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51881f (208) No.22225133 [Last50 Posts][Watch Thread][Show All Posts]

Welcome To Q Research AUSTRALIA

A new thread for research and discussion of Australia's role in The Great Awakening.

Previous thread

>>21755366 Q Research AUSTRALIA #38

Q's Posts made on Q Research AUSTRALIA threads

Wednesday 11.20.2019

>>7358352 ---———————————--——– These people are stupid.

>>7358338 ---———————————--——– All assets [F + D] being deployed.

>>7358318 ---———————————--——– What happens when the PUBLIC discovers the TRUTH [magnitude] re: [D] party corruption?

Tuesday 11.19.2019

>>7357790 ---———————————--——– FISA goes both ways.

Saturday 11.16.2019

>>7356270 ---———————————--——– There is no escaping God.

>>7356265 ---———————————--——– The Harvest [crop] has been prepared and soon will be delivered to the public for consumption.

Friday 11.15.2019

>>7356017 ---———————————--——– "Whistle Blower Traps" [Mar 4 2018] 'Trap' keyword select provided…..

Thursday 03.28.2019

>>5945210 ---———————————--——– Sometimes our 'sniffer' picks and pulls w/o applying credit file

>>5945074 ---———————————--——– We LOVE you!

>>5944970 ---———————————--——– USA v. LifeLog?

>>5944908 ---———————————--——– It is an embarrassment to our Nation!

>>5944859 ---———————————--——– 'Knowingly'

Q's Posts referencing Australia

https://qanon.pub/?q=AUS

https://qanon.pub/?q=australia

https://qanon.pub/?q=koala

https://qanon.pub/?q=HouseOfCards

https://qanon.pub/?q=boomerang

https://qanon.pub/?q=45HarisonHarold

https://qanon.pub/?q=6572656

https://qanon.pub/?q=RAT%20BAIT

https://qanon.pub/?q=VERY%20important

https://qanon.pub/?q=remain%20in%20the%20light

https://qanon.pub/?q=news.com.au

Q's Posts referencing Australian citizens

Malcolm Turnbull (X/AUS)

Former Prime Minister of Australia, 2015 to 2018

https://qanon.pub/?q=X%2FAUS

https://qanon.pub/?q=call%20details

https://qanon.pub/?q=Threat%20to%20AUS

https://qanon.pub/#819

Alexander Downer

Former Australian Liberal Party politician and former Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom

https://qanon.pub/?q=Downer

Cardinal George Pell

Australian Cardinal of the Catholic Church and former Prefect of the Vatican Secretariat for the Economy

https://qanon.pub/?q=Pell

https://qanon.pub/?q=cardinal-george-pell

https://qanon.pub/?q=pecking

Julian Assange

Australian activist, founder, editor and publisher of WikiLeaks

https://qanon.pub/?q=assange

https://qanon.pub/?q=JA

https://qanon.pub/?q=Under%20protection

https://qanon.pub/?q=WL

https://qanon.pub/?q=wikileaks

https://qanon.pub/?q=crowdstrike

https://qanon.pub/?q=server

https://qanon.pub/?q=Seth

https://qanon.pub/?q=SR

https://qalerts.app/?q=snowden

https://qalerts.app/?q=roadmap

Virginia Roberts Giuffre

American-Australian survivor of the sex trafficking ring operated by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell

https://qanon.pub/#4568

https://qanon.pub/#4728

https://qanon.pub/#1054

https://qanon.pub/?q=chandler

https://qanon.pub/?q=epstein

https://qanon.pub/?q=island

https://qanon.pub/#1001

https://qanon.pub/#1861

https://qanon.pub/#3145

https://qanon.pub/#3147

https://qanon.pub/#4578

https://qanon.pub/#3432

https://qanon.pub/#3497

https://qanon.pub/#4727

https://qanon.pub/#4797

https://qanon.pub/?q=wexner

https://qanon.pub/#4576

https://qanon.pub/#4577

https://qanon.pub/?q=maxwell

https://qanon.pub/#4569

https://qanon.pub/?q=spacey

https://qanon.pub/#4570

https://qanon.pub/?q=normalize

https://qanon.pub/?q=Prince%20Andrew

https://qanon.pub/#4579

https://qanon.pub/#4907

https://qanon.pub/#4911

https://qanon.pub/#4921

https://qanon.pub/?q=Welcome%20aboard.

https://qanon.pub/?q=dershowitz

https://qanon.pub/?q=Dearest%20Virginia

Q's Posts referencing The Five Eyes intelligence alliance (FVEY)

An anglophone intelligence alliance comprising Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States

https://qanon.pub/?q=FVEY

https://qanon.pub/?q=Five%20Eyes

https://qanon.pub/?q=Interesting%2C

https://qanon.pub/?q=RAT%20BAIT

"Does AUS stand w/ the US or only select divisions within the US?"

Q

Nov 25 2018

https://qanon.pub/#2501

____________________________
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51881f (208) No.22225136

Notables

are not endorsements

#38 - Part 1

Israel / Hamas Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 1

>>21761808 Video: Labor MP Peter Khalil’s office vandalised with Hamas-linked symbol - Labor MP Peter Khalil’s office has been spray-painted with a Hamas-linked inverted red triangle and the slogan “glory to the martyrs” in the latest act of vandalism to target politicians’ offices over the war in the Middle East. The words “land back” were also painted outside Khalil’s inner Melbourne office, which was splashed with red paint, and vandals used extinguishers and propellants to pour an unknown foul-smelling liquid through a hole they had drilled in a door in the early hours of Monday morning. The office was a crime scene on Monday as police and a hazardous materials team investigated. Khalil, who was recently appointed the government’s special envoy for social cohesion, said he was dismayed. “I have always fully supported the right to peaceful protest. This is not protest. This is vandalism. This is defacing property. Worse, this is using violent symbolic material or actions that are harmful to others … in their place of work. It is completely unacceptable and it needs to be called out,” he said. He said the inverted red triangle symbol - which has become associated with pro-Palestinian activism but is also used to mark kill targets in Hamas’ social media content - had a connotation that was “disturbing and concerning”, while the stench was “unbearable and clearly a biohazard of some sort”.

>>21773928 Video: Penny Wong forced to re-start speech multiple times as protesters criticise Gaza response - Protesters angry with the Australian government for not sanctioning Israel for its deadly strikes in Gaza and Lebanon have repeatedly disrupted a speech by Foreign Minister Penny Wong at the University of Tasmania on Tuesday night. The minister was giving an address about international relations and policy making - which included reflections on the dangers aid workers faced in Gaza, as well as her hope for a two-state solution -- when interruptions caused her to repeatedly stop her speech and leave the stage as audience members yelled at her. During the approximately 45-minute-long speech, more than 10 interjections were made, with calls for the government to sanction Israel, plus criticism of the government's previous decision to pause funding to aid agency UNRWA. Senator Wong initially responded by saying she had heard the concern. "I'd say to you, we are a democracy and everyone's voice matters and I understand this is a very distressing [sic], but I don't actually believe, and I have never believed, that we gain anything by shouting each other down," she said. As the interjections continued, and an official from the university tried to bring the audience to order, Senator Wong appeared frustrated as she made multiple attempts to return to the stage and continue her speech. Despite interjectors being told to leave the venue, the remarks continued, with audience members expressing concern for loved ones in Lebanon. "Please listen to the people who give you the power to do your job that's what you are, you are our representative," one person could be heard saying. Senator Wong on Wednesday described the protesters' conduct as disrespectful. "I don't think we gain anything by being disrespectful to one another," she told ABC Radio Hobart.

>>21780962 Pro-Palestinian academic Khaled Beydoun’s visa cancelled after calling October 7 anniversary a ‘good day’ - Pro-Palestinian professor Khaled Beydoun has been blacklisted by Australia after the government revoked his visa over the activist’s description of the anniversary of Hamas’ October 7 attacks as a day of “considerable celebration”. A government source, unable to speak publicly about the confidential case, said the American academic flew home after being told his visa was going to be cancelled. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has since officially revoked Beydoun’s visa. Beydoun told a Sydney rally on the anniversary of Hamas’ massacre of about 1200 people in Israel in 2023 that the day was “not fully a day of mourning” but also a “good day” because awareness of the Palestinians’ plight had increased in the past year. Burke said later that day he had ordered a check on the academic’s visa as soon as he heard Beydoun’s remarks. He can cancel visas if he believes a person is “not of good character”. Beydoun, who has 2.5 million Instagram followers and is an associate professor at Arizona State University, made his comments at a rally outside Lakemba Mosque in western Sydney organised by a group with links to Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir.

Disclaimer: this post and the subject matter and contents thereof - text, media, or otherwise - do not necessarily reflect the views of the 8kun administration.

51881f (208) No.22225139

#38 - Part 2

Israel / Hamas Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 2

>>21789155 Greens silent amid killing of Hamas chief Sinwar - The Greens have remained silent about Yahya Sinwar’s death as Labor and the Liberals said Australia would “not mourn” the Hamas leader but they would his thousands of victims. Anthony Albanese said the killing was a “significant moment” and a “vital turning point” in the conflict, and he hoped Sinwar’s death would “break the cycle of ­violence” and bring an end to the Israel-Hamas war. Leading Greens, however, were tight-lipped on Friday after the ­Israeli government confirmed Sinwar had been killed in the southern Gazan city of Rafah. Federal party leader Adam Bandt was on leave and unavailable, and did not comment on the death on social media. Neither did deputy leader Mehreen Faruqi nor senator Jordon Steele-John, the Greens’ foreign affairs spokesman. Neither senator’s office returned calls on the subject on Friday. The lack of response from the Greens was in sharp contrast to that of the Labor government and Liberal opposition. The Prime Minister welcomed Sinwar’s death, saying it was a “significant moment” in the Middle East conflict. “Sinwar was a terrorist and the architect of the atrocities committed on October 7,” Mr Albanese said, calling him not just an enemy of Israel but of “peace-loving people everywhere”. “(His death) can be a vital turning point in this devastating conflict.” Peter Dutton said the killing was a “great day” for the Middle East and the world was now a “safer place”. “(Sinwar) had equal disdain for Israelis, as evidenced by the October 7 atrocities, as he did for his own people, whom he used as human shields and kept impoverished in pursuit of his own twisted world view,” the Opposition Leader said.

>>21798523 Video: Yahya Sinwar hailed as ‘legend’ at Sydney rally as sheik says Islam will ‘dominate’ - A Sydney conference stacked with Hizb ut-Tahrir activists and sheiks who celebrated October 7 has heard that Islam will “dominate … bringing justice to every corner of the world” amid a “civilisational struggle” as its organisers lauded Yahya Sinwar as a slain hero. One speaker, Sheik Ibrahim Dadoun - whose employer the United Muslims of Australia received about $1.65m in government funding in September -- said that, despite Sinwar’s recent death, he remained “elated” and that “victory was coming”. Separately, on Sunday, a pro-Palestine Sydney CBD rally heard how the terror group’s slain chief was “legendary”, a martyr who “died a warrior’s death”. “In (Sinwar’s) death he became a legend, a legend to be told for centuries,” one speaker told a crowd at Sydney’s Hyde Park. Sheik Dadoun’s latest comments came at a Saturday conference hosted by “Stand for Palestine”, an organisation launched by Hizb ut-Tahrir last October, which is run by its activists and has surged in popularity. The day after Hamas’ October 7 attacks he told a rally that he was “elated … smiling” and that it had been a “great day”, although later claimed his words were taken out of context, and earlier this month called Israel a “bastard state”. Billed as the “promised victory” conference, sheik Dadoun reaffirmed his elation, saying: “I will say it again I’m elated, I’m happy … I’ve never seen it, ever in my life, the shift and the tide that has occurred over the last year against the Zionist regime (sic)”. “We are on that path to victory. We are on that path of the civilisational struggle where we’re going to see Islam dominate, where we’re going to see Islam bring justice to every corner in the world (sic).”

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51881f (208) No.22225142

#38 - Part 3

Israel / Hamas Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 3

>>21809128 Sydney-based marketing expert ‘salutes’ Sinwar the ‘star’ - An activist who lauded slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar as a “warrior and legend” is a Sydney aviation industry worker who previously applauded Palestinian plane ­hijacker Leila Khaled. It comes as Jewish leaders separately urged the government to block the visa of high-profile activist Shaun King on “good character grounds”, particularly given the American’s praise for Sinwar. On Sunday, The Australian revealed how one activist at a pro-Palestine Sydney rally remembered terrorist Sinwar as a “legend to be told for centuries”. The activist - Jana Fayyad, a marketing expert in the aviation industry -- did not respond to questions on Monday. Other than calling Sinwar a “warrior”, she also “saluted” the slain Hamas chief, saying his “legend” would never be forgotten. “The star of resistance, we will never forget you (Sinwar) and we will never forget your legend,” said Ms Fayyad, who in March described Khaled as a “liberator”. “Long live the resistance, the resistance lives on.” Separately, Jewish leaders urged Immigration Minister Tony Burke on Monday to cancel, or block, Mr King’s visa. He was set to start an Australian tour on Tuesday in Brisbane but has since postponed it to January. Since Sinwar’s death, Mr King has shared content calling the slain Hamas chief a “dear brother” who died a “martyr”, and told his 85,000 Telegram followers that he was a “leader, fighter, martyr”, suggesting the media should refer to the terror group and its deceased leader as “heroes”.

>>21846531 Jewish leaders take radical cleric Wissam Haddad to court amid inaction - The country’s peak Jewish body has taken a radical cleric to the Federal Court after a slew of sermons referring to the Jewish community as “vile and treacherous people” and peddled anti-Semitic tropes. The legal action is an example of the escalation of testing how, and whether, hate speech can be prosecuted in Australia. On Friday, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry instigated proceedings in the Federal Court against extremist preacher Wissam Haddad, also known as Abu Ousayd, and his Bankstown-based Al Madina Dawah Centre. Among other things, Mr Haddad, or speakers at his Al Madina Dawah Centre, have called Jewish people “descendants of pigs and monkeys”, recited parables about their killing, described them as “treacherous people” with their “hands” in media and business, encouraged jihad, and urged people to “spit” on Israel so Israelis “would drown”. In most cases, he has claimed that he was referring to or reciting Islamic scripture. The Australian in January revealed how the ECAJ had lodged a vilification complaint with the country’s human rights body against the preacher and the Bankstown centre, given perceived police inaction and an inability to lay charges, partly due to NSW’s “toothless” hate-speech criminal provisions. The proceedings are made under part IIA of the Racial Discrimination Act - which outlaws offensive behaviour based on racial hatred -- and brought to the court by the ECAJ’s co-chief executive, Peter Wertheim AM, and deputy president Robert Goot AO SC. Mr Wertheim said attempts at mediation between the parties at the Australian Human Rights Commission had failed and that the court move was a last resort forced upon the Jewish community and its leaders. “We have commenced proceedings to defend the honour of our community, and as a warning to deter others seeking to mobilise racism in order to promote their political views,” he said.

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51881f (208) No.22225143

#38 - Part 4

Israel / Hamas Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 4

>>21888273 Daniel Andrews to be recognised by Zionist movement with Jerusalem Medal - Former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews will on Sunday be lauded by the Zionist movement as a “true and constant friend” to the Jewish community and Israel. Andrews will receive the Jerusalem Medal at a gathering of Jewish community, business and political leaders, which for security purposes is being held at an undisclosed location in Melbourne. The medal is given those who make an outstanding contribution towards strengthening Jewish communities in their own country and relations with Israel. Andrews belonged to Labor’s Socialist Left, a faction that has long been critical of Israel’s actions against Palestinian people, including military occupation and human rights violations. However, during his 10 years as premier, Victoria made Holocaust education mandatory in secondary schools, established a trade office in Tel Aviv, prohibited Nazi symbols and gestures and was the first Australian jurisdiction to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism. Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler will tell the Sunday night gathering that Andrews is “living proof that clear, consistent and principled leadership in this space is eminently possible”. “We gather to recognise a true and constant friend to the Australian Jewish community and to Israel at a time when such friendships are more important and more precious than ever.”

>>21897325 Daniel Andrews tells Jewish donors to cut funds to antisemites - Former premier Daniel Andrews has urged Jewish families and organisations who provide financial support to the arts, cultural and other philanthropic causes to defund recipients who refuse to denounce antisemitism. In rare public comments since retiring as Victoria’s longest-serving Labor premier, Andrews weighed directly into the dilemma confronting Jewish philanthropists by urging them to dump their support for creative endeavours which had remained silent about, or promulgated, hatred towards Jewish people since the October 7, 2023, attacks. The Hamas atrocities in southern Israel last year, which killed about 1200 people, and Israel’s deadly and protracted military operations in Gaza and Lebanon in response, which have killed more than 40,000, have driven a wedge between some of Australia’s leading supporters of the arts and the organisations they fund. “If people won’t speak out against antisemitism, defund them. If people are happy to take your money while being antisemites, defund them,” Andrews told a gathering of Jewish community leaders in Melbourne on Sunday night. “If you want to support Hamas, then get them to pay your bills, get them to fund your programs and build your buildings. I am serious. We are beyond tropes. Silence and much worse are only possible if there are no consequences.” Andrews said no community was more generous than the Jewish community and “no state has a better developed culture, endowment and philanthropic giving than Victoria”. “I would ask each of you respectfully, continue to review your giving. Check and check again that those who so happily benefit from your generosity are not in real terms pretend friends or worse, actually working against the Jewish community and decency itself,” he said.

>>21906160 Provocative anti-Israel T-shirt sees man arrested on Australia's most iconic beach - A man has been arrested at Australia's best-known beach for wearing an allegedly 'offensive' anti-Israel shirt. The man, who is yet to be formally identified, was confronted by police at Sydney's Bondi Beach for wearing the 'provocative' shirt about 12.50pm on Sunday. The shirt featured Israel's flag alongside the words 'f*ck Israel' and 'f*ck zionism'. The scenes unfolded in front of large crowds of beachgoers who had flocked to Bondi to escape the heat as temperatures soared into the 30s on Sunday. Australian Jewish Association chief executive Robert Gregory claimed that the man, who is understood to be the son of a former Labor minister, had allegedly been seen wearing the shirt multiple times before his arrest. He added that many locals had encountered him in the t-shirt, as Bondi and surrounding areas in Sydney's east are the hub of the Jewish community in the city. 'The Jewish community has faced a wave of intimidation and vandalism over the past year,' Mr Gregory told Daily Mail Australia. 'This man has been repeatedly wearing a shirt designed to annoy residents in Sydney's east. 'Day after day, he is spotted in neighbourhoods where many proud Jewish people live, including Double Bay and Bondi. 'Given his background, it's hard to believe he doesn't own another shirt. Something must be seriously lacking to cause a man of that age to be so desperate for attention.'

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51881f (208) No.22225145

#38 - Part 5

Israel / Hamas Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 5

>>21949152 Police investigating 14 people over displays of terrorist symbols - The Australian Federal Police is investigating 14 people for displaying terrorist symbols at a pro-Palestinian protest, while it launches a separate probe into whether Australians’ commentary about events in the Middle East has crossed legal lines. Deputy commissioner Ian McCartney revealed the investigations to a Senate estimates hearing on Tuesday, just over a month after the waving of Hezbollah flags and vigils glorifying slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah reignited political debate about free speech and appropriate protest in Australia. McCartney said the AFP had spent 1100 hours investigating, including reviewing 90 hours of CCTV footage, after Victoria Police reported several matters to the federal agency following a pro-Palestinian protest in Melbourne in September. As of this week, he said 14 people were under investigation for displaying prohibited terrorist symbols in public. Three search warrants had been executed against three people, a further three had been spoken to, and several mobile phones had been seized. “If relevant thresholds are met, the AFP will provide briefs of evidence to the Commonwealth director of public prosecutions to determine if charges will be laid,” he said. “I can reveal we are also investigating whether some discourse relating to deceased terrorists, or events in the Middle East, has reached the threshold of urging violence against groups or advocating terrorism.” Political debate over pro-Palestinian protests erupted in the lead-up to the one-year anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, as Labor and Coalition MPs demanded action under new laws that ban the display of terrorism symbols if they are used to spread hate, intimidate or incite violence.

>>21982238 Australia backs ‘permanent sovereignty’ of Palestinians in UN vote - The Albanese government has shifted Australia’s vote in the UN to recognise the “permanent sovereignty” of Palestinians over the occupied territories and of Arabs over the Golan Heights, sharpening its differences with the Biden and incoming Trump administrations on Israel. Australia had abstained on the same question in UN votes since 2011 but switched its vote to “Yes” in a UN committee ballot on Thursday morning AEDT that will proceed to a vote in the General Assembly. The draft resolution, on “Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources, including land, water and energy resources”, was approved by 159-7, with 11 abstentions. Australia also changed its position on a second question that seeks to blame Israel for a historic oil slick affecting Lebanon during the countries’ 2006 conflict, voting “Yes” after rejecting past motions on the matter. The draft resolution was carried by 161-7 with nine abstentions. The move comes amid high anxiety inside the government over its ability to forge a good working relationship with Donald Trump and his administration, which is set to strengthen US support for Israel. Incoming secretary of state Marco Rubio has previously rejected calls for a ceasefire in Gaza. “On the contrary … I want them to destroy every element of Hamas they can get their hands on. These people are vicious animals who did horrifying crimes,” he said a month into the war. Mr Trump’s pick for US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee is also a hardline supporter of the Jewish state who has long rejected calls for a Palestinian state and once said he dreamed of building a holiday house in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Disclaimer: this post and the subject matter and contents thereof - text, media, or otherwise - do not necessarily reflect the views of the 8kun administration.

51881f (208) No.22225146

#38 - Part 6

Israel / Hamas Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 6

>>21994464 Anthony Albanese toughens criticism of Israel in UN votes, divide with US on Middle East grows - Anthony Albanese has hardened Australia’s criticism of Israel in key UN votes, deepening its rift with the US on the Middle East as incoming president Donald Trump prepares to strengthen American support for the Jewish state. Australia’s representative at the UN in New York overturned the nation’s past positions to support draft resolutions recognising the “permanent sovereignty” of Palestinians to the occupied territories’ natural resources, and demanding compensation from Israel for a wartime oil spill affecting Lebanon 18 years ago. Australia had abstained or voted against the first resolution since 2003, and opposed the second since 2006. The move, during UN committee ballots on Thursday (AEDT), follows the Albanese government’s decision to break with the US and abandon longstanding ­bipartisan support for Israel by ­declaring Australia could recognise a Palestinian state ahead of a negotiated two-state ­solution. It comes amid high anxiety ­inside the government over its ability to forge a good working relationship with Mr Trump, who has installed pro-Israel hawks in key posts and is threatening to ­impose across-the-board tariffs and wind back action on climate change. Members of the incoming Trump administration have also warned that Kevin Rudd’s days as Australia’s ambassador to the US could be numbered, following his past negative comments about the president-elect. Jewish groups declared the voting shift made no sense and would deepen the nation’s divide with Washington on Israel.

>>21994499 Labor’s deception on Israel and the Middle East is its only constant - "The Albanese government, if nothing else, has been consistent in its foreign affairs deception over Israel. It comes as no surprise to the Jewish community or anybody else that yet again Australia has presided over a reversal of a previously held bipartisan position. The justification for the latest volte-face before the UN is as weak as it is implausible, considering there has been no substantive explanation for a change in the underlying circumstances since the two issues being recontested were last voted on. In fact, there was no explanation at all outside a vague rationalisation that the ­decision was founded in a context of the most recent conflict. There was no mention in the resolution that the current conflict was triggered by the Hamas terrorist attack last year. And there was only disappointment from Australia that Hezbollah didn’t get a mention. Despite this, the federal government, on behalf of Australians, voted in favour of Palestinian ­sovereignty over all resources in the occupied/disputed territories, while also voting in favour to blame Israel for an oil slick in ­Lebanon arising from the 2006 conflict. Anthony Albanese declared before the election that there would be no change of Middle East position under a new Labor government. Despite this pledge, Australia has reversed its position five times in the past two years. This latest change of position will be noticed in the US. The question for Foreign Minister Penny Wong is: what has changed since the last time Australia voted on these questions, to prompt a reversal of position? Why the change of heart?" - Simon Benson - theaustralian.com.au

>>22030056 Video: Hooded figures walking to scene of anti-Israel attack in Sydney - Video of two hooded figures walking towards the scene of an anti-Israel arson and vandalism attack has been obtained by The Australian, as a police strike force ramps up its hunt for the perpetrators of the hate crime in a prominent Jewish area of Sydney’s eastern suburbs. The footage captures the pair walking in the darkness at 12.22am in Trelawney St, Woollahra, just minutes before a car was torched in nearby Wellington St and nine others vandalised with anti-Israel graffiti. One of the figures in the footage appears to be carrying a bag or jerry can as the pair walk towards the intersection of Fullerton St, where an apartment building was graffitied with the words “f.ck Israel’. Police and fire crews arrived at Wellington St shortly before 1am after receiving multiple reports of a car on fire. Fire crews were able to extinguish the blaze, but the car was destroyed. At a press conference on Thursday police said two hooded men wearing dark clothing and face masks were captured on CCTV fleeing the scene, but did not release any footage. The Prime Minister said the attack was “disturbing” and “deeply troubling”, as police described the vandalism as “a hate crime”. “There is no place for anti-Semitism in Australia,” Anthony Albanese said.

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51881f (208) No.22225147

#38 - Part 7

Israel / Hamas Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 7

>>22041710 ‘Deeply offensive’: Israel furious as Australia denies ex-minister a visa - Israel has condemned Australia’s decision to deny a visa to former Israeli justice minister Ayelet Shaked on character grounds, warning in a statement on X that the decision was deeply offensive and would harm relations between the two countries. The threat tests already-strained diplomatic ties as Australia seeks to tiptoe around the International Criminal Court’s decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence chief Yoav Gallant, as well as a Hamas leader Ibrahim al-Masri, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza conflict. As the United States rejected the warrants, and Canada said it would abide by them, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Friday Australia respected the ICC’s independence but did not endorse or oppose its decision, or say what the government would do if any of the men set foot here. “Australia respects the independence of the International Criminal Court and its important role in upholding international law,” Wong said in a statement posted to X on Friday morning. “Australia is focused on working with countries that want peace to press for an urgently needed ceasefire … We have been clear that all parties to the conflict must comply with international humanitarian law. Civilians must be protected. Hostages must be released.” But in a statement posted on X on Friday evening [AEDT], Oren Marmorstein, a spokesman for Israel’s Foreign Ministry, said “the Australian government’s decision to deny a visa to former Israeli minister Ayelet Shaked is unacceptable. The decision is deeply offensive and troubling, and will have a negative impact on Israel-Australia relations.”

