the primary election and a winner, I see it as a ridiculous act and unreasonable for the regime to put any accusation on us when it was totally peaceful," he told Reuters in a telephone interview.

He is undergoing a 14-day mandatory quarantine after arriving in Australia on Monday.

"It is only because it is against Beijing's will that people are thrown into jail."

Hui said he had decided to move to Australia from Britain, where he has spent the past three months, to spread the international reach of the pro-democracy activists.

"I feel more responsible now as an exile to tell the world how ridiculous it is," he said.

Hui said during the interview that the coronavirus pandemic was stable in Australia, and he would be able to undertake face-to-face lobbying work.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday announcing his move, Hui said that Australia and New Zealand are important members of the Five Eyes intelligence sharing group that also includes the United States, United Kingdom and Canada, which have endorsed the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong.

"I hope that my lobbying work will make the two countries tougher against China, have stronger support and actions towards the freedom of Hong Kong," he said in the post.

As part of his lobbying, Hui told Reuters he would also seek more flexible visas for Hong Kong people seeking to come to Australia.

Hui said he was grateful to the Australian government for granting a visa and a place on a repatriation flight from London. He said he did not intend to apply for political asylum.

https://thewest.com.au/politics/former-hk-lawmaker-moves-to-australia-ng-s-2052695

AFP pushes for sweeping powers lashed as ‘dangerous overreach’

The nation’s top cop asked for police to be given sweeping new powers in an effort to stamp out serious crimes we “cannot see”.

Finn McHugh - March 10, 2021

The nation’s top police officer has warned law enforcement “cannot see” some forms of serious crime, as he pushed for sweeping surveillance powers human rights groups call a “dangerous overreach”.

Representatives of the Australian Federal Police and Home Affairs Department fronted a senate inquiry on Wednesday into a bill to drastically expand law enforcement’s online surveillance powers.

A federal government proposal aimed at tackling serious online crime would allow police to apply for three new warrants, giving them the power take over a suspect’s accounts and delete or modify data.

AFP commissioner Reece Kershaw said police powers had failed to adapt to the advent of the dark web and anonymising technology, saying law enforcement had “one hand tied behind our back” online.

“Criminals should not be able to conduct serious crimes online and get away with it just because our laws have not kept pace with changes in technology,” he said.

Mr Kershaw warned young people were being drawn to extremist ideology online, often using encrypted platforms.

“We are observing their behaviour escalate unpredictably and sometimes quickly. That makes us very concerned about the behaviour we cannot see,” he said.

But the Human Rights Law Centre (HRLC) lashed the proposal as a “dangerous overreach”, arguing it could be used to target journalists and whistleblowers.

“Surveillance powers intrude on people’s privacy and have a chilling effect on the exercise of political rights,” HRLC senior lawyer Kieran Pender said.

Any crime punishable by a sentence of three years or more could be targeted under the bill, which Mr Pender said could include a range of less serious offences.

“(Home Affairs Minister Peter) Dutton has said the powers granted by the bill are intended only to be used in cases of the most severe wrongdoing,” he said.

“But the bill is drafted so broadly it overreaches far beyond what could be considered legitimate.”

The committee heard offences punishable by a three-year sentence included capturing a dolphin, not complying with health orders, and social security fraud.

The Law Council of Australia’s Jacoba Brasch said it was “difficult to reconcile” those offences with the bill’s stated aim of targeting the most serious crimes, including terrorism and child exploitation.

But Mr Kershaw defended the bill, arguing organised crime gangs could be dismantled by “attacking their outer perimeter”, including less serious crimes.

AFP deputy commissioner Ian McCartney said crime gangs were often “not focused on one particular form” of crime.

“The syndicates that we investigate are involved in a range of criminality, and we need the flexibility in the legislation to apply to those types of groups,” he said.

Labor home affairs spokeswoman Kristina Keneally raised concerns the bill could be weaponised in the future.

“What safeguards can you point me to, other than the good intentions of government, that would assure this committee that these warrants would not be used for other types of crime … considered by the community to be lower-level offences?” she asked.

Mr McCartney said the AFP would necessarily target the most serious of crimes given budgetary constraints.

WHAT THE LAWS DO

The bill would give law enforcement the power to seek three new warrants. They include:

• Account takeover warrants, including the power take control of a suspects’ online accounts. This would require a magistrate’s approval

• Data disruption warrants, empowering law enforcement to delete, modify or disrupt data

• Network activity warrants, enabling intelligence on serious online criminal networks to be collected.

An Administrative Appeals Tribunal judge or member would be required to sign off on the latter two.

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/technology/online/afp-pushes-for-sweeping-powers-lashed-as-dangerous-overreach/news-story/21561ff1fd773d56ef0d8584c4f5a85e

Top spy ‘knows’ culprit behind ANU cyber attack, but won’t say

Australia’s top spy says he knows who was a behind a major attack on Australia in 2018, but won’t reveal the culprit publicly.

Finn McHugh - March 11, 2021

The nation’s top spy says he knows who was behind a major cyber attack on an Australian university, but is remaining tight-lipped.

Australian Security and Intelligence Agency (ASIO) director-general Mike Burgess fronted a senate inquiry on Thursday into national security threats to the university sector, where he warned foreign interference was at a level “not seen since the height of the Cold War”.

The Australian National University suffered a serious cyber attack in 2018 by a culprit the federal government labelled a “state actor”.

Reporting suggested intelligence agencies believed China was behind the attack, but Mr Burgess would not confirm those reports.

“I do know who was behind it, but I will not say so publicly because I don’t believe it’s my role to do so,” he said.

He said “way more than one but less than 10” countries posed a cyber threat to Australia, but one in particular was “highly active”.

“Again, I don’t believe it’s my role (to identify that country publicly). My role, my organisation’s role is to identify that threat and help reduce the harm,” he said.

“There are many other factors that the government must take into account when they decide on how they deal with that particular problem.”

Melbourne’s RMIT University was also forced to suspend classes temporarily after being struck by a significant cyber attack last month.

The attack was under investigation, and Mr Burgess said he “genuinely did not know” who was behind it.

“It has not reached my level, (but) that’s not to say someone in my organisation is not working that problem,” he said.

The comments came after the Home Affairs Department’s Marc Ablong was pressed by Liberal senator James Paterson over the attack.

“Is it the case that we do know that it is China, but we just don’t want to say that publicly?” Mr Paterson asked.

But Mr Ablong warned naming cyber attackers was a “very complicated and complex exercise”.

“Just because it’s reported in the paper as it is believed doesn’t necessarily mean that we can prove anything,” he said.

“You need to be more than certain that you know who the actor is before you name them, because there are consequences not just for the actor involved, but for the country that does the naming.

“We as the intelligence agencies haven’t made a judgment about that yet, and nor will we.”

He said at least five state actors and other criminal groups had “the capability and the intent” to carry out strikes against Australian universities, which were not prepared to withstand cyber threats.

“The sophistication in the ability of either states or criminal organisations to undertake cyber hacks is very real, and it is only going to get worse,” he said.

“(The threat) is evolving constantly and hackers are constantly adapting their attacks to newly identified vulnerabilities.

“The entirety of the global information and communication technology environment is not as well prepared as it could be, and that includes the higher education sector.”

Mr Burgess revealed Australian universities engaged with ASIO 60 times in 2020, saying the threat of espionage had grown to a level unseen “since the height of the Cold War”.

“(Foreign interference at universities) is a significant security risk that does need to be managed effectively by this country and the research and university sectors. It’s the scale that concerns me,” he said.

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/technology/unis-unprepared-for-cyber-attacks-inquiry/news-story/71daa6a06b203f8ec26ade9479cca8fc

Ghislaine Maxwell’s family shares ‘facts’ on Twitter as feds fight third bail bid

STEPHEN REX BROWN - MAR 10, 2021

Ghislaine Maxwell’s family launched a “GMaxFacts” Twitter account Wednesday as the fight over her third bid for bail heats up.

“We know Ghislaine better than anyone, we are her family. It is our mission to shine light on the real Ghislaine, not the figure of fiction caricatured by the media. #GMaxFACTS #FactsMATTER” the family said in its first tweet.

The rare public statement from the British socialite’s associates came shortly after Manhattan federal prosecutors urged Judge Alison Nathan to reject Maxwell’s third request for release from Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center into home confinement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey wrote that Maxwell’s offer to renounce her British and French citizenship did not address concerns she could flee the country.

“The defendant is wrong. That she is ‘willing’ to renounce her foreign citizenship would do nothing to prevent the defendant from fleeing and then fighting extradition once abroad, and it does nothing to diminish the risk that the defendant could choose to flee to another jurisdiction altogether, including one with which the United States does not have an extradition treaty and from which extradition is impossible,” Comey wrote.

Maxwell, 59, is scheduled to face trial in July for grooming underage victims of Jeffrey Epstein in the mid-1990s. She allegedly served as Epstein’s chief recruiter of sex trafficking victims and at times joined in the sex offender’s serial abuse.

The Maxwell family’s new Twitter account hints at a change in public relations strategy. Previously, her legal team and family have spoken only through court filings while arguing she’s been smeared so badly in the press that she has no hope of a fair trial.

The GMaxFacts account retweeted an op-ed in the Daily News by a family spokesman likening the conditions of her confinement at the Brooklyn lockup to torture.

“No objective person could honestly defend the conditions of her confinement,” family spokesman David Oscar Marcus wrote.

Maxwell has said correctional officers shine a light into her cell every 15 minutes overnight, preventing her from getting a good night’s sleep. Last month, her attorneys wrote that she was “physically abused” during a routine patdown — a claim that has not been addressed in public filings by prosecutors or the judge.

https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/ny-ghislaine-maxwell-bail-twitter-20210310-oqrpbl54uzb3pcsqttdus354yq-story.html

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/17318376/united-states-v-maxwell/?filed_after=&filed_before=&entry_gte=&entry_lte=&order_by=desc

https://www.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.539612/gov.uscourts.nysd.539612.165.0_1.pdf

—

GMaxFacts Tweets

We know Ghislaine better than anyone, we are her family. It is our mission to shine light on the real Ghislaine, not the figure of fiction caricatured by the media. #GMaxFACTS #FactsMATTER

https://twitter.com/GMaxFacts/status/1369659782886481921

—

As a pre-trial detainee Ghislaine is innocent and entitled to the presumption of innocence and due process which are fundamental to America’s system of justice.#GMaxFACTS

https://twitter.com/GMaxFacts/status/1369698313709223943

—

#DYK our sister is a kind & compassionate person. Dozens of letters of support affirming her kindness and generosity, honesty & integrity have been sent to the court. She has never been charged with any crime before. #GMaxFacts #FactsMATTER

https://twitter.com/GMaxFacts/status/1369751161570537474

End nears for Victoria’s Belt and Road deal under foreign veto laws

Anthony Galloway and Michael Fowler - March 10, 2021

Victoria’s controversial Belt and Road agreement with the Chinese government faces being torn up within months after the state government included it in a list of documents submitted to the Commonwealth under its new foreign veto laws.

State governments had until close of business on Wednesday to provide a list of all of their agreements with foreign governments.

Victorian government sources confirmed its Belt and Road agreement with China – which ties the state to Chinese President Xi Jinping’s signature initiative to bankroll infrastructure projects around the world – was included in the documentation sent to the Commonwealth.

If Victoria had not declared the deal by the end of Wednesday, it would have automatically been torn up under the new laws passed late last year.

The new scheme requires Foreign Minister Marise Payne to cancel agreements that states, territories, local governments and universities enter into with an overseas government if they contradict Australia’s national interest.

The Victorian government’s documentation prepared for the Commonwealth included a justification for why the BRI agreement should not be scrapped, sources confirmed.

A Victorian government spokeswoman said it had provided documentation to the federal government but did not answer whether that included the BRI agreement.

The spokeswoman also did not answer what its justification was for why the deal should not be torn up.

“The Victorian government will provide information to the Commonwealth in line with the legislative requirements,” she said.

Victoria’s BRI agreement with China is one of the state government deals that has raised the most concern within national security agencies and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Commonwealth officials already began scrutinising the agreement last year after the new laws came into force.

The federal government has been concerned with the deal as they believe it may have harmed Australia’s efforts to counter China’s use of the BRI to grow its influence throughout the region and handed Beijing a propaganda win.

The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald revealed last year that Victoria did not consult DFAT before signing a key “framework agreement” with the Chinese government for the BRI on October 23, 2019.

While Victoria briefly consulted DFAT on an earlier memorandum of understanding with Beijing in 2018, and made some changes based on its advice, the Andrews government decided not to show the draft version of the more substantial framework agreement to the Commonwealth a year later before signing it.

Premier Daniel Andrews has defended the deal, saying last year that it was all about Victorian employment and that Australia’s relationship with China might improve if the Commonwealth focused on jobs.

“The agreement, like all agreements that Victoria enters into, and I expect the Commonwealth and other states are no different. It’s all about making sure that more Victorian product is sent to our biggest and smallest customers,” the Premier said in December.

“Whether it’s to China or any other part of the world, it’s all about jobs.

“We would be probably better off in our relationship if all of us focused on the fact, and I think the Prime Minister and all of us … are all about having the best economic partnerships with customers, large and small, in every part of the world because that means jobs and prosperity and profitability for families back home.”

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/end-nears-for-victoria-s-belt-and-road-deal-under-foreign-veto-laws-20210310-p579lf.html

>>13168673

Linda Reynolds to pay damages to Brittany Higgins over ‘lying cow’ comment

SHARRI MARKSON - MARCH 12, 2021

Defence Minister Linda Reynolds will pay damages to alleged sexual assault survivor Brittany Higgins as part of a defamation settlement for calling her a “lying cow,” The Australian can reveal.