>>22041751 Australia has refused to condemn what Israeli calls an ‘anti-Semitic’ ICC ruling on Benjamin Netanyahu - Australia is refusing to join the US and Israel in condemning the ­decision by the International Criminal Court to issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as the ­Albanese government suggests it would follow the court’s rulings as “a point of principle”. The court’s unprecedented move against the leader of a democratic state means the court’s 124 member nations, ­including Australia, are obliged to arrest the Israeli leader if he visits. Labor frontbencher Ed Husic on Friday declared the ICC was “doing its job” and suggested that the nation should not waver from global law. Hours later, a government spokeswoman refused to explicitly confirm whether ­Australia would comply with the warrant, declaring “it’s not appropriate to speculate on hypotheticals around individual cases”. However, in a comment that suggested the government would uphold the warrant, the spokeswoman continued “as a point of principle, Australia acts in a manner consistent with our inter­national legal obligations”. While US President Joe Biden denounced the ICC decision soon after it was released, Anthony Albanese declined to make a direct comment on Friday. As Jewish leaders and supporters of Israel despair about the ICC and Labor’s position on the war in the Middle East, former foreign minister Alexander Downer said the government should now ­consider withdrawing from the international court. “I had hoped it’d be a serious court,” said Mr Downer, who led Australia joining the ICC under the Howard government. “We should make it clear that we wouldn’t arrest the Prime Minister of Israel.”

>>22058044 Video: Mohommed Farhat charged following alleged anti-Israel vandalism attack in Woollahra - A man has been arrested following an alleged vandalism attack on a prominent Jewish neighbourhood in Sydney last week. Mohommed Farhat, 20, was arrested in the early hours of Monday at Sydney airport and charged with 21 offences after a car was torched and nine others spray-painted with anti-Israel graffiti in Woollahra on November 21. The alleged rampage took place over just one hour from 11.30pm to 12.30am. He was booked on a flight to Thailand when police arrested him, according to Sky News, with vision showing a plain clothes police officer wheeling a large luggage item behind him, as he was walked in cuffs out of the airport and into a waiting cop car. Mr Farhat was taken to Mascot Police Station and charged with 14 counts of damaging property, three counts of entering land to commit an indictable offence, and two counts of destroying a car by means of fire - with damage worth more than $5000 in one case. Police believe he was with another person when he allegedly set the two cars on fire He was also charged with disguising his face while allegedly committing the offences, and behaving in an offensive manner in public.

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51881f (208) No.22225149

#38 - Part 8

Israel / Hamas Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 8

>>22058053 Coalition to throw Australia’s support behind Israel in campaign pledges - A Peter Dutton-led government would deport non-citizens who voice rhetorical support for terror groups and demand the Australian Broadcasting Corporation avoid bias on Israel, according to a keynote speech home affairs spokesman James Paterson will deliver outlining the Coalition’s pledges. Portraying the bloody war in Gaza and Lebanon as a battle for democracy, Paterson will say Australian Jews were being held responsible for “difficult choices” Israel was forced to make in its fight against terror groups supported by Iran. Paterson will say that a Coalition government will strengthen the laws used by police to lay charges on incitement and displaying terror symbols if they prove too difficult to enforce. “I am deeply troubled by the number of Jews who have told me they are contemplating moving to Israel because they think they may feel safer in a country under attack from three terrorist organisations and a genocidal nation state than they do in Melbourne or Sydney,” he will say in a speech to the Executive Council of the Australian Jewry’s annual general meeting in Melbourne on Sunday. “But I understand it.” The Coalition has sought to tie community unrest in Australia over Gaza to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s actions, portraying him as soft on antisemitism as Labor has gradually shifted support away from Israel through key United Nations votes and actions such as blocking the visa of a former Israeli minister, Ayelet Shaked, on character grounds. The opposition has refrained from criticising Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu’s military campaign even as the United Nations, European Union and International Criminal Court condemn his actions, marking the Coalition as one of the most pro-Israel centre-right parties in the Western world.

>>22058075 Video: Anthony Albanese must abandon ‘mild’ approach to anti-Semitism, leading rabbi Benjamin Elton says - Anthony Albanese must abandon his “very mild” approach to tackling anti-Semitism and more strongly condemn hatred towards Jewish people if he wants to ­protect Australia’s social fabric, one of the nation’s leading rabbis has warned in an extraordinary intervention. Benjamin Elton - the decade-long chief minister at Sydney’s Great Synagogue, one of the ­nation’s oldest Jewish communities -- said he could not understand why the Prime Minister had been unable to find the right language to condemn anti-Jewish hate and warned that his failure had not helped to stem anti-Semitism or societal breakdown. After a week that included an attack on cars and homes targeting Sydney’s Jewish community, and widespread criticism of Labor’s failure to criticise the International Criminal Court’s ­arrest warrants for democratically elected Israeli leaders, the rabbi’s warnings is an inflection point in Australia’s anti-Semitism crisis. Rabbi Elton said in an interview with The Australian on Sunday he believed Mr Albanese was a “very sincere person” but whose language and actions had failed to match the severity of escalating anti-Semitism, particularly in comparison with NSW Premier Chris Minns. “(I refrain) from weighing in on political controversies, or from criticising one leader and praising another … But when there’s moral failings or problems in society, (I’m motivated to) ask difficult questions, and to point to a better way forward,“ he said. “I’m not saying this (to rebuke) the Prime Minister, who I hold in high regard as a very sincere person, but I’ve been moved to speak because when there is a falling short, religious leaders have to speak up.”

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51881f (208) No.22225150

#38 - Part 9

Israel / Hamas Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 9

>>22058095 PM’s mild rhetoric simply not enough to combat anti-Semitic surge - "Australian civil society is fracturing and Jews are in the frontline. Last Wednesday in Woollahra, a suburb with synagogues, a Jewish funeral home, a hospital created by the Jewish community and an area where many of my congregants live, an anti-Semitic attack took place. Homes, businesses and cars were targeted in an outbreak of violence, graffiti, threats and slurs. Just when we had recovered as a community from the targeting of The Great Synagogue by protesters a few months ago, and when we felt we had moved on from the disgraceful behaviour at the Opera House on October 9 last year, we now find this much more extreme and aggressive attack on our doorstep. Law enforcement and our elected representatives cannot control what every malicious actor carries out, but they can set a tone. I don’t generally criticise or endorse specific politicians, but I was struck by the difference between the response of Anthony Albanese and that of NSW Premier Chris Minns. The Prime Minister did say “there is no place for anti-Semitism in Australia” and that “conflict overseas cannot be made a platform for prejudice at home”. But it was disappointing that the strongest words he could summon up to describe the incident were “disturbing” and “deeply troubling”. Minns found a better tone when he said “it is unacceptable, un-Australian and it will not be tolerated. The Jewish community is an integral part of the wider NSW community and we are completely committed to ensuring the safety and security of Jewish people in NSW”. What we need now is action to back up those words, through the police, the prosecution service, the parliaments and the courts." - Rabbi Benjamin Elton, chief minister of The Great Synagogue in Sydney - theaustralian.com.au

>>22058498 Penny Wong refuses to condemn ICC over arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu - Penny Wong says Labor will be guided by the law rather than politics in its response to the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu, as she left open the prospect that Australia could comply with the order if the Israeli Prime Minister travelled to Australia. The Foreign Minister batted away questions in the Senate on whether the government agreed with US President Joe Biden’s assessment that the warrant was “outrageous”, accusing the opposition of trying to make political mileage from the situation. She said unlike the US, Australia was a party to the statute that created the ICC, and the court’s ability to “uphold international law” was in Australia’s national interest. “Unlike you, we actually believe that adherence to international law is a matter of principle, and it is in Australia’s interests,” Senator Wong said, responding to opposition legal affairs spokeswoman Michaelia Cash. Asked directly whether the Albanese government would enforce the ICC warrant if Mr Netanyahu ever came to Australia, the Foreign Minister said: “I certainly don’t propose to speculate on hypotheticals. “What I can say to the ­chamber is that Australia will act consistently with our ­obligations under international law and our approach will be ­informed by international law, not by politics.” The Executive Council of Australian Jewry’s co-chief executive, Alex Ryvchin, said if Australia was a “real friend” to Israel, Senator Wong would have repudiated the ICC warrant as the US had done. “The Foreign Minister had an opportunity to demonstrate whether this government is supportive of Israel or hostile to it. The Foreign Minister made her choice,” Mr Ryvchin said.

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51881f (208) No.22225151

#38 - Part 10

Israel / Hamas Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 10

>>22098934 Ed Husic pleas fall on deaf ears among divided Muslim community - The Muslim political campaign threatening to topple senior Labor ministers has declared it has no problem if its pro-Palestine push helped elect Peter Dutton, saying such a result would “demonstrate the impact” of its movement. But other Muslim leaders have urged voters to avoid “cutting their nose to spite their face”, saying inadvertently electing the Liberals would be a far worse prospect for the community’s hopes for Palestine. The ALP will likely incorporate The Muslim Vote’s stance as part of its campaign arsenal in southwest Sydney, where supportive elements from the community fear a protest vote could usher in a Liberal government far friendlier to Israel and more opposed to Palestinian statehood. Industry Minister Ed Husic, the country’s most senior Muslim politician, urged his community to not vote in “anger” against Labor, spruiking the government’s “advocacy” for Palestinian sovereignty and its record at the United Nations. “I think people can see the volume of work that we have done as a government, particularly in the last 12 months … We are trying to make sure that Australia’s voice is heard in the international arena on this issue,” Mr Husic said on Monday. But The Muslim Vote convener Wesam Charkawi rejected Mr Husic’s plea, urging Muslim voters who had been “neglected … for far too long” to take a stand against Labor at the ballot box. “(The Labor government) consistently held that Israel has a right to defend itself while Palestinians were being butchered,” Sheik Charkawi said: “(The government) refused to sanction Israel, refused to expel the Israeli ambassador, refused to call for an arms embargo, and refused on multiple occasions to call for an unconditional ceasefire.”

>>22104603 Video: Australia changes position to support vote demanding Israel end occupation of Gaza, East Jerusalem and West Bank - Australia has changed its position to support a UN resolution demanding "Israel bring to an end its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as rapidly as possible". The resolution, passed by the UN General Assembly, also calls for an end to all new settlement activities and for settlers to be removed from the occupied territory. Australia was one of 157 nations that voted in favour of the resolution. Seven abstained, and eight voted against it, including the USA and Israel. Australia has abstained from similar resolutions at past meetings of the General Assembly, including at a vote in September. Since then, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant, which allege war crimes and crimes against humanity. Australia is a party to the ICC and has a legal obligation to arrest the men if they visit. Australia's ambassador to the United Nations, James Larsen, said Australia had now returned to a position it held up until the year 2001. He said that was a time "when the international community and the parties themselves came together to chart a path towards a two-state solution", and the vote "reflects our determination that the international community again work together to build momentum towards this goal".

>>22111586 Labor condemned by Coalition, Jewish groups, over UN vote on Palestine - Peter Dutton has accused Anthony Albanese of selling out Israel to claw back votes in western Sydney after the government switched its vote in the UN to support Palestinian statehood and demand Israel’s withdrawal from the occupied territories. Jewish groups were outraged at the government’s decision to support the UN motion, which Australia has abstained from or opposed for more than two decades, accusing it of breaching a pre-election pledge to maintain strong support for Israel and avoid using foreign policy to play domestic politics. Australia joined 156 other countries on Wednesday morning AEDT to back the seven-page resolution urging “the realisation of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, primarily the right to self-determination and the right to their independent state”. Mr Dutton said the Prime Minister had abandoned Australian Jews “for votes”. “He sold the Jewish community out in this country for Green votes in western Sydney and in places like Marrickville (in Mr Albanese’s seat),” the Opposition Leader said. “I think we should be standing with allies like the United States. Instead, the Albanese government is chasing Green votes and they’ve been prepared to sacrifice the wellbeing of the Jewish community here in Australia to do so.”

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51881f (208) No.22225152

#38 - Part 11

Israel / Hamas Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 11

>>22111604 ‘The two-state solution is absolutely dead,’ leading Palestinian advocate says - The prospect of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is dead, according to the leading Palestinian advocate in Australia, meaning Jewish and Arab residents will eventually need to live together on the land currently controlled by Israel. The Albanese government angered Israel and pleased Palestinian supporters on Wednesday by voting in favour of a United Nations resolution demanding Israel end its presence in the occupied Palestinian territories as soon as possible and calling for the evacuation of all settlers from the West Bank and Gaza. Australia had abstained or voted against similar motions since 2001, making the shift a significant departure from its previous position. Nasser Mashni, president of the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network, said establishing an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel would be akin to partitioning South Africa as a way to end apartheid in the 1990s. “The two-state solution is absolutely dead,” Mashni, whose organisation is the peak lobby group for Palestinian rights, told this masthead. “The driving force behind the idea of a two-state solution in the West has been about protecting Israel as a Jewish democratic state. But at some point the world will see that there are no two states, that Israel itself doesn’t want it. What we’re left with is one land, two peoples and two laws, and that’s apartheid.” He continued: “It was wrong in South Africa, and it is wrong in Palestine. We need to dismantle an apartheid regime and no one suggested the solution for apartheid in South Africa was separate black and white states.”

>>22118085 Benjamin Netanyahu’s office says Labor’s Palestine support in the UN will invite more terrorism - The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has strongly criticised the Albanese government over its retreating support for Israel and promotion of Palestinian statehood at the UN, describing these actions as ­rewards for terrorism and suggesting Australia may no longer be a “key ally” of the Jewish state. In comments provided exclusively to The Australian, the office of Mr Netanyahu said the “disappointing” change in position at the UN would undoubtedly “invite more terrorism” and “more anti-Semitic riots” on Western campuses and city centres, “including in Australia”. Australia voted on Wednesday (AEDT) in favour of Israel withdrawing its “unlawful presence” from the West Bank, Gaza and eastern Jerusalem, marking a two-decade change in Canberra’s position on the matter. The resolution, which passed by 157-8, also called for settlers to be removed from the West Bank and will also see a conference held in June 2025, in New York, to chart an “irreversible pathway” ­towards a Palestinian state. A separate UN vote calling on Israel to withdraw from the Golan Heights, which was part of Syria until 1967, was not supported. Australia ­abstained from a third vote. The statement provided by Mr Netanyahu’s office said Australia’s position amounted to a reward for terrorists who abducted 250 hostages - 101 of whom remain in captivity, including children, young women and elderly men -- and slaughtered 1200 ­people on October 7 last year. “Australia’s flip flop is disappointing,” the statement said, marking the first time Mr Netanyahu’s office has commented ­directly on the actions of Australia and the Albanese government. “Awarding anti-Semitism and terrorism with a state in the heart of the Jewish ancient homeland and cradle of civilisation will invite more terrorism and more anti-Semitic riots at campuses and city centres, including in Australia.”

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51881f (208) No.22225154

#38 - Part 12

Israel / Hamas Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 12

>>22118112 Benjamin Netanyahu calls out Australia’s historic retreat from Israel on the world stage - "The break has been coming for months, but Benjamin Netan­yahu’s stinging rebuke of the Albanese government’s position on Israel has all but fractured two decades of bipartisan Australian support for the Jewish state. Known as Bibi, the Israeli Prime Minister doesn’t mince words, claiming Australia’s progressive abandonment of Israel in the UN will reward anti-Semitism and terrorism, as he made it clear he no longer sees Australia as a “key” ally of Israel. This is a big moment for Australian policy in the Middle East. The supposedly rock-solid support Australia gave to Israel in the wake of the October 7 massacre of its people by Hamas has suffered a death by a thousand cuts to the point Australia is edging closer to being an open critic of Israel’s conduct of its war against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Put simply, Foreign Minister Penny Wong by her many actions in recent months has made it clear she believes Israel’s retribution against Hamas in Gaza has caused such excessive civilian deaths that Israel can no longer claim the moral high ground it initially held after the horrific events of October 7. The critical question the government needs to answer is why change course now, when fighting is continuing in Gaza and when Hamas is still holding hostages and is yet to surrender? The war in Gaza has made a two state-solution more unlikely and more distant than ever before. The corrupt and anti-Israeli Palestinian Authority is hardly suited to running a Palestinian state even if a final agreement could be reached. But the cauldron of war in the Middle East during the past 14 months means any two-state solution is so far from being realised that it has become - for now -- almost a hypothetical concept. The notion that Australia suddenly wants to fast track a process that is clearly unworkable at this time reeks of political opportunism ahead of next year’s election rather than any genuine effort to seek a constructive solution to conflict in the Middle East." - Cameron Stewart - theaustralian.com.au

>>22118150 Arson attack:Police seek two masked men over ‘deliberately lit fire’ at Adass Israel Synagogue of Melbourne- More than 60 firefighters have fought a blaze ignited after a suspected arson attack at a Melbourne synagogue early on Friday morning. The fire began at Adass Israel Synagogue of Melbourne around 4.10am at Ripponlea in Melbourne’s southeast. Victorian arson squad Detective Inspector Chris Murray said the “deliberately lit fire” was first caught by a witness who arrived at the synagogue to begin morning prayers. Yumi Friedman was the first person to call police as he witnessed the attack unfold from inside. “I was studying in the synagogue and (heard) a big bang on the door with a sledge hammer… then I heard another sledge hammer (hit) the glass and saw the glass flying. He was among dozens of congregation members who gathered outside the synagogue on Friday morning alongside other neighbours, police and firefighters, who pumped water from trucks inside the building. Mr Friedman alleged two people wearing balaclavas and carrying Jerry cans initiated the attack. “We’re just minding our own business, coming to pray and to learn and study, he said. Anthony Albanese said he had been briefed on the attack by the Australian Federal Police. “I unequivocally condemn the attack on a Melbourne synagogue early this morning. I have zero tolerance for anti-Semitism. It has absolutely no place in Australia,” the Prime Minister said in a statement. “This violence and intimidation and destruction at a place of worship is an outrage. This attack has risked lives and is clearly aimed at creating fear in the community. The people involved must be caught and face the full force of the law. The Commonwealth will provide full assistance to Victorian authorities. This deliberate, unlawful attack goes against everything we are as Australians and everything we have worked so hard to build as a nation.”

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51881f (208) No.22225155

#38 - Part 13

Israel / Hamas Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 13

>>22118430 Video: ‘An act of hate’: Counter-terrorism police to investigate synagogue firebombing - Officers from the state’s Counter Terrorism Command will join the investigation into the firebombing of a Melbourne synagogue that has been widely condemned as an act of antisemitism. Members of the Adass Israel congregation were forced to flee in the early hours on Friday as fire engulfed the synagogue in Ripponlea, following the arson attack by two masked suspects who remain at large. The men were pouring liquid on the floor when they were disturbed by a congregant who was attending the Glen Eira Avenue synagogue, police said, prompting the suspects to flee. On Friday, police scrambled to increase security at synagogues across the city through the weekend. Images obtained by this masthead show extensive damage inside the synagogue. The blaze gutted the building, leaving charred ruins, a tangle of wiring and a collapsed roof. After the blaze, members of the congregation rushed to salvage items including a trove of holy books and precious Torah scrolls. They formed a line, passing along artefacts and personal items - tallits (prayer shawls) and tefillin (phylacteries worn on the arm and head during prayer) -- out of the blackened building. Members carefully loaded them into a car, kissing them as is customary when touching a Torah scroll. Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said the attack was predictable given the rise of antisemitism across Australia following the attack on Israel by Hamas terrorists on October 7 last year and Israel’s subsequent bombing of Gaza. “Everybody knew that antisemitism, that hatred and that vilification, that racism, was lurking beneath the surface,” Dutton said. “But what we’ve seen on our university campuses, what we’ve seen online, what we’ve seen against people of Jewish faith in the community has been completely and utterly unacceptable, and it should be totally condemned in our country.”

>>22120571 Labor’s UN posturing ‘rewards’ anti-Semitism, former minister Mike Kelly says - Former Labor minister Mike Kelly has linked Anthony Albanese’s support for pro-Palestine motions in the UN with the torching of a Melbourne Synagogue, urging him to “join the dots” between its hard line stance against Israel and surging anti-Semitism. The Labor Friends of Israel co-convener said some party members were now tearing up their membership cards in protest at the government’s hostility towards the Jewish state, believing the government was “betraying” the legacy of ALP giants Ben Chifley and HV “Doc” Evatt. Amid national outrage over the arson attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue on Friday morning, Mr Kelly said anti-Semitic extremists saw the government’s support for anti-Israel motions in the UN as a “reward for their lawlessness and their violence”. “The government has been making a series of decisions like this and very clearly, this only encourages the extremists to go further,” he told The Australian. “This is obviously not intentional by the government, but it’s really disturbing that they’re not joining the dots and making the connection here, and it’s hurting our national security posture and our social cohesion situation. “And then, unsurprisingly, we see the events in Melbourne overnight. Obviously, we have to respect the investigation process, but it seems very clearly there’s a potential here for this to have been another heinous act by one of these extremists.” Mr Kelly said the looming retirement of pro-Israel Labor minister Bill Shorten marked the loss of another “voice of reason” from the party, as “Communists and Greens” used the situation in the Middle East to divide the ALP and the trade union movement.

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51881f (208) No.22225156

#38 - Part 14

Israel / Hamas Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 14

>>22120646 Israeli president urges Albanese to crack down on antisemitism in firebombing’s wake - Israel’s president has told Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to take “firm and strong action” against antisemitism, as he condemned a surge of attacks on the Australian Jewish community that culminated in arsonists firebombing a Melbourne synagogue. Isaac Herzog said he spoke to Albanese after the attack on the Adass Israel temple, condemning “an intolerable wave of attacks on Jewish communities in Australia and around the world”, echoing remarks from the country’s foreign minister, Gideon Sa’ar. “I noted to the prime minister that this rise and the increasingly serious antisemitic attacks on the Jewish community required firm and strong action, and that this was a message that must be heard clearly from Australia’s leaders,” said Herzog, whose position is roughly equivalent to Australia’s governor-general, in a post on X. “I thanked him for his ongoing efforts to combat antisemitism, and expressed my trust that the local law enforcement would do everything in their power to bring the perpetrators to justice.” The attack comes as the relationship between Australia and Israel is severely strained by the war in Gaza, and Australia’s peak Jewish groups say they feel betrayed by the Albanese government, which has not backed Israel as fiercely as the Coalition. Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar said antisemitism “must be relentlessly confronted”. “I urge Australian authorities to act swiftly and ensure the despicable perpetrators are brought to justice,” he said.

>>22120868 ‘This is an attack on all Jews in Melbourne’: Leaders reeling after attack - If the masked arsonists who torched a Melbourne synagogue in Friday’s pre-dawn hours intended to send an incendiary message about Israel’s war in Gaza, they picked the wrong Jews. The members of the ultra-Orthodox community who pray at the Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea are not Zionists. Nor are they politically active. Where many Jewish groups advocate strong views about the conflict in the Middle East, they tend to say little outside their small, cloistered community. Where Israelis speak Hebrew, they speak Yiddish. While many of them have family connections within Israel and have spent time in the country, they have no truck with the state of Israel nor its government. Put simply, this is not their war. “We are a very quiet community,” Adass Israel board member Benjamin Klein says. “We are not involved in politics, we don’t have Israeli flags. We pray for Israel, we pray for peace. We don’t recognise the state per se but we don’t protest for or against. We really don’t get involved. We are busy trying to do the right thing by God. That is what our mission is and that is what we focus our lives on.” So why is it that, on a hot Friday morning a few weeks before Hanukkah, Klein is standing on a grassy verge in Ripponlea with other members of his community, his face red and sweaty beneath his orthodox garb, watching arson detectives pick through the charred remnants of a suspected hate crime inside his house of worship? Jillian Segal, the Australian government’s Special Envoy to Combat Anti-semitism, says this is what happens when hate, mixed with ignorance, is let off the leash. In comments to this masthead, Segal describes it as a destructive continuum. “We have gone from weekly demonstrations morphing into antisemitism to demonstrations outside a synagogue in Victoria, to the daubing of cars in Woollahra with “f-ck Israel”. The next step is actually lighting up a synagogue. “The cause is antisemitism, which is hatred of Jews. That is the cause and that is what we haven’t been calling out and stopping in this country.”

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51881f (208) No.22225158

#38 - Part 15

Israel / Hamas Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 15

>>22120919 When synagogues start burning its hard to ‘cherish’ social cohesion - "Almost everyday brings a fresh assault on Australia’s Jewish population. A synagogue is torched in Melbourne, a car immolated in Sydney and others vandalised. An aggressive, drum-banging pro-Palestinian mob sets up a three-hour protest outside Sydney’s Great Synagogue. Of course it’s the sole Israeli flag-carrying Jew who gets pushed away by the police. What we don’t see reported is the relentless pressure on our Jewish citizens. The young children who practise weekly security drills at schools anticipating an attack. The deluge of anti-Jewish hate online. The family decisions not to go into the city today, not to wear a Star of David, to stay at home wondering if they have a future in this country. What happens on the street is enabled by our government’s hard-turn against an old friend, Israel. When Australia shifts a vote in the United Nations towards the creation of Palestine, the gesture rewards terrorism and punishes Israel for the sin of being attacked. To hell with the pretence of bipartisanship: Labor’s left, led by Penny Wong intellectually and Anthony Albanese emotionally, are having fun while they still can with an old ideological fixation of bashing Israel. This agenda is damaging politically, but addresses an internal party need. The government will not or cannot accept that it sets the context for the rise of anti-Jewish sentiment in Australia. It’s hard to nourish and cherish social cohesion when the synagogues start burning. We need a tougher approach to internal security." - Peter Jennings, director of Strategic Analysis Australia, former executive director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and former deputy secretary for strategy in the Defence Department (2009-12) - theaustralian.com.au

>>22121270 Netanyahu points finger at Labor over synagogue firebombing - Labor’s “extreme anti-Israel position” is to blame for the firebombing of a Melbourne synagogue and increasing anti-Semitism throughout Australia, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said in an extraordinary intervention. Just days after his office told The Australian that the Albanese government’s shift towards supporting Palestinian interests at the UN would “invite terrorism”, Prime Minister Netanyahu himself overnight said it was “impossible to seperate” the arson attack and the government’s positions. “The burning of the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne is an abhorrent act of antisemitism. I expect the state authorities to use their full weight to prevent such antisemitic acts in the future,” Mr Netanyahu said on X. “Unfortunately, it is impossible to separate this reprehensible act from the extreme anti-Israeli position of the Labor government in Australia, including the scandalous decision to support the UN resolution calling on Israel “to bring an end to its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as rapidly as possible”, and preventing a former Israeli minister from entering the country. Anti-Israel sentiment is antisemitism.” Mr Netanyahu’s attack on the Albanese government brings the Israeli-Australian relationship to its lowest ebb since the founding of the modern Jewish State after World War Two.