In a statement this afternoon, Ms Reynolds, who is on medical leave, publicly retracted the comments she made in her Parliamentary office and unreservedly apologised to Ms Higgins for the hurt and distress her remarks caused.

The senior cabinet minister has also had to pay a sizeable damages to Ms Higgins, out of her own pocket, under the terms of the settlement brokered by her lawyers.

Ms Higgins said she plans to donate the money to a charity that assists victims of sexual assault and abuse.

The legal action comes after revelations in The Australian that Senator Reynolds called Ms Higgins a “lying cow” in an open-plan area of her parliamentary office on the day Higgins’ revelations she was sexually assaulted in Parliament House went public.

“On Friday 5 March I publicly apologised to Ms Brittany Higgins about the comment about her to my staff on 15 February 2021,” Senator Reynolds said in a statement today.

“I wish to further address that comment that I made. I did not mean it in the sense it may have been understood.

“Given that the comment was made public, which I never intended, I also want to retract it and unreservedly apologise to Brittany Higgins and acknowledge the hurt and distress it caused to her.”

In her own statement, Ms Higgins said she accepted the Minister’s apology for the comment which is understood to have devastated her.

“Today Minister Reynolds issued a public statement in relation to her comments about me made to her staff on 15 February 2021,” Ms Higgins said.

“I am pleased that the minister has now withdrawn her comments and I accept her apology to me.

“This has been an immensely challenging period to me and I wish to reiterate that the only reason I have chosen to come forward is to help others.

“Finally, any monies I have received from the Minister, as part of this settlement of my claim against her over and above my legal costs will be paid in full to an organisation that provides counselling and support for survivors of sexual assault and abuse in the Canberra area.

“These funds will assist them in this important work.”

Ms Higgins came forward to News Corp with allegations that she was raped at Parliament House by a former Liberal Party adviser in 2019.

She was critical of Senator Reynolds’ handling of the alleged assault in the immediate aftermath.

Higgins hired lawyer Rebekah Giles of reputational risk firm Company Giles, who also represented Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young in her defamation action against former Liberal Democrat Senator David Leyonhjelm.

When The Australian published the remarks Senator Reynolds had made about Ms Higgins, Prime Minister Scott Morrison described the comments as “offensive and wrong”.

He is under pressure to replace Senator Reynolds in the defence portfolio with Peter Dutton, should Reynolds not be well enough to return this parliamentary term.

The Defence Minister took medical leave on advice of her cardiologist following the Brittany Higgins scandal and has extended her leave until April 2.

But there are concerns she may not be well enough to return after that and potentially not even before the next election.

If this turns out to be the case, there are discussions underway about Mr Dutton moving to the role of defence minister – a shift that was canvassed before the last reshuffle.

The speculation is that Stuart Roberts would become the home affairs minister.

Ahead of the last reshuffle, there was a push to oust Senator Reynolds but Treasurer Josh Frydenberg fought to keep her in the defence portfolio.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/linda-reynolds-to-pay-damages-to-brittany-higgins-over-lying-cow-comment/news-story/675f8356a79830d73a0e41b5acbd4fb4

https://twitter.com/lindareynoldswa/status/1370200482086461442

https://twitter.com/BrittHiggins_/status/1370213290022895621

Fears alleged sex offender principal Malka Leifer could dodge justice

Shannon Deery - March 12, 2021

Fugitive principal Malka Leifer could avoid justice amid fears she will be unable to get a fair trial.

Concerns have been flagged among top government and legal circles about the potential for Leifer to succeed in arguing years of publicity about her case now makes it impossible for her case to be determined by an unbiased jury.

Senior sources say the alleged child sex offender, who was extradited to Melbourne in January after 13 years on the run, could have a “very strong case” to have her matter thrown out of court.

Provisions to criminal trials determined by a judge alone, without a jury, were introduced last year in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

But the temporary measure will end next month, with the government ruling out any extension.

Legal sources say extending the provision would ensure Ms Leifer would be unable to avoid justice.

But a government spokesperson said Victorian courts had a range of mechanisms at their disposal to ensure that a jury trial could proceed fairly.

“Temporary changes to allow courts to order judge alone trials were a necessary and effective response to the challenges presented by the pandemic, but trials by jury will remain a cornerstone of our criminal justice system as things go back to normal,” she said.

“The continuation of judge alone trials now that jury trials have resumed would require extensive consultation with the community, the legal profession and key stakeholders.”

Manny Waks, chief of victims advocacy group VoiCSA, said he hoped justice would prevail.

“I have no doubt that Leifer and her defence will try every trick in the book - and then even more - to try to prevent facing justice,” he said.

“We have seen the prolonged charade Leifer successfully played in Israel but we expect that she will no longer get away with it. There is absolutely no reason that Leifer can’t get a fair hearing in Australia. Others, more prominent, have been held to account for their crimes and we expect the same to happen in this case.

“We’re all looking forward to Leifer’s day in court, so finally, some semblance of belated justice may prevail.”

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts/fears-alleged-sex-offender-principal-malka-leifer-could-dodge-justice/news-story/4012e67fb2e773a9a568a00ad05cd7c5

Two women face court over alleged planned female genital mutilation of two-week-old baby in WA

Keane Bourke - 12 March 2021

Two women have faced court over allegedly planning the female genital mutilation of a two-week-old baby.

WA Police have charged the women, aged 23 and 50, after they allegedly approached a doctor in January for the procedure.

Police said the doctor refused and reported the matter to authorities, sparking an investigation by Child Abuse Squad detectives.

Today the women appeared in the Armadale Magistrates Court, charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence and are due to reappear on April 20.

Magistrate Steven Malley described the matter as a serious offence and dismissed a request made by the pair to regain custody, saying it would be like "putting [the baby] back into the lion's den".

The baby girl is now in the hands of Child Protection authorities.

If found guilty, the women could each face up to 10 years in prison.

Police did not confirm where the women live but said it was within their Cannington District, which includes Bentley, Queens Park, Rossmoyne, Shelley and Willetton.

Cultural beliefs the alleged motive

In a statement, WA Police said they believed the circumcision was planned as part of cultural beliefs.

"The WA Police Force embraces the diversity provided by the many cultural and ethnic groups that form our community," a police spokesperson said.

"Practices which may be acceptable by some cultures and in some countries may constitute criminal offences in Western Australia.

"It is an offence to commit female genital mutilation in Western Australia."

Procedures that remove part or all of the external female genitalia or cause injury to female genital organs for non-medical reasons are illegal across Australia.

It is believed around 53,000 women live with female genital mutilation across Australia.

Clinical practice guidelines from WA's Women and Newborn Health Service explain that the procedure is usually carried out between the ages of 4 and 10 years old, but may be conducted as late or "just before marriage, during pregnancy or post-birth".

"The motivation for communities to practice [female genital mutilation] varies wildly but includes psychosexual and sociological reasons, hygiene and aesthetic reasons and myths," it reads.

"It is a practice that is deeply entrenched in cultural heritage and traditions."

Australia's first prosecution for female genital mutilation was recorded in November 2015.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-12/women-allegedly-planned-genital-mutilation-of-baby-girl-in-perth/13242794

Ghislaine Maxwell to Sell London Home to Pay Legal Fees in Epstein Sex Case

Epstein confidante has buyer for her house near Hyde Park, though sale ran into complications with Barclays, Maxwell’s bank

Simon Clark and Rebecca Davis O’Brien - March 11, 2021

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Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite and confidante of the late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, is selling her London home to raise funds to pay for her legal defense, according to her family’s spokesman.

Ms. Maxwell, the daughter of media tycoon Robert Maxwell, has been held without bail in a New York jail since her July arrest on federal charges alleging she and Epstein groomed and abused girls as young as 14 years old between 1994 and 1997. She pleaded not guilty to all charges. U.S. prosecutors have opposed granting bail, arguing that she might flee the U.S.

The house is on Kinnerton Street in London’s upmarket Belgravia district. One of Epstein’s accusers, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, alleges that she was brought there in 2001 as a 17-year-old and forced to have sex with the U.K.’s Prince Andrew. Prince Andrew has disputed the encounter and said in a 2019 BBC interview that a photo of him and Ms. Giuffre allegedly taken at the home might have been faked.

The sale of the property, a short walk from Hyde Park, will soon be completed, according to Brian Basham, a spokesman for the Maxwell family. He declined to name the buyer or the sale price. Homes in the area of different sizes have sold for between £2.6 million and £8 million in the past two years, the equivalent of $3.6 million to $11.2 million, according to property records.

The sale ran into complications with Ms. Maxwell’s bank, Barclays PLC. The bank closed her account in February, the day after lawyers deposited £130,000, an initial payment from the buyer.

In a letter from the bank that was viewed by The Wall Street Journal, Barclays cited terms that forbid customers putting the bank in a position where it “might break a law, regulation, code or other duty.” The Maxwell family has found a way to complete the house sale even though the bank account has been closed, Mr. Basham said.

Barclays Chief Executive Officer Jes Staley counted Epstein as a client when he was an executive at JPMorgan Chase & Co. He made visits to Epstein at his private Caribbean island, the Journal has reported. U.K. regulators opened an investigation into how Mr. Staley characterized his relationship with the convicted sex offender to Barclays and how the British lender described it to the regulator.

A spokesman for the U.K.’s Financial Conduct Authority declined to comment on the investigation.

(continued)

>>13190262

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Mr. Staley has said his relationship with Epstein was professional and began in 2000 when he was head of JPMorgan’s private bank and the financier was a client. A major Barclays shareholder called last year for the bank to withdraw its support for Mr. Staley because of his links to Epstein.

Ms. Maxwell’s brother, Ian Maxwell, accused Barclays of closing her account to protect Mr. Staley.

“We have no idea what Staley got up to with Epstein, but whatever it was, it’s his problem and he should not be taking his problems out on my sister,” Mr. Maxwell said. “Staley is playing at Pontius Pilate with my sister’s life.”

A Barclays spokesman said the bank isn’t able to discuss customer accounts or confirm whether an individual is a customer. “As a matter of course, the Group CEO would not be involved in decisions to close accounts,” he said.

Federal prosecutors brought sex-trafficking charges against Epstein in 2019, putting a spotlight on his relationships with high-powered politicians and business leaders.

While Epstein was in federal custody, a New York appeals court ordered unsealed dozens of documents in a civil lawsuit brought by Ms. Giuffre against Ms. Maxwell, making public for the first time some of the details of the alleged abuse. In a deposition from that case, Ms. Maxwell described herself as Epstein’s girlfriend at times, and as his property manager and aide. Epstein died in jail in August 2019.

Ms. Maxwell’s criminal trial in Manhattan federal court is scheduled to begin in July.

Her lawyers have filed three motions asking for Ms. Maxwell to be released on bail, each time proposing more significant and specific bail packages, and each opposed by federal prosecutors. Her third request, filed in February, proposes that the court appoint a monitor for a new account to hold nearly all of her cash and liquid assets, “including any proceeds that result from the pending sale of Ms. Maxwell’s London house.”

The motion awaits a ruling by U.S. District Judge Alison Nathan. In a response filed this week federal prosecutors urged the judge to reject the bail package, saying that the proposal doesn’t place meaningful restraints on her assets, including the London home.

In December, Judge Nathan denied Ms. Maxwell’s previous request, citing Ms. Maxwell’s “clear risk of flight” and saying she “has not been fully candid about her financial situation.”

https://www.wsj.com/articles/ghislaine-maxwell-to-sell-london-home-to-pay-legal-fees-in-epstein-sex-case-11615487940

https://qanon.pub/#4568

Chinese takeover of island near Australian military training area causes unease inside defence and government

Andrew Greene - 12 March 2021

A decision to grant a Chinese linked company a mining licence on a remote West Australian island, close to a military training area, is raising concerns inside Defence and federal government ranks.

In October, the private Hong Kong-based entity was announced as the new owner of abandoned iron ore operations on Cockatoo Island in WA's Kimberley region, next to the Yampi Sound Defence Training Area.

Cockatoo Island is roughly 2000 kilometres from Perth and boasts an airstrip which was used to service past mining projects as well as a resort built by infamous businessman Alan Bond during the 1980s.

According to Western Australia's Department of Mines registry the new lease approved last year for 'Cockatoo Island Mining Pty Ltd' will expire in 2032.

Cockatoo Island Mining's directors say they want to "establish a world class and responsible mining operation, within an area that has demonstrated high-grade iron ore deposits," after the previous owner went into administration in 2015.

Company documents submitted to the Australian Security and Investments Commission confirm directors of the Cockatoo Island Mining venture reside in Australia, India, Hong Kong as well as mainland China.

The ABC has confirmed the 2020 takeover was examined by the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) but the deal has still alarmed some federal government figures who believe it is similar to the controversial lease of Darwin Port to a Chinese state-owned company.

Liberal Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, who previously served as Minister for International Development and the Pacific, has told the ABC she is alarmed at the deal.

"The Cockatoo Island 'transaction' is yet another example of why acquisition of strategic assets from governments in Australia by 'private companies' with links to Beijing should come within the scope of both FIRB and foreign relation legislation."

"This 'transaction' is another glaring example of our defective federal laws," the NSW Senator argues.

"China's company and national security laws require that the Chinese Communist Party 'control', not only China's state-owned entities, but also Chinese 'private companies'."