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51881f (208) No.22225160

#38 - Part 16

Israel / Hamas Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 16

>>22121384 Anthony Albanese is now witnessing the consequences of his failure to protect Australian Jews - "Anthony Albanese is now witnessing the consequences of his own government’s failure to protect the Jewish community from acts of violent anti-Semitism amid its foreign policy pivot on Israel. Whether he accepts the assertion or not, the Prime Minister is now in the hot seat on an issue that has escalated beyond the foreign conflict to become one of broader domestic community safety. Until Friday, the Prime Minister’s language on the convulsions between the Jewish and pro-Palestinian communities has been mealy mouthed at best since the October 9 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel. Yet his foreign policy posture towards Israel has not been. It has become increasingly hostile. The timing of the arson attack on a synagogue in Melbourne was profound, having occurred within hours of Israel’s warning to Australia that its reversal of a long-held UN position on Palestinian status would result in increased violence against Jews. The Israeli government warned that “awarding savages” would invite terrorism. This is precisely what occurred at 4.10am on Friday morning. The Prime Minister doesn’t need to wait for ASIO or police to call it for what it is: an act of domestic terrorism. By any definition, it is precisely this. It is now impossible to separate the foreign from the domestic, from what is playing out in the suburban streets of Melbourne and Sydney. It is the product of an environment of permissive hatred that has been allowed to advance unchecked and without penalty. Most Australians, while appalled by what is occurring, still see this as a foreign conflict that has little to do with them. Albanese has been right on this, although wrong on the corrosive effect it may have on the perception of strength of leadership. The risk now for Labor is whether Friday morning’s arson attack is the tipping point for when this now becomes part of a broader consciousness that feeds into community concerns about crime and public safety. The political danger for Albanese now is that this latest incident will resonate more broadly in a community that until now has not been connected to the issue. Many may now come to view this as an issue that has got out of hand, under a government that has failed to address it." - Simon Benson - theaustralian.com.au

>>22126553 PM must declare synagogue attack a terror event: Frydenberg - Anthony Albanese must set up a police task force devoted to stamping out anti-Semitism and declare Friday’s firebombing of a Melbourne synagogue a terrorist act, former treasurer Josh Frydenberg has declared. Standing with ex-Labor senator Nova Peris at the Caulfield South synagogue now at the centre of the wave of anti-Jewish hate in Australia, Mr Frydenberg said Labor must set up a judicial inquiry into anti-Semitism on university campuses. Hours after the firebombing, the Prime Minister on Friday said anti-Semitism has been around for a “long time” and faced claims from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that his government’s foreign policy has encouraged the incident. “This is not about other forms of hate, this is not about Islamophobia,” the former Liberal deputy leader said on Saturday. “This task force needs to enforce the law and where necessary advise how to strengthen it.” Former senator Nova Paris said the state and federal Labor governments have failed to show leadership on anti-Semitism. “The fact that no one was arrested or there weren’t consequences of the act on October 7th, before blood had even dried, before Israel had even retaliated, speaks volumes,” Ms Peris said. “The amount of attacks upon Jewish people, of racial hatred, the property that’s been destroyed, our war memorials, all these things that are an attack on citizens of this country. If there are no consequences, it allows people to say, well, we’re just going to continue to get away with it.”

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51881f (208) No.22225161

#38 - Part 17

Israel / Hamas Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 17

>>22126566 Albanese, Wong defend Australia’s stance on Israel following criticism from Netanyahu - Foreign Minister Penny Wong has castigated opponents blaming the government for rising antisemitism, and Anthony Albanese has stood by his diplomatic posture towards Israel after Benjamin Netanyahu tied Labor’s “extreme anti-Israel position” to the firebombing of a synagogue. The Israeli prime minister’s extraordinary statement has placed global attention on deteriorating relations between Australia and its long-time friendly nation in the Middle East, sparking calls from the pro-Israel opposition to urgently mend ties and intensifying a dispute over Labor’s management of tensions stemming from the war. Wong characterised the criticism of Labor’s approach as grounded in politics, not facts, emphasising that Labor’s voting in the UN was aligned with like-minded nations such as Canada and Britain, whose diplomats have increasingly lost patience with Israel’s long-running war effort. “Turning this into a political fight is reckless even for [Opposition Leader] Peter Dutton,” she told this masthead in a statement. “The Liberals also used to support a balanced, two-state solution, but now they see political advantage in trying to reproduce the conflict here.”

>>22126615 PM Albanese meets with Jewish community members at Perth synagogue - Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has met privately with Jewish community members at a synagogue in Perth one day after the firebombing of the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne. The meeting was closed off to media, though NewsWire understands Mr Albanese was invited to the community centre in central Perth and spoke there in the morning. It is understood about a hundred people filled the synagogue. Mr Albanese is expected to give a press conference in the WA capital on Sunday morning, where he is expected to speak further on the firebombing that has shocked the nation and triggered widespread anger. In a statement posted to X on Saturday afternoon, Mr Albanese said the arson attack on Adass Israel was “un-Australian”. “The Jewish community has made an extraordinary contribution to the strength and success of our nation, over generations,” he said. “Time and time again, they have defied the cowardice and cruelty of antisemitism with courage and resolve. In this deeply distressing time, I want every member of the Jewish community to know our government unequivocally condemns the prejudice you have been targeted with.”

>>22128056 Video: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese calls synagogue firebombing a 'terrorist attack' following public outcry - Following scathing criticism from the Jewish community and the Coalition, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has labelled the recent synagogue firebombing as a “terrorist attack”. The Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne was set ablaze on Friday in what has been suspected to be an arson attack, leaving the Jewish community devastated. Initially, Mr Albanese released a statement on Saturday describing the burning of the Jewish temple as “antisemitic” but he refrained from using the term “terrorism”. Pressure quickly mounted from the Jewish community and political leaders who blamed the Prime Minister for failing to prevent rising levels of antisemitism. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton described Mr Albanese’s response as “one of the worst things I've ever seen in public life” on Sunday. “The Prime Minister won’t even use the word ‘terrorist attack’, and that says something in itself,” he said. Shortly after the Opposition Leader’s remarks, Mr Albanese fronted reporters at a press conference in Perth where he clarified his stance. The Prime Minister said in his “personal view” the incident was “quite clearly” a terrorist attack. “There is a technical process that is agreed in the protocols for designating an event as a terrorist act. That meeting is taking place tomorrow,” Mr Albanese said. “If you want my personal view, quite clearly terrorism is something that is aimed at creating fear in the community. “And the atrocities that occurred at the synagogue in Melbourne clearly were designed to create fear in the community. “Therefore, from my personal perspective, (the attack) certainly fulfilled the definition of terrorism.”

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51881f (208) No.22225163

#38 - Part 18

Israel / Hamas Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 18

>>22134026 ‘Back bigger and better’: Hundreds rally near firebombed synagogue, vowing to rebuild - Heartbroken members of Melbourne’s Adass Israel community vowed at a solidarity gathering to restore the “jewel in the crown” by rebuilding their firebombed synagogue. More than 1000 people rallied to support the congregation on Sunday after the Ripponlea synagogue was firebombed in the early hours of Friday morning. Police are investigating. Benjamin Klein, a board member of the synagogue, said he found it heartbreaking to walk past the charred building and think of what has been lost. “We will come back bigger and better, I can assure you. The building will be beautiful -- a jewel in the crown once again,” he said on Sunday. Members of the Adass Israel congregation were forced to flee on Friday as fire engulfed the Glen Eira Avenue synagogue. No one has been arrested, and police are searching for three masked suspects who fled the scene. The arsonists poured flammable liquid on the floor of the building before they were disturbed by a congregant who was attending the synagogue, police said. Premier Jacinta Allan confirmed on Sunday that the counter-terrorism units of the Australian Federal Police and Victoria Police were investigating. At the solidarity rally in Ripponlea, many attendees held Israel flags and signs stating “We choose unity” and “I stand with Israel”. Supporters were encouraged to bring bunches of flowers, which they placed in the fence surrounding the burnt shell of the synagogue.

>>22134046 Protests to go on ‘until liberation’, say pro-Palestinian rally organisers - Pro-Palestinian protesters have vowed to return to Melbourne’s CBD every weekend for as long as it takes to “liberate Palestine”, as the Victorian government mulls changes to protest laws that might outlaw rallies at places of worship. The late afternoon change in position from the government, which had previously been dismissive of tightening protest laws, came two days after arsonists set fire to the Adass Israel synagogue in Ripponlea in an attack early on Friday. On Saturday, NSW Premier Chris Minns ordered his government to explore outlawing protests at places of worship after a rally at Sydney’s Great Synagogue while members of the Israel Institute of Technology were inside. Premier Jacinta Allan initially dismissed questions about similar changes on Sunday, but later a Victorian government spokesperson said the government would consider changes to “ensure that people can exercise their right to attend places of worship freely, without fear, intimidation, harassment or obstruction”. The move came as protesters mounted their 61st consecutive rally in Melbourne’s CBD on Sunday, with thousands supporting the Palestinian cause listening to speeches at the State Library from about noon, followed by a slow walk down Swanston Street to Flinders Street. The crowd dispersed about 2.15pm. Asked how long the protests would continue, one of the rally’s organisers, Australia Palestine Advocacy Network president Nasser Mashni, told The Age on Sunday: “Why would we stop? “For decades, Palestine had no constituency. I was an advocate for Palestine. Couldn’t get in the door, couldn’t get a media interview, couldn’t get an [opinion article] written. But today, Palestine is palatable. It is a movement. Palestine can’t be ignored any more.”

>>22134063 Video: AFP anti-Semitism taskforce 'Avalite' established after synagogue attack - Australian Federal Police taskforce Operation Avalite will be established to combat anti-Semitism following an arson attack on a synagogue in Melbourne that is now being investigated as a terror incident. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the taskforce was being stood up in response to three recent anti-Semitic attacks: the attack on the Adass Israel synagogue in Ripponlea, an attack on Jewish Labor MP Josh Burns' electorate office, and an incident in Woollahra in Sydney where a car was torched and buildings vandalised with anti-Israel messages. AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw said the taskforce would give police expanded powers to investigate the incidents. "Special Operation Avalite will be an agile and experienced squad of counterterrorism investigators who will focus on threats, violence, and hatred towards the Australian Jewish community and parliamentarians," Commissioner Kershaw said. "Our world-class agencies will provide all the support necessary to find the perpetrators and ensure they face the full force of the law," Mr Albanese said. Mr Albanese also committed to visiting the community where the synagogue was attacked. The prime minister has faced immediate pressure to step up the government’s response from the opposition, who have accused the government of enabling anti-Semitism to go unchecked.

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51881f (208) No.22225166

#38 - Part 19

Israel / Hamas Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 19

>>22134094 Video: ‘One of the most evil acts we’ve seen’: Synagogue fire declared a terror attack - An arson attack on one of Australia’s busiest synagogues has been declared a “likely” terrorist attack, according to Victorian and federal police. The formal declaration means the investigation is now in the hands of the joint counter-terrorism team, which can access new sweeping detention, search and surveillance powers. It comes as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the formation of a new federal police antisemitism taskforce following several antisemitic attacks in Sydney and Melbourne, including the synagogue arson attack, the Woollahra vandalism incident in November, and the defacing of Jewish MP Josh Burns’ office in June. Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said a special law enforcement committee involving the Australian Federal Police had met on Monday and determined the attack was “likely a terrorist incident”. “Based on that [advice], I am very confident that we now have had a terrorist attack on that synagogue, and that is why we are transitioning that as a terrorist incident to the joint counter-terrorism team for investigation,” Patton announced at a press conference. He declined to provide specifics about the investigation, except that three suspects were being sought over the fire which destroyed much of the Adass Israel Synagogue at Ripponlea, in Melbourne’s south-east, early on Friday. Premier Jacinta Allan, who attended the press conference, said the formal terror declaration meant additional powers and resources for those investigating the attack, which she described as “one of the most evil acts we’ve seen”. “We’re here today as a consequence of one of the most evil acts we’ve seen, one of the most evil acts [of antisemitism] and now, as has been determined by the policing agencies, a likely act of terrorism,” Allan said. “This has to come to an end. We cannot let this conflict overseas continue to be a cloak for behaviour like that here.”

>>22134258 Video: Anthony Albanese entertains Labor donors, plays tennis at Cottesloe as Jewish Australians reel from Melbourne synagogue attack - Labor donors were entertained by Anthony Albanese over drinks on the banks of Perth’s Swan River on the day of the synagogue terror attack in Melbourne, and he then played tennis on Saturday afternoon in the leafy beachside suburb of Cottesloe, staying for afternoon tea with members of Western Australia’s most prestigious lawn court tennis club. Surprise at the Prime Minister’s decision not to travel to Melbourne after the terror attack turned to shock on Monday as it emerged he had taken time to play tennis in the golden triangle of Perth real estate as Jewish Australians reeled and prepared for a vigil near the burnt-out Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea. On Friday night, Mr Albanese was the star attraction at the Federal Labor Business Forum’s “End-of-Year Networking Event” at the Chevron building on Perth’s CBD foreshore. Mr Albanese spent the night with party donors just hours after his first briefings on the firebombing and a phone call with Israeli President Isaac Herzog over the incident. The Australian understands the drinks went for 90 minutes. The event is designed to allow businesses to pay a premium to have access to senior ALP figures such as the Prime Minister. The tennis took place the same weekend Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was blaming Labor and the Albanese government for the wave of anti-Semitism in Australia. Also that same day former treasurer Josh Frydenberg and ex-Labor senator Nova Peris put up a united front against anti-Jewish hate outside the firebombed synagogue. Perth woman Elizabeth Pell took a photo with Mr Albanese at the tennis club, and posted to social media: “Not someone you meet everyday!” When questioned at a press conference on Monday about his decision to play tennis on Saturday, Mr Albanese took advantage of a reporter’s mistaken understanding that he had played in the morning rather than in the afternoon, saying: “Well, I wasn’t playing tennis on the Saturday morning.” Questioned further, he said: “That is wrong. I had six appointments on Saturday. After they had concluded, late in the afternoon, I did some exercise. That’s what people do.”

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51881f (208) No.22225167

#38 - Part 20

Israel / Hamas Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 20

>>22139939 Peter Dutton aces Anthony Albanese in Melbourne synagogue terror response - "Playing a round of beachside tennis in Perth’s Golden Triangle and attending a party fundraiser after a likely terror attack on a synagogue continues Anthony Albanese’s run of poor judgment, delayed decision-making and equivocation on anti-Semitism. The Prime Minister should’ve jumped on a plane and headed straight to Melbourne instead of practising his backhand at the Cottesloe Tennis Club, being the guest of honour at a Labor fundraising event at Chevron HQ and campaigning in battleground Perth seats. If that meant skipping a train line opening and organising a senior colleague to meet the Nauruan President, so be it. Peter Dutton’s visit to the Adass Israel Synagogue before Albanese, which is not the first time the Opposition Leader has front-run the Labor leader, is bad optics for the government. The synagogue, which burnt down early Friday morning, is located in the electorally vulnerable seat of Macnamara, held by Jewish Labor MP Josh Burns. Albanese waited until Monday to convene a meeting of the national security committee of cabinet despite advice the firebombing was a likely terror attack, before holding a Canberra press conference with security chiefs in a bid to reassure Australians he is on the job. Since Hamas’s murderous attacks against Israelis on October 7, 2023, Dutton and others including NSW Labor Premier Chris Minns have been stronger than the Albanese government in condemning and responding to anti-Semitic incidents and protests. The Albanese government, which has been obsessed by Israel-Palestine UN votes and ceasefires, needs to reverse what Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus on Monday described as “the highest level of anti-Semitism that I’ve experienced in my lifetime”. Jewish Australians should be able to worship, attend school and feel safe in workplaces without exposure to prejudice. If stronger action is not taken to combat anti-Semitic attacks and protests, a minority of bad actors will continue waging their campaign of hate and terror." - Geoff Chambers - theaustralian.com.au

>>22139946 Former Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni says ‘governance’ the key to combating anti-Semitism - A former Israeli foreign minister says the war against anti-Semitism begins with just one word: ­leadership. Tzipi Livni says societies that do not have strong political leadership ready to stamp out anti-Semitism as soon as it occurs will never be able to conquer the scourge. Ms Livni, Israel’s foreign minister from 2006-09 and also a former vice-prime minister and justice minister, was speaking as she paid her respects at the burnt-out Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne after it was firebombed in the early hours of last Friday. Ms Livni stressed she was not passing comment or judgment on the Australian government and said she did not want to wade into a domestic political debate. But she said her observation was that the rise in anti-Semitism in the Western world since October 7, 2023 demanded strong responses from governments to stop it festering and spreading. “Responsibility lies with the leadership of the countries where it is rearing its ugly head,” Ms Livni said. “Because it’s not just about the Jews or the state of Israel. It’s about the society itself, and the nature of the society and hate speech. “Anti-Semitism needs to be dealt with strongly by the political leadership of any country.” She said a clear message that such behaviour will not be tolerated also needed to be backed up by a raft of concrete measures. “From my experience, it’s about education to promote tolerance. It’s about legislation, about giving hate crimes a different punishment because it means something more. It is also about the public messages coming from leaders to say that this is not accepted there, and will not be tolerated.”

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51881f (208) No.22225168

#38 - Part 21

Israel / Hamas Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 21

>>22139971 Video: ‘Nice day for the tennis’: Anthony Albanese heckled in chaotic scenes at synagogue - Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been heckled in chaotic scenes outside the fire-bombed synagogue in Melbourne, with one heckler shouting it was “a nice day for the tennis”. Jewish community leaders had asked the community not to heckle the Prime Minister amid anger over his failure to visit the site earlier. But a crowd outside the synagogue did not hold back amid controversy over his afternoon of tennis in Perth in the wake of the terror attack. “Nice day for tennis,” one heckler shouted. Another person then shouted, “go live in Gaza,” at the Prime Minister. “Time to resign,” another heckler shouted. The Australian reported that one person then yelled, “Off to Kooyong to play tennis, mate?” The Prime Minister was rushed into a car outside the synagogue that was firebombed in a suspected terror attack in chaotic scenes as AFP officers shouted “get back!” to a gathering crowd. Mr Albanese was expected to hold a press conference after touring the crime scene on Tuesday. But that plan was cut short after a crowd gathered around him and Mr Albanese wound up the press conference without taking questions. AFP officers were forced to shout at bystanders to “stand clear!” and “watch out, watch out, get back!” as his motorcade tried to depart.

>>22139980 Wong hits back at Netanyahu, links Israel to China, Russia - Foreign Minister Penny Wong has hit back at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by insisting that criticism of Israel is not necessarily antisemitic, as she infuriated Jewish groups by saying Australia expects Israel to comply with international law like authoritarian regimes such as Russia and China. Delivering a speech in Adelaide on Monday night in honour of late prime minister Bob Hawke, Wong condemned the Adass Israel Synagogue bombing as “a shocking crime” aimed at causing terror in the community. In a clear response to Netanyahu’s weekend claim that “anti-Israel sentiment is antisemitism” in a social media post attacking the Albanese government, Wong said: “It is not antisemitic to expect that Israel should comply with the international law that applies to all countries. “Nor is it antisemitic to call for children and other civilians to be protected, or to call for a two-state solution that enables Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security.” Saying that Australia respected the independence of the International Criminal Court, which has issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu for alleged war crimes in Gaza, Wong said: “Australia can’t pick and choose which rules we are going to apply. “We expect Russia to abide by international law and end its illegal full-scale war on Ukraine. We expect China to abide by international legal decisions in the South China Sea. We also expect Israel to abide by international law.” Wong later told reporters in Perth that she was not drawing a moral equivalence between Israel, Russia and China, but arguing that Australia has an interest in ensuring that all nations comply with international law. Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs executive director Colin Rubenstein accused Wong of peddling “historical distortions” and displaying a “distorted understanding of the tenets of international law”.

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51881f (208) No.22225169

#38 - Part 22

Israel / Hamas Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 22

>>22139986 Travel warning for Jewish visitors to Australia after synagogue attack - The decision by a US-based human rights group to issue a travel warning for Jewish visitors to Australia reflects a growing international perception that the government can no longer guarantee the safety of its Jewish communities, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry says. Responding to reports that the Simon Wiesenthal Centre was issuing the cautionary advice after last Friday’s firebombing of a Melbourne synagogue by suspected terrorists, ECAJ co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said Australia was losing its international reputation as a peaceful multicultural society. “This advisory to Jews around the world reflects how Australia is now perceived throughout the world,” Ryvchin said. “It is no longer seen as a model multicultural society. It is now associated with hateful street protests, encampments, public support for terrorists and the use of our landmarks and streets to menace certain communities and project mob power throughout the world. The torching of a synagogue has deepened the view that the government has lost control of the situation and that the safety of the community cannot be guaranteed.” This masthead first reported on Monday that Jewish people and Israelis would be warned about the risk of antisemitic attacks when visiting Australia under a travel advisory issued by the Simon Wiesenthal Centre, a Jewish human rights group named after the world’s most famous Nazi hunter. The advisory was issued despite Prime Minister Anthony Albanese establishing a new federal police taskforce to tackle antisemitism and detectives from the nation’s joint counter-terrorism team taking over the investigation into Friday’s attack on Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea. It is the first time the centre has issued an advisory against Australia and follows the decision on Monday by Victorian and federal police to declare the pre-dawn firebombing of one of Australia’s busiest synagogues a “likely” terrorist attack.

>>22139998 Man charged over threat to ‘blow up Jewish community centre in Melbourne’s Caulfield - A Brisbane man has been charged after he allegedly threatened to “blow up” a Jewish community centre in Melbourne. The 52-year-old man was arrested by detectives from Queensland’s Counter-Terrorism Investigation Group on Saturday night over the alleged “verbal” threat made towards the Beth Weizmann Jewish Community Centre in Caulfield earlier that day. While Queensland Police provided no detail of the allegation, sources have told The Australian that the man allegedly threatened via a now-deleted social media post to “blow up” the Beth Weizmann Centre, which is home to 17 Jewish organisations. He has been charged with using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence. Investigators do not believe the alleged threat is related to the firebombing of Adass Israel Synagogue at Ripponlea on Friday - which is being treated as a terrorist attack -- despite the locations being only 2.5km apart. Beth Weizmann Centre president Elyse Schachna thanked Queensland Police for their swift action. “Beth Weizmann Jewish Community Centre is a hub of Jewish life,” she said. “Children attend Jewish studies classes, there is a Jewish library on site, and many of our community organisations have offices there. Our Jewish community is reeling from these unrelenting threats to our security and safety. We need all Australians to say ‘enough is enough’. We want to be left in peace to live our lives. We want an Australia where we are all safe.”

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51881f (208) No.22225170

#38 - Part 23

Israel / Hamas Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 23

>>22145803 ‘Those who struck against these sacred walls will be brought to justice’: My message to Jewish community - "The firebombing of the Adass Israel synagogue was a vile act of cruelty against a tight-knit community. It was crime of cowardice and prejudice. Above all, it was an act of terrorism. I join with other Australians in my total and unequivocal condemnation of this crime and everything it represents. This was a fire fuelled by antisemitism and stoked by hatred. It was a grotesque violation of a place of solace and sanctuary. It has added to the Jewish Australian community’s already profound pain and sorrow. Australia has been built on respect for each other and a recognition that our diversity of people of different faiths, ethnicity and backgrounds is a national asset that must be cherished and nurtured. The weight every member of this community must feel in their hearts is almost beyond imagining. Among the losses so acutely felt is the burning of the sacred, handwritten Torah scrolls. My government will provide funding for the restoration of the salvageable scrolls and the replacement of those that are beyond repair. That is who we are as Australians. During times of trouble, we have to come together - because it is together we have built such an extraordinary nation. Just over a year ago, not far from the Adass Israel synagogue, we came together to open the Melbourne Holocaust Museum. Across all the heart-wrenching breadth of the museum’s stories, the shortest message it carries is the most important: never again. I say to the community: you are hurting, but you are braver than the cowards that perpetrated this evil. You are stronger than the hatred that spurred them on. And you are not alone. We will see those who struck against these sacred walls brought to justice." - Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister of Australia - theage.com.au

>>22145853 Car torched, buildings vandalised: PM lashes ‘evil’ antisemitic attack as police boost Sydney patrols - Police will increase patrols across Sydney to deter antisemitic attacks after vandals again targeted the Jewish community in the city’s eastern suburbs on Wednesday morning. But NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said it would take more than just police to stop crimes motivated by hate after a spate of attacks across Australia, including the firebombing of a synagogue in Melbourne last week, which has been deemed a likely terrorist incident. The incidents come amid heightened community tensions in Sydney after 14 months of deadly conflict in the Middle East involving Israel, Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. In Sydney’s east on Wednesday, Jewish residents were left shaken and upset after learning vandals believed to be aged between 15 and 20 had sprayed anti-Israel messages on two homes and a footpath in the upmarket suburb of Woollahra. “Death 2 Israiel” and “Kill Israiel” were scrawled across the garden walls of homes on Magney Street at about 1am, with messages also sprayed on the footpath outside. A car at the scene, which police believe was stolen, was also set alight. It was the second such attack in Woollahra in a matter of weeks. Cars were damaged and anti-Israel slogans were sprayed on the doors of Matt Moran’s nearby Chiswick restaurant last month. Two men are in custody facing charges over that incident. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called for an end to “evil” antisemitism in Australia, adding that attacks like that in Woollahra “diminish us as a nation”.

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51881f (208) No.22225172

#38 - Part 24

Israel / Hamas Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 24

>>22145871 Video: Police hunt two disguised men over Woollahra hate crime attack - A shocking anti-Semitic attack in Sydney’s east was intended to “strike fear” into the Jewish community, NSW Premier Chris Minns says, vowing that those ­responsible will face the full force of the law, as police continue to hunt for a pair of teenagers ­believed to be connected to the violent “hate crime”. NSW Police on Wednesday issued an appeal for information for the disguised young men, who are believed to have been in Woollahra when a stolen car was set alight around 1am, and at least three buildings were tagged with anti-Semitic slurs. The attack marks the second in a month for the prominent Jewish suburb, and is the latest in a long spate of anti-Semitic strikes on Jewish communities across the nation after a Melbourne synagogue was firebombed last Friday. NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb described the attack as “disgusting” and said the police had been given extra resources to hold the offenders responsible. “A full police response is under way and it commenced immediately with local regional and terrorism police being called out last night,” Commissioner Webb said. “There is still a very active crime scene investigation at that location in Woollahra and police have been working around the clock to follow all leads. There will be an extensive investigation and it will take time. Police will be doorknocking and calling on any witnesses. “The perpetrators were disguised and we need public assistance to come forward and help identify those two people, and any information they have is welcome.” The two males wanted by police are aged between 15 and 20, have been described as of slim build, and were wearing face coverings and dark clothing.