Last year the Morrison government passed new foreign relations laws which allow the Commonwealth the power to veto agreements with foreign countries struck by state and local governments, but not deals done with private companies.

One senior national security official who spoke to the ABC on the condition of anonymity, highlighted that as well as being next to a military training area Cockatoo Island was also close to the strategically important north-west shelf gas fields.

Defence has confirmed that over the past twelve months the Yampi Sound Training Area was used for a total of 19 days by both Regional Force Surveillance units and Special Forces units.

In a statement the Defence Department insisted appropriate security arrangements were in place at the remote training area which military figures believe will become increasingly important for future amphibious exercises.

"Defence has a multi-layered approach to managing security across its estate, which includes addressing security risks through protective security, contractual arrangements, and legislative protections," a spokesperson told the ABC.

"Yampi Sound Training Area is predominantly used for land and vehicle based training activities and has a range of security mechanisms in place".

"The Government does not comment on the foreign investment screening arrangements as they apply, or may apply, to particular cases," the spokesperson added.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-12/chinese-island-lease-on-remote-wa-island-causes-concern/13240282

>>13184102

Hong Kong activist welcome to campaign in Australia, says head of government intelligence committee

Reuters - 11 March 2021

Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Ted Hui is welcome to campaign on political issues in Australia and his arrival was not a matter for China, the chair of the Australian parliament's intelligence committee said on Thursday.

In the first comments from an Australian government member since Hui arrived from London on Monday, the chairman of the parliament's committee on intelligence and security, James Paterson, said immigration policy was a "purely domestic sovereign issue for Australia".

Hui, who fled Hong Kong late last year after facing criminal charges over democracy protests, said he moved from London to Australia to extend the reach of the pro-democracy movement's international lobbying.

Australia had a large community of Hong Kong people but no democracy movement leadership, he said.

In a statement on Hui, the Chinese embassy in Australia said it "urges the Australian side to stop meddling in Hong Kong's affairs and China's internal affairs in any way. Otherwise the China-Australia relations will only sustain further damage".

"Any visitor to Australia, whether they are a citizen or not, enjoys all the rights and freedoms that Australians enjoy. They enjoy freedom of speech, freedom of political campaign, so he is welcome to do that here," Senator Paterson told ABC radio.

He added, "other visitors that have a different view to him are welcome to put their arguments too".

Hui was granted a tourist visa, an exemption to Australia's closed border policy, and government assistance to secure seats for his family on a repatriation flight from London. He said he didn't intend to seek asylum.

The government intelligence committee held a public hearing on Thursday on national security risks to the university sector, which has focused on research collaboration with China.

https://news.trust.org/item/20210310232812-k5but/

Liberal Party donor Huifeng 'Haha' Liu 'engaged in acts of foreign interference': ASIO

Sean Rubinsztein-Dunlop and Echo Hui - 12 March 2021

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A Liberal Party donor who developed relationships with federal Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar and MP Gladys Liu engaged in "acts of foreign interference" and activities for Beijing, according to Australia's domestic spy agency.

The bombshell findings by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) are contained in Melbourne-based Chinese businessman Huifeng "Haha" Liu's court application to fight the Federal Government to avoid deportation.

The case of Mr Liu, who ingratiated himself with Liberal Party MPs over the past five years, is a rare test of Australia's opaque strategy to counter alleged Chinese government interference by cancelling visas.

The 52-year-old stepped down as the president of a popular neighbourhood watch organisation which was also an official agency for the Chinese government, after ASIO deemed him a national security risk last year.

Federal Court documents released to the ABC reveal that in making the adverse security assessment, ASIO found the Chinese national "had engaged, and was at risk of engaging, in activities which constituted 'acts of foreign interference'".

According to Mr Liu's court application, ASIO concluded the former Chinese army soldier had lied in interviews with the agency about his work for, and ties to, unnamed Chinese officials.

"ASIO found that [Mr Liu] deliberately misrepresented the nature and extent of his relationships with officials of the Chinese government and the activities he has conducted on their behalf," Mr Liu's application said.

'Material errors in ASIO assessment'

Mr Liu is challenging ASIO's findings, accusing the agency of denying him a fair process and failing to demonstrate how his actions constituted "acts of foreign interference" under Australian law.

He claims an official translator made "material errors" in an ASIO Security Assessment Interview conducted two days after his visa was revoked.

The ABC has also uncovered new WeChat messages which show Mr Liu and his neighbourhood watch organisation worked closely with Chinese diplomats in Sydney and Melbourne and hoped for funding from a Chinese foreign influence agency.

Federal Opposition legal affairs spokesman Mark Dreyfus, a member of Parliament's intelligence and security committee, called on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to come clean on the Liberal Party's ties to Mr Liu, in response to ASIO's "deeply disturbing" findings.

"The real question is how long has Mr Morrison known that a donor to his party and a man connected to Gladys Liu and to Michael Sukkar has been identified by ASIO as an agent of foreign interference?" he asked.

"Gladys Liu and Michael Sukkar need to explain what their links are to Haha Liu.

"Mr Morrison has failed to hold his MPs to account but it's now obvious he can't just brush this one under the carpet."

The court documents in Mr Liu's case against the Immigration Minister and ASIO do not provide further details of his alleged acts of foreign interference or specify whether the allegations relate to his relationships with Australian politicians.

ASIO's findings will be tested in a one-day trial later this year.

Mr Liu's court battle comes after the government revoked the visas of two Chinese academics on national security grounds last year, provoking a storm of criticism from the Chinese government.

Yun Jiang, the managing editor of the Australian National University (ANU)'s China Story blog and a former Treasury official, said the government was increasingly relying on visa and immigration decisions to counter foreign interference.

"One thing we need to bear in mind is that compared to public prosecution under the foreign interference legislation, there's not much public information about these visa decisions," she said.

"One reason that the Australian government may decide to proceed with a visa rather than legislative approach is that it may have less effect on the bilateral relationship.

"But in the case of visa decisions, there is no public discussion and the public is not aware of the evidence presented. It also means that the public cannot be on the lookout for similar behaviours."

(continued)

>>13190540

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A deal with the Chinese Consulate

Mr Liu founded a popular community safety organisation, the Australian Emergency Assistance Association (AEAAI), which was announced in 2017 as an official "consular protection assistance agency" of China's Melbourne Consulate.

The AEAAI has more than 1,000 volunteers who act as middlemen for Chinese speakers with Australian authorities.

According to confidential documents revealed by the ABC in January, the association agreed to take instructions from the consulate and report back on criminal incidents, emergencies, accidents and "security risks" involving Chinese citizens deemed to require consular assistance.

The AEAAI has not always been transparent about the agreement, promoting itself as a grassroots community aid group to its more than 55,000 members across the country on the Chinese social media platform WeChat.

The ANU's Yun Jiang said the deal to report to the Chinese consulate could be risky for Chinese nationals, although it was not clear what information the association had provided.

"We know that the Chinese government has targeted individuals inside Australia for harassment," she said.

"That includes, for example, Hong Kong democracy activists, members of the Uyghur communities, or Falun Gong practitioners.

"So, an Australian organisation that supplies private and personal information to the Chinese Embassy can really endanger those individuals and that is very, very concerning."

WeChat messages show Liu wanted funds from Chinese foreign influence agency

The ABC can reveal internal AEAAI communications show Mr Liu also hoped for funding for the association from a top agency within the Chinese government's foreign influence network.

He made the comments in a series of WeChat messages to his leadership committee in March and April 2017, announcing the partnership with the consulate which, he wrote, came with "funding for our public events".

He wrote he expected "other donations" and hoped for money from the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, a foreign influence agency.

"[I have been] trying to get funding from various other sources," he wrote to the 22 members of the committee.

"Our lives would be made even more comfortable if the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese could provide some funding as well."

As part of their agreement, the Melbourne consulate also agreed to reimburse the organisation for transportation and accommodation costs of consular protection activities.

However, in a detailed response to the ABC's questions, the AEAAI said it had never received any funds from Beijing and its formal agreement with the consulate lapsed last July.

"Neither the association nor Mr Liu has ever received either directly or indirectly through any third-party entities any monies from any foreign governments or political parties," said current AEAAI's president Skye Cai in a statement.

Ms Cai said the AEAAI had discussed potential funding "with full transparency" and its leadership committee jointly decided not to seek or receive money.

She said an internal audit last November found the AEAAI's bank accounts were untouched until 2020, when the only deposits were from three companies sponsoring a seminar.

Several committee members who spoke with the ABC on condition of anonymity questioned why the accounts remained empty over several years of AEAAI operations.

Mr Liu stood down as the association's president last November amid an internal row with committee members over questions about financial transparency and his dealings with ASIO.

In a statement in January, the consulate said there had been no "financial exchange" with the AEAAI and accused the ABC of "deliberately discrediting the Consulate-General and the Chinese government".

The consulate said its agreement with the AEAAI "strictly abides by Australian laws and regulations" and "the Chinese government … will never interfere in the internal affairs of any country".

(continued)

>>13190547

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Expanded responsibilities

In 2019, Haha Liu expanded his diplomatic connections, establishing a relationship with China's Sydney Consulate, the ABC can reveal.

The Sydney consulate approached the AEAAI to work together on New South Wales cases, in a bid spearheaded by China's Deputy Consul-General in Sydney, Mi Bin.

Mi Bin met with Mr Liu and four AEAAI committee members in the consulate in January 2019 to plan cooperation.

The initial approach to the AEAAI was made on WeChat by a consular officer, who wrote Beijing needed help with "more and more tourists, students and other people coming to Australia".

"It's unavoidable that they will encounter difficulties sometimes and some of them will come to the consulates seeking consular protection and assistance," the officer wrote.

"Recently, we found out about your Association which has been well established with considerable scale here in Australia, so we hope that we can establish some contact with you and seek some cooperation."

The consular officer later confirmed in a message: "The consulate wants to include you in our 'consular protection volunteer' system."

He asked a committee member to recommend volunteers in Sydney, further north in Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie, and in the NSW South Coast towns of Nowra, Kiama and Merimbula.

Afterwards, Deputy Consul-General Mi Bin and two of his Consuls took three committee members to a private dinner in a VIP room at the Imperial Kitchen and Bar in Sydney's CBD in April 2019.

WeChat messages show the consulate communicated with the AEAAI about cases involving the Chinese community as recently as January this year.

The Sydney consulate, Melbourne consulate and Chinese embassy did not respond to questions by the ABC's deadline. However, the AEAAI said it never had a formal cooperation agreement with the Sydney consulate.

In her statement to the ABC, the AEAAI's current president Skye Cai said the association was privy to ASIO's findings and "believe strongly in the innocence of Mr Liu".

"If there is any evidence which the ASIO has of any wrongdoing by either the Association or Mr Liu, we are not aware of it," Ms Cai wrote.

"Nor has the association directly been approached by ASIO nor have we been provided with any evidence or details of any foreign interference.

"Neither the association nor Mr Liu's personal relationships either with Australian politicians or Chinese officials ever exceeded the norm of cordial friendship and politeness."

Ms Cai said the AEAAI's internal investigations concluded ASIO's findings were "extremely likely a direct result of a third party's ill intent and false representations".

(continued)

>>13190551

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Liu's links to the Liberal Party

Sources close to Mr Liu told the ABC earlier this year he was on ASIO's radar since at least 2016, when he had the first in a series of meetings with the agency.

Mr Liu was photographed that year attending the launch of a new Australian association for veterans of China's People's Liberation Army that had close ties to Beijing.

Soon after, the imports-exports businessman launched the AEAAI and donated $20,000 to the federal Liberal Party in the lead-up to the 2016 election.

He flooded social media with photos of encounters with a who's who of Liberal Party figures, including Mr Sukkar, Gladys Liu, Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton, then-foreign affairs minister Julie Bishop, now-Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and former prime ministers John Howard, Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull.

Mr Liu developed relationships with Gladys Liu (no relation) and Mr Sukkar, the Assistant Treasurer, who wined and dined the political donor at events and party fundraisers over at least two years.

Gladys Liu, a prolific fundraiser and campaigner, publicly promoted the AEAAI over several years, spoke at its annual conferences, and helped Haha Liu develop relationships with Victoria Police and Liberal Party politicians.

Mr Liu also sat in Parliament in 2019, watching from the public gallery as Gladys Liu gave her maiden speech as MP.

Mr Sukkar invited Mr Liu to join him at the Parliament budget night dinner and wrote him a thankyou card for his "friendship and support" in 2017.

Mr Sukkar and Gladys Liu declined the ABC's requests for interviews. Their spokesmen referred the ABC to previous statements in which both said allegations against Haha Liu should be "thoroughly investigated."

In his December statement, Mr Sukkar's spokesman said the Assistant Treasurer "never had a private meeting or conversation with Mr Liu, who is known locally not to speak English."

He said they had not attended any of the same "community events" in at least the past two years.

Mr Sukkar's spokesman declined to answer questions about specific fundraising events, but said the thankyou card was one of about 5,000 "personalised Christmas cards" the Assistant Treasurer sent each year.

Gladys Liu said her only dealings with Mr Liu were in his capacity as president of the AEAAI.

Mr Liu declined the ABC's interview request and refused to answer a detailed list of questions.

An ASIO spokesperson said the agency did not comment on intelligence matters, while the Department of Home Affairs said it would not comment on matters before the courts.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Immigration Minister Alex Hawke and Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton were also contacted for comment.