>>22145883 Greens staffer reprimanded for suggesting synagogue arson may have been ‘false flag’ - Greens deputy leader Mehreen Faruqi has reprimanded her chief of staff for suggesting last week’s Melbourne synagogue firebombing could have been perpetrated by supporters of an Israeli state to provoke outrage about antisemitism. Antoun Issa, a former Guardian Australia journalist who works for the Greens’ antiracism spokeswoman, urged people not to rush to judgment about the motivation for the attack after the Coalition put pressure on Labor to declare it was terrorism. “It could very well be a white supremacist or someone enraged by the genocide or a Zionist false-flag,” he told his 15,000 Instagram followers on Monday. “They’ve done this before,” Issa added, without elaborating. After this masthead asked Faruqi’s office about the post, the senator said the remarks were “inadvisable and inappropriate”. “I do not agree with it, and have counselled my staff member about it,” Faruqi said in a statement. Greens leader Adam Bandt also called the post inappropriate. Issa said: “In hindsight, I regret this post and it was inappropriate. This post was intended to be an academic exercise about the risks of ascribing blame for a crime before the police have come to their conclusions, especially given the prevalence of white supremacy and far-right extremism.” Issa’s comments stand in contrast with those of Australian Palestinian Advocacy Network head Nasser Mashni who unequivocally slammed the arsonists on Sunday, saying the act was antisemitic no matter who was behind it.

>>22148992 Melbourne florist and activist Luna Ryder Sjorberg in court after allegedly 'doxxing' Jewish women and called them 'Zio Nazis' - A Melbourne florist has landed in court after calling a Jewish woman a Nazi and allegedly doxxing her following a confrontation over anti-Israel stickers outside her shop. Luna Moss Flowers owner and activist Luna Ryder Sjorberg filmed Sharon - who asked Sky News not to publish her surname for security reasons --while she was removing anti-Israel stickers from a council pole and billboard at the rear of the business in St Kilda, in inner Melbourne, on October 25. The stickers included four saying “F*k Isrl”, one reading “Zionism is Nazism” and two of the Israel flag being crossed out. Ms Sjorberg later posted screenshots from the video onto her business’ Instagram page, which has more than 8000 followers, calling Sharon and the friend with her “Zio Nazi’s (sic)” , claiming she was damaging her shop and “wants to be featured on all pro Palestine media.”

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51881f (208) No.22225174

#38 - Part 25

Israel / Hamas Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 25

>>22151578 Rupert Murdoch visits firebombed Melbourne synagogue - Rupert Murdoch has visited the Adass Israel synagogue in the Melbourne suburb of Ripponlea, six days after it was firebombed in what is being investigated as a terrorist attack. He visited alongside his wife, Elena Zhukova, shortly after making an appearance at News Corp’s Melbourne headquarters, where he met former colleagues and executives and was seen in public for the first time since losing his bid to shift the terms of his family trust. Murdoch was joined by Adass Israel community members at the damaged synagogue, which he visited alongside conservative columnist and TV host Andrew Bolt. Murdoch, who is making his first visit to Australian in six years, spent several hours at News Corp’s Melbourne offices on Thursday after arriving in Australia last week. On Monday, a Nevada probate commissioner rejected his bid to alter his family trust and hand control of his global media assets in the event of his death to his eldest son, Lachlan, at the expense of his other children - James, Elisabeth and Prudence. Murdoch met Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and other high-profile guests at Lachlan’s annual Christmas party in Sydney’s Bellevue Hill last week.

>>22151604 Video: Australia backs UN vote for ‘unconditional ceasefire’ amid Netanyahu fury - Australia has backed an “immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire” in Gaza while rebuking Israel’s attempt to block a key aid agency from working in the Palestinian territories in overnight votes at the United Nations that toughen its stance on the Middle East war. As the Australia-Israel relationship frays following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s public condemnation of the Albanese government, Australia joined countries including the United Kingdom and New Zealand on Thursday to vote in favour of the two resolutions at the United Nations General Assembly. But the federal government drew criticism from the Coalition, which has called for Australia to follow the United States in siding with Israel as it accuses Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of fuelling homegrown antisemitism following two acts of vandalism in the past seven days. The first motion Australia voted for overnight called for an “immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire” in Gaza as well as the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. It was supported by 158 countries, while nine voted against and 13 abstained. The second resolution - backed by 159 countries, with nine against and 11 abstentions -- affirmed full international support for the mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which is the main provider of humanitarian aid in Gaza. It also lamented recent legislation passed by the Israeli parliament to prevent UNRWA from operating in the Palestinian territories. Israel claims the agency is anti-Israel and says its workers have conducted terrorist activities, while UNRWA says it has investigated and sacked any personnel involved in terrorism and is neutral in the broader conflict.

>>22151641 Video: Brisbane man arrested for ‘death to Jews’ sign outside his home - A Queensland man accused of displaying the words “death to Jews” and vilifying non-whites on an electronic sign outside his home has been charged by counter-terrorism police. Amid an alarming spate of anti-Semitic attacks interstate, Peter Allan Flanagan, 52, from Morningside in Brisbane’s south has been charged under new hate crime laws that came into effect earlier this year. Detectives from Queensland’s Counter-Terrorism Investigation Group with assistance from Morningside police station executed a search warrant at a Bundara Street residence Wednesday and seized the sign, a computer, and a phone. Mr Flanagan was arrested at the scene and has been charged with one count each of serious racial, religious, sexuality, or gender identity vilification, serious assault and obstructing police. Police video footage shows officers storming a unit, where it’s understood they found Nazi symbols on walls inside. A police prosecutor told the court the racial vilification offence carried a maximum three-year prison sentence. Assistant Commissioner Charysse Pond said everyone in Queensland had a right to feel safe and racial vilification would not be tolerated. “We urge people to remain respectful and we strongly condemn anyone who incites violence and hatred within our community,” she said. “There is no place for anti-Semitism or prejudice or hatred of any kind. As a result of a recent legislative change in Queensland, instances of serious vilification and hate crime are now criminal matters and police will act against those responsible.”

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51881f (208) No.22225176

#38 - Part 26

Israel / Hamas Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 26

>>22157680 Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan ‘emotional’ at firebombed Adass Israel Synagogue - Jacinta Allan toured the burnt-out Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne’s southeast in a surprise visit on Friday morning to speak with community leaders. The Victorian Premier was shown the destruction wreaked by the firebombing which is now being investigated as a terrorist attack by police. Meir Chaim Spigelman, president of the Adass Israel community, told Ms Allan that he appreciated her visit. Ms Allan offered to “continue to walk with” the community and provide support from the government. “We are with you,” she told them. Abe Weiszberger, a member of the Adass community, told the Premier that the community was “shattered, brutally shattered” by the attack which has left whole sections of the synagogue in ruins. Community members remarked on the “smell of hate” inside the synagogue where a metallic smokey stench sits heavily. Mr Weiszberger said that Ms Allan was emotional during the visit and was “sitting here in tears”. “I thought it was very, very nice of her to show the genuine part of her,” he said. Ms Allan described the visit as an “overwhelming emotional experience”. She said she has “practical solutions” to help with the synagogue’s rebuild which will focus on maintaining continuity for the congregation. Zionism Victoria organised Ms Allan’s visit, which saw her go to a number of synagogues in the community.

>>22157692 Palestinian general delegation says Australia moving in ‘right direction’ - The Palestinian Authority’s representatives in Australia have trumpeted Labor’s efforts to increase their power in the UN and called for more funding for the UN aid agency with ties to terror group Hamas. A day after Anthony Albanese pleaded for unity to stamp out anti-Semitism while defending his government against claims its support for anti-Israel motions at the UN was encouraging attacks on Australian Jews, the nation’s leading Palestinian lobby said Labor’s moves on the global stage sent a “powerful message” to Israel. “The general delegation of Palestine acknowledges with deep appreciation the positive trajectory of the Australian government in increasingly recognising and supporting the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,” the delegation’s head, Izzat Salah Abdulhadi, said. “Recent achievements in the international legal struggle for Palestinian rights send a powerful message to Israel, the occupying power, that the rule of law will prevail; Israel’s unlawful occupation will end and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to self-determination, will be achieved.” Australia joined an overwhelming majority of countries in the General Assembly on Thursday morning AEDT backing an emergency UN resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza that was not tied to the release of Israeli hostages. It also included no requirement that Hamas be removed, and called for the UN’s Palestinian aid agency, UNRWA, to be given unhindered access to Gaza. Australia’s ambassador to the UN, James Larsen, said Australia had reservations about the wording of the resolutions but voted for them because it was committed to ending the suffering in the Palestinian enclave.

>>22162952 Australian Federal Police charge Melbourne man who allegedly displayed Hezbollah flag at rally - A Melbourne man has been charged over allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag during protests in Melbourne's CBD this year. Australian Federal Police allege the 36-year-old displayed the flag on September 29, when thousands of people rallied in Melbourne in the wake of the assassination of Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah. Hezbollah is considered a terrorist organisation by the government of Australia, along with the US, UK and EU. The appearance of the flag at the rally posed a test of legislation passed late last year prohibiting the public display or trade in symbols used by prohibited terrorist organisations. The penalty under the legislation is 12 months of imprisonment. A Ferntree Gully man was charged on Friday with one count of public display of a prohibited terrorist organisation symbol, and will face a Melbourne court in March. AFP Counter Terrorism Commander Nick Read said more than a dozen people remain under investigation over similar offences, with police operations still ongoing. Commander Read said more than 1,100 hours had been dedicated to investigating the incidents, and that he expected further charges would be laid against other alleged offenders.

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51881f (208) No.22225179

#38 - Part 27

Israel / Hamas Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 27

>>22168002 Many in Jewish community fear Australia is at a ‘tipping point’ - Australian Jews are afraid the country is at “tipping point” and it’s only a matter of time before people are physically hurt, as crowds on Sunday warned the federal government that ‘time’s up’ following an escalation of anti-Israel and anti-Semitic attacks over the past few weeks. About 300 Jews and Israelis booed Anthony Albanese as speaker Hagit Ashual of the Zionist Council NSW called on him to take stronger action at the “Enough is Enough” rally in Sydney’s Martin Place, saying “we need you take a no tolerance approach to anti-Semitism, hatred and violent speech in our streets”. The event followed a second vandalism attack in Woollahra and the firebombing of a synagogue in Melbourne. Later, crowds later vocalised disappointment at Penny Wong’s “support” of a “disgraceful ICC (International Criminal Court)” and voting at the United Nations “in favour of resolutions that Australia would never have supported in the past”. Rabbi of Sydney’s Great Synagogue Benjamin Elton said “we are now at a tipping point” and “this is no longer a threat, this is our reality” after 70 activists demonstrated outside the place of worship, leaving a group of Australian Jews locked inside earlier this month. “My shul and its predecessors have been worshipping in the city centre for almost 200 years … But it took until 2024 for there to be a demonstration outside our synagogue. That is not progress. That is our society in crisis,” he said.

>>22168005 Jacinta Allan will ‘leave no stone unturned’ to fight anti-Semitism - Victoria’s Labor government will leave “no stone unturned” to combat anti-Semitism, as Premier Jacinta Allan is set to introduce a suite of protest reforms in the wake of the firebombing of a Melbourne synagogue and a surge in anti-Jewish sentiment across Australia. The proposed measures include enhanced police powers to disperse protests that promote extremism or religious hatred, a ban on face coverings and hate-inciting signage at rallies, as well as banning protests outside places of worship. It’s understood the changes, which will come in addition to new anti-vilification laws, will span several government portfolios to provide boosted support for the Jewish community and initiatives to fight religious division in Victoria. Premier Allan told The Australian on Sunday the Jewish community deserved more than “thoughts and prayers”. “I will never forget the sight and the smell of that blackened synagogue for the rest of my life,” Ms Allan said. “I will never forget the harrowing stories of escape from this act of terror. “We must leave no stone unturned to fight the evil of anti-Semitism in all its forms, and restore social cohesion in our multicultural state. “In the face of rising anti-Semitism, Jews deserve more than our thoughts and prayers. They deserve action that makes a difference. So does everyone who’s ever been made to feel unsafe or unwelcome in Victoria just because of who they are or who they pray to.”

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51881f (208) No.22225180

#38 - Part 28

Israel / Hamas Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 28

>>22168019 Laws on masks, places of worship being considered to stop protesters spreading hate - Police could be given more powers to stop protesters hiding their identities and to ban demonstrations outside places of worship, as the Victorian government aims to stamp out a “nasty streak” of antisemitism and hate in the state. The potential changes come just over a week after the terrorist firebombing of the ultra-Orthodox Adass Israel synagogue in Ripponlea. Police Minister Anthony Carbines said on Sunday that the government was specifically considering measures to stop people wearing balaclavas to hide their identities while carrying out hateful behaviour. “Conflict in the Middle East is not a leave pass for antisemitism at home,” Carbines said. “People who wear balaclavas and cover their identity when they attend protests are doing so to cause trouble and are doing so to intimidate people, and we won’t stand for it. “There are many people who attend protests with very good intentions. But there is a nasty streak, a violent and mean streak in some of the protest activity that we’ve seen in our state, that needs to be held to account.” Any new measures would need to be considered by the Labor cabinet, before changes are made to the proposed anti-vilification laws when parliament returns in February. Victoria introduced new public order laws in 2017 to allow police to mark any area where it expects a public disorder as a designated area. On Sunday, Victoria Police announced the Melbourne CBD would be a “designated area” between 11am and 5pm. The designation allows officers to search people and vehicles for weapons, compel people to take off face coverings and order people to leave the CBD if they do not comply with police orders. Carbines said many traders in Melbourne’s CBD were “worn down” by the constant protest activity in the city, and they wanted the chance for a successful Christmas retail period. The Free Palestine Melbourne protest has marched from the State Library through the CBD every Sunday for 62 weeks.

>>22168048 Chris Minns condemns ‘disgusting’ Islamophobic graffiti in Sydney’s west as police investigate - New South Wales police are investigating a potential hate crime after Islamophobic graffiti was painted on a busy underpass in Sydney’s west, with the premier labelling it “disgusting”. The graffiti was spotted on Hector Street in Chester Hill overnight. Police cordoned off the road and launched an investigation on Sunday morning. “F*ck Islam” was graffitied on each side of the underpass, with the word “Islam” highlighted in yellow. “Cancel Islam” was also painted on to an ad in the underpass. NSW police said if someone was arrested they would “likely” be charged with a hate crime. Chester Hill has one of the largest Muslim populations in the state, with nearly 40% of residents identifying as Muslim, according to census figures. The graffiti was near a busy shopping area that includes numerous halal restaurants and grocers. The NSW premier, Chris Minns, called the graffiti “disgusting”. “Vandalism like this that is aimed at particular religions is designed to incite hatred and is completely abhorrent,” he said. “This racism and Islamophobia is disgusting and corrosive to the very fabric of the successful multicultural state that we have built here in NSW.” The federal minister for home affairs, Tony Burke, labelled the graffiti an act of “hatred” and “bigotry”. “Like other forms of dehumanising abuse, Islamophobia has no place in Australia,” the minister said.

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51881f (208) No.22225181

#38 - Part 29

Israel / Hamas Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 29

>>22173722 Video: Teen seeks to avoid criminal record after alleged $55,000 vandalism attack on MP Josh Burns’ office - A teenager charged with causing $55,000 worth of damage during an attack on Jewish Labor MP Josh Burns’ Melbourne electorate office is seeking to avoid a criminal record by diversion. Matilda McDermott, 19, was charged over the vandalism attack in which windows were smashed, and slogans, including “Zionism is fascism”, were spray-painted on Mr Burns’ St Kilda electorate office in the early hours of June 19. Small fires were also lit in the telecommunications pit at the front of the Barkly St building during the incident. At the time, concerns were raised that the fires could have endangered the people who lived in the residential apartments above the office. In addition to the charges relating to the trespass and vandalism of Mr Burns’ office, Ms McDermott was charged with damaging the Honorary Consulate General of France on St Kilda Rd in a separate incident on 17 July. She is also facing a charge of failing to comply with an order to provide police with a phone password. On Monday, Ms McDermott wore an N95 face mask in the court room for the duration of her contest mention before Magistrate Kay Robertson in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court. Her lawyer, Amy Hale from James Dowsley & Associates, told the court Ms McDermott was seeking diversion, however the prosecution said it was not amenable to the request. The Magistrates’ Court website describes diversion as a way for low-level offenders to avoid a criminal record by undertaking conditions that benefit the victim, the community and themselves.

>>22179482 Video: Victoria Police to be given broader powers to remove masks in protest clampdown - The Victorian government has unveiled broad plans to crack down on protester rights and bolster social cohesion, citing a rise in anti-Semitic incidents across the state. Premier Jacinta Allan said recent discussions with Victoria's Jewish community in the wake of the recent suspected terror attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue had informed the move. "I'll never forget the sight and smell of that blackened synagogue for the rest of my life," Ms Allan said. "I'll never forget the harrowing stories of those who had escaped from that act of terror. "There are too many who want to qualify anti-Semitism or make excuses for it, and I want to make it absolutely clear that I never will." A joint counter-terrorism team is investigating the December 6 torching of the Adass Israel Synagogue, which occurred in the early hours of the morning while congregants were praying inside. Under the planned changes announced on Tuesday, the government would introduce laws which it said would more strongly protect the right of people to attend places of worship. The changes could include the establishment of safe access areas around places of religious worship to outlaw protests. A separate set of measures were also announced by Ms Allan to deliver greater powers to police when responding to public protests. Under the changes, the government would introduce its own state ban on protester use of terror organisation flags, as well as face masks and balaclavas. While acknowledging not all protesters using masks were anti-Semitic, Ms Allan said face coverings had been used by bad actors at protests. Glue, ropes and locks would also be banned at protests, with the government highlighting protest groups who have used the tools to attach themselves to public spaces.

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51881f (208) No.22225183

#38 - Part 30

Israel / Hamas Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 30

>>22179558 Video: ‘Knee-jerk law-making’: Terror flags and masks to be banned at protests, sparking backlash - A new crackdown on protesters that includes the revival of a long-abandoned plan to ban people from wearing face masks at rallies has put the Allan government on a collision course with civil libertarian groups. Protesters will be charged if they display terrorist flags, wear masks or use equipment such as ropes and chains under a raft of proposed bans that Premier Jacinta Allan said would stamp out extremist influences in public demonstrations. The reforms announced on Tuesday add to the slate of anti-hate laws introduced to parliament last month. The government cited a rise in antisemitic incidents across Australia and Victoria -- including the terrorist attack on the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne’s south-east – as a catalyst for the additional bans. The crackdown will outlaw symbols and flags of listed terrorist organisations, including Hamas, Hezbollah and white nationalist groups. Ropes, chains, glue and any other equipment that could be used by protesters to attach themselves to public spaces will also be barred, as will protesting outside places of worship. It will also revive a ban put forward by the then-Andrews government in 2016 to outlaw face masks, which was ditched after heavy criticism from libertarian groups. The reforms were welcomed by Jewish groups, including the state’s peak Jewish body. However, pro-Palestinian groups, libertarians and the Greens were critical of the crackdown and what its impact will be on the right to peacefully protest. Liberty Victoria vice president and criminal barrister Sam Norton described the crackdown as “knee-jerk law-making”.

>>22184913 Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar rips into Penny Wong in ‘heated’ call - Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has blasted Penny Wong in a heated phone call, accusing Australia of weakening its support for the Jewish state in its darkest hour, Israel media reports. Foreign Minister Wong spoke to Mr Sa’ar on Tuesday, with the conversation reportedly turning into a “sharp verbal clash”. “The Australian minister, who is among the most anti-Israeli in her party, accused Israel of not doing enough humanitarian work for the Arabs of Gaza,” the Israel Hayom newspaper said. The Hebrew language national daily said Mr Sa’ar expressed disappointment that Australia had downgraded its support for Israel in international forums “in its most difficult year, when it has fought against its bitterest enemies”. He reportedly condemned Senator Wong for her move last week to compare democratic Israel with the dictatorships of China and Russia. “Israel is a Western democracy that maintains the rule of law, has an independent judiciary and adheres to international law. In the past year, Israel has fought the radical axis led by Iran, which is supported by Russia and China,” Mr Sa’ar reportedly said. He also demanded “decisive action” by the Albanese government over the torching of Melbourne’s Adass Israel Synagogue, and protested Labors’ recent denial of a visa for former Israeli justice minister Ayelet Shaked on character grounds. “How would you react if we acted like this towards a former minister from Australia?” Mr Sa’ar reportedly said to Senator Wong.

>>22184956 No apologies: Wong gives her side of the story of the call with Israel - Israel’s foreign minister has accused Penny Wong of abandoning Israel in its most difficult year during a phone conversation overnight that turned sour, deepening the diplomatic rift between the two nations, Israeli media has reported. Hebrew news outlet Israel Hayom on Wednesday reported that Foreign Minister Wong and her counterpart, Gideon Sa’ar, were drawn into a “sharp verbal clash” on Tuesday over Australia’s diminishing support for Israel amid its war in Gaza. But a spokesperson for Wong said it was a “direct but respectful call” in which the ministers explained their respective views, with Australia focusing on the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and its position supporting a two-state solution to achieve peace for Israelis and Palestinians. It ended with cordial messages and an agreement to stay in touch. “Minister Wong spoke with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar to reiterate Australia’s concern about the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, the need for humanitarian assistance and our repeated calls for the release of all hostages,” a spokesperson for the foreign minister said. “Minister Wong also noted that Australia’s position reflected that of many other countries. She conveyed Australia’s commitment to countering antisemitism and hate in all forms.”

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51881f (208) No.22225184

#38 - Part 31

Israel / Hamas Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 31

>>22184982 Australia to provide aid to Gaza after ceasefire, says Penny Wong - Australia is ready to step up and provide financial and other assistance to Gaza amid calls for greatly increased humanitarian aid to flow into the region once a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas is finalised. In recent hours there has been a breakthrough in the talks with both sides edging closer to a deal that would see an end to the conflict that has been ongoing since Hamas’ brutal massacre and hostage-taking of hundreds of Israelis on October 7 last year. The United States said on Tuesday (local time) it felt “cautious optimism” on the prospects of reaching a ceasefire in the 14-month war, although it acknowledged that similar hopes had been dashed before. Hamas said the talks mediated by Qatar were “serious and positive,” a day after Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz described the two sides as closer to a deal than ever before. “It is very welcome news that there is progress,’’ Ms Wong said on the sidelines of a meeting with NATO chief Mark Rutte in Brussels on Tuesday. “We are deeply concerned, as are many countries, about the catastrophic humanitarian situation and so of course, we are willing to step up to provide assistance. A ceasefire would also enable the return of the hostages who are still being held by Hamas a year after the horrific attacks’’. Around 96 Israeli hostages are still being held by Hamas inside Gaza, although only 62 or so are believed to be still alive.

>>22185022 Sydney home raided as AFP circles in on Hezbollah flag-bearers - Federal police have raided a southwest Sydney home as investigators closed in on dozens of ­people suspected of waving Hezbollah flags during rallies earlier this year in NSW and Victoria. It comes after a Melbourne man was charged last week for allegedly displaying the terror group’s flag, and as the Victorian government prepares to roll out stronger state provisions totally outlawing terrorist symbols. The Australian Federal Police on Tuesday executed a search warrant at a southwest Sydney home understood to belong to a woman who allegedly waved a Hezbollah flag at the September 24 rally outside Sydney’s Town Hall. The Australian understands police could soon make an arrest. The rally was followed by a larger demonstration a few days later, where one woman has already been charged for the same alleged offence. An AFP spokesman would not elaborate on the raid by the Joint Counter Terrorism Team but said there was “no threat” to public safety and “further details” would be provided at an “appropriate time”. The mere display of a terrorist symbol in itself is not a breach of commonwealth criminal provisions, and before laying any charges investigators must show that the display meets specific elements of the code. These include - but are not limited to -- that the display of the terror symbol was to spread or advocate racial hatred, incite others to offend or intimidate, or to intimidate a person or group based on their race or nationality.

>>22191420 Video: Islamic cleric Wissam Haddad fronts court as Jewish community’s milestone case begins - Lawyers representing Australia’s peak Jewish body have said their case against Sydney cleric Wissam Haddad would seek to ensure the “safety and dignity” of the community as a potentially groundbreaking legal case kicked off. It comes as Mr Haddad, also known as Abu Ousayd, recently took to social media to dismiss allegations he had ties to the al-­Muhajiroun terrorist network, and its high-profile leaders Omar Bakri and Anjem Choudary, despite recent correspondence with them. On Wednesday, Mr Haddad fronted Sydney’s Federal Court with his solicitor, Elias Tabchouri, who said his client would be “defending the matter” but they “remained committed to concil­iation” with the applicants, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry’s deputy president, Robert Goot, and co-chief executive, Peter Wertheim. They allege a slew of sermons given by Mr Haddad or hosted by the centre, which were posted online, racially vilified their community under Section 18c of the Racial Discrimination Act. Among other things, Mr Haddad, or speakers at his Al Madina Dawah Centre, have allegedly called Jewish people “descendants of pigs and monkeys”, recited parables about their killing, described them as “treacherous ­people” with their “hands” in media and business, encouraged jihad, and urged people to “spit” on Israel so Israelis “would drown”. In most cases, he has claimed he was referring to or reciting ­Islamic scripture.

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51881f (208) No.22225186

#38 - Part 32

Israel / Hamas Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 32

>>22208798 Video: Police vow to find men who held antisemitic sign on steps of Victorian parliament - Victoria Police say they have identified one of the men allegedly involved in a neo-Nazi demonstration on the steps of parliament on Friday night during which an antisemitic sign was displayed, prompting cries of outrage and disgust from members of the public who witnessed it. Victoria Police’s North West Metro Region Acting Superintendent Kelly Walker said identifying every one of the 20 men who stood on the steps of parliament dressed in black clothing, with their faces hidden, was the police’s top priority. She said the men involved in the protest on Friday night may be charged with a range of crimes including grossly offensive conduct. “We will be looking through extensive CBD network of footage that exists,” she said during a press conference on Saturday afternoon. Walker said police were doing everything they could to find the man they had already identified, and implored witnesses who saw the protest to contact police to assist with the investigation. Walker said police were also seeking advice regarding the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act to determine the full extent of potential charges that could apply. The act prohibits vilification and behaviour inciting or encouraging hatred, serious contempt, and revulsion or severe ridicule because of a person’s race or religion. “The sign was intended to cause unrest to the community,” Walker said of Friday’s demonstration.