Full response from the AEAAI.

https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/20509845/response-from-aeiaa-10-march-2021.pdf

https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/20510723/aeaai-statement-10-march-2021.pdf

Agreement between AEAAI and the Melbourne consulate.

https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/20509849/agreement-with-melbourne-consulate.pdf

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-12/asio-assessment-revealed-in-haha-liu-court-application/13234740

‘AstraZeneca is safe’: Australia not concerned by reports of blood clots in Europe

Kate Aubusson and Josh Dye - March 12, 2021

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he is not worried by news that some European countries have temporarily suspended the use of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine after reports of blood clots in a handful of people who received doses from the same batch of the vaccine.

Asked if Australia should pause its AstraZeneca rollout in line with Denmark, Norway and Iceland, Mr Morrison said “No, that is not the view of our medical advisors”.

Austria had earlier stopped using a batch of AstraZeneca shots while investigating a death from coagulation disorders and an illness from a pulmonary embolism.

Danish health authorities decided to suspend the vaccine for two weeks after a 60-year-old woman in Denmark, who was given an AstraZeneca shot from the same batch that was used in Austria, formed a blood clot and died.

But the European medicine regulator EMA said the vaccine’s benefits outweighed its risks and could continue to be administered and there was no evidence so far linking AstraZeneca to the cases.

EMA said the number of thromboembolic events – marked by the formation of blood clots – in people who have received the AstraZeneca vaccine is no higher than that seen in the general population, with 22 cases of such events being reported among the 3 million people who have received it as of March 9.

Mr Morrison, when asked on Friday morning if he was personally concerned about the reports, said “no I’m not, no”.

“The TGA obviously looks at these reports when they come through, but they do their own batch testing … on the batches going out across Australia,” Mr Morrison said.

“We have a very robust process for examining … we have had a front-row seat on the roll out of the vaccine in many other countries where they have had to so that because of their urgent crisis situation and the learning from that have been taken into account as we’ve been rolling out the vaccine safely here in Australia,” he said.

Australia’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly said there is currently no evidence that the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine causes blood clots.

“The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is effective, it is safe, and it’s a high-quality vaccine,” Professor Kelly said.

“Safety is our first priority and in a large vaccine rollout like this, we need to monitor carefully for any unusual events so we will find them. This does not mean that every event following a vaccination is caused by the vaccine.

“But we do take them seriously and investigate,” he said.

Professor Kelly said the Australian health authorities had spoken with their European counterparts overnight, including the EMA, UK and Danish authorities.

“The action taken by several European countries is a precautionary measure so that a full investigation can be rapidly conducted,” he said. He stressed that more than 11 million people vaccinated in the UK without evidence of an increase in blood clots.

Iceland suspended shots with the vaccine as it awaited the results of an investigation by the EMA. Italy said it would suspend use of an AstraZeneca batch different to the one used in Austria.

But several other European countries, including Sweden, France and Spain have continued using their AstraZeneca vaccines, deeming there to be no indication that the vaccines caused the blood clots.

The batch of 1 million doses went to 17 EU countries.

Stephen Evans, professor of pharmacoepidemiology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine said the response from Denmark, Iceland and Norway was “super-cautious” based isolated reports.

“The problem with spontaneous reports of suspected adverse reactions to a vaccine are the enormous difficulty of distinguishing a causal effect from a coincidence,” he said, adding that the COVID-19 disease was very strongly associated with blood clotting.

AstraZeneca on Thursday said in a written statement that the safety of its vaccine had been extensively studied in human trials and peer-reviewed data had confirmed the vaccine was generally well tolerated.

https://www.smh.com.au/national/astrazeneca-is-safe-australia-not-concerned-by-reports-of-blood-clots-in-europe-20210312-p57a74.html

Resignations in the news

‘Personal cost’: Deloitte Australia CEO Richard Deutsch in shock early resignation

Edmund Tadros - Mar 11, 2021

The head of Deloitte, Richard Deutsch, has resigned after just two-and-a-half years in the role citing the undisclosed “personal cost” of the position.

The decision caught partners and staff by surprise as Mr Deutsch still had almost 18 months to go in his inaugural four-year term as leader.

Under his leadership, the firm increased annual revenue to $2.5 billion and is now almost as large as long-time market leader PwC.

The firm has also bounced back from the pandemic downturn, recently winning work from public and private sector clients including the Department of Defence, Services Australia and RMIT.

Internally, however, Deloitte has been dogged by a continued partner exodus, emerging difficulties retaining and recruiting staff and a number of protracted and high-profile legal cases.

Pressure from global and regional leadership to continue aggressively growing so it could overtake PwC as the largest consulting firm in the country is believed to have contributed to his decision.

Search for new CEO

The firm’s board will now conduct a process to select a new CEO which is expected to be from the Australian partnership with Mr Deutsch set to remain in the role until the CEO selection process is completed.

“After a difficult and unprecedented year and following much personal reflection, today I announced my resignation as CEO,” Mr Deutsch told partners and staff in an all-firm email sent on Thursday afternoon.

“It has been a tremendous honour and privilege to lead this great firm. I am extremely proud of what we have achieved over the past two-and-a-half years. We have navigated the greatest health and economic crisis of our generation and secured the future of the business while continuing to serve our clients with distinction. But this period has come at some personal cost.”

He said the firm was now “extremely well-placed for the future” and that he believed that now “is time to hand over to a new CEO who will drive the firm into the next phase of Deloitte’s growth”.

He then thanked partners and staff for making Deloitte “the best professional services firm in Australia.”

Deloitte partners first became aware that an announcement was imminent when an urgent video-conference meeting was placed into their diaries at about 3:30pm on Thursday afternoon.

In the partner-only video conference, held at 4:30pm, Mr Deutsch told partners he had resigned, again citing unspecified “personal reasons”. The meeting was over quickly and he did not take questions, according to multiple participants.

The firm-wide email was sent out shortly after the partner-only conference call.

Deloitte chairman Tom Imbesi thanked Mr Deutsch for his leadership in a statement.

“He is an authentic leader who has always displayed a deep passion for our clients and compassion for our people,” Mr Imbesi said.

“Under Richard’s leadership we have integrated into the Deloitte Asia Pacific firm, continued our strong growth momentum, and navigated successfully through the COVID-19 crisis, while securing the financial health of the business.

“We wish Richard the best for the future.”

Partner departures

Deloitte, among the big four consulting firms, is facing particularly acute issues retaining partners and retaining and recruiting staff even as client demand returns.

Dozens of partners have left Deloitte over the past two years to go to rival professional service firms or start their own outfits.

In addition, the firm is now also struggling to recruit and retain enough professionals for projects less than a year after cutting staff pay and making 700 roles redundant to offset the COVID-19-induced downturn.

Two court cases also continue to cause unwelcome headlines for the firms.

Deloitte auditor Colin Brown is seeking damages of more than $3 million over claims Deloitte Australia illegally tried to force him out of the lucrative partnership because of his age.

Deloitte has already admitted it has an “expectation” partners retire at 62 but denies it forces them to leave.

The case is being closely watched because a decision in Mr Brown’s favour may set an industry-wide precedent for other partnerships that continue to have age-specific retirement practices.

The firm is also facing multiple actions over the quality of its auditing at companies including the now-collpased building services group Hastie and Freedom Foods Group.

Mr Deutsch did not return calls for comment.

https://www.afr.com/companies/professional-services/deloitte-australia-s-richard-deutsch-resigns-as-ceo-20210311-p579xo

NSW man James Robert Davis charged with keeping slave in Sydney suburb of Maroubra

Amelia Bernasconi and Lara Webster - 12 March 2021

A man accused of keeping a slave in the Sydney suburb of Maroubra will remain behind bars after a brief court appearance in today.

James Robert Davis, 40, is facing three charges — reducing a person to slavery, possessing a slave and causing a person to enter into or remain in servitude.

The offences are alleged to have occurred between June 2013 and July 2015 at a property in Maroubra, in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

Mr Davis, who served with the military for 17 years, was arrested in Armidale on Thursday by the Australian Federal Police (AFP).

An AFP spokesperson confirmed it had not ruled out laying further charges.

In a video posted online, Mr Davis spoke openly about his polyamorous relationships with women.

"They must think I'm some kind of abusive oppressor, misogynist, manipulator or even a monster," he said.

"But the truth is, I'm just a guy who enjoys both freedom and commitment and was lucky enough to find some incredible women to love and who loved me back."

Mr Davis wore a grey suit as he appeared at Inverell Local Court today via audio-visual link.

He did not apply for bail and it was formally refused, however his lawyer flagged she would be making a bail application next week.

His lawyer also thanked the magistrate for allowing Mr Davis's wife and other family members to attend court at Armidale to watch the proceedings via video link.

The group displayed little emotion throughout his brief appearance and did not speak outside court.

The court heard the brief of evidence is expected to be served when the matter later returns to court on May 13.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-12/james-robert-davis-facing-slavery-charge-in-maroubra/13241282

OECD top post: And the winner is … Australia’s Mathias Cormann

SIMON BENSON, GEOFF CHAMBERS and JOE KELLY - MARCH 12, 2021

1/2

Australia has pulled off a stunning diplomatic coup with Mathias Cormann set to be announced as secretary-general of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, delivering the Asia-Pacific region’s first head of the Paris-based body.

In a major vindication of Scott Morrison’s push to win the influential economic post, sources close to the OECD process confirmed Mr Cormann’s appointment, which will be announced as early as Saturday morning.

Mr Cormann, who served in federal parliament from 2007 until his retirement late last year, won the tightly contested contest following an exhaustive process pitting him against the preferred European candidate, Sweden’s Cecilia Malmstrom.

Australia’s longest-serving ­finance minister steps into the OECD role despite a campaign questioning his climate change credentials and a push to select the first female secretary-general.

The Weekend Australian understands the Prime Minister played a central role in Mr Cormann’s successful OECD bid, calling more than 50 world leaders over the course of the last few months. Mr Cormann, regarded as one of Australia’s most accomplished finance ministers, also ran a tireless international lobbying effort to secure the posting, having faced resistance from some European countries.

US support was considered critical to his success. He will replace Angel Gurria of Mexico, with his five-year term commencing on June 1.

As secretary-general, Mr Cormann will lead the OECD Secretariat and Council, which is the organisation’s overarching decision-making body composed of ambassadors from 37 member countries and the European Commission.

Mr Cormann described it as “a privilege and an honour to take on the leadership of the OECD.”

“It brings together like-minded countries from around the world committed to developing and delivering better policies for better lives,” he said, describing himself as “ambitious” for the OECD. “It provides a great platform for international cooperation and best practice policy development, from the foundation of a shared commitment to democracy, human rights, the rule of law, market-based economic principles and a rules-based international order.”

Mr Cormann won the job after the initial field of 10 candidates was narrowed to two. Nominated by Sweden, Dr Malmstrom served as European trade commissioner and European home ­affairs commissioner, as well as minister for EU affairs in the Swedish government between 2006 and 2010. She was also a member of the European parliament between 1999 and 2006.

The last European to hold the job was Jean-Claude Paye in 1996. Mr Cormann’s pathway to success was understood to be contingent on winning support from Asia-Pacific and Latin American nations, with help from eastern Europe members.

The last time an Australian headed a major international economic organisation was Sydney-born Sir James Wolfensohn, who was appointed by the US as World Bank group president from 1995 to 2005.

(continued)

>>13195850

2/2

The Prime Minister, who provided government support to ­assist Mr Cormann’s candidacy during the COVID-19 pandemic, on Friday confirmed the OECD selection process had “gone into extra time”. “It’s into golden point. And while Mathias Cormann may not have been an NRL fan but an AFL fan, I’m sure he is getting all the support that is necessary,” Mr Morrison said.

“And I really want to thank him and the whole team and all of those around the world that I’ve engaged with over these many months.

“The OECD brings together like-minded countries from all around the world, like minded-liberal democracies from the Americas, from Asia-Pacific, from Europe and the United Kingdom.”

Mr Morrison said Australia had been an OECD member since its foundation and “we’re very pleased for the first time to be putting ourselves forward for such a unique international role”.

In November, Mr Morrison defended the use of a taxpayer-funded RAAF jet to support Mr Cormann’s campaign, warning there was an “extremely high” risk he could have contracted COVID-19 if he had flown on commercial flights.

Climate and environmental groups had written to the OECD voicing their concerns about Mr Cormann’s candidacy in a March 4 letter arguing “the public record of Mathias Cormann should preclude him from being selected”.

The letter cited his role as ­finance minister in the Abbott government which, in July 2014, “abolished the country’s carbon pricing scheme”. It was signed by Kelly O’Shanassy, chief executive of the Australian Conservation Foundation; Matt Brennan, chief executive of the Wilderness Society Australia; Julie-Anne Richards, the executive director of the Climate Action Network Australia and David Ritter, the chief executive of Greenpeace Australia Pacific, among others.

The letter claimed Mr Cormann was not a “suitable candidate” and singled him out for describing Australia’s emissions trading scheme as “an act of economic self-harm which does nothing to help reduce global emissions”. Greens leader Adam Bandt was also opposed to Mr Cormann taking the OECD top job, writing to member nations urging them to support alternative candidates.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/oecd-top-post-and-the-winner-is-australias-mathias-cormann/news-story/5c2fdf4151b2686e31df4ba46780eb6b

China tells UN Australia's offshore detention centres violate human rights, don't have adequate conditions

ABC/Reuters - 13 March 2021

China says it is "deeply concerned" by the Australian government's operation of offshore detention centres, and called for the sites to be closed immediately.

Ties between the two countries soured in 2018 when Australia became the first nation to publicly ban China's Huawei from its 5G network and worsened when Australia last year called for an inquiry into the origins of coronavirus.

In a statement to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, China alleged the detention centres "fall short of adequate medical conditions where a large number of immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers have been detained over a long period of time or even indefinitely, and their human rights have been violated".

It did not specify any locations, describing them as "third countries".

Asylum seekers intercepted at sea en route to Australia are sent for processing to Papua New Guinea or to the South Pacific island of Nauru.

"We urge Australia to immediately close down all offshore detention centres and take concrete steps to protect the rights of immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers, especially children," China said in its statement, which it submitted on behalf of a group of unnamed countries.

It also called on Australia to carry out "comprehensive and fair investigations" into reported cases of "serious war crimes" committed by Australian troops overseas.

An Australian inquiry published in November said Australian special forces were suspected of killing 39 unarmed prisoners and civilians in Afghanistan between 2005 and 2016, drawing criticism from China's foreign ministry.

China itself has long faced accusations that it operates detention centres, with UN experts and rights groups estimating it has detained more than a million people in its Xinjiang region, mostly Uyghur and other Muslim minorities, in a vast system of camps.

China breaching genocide convention with 'intent to destroy' Uyghurs

China has described the camps as vocational centres designed to combat extremism.

According to a major new report by a US-based think tank Newlines Institute for Strategy and Policy, China has breached every provision of the UN Genocide Convention, with "intent to destroy" the Uyghurs as a group in the country's north-western Xinjiang region.

The United Nations has said there are credible reports that at least 1 million Uyghurs are detained in Xinjiang's "re-education" camps.

Beijing has repeatedly stressed that its policies in Xinjiang are necessary to counter extremism and terrorism.

It has repeatedly denied its ethnic policies amount to genocide, but the report maintained the Chinese Communist Party had violated "each and every act" prohibited in Article II of the Genocide Convention.

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi called the allegations "ridiculously absurd" and "a complete lie".

"The so-called 'genocide' in Xinjiang is ridiculously absurd. It is a rumour with ulterior motives and a complete lie," he said.

A number of nations, including the United States and Canada, have labelled the persecution of the Uyghur people genocide in light of growing evidence of abuses at "re-education camps" in Xinjiang.

But Australia has not.

It has previously expressed criticism of China's treatment of Uyghurs, and joined other countries at the UN Human Rights Council, including the UK, Canada and Germany, in calling upon China to end its detention of the ethnic minority.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-13/china-urges-australia-to-close-offshore-detention-centres/13245174

>>13195850

Prime Minister Scott Morrison Facebook Post

Great honour for Australia

A huge honour and recognition for Australia. Well done to Mathias Cormann on being elected as the next Secretary-General of the OECD, one of the world’s most important international economic organisations.

This is the most senior appointment of an Australian candidate to an international body for decades.

Mathias will make an outstanding contribution as leader of the OECD and I thank all the member nations of the OECD for their support.

https://www.facebook.com/scottmorrison4cook/videos/449513359699025/

>>13183787

Prime Minister Scott Morrison Facebook Post

An historic meeting for India, the United States, Japan and Australia - the first ever leaders’ meeting of the Quad.

For us, this meeting is about how we keep Australia and the Indo-Pacific region we live in safe, stable and secure.

https://www.facebook.com/scottmorrison4cook/posts/4058847384159634

>>13183787

President Joe Biden Tweet

This morning, I met virtually with the Quad in the first multilateral summit I’ve hosted as president. The United States, Japan, India, and Australia are committed to working together to tackle the shared challenges we face and to secure a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1370497665155354624

>>13183787

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga Tweets

先ほど、初めてとなる日米豪印首脳会議を行いました。

新型コロナウィルス対策をはじめ、重要課題について、議論を重ねて、協力をしていくことで一致をしました。

新型コロナ対策については、4カ国でインド太平洋地域の途上国などへのワクチン支援など、様々な局面で協力していきます。

(Google translation)

Earlier, we held the first Japan-US-Australia-India Summit. We agreed to continue discussions and cooperate on important issues, including measures against the new coronavirus. Regarding measures against the new corona, we will cooperate in various aspects such as vaccine support to developing countries in the Indo-Pacific region in the four countries.

https://twitter.com/sugawitter/status/1370406317953720321

—

自由で開かれたインド太平洋の実現に向けて、私からアセアンなどの諸国と連携していくことを提案し、賛同を得ました。

また、ミャンマー情勢についての重大な懸念、そして、中国による一方的な現状変更の試みに強く反対する旨、訴えました。

拉致問題の即時解決が重要であることも訴えました。

I proposed and agreed with countries such as ASEAN toward the realization of a free and open Indo-Pacific. He also expressed serious concern about the situation in Myanmar and strongly opposed China's unilateral attempts to change the status quo. He also emphasized the importance of immediate resolution of the abduction issue.

https://twitter.com/sugawitter/status/1370406414955339782

—

今回の会議は、日米豪印の4カ国を、新たなステージに引き上げることができた会合だったと思います。年内に対面での首脳会談を行うことでも一致しました。

これから4カ国を中心に、野心的な、そして具体的な成果を出せるよう協力してまいります。

I think this meeting was a meeting that was able to take the four countries of Japan, the United States, Australia and India to a new stage. We also agreed to hold a face-to-face summit meeting within the year. From now on, we will cooperate to produce ambitious and concrete results, mainly in the four countries.

https://twitter.com/sugawitter/status/1370406571612598277

>>13183787

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tweets

Had fruitful discussions with @POTUS @JoeBiden, PM @ScottMorrisonMP and PM @sugawitter at the 1st Quad Summit.

Reiterated India’s commitment to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific in line with our vision of SAGAR - Security and Growth for All in the Region.

https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1370416531679576075

—

United in our fight against COVID-19, we launched a landmark Quad partnership to ensure accessibility of safe COVID-19 vaccines. India’s formidable vaccine production capacity will be expanded with support from Japan, US & Australia to assist countries in the Indo-Pacific region.

https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1370416533441187841

—

Our discussions today on vaccines, climate change, and emerging technologies make the Quad a positive force for global good and for peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.

https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1370416535240548353

—

Speaking at the First Quad Leaders’ Virtual Summit.

https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1370368686402330627

>>13183787

U.S. Department of State Tweet

The United States, Japan, India, and Australia are united in our vision for a free and open, inclusive and healthy Indo-Pacific region. Learn more about the outcomes from today's historic Quad Summit here: go.usa.gov/xsvKn. #FreeandOpenIndoPacific

https://twitter.com/StateDept/status/1370509937252708361

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/03/12/fact-sheet-quad-summit/

>>13195888

Elise Thomas Tweet

They're right. This is something we should be ashamed of and something we need to fix. Whataboutism is a cop-out and we should lead by example on human rights issues #auspol

https://twitter.com/elisethoma5/status/1370651423755567110

>>13184085

Julian Assange’s father brings his fight to free his son to Canberra

Hannah Sparks - 13 March 2021

John Shipton, the father of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who is currently in custody in London pending a High Court appeal, will protest outside Parliament House with supporters from 8:00 am on Monday, 15 March.

Mr Shipton is also due to speak at the Australian National University on Sunday night with former Deputy Chief Minister and lawyer Bernard Collaery. Mr Collaery is on trial for allegedly unlawfully sharing protected information about an Australian spy operation that bugged allies in the Timor-Leste Government in 2004 when Australia was negotiating for oil and gas resources in the Timor Sea.

The whistleblower, David McBride, will also speak on Sunday night.

Mr Shipton is calling on the Australian Government to bring Mr Assange, 49, back to Australia.

Mr Assange is currently awaiting the result of an appeal to the High Court in England, which will decide whether he will be extradited to the US where he has been accused of conspiring to leak classified material in 2010.

Mr Shipton claimed there was strong support for Mr Assange’s freedom in Australia and that it had grown during his “Home Run for Julian Assange” tour, which started on 28 February and has passed through Melbourne, Castlemaine, Bendigo, Albury, Wagga Wagga, Goulburn, Bathurst, Katoomba and Parramatta.

Mr Shipton has been campaigning to clear his son’s name ever since the US Government launched a criminal investigation into WikiLeaks in 2010.

Mr Assange grew up with his mother Christine Hawkins and step-father Brett Assange but reconnected with his father later in life. Mr Shipton visited his son in London every year and spent every Christmas with him while he was under the protection of the Embassy of Ecuador in London.

However, COVID-19 put a stop to the visits, with the pandemic also cancelling organised rallies and placing Mr Assange’s prison into lockdown.

For the past three years, Mr Shipton has been campaigning in the UK and across Europe, America, South America and Australia.

While in America in January, Mr Shipton tried to meet with President Joe Biden to ask for the charges against Mr Assange to be dropped but said his plans were stifled when the riots broke out in Washington.

Mr Shipton said Mr Assange’s mental health wasn’t “the best” and had been affected by the 11 years he’s spent in confinement.

Mr Assange used his IT skills to hack into the databases of many high profile organisations and, in 2006, began work on WikiLeaks, which shared confidential information, including footage of US soldiers killing 18 Iraqi civilians.

Later that year, Sweden issued a warrant for his arrest over allegations of sexual assault, but Mr Assange avoided extradition by seeking asylum in London’s Ecuadorean Embassy.

After almost seven years inside the embassy, Mr Assange was arrested by British police. He has been in custody ever since.

Mr Shipton said his son had appealed for bail and would find out if his appeal could be taken to the US Supreme Court after submissions were made on 29 March.

For more information about the events on Sunday, 14 March and Monday, 15 March, visit Assange Freedom.

https://assangefreedom.network/events/

https://the-riotact.com/julian-assanges-father-brings-his-fight-to-free-his-son-to-canberra/446111

Man travels from Mt Isa to Brisbane to meet ‘girl’ who was undercover cop

A Mount Isa man who travelled all the way to Brisbane allegedly to meet an “underage girl” for sex has had a rude awakening upon his arrival.

Kate Kyriacou - March 12, 2021

Detectives have arrested a Mount Isa man who allegedly travelled from North West Queensland to Brisbane to meet a child for sex - only to discover he’d been talking to undercover police.

The 20-year-old man was arrested this morning at a Hungry Jack’s in Brisbane’s west where he thought he was meeting a 15-year-old girl.

Detectives from Task Force Argos and the Ferny Grove Child Protection and Investigation Unit began investigating the 20-year-old man in January following a tip from police in Western Australia.

Police will allege the man made contact with an undercover officer from Argos via a social media app and began engaging in “inappropriate behaviour” with what he believed was an underage girl.

He is then alleged to have travelled from Mount Isa to Brisbane to “engage in sexual acts” with the girl.

The man has been charged with using the internet to procure a child under 16 years of age with a circumstance of aggravation that the offender went to a place with the intention of meeting the child and four counts of grooming a child under 16 years.

He was released on bail and is due to appear at the Brisbane Magistrates Court on March 16.

Argos Detective Inspector Glen Donaldson of Argos warned predators that undercover police were posing as children online every day to catch them out.

“Every day Argos has undercover officers working in a range of online platforms to detect and apprehend people who seek to exploit children in our community,” he said.

“To those that seek to engage in this predatory behaviour, just remember that the next `child’ that you engage may be a member of Argos.”

He warned parents to be vigilant about their children’s online activity.

“Supervision is key to prevention, as is ongoing communication with children about how to stay safe online and the dangers of having online ‘friends’ they have never met face-to-face,” Det Insp Donaldson said.

https://www.couriermail.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts/man-travels-from-mt-isa-to-brisbane-to-meet-girl-who-was-undercover-cop/news-story/f2cb36c57c9df24f953c939e960ca061

https://mypolice.qld.gov.au/news/2021/03/12/argos-arrest-brisbane-3/

‘My sister Ghislaine is not a monstrous pimp’

Ian Maxwell says Jeffrey Epstein ruined his youngest sibling’s life and she is paying for the US authorities’ failure to prosecute him.

ROSIE KINCHEN / The Times - March 14, 2021

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Family reunions aren’t easy to arrange when there are seven siblings scattered across two continents. So when the Maxwell children got together two summers ago, the mood was celebratory. It was the first time they had all been in a room together in almost a decade, and it felt as though there was another figure present as well. They met on June 10, 2019, which would have been Robert Maxwell’s 96th birthday had he not slipped into the Atlantic nearly 30 years earlier.

One person stands out in the photograph they took that day in London. Most of the Maxwell children – Anne, now 73, Philip, 71, twins Christine and Isabel, 70, Ian, 64, and Kevin, 62 have aged, the gloss of their childhood at Headington Hill Hall, near Oxford, faded long ago. Only Ghislaine, 59, suntanned and sophisticated, retains an aura of the world created by their father, Cap’n Bob. What none of them realised then was that the family were about to plunge once more into a scandal. A month after that gathering, Jeffrey Epstein was arrested and charged with sex trafficking underage girls, after a sweetheart deal he negotiated 12 years earlier fell apart. A month after that, Epstein was found dead in his cell. Immediately the spotlight shifted onto Ghislaine, his former partner.

“That was when her world exploded,” Ian Maxwell says. His youngest sister is in a prison cell in Brooklyn, New York, charged with crimes including grooming underage girls and perjury. Once more the Maxwells face opprobrium and once more the family are locking arms to defend their own. Since Ghislaine’s arrest in July her siblings have been working behind the scenes to try to have her released on bail. Now, with less than four months until her trial, and two rejected bail applications – a third is under consideration – they are speaking out. Their sister has been in solitary confinement in a 6ft by 9ft cell for six months, she is considered a suicide risk (unduly, they claim) and she is woken up every 15 minutes.