>>22208817 Police investigating alleged Islamophobic and anti-Semitic incidents in Melbourne - A truck displaying Palestinian flags was set alight outside a Melbourne home in an incident the Islamic Council of Victoria fears was "an Islamophobic and anti-Palestinian hate crime". Police have confirmed they're investigating the incident, which allegedly involved a Molotov cocktail thrown in Newport, in the city's inner-west, in the early hours of Monday. A witness to Monday's incident has told the ABC he saw a man in the street yelling Islamophobic abuse shortly before he noticed the fire. The blaze was quickly extinguished by the owner of the truck, Ehab Elhila, before it caused major damage. No-one was injured and police and firefighters attended. Mr Elhila said the incident woke up his children and has left his family anxious and scared. "I've got a 10-year-old and a 13-year-old and it was shocking for them to see," he said. Mr Elhila, an Australian citizen who has lived here for 40 years, said he had never seen anything like this in his local area. The 58 year old was born in Rafah, in Gaza, and said he had lost "hundreds" of family members in the current war with Israel. Mr Elhila said he was vocal in his support of the Palestinian cause and felt supported by his local community. "I live in a very quiet street, [where] everyone knows everyone, we love each other, and the whole street's supportive," he said.

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51881f (208) No.22225187

#38 - Part 33

Australian Politics and Society - Part 1

>>21755719 Misinformation law would prevent ‘Trumpian’ lies in referendum, says Yes vote architect Megan Davis - Voice to parliament architect Megan Davis has called for misinformation legislation to protect a future referendum from an onslaught of “Trumpian” lies and distortions, following the defeat of the Yes campaign last year. Professor Davis, also said the Uluru Dialogue, of which she is co-chair, had tried to warn the well-funded Yes23 campaign at Christmas in 2022 that Advance, the major group opposing the voice, had already taken control of the narrative - months before Yes23 released its first commercial on news websites and television. In a speaking event through the University of NSW, at which she is Pro Vice Chancellor Society, Professor Davis also criticised the ABC over its “false equivalence”, saying the veneer of balance culminated in Yes campaigners being denied interviews through the end of the referendum debate. The renowned constitutional lawyer detailed what she claimed were the beginnings of a misinformation campaign against the voice from November 2022, and her frustrations in driving the Albanese government to legislate against misleading campaigns on behalf of the No vote. “I remember saying to Labor ‘it’s a problem for us (Indigenous groups), and you might not think it’s a problem for you, but it’s going to become one, you just don’t see it yet’,” Professor Davis said.

>>21761349 Indigenous voice Yes campaign ‘obsessed’ with misinformation, failed to engage debate: lawyers - Prominent lawyers and staunch Indigenous voice advocates have condemned Megan Davis’s claims that a misinformation bill could have helped secure a Yes victory, with one leading supporter asserting that the Yes campaign became “obsessed” with critics’ misleading narratives while also spreading untruths themselves. Constitutional lawyer Greg Craven, a vocal supporter of the voice and member of the referendum working group, told The Australian the Yes campaign were also complicit in spreading disinformation in the lead up to the referendum, including claims surrounding the inclusion of executive government in the proposal. Meanwhile prominent silk Arthur Moses SC said that the referendum failed due to the government’s lack of detail, not misinformation, and said Labor’s bill in its current form would shut down “legitimate expressions of opinions” and be “counter-productive” for voters. Their comments come after Professor Davis, one of the Voice to parliament architects, in a lecture at the University of NSW called for misinformation legislation to protect a future referendum from an onslaught of lies and distortions, following the defeat of the Yes campaign in October last year. Mr Craven said during the campaign he engaged in private conversations trying to have leading Yes advocates to engage in meaningful discussions rather than characterising opposing arguments as misinformation.

>>21761378 Video: Calls for NSW to ban Nazi salute, symbols after white supremacist rally in Corowa - A regional New South Wales town that was targeted by a white supremacist rally remains a safe and welcoming place for multicultural communities, according to a local community leader. Police dispersed a group of about 50 masked people gathering under a neo-Nazi banner in Corowa's central business district on Saturday. No arrests were made and police inquiries are continuing. Federation Shire Councillor and former mayor, Patrick Bourke, said the rally has shocked the community, which had been preparing for the Corowa Show. "It was disgusting, it really was," Cr Bourke said. "There's no room in Federation Council or Australia for that sort of behaviour. I just felt sorry for so many families, younger ones, they don't need to be subjected to that sort of behaviour." Member for Farrer Sussan Ley said white supremacists were attacking country communities and encouraged New South Wales to join Victoria in banning the Nazi salute and related symbols. "They are not free speech," she said. "They should be banned, and we don't want to see them on our streets." She said white supremacist groups were strategically targeting country communities. "We cannot and should not tolerate gangs of balaclava-covered thugs spouting hate anywhere in this country," she said.

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51881f (208) No.22225188

#38 - Part 34

Australian Politics and Society - Part 2

>>21761388 Premiers including Jacinta Allan decline invite to meet with King Charles III - Premier Jacinta Allan has declined an invitation to meet with King Charles when he visits Australia this week. She has turned down the opportunity to welcome him and wife Camilla at a reception in Canberra next Monday, prompting claims she is snubbing the royals. The Sunday Herald Sun can report that not one premier will be at the reception. Ms Allan, who has parliament this week, said she had a cabinet meeting next Monday. NSW Premier Chris Minns cannot attend because of a cabinet meeting, Queensland Premier Steven Miles is occupied with his election campaign, and Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff is on a US trade mission. South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas has a regional cabinet meeting, while a spokesman for Western Australia’s Premier, Roger Cook, said he had “other commitments”. Australian Monarchists League Victorian spokesman Bev McArthur slammed the decision as an “embarrassing” snub, and the nationwide rejection a “slap in the face” to the royal family. “All premiers and ministers have sworn allegiance to our monarch, Charles III, and it is a monumental insult that they now spit in his hand extended in friendship,” she said. “This is a historic opportunity to unite Australia, to focus on charitable work and to give back to communities. Yet our immature politicians are clearly choosing to play politics.”

>>21761789 Video: Man arrested with weapons at Donald Trump rally identified as Vem Miller as local police say he posed as a journalist - A man with a shotgun, a loaded handgun, ammunition, fake licences and fake passports in his vehicle was arrested at a security checkpoint outside a rally for Donald Trump in California, according to local police. The arrest took place on Saturday, local time. The suspect, identified as Vem Miller, a resident of Las Vegas, was driving a black SUV that was stopped by deputies assigned to the rally in Coachella, east of Los Angeles, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department said in a statement. The 49-year-old was arrested on suspicion of possessing a loaded firearm and possession of a high-capacity magazine, the department said. He was eventually released on bail and will appear in court over the state firearms charges at a later date. The man gave all indication he belonged there and was allowed in to the event as a member of the press, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco told reporters. Sheriff Bianco said he believed his deputies "probably prevented a third assassination attempt" by taking the man into custody. "If you're asking me right now, I probably did have deputies that prevented the third assassination attempt," he said. "If we are that politically lost that we have lost sight of common sense, of reality, and for that reason that we can't say, 'Holy crap, what did he show up with all of that stuff for, and loaded guns?' and I'm going to be accused of being dramatic? Then we have a serious problem in this country."

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51881f (208) No.22225192

#38 - Part 35

Australian Politics and Society - Part 3

>>21761883 Video: Alleged Pinochet agent turned Bondi nanny Adriana Rivas launches last-ditch appeal to block extradition to Chile - A former Bondi nanny and cleaner accused by Chile of being a torturer and kidnapper for Pinochet’s military dictatorship in the 1970s has launched a last-ditch legal appeal to avoid extradition. Adriana Rivas, 70, has been in prison in Australia since 2019, when she was arrested on an extradition request from Chile - seeking her for trial on seven counts of aggravated kidnapping relating to the disappearance, and presumed murder, of seven members of Chile’s communist party who disappeared in 1976. Party leader Victor Díaz was abducted by Pinochet’s secret police, the Dina (Dirección de Inteligencia Nacional, or National Intelligence Directorate) in May 1976. Six more party members were kidnapped off the streets of Santiago in December - the youngest, 29-year-old Reinalda del Carmen Pereira Plaza, was six months pregnant when she disappeared. Documents from Chile’s appeal court provided to Australian courts allege Rivas worked as an agent of the Dina’s shadowy Lautaro Brigade (established to target members of the communist party) and was involved in the torture and disappearance of political opponents of the military dictator. Rivas’s legal team have fought Chile’s extradition request over half a decade, including appeals to Australia’s federal court and the high court (which was ultimately abandoned). They argued the allegations against her were “political” and therefore not extraditable, and that the people were not kidnapped but legitimately arrested. At each stage, courts found she was eligible for extradition - the final decision on whether she would be surrendered to Chile lay in the hands of Australia’s attorney general. But Rivas has now launched a last-minute challenge in the federal court, asking the court to declare government’s decision to surrender her to Chile “void and of no legal effect”. Her application, which indicates a decision to surrender her had been made, asks the court to restrain government ministers “directly, or by their agents, officers or delegates, from surrendering Ms Adriana Rivas to the Republic of Chile”.

>>21761894 Chilean ‘torture chamber operator’ turned Bondi nanny in shock legal challenge - Adriana Rivas appeared as a gentle older woman, caring for the children of Bondi - then Chile accused her of playing a part in a brutal torture chamber in the dark days of Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship. Now the nanny has launched a surprise legal challenge after a decade of denials landed her behind bars, awaiting extradition, with what appeared to be no way out. Rivas, now 70, was arrested in 2019 at the request of her homeland, which alleged she had participated in the kidnapping of seven people who had vanished in Santiago. Court documents provided by Chile during her extradition hearing claim Rivas worked for the secret police which rounded up enemies of Pinochet’s military regime and used sarin gas, electricity and welding torches to torture victims in an empty swimming pool. Despite Rivas’ denials, she has repeatedly been found eligible for extradition by the courts. But she was not handed over to Chile, instead remaining in a detention centre for five years. For the past two years, the federal attorney-general maintained a single-line response to questions about Rivas: “The extradition process involving Ms Rivas is at the final stage, requiring the Australian government to make a determination whether to surrender Ms Rivas to Chile.” But late last month Rivas filed a new application to the Federal Court suggesting that surrender had finally been ordered. The application, seen by the Herald, asks the court to “void” the government’s decision to surrender Rivas to Chile. Rivas’ application also seeks to stop the ministers from taking further steps “directly, or by their agents, officers or delegates, from surrendering Ms Adriana Rivas to the Republic of Chile”. Dennis Miralis, the solicitor leading the challenge, did not reply to requests for comment. Rivas had already failed to have her extradition overturned in the Federal Court in 2021. Her legal team had unsuccessfully argued then, and through the lower courts, that her prosecution was “political” in nature.

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51881f (208) No.22225194

#38 - Part 36

Australian Politics and Society - Part 4

>>21780991 Tanks for the fight to save a democracy: Australia answers Kyiv’s firepower plea - Australia will donate 49 of the army’s M1A1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine in the nation’s most significant and lethal contribution to the country’s war against Russia, amid warnings that Vladimir Putin is bolstering his forces with North Korean troops in a dangerous new development for Kyiv. Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy will formally pledge the US-made tanks to Ukraine at a NATO meeting in Brussels this week, following a year-long ­campaign by Kyiv to secure the weapons. It is one of the largest single contributions of Western tanks to Ukraine since the war began, exceeding the US’s own donation of 31 M1A1s. The Australian tanks were due to be retired from next year and replaced with next-generation M1A2s, but are said to be in good condition and are said to be far superior to those operated by Russia. The contribution takes Australia’s support for Ukraine to $1.5bn, and follows an outcry over the government’s decision last year to scrap 45 MRH-90 Taipan helicopters rather than offer them to Kyiv for the war effort. Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, welcomed the announcement, saying his country was in dire need of Western weapons as Putin ramped up his alliance with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. “We are very grateful for the support, especially now in the light of the deployment of troops from North Korea,” he said. “So we see, this is now becoming much more relevant to the Indo-Pacific, and therefore it’s a very strong response from the Australian government.”

>>21781017 Australia confirms 49 M1A1 Abrams tanks will be gifted to Ukraine - Australia has announced the gifting of 49 M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks to Ukraine as part of a latest military assistance package worth around $245 million. The new equipment is expected to bolster the Armed Forces of Ukraine in its fight against Russian military forces; as well as add to the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s firepower and mobility, and complement partners’ support for Ukraine’s armoured brigades. The announcement brings the total value of Australia’s military assistance to Ukraine since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion to over $1.3 billion, and overall support to more than $1.5 billion. Ukrainian Ambassador to Australia and New Zealand, Vasyl Myroshnychenko has thanked the Australian government and public for their continued support. "The Government of Ukraine expresses its strongest gratitude to the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia - and the Australian people -- for the allocation of 49 M1A1 Abrams tanks for Ukraine’s military defence," he said. "I take this opportunity to specifically thank the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles MP, the Minister for Foreign Affairs Senator Penny Wong and the Minister for Defence Industries Pat Conroy MP for their commitment to Ukraine’s cause. Your leadership has significantly contributed to Ukraine’s security and future.

>>21789070 Anthony Albanese stuffs up diary royally and will miss Indonesian President’s-elect’s inauguration - Anthony Albanese will become the first Australian prime minister in decades to miss the swearing-in of a new Indonesian president, skipping the inauguration of the country’s new leader Prabowo Subianto amid a scheduling clash with King Charles’ visit to Australia. The move comes despite Mr Albanese’s public commitment to Mr Prabowo just two months ago that he would attend the high-level ceremony. It’s understood the government informed Indonesia about a fortnight ago that Mr Albanese was no longer able to travel to Jakarta for the event this Sunday, and that Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles would attend on his behalf to represent Australia. Mr Albanese hosted the incoming Indonesian leader in Canberra in August, declaring: “I look forward to working closely with you, President-elect Prabowo, (and) to attending your inauguration in October.” Senior government sources said the scheduling conflict was not apparent when the Prime Minister committed to attending Mr Prabowo’s inauguration. Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham said the government should have negotiated with Buckingham Palace to allow Mr Albanese to attend the inauguration as well as hosting Australia’s head of state. “Things are grim when the Albanese government can’t even get basic scheduling right,” he said.

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51881f (208) No.22225195

#38 - Part 37

Australian Politics and Society - Part 5

>>21789196 Australian air bases assisted with US strike on Houthi weapon stores - Air bases in Australia have helped with this week's United States air strike on underground Houthi weapons stores in Yemen, an attack that has been seen as a warning to Iran. The Department of Defence confirmed Australia provided support for US strikes on October 17, targeting the Houthi facilities "through access and overflight for US aircraft in northern Australia". "Australia is committed to supporting the US, and key partners, in disrupting Houthi capabilities used to threaten global trade and the lives of mariners in the Red Sea, a vital international waterway," a defence spokesperson said. The ABC understands air-to-air refuelling aircraft were part of the mission, although the defence department has declined to confirm. US Central Command issued a separate statement that it "conducted multiple, precision airstrikes" on storage facilities in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, that had "various advanced conventional weapons used to target US and international military and civilian vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden". US forces "targeted the Houthis' hardened underground facilities housing missiles, weapons components, and other munitions," it said. An Australian official said the "support is consistent with our long-standing alliance commitment and close cooperation, demonstrating the interoperability of our militaries". "Australia will continue to work with partners to deter actions that undermine global and regional security and stability."

>>21793463 King Charles III presented with rare Aussie military honours on tour of Australia - King Charles III has been recognised with prestigious honorary rankings in Australia’s military on the first day of his inaugural visit to Australia as a reigning monarch. Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief of the Australian Defence Force, Sam Mostyn, appointed the King to the Honorary Ranks of Admiral of the Fleet of the Royal Australian Navy, Field Marshal of the Australian Army, and Marshal of the Royal Australian Air Force. King Charles has enjoyed a longstanding connection with the Australian Defence Force after he first held the title of Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps in 1977. “Australians share His Majesty’s pride in the ADF, its sailors, soldiers and aviators and the loved ones who support them,” Ms Mostyn said. Chief of the Defence Force Admiral, David Johnston, said the appointments reflected Australia’s cherished relationship with the crown. “The Sovereign serves as an example of service, and His Majesty’s appointments are symbolic of the Royal Family’s longstanding dedication and relationship with the nation,” he said.

>>21793484 ‘Rupert, please do it this way’: Trump asks Murdoch to help him secure victory - Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump says he plans to ask Fox News owner Rupert Murdoch to stop running negative ads and airing people who will criticise him ahead of November’s election. With just over two weeks left in the campaign, Trump appeared on Fox & Friends where he also revealed that people on the network helped write the jokes he told the night before during a speech at the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner in New York, a longstanding feature of US presidential campaigns. The comments came as both Trump and Kamala Harris hit the battleground of Michigan on Friday (Saturday AEDT) - a swing state in the midwest with high numbers of union workers, black voters and Arab Americans. Trump won the state against Hillary Clinton in 2016 but lost it to Joe Biden in 2020. But in a sign of just how desperate Democrats are to hold on to it, Harris plans to return to Michigan next Saturday to campaign with one of the party’s most popular figures: Michelle Obama. Before heading to Michigan, Trump appeared on Murdoch’s conservative cable network for an interview, in which he told the hosts: “You know the event I have now? A very big event. I’m going to see Rupert Murdoch. I’m going to tell him something very simple, because I can’t talk to anybody else about it: Don’t put on negative commercials for 21 days and don’t put on the horrible people that come and lie,” he said. “I’m going to say: Rupert, please do it this way. And then we’re gonna have a victory, because I think everyone wants to have a victory.”

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51881f (208) No.22225196

#38 - Part 38

Australian Politics and Society - Part 6

>>21793501 South Australian upper house narrowly votes down late-term abortion law amendments, with controversy between MP's - South Australia's upper house has narrowly voted down a proposal to amend abortion laws that would have required people wanting to terminate their pregnancy after 28 weeks to deliver their baby alive. The amendments, proposed by Liberal MP Ben Hood, would have required women seeking to terminate a pregnancy from 28 weeks to instead undergo an induced birth, with babies to then be adopted. Under legislation passed in 2021, a pregnant person can get a late-term abortion after 22 weeks and six days if it is deemed medically appropriate and approved by two doctors. According to SA Health, in the first 18 months after the legislation was implemented, "fewer than five" people had their pregnancies terminated after 27 weeks. Both major parties allowed a conscience vote on the private member's bill, meaning that MPs did not need to vote along party lines. After around 3 hours of debate on Wednesday evening, the bill was defeated just before 10pm - nine members voted in favour of the bill and 10 against. The proposal has been met with debate within both political and broader medical circles. The proposed amendment, which has been strongly backed by anti-abortion campaigner and University of Adelaide law professor Joanna Howe, has been met with support at rallies on Parliament steps. It has been opposed by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG), with its SA committee chair Heather Waterfall labelling abortion "an essential service".

>>21793661 Daniel Andrews appointed chair of key youth mental health institute - A mental health institute has defended appointing former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews as its new chair after ex-Liberal leader and Beyond Blue founder Jeff Kennett called the move “absurd”. Andrews, who stood down in September last year after almost a decade in office, will soon lead the board of Orygen, a clinical research organisation based in Parkville, in Melbourne’s inner north. His new position, announced on Friday morning, will be a fixed three-year term. The institute works with young people and their families to pioneer and advocate for new preventive treatments for mental health disorders. During his premiership, Andrews established the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System and also helped oversee the development of the biomedical precinct where Orygen is located. He also implemented some of the strictest lockdown measures in the world during the pandemic, which experts say have had lingering effects on young people’s mental health. “I’m incredibly proud to take on this leadership role to help Orygen and its world-leading experts at this pivotal time for youth mental health in Australia and globally,” Andrews said in a statement. “Orygen is one of Australia’s most important organisations, with a bold vision for all young people to enjoy the very best mental health as they grow into adulthood.

>>21793672 ‘Slap in the face’: Backlash over Dan Andrews’ role as chair of youth mental health service - A Victorian mother whose son died by suicide during Covid has slammed the decision to appoint Daniel Andrews as the chair of a youth mental health service. The Herald Sun on Friday revealed the former Premier had been appointed to lead the board of Orygen, a not-for-profit youth mental health research institute and charity. But it’s prompted a fierce backlash and comes despite latest data showing a surge in youth suicides, and calls for the state government to do more to address mental health concerns for young Victorians. Ange Shearman, whose 16-year-old son Louie took his own life in April 2020, said the former Premier’s “hard line” lockdown policies were a major “push factor” in her boy’s death. “I find it offensive, I find it disrespectful and a slap in the face,” she told the Saturday Herald Sun. “Considering he was the Premier of the longest lockdown in the whole country, I find it very distasteful that he would be the chair of anything related to mental health.” Ms Shearman accused Mr Andrews and his government of having no regard to the mental health impacts that lockdowns, specifically at the start of the pandemic, had on the community. “I do blame his initial policies and hard line as a push factor (for my son’s death). If Louie could have got out of the house and be with his friends I think he’d still be here today. I think lockdown was a major factor,” she said.

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51881f (208) No.22225198

#38 - Part 39

Australian Politics and Society - Part 7

>>21793734 The Bike Boy Scandal (Dan Andrews Car Crash) - COURT CASE UPDATE - Thanks to everyone who has chosen to be part of Ryan’s case by donating to his fighting fund. Here are some of the highlights of what’s happening behind the scenes - 1. Cath and Daniel Andrews' Phone Records: After both Cath and Daniel Andrews refused to actively seek their phone records from Telstra, Ryan's family has subpoenaed Telstra and another company that stores records on Telstra's behalf. We already have some of the phone records, and they are extremely concerning. - 2. Assistant Police Commissioner Brett Curran’s phone records: Despite being a police officer, whose jobs is to find evidence, Brett Curran can’t seem to access his own phone records. In response, the Meuleman family has now subpoenaed Telstra directly for these records. - 3. The Call Daniel Andrews Made to 000 - at least 6 Minutes AFTER the Crash: Ryan's family successfully subpoenaed this 000 call, which has been discussed in court. This 000 call will change EVERYTHING - once people hear how Daniel Andrews first described the crash, and WHO caused it. - 4. The D24 Police Radio Call: In order to take over and control the crash incident, Senior Constable Shayna Sage had to make sure another unit, which had been already been assigned to the crash, was called off. While this happened Ryan lay on the road, critically injured. Ryan's family successfully subpoenaed the recording of the D24 police conversation - where SC Sage took over the investigation. Given what we now know about the crash, Sage's comments in that recording are bizarre and extremely concerning.

>>21798538 ‘I’ve been waiting my whole life’: Delighted fans greet King and Queen - King Charles III and Queen Camilla were greeted by warm weather as they made their first public appearance in Australia during an intimate Sunday morning service at St Thomas’ Anglican Church in northern Sydney. Upon arrival, the royal couple were greeted by crowds that wrapped around the church’s property, hoping to catch a glimpse of them. As Charles and Camilla made their way to the front of church, children waving Australian flags cheered and shook hands with the couple. The Queen, wearing a pale green Anna Valentine dress and straw hat, was given flowers by the church minister’s wife, Ellie Mantle, as she proceeded into the church. Once inside, the royal couple were bathed in sunlight that poured through the door and stained glass windows. Dozens of phones pointed in their direction, while excited whispers echoed through the room. Despite the important guests, Sunday’s service was restricted to the local congregation, with only a few special guests allowed to attend, such as Australia’s Governor-General and the Governor of New South Wales Margaret Beazley. Bishop Christopher Edwards delivered a prayer, asking for the protection of the king and queen, along with a hope the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa would be prosperous.

>>21803674 Video: Lidia Thorpe disrupts King Charles’ reception to yell, ‘you are not my king!’ - A protest over Indigenous rights has disrupted a parliamentary reception for King Charles III and Queen Camilla after Victorian independent senator Lidia Thorpe told the monarch he was not her king. Thorpe strode up the central aisle of the Great Hall of Parliament House wearing a possum-skin cloak after the King’s address to the reception to tell him she did not accept his sovereignty. The Victorian senator was standing at the rear of the assembled guests during the ceremonial welcome for the King and the speeches by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton. When King Charles III came to the end of his address and went to take his seat on the podium, Thorpe strode up the central aisle of the Great Hall to demand a treaty with Indigenous Australians. “You are not our king. You are not sovereign,” she called out. “You committed genocide against our people. Give us our land back. Give us what you stole from us - our bones, our skulls, our babies, our people. You destroyed our land. Give us a treaty. We want treaty.” King Charles spoke quietly with Albanese as they sat on the podium while security officials stopped Thorpe and escorted her out of the Great Hall.

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51881f (208) No.22225199

#38 - Part 40

Australian Politics and Society - Part 8

>>21809135 Australia strikes $7bn US deal to bolster its missile and air defence - Australia will spend $7bn over the decade to revolutionise its air and missile defence systems under a new agreement with the United States aimed at countering China’s recent investments in anti-ship ballistic missile technologies while strengthening deterrence in the Indo-Pacific. Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy made the announcement overnight on Monday (AEDT) at the Australian embassy in Washington DC after stopovers in the UK and Belgium, declaring it represented a “revolutionary” step up in Australia’s defence capability. Under the new arrangement - already approved by Congress -- Australia will acquire the Standard Missile 2 Block IIIC (SM2 IIIC) and Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) to boost the long-range capability of the Navy’s surface combatant fleet. The Australian government says the new missile acquisitions will hand the nation some of the most advanced air and missile defence weapons in the world. The plan is for the new missiles to be deployed progressively across the Navy’s three Hobart class destroyers and planned six Hunter class frigates. However, no time line has been given for when the new missiles will be deployed on Australian warships with Mr Conroy saying he could not do so for “operational reasons.”

>>21809164 #TheGreatAwakening:One Nation candidates are posting conspiracy theories about QAnon and man-made storms on social media- Three One Nation candidates in the Queensland election have posted conspiracy theories to social media, including one posting about the QAnon movement. One Nation candidate for the Gold Coast seat of Southport, David Vaughan, posted to Facebook on May 13 with a caption signed off as "Q" and hashtags including "The Great Awakening", "NCSWIC" and "Future Proves Past", all terms used by the movement's followers. QAnon followers broadly believe a Satanic paedophilic cabal controls governments, businesses, and the media. The acronym NCSWIC stands for Nothing Can Stop What Is Coming, referring to the belief the cabal will soon be arrested. Mr Vaughan has also made posts to Facebook about weather manipulation. Callum Whatmore, who is running in the seat of Waterford in Logan, has also posted about weather manipulation. Mr Whatmore posted a video on October 5, which he captioned "Deliberate?", suggesting Hurricane Helena hit the US state of North Carolina because of human interference to access "billions of dollars of lithium" underground. "Is this a coincidence that hurricane Helena destroyed all that area? This is the outcome of a well-orchestrated, man-made disaster, weather modification and geoengineering," part of the video said. He declined to comment when contacted by the ABC.

>>21809192 US Election 2024:Donald Trump is utterly unworthy of the presidency but Kamala Harris underwhelms- "The US presidential election is the most consequential in living memory yet it remains effectively tied, with neither Vice President Kamala Harris nor former president Donald Trump with a commanding polling lead in the popular vote or seven key battleground states, underscoring just how polarised and divided Americans are. Make no mistake, Trump is an utterly unworthy presidential candidate and a truly appalling and despicable person. He was found guilty on 34 criminal counts of falsifying business records related to hush-money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels, found liable for sexual assault and defamation of E. Jean Carroll in a civil case, and twice impeached by the House of Representatives. Trump has spoken of terminating the constitution and being a dictator, turning the military against citizens, executing generals, shutting down media organisations, jailing opponents and putting former officials on trial, and pardoning more than 1000 people convicted over the Capitol riot. If this is not enough, what should persuade Americans not to return Trump to power is character. He has boasted about sexually assaulting women, made fun of people with disabilities, accused migrants of eating dogs and cats, called Harris “retarded”, insisted Obama was not born in the US, promised to “lock up” Hillary Clinton, and dismissed many who worked for him as “dumb” and “stupid” and “traitors” to their country. His mental decline, risk to global security and the economy, repeated criminality and danger to democracy make him unfit to be president. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (2019-23), told Bob Woodward for his new book that Trump was a fascist. “No one has ever been as dangerous to this country,” Milley said. Think about that. I hope Americans do." - Troy Bramston, senior writer with The Australian - theaustralian.com.au - https://qresear.ch/?q=Troy+Bramston

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51881f (208) No.22225200

#38 - Part 41

Australian Politics and Society - Part 9

>>21814558 The Trump effect instils anxiety in Labor ranks - "Anthony Albanese’s signature climate change, economic, trade, foreign and national security policies face being up-ended if Donald Trump wins the November 5 election. The Prime Minister has tied much of Australia’s investment priorities and approach to international relations with Joe Biden’s view of the world. Under a second Trump presidency, a prospect that sends shivers down the spines of Labor MPs, the world order would be reshaped. With Trump and Kamala Harris neck-and-neck in the White House race a fortnight from election day, the probability of Albanese and his ambassador Kevin Rudd having to work with a Republican administration is growing. Behind the scenes, Australian officials are scrambling to assess what a Trump administration could mean for the Paris Agreement, Israel’s war with Iranian-proxy terror groups, Biden’s clean energy-focused Inflation Reduction Act, AUKUS nuclear submarines, Beijing relations in the event of a US-China trade war, the Quad and broader protectionism amid ongoing Middle East and Ukraine conflicts. Energy and Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen has flagged Australia’s 2035 emissions-reduction target, which will be informed by Climate Change Authority advice, could be delayed beyond February and potentially until after the next election. The delay is linked to whether Trump wins and overhauls US climate change and energy policy. Albanese’s overt wooing of Xi Jinping and Chinese officials, which has stoked concerns inside the Biden administration, will likely come under pressure if Trump returns. With Trump making clear he is focused on strengthening domestic security, how committed will he be to Biden’s Indo-Pacific shift and countering China’s regional influence in the South Pacific?" - Geoff Chambers - theaustralian.com.au

>>21814588 Video: Neo-Nazis pepper-sprayed after attempting to disrupt refugee rally - Neo-Nazis who tried to disrupt refugee protesters’ 100th night demonstrating outside the Department of Home Affairs in Docklands were pushed back by police who doused them with pepper spray. Police dispersed a black-clothed and balaclava-clad group near a refugee encampment on Tuesday night, sending them running as demonstrators cheered. Neo-Nazis had already disrupted the encampment twice since it began in July, according to the Tamil Refugee Council. Designated “spotters” saw about 20 men dressed in black and wearing balaclavas approach the demonstration about 6pm. Refugee Action Collective spokesperson David Glanz said the men stood next to the rally and chanted “white power” and “hail victory”, and that refugee protesters moved to block their path in response. A row of police officers, arms linked, advanced on the neo-Nazis, forcing them to retreat. Several police officers then surged forward dispensing pepper spray, while the rest of the officers formed a physical barrier separating the neo-Nazis from the refugee group, who continued to chant and bang drums. The neo-Nazis returned and there was a standoff in a park for a short while - some brandished a banner that read “f-ck off we’re full” -- before they left for the final time. Victoria Police confirmed there were no arrests nor any reported injuries at the event, which was attended by about 300 refugee demonstrators. “It is understood a group of about 20 people attended the rally just before 6pm,” said a police spokesperson. “Officers formed a line to separate the two groups before they [police officers] were forced to deploy OC [pepper] spray. “Police will assess the circumstances surrounding the demonstration and review vision of the incident and people involved.”

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51881f (208) No.22225201

#38 - Part 42

Australian Politics and Society - Part 10

>>21827045 OPINION:‘Fascist’ Trump’s Garden party has echoes of America’s Nazi moment- "It was clear, as soon as Donald Trump announced his rally in New York’s Madison Square Garden, that to Make America Great Again he would have a thunderclap echo from the infamous rally of American Nazis in that arena on February 20, 1939. That night, the Garden was packed with more than 20,000. A portrait of George Washington commanded the stage. American and Nazi flags and swastikas were on display. The crowd gave “sieg heils”. The American Nazis gathered to keep America pure from alien influences, and to bring America closer to Hitler’s Germany and his vision of the world. James Wheeler-Hill, the Nazi party’s national secretary, was as clear as day: “If George Washington were alive today, he would be friends with Adolf Hitler.” Trump wants to come home to Madison Square Garden to continue his fight for America First to purge the country of alien influences and radical left extremism. Trump faces his full house crowd in New York not only as a former president, but as a fascist. In recent days, two military veterans, General Mark Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and John Kelly, Trump’s former chief of staff in the White House, have both gone on the record on their views of Trump’s character, and why he should never be elected to returned to power. “Certainly the former president is in the far-right area,” says Kelly, a former general in the Marines. “He’s certainly an authoritarian, admires people who are dictators - he has said that. So he certainly falls into the general definition of fascist, for sure.” Kelly says he heard it first-hand from Trump. “He certainly prefers the dictator approach to government … He commented more than once that, ‘You know, Hitler did some good things, too.’” Trump loves the icons in New York. He wants to own them and to be the subject of adulation in them. The fascist candidate for president of the United States cannot wait to bring into Madison Square Garden his grievance, retribution and intent to wreak vengeance on his enemies, together with a desire for absolute power to prosecute his agenda and vanquish his opponents. Trump wants to seize and then exercise control over America’s temple of democracy. It will take an act of democracy by the American people to stop him." - Bruce Wolpe, senior fellow at University of Sydney’s United States Studies Centre, has served on the Democratic staff in the US Congress and was chief of staff to former prime minister Julia Gillard - theage.com.au

>>21831302 Video: Former NSA director reveals insights into Trump, Obama, and Harris | Planet America - As his former Chief of Staff warns Trump is a fascist, his former NSA director reveals insights into Trump, Obama, and Harris. Will he also use the F-word? And what are the cyberthreats facing this election; will deep fakes change voters’ minds? What are the cyberthreats and deepfakes threatening the US election? We ask Admiral Mike Rogers, NSA Director under Trump and Obama. - ABC News In-depth

>>21831333 (March 2024) Australia should be talking to Trump about AUKUS: ex-security chief Michael Rogers - "Australia needs to sell the benefits of the AUKUS pact for the US to Donald Trump to prevent the planned sale of nuclear-powered submarines being knocked off course, a former US security chief who served in the Trump presidency says. Former US National Security Agency head Michael Rogers said in an interview with The Australian Financial Review that Australian officials should reach out to Mr Trump and his campaign ahead of November’s presidential election to shore up the trilateral deal between Australia, the US and UK. Mr Rogers said the Turnbull and Morrison governments’ successful management of relations with Mr Trump during his first term in office offered pointers for how the Albanese government should handle him. “I would argue that during President Trump’s term of office, he ultimately had a stronger relationship in many ways with Australia for example than he did with the United Kingdom which we traditionally talk about as the ‘special relationship’,” he said. “My recommendation to my Australian teammates would be is there is a lot to learn from the past. I would step back and ask ‘How did you manage to put the US-Australian relationship in such a strong position during President Trump’s term’?”" - Andrew Tillett - afr.com

>>21831333 Q Post #585 - TRUST Adm R. He played the game to remain in control. Q - https://qanon.pub/#585

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51881f (208) No.22225202

#38 - Part 43

Australian Politics and Society - Part 11

>>21839120 Anthony Albanese has plenty to fear in Queensland as Labor control of the states crumbles - Anthony Albanese’s hopes of dramatically increasing federal Labor’s paltry five out of 30 seats in Queensland remains a pipe dream. Federal and Queensland Labor figures will spin the positives hard, despite the ALP suffering swings across the board in losing only its second Queensland election in more than three decades. Queenslanders have traditionally and overwhelmingly backed the Liberal National Party at federal elections, while shunning the LNP at state polls. It is fraught to link state results with federal election prospects. Federal Labor’s best recent result in the Sunshine State was the 15 seats won by Queenslander Kevin Rudd when he turfed John Howard from office in 2007. Albanese, up against a deeply unpopular Scott Morrison in 2022, won a dismal five seats in Queensland and lost Rudd’s former electorate of Griffith to the Greens. The Prime Minister had to wait until Western Australia results swung Labor’s way before claiming a slim majority victory. A bright spark for Albanese is the poor performance of the Greens, which will spur ALP hopes of winning Griffith and Brisbane from Greens MPs Max Chandler-Mather and Stephen Bates. Adam Bandt has been put on notice after the Greens went backwards in both Queensland and their left-wing haven of ACT. Federal Greens MPs, who have abandoned any pretence they are environmentalists, have swung so hard to the Left that their own state and territory counterparts are blaming them for recent results.

>>21839147 Conservative US commentator Candace Owens refused entry to Australia ahead of national speaking tour - Right-wing American commentator Candace Owens has been refused entry to Australia for her upcoming speaking tour. Immigration Minister Tony Burke confirmed the conservative online influencer would not be granted a visa, saying "Australia's national interest is best served when Candace Owens is somewhere else". "From downplaying the impact of the Holocaust with comments about [Nazi physician Josef] Mengele through to claims that Muslims started slavery, Candace Owens has the capacity to incite discord in almost every direction," Mr Burke said. Owens has almost 3 million subscribers on YouTube, where she publishes interviews and political commentary, regularly sharing conspiracy theories and criticism of social movements such as Black Lives Matter. In July she described stories about Nazi experiments on twins in concentration camps during World War II as "completely absurd" and "bizarre propaganda". Her speaking tour of Australia, scheduled for November, is advertised as "provocative" and appealing to audiences seeking "alternative viewpoints". "Known for her controversial takes and unwavering stance, Candace is set to light up stages across Australia and New Zealand with her bold and unfiltered perspectives," reads a description on ticketing website Ticketek.

>>21839195 Video: ‘Skin you!’: Drone fires at Aussies in war zone - Incredible trench footage shows fired up Australian volunteers pushing back a Russian assault in war-torn Ukraine as they come under fire from a suspected drone attack. The clip is filmed from the helmet of a fighter and believed to be taken near Zaporizhia - a city on the Dnieper River in the southeast of the nation. It opens with an Aussie yelling “I’m going to skin you!” before he unleashes a barrage of shots into the surrounding foliage from his trench. The footage then shows the fighter running through the trench before firing off another intense barrage of shots and screaming with rage. The volunteer then turns his rifle to the sky and shouts “there he is” before firing shots at a suspected Russian drone. “F*cking c*nt,” he shouts after the shots are fired towards them. The Aussie then ducks down into the trench to avoid incoming Russian shots. “Missed us!” he yells, as another fighter can be heard sniggering and telling him to “relax, relax, relax.” They appear to take the upper hand over the Russian forces in the footage. The volunteers can be seen cheering and one soldier can be seen raising his hand in the air in celebration as the clip comes to a close. There is no precise, official figure on how many Australian volunteers are currently fighting in Ukraine, but estimates suggest that a small number of Aussies have joined the International Legion of Defense of Ukraine or other volunteer groups since the start of the conflict. As of 2022, it was confirmed that some Australians were fighting alongside other foreign nationals, and several have died in combat. The Australian government has generally discouraged Aussies from travelling to Ukraine to fight, emphasising the risks and legal consequences. Nevertheless, Australians continue to volunteer in various capacities, including combat roles and humanitarian support.

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51881f (208) No.22225203

#38 - Part 44

Australian Politics and Society - Part 12

>>21839237 The Bondi ‘torture’ nanny and the grieving families - The families of people who vanished and were tortured and murdered by South American death squads accuse Australia’s attorney-general of “callous silence” after the extradition of one alleged torturer found living in Bondi was delayed two years. Adriana Rivas was arrested in Sydney in 2019 at the request of Chilean prosecutors, accused of being involved in the kidnapping of seven people who had vanished in Santiago. The 70-year-old former nanny has spent the past five years fighting, and losing, extradition to her homeland, while languishing in immigration detention. This month the Herald revealed Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus had ordered Rivas’ surrender, but she had immediately issued another legal challenge. She continues to deny all wrongdoing. It came as a blow to the families of Rivas’ alleged victims who have waited two years for her surrender after she abandoned a High Court challenge in mid-2022. “The A-G’s determination has been plagued with unreasonable delays in excess of two years,” Adriana Navarro, a lawyer representing families of those killed by the secret police, told the Herald. There was no announcement of the long-anticipated surrender or the new challenge. “The families and their representatives should have been informed of this decision by the A-G when made,” he said. “This secrecy at the A-G’s office is disconcerting and callous.” Documents given to NSW courts alleged Rivas worked in the headquarters of the DINA secret police in the Chilean capital Santiago as agents rounded up, tortured and murdered left-wing enemies of US-backed dictator Augusto Pinochet.

>>21853292 Video: MRF-D 24.3 U.S. Marines, Sailors conclude six-month deployment to Australia - U.S. Marines and Sailors with Marine Rotational Force -- Darwin 24.3 participated in various exercises, operations, and training events during a six-month deployment to Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia from April to Oct. 2024. MRF-D 24.3 is part of an annual, six-month rotational deployment to enhance interoperability with the Australian Defence Force and Allies and partners and provide a forward-postured crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific.

>>21860607 Video: New Black Hawks will be night-time visitors to Sydney - Many Sydneysiders turned their faces skywards on Tuesday as a formation of Black Hawk helicopters swept loud and low over the city, past the Harbour Bridge and Opera House, before turning north for a run to Narrabeen. Residents of the Harbour City will soon become familiar with the sight and sound of the Black Hawks, as the Australian Army puts the brand-new helicopters through their paces in counter-terrorism rehearsals around the city, including at night, throughout November. “You’ll hear noise, you’ll see low-level flying,” warned Joint Aviation Systems Division head Major General Jeremy King. “Please don’t be alarmed.” The army has just taken delivery of 10 new Black Hawks, the first of 40 that will provide Australia’s primary utility helicopter force by the end of the decade -- and bring an end to the fiasco of the loathed and often-grounded Taipan fleet. The new-generation Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawks are expected to cost $2.8bn in total and, so far at least, the program is running within budget. At an exercise at the Holsworthy Army Barracks on Tuesday to welcome the new helicopters, the army’s top brass were diplomatic about the Black Hawk’s ill-fated predecessor, but close to jubilant about the new arrivals. “We’ve moved on from the Taipan; I’m not in the business of making comparisons,” said Major General King. “We’re very happy to see an old friend back.” The US-made helicopter is a tried and tested war horse, in which Australian troops have seen plenty of action in the past, from Afghanistan to Timor-Leste.

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51881f (208) No.22225205

#38 - Part 45

Australian Politics and Society - Part 13

>>21867699 Video: Far right US commentator Candace Owens lashes Australia after visa rejection - Far-right US commentator Candace Owens has hit back after Immigration Minister Tony Burke rejected her visa on the grounds that she has the “capacity to incite discord”, lashing the government for the “petty act of vandalism”. The controversial conservative podcaster has been widely criticised for her anti-Semitic comments, conspiracy theories and attacks on the Muslim and transgender communities. Speaking publicly for the first time since her visa was rejected, Ms Owens lashed Mr Burke for “leaking” the results of her private application and said she was “stunned” by the process. “I also want to make it clear to you guys that I found out at the same time that the press found out, so his office chose to leak this,” she said. “This is supposed to be a private application process, so unless I spoke about this, no one should have known about this.” She also claimed her application was blocked due to her coverage of attacks on Palestinians in Gaza, stating her fans would remain loyal to her. “I just wanted to make sure that every person knows that despite me being fired, demonetised, spoken ill about, I haven’t changed my position,” she said. While it does not appear that Owens’ team have filed an appeal, an announcement on her Ticketek page states she and her event organiser Rocksman are “optimistic about a favourable outcome”. They have also promised existing ticketholders, some who have shelled out $1500 for VIP tickets, will be refunded.

>>21867793 Scott Morrison dismisses Donald Trump fears as ‘hot air’ - Scott Morrison says fears in Australia of a Trump 2.0 presidency are the result of “hot air and ­hyperventilation”, but argues the nation will have to be “on its game” if the Republican candidate returns to the White House. As Anthony Albanese and many of his global counterparts cross their fingers for a Kamala Harris victory next week, the former prime minister told The Australian there was no cause for concern over the future of the alliance or the AUKUS submarine pact under a re-elected Donald Trump. But he said Australia would have to wait and see how it would be affected by Mr Trump’s promised tariff hikes, and warned Labor would have to dramatically recalibrate its diplomacy to deal with his “unorthodox approach” to international relations. “Australia has to be on its game in terms of how it manages the relationship, as is always the case,” he said. “When there was a change of government last time there was a change in approach and direction, and we responded to that.” Analysts have warned of difficult times ahead if Mr Trump is re-elected, while a recent Lowy Institute poll found 72 per cent of Australians would prefer a Harris win on November 5. But Mr Morrison said Australia had done well under the first Trump administration and could expect to do so again. “There’s just no real basis to why the concern would be there on the things that matter most to us, which are about the alliance and AUKUS,” he said. “He’s on the record of supporting the alliance strongly and the genesis of AUKUS was under his administration. So I just think there’s a lot of hot air and hyperventilation around this, which is certainly not grounded in fact.”

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51881f (208) No.22225210

#38 - Part 46

Australian Politics and Society - Part 14

>>21874938 If Donald Trump defeats Kamala Harris in the US election, how should Anthony Albanese respond? - "The state of American democracy will be sorely tested over coming weeks while the election outcome is determined. Support for the candidates is almost evenly split along gender, education, race, demographic, religious and geographic lines. Final turnout will determine if there is blowout for one candidate. The Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese should make an early visit Washington in the event of a Trump victory. While many world leaders will be thinking the same, we have a special standing. In preparation for a visit, there should be pre-trip consultations with close partners in the region, particularly Japan. Australia must leverage her agency, influence and impact in Washington across the political aisle. We have fought together for humane, universal values as loyal but not subservient allies and partners throughout the last century and this. The US alliance serves our national interest and sovereignty of decision-making. Australians are skilled in providing frank and fearless advice to leaders in Washington, without resorting to a megaphone. We must prioritise discussion of the security and economic architecture of our region, which clearly links to our bilateral concerns. The conversation should be built around why that architecture matters to America. Why Americans should not underestimate the benefits to them of the lattice work of groupings among allies and partners in the Indo Pacific including Aukus, the Quad leaders’ meeting and other mini laterals involving America, Australia, Japan, Korea and the Philippines. Outreach to Asean and the Pacific islands also enhances American influence in the region (leaders turning up to regional summits matters in that regard). The global rules-based order is not an abstraction. American security rests as much, if not more, on an order that is not inimical to American interests as it does on the size of her armed forces or nuclear arsenal. America’s unique advantage over China is her network of allies and partners, a coalition of like-minded democracies that stand for something other than narrow self-interest." - Arthur Sinodinos, former Australian ambassador to the US and former minister for industry, innovation and science - theguardian.com

>>21875017 Video: Donald Trump's daughter-in-law suggests Kevin Rudd should not be Australia's ambassador after scathing critique of former president - Donald Trump’s daughter-in-law, and a close confidante of the former president has strongly suggested US Ambassador Kevin Rudd should be replaced over his scathing criticisms of the Republican nominee. Mr Rudd, who has served as Australia’s Ambassador in Washington since March 2023, has a long and sordid history mocking and ridiculing the 45th president of the United States. He has labelled Trump the “most destructive president in history”, a “political liability” and a “problem for the world”. The former prime minister’s comments caused alarm bells in Australia when Mr Trump emerged as the Republican frontrunner and the party’s eventual nominee with concerns he may fail to forge the necessary relationship required with the White House. With five days left until the presidential election, the co-chair of the RNC -- and Trump’s daughter-in-law – Lara Trump has reignited suggestions Mr Rudd will be put in the political freezer if the Republican wins. Speaking to Sky News Australia’s Erin Molan on Friday, Ms Trump raised serious concerns with the ambassador’s previous assessments of her father-in-law. She said Mr Rudd’s remarks were “pretty tough” and suggested he should be replaced. “And I think the problem … is when people say those things and don't have a change of heart, it's kind of hard to have a position like that where you'd want to keep someone who said such nasty things about a person,” Ms Trump said. “But I do think it would be nice to have a person who appreciates all that Donald Trump has gone through to want to serve our country at this moment. “And obviously, that’s a little bit tough to take in and maybe we want to choose somebody else.”

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51881f (208) No.22225212

#38 - Part 47

Australian Politics and Society - Part 15

>>21881208 ‘Whole world on fire’: Inside one of Australia’s most extreme churches - For more than 65 years, Noel Hollins ran one of Australia’s most extreme and secretive Pentecostal churches. His teachings warned of imminent armageddon and he exerted total control over the lives of thousands of followers who believed him to be the apostle of God’s “one true church”. From the late 1950s until his death in April at the age of 93, the baritone-voiced Hollins - standing just over 200 centimetres tall -- led the Geelong Revival Centre and its network of more than 30 affiliated churches around Australia and the world. Under Hollins, the church - which former members described as a cult – practised an extremely strict brand of Christianity. “It’s a dangerous world. We are contrary to everything this world today pursues and follows and finds acceptable. We have to accept that it’s all war,” Hollins says in recordings leaked to a new investigative podcast, LiSTNR’s Secrets We Keep: Pray Harder. “And I hope we see ourselves as soldiers. You can’t be neutral in warfare. If you run away from the enemy, the enemy will chase you.” To become one of Hollins’ “Saints” - the title given to those whose souls have been saved – a person must be baptised by immersion and speak in tongues. For children born into the church, this happens when they enter their teens. The prize, according to the church’s teachings, is eternal life, while the rest of humanity, including other Christians, burn in hell after a nuclear holocaust triggered by Russian aggression. “The anger of the Lord is about to come on the world. When that day of the Lord’s anger comes upon us, this whole world is going to be on fire,” Hollins says in one leaked recording. In another he says: “Vladimir Putin the other day claimed that they have a new weapon, a new missile that could destroy the Western world. Now, fancy even talking like that. What have we come to?” Salvation carried one other condition: submission to Hollins’ authority.

>>21881239 Video: Six Australians allege they were sexually assaulted by former Harrods boss Mohamed Al Fayed, as 421 people come forward with allegations - Six Australian women allege they were sexually assaulted by late billionaire Mohamed Al Fayed, with more than 400 people contacting the legal team representing the accusers. The Egyptian businessman, who died last year at the age of 94, is accused of multiple counts of rape, attempted rape and sexual assault by women who worked for him. He always denied similar accusations before his death, but a BBC documentary unearthed new allegations last month. A lawyer for the accusers, Bruce Drummond KC, told the ABC that five of the Australian women who accuse Mr Al Fayed of sexual assault were employed at Harrods, the luxury London department store Mr Al Fayed owned between 1985 and 2010. He said the other Australian woman was working for a supplier to Harrods. All the women were in their twenties. "It was the most wonderful thing they had, quite understandably, working for this amazing store, working for this very powerful individual who was a billionaire … then a lot of them, after they had been subjected to this horrific ordeal, fled [back to Australia]," Mr Drummond KC said. He said the women weren't concerned that Mr Al Fayed wasn't alive to face justice. "It's about seeing justice in their own eyes and justice for these ladies means accountability, which means that we out him for the monster he was … it means setting a precedent so young girls in the future don't go through the same thing," he said.

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51881f (208) No.22225213

#38 - Part 48

Australian Politics and Society - Part 16

>>21881260 Video: Daniel Andrews’ triple-0 call from car accident involving wife and Ryan Meuleman revealed - Daniel Andrews’ triple-0 call from his infamous car accident can be revealed, with the former premier telling emergency services “we’ve hit him.” The audio directly contradicts a police statement the former premier made a month after the crash in which he said “the cyclist hit our vehicle” and raises further questions about the accident that has dogged the former premier for more than a decade. The Herald Sun has audio of the phone call that Mr Andrews made following a collision with a teenage cyclist in 2013 which is at the centre of a bitter legal battle. Mr Andrews and his wife Catherine, who was driving at the time, have consistently held that cyclist Ryan Meuleman was at fault, with Mr Andrews telling reporters in 2017 that the teen was “moving at speed’’ when he “absolutely T-boned the car”. And in his statement to police signed on February 5, 2013 at Springvale police station, Mr Andrews said “I want to make it clear - the cyclist hit our vehicle”. Ryan Meuleman spent 10 days in hospital as he recovered from broken ribs, a punctured lung and had some of his spleen removed after being flown to the Royal Children’s Hospital. In the call on January 7, 2013, Mr Andrews describes the accident. “We’ve turned right into Ridley Street and a kid’s come flying through on the bike path and we’ve hit him,” Mr Andrews says. Mr Andrews had initially sought to block access to his phone records but later backflipped. Those records however are yet to be located and provided to the lawyers for Ryan Meuleman, who is suing Slater and Gordon over the way they handled his compensation claim. Mr Andrews was opposition leader at the time of the accident. Mrs Andrews was not breath tested and there were questions on how the police handled the incident at Blairgowrie on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula. Mr Andrews drove the car away from the scene. The long serving premier hit out what he claimed were “appalling conspiracy theories” in September following reports that the investigation into the crash was “deeply flawed”.