“She is not able to properly prepare the defence,” her brother says. The family fear that the presumption of her innocence has been lost in a tide of rumour.

“The Ghislaine that we know has been buried in this caricature, this monstrous creature that has been invented as an abuser and a pimp,” Ian says. It is true that in all the coverage of this story, Ghislaine herself remains an enigma. Her black book of contacts contains celebrities, politicians and journalists, but not one has defended her. Ian is trying to correct this, but the more he talks about “Spratt”, the nickname Maxwell gave his youngest child, the more bewildering a figure she becomes.

To understand his sister, Ian says, you have to realise that she was born into a tragedy. Maxwell’s sixth child, Karine, died from leukaemia at the age of three, devastating the parents and disrupting the family’s balance of four boys and four girls. “So when my parents had another little girl, it was really magic – it allowed the four boys and four girls to be recreated,” Ian says. Ghislaine was born on Christmas Day 1961, but 48 hours later Maxwell’s eldest child, Michael, who was 15, was involved in a car accident that put him in a coma until his death eight years later.

“Ghislaine had to establish herself very early on,” Ian says. His mother, Betty, would recount how, at three years old, Ghislaine stood in front of her and said: “Mummy, I exist.”

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Maxwell was a bully and none of the children escaped his rage. “You didn’t want to be too close to home because it was quite tense,” Ian says. “Mealtimes were always pretty tough. We had to stand up and account for what we’d done that day, that week, that year.”

The most outlandish suggestion about Maxwell’s relationship with Ghislaine comes from Eleanor Berry, the youngest daughter of Lord Hartwell, former owner of The Daily Telegraph. Berry, an eccentric family friend, said Maxwell doted on his daughter but took a sadistic pleasure in beating her, allowing Ghislaine to choose what implement he used. Ian finds this story “utterly implausible … We were all physically punished, girls and boys; the girls were smacked and the boys belted, mostly for poor grades, laziness and lack of application at school.”

His sister had a talent for managing their father’s moods and became increasingly useful to him as she got older.

“Ghislaine is very charming,” Ian says. “She has a very good sense of humour and that was important because Dad responded well to humour. It was my own way of dealing with him: I would make a fool of myself and that would disarm him reasonably quickly.”

She became a useful companion in Maxwell’s later years. There are photographs of them together at football matches, or of Ghislaine perching on his knee at charity fundraisers, which have fuelled rumours of a special bond. That, and the Lady Ghislaine.

“It was all a big mystery,” Ian says of the day their father took them to a boatyard near Amsterdam. “Ghislaine was given this bottle, she crashed it against the side, the wrap fell off and there it was: the Lady Ghislaine. She was stunned. We all were stunned.”

Maxwell’s death in 1991, after he fell from the Lady Ghislaine near the Canary Islands, was a turning point for all of them. Ian recalls the conflicting emotions he felt when he heard the news: the “dichotomy of feeling free of this dramatic alpha male in my life and terribly scared of what might happen without his protective presence in my life”.

Ghislaine and Philip flew to the Canaries with their mother to identify the body. Kevin Lomax, a Daily Mirror photographer who was with them, has told how devastated Ghislaine was. “I have never sat down, to this day, and said to any of my brothers and sisters, ‘Let’s think back to those times – how did you feel about it?’” Ian says. By way of explanation he tells me a story about the time he took an afternoon off work to go to a funeral. His father was furious. “He said, ‘Let the dead bury the dead, for God’s sake.’ At the time I was terribly shocked by the callousness, but it is a way of cauterising immediate feelings,” Ian says. “We have all just got on and coped.”

While Kevin and Ian remained in London dealing with bankruptcy and court cases, Ghislaine resumed her life in New York. The Maxwell children have differing views on their father’s legacy. "I’m nearer the positive than the negative end of that scale,” Ian says. How does Ghislaine feel? “I think she would be with me.” Nor does she believe that his death was accidental. “Ghislaine is very clear that she believes that he was murdered. She is the only member of the family to my knowledge who holds that position.”

It didn’t take long for her to find Epstein. The first picture of the two together was taken three weeks after Maxwell’s funeral. Ian says a romantic relationship between them began “some time in the early 1990s” and it was “effectively over by the turn of the century”. He met Epstein only once, in New York around 1996. “Ghislaine would probably have introduced me,” he says. “He was cold.”

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Ian cannot talk about the case directly but it is clear that the family believe that Ghislaine was manipulated by Epstein. “One important point is that they never lived together. He had his place; she had her place. If she was going to see him, she had to ask. This enabled him to lead his life, the life he wanted. This was a man who was highly compartmentalised.”

Did the family have concerns about the relationship? “At the time? No,” he says.

Didn’t he worry about her later on? “I was entirely satisfied that the man who she then went on to spend time with really provided her with love and affection she needed after Epstein,” Ian says.

He is referring to a seven-year relationship that Ghislaine went on to have with Ted Waitt, an American billionaire and philanthropist.

How does Ghislaine feel about Epstein now? “I know she wishes that she had never met him. He has ruined her life.”

Ian talks about his sister’s love of the sea, her ocean charity, Terramar, and her dog, a Hungarian vizsla called Nemo that she showed in competitions.

Her 2016 marriage to the tech chief Scott Borgerson, 43, became public knowledge only during a bail application last year. When did the family first find out about Scott? “At the same time you did: when it was in the papers,” he says.

My jaw drops. At that family reunion no one knew that their sister was in a relationship, let alone married. “I think Ghislaine has just determined with him, obviously, that they want to keep a very low level of public knowledge about their lives,” Ian replies. Borgerson has supported her bail application but has not spoken publicly. Then there is her apparent disappearance in the year after Epstein’s death. Ian says the idea that she was hiding from police “is simply a lie”. It was the press she was hiding from, he insists.

Did he know where she was? “Of course,” he replies. Only this turns out not to be quite true. For seven months she had been in the New Hampshire house where she was arrested, but her family had no idea, passing messages back and forth to her through lawyers instead.

The prosecution has benefited from the illusion that Maxwell is a flight risk, Ian says, when the authorities never tried to find her. Whatever the truth, there is reason to believe that building a case against Maxwell was not straightforward. Not only did it take a year to charge her, but the most well-known claims- including from Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who says Maxwell recruited her – do not form part of the criminal case. She is charged instead with helping to transport and groom three unnamed women for exploitation when they were under age between 1994 and 1997 as well as two charges of perjury.

The last time Ian spoke to Ghislaine was about a month before she was arrested, having passed a message through lawyers. “I said, ‘It’s a pity that I can’t call you’, and she said, ‘Ian, I don’t want you to be in a situation where someone is going to put pressure on you. I am going to take the pressure so that none of you have to. Not Scott, not Kev – I am going to deal with it.’”

Self-sufficiency was a lesson that was drummed into all the Maxwell children. “Father has said it to me on many, many occasions: there’s nothing you can do that can bring me back – get on with your life. And that is a driver of Ghislaine’s life too: get on with your life. Dad has gone,” Ian says, as though he spoke to the old man just a moment ago.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/world/the-times/my-sister-ghislaine-is-not-a-monstrous-pimp-ian-maxwell/news-story/8698f9da6f5aec33ad348688b058b0e1

>>13173275

On the mend: Daniel Andrews leaves ICU to settle into ‘new digs’

Michael Fowler - March 13, 2021

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews was moved from intensive care into a new ward on Saturday while revealing he was expecting a “very long journey” to recover from a fractured vertebra and several broken ribs.

Mr Andrews does not require surgery on his injured spine “for now”. Sources close to the Premier had said on Thursday there was a 50 per cent chance surgery would be needed over the weekend.

As he left ICU, the Premier tweeted a picture from his hospital bed and thanked staff for the care he was given.

He has been in the intensive care unit of The Alfred hospital since Tuesday evening following a fall on “wet and slippery stairs” in the early hours of that morning.

In a post on Facebook on Saturday, the Premier said: “The good news is no surgery for now, but the doctors tell me recovery and rehab is still going to be a very long journey.”

Orthopaedic surgeons this week said the standard recovery period for Mr Andrews’ injury – a fractured T7 vertebra in the middle of the back – was between six and 12 weeks.

Associate Professor Steve McGloughlin, the intensive care unit director at The Alfred, said in a statement that Mr Andrews was “in good spirits and remained in a stable condition”.

“Mr Andrews is comfortable and doing well. There is no plan for surgery at this stage,” he said.

The Premier was at a home in the Mornington Peninsula when he fell early on Tuesday morning, the same day he was due to attend a press conference announcing a state inquiry into Indigenous inequality. The exact circumstances around the fall remain unclear.

He was initially taken to Peninsula Private Hospital before being moved to The Alfred trauma centre in the evening. X-rays revealed he broke ribs on his left and right sides but suffered no head injuries.

Health Minister Martin Foley said on Friday that he was told the Premier was “up and about”, moving and walking.

“That’s a positive sign … it’s a very nasty injury,” he said.

Acting Premier James Merlino is set for an extended period of time deputising for Mr Andrews. The Deputy Premier, who is also the minister for education and for mental health, will take charge for this week’s sitting of State Parliament.

Senior ministers, including Mr Merlino, insisted this week that the government would proceed with business as usual despite its leader’s physical absence.

“I’m sure that I’ll be speaking to him pretty regularly over the course of the next few weeks,” Mr Merlino said.

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/victoria/daniel-andrews-to-leave-intensive-care-but-expecting-very-long-recovery-path-20210313-p57afh.html

https://twitter.com/DanielAndrewsMP/status/1370669779590074371

https://www.facebook.com/DanielAndrewsMP/posts/3921051664626007

>>13183787

Australia joins US, India and Japan in 'unprecedented' deal for coronavirus vaccines after historic Quad meeting

Greg Jennett - 13 March 2021

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Scott Morrison has joined the first leaders' summit of Joe Biden's US presidency, forging a new strategic partnership and vaccination alliance with four of the Indo-Pacific region's most-powerful democracies.

The US President hosted the video link-up from the State Dining Room of the White House with the prime ministers of Australia, India and Japan.

It was the first time the four-member regional grouping known as the Quad had ever convened with heads of government at the table.

The partnership has had a faltering history and is usually viewed as a bloc to counter China.

But in its latest incarnation, Quad members have given it a new, broader purpose to cooperate on what Mr Biden calls "practical solutions and concrete results" to global problems, including COVID-19, climate change and cyber security.

As an early indication of its intent, the group has outlined plans to harness its enormous medical and manufacturing capacities to lift coronavirus vaccine production and distribution, mostly for the benefit of other Asian and Pacific island countries together with members of the COVAX group of nations.

The vaccine project will at first involve funding by the US, manufacturing of the Johnson & Johnson shot by India and Japan and help with logistics by Australia.

Australia's contribution is valued at about $100 million, mainly concentrated around "last mile" distribution in South-East Asia.

"Last mile" activities generally include the steps needed to get shots in arms, from health workforce training to awareness campaigns and helping procure the disposable medical items needed to administer injections.

The goal is to crank up production of up to 1 billion doses by 2022.

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, who sat in on the summit, declared "these four leaders made a massive joint commitment today".

"We have taken the Quad to a new level," Mr Sullivan said from the White House.

"Make no mistake, today is a big day for American diplomacy. This summit is a big deal for the President and the country."

As it drives a plan to immunise its population, the US will not be sharing any shots produced in American pharmaceutical plants until domestic needs have been fully met.

After the leaders' summit, a working group of bureaucrats will be charged with negotiating further details, financing and commercial terms of the deal.

Those who brokered talks behind the scenes say discussions had been held "around the clock" to give the US President and the three prime ministers a "historic, deliverable" announcement for their Summit.

"It's unprecedented, it's complex, it's deeply strategically significant and it is timely", a senior administration official told the media.

'Pillar of stability'

In its re-emergence in 2021, the Quad is placing a heavy emphasis on practical actions the four countries can take, rather than narrowly defining itself as a bulwark against Beijing's conduct as an expanding economic, military and strategic power.

As a measure of the shift, the word "security", once considered the unifying threat that bound the group together, rated a mention only twice in the summit's final joint statement, titled The Spirit of the Quad.

Even so, its members have each been confronted by China's power and the leaders did not hide their angst or their purpose.

"The four leaders did discuss the challenge posed by China and they made clear that none of them has any illusions about China", Mr Sullivan later reported.

During the brief section of the summit open to the media, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga spoke of feeling "emotional" about its re-emergence and the group's dedication to realising a "free and open Indo-Pacific".

His Indian counterpart, Narendra Modhi, told colleagues: "The Quad has come of age. It will now remain an important pillar of stability in the region."

Without naming China, Mr Morrison stressed the need for countries of the region to respect and support the "sovereignty, independence and security" of others.

Mr Biden laid down his additional aspiration that nations be "free of coercion", a feature of Chinese government behaviour that each Quad member is aggrieved by, whether economic, territorial or through forms of foreign interference in their own jurisdictions.

All four leaders have agreed to meet in person at their next Summit before the end of the year.

"The ambition of these engagements is fit to the moment; we are committed to leveraging our partnership to help the world's most dynamic region respond to historic crisis, so that it may be the free, open, accessible, diverse, and thriving Indo-Pacific we all seek", the Quad members said in their official written statement after the inaugural talks.

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Huawei or the highway

In their private talks, the leaders also addressed China's dominance in, and their growing dependence on, hi-tech information systems.

India, Japan and the US have considerable clout as competitors in those industries, but have struggled to compete against cheaper, mass scale production by state-owned enterprises under the CCP's command.

Large cyber attacks, a global shortage of microchips and the race to build fast 5G mobile networks have exacerbated those rivalries.

In a likely nod to the cyber security threats posed by Chinese behemoth Huawei, the Quad has pledged to "encourage cooperation on telecommunications deployment, diversification of equipment suppliers and future telecommunications".

Biden dives into climate diplomacy

At his first international summit since moving into the White House, Mr Biden offered a hint to the tactics his administration would use to herd major economies towards greater effort on climate change.

It is a personal policy preoccupation of the President.

The issue has been identified as a "priority" for the Quad, beginning with the formation of a working group to "strengthen and enhance actions globally" and keep a "Paris-aligned temperature limit within reach".

The language used in the joint statement is measured, non-binding and non-specific, but Biden administration officials have said US Climate Envoy John Kerry will engage with countries on their individual commitments to emissions reduction, mitigation, climate finance and more.

To Asia, with haste

Having elevated America's bonds with like-minded democracies of the Indo-Pacific, the Biden administration is about to embark on a diplomatic blitz of the region in a further statement of its intention to strengthen partnerships and alliances as counter-balances to China's influence.

Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, and Defence Secretary, Lloyd Austin, will visit Japan and South Korea, before Mr Austin ventures on to India.

All three countries have long managed fragile relations with Beijing.

But even as it marshals friends and support, the Biden brand of diplomacy is not to isolate or ignore China.

On return to the US, Mr Blinken and Mr Sullivan will land in Anchorage, Alaska, for the administration's first face-to-face meeting with senior Chinese officials; Foreign Minister Wang Yi and the overseer of the Chinese Communist Party's foreign policy settings, Yang Jiechi.

State Department spokesman Ned Price has acknowledged there is a "long litany of disagreements" with China, including "Hong Kong, Xinjiang, Tibet, pressure on Taiwan, broader human rights abuses, the South China Sea, the Mekong, economic pressure, arbitrary detentions, the origins of COVID-19, other issues".

"We will certainly not pull any punches," Mr Price added.

Washington's aim in rebuilding the Quad and in the Seoul, Tokyo and Delhi talks is to enable it to "engage Beijing from a position of strength," the State Department says.

By expanding from a narrow maritime security focus, the Quad has deliberately made a play for even greater clout with smaller, like-minded nations.

Highlighting its "practical" vaccine initiative, the senior US administration official involved in steering pre-Summit negotiations said meeting basic needs of the people within the region is integral to the survival of the grouping.

"If the Quad cannot do that, if it can't address constructively these issues, we will quickly lose relevance and will be strategically insignificant", the senior official said.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-13/quad-australia-us-india-japan-in-massive-covid-vaccine-deal/13245198

>>13183787

Propelling 'Asian NATO' beyond US capacity: Global Times editorial

Global Times - Mar 13, 2021

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The leaders of the Quad countries, the US, Japan, India and Australia, issued a joint statement after their first online meeting on Friday. The statement did not mention China, but it contained a number of phrases that were specifically directed at China. For example, it mentioned that the Quad countries "will strive for an Indo-Pacific region unconstrained by coercion." Other issues, such as helping India expand vaccine production, had already been tagged toward China in advance of the meeting. Media outlets had commonly interpreted it as an effort to counter China in "vaccine diplomacy." Some media outlets even suggested that "China looms large at this meeting."

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on Friday's press briefing that "the four leaders did discuss the challenge posed by China, and they made clear that none of them have any illusions about China." He reiterated that "the Quad is not a new NATO," and also stressed that "it is an opportunity for these four democracies to work as a group." His expression is a little confused and contradictory.

The so-called Indo-Pacific strategy is a legacy of the Trump administration, and no one in the strategic community doubts that the Biden administration has inherited it and plans to advance it with the long-term goal to include more elements in containing China. The Asian version of NATO is how the Quad is portrayed in the press, and it is widely believed to fit well with Washington's ambitions.

Sullivan's denial of the appellation is also a kind of realism. He must know it's as difficult for Washington to build an Asian NATO as it is to turn all Asian countries into US states.

The statement of the four countries did not mention China at all, but the very fact reflects the different positions of the four countries on China. Their national interests require different strategies toward China. In fact, no country in Asia is willing to compete with China on the strategic front. They are all tempted or coerced by the US, and they are trying to decide on whether the benefits of following the US outweighs disadvantages of damaging their relations with China.

The Quad mechanism is still in its infancy and the US is determined to make it work by picking up any possible topic. It talked about climate change and COVID-19 vaccines, pinning the direction of the competition with China on these issues, with the intention of weakening China's influence in the whole region and pushing more Asia-Pacific countries to "decouple" from China.

(continued)

>>13200581

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The Indo-Pacific vision of the US was likely to come true if the US economy was booming while China's development was collapsing and was militarizing itself like Japan did 80 years ago. However, Washington misread both the global trend and the nature of its strategic competition with China.

China is the largest trading partner for Japan, Australia and India, as is the number one trading partner of most other Asia-Pacific countries. None of them has any real fear of being invaded by China. Japan and India have historical territorial disputes with China, and they obviously know it is better in their national interests to manage such disputes than to fight with China while relying on the US' support. The four Quad countries will have long-term differences and confusion over what the fundamentals of the Quad mechanism should be.

Those who dare not say but think of an Asian version of NATO in their minds are extremely poor in strategic thinking. George Frost Kennan, whose "Long Telegram" propelled the Cold War, seems to have become the "Jesus" of US' strategy. That "Long Telegram" can also be used as a trans-century "Bible." But the Asia-Pacific region is booming, and China is marching forward. China has just drawn up a new five-year plan, a plan to develop the country even further. The US has lost its way and the only sense of its strategic direction is how to undermine China.

The Quad, a cooperating group with an undeclared goal of confronting China, provides a scenario in which leaders of these four countries pretend to have done something important. It gives the lost countries a comfort of seeming to have found their way, and it creates a psychological massage that doesn't bring the will to solve the real problems they face but helps them to escape reality.

China will strengthen normal relations with Japan and India. Strategic confrontation with China is a bad gamble for Japan and India. China will not dwell on the disputes with the two countries in its relations with them. This will have a long-term disruptive effect on US' containment of China in what it refers to as the Indo-Pacific region. China will also strengthen its overall cooperation with ASEAN and other Asian countries, which will put more pressure on forces that adopt a hard line toward China in Japan, India and Australia.

The US has been swayed by a consideration of gain and loss between confrontation and cooperation with China. This basic reality tells people that whoever wants to isolate China throughout the region is destined to be isolated itself.

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202103/1218230.shtml

I have read the writings of Dylan Roof and many others, but only really took true inspiration from Knight Justiciar Breivik. STOP RUNNING, START FIGHTING Emotions rule over facts Stop trying to persuade the general population with statistics, charts, tablets and figures. I begun planning an attack roughly two years in advance and an attack at the location in Christchurch three months in advance. Not only am I extensively trained in unarmed combat, but I have access to the entire arsenal of the United States Marine Corps and I will use it to its full extent to wipe your miserable ass off the face of the continent, you little shit. Pedophile politicians, pedophile priests and pedophile pop stars, demonstrating to all the true depravity of our age. The US is torn into many factions by its second amendment, along state, social, cultural and, most importantly, racial lines. They had long since lost their cities, take a look at Auckland. In front of those endless crosses, in front of those dead soldiers lost in forgotten wars, my despair turned to shame, my shame to guilt, my guilt to anger and my anger to rage. No. VOTING IS MOB RULE AND MOB RULE IS MEDIA RULE AND MEDIA RULE IS CORPORATE RULE NGOs are directly involved in the genocide of the European people Beholden to no one and hiding their true intent behold a faux-religious facade, these NGO groups ferry the invaders to European shores aboard their own vessels, directly shipping this vast army straight into European nations to plunder, rape and ethnically displace the native European people. The time for meekness has long since passed, the time for a political solution has long since passed.

But I have only had brief contact with Knight Justiciar Breivik, receiving a blessing for my mission after contacting his brother knights. I had seen enough, and in anger, drove out of the the town, refusing to stay any longer in the cursed place and headed on to the next town. An act, which morals you doubt in the present, will be writ by your people in wonder and admiration in the books of history. You're fucking dead, kid. Were/are you a “ islamophobe ”? Don ’ t run from the fight, run towards the fight.

>A. Compliments will get you no where.

The same people will find themselves gradually less and less represented both politically and culturally, becoming essentially foreigners in their own lands. No, I simply do not care all that much what gay people do.As long as they are loyal to their people and place their peoples well being first, then I have no issues. People from every walk of life, in every place of employment and field but disproportionately employed in military services and law enforcement. Where they are removed to is not our concern, or responsibility. For every french man or woman there was double the number of invaders. To take revenge for the enslavement of millions of Europeans taken from their lands by the Islamic slavers. It should come as no shock that European men, in every nation, and on every continent are turning to radical notions and methods to combat the social and moral decay of their nations and the continued ethnic replacement of their people. They grow up and take the potential homes of your own people for themselves, they occupy positions of power, remove wealth and destroy social trust. FLEE TO YOUR OWN LANDS, WHILE YOU STILL HAVE THE CHANCE Section II General Thoughts and Potential Strategies ``It will come in one way and one way alone, not through existing governments. To ensure diverse peoples remain diverse, separate, unique, undiluted in unrestrained in cultural or ethnic expression and autonomy. What part of diversity causes this increase in strength?

So take the prison time, take the beating or even fight back. The risk is too great. For every french man or woman there was double the number of invaders. What our own nations now based on? Memes have done more for the ethno-nationalist movement than any manifesto. If only you could have known what unholy retribution your little ``clever'' comment was about to bring down upon you, maybe you would have held your fucking tongue.

Perhaps you could tap out, lay down, lick the boots of your occupiers and pray they will let you be comfortable, if only for a little while. Soon the replacement of the whites within Texas will hit its apogee and with the non-white political and social control of Texas; and with this control, the electoral college will be heavily stacked in favor of a democratic victory so that every electoral cycle will be a certainty. Do you allow them to grow freely, openly, to one day bite you child as they play in their own yard? I remember pulling into a shopping centre car park to buy groceries in some moderate sized town in Eastern France, of roughly 15-25 thousand people. Were/are you a “ islamophobe ”? Why not me? These repercussions will hit them hard, fast and without mercy. These are the things that speak to people, connect people, drive people. Those that wish a future for white children, and to ensure the existence of our people. The only option for a true man or woman of Europe is to labour, labour with all effort towards victory. Inaction will lead to sure defeat.

Young, innocent and dead Ebba. SEE YOU ON THE STREETS YOU ANTI-WHITE SCUM To turks You can live in peace in your own lands, and may no harm come to you. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed. Both would seek to destroy our nation, both would seek to displace and replace our people, both would seek to destroy our culture and nationhood. The war will not be easy, the death toll will assuredly be high. Force is the only path to power and the only path to true victory.

Those that wish a future for white children, and to ensure the existence of our people. They are not so much born as made to be what is needed of them by the greater group thought occurring around them. Why did you choose to use firearms? No. We attack as soon as possible, we attack with force and we achieve stability and play defense as the boomers pass, not during their passing, not after. The total number of people in these organizations is in the millions, the total number of groups in the thousands. Introduction It ’ s the birthrates. By the definition, then yes. This crisis of mass immigration and sub-replacement fertility is an assault on the European people that, if not combated, will ultimately result in the complete racial and cultural replacement of the European people. The idea that a Frenchmen need not speak the language, share the culture, believe in the same god or even more importantly be ethnically French is ludicrous in the extreme. Paint, write, sing, dance, recite poetry.

No man spoke it aloud When the Saxon began to hate. That should surprise no one. Find where they are in your cities, plan your attack, destroy them.Protect your people and protect your children.Be the Antidote to their poison. I could have chosen any weapons or means.A TATP filled rental van. States hate other states, the electoral college is under attack at every turn and the races are at each others throats. UNTIL THE HAGIA SOPHIA IS FREE OF THE MINARETS, THE MEN OF EUROPE ARE MEN IN NAME ONLY The Rape of European Women Invaders Many of you may already know about the rape of British women by the invading forces, Rotherham of course being the most well known case.

Destroyed in the name of cheap labour, whilst they may publicly object to the illegal immigration of the third world masses, privately they push for as much migration as possible, anything to decrease the labour cost of production and line their pockets with the profits. Brought forth two competing ideologies (communism and fascism) to replace this loss of god, then proceeded to allow both sides to slaughter each other to a standstill and then let corporate backed capitalists tear the survivor to pieces. Give your everything to your people. Nah, not really.An Australian living in New Zealand is much the same as an Austrian living in Bavaria. Any method that gives these traitors their sure reward is viable and should be encouraged. You are nothing to me but just another target. To drive a wedge between the nations of NATO that are European and the Turks that also make a part of the NATO forces, thereby turning NATO once more into a united European army and pushing the Turkey once more back to the true position of a foreign, enemy force. Many, one thing that can be said about the current state of the West is that we live in a target rich environment, traitors and enemies abound. But they will not occupy our soil. Finally, to create conflict between the two ideologies within the United States on the ownership of firearms in order to further the social, cultural, political and racial divide within the United states.This conflict over the 2 nd amendment and the attempted removal of firearms rights will ultimately result in a civil war that will eventually balkanize the US along political, cultural and, most importantly, racial lines. No one is inspired by Jeb Bush.