>>21888304 Video: Ambassador of Australia to the United States Kevin Rudd will remain in post regardless of US election outcome - Sky News can reveal that even if Donald Trump wins power in the US this week, Kevin Rudd will remain Australia's ambassador in Washington. Sunday Agenda host Andrew Clennell revealed the decision to retain Mr Rudd, after Lara Trump told Sky News host Erin Molan that Rudd should be replaced if Trump wins. The Australian Ambassador has previously been scrutinised for his assessments of Trump after he labelled the former president as “the most destructive president in history”. Mr Rudd's outspoken criticisms of Trump have raised concerns about his ability to develop a constructive relationship with a potential Trump administration. However, sources within the Australian government ruled out changes to the ambassadorship as it would appear as if Australia were controlled by another country. In an interview in March, the Republican presidential candidate described Mr Rudd as “nasty” and “not the brightest bulb”. “I don’t know much about him. If he’s at all hostile, he will not be there long,” Trump told British politician and broadcaster Nigel Farage.

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51881f (208) No.22225214

#38 - Part 49

Australian Politics and Society - Part 17

>>21906184 Satellite down: nation’s biggest ever space program dumped over multibillion-dollar cost - The Albanese government is poised to cancel a planned $7bn military-grade satellite communications system it gave the green light to just 18 months ago because there is no money in the Defence budget to pay for it. US defence giant Lockheed Martin was selected in April last year to deliver what was to be the nation’s biggest-ever space project - a hardened sovereign system of three to five satellites boasting the highest-level protection against cyber and electronic warfare attacks. But The Australian can reveal the government will announce early this week -- under the cover of the Melbourne Cup and the US election – that the project will not proceed. It’s understood the government will blame the decision on multiple factors including rising costs and advances in technology that might offer a better system. The system was to use geo-­stationary satellites to create an ­uncrackable data network across the Australian Defence Force, providing communications and data links for its advanced fighter jets, naval assets and the army’s land forces. The planned long-term budget for the project was put by the ­government at $5.2bn to $7.2bn, but it had approved only $150m to deliver it from its decade-long, $330bn capability investment plan. The project, which was set to create 200-300 direct jobs, was to include multiple ground stations across Australia, an advanced satellite management system, and two new operations centres. ­Defence Minister Richard Marles’s office declined to comment on the decision when contacted by The Australian. But a defence industry source said: “There is no money. There needs to be money to actually start the program.” Another source said the planned budget for the project was ­insufficient for Lockheed Martin to deliver it.

>>21906724 Video:‘Scares the sh*t out of me’: Australian PM’s ‘juvenile’ criticism of Donald Trump resurfaces- Sky News host Sharri Markson has slammed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for his “embarrassing” remarks about Donald Trump during his time as shadow transport and infrastructure minister. Mr Albanese was filmed saying the former president “scares the sh*t out of me” during a Q&A at Splendor in the Grass in July 2017. “Albanese was shadow transport and infrastructure minister at the time," Ms Markson said. "He was a senior figure in the Shorten team. He should have known better than to speak in such a juvenile fashion about the then-president of the nation that Australia relies on for our national security."

>>21906738 Australia, India say US election result won't impact Quad group - Australia and India's foreign ministers said on Tuesday they were confident the Quad group of the U.S., India, Australia and Japan would continue to cooperate in the Indo-Pacific region regardless of the outcome of the U.S. presidential election. Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong told reporters in Canberra she had met Mike Pompeo, who served as Secretary of State in the previous Trump Administration, ahead of the U.S. election and had "a very good discussion". "One of the priorities for us to discuss was AUKUS, and we are very pleased at the sort of bipartisan support that we have seen," she said, referring to the defence technology partnership between Australia, Britain and the U.S. to transfer nuclear powered submarines to Australia. Australia's most expensive defence project, the AUKUS deal was struck under the Biden Administration in 2023. "In terms of the U.S. election, we will work with whomever the American people choose," she said. Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said the Quad was revived under the Trump presidency in 2017. "When we look at the American election, we are very confident that whatever the verdict, our relationship with the United States will only grow," he said, on an official visit to Australia.

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51881f (208) No.22225215

#38 - Part 50

Australian Politics and Society - Part 18

>>21906794 US Election 2024:Donald Trump remains a clear and present danger to the US republic- "The great republic is teetering on a precipice, at a turning point moment, with no previous election more important. Kamala Harris is a conventional centre-left Democratic candidate who believes in democracy and the rule of law; Donald Trump is a populist nativist, xenophobe and misogynist who refused to accept an election outcome, tried to overturn it and incited a riot. The choice for Americans is clear: Harris may be uninspiring and saddled with being vice-president in an unpopular administration but Trump is morally bankrupt and ethically barren, vain and narcissistic, reckless and dangerous. It is why so many lifelong Republicans, his former vice-president, staff and cabinet officials, and military leaders, cannot support his return to the White House. My view about Trump since he descended on that golden escalator in Trump Tower in July 2015 is well known to readers. He is an utterly grotesque figure, a bully and a braggart who routinely makes false and moronic statements. He boasted about sexually assaulting women and was found liable for sexual assault. He is a convicted felon. He was twice impeached, for trying to shake down Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and defying democracy. His management of the pandemic was catastrophic - remember when he suggested injecting disinfectant, shining ultraviolet light on the skin or taking hydroxychloroquine, which the US Food and Drug Administration warned could be dangerous? He trashed historic alliances and showed no respect to democratic leaders. He massively increased debt and deficit. He failed the test of crisis leadership. What is especially troubling is that Trump diminishes the presidency. No president is without fault or flaws. But they each respected the office, its conventions and traditions, norms and standards of behaviour, and the democratic process. They congratu­lated their opponents, went to inaugurations of their successors and openings of presidential libraries. Trump did none of this; Harris will. Trump has no respect for the presidency, its traditions and conventions, and leadership capacity. He dishonoured the presidency. Unlike Harris, he seeks to divide with a dark and violent grievance-based message rather than unite and uplift the nation with hope and possibility. It is telling that no former president or vice-president, or Republican candidate for president, has endorsed Trump. That is why I hope, and expect, Americans will make the right decision in this most consequential of elections." - Troy Bramston, senior writer with The Australian - theaustralian.com.au - https://qresear.ch/?q=Troy+Bramston

>>21906798 Q Post #3931 - The credibility of our institutions [Constitutional Law that governs our Great Land [Our Republic]], and our ability to regain the trust and faith of the American people, all depends on our ability to restore [EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER THE LAW] by prosecuting those responsible [Blind-Justice]. Treasonous acts [sedition] against the Republic [the 'People'] of the United States [START - LEAD-IN]. Infiltration [rogue] at the highest levels of our gov, media, corps, etc. Planned & coordinated [D/ F]. This is not about politics. Something far more sinister [evil] has been allowed to flourish through all parts of our society. It has been protected and safeguarded. It has been camouflaged to appear as trusted. It has been projected [normalized] by stars. [CLAS 1-99] - One must only look to see. [Symbolism will be their downfall] - This is not another [4] year election. "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong." You are not alone. We stand together. Q - https://qanon.pub/#3931

>>21906798 Q Post #4616 - NOTHING CAN STOP WHAT IS COMING. NOTHING. WWG1WGA!!! Q - https://qanon.pub/#4616

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51881f (208) No.22225217

#38 - Part 51

Australian Politics and Society - Part 19

>>21922359 US Election 2024: Trump claims 'powerful mandate' after Fox News projects he has won US presidency - Republican Donald Trump claimed victory in the 2024 presidential contest after Fox News projected that he had defeated Democrat Kamala Harris, which would cap a stunning political comeback four years after he left the White House. "America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate," he said early on Wednesday to a roaring crowd of supporters at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, flanked by his vice presidential running mate, Senator JD Vance, Republican leaders and members of Trump's family. He also spent several minutes praising Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, who pumped some $120 million into backing Trump's campaign. Trump has said he will appoint Musk to lead a government efficiency commission. Other news outlets had yet to call the race for Trump, but he appeared on the verge of winning after capturing the battleground states of Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia and holding leads in the other four, according to Edison Research. The former president was showing strength across broad swaths of the country, improving on his 2020 performance everywhere from rural areas to urban centers. Trump picked up more support from Hispanics, traditionally Democratic voters, and among lower-income households that have keenly felt the sting of price rises since the last presidential election in 2020, according to exit polls from Edison. No matter who won the election, history was in the making. Trump, 78, the only president to be impeached twice and the first former president to be criminally convicted, would also become the first president to win non-consecutive terms in more than a century and would be the oldest presidential candidate ever elected. Tuesday's vote capped a dizzying race churned by unprecedented events, including two assassination attempts against Trump, Biden's surprise withdrawal and Harris' rapid rise.

>>21922390 Former PM Scott Morrison backs in a second Donald Trump US presidency - Former prime minister Scott Morrison has welcomed a likely second Donald Trump presidency, saying it would lead to a “rejuvenation of the US economy”. Mr Morris said the Republican candidate had given a “stellar” performance during the election campaign. All but declaring the win for the former businessman, Mr Morrison said Mr Trump had “won this election,” and believed a result would be called by Wednesday night Australian time. Mr Morrison, who left politics to join a US-based security and defence think tank, dashed claims Mr Trump was a “scary” character, following unearthed 2017 footage of Anthony Albanese who said the leader “scares the sh*t out of me”. “Vladimir Putin is scary. Xi Jinping is scary. Ayatollah Khomeini is scary. Donald Trump is not scary,” Mr Morrison told Sky News on Wednesday. “I think the three places that will be most unhappy with this result tonight will be in Tehran, will be in Beijing and will be in Moscow.” Mr Morrison’s prime ministership coincided with Mr Trump’s first presidency between 2018 to 2021, with Mr Morrison sharing effusive praise for the leader. “The US is an entrepreneurial animal … and I think we’ll see great confidence come into that economy,” he said.

>>21922416, >>21922437 Donald Trump’s swing could be a harbinger of doom for Anthony Albanese’s own re-election hopes - "Hold on to your hats. Its going to be another wild ride. But for Anthony Albanese, it is going to be an especially difficult one. This is his worst nightmare. And for Labor and its re-election hopes, the concern will be whether Donald Trump’s apparent comeback presents a harbinger for its own doom. The Prime Minister starts dangerously behind in a relationship considered to be Australia’s most important, boxed into a position of weakness with his 2017 private remarks about Trump now very much public. This is a potential problem for Albanese at the outset. At some point, he and Trump will have to have a difficult conversation. The US result will also send a sobering message to Labor strategists. Trump was the beneficiary, at a deeper level, of yet another example of traditional left-leaning working-class voters jumping ship. This isn’t a phenomenon confined to the US. Voter concerns over the economy were paramount, as they are here. There are Labor-held metropolitan seats vulnerable to the same breakout of discontent built on a campaign that borrowed the 1984 Reagan slogan that asked voters if they felt better off than they were four years ago. No, was the resounding answer." - Simon Benson - theaustralian.com.au

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51881f (208) No.22225219

#38 - Part 52

Australian Politics and Society - Part 20

>>21932620 Anthony Albanese has spoken with US president-elect Donald Trump after his election victory - Anthony Albanese has spoken to president-elect Donald Trump, following his victory in the US election. The call took place on Thursday morning, following a press conference at Parliament House when the prime minister told reporters he was yet to make contact with Mr Trump. Mr Albanese said it was good to speak to the president-elect and "personally congratulate him on his election victory" in a statement posted to social media. "We talked about the importance of the alliance, and the strength of the Australia-US relationship in security, AUKUS, trade and investment," he said. "I look forward to working together in the interests of both our countries." Mr Trump had already spoken to a number of world leaders in the wake of his election victory. The prime minister earlier dismissed a question about whether he needs to apologise to Trump for previously negative comments about the president-elect. In a 2017 video taken at a music festival, Mr Albanese is asked about how he would deal with Mr Trump. "With trepidation," he responded. "He [Trump] scares the sh*t out of me and I think it's of concern the leader of the Free World thinks that you can conduct politics through 140 characters on Twitter overnight." Mr Albanese told reporters on Thursday he looks forward to working with president-elect Trump. "I've demonstrated, I think, my ability to work with world leaders and to develop relationships with them, which are positive," Mr Albanese said.

>>21932643 Morrison backs Rudd as Australia’s man in DC despite Trump sledges - The Albanese government has launched an energetic charm offensive aimed at locking in support for the AUKUS security pact and ensuring Australia is not hit by Donald Trump’s tariffs, as ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd scrubbed critical comments about the incoming US president from his online record. Former prime minister Scott Morrison said Rudd should be allowed to remain in Washington despite his past criticisms of Trump, while Australia’s former ambassador to the US, Arthur Sinodinos, urged Albanese to move swiftly to meet with Trump to build a personal rapport. Albanese has insisted that Rudd will remain US ambassador even though the former prime minister previously excoriated Trump as “the most destructive president in history” and before his diplomatic appointment, described him as a “traitor to the West” in social media posts. In a statement posted on Thursday morning, Rudd’s office said: “In his previous role as the head of an independent US-based think tank [the Asia Society], Mr Rudd was a regular commentator on American politics. “Out of respect for the office of president of the United States, and following the election of President Trump, ambassador Rudd has now removed these past commentaries from his personal website and social media channels. “This has been done to eliminate the possibility of such comments being misconstrued as reflecting his positions as ambassador and, by extension, the views of the Australian government.” Rudd looked forward to working with Trump, his office said.

>>21932686, >>21932720 US Election 2024:Kevin Rudd deletes X posts critical of Donald Trump- Australia’s Ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd has removed past negative comments about Donald Trump from his private X account since the Republican candidate’s election win. DFAT deputy secretary Elly Lawson said Mr Rudd’s private office had issued a statement that “in his previous role as head of an independent US based think tank, Mr Rudd was a regular commentator on American politics”. “Out of respect for the office of President of the United States, and following the election of President Trump, Ambassador Rudd has now removed these past commentaries from his personal website and social media channels,” she said, reading from the statement. “This has been done to eliminate the possibility of such comments being misconstrued as reflecting his positions as ambassador and by extension, the views of the Australian Government. “Ambassador Rudd looks forward to working with President Trump and his team to continue strengthening the US-Australia alliance.” They included a 2020 tweet from his personal account, @MrKRudd, disparaging the former president. “The most destructive president in history,” he said at the time. “He drags America and democracy through the mud. He thrives on fomenting, not healing, division. He abuses Christianity, church and bible to justify violence. “All aided and abetted by Murdoch’s FoxNews Network in America which feeds this.”

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51881f (208) No.22225220

#38 - Part 53

Australian Politics and Society - Part 21

>>21943412 Video: Trans rights may become Australian federal election flashpoint after Trump win - The right of transgender athletes to compete in women’s sport could become a live issue in Australia’s upcoming federal election after playing a critical role in the campaigns of Donald Trump and many Republican candidates in US congressional races. Transgender rights have become a political flashpoint in Australia over the past three years, most recently with Moira Deeming expelled from the Victorian Liberal Party and Coalition frontbencher Jacinta Nampijinpa Price vowing to push back against the transgender movement and its impact on children. Opposition leader Peter Dutton has encouraged Senator Price and Tasmanian senator Claire Chandler to express their views on transgender issues, while Ms Deeming has claimed Victorian Liberals can’t win in the state unless they adopt Mr Dutton’s “strong leadership” advancing conservative values. Former Liberal Party candidate Katherine Deves sparked a firestorm during the 2022 federal election campaign for her outspoken views on trans women participating in women’s sport, including comments for which she later apologised. However, senior Labor figures believe Mr Dutton is more likely than any of his recent predecessors to exploit trans issues, with Donald Trump’s aggressive campaign against trans inclusion and gender-affirming medical treatment for children highlighting the potential for winning votes from across the political spectrum.

>>21947349 Rocket Man Tweet: - Video: Riccardo Bosi on the Port Arthur massacre. “You need to demand and get the truth”

>>21947856 PM’s working class problem, as Dutton eyes Trump-inspired election pathway - Peter Dutton’s election tactics will mirror the winning strategy of ­Donald Trump, focusing on ­inflation, the economy, immigration and disillusioned working-class voters, as the Coalition moves to tap Republican strategists to sharpen campaign messaging and ads. The Opposition Leader will gear Coalition policies towards presenting a positive, new pathway to prosperity for Australia, contrasting with Anthony Albanese’s broken 2022 election ­promise that power prices and mortgages would be “cheaper” under Labor. A key plank of Mr Dutton’s election blueprint will be to attack ­federal Labor claims that falling inflation is helping families pay their bills and mortgages, and to amplify the complaints of economic pain that working Australians and small business owners are feeling. Labor’s hold on seats with a high number of tradesmen, technicians, labourers and machine operators has been eroding since Kevin Rudd’s 2007 election ­victory - and is now in danger of ­reducing further at next year’s election. Some ALP insiders fear the Prime Minister has focused too much on the Greens since the Queensland election, and is gearing policies towards picking off a handful of Greens MPs rather than winning target Coalition seats and sandbagging marginal Labor electorates. In a bid to shore up Middle Australia support, Treasurer Jim Chalmers is expected to unveil new cost-of-living measures ahead of next month’s mid-year budget update that will provide pre-election relief for millions of voters.

>>21947890 Video: Australia proposes 'world-leading' ban on social media for children under 16 - The Australian government will legislate for a ban on social media for children under 16, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday, in what it calls a world-leading package of measures that could become law late next year. Australia is trialing an age-verification system to assist in blocking children from accessing social media platforms, as part of a range of measures that include some of the toughest controls imposed by any country to date. "Social media is doing harm to our kids and I'm calling time on it," Albanese told a news conference. Albanese cited the risks to physical and mental health of children from excessive social media use, in particular the risks to girls from harmful depictions of body image, and misogynist content aimed at boys. "If you're a 14-year-old kid getting this stuff, at a time where you're going through life's changes and maturing, it can be a really difficult time and what we're doing is listening and then acting," he said. A number of countries have already vowed to curb social media use by children through legislation, though Australia's policy is one of the most stringent. No jurisdiction so far has tried using age verification methods like biometrics or government identification to enforce a social media age cut-off, two of the methods being trialed. Australia's other world-first proposals are the highest age limit set by any country, no exemption for parental consent and no exemption for pre-existing accounts.

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51881f (208) No.22225221

#38 - Part 54

Australian Politics and Society - Part 22

>>21947943 ‘Deeply flawed’: Truth bill on the brink in Senate showdown - Key senators are blockading a divisive government plan to crack down on lies in major public debates, threatening to vote down the bill and adding to a logjam of more than 20 bills stalled in the Senate. The new warnings put the contentious plan on a path to defeat unless the government convinces at least three independent senators to set aside their concerns about giving a federal agency sweeping power to oversee content safeguards on social media. The setback comes as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese calls on the Senate to pass government bills including aged care changes, anti-scam measures, a school funding boost, new merger laws, the creation of an environment protection agency and housing reform. The misinformation regime aims to give federal authorities the power to force tech giants to act on alerts about damaging falsehoods and stop them spreading before they cause serious harm, citing cases such as the misidentification of the Bondi Junction knife attacker earlier this year. But independent senators including David Pocock, Jacqui Lambie, Tammy Tyrrell, Fatima Payman and Gerard Rennick are holding out against the plan, putting it on course for defeat even if Labor gains support from the Greens. Senators said they were receiving hundreds of emails and calls from voters who opposed the draft law because they believed the Australian Communications and Media Authority should not have the power to check the controls on social media content.

>>21947984 Don’t get on wrong side of Elon Musk, Labor warned - Coalition MPs are pushing for ­Anthony Albanese to dump Labor’s misinformation bill amid expectations the federal government’s suite of social media and online safety laws will come under further attack from US president-elect Donald Trump’s billionaire backer Elon Musk. Amid rolling court and verbal battles between Mr Musk, owner of social media platform X, the ­Albanese government and ­eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, the Coalition has raised concerns that Labor’s ­misinformation bill could lead to tensions with a Trump administration. Queensland Nationals senator Matt Canavan urged the Albanese government to either scrap or defer its misinformation bill. “The Albanese-Trump relationship is already off to a rocky start,” Senator Canavan said. “We should be trying to reduce any ­unnecessary further tension. “Donald Trump is a strong defender of the commercial interests of American companies. “The misinformation bill is a terrible law, but it is especially ­unwise to threaten American companies with absurd fines of up to 5 per cent of their global ­revenue when we are trying to settle our relationship. “The government should ­withdraw, or at least defer, its bill until it can establish a strong, working relationship with the new Trump administration.”

>>21949128 Australia confirms donation of 14 rigid hull boats to Ukraine - Australia will gift 14 rigid hull boats to the Armed Forces of Ukraine under the latest round of military support, valued at $14 million, to Ukraine. The military support is expected to bolster Ukraine’s maritime and coastal defence, which has been an important operational domain for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The Australian Defence Force sea boats are expected to provide a fast and highly manoeuvrable maritime capability for Ukraine. The announcement builds on previous contributions to Ukraine’s maritime capability, including Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boats, as announced by the Deputy Prime Minister during a visit to Ukraine earlier this year. “Australia remains firmly committed to supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression. This is in Australia’s interests, and is the right thing to do,” according to Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles. “Ukraine has demonstrated its ability to thwart Russia’s continued attacks from the Black Sea. We are proud to contribute to these vital maritime defences with this new package.” Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Australia has provided more than $1.3 billion in military support, and more than $1.5 billion in overall support to the government of Ukraine. Earlier this year, Australia announced the gifting of 49 M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks to Ukraine as part of a military assistance package worth around $245 million.

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51881f (208) No.22225222

#38 - Part 55

Australian Politics and Society - Part 23

>>21949292 3D-printed guns on rise in Australia, with seizures of lethal firearms up across nation - The lethal FGC-9 semi-automatic weapon can fire up to 30 rounds without needing to be reloaded and is the most popular 3D-printed gun in Australia, based on seizures in every state and territory over the past 12 months. Police say the gun, branded under the name ''F*ck Gun Control", is increasingly being found in the hands of organised crime groups, extremists and teenagers around the world. These guns are deadly and far more advanced than the homemade wood and metal piece that was in 2022 used to kill former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe. At the Australian Federal Police forensics headquarters in Canberra, the ballistics team manufactured their own FGC-9 to show 7.30 how advanced and dangerous 3D-printed guns had become. "Its characteristics, in terms of muzzle velocity and penetration, are comparable to other firearms if it's manufactured effectively," the AFP's forensics co-ordinator, Michael Taylor, said. It is illegal to make a 3D-printed firearm in Australia - and the possession of a digital blueprint to create one is an offence in some states. Those convicted in NSW of possessing a blueprint face a sentence of up to 14 years in jail. The punishment is even greater in Tasmania, with the potential of up to 21 years in jail. The AFP has blueprints and Dr Taylor detailed a section which showed the sketch for the lower receiver of a 3D gun called the Urutau. "These are high-powered weapons," the head of NSW Police's Drug and Firearms Squad, Detective Superintendent John Watson, told 7.30. "We've seen incidents overseas with armed active offenders. We've already had a Port Arthur. We do not want another."

>>21949348 White supremacist accused of Ku Klux Klan stunt while awaiting jail term for Nazi salute - A Neo-Nazi on a warning that he was facing jail time for performing a Nazi salute was allegedly part of a group who dressed in Ku Klux Klan costumes and intimidated young women in a hardware store car park. Jacob Hersant was on Friday jailed for one month, but then released on appeal bail, after a magistrate found he had shown no remorse for performing a Nazi salute outside the County Court building in October 2023. Hersant, 25, was the first person in Victoria charged with performing the Nazi salute, six days after the gesture was outlawed by law. A hearing in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday heard that while awaiting sentencing, Hersant was interviewed by police over a Halloween stunt outside a Bunnings store in Port Melbourne on October 31. He was questioned following a police “day of action” against the neo-Nazi National Socialist Network (NSN) over allegations of grossly offensive public conduct. Three other members of the group were also arrested this week, including Thomas Sewell, 31, who appeared in court on Friday supporting Hersant. A police spokesperson said Hersant is expected to be charged on summons over the Port Melbourne incident, while Sewell was released pending further inquiries. In court on Friday, Hersant’s lawyer Timothy Smartt argued his client should be shown mercy over the “non-violent act” last year, when he performed the Nazi salute and said “Heil Hitler”. Smartt said jailing his client would be a crushing sentence compared to those handed to other offenders interstate, which had resulted in fines. But magistrate Brett Sonnet said Hersant remains a figurehead of the NSN, which promotes far-right activity, white supremacy and involuntary deportation, and his act was “egregiously offensive” to many.

>>21949380 Labor anxiety as Trump eyes MAGA loyalists for top roles - Donald Trump’s determination to install MAGA loyalists and China hawks to key national security roles is looming as an early test for the Albanese government’s relationship with his administration. Hard-right warrior and former diplomat Richard Grenell is a leading contender to become Mr Trump’s secretary of state - an appointment that could challenge Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s diplomatic skills. The former Trump appointee as ambassador to Germany horrified counterparts in Berlin when he encouraged European conservatives to challenge the “failed policies of the left”, and underscored his pro-Trump credentials as a prominent “stop the steal” lieutenant after the 2020 election. Trump confidant Mike Pompeo, the former secretary of state and CIA director, is one of the top candidates vying to become secretary of defence. National security sources said he would be a welcome appointment to the post, due to his strong support for the AUKUS nuclear submarine pact. But he is also highly partisan and a leading China critic who could take a dim view of the Albanese government’s push to improve ties to Beijing.

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51881f (208) No.22225224

#38 - Part 56

Australian Politics and Society - Part 24

>>21949566 US Election 2024:How does Australia work with an America led by a dangerous man?- "Donald Trump has achieved an extraordinary election victory. He is the only Republican to win the popular vote since 2004. The only former president to regain the White House since Grover Cleveland’s comeback win in 1892. The oldest elected president at age 78. And he did it as a convicted felon, adjudicated sexual abuser, twice impeached, election denier and coup plotter. The American people returned to the presidency a man who did not accept losing the election four years ago, tried to overturn the result, incited a deadly and destructive riot at the US Capitol, refused to congratulate Joe Biden on his victory and declined to attend his inauguration or assist in the transition of power. I wanted Trump to lose much more than I wanted Harris to win. Like conservatives Mike Pence, Mitt Romney and Dick and Liz Cheney, plus John Howard in Australia and William Hague in Britain, among many others, I judged Trump utterly unfit and unworthy to be 47th president. I stand by that judgment but accept without equivocation that Trump won the election and did so clearly. But, having so much respect for the dignity, authority and capacity of the presidency, and utterly appalled by Trump’s lack of character, my view of him is unchanged by the result. He called Harris “retarded” and “stupid” while JD Vance called her “trash”. In many columns, I acknowledged Trump’s appeal and argued he could not be ruled out from winning. He used grievance, envy, nativism, xenophobia, misogyny and sexism to win over voters. He tapped into important issues: the economy and immigration. He won significant support among white working-class voters and black and Latino minorities, and big votes in rural America. This is not the election result Anthony Albanese, Penny Wong, Richard Marles or Kevin Rudd wanted. Albanese said Trump encouraged the “violent insurrection” at the US Capitol. Wong blamed Trump for the ransacking. Marles said Australia should criticise Trump if he “harms the national interest”. Rudd accused Trump of corruption and branded him “a traitor to the West”. It will be a wild four years with Trump back in power. Nothing is certain. He remains a despicable and disgusting man who is devoid of integrity or ethical values, is boorish and moronic, and unstable. I fear, by a narrow margin, Americans have made the wrong decision. But it is a decision they must live with and we must accept." - Troy Bramston, senior writer with The Australian - theaustralian.com.au - https://qresear.ch/?q=Troy+Bramston

>>21955661 Nationals urge Peter Dutton to reconsider net zero policy following Trump re-election - Peter Dutton is facing pressure from Nationals MPs to revisit the Coalition’s support for net zero by 2050 after Donald Trump’s US election win, as the Albanese government plays down the significance of the world’s biggest economy likely pulling out of the Paris Agreement. Nationals MPs Matt Canavan and Llew O’Brien are pushing for the Coalition to follow Mr Trump’s lead and vow to pull out of the international climate deal ahead of next year’s election, while fellow Coalition MPs Michelle Landry and Colin Boyce say there should be fresh discussions about the opposition’s commitment to the net-zero target given the implications of the US election. Senator Canavan said it would be good politics and economics for the Coalition to oppose net-zero emissions by 2050. “People are desperate for leadership that focuses on Australia. There are a whole lot of people having a mental breakdown post Donald Trump being elected,” Senator Canavan said. “But the main lesson is we just have to take care of ourselves. The global rules-based order is no more. It is dead, buried and cremated.” Llew O’Brien said the Paris Agreement was “absolute madness”. “We need to be taking advantage of what we have, and our advantage is coal and gas,” he said. “My view is we should be getting out of (Paris), so within the ranks of the party that’s what I would be pushing for.”

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51881f (208) No.22225228

#38 - Part 57

Australian Politics and Society - Part 25

>>21961341 Anthony Albanese’s overseas trips undermined by Donald Trump and cost-of-living crisis - Anthony Albanese’s attendance at the APEC and G20 summits in South America will be overshadowed by the return of Donald Trump, and comes at the worst possible time for the Prime Minister. With all eyes on Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate and visit to the White House, APEC and G20 trade, climate change and clean-energy declarations will ultimately be symbolic rather than substantive. While APEC and G20 leaders will promote the importance of free and open trade, world peace, fighting inequality and supporting climate change, Trump’s resurgence turns everything on its head. The Prime Minister’s final overseas trip before next year’s election coincides with Labor falling behind in the polls, his personal support plummeting, and concerns that the cost-of-living crisis has become kryptonite for incumbent governments. Albanese, who will miss some parliament sitting days during his unavoidable trip abroad, is confronting an increasing number of disgruntled voters who want lower interest rates, inflation to fall faster, and cheaper power and insurance bills. For Australian households and small business owners, few of the APEC and G20 agenda items will resonate with them. The leaders summits in Peru and Brazil include sessions covering trade and investment for inclusive and interconnected growth, innovation and digitalisation to promote the transition to a formal and global economy, sustainable growth for resilient development, sustainability, climate change and just transition, the fight against global hunger, poverty and inequalities, and global governance reform.

>>21961462 U.S. Embassy Australia Tweet: Video: On Remembrance Day in Australia and Veterans Day in the U.S., we honor those we have lost and those who have served. Alongside @CN_Australia, Ambassador Kennedy thanks the @Australian_Navy for discovering USS Edsall, sunk off the coast of Australia during WWII. Lest We Forget.

>>21961507 Defence Australia Tweet: Lest We Forget. Defence joins all Australians on #RemembranceDay to acknowledge, honour and remember the courage and sacrifice of those who have served our country and those who gave their lives in service to our nation. #YourADF @AWMemorial

>>21961519 Video: Chief of the Defence Force Admiral David Johnston - Remembrance Day Address 2024 - On Remembrance Day we commemorate those who died in the First World War, as well as all Australian Defence Force personnel who have fought and died in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations. The year 2024 marks the 106th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice between Allied forces and Germany, which ended the First World War (1914--18). On 11 November 1918, the guns of the Western Front fell silent after four years of continuous warfare. More Australians were killed and wounded in the First World War than in all subsequent conflicts combined. As a mark of respect Australians are encouraged to pause at 11am for one minute’s silence and remember all those who died or suffered for Australia in all wars and armed conflicts. Defence joins all Australians on Remembrance Day to acknowledge, honour and remember the courage and sacrifice of those who have served our country and those who gave their lives in service to our nation.

>>21961532 Remembrance Day Poems - For the Fallen by Laurence Binyon (1914), In Flanders Fields by John McCrae (1914) and We Shall Keep the Faith by Moina Michael (1918)

>>21968148 Rudd’s fate as ambassador under new cloud as ‘village idiot’ Trump slur emerges - Fresh doubt has been cast over Kevin Rudd’s future as Australia’s ambassador to the United States amid revelations he branded Donald Trump “incompetent” and a “village idiot” in the wake of Mr Trump’s 2020 election loss to Joe Biden. The comments, in videos unearthed by Sky News, will likely make it even harder for Dr Rudd to gain the confidence of the famously vindictive president-elect and his incoming administration, which has vowed retribution against Mr Trump’s critics. In his newly emerged comments, Dr Rudd told Indian politician Shashi Tharoor in a January 2021 webinar that the US under the first Trump presidency had been “run by a village idiot”. “People have seen China continuing to be competent in its national statecraft and the United States increasingly incompetent in its national statecraft under Trump,” he said. In another video appearance, in 2022, Dr Rudd told a webinar at Duke University Mr Trump was “incoherent” and occasionally “in love with dictators”. Anthony Albanese again expressed confidence in his hand-picked ambassador on Tuesday, delivering a curt “yes” when asked whether Dr Rudd was still the right person to represent Australia in Washington DC.

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51881f (208) No.22225231

#38 - Part 58

Australian Politics and Society - Part 26

>>21968186 Video: 'Village idiot': US Ambassador Kevin Rudd sledges Trump as 'incoherent', calls America ‘increasingly incompetent’ in newly uncovered footage - Newly unearthed footage shows Australia’s US Ambassador and former prime minister Kevin Rudd calling recently elected president Donald Trump a "village idiot" and "incoherent". The comments from the years after Trump’s first term add to an ever-growing list of Mr Rudd’s public criticism and undermining of the incoming US president. Former Labor prime minister Kevin Rudd’s 2022 appointment as US Ambassador followed his description of Trump as a “political liability”, a “problem for the world” and a “traitor to the west”. SkyNews.com.au can now reveal footage from January 2021 which shows Mr Rudd speaking in a webinar with Dr Shashi Tharoor, an Indian politician and former diplomat, in which he compared China with the United States, calling the country he is special envoy to as "increasingly incompetent". "The United States, in the past four years, has been run by a village idiot," Mr Rudd said. In April 2022, Mr Rudd attended a political science webinar at Duke University and described the president-elect as “incoherent” and occasionally “in love with dictators”. “Donald Trump had a habit of wanting to shred most of the allies in terms of their political standing and cause doubted uncertainty as to whether he'd actually have their back if a crisis emerged,” he said. “But the underpinnings of (the Trans-Pacific Partnership) was still incoherent because Trump himself was incoherent, and he waxed and waned from being in love with dictators to not knowing what he wanted from dictators.” Mr Rudd has heavily criticised Trump in the past and recently scrubbed his social media of comments calling the next leader of the free world the “most destructive president in history” and a “traitor to the west”.

>>21968227 The uncertainty Trump creates around him ‘is his tactical advantage’, says former NSA boss Mike Rogers - Mike Rogers has worked up close with Donald Trump in the White House and says there are two ­important lessons to remember when you sit on the other side of the desk from the president. The retired four-star admiral has seen a naval and military ­career that has spanned taking charge of destroyer-class warships in his 20s right through to running the National Security Agency, the intelligence arm of the US Department of Defence, under Trump and Barack Obama. He also headed up the Cyber Command, one of the combat commands of the US Defence Department. “(Trump) is fundamentally two things: No.1, he likes a measure of uncertainty. He believes it gives him an advantage. He is a leader who is very comfortable with uncertainty, who in some ways almost likes to cultivate it,” Rogers says. “And secondly, he loves eliciting a reaction, so he will often say things in part because he knows this will elicit a response. “I remind people, you are going to have to separate what he says from what he does because they are not always the same thing.” Rogers is speaking to The Australian on the sidelines of the UBS Australasia conference, where the former general was among the keynote speakers. With the election that delivered the re-election of Trump less than a week old, Rogers tells The Australian the result - regardless of which way someone voted -- ultimately delivered a clear outcome. This is a good thing for the US and its institutions, that the result is not in dispute. And based on the election outcome that delivered Trump the popular vote, the Senate, and with a close contest still under way in the House of Representatives, Trump will come into office with a view that “he has been given a mandate for change”. “That’s what I fully expect, he begins on his first day with that in his mind,” Rogers says.

>>21968230 Q Post #585 - TRUST Adm R. He played the game to remain in control. Q - https://qanon.pub/#585

>>21968332 Dan Scavino Jr. Tweet: [Replying to Kevin Rudd] - (Hourglass Gif) (Times Up) (Dismiss) - https://x.com/DanScavino/status/1856245824675545479

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51881f (208) No.22225232

#38 - Part 59

Australian Politics and Society - Part 27

>>21974738 Donald Trump aide Dan Scavino appears to send warning to Kevin Rudd over social media posts - A key Donald Trump aide appears to have sent the clearest message yet about what the incoming White House administration may think of Australia's Ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd. In an ominous post to his 2 million followers on X, Dan Scavino uploaded a GIF of sand trickling through an hourglass next to Mr Rudd's official statement on Trump's election victory. GIFs are short moving images commonplace in social media interactions, and can be used in place of text to make a point. This one signifies when someone or something's "time's up". Mr Scavino, who has known the president-elect for years and is his former golf caddie, served as a close assistant to Trump in his previous administration. He had an office near Trump's in the West Wing, and is expected to feature prominently again when the billionaire takes office in January. The ABC has contacted the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Australia's embassy in Washington for comment on the post, which was uploaded Tuesday, local time. Several posts on Mr Rudd's official X account criticising Trump were deleted last week after the results of the US presidential election became clear. In one particularly scathing post from 2020, Mr Rudd - who was twice Australia's prime minister --- described Trump as "the most destructive president in history". "He drags America and democracy through the mud. He thrives on fomenting, not healing, division. He abuses Christianity, church and bible to justify violence."

>>21974746 Trump confidant warns Rudd’s future as ambassador could be bleak - A member of Donald Trump’s inner circle has signalled Kevin Rudd’s days as Australia’s US Ambassador could be numbered following his past attacks on the US president-elect. Trump senior adviser Dan Scavino posted a gif on X of sand falling through an hourglass, in response to Dr Rudd’s November 7 statement congratulating Mr Trump on his election win. The pointed warning to the former prime minister-turned-diplomat and the Albanese government follows the emergence of more negative comments about Mr Trump by Dr Rudd, including one branding him a “village idiot” after his 2020 election loss. Mr Scavino is a close confidant of the president-elect, having served as deputy chief of staff and director of social media in his first administration and an adviser in his winning 2024 campaign. He is reportedly in line for a senior post in the new administration, potentially returning to a deputy COS role. Dr Rudd has many high-level backers from Australia’s political right, including former prime ministers Scott Morrison and Tony Abbott, and former ambassadors to the US Joe Hockey and Arthur Sinodinos. But Labor believes there is a whispering campaign afoot by Australian conservatives to undermine Dr Rudd’s standing with the new Trump administration by dredging up and weaponising his past comments. Peter Dutton said on Wednesday he supported Dr Rudd to continue as ambassador, arguing he had done good work in the role and was well respected in the US as a former prime minister. “I hope that he’s able to form a relationship with the new administration as he’s done with the current one,” the Opposition Leader told the ABC. He said Dr Rudd had a term to complete and his replacements would be considered by the government of the day.

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51881f (208) No.22225234

#38 - Part 60

Australian Politics and Society - Part 28

>>21974754 Ditching Rudd over Trump insults would be ‘worst possible signal’: Turnbull - Kevin Rudd’s future in Washington looks increasingly uncertain after a key Donald Trump ally sent an ominous message that the former prime minister’s days as Australia’s top diplomat in the United States are numbered. Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to stand by Rudd, arguing the push against the ambassador was driven by News Corporation’s desire to gain revenge against Rudd for his past criticisms of Rupert Murdoch and his media empire. Rudd last week scrubbed critical comments about Trump from his online record, including posts in which he excoriated Trump as “the most destructive president in history” and described him as a “traitor to the West”. Video has subsequently emerged of Rudd describing Trump as a “village idiot” in 2021, before he was appointed to his ambassadorial role in December 2022. Turnbull said: “It would be the worst possible signal to send to Trump to pull our ambassador out because he was critical of Trump in the past. “I didn’t have success with Trump as prime minister because I kissed his arse. You have to be tough.” Turnbull said News Corporation outlets such as Sky News were campaigning for Rudd to be removed because of his past calls for a royal commission into the Murdoch media. “This is revenge,” said Turnbull, who took over from Rudd as co-chair of the Australians for a Murdoch Royal Commission group when Rudd took up his diplomatic posting. “This is a campaign that News Corp kicked off, and they are running a vendetta … The question for the Trump adulators in the right-wing media ecosystem in Australia is whether they want our representative in Washington to stand up for Australia or join the ranks of the Trump sycophants?”

>>21974761 Trump wants ally Australia to ‘stand up to China’ - Donald Trump is expected to press Australia to take more action to curb China’s growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific, after appointing two China hawks to top foreign policy roles. The president-elect this week chose Congressman Mike Waltz, a former Green Beret who has called China an “existential” threat, as national security adviser. Senator Marco Rubio, who has served on both the Senate Intelligence Committee and Foreign Relations Committee, is expected to be secretary of state. Mr Waltz, who has urged the US to boost its deterrence against China, issued a warning on Tuesday (Wednesday AEDT) that the incoming Trump administration “will not be afraid to confront our adversaries”. Senator Rubio has previously told The Australian Financial Review that Australia needs to maintain a robust approach on China through the AUKUS security pact, along with strong diplomacy in the Pacific. Senator Rubio has hinted Australia needed to do more in the Pacific, a region he thought had been dangerously neglected by Western allies. “While this and previous administrations ignored the Pacific islands, the Chinese Communist Party quietly worked to claim the allegiance of our partners in this critical area,” he said. “In the years to come, it will be more important than ever for the United States to work closely with Australia to prevent the CCP from establishing a military presence that threatens us and our allies.”

>>21974773 Anthony Albanese spruiks ‘perfect friendship’ with Donald Trump ahead of APEC, G20 summits - Anthony Albanese will not hold formal meetings with US President Joe Biden at the APEC and G20 summits, and the Prime Minister pushed back against Coalition attacks by revealing Donald Trump told him they would have a “perfect friendship”. Amid speculation Australian products could be impacted by trade tariffs imposed under a Trump administration, Peter Dutton on Tuesday raised concerns about Mr Albanese’s ability to broker exemptions directly with the US president-elect if local exports are targeted. Mr Albanese - who rejected Coalition suggestions he add a stop in Florida to see Mr Trump -- will fly to Peru on Wednesday for APEC leaders meetings before heading to Rio de Janeiro next week for the G20 summit. Mr Albanese pushed back on Tuesday against Coalition attacks that Labor would struggle to forge close relationships with Mr Trump and his administration. “We had a terrific discussion last week. Good beginning to our relationship. He described the relationship … that we would have a perfect friendship. And I’m very confident that the relationship between Australia and the United States will continue to be very strong,” Mr Albanese said.

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51881f (208) No.22225237

#38 - Part 61

Australian Politics and Society - Part 29

>>21982179 Video: The comment that proves Kevin Rudd never saw Donald Trump's comeback coming - as fresh video surfaces of Aussie ambassador to Washington mocking the US President's intelligence - Kevin Rudd dismissed Donald Trump's first presidency as a period of 'episodic craziness' and asked a crowd in disbelief 'how did that happen?' in newly-unearthed video filmed less than a year before he took up his post as Australia's man in Washington. The former Prime Minister turned Australian Ambassador to the US has in the past labelled the President-elect a 'village idiot', a 'traitor to the West' and 'the most destructive president in history'. But a newly-discovered lecture recorded in June 2022 for the Asia Society, a think tank he headed up, has now exposed how Mr Rudd never imagined that Trump would ever return to power - and how he dismissed his Presidency as a period of 'craziness'. 'Never take a backwards step in saying we're allies with the United States,' he told the stunned crowd in Switzerland. 'For all the American pre-disposition to episodic craziness… Look at Trump: how did that happen? That was a walk on the wild side for all of us.' Less than nine months later, Mr Rudd was controversially appointed as Australia's ambassador to the US by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Mr Rudd now faces the seemingly uphill task of trying to curry favour and influence with an incoming Trump administration that is actively hostile towards him due to his previous comments.

>>21982195 Peter Dutton ramps up pressure on Kevin Rudd, after Trump names critical aide as deputy chief of staff - Peter Dutton has escalated pressure on Kevin Rudd, saying Anthony Albanese made a "captain's pick" that has put the government "in a difficult position" after one of Donald Trump's closest advisers suggested the Australian ambassador to the United States' time was running out. Falling short of calling for Mr Rudd's recall, the opposition leader appeared to shift from previous qualified support for the ambassador to openly speculating about the consequences of his sacking. "The difficulty the PM is in at the moment is if he sacks Kevin Rudd, then what does he do with Penny Wong," Mr Dutton said on Thursday. "And if he sacks Penny Wong, what does he do given he's made his own disparaging comments about president-elect Trump as well?" Speculation about Mr Rudd's ability to work with the incoming Trump administration flared this week after close aide Dan Scavino - who the president-elect named as his deputy chief of staff this week - reposted Rudd's congratulatory message to Mr Trump alongside a GIF of an hourglass with time running out. While the government has ruled out recalling Mr Rudd, the opposition leader's comments reflect a shift away from Mr Dutton's previous expressions of support for the ambassador. Last week, the opposition leader described Mr Rudd as "indefatigable" and said he "will do everything he can to ingratiate himself with the Trump campaign". On Thursday, Mr Dutton said Mr Albanese's appointment of Mr Rudd to Australia's top diplomatic posting in Washington DC in early 2023 was an issue "all of his own making".

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51881f (208) No.22225243

#38 - Part 62

Australian Politics and Society - Part 30

>>21982203 Rudd dilemma should’ve been resolved long ago - it’s too late now - "The list of big strategic problems we should be discussing with the incoming Trump team is long. Why then is the focus on Kevin Rudd’s tenure as ambassador? This is yet another failure of Australian strategic imagination - a failure to understand that Trump’s return to the White House was a serious prospect, becoming more serious as the Democratic Party floundered. That realisation should have hit in 2023, when it was clear that Biden’s age would stop him mounting a re-election bid and that Trump’s re-election effort was more planned, more focused and better-supported than in 2020. Three things should have happened. First, Albanese should have established a cabinet-level team to plan what Australia needed to do if Trump was elected. A Kamala Harris election win would have been easy to manage because it would have meant policy continuity. A Trump win means serious discontinuity. Too late to wonder now if AUKUS will survive. What did our government do? It seems that Penny Wong met Mike Pompeo last August. That’s the extent of our pre-planning for a Trump win? This points to a shocking level of complacency. The second thing that should have happened is our embassy in Washington DC should have established its own Trump planning cell, a key focus of which should have been to make extensive contacts with the Trump network. Third, Rudd should have reached out directly to Trump, starting in 2023, to clear the air about his very sharp criticisms of him. The situation we face in Washington DC is an unnecessary distraction. It could have been fixed earlier. It wasn’t. Once again, a government with no imagination and no ability to think strategically blunders into an unnecessary fight while so many other important ­issues are ignored." - Peter Jennings, director of Strategic Analysis Australia, former executive director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and former deputy secretary for strategy in the Defence Department (2009-12) - theaustralian.com.au

>>21982218 Video: Operation Ironside challenge granted special leave to appeal to the country’s Highest Court - Alleged crime figures have had a legal win after special leave was granted to challenge that millions of messages used in the country’s largest police sting were illegally intercepted. Hundreds of people, from alleged drug dealers, bikies and organised crime figures, were arrested on June 7, 2021, under Operation Ironside, which involved police surveilling users of the AN0M app for illegal activity. During an application to revoke the bail of a key AN0M player, Andrew John Benz, the court heard special leave was granted last week to appeal to the country’s Highest Court on the admissibility of the messages. In November last year, South Australia’s Court of Appeal had been asked to rule on the legality of millions of messages sent and received by users of the encrypted app. In June, the Court of Appeal ruled the messages taken from AN0M to charge two men charged with firearms offences under Operation Ironside - both of whom can’t be named for legal reasons -- were not illegally intercepted, backing up a Supreme Court decision. In April last year Justice Adam Kimber ruled the Australian Federal Police had not illegally intercepted the messages but had been instead surveilling them. Lawyers for the two men - alleged to be senior organised crime figures – had argued the AN0M app was an illegal interception and the AFP were acting unlawfully in monitoring the conversations between their clients and others. Justice Kimber ruled the AFP had not acted improperly during the investigation and also that the accused were not placed at an “unfair disadvantage” by having the messages admitted.

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51881f (208) No.22225244

#38 - Part 63

Australian Politics and Society - Part 31

>>21982228 Australia-Indonesia war games fire up after new defence pact - Australia and Indonesia have pulled off the largest, most complex war-games exercise ever conducted between the two defence forces with an amphibious landing on an east Java beach, days after Russia hailed its own first modest naval drills with our near-neighbour. The show of joint military force, dubbed Keris Woomera, involved 2000 army, navy and air force personnel, Australian warships and F16 fighter jets, Apache and Tiger helicopters, Abrams tanks, landing craft and plenty of explosions, highlighting a military relationship in rude health off the back of an upgraded Defence Co-operation Agreement. The four-day exercises, which culminate in live-fire drills on Saturday, were 18 months in the planning but could not have been better timed given growing concerns over the impact of Indonesian President Prabowo Subian-to’s foreign policy approach. The new leader has had a busy few weeks since his October 20 inauguration with Indonesia signing on to BRICS, the China-led group of emerging economies, even as its navy has had to chase Chinese coastguard vessels out of its waters at the edge of the South China Sea at least three times in that time.

>>21993917 Video: Under fire from Trump-world, Rudd highlights his networking abilities - Kevin Rudd has highlighted his close ties to US politicians from across the political spectrum as the Trump adviser who taunted him about his future as Australia’s top diplomat in the United States was appointed to a senior White House role. In his first social media post on his official diplomatic account since congratulating Donald Trump on his election victory last week, Rudd uploaded photos of him mingling with three Republican members of Congress and two Democrats at an Australian embassy event in Washington, DC. Discussion about Rudd’s future in Washington has intensified since Trump’s election, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese insisting he is standing by his former Labor colleague and the ambassador ploughing ahead with his diplomatic duties. Rudd posted photos alongside Republican congressmen Andy Barr, Pete Ricketts and James Moylan, tagging them by their social media handles. He also posted Democratic congressman Joe Courtney, who was honoured for his work promoting the US-Australia alliance, and Democratic congresswoman Susie Lee. Rudd last week scrubbed critical comments about Trump from his online record, including posts in which he excoriated Trump as “the most destructive president in history” and a “traitor to the West”. Senior Trump adviser Dan Scavino posted an image on X earlier this week showing sand trickling through an hourglass in response to a post by Rudd, an apparent message that his days as ambassador were numbered.

>>21993973 Anthony Albanese seeks to exploit Donald Trump's climate plans in the hope billions will flow to Australia - Australia will seek to exploit Donald Trump's plans to slash government investment in the green energy sector, in the hope it could see billions of dollars of private money redirected away from the United States. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is using a week-long trip to South America to pitch Australia as a safe and reliable country to invest in, especially if the incoming US president follows through on his climate threats. The so-called Inflation Reduction Act was one of Democrat Joe Biden's signature policies as president, seeking to turn the US into a clean energy superpower, with a particular focus on domestic manufacturing. But Trump has threatened to repeal that legislation, a move that analysts have warned could free up US$80 billion ($123 billion) in investment opportunities for other countries. Mr Albanese said that would present an opportunity for Australia given its position as a resource-rich middle power. "The Inflation Reduction Act, for example, is seeing considerable capital flow to the United States," Mr Albanese told reporters in Lima, Peru, ahead of the two-day APEC summit. "If those incentives aren't there, then that has implications for the nature of the global economy. But we don't pre-empt that."

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51881f (208) No.22225246

#38 - Part 64

Australian Politics and Society - Part 32

>>21994024 Big smiles and bear hugs as Albanese meets Biden and Trudeau, while Xi awaits - Anthony Albanese has been greeted with bear hugs and bro handshakes at a regional summit where he renewed his friendship with United States President Joe Biden, as world leaders brace for radical change under President-elect Donald Trump. The prime minister approached Biden in the first moments of the formal talks at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Peru so they could have a personal conversation before the session began, while other leaders looked on. But the prime minister did not gain a chance to talk to Chinese President Xi Jinping, who skipped the first session of the summit, with no explanation for his absence. Biden gave Albanese a broad smile as the two talked and laughed while other leaders took their seats. “President Biden was in good form,” Albanese said at a press conference later. “I don’t talk about the detail of private discussions, as you’d be aware, but it was friendly. I regard him as a good friend personally, but also a good friend of Australia.” While Biden is leaving office after a stunning defeat for the Democrats and Vice-President Kamala Harris at the November 5 election, Albanese said the president was pleased to be at the summit. “He was upbeat,” he said. “He is, of course, continuing