Why attack muslims if all high fertility immigrants are the issue? I was left with a short period of time to create a new work and only leave my views half finished. There was a racial component to the attack. To take revenge on the invaders for the hundreds of thousands of deaths caused by foreign invaders in European lands throughout history. Now let us bury it and move on to something of worth. Were/are you a supporter of Donald Trump?

They slaved for a better future for their people, and now other peoples shake their fists and point their fingers, reprimanding us for living better lives, wealthier lives in wealthier countries. Young, innocent and dead Ebba. Yes, I dislike them. Depending on the definition, sure. Where they are removed to is not our concern, or responsibility. A ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Only elect leaders that show support to your brother nation. The result is obvious. To incite violence, retaliation and further divide between the European people and the invaders currently occupying European soil. The US is torn into many factions by its second amendment, along state, social, cultural and, most importantly, racial lines. An act, which morals you doubt in the present, will be writ by your people in wonder and admiration in the books of history.

WITH RISK COMES POSSIBILITIES, WITH POSSIBILITES COMES CHANCE FOR VICTORY Destabilization and Accelerationism: tactics for victory True change and the change we need to enact only arises in the great crucible of crisis. The truth of the political situation in Europe was suddenly impossible to accept.My despair set in.My belief in a democratic solution vanished. Luckily for us, the end results of this deracialized, irreligious and deculturized program show themselves. Focusing on increasing the population of whites, or trying to gain economic wealth or military might, whilst already having met the requirement of numbers, wealth and military force needed is simply a stalling tactic, spoken and put forth by men too cowardly to do what is required. C. What the fuck did you just fucking say about me, you little bitch? The jaded cynicism with which I had greeted previous attacks didn ’ t eventuate.

No, I simply do not care all that much what gay people do.As long as they are loyal to their people and place their peoples well being first, then I have no issues. This attempted abolishment of rights by the left will result in a dramatic polarization of the people in the United States and eventually a fracturing of the US along cultural and racial lines. Why not me? Over a great deal of time, from a great deal of places. Ethnic autonomy? Yes, beyond all doubt, anti-immigration, anti-ethnic replacement and anti-cultural replacement. KILL THE RAPISTS, HANG THEIR FAMILIES Diversity is weak Why is diversity said to be our greatest strength? But they will not occupy our soil. To add momentum to the pendulum swings of history, further destabilizing and polarizing Western society in order to eventually destroy the current nihilistic, hedonistic, individualistic insanity that has taken control of Western thought. Who do you consider white? That isn ’ t a question.

Do not suffer under the delusion of a Democratic victory, prepare for war, prepare for violence and prepare for risk, loss and struggle, as it is the only path to Victory. I had a regular childhood, without any great issues. Let us all weep for our faults that raise the divine ire, yes, let us weep… But let not our tears be like the seed thrown into the sand. Is this your complete writings and views? 3.Answers to detractors and to those that oppose my beliefs/methods Won ’ t your attack do more harm than good? It was another terror attack in the seemingly never ending attacks that had been occurring on a regular basis throughout my adult life.

>For the disgrace you have heaped upon the European people and the distress you have caused to European women, you will die.

Do you feel any remorse for the attack? It was there I decided to do something, it was there I decided to take action, to commit to force.To commit to violence. Originally the mosque in Dunedin was the main target, particularly after watching the video on their facebook page named “ Otago muslim association ” https: //www.facebook.com/Otago-Muslim-Association-20677822935878 6/ The video war entitled “ Very interesting video. We must inevitably correct the disaster of hedonistic, nihilistic individualism. We do not have the birth rates to fight them at their game, nor should we as it is ultimately destructive to nature and culture.So I took matters into my own hands. I am a racist. The spell broke, why don ’ t I do something? There is no Green future with never ending population growth, the ideal green world can not exist in a World of 100 billion 50 billion or even 10 billion people. But it is there our future will be made and it is there the battle for our peoples future will be fought. The gun owners of New Zealand are a beaten, miserable bunch of baby boomers, who have long since given up the fight.When was the last time they won increased rights? I worked for a short time before making some money investing in Bitconnect, then used the money from the investment to travel.

Not a place where english is the defacto language but a place where every European language, belief and tradition is valued. Their loss was inevitable.I just accelerated things a bit. These tumultuous times can be brought about through action. The nation with the closest political and social values to my own is the People ’ s Republic of China. Yes, Spyro the dragon 3 taught me ethno-nationalism. Focusing on increasing the population of whites, or trying to gain economic wealth or military might, whilst already having met the requirement of numbers, wealth and military force needed is simply a stalling tactic, spoken and put forth by men too cowardly to do what is required.

I can not guarantee my success. https: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sovereign_states_and_dependencies _by_total_fertility_rate There is not a single Western country, not a single white nation, that reaches these levels. Our present comfortable, privileged and prosperous life was gifted to us by our forebears, with the belief that we would maintain, cherish and even expand upon their work, so that one day our own children can enjoy the rewards of our labour. For now we appeal to the anger and black comedic nature of the present, but eventually we will need to show the warmth and genuine love we have for our people. Were/are you a supporter of Front National? Unity, purpose, trust, traditions, nationalism and racial nationalism is what provides strength. We Could Be Hurt! ” for them the time will never come. Let us all weep for our faults that raise the divine ire, yes, let us weep… But let not our tears be like the seed thrown into the sand. Were there other targets planned in your attack? The candidates were an obvious sign of our times: a globalist, capitalist, egalitarian, an ex-investment banker was no national beliefs other than the pursuit of profit versus a milquetoast, feckless, civic nationalist, an uncontroversial figure who ’ s most brave and inspired idea resolved to the possible deportation of illegal immigrants. Australia, just like the rest of the colonies of Europe, is simply an off-shoot of the European people.

Continued immigration into Europe is environmental warfare and ultimately destructive to nature itself. Goods produced without care for the natural world, dignity of workers, lasting culture or or white civilizations future should never be allowed into the new morally focused and ethically focused European market. We attack as soon as possible, we attack with force and we achieve stability and play defense as the boomers pass, not during their passing, not after. All I know is the certainty of my will and the necessity of my cause. These greed filled bastards expect to replace our people with a race of low intellect, low agency, muddled, muddied masses just so their own wealth and power can increase. Were/are you a nationalist?

>NO ONE WILL WILLFULLY JOIN THE DECAY Green nationalism is the only true nationalism There is no Conservatism without nature, there is no nationalism without environmentalism, the natural environment of our lands shaped us just as we shaped it.

Inaction will lead to sure defeat. There was a racial component to the attack. And you, my father, there on the sad height, Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray. Democracy is mob rule and the mob itself is ruled by our own enemies. Are you a part of any political groups or movements? Were you taught violence and extremism by video games, music, literature, cinema? In my mind a rainbow is only beautiful to due its variety of colours, mix the colours together and you destroy them all and they are gone forever and the end result is far from anything beautiful. But they will not occupy our soil. Children are always innocent, do you not think you are a monster for killing an innocent? All possibility of expression and belief was open to be taught, discussed and spoken. Why did you target those people?

Few have done more to damage and racially cleanse Europe of its people. A finger on the hand of the body of Europe. The origins of my language is European, my culture is European, my political beliefs are European, my philosophical beliefs are European, my identity is European and, most importantly, my blood is European. The global and corporate run press controls them, the education system (long since fallen to the long march through the institutions carried out by the marxists) controls them, the state (long since heavily lost to its corporate backers) controls them and the anti-white media machine controls them. A political candidate that keeps the status quo or only seeks to introduce minimal change, even when the minimal change is in support of our cause, is ultimately useless or even damaging. Stability and comfort are the enemies of revolutionary change.

If we wait until the majority of the boomers begin to pass (between 2028-2038 depending on individual nations and life expectancies) than it will be too little, too late. What do you want? Conservatism is dead. The only option for a true man or woman of Europe is to labour, labour with all effort towards victory. Young, innocent and dead Ebba. You will risk, struggle, strive, drive, stumble, fall, crawl, charge and perspire, all in the name of victory. Those who are not ethnically and culturally European. Did you carry out the attack for fame? This time of possible instability will also be a at a time where our potential nation enemies in the East will be reaching their own zeniths of power. No, actual nazis do not exist.They haven ’ t been a political or social force anywhere in the world for more than 60 years. In time, the truth will be revealed.

They may be able to discredit one small movement, from one nation. Introduction It ’ s the birthrates. Those around my were the typical Australians, apathetic and for the most part apolitical, only truly showing motivation in matters of animal rights, environmentalism and taxation. Numbers aren ’ t everything, ten lions are worth of thousand sheep.The reason we are currently losing our lands is not due to a lack of numbers, or wealth, or military force. How are they so strong, China set to be the worlds most dominant nation in this century, whilst lacking diversity? Without a single shot fired in response?

They are finally removing their blindfolds and seeing the reality of the the world and their peoples future. Do you believe those you attacked were innocent? Destabilize, then take control. To continue on without our culture, but still own our lands, is a defeat. Support them socially, back their policies, attack their detractors, voice upon support to the media and in daily conversations, make it understood on the internet that all Europeans nations support them. The invaders are the ones over populating the world. The time for meekness has long since passed, the time for a political solution has long since passed. Is there a particular person that radicalized you the most? What better sign of the white rebirth than the removal of this invader? Rampant urbanization and industrialization, ever expanding cities and shrinking forests, a complete removal of man from nature, with the obvious results. The Europe of the future is not one of concrete and steel, smog and wires but a place of forests, lakes, mountains and meadows.

The media of the world will be used against you, the education system of the rulers will be used against you, the financial power of the worlds corporations will be used against you, the military and legislative might of the UN, the EU and NATO itself will be used against you and even your own, previously corrupted, religious leaders will be used against you. They decry weakness, mock fecklessness and worship strength, and in this worship of strength they radicalize and find the solution. It depends on who those workers are, their intents, who currently owns the means of production, their intents and who currently owns the state, and its intents. No, when I was young I was a communist, then an anarchist and finally a libertarian before coming to be an eco-fascist. If you lose, no matter how you acted in your loss; whether that is heroically, cowardly, violently, peacefully, virtuously or criminally, if your enemies are writing the history they will describe you as a devil. These greed filled bastards expect to replace our people with a race of low intellect, low agency, muddled, muddied masses just so their own wealth and power can increase.

Do these groups hold power/who are the people in these groups? SHOW THEM THE WAY FORWARD There is no sheltered meadow There is nowhere left to run, turn around, face your enemy, make your stand. This crisis of mass immigration and sub-replacement fertility is an assault on the European people that, if not combated, will ultimately result in the complete racial and cultural replacement of the European people. Were/are you a supporter of Brexit? In this time period a series of events broke down my own reserves, my reservations, my cynicism and revealed the truth of the Wests current situation. Yes, the person that has influenced me above all was Candace Owens. I had the will and I had the resources. Many, one thing that can be said about the current state of the West is that we live in a target rich environment, traitors and enemies abound. SEE YOU ON THE STREETS YOU ANTI-WHITE SCUM To turks You can live in peace in your own lands, and may no harm come to you. No, the attack was not an attack on diversity, but an attack in the name of diversity. This is racial replacement.

Whether it takes ten years or a thousands years, whilst we are facing birth rates at sub-replacement levels, then our people are dying. We are experiencing an invasion on a level never seen before in history. KILL ANGELA MERKEL, KILL ERDOGAN, KILL SADIQ KHAN The Paradox of the diverse equality The greatest joke of all is the quixotic foolishness of the diverse but equal society. Depending on the definition, sure. Therefore, once we show them the risk of bringing their offspring to our soil, they will avoid our lands. You can ’ t.

The US is torn into many factions by its second amendment, along state, social, cultural and, most importantly, racial lines. South Africa with all its “ diversity ” is turning into a bloody backwater as its diversity increases, black on other black, black on white, white on black, black on Indian, doesn ’ t not matter, its ethnicity vs ethnicity. Do you consider it a terrorist attack? TATP packages strapped to drones, an EFP in a motorcycle saddle bags, convoy ambush rammings with cement trucks. The Christchurch and Linwood mosques had far more invaders, in a more prominent and optically foreign building, with less students, more adults and a prior history of extremism. Depending on the definition, sure. A list of wikipedia entries from the most well known British rape cases follows: https: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotherham_child_sexual_exploitation_scan dal https: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aylesbury_child_sex_abuse_ring https: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banbury_child_sex_abuse_ring https: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bristol_child_sex_abuse_ring https: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derby_child_sex_abuse_ring https: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax_child_sex_abuse_ring https: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huddersfield_grooming_gang https: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keighley_child_sex_abuse_ring https: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keighley_child_sex_abuse_ring https: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newcastle_sex_abuse_ring https: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Doublet https: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rochdale_child_sex_abuse_ring https: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_child_sex_abuse_ring https: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peterborough_sex_abuse_case https: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telford_child_sexual_exploitation_scandal What many do not know is that these cases do not solely occur in Britain, but elsewhere in the Western world as well, as shown by these two well known cases in Australia: https: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashfield_gang_rapes https: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_gang_rapes And even in Finland: https: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oulu_child_sexual_exploitation_scandal Just as shocking are the cases of open and public sexual assault and harassment performed by these invasive scum that appear to be occurring ever more frequently across the European world such as those in Germany in the New years eve sexual assaults in Cologne, Hamburg, Dortmund, Dusseldorf, Stuttgart and Bielefeld. Just Wait! Embrace infamy: the enemies of your people will beset upon you, on all sides. The nation? Did/do you personally hate muslims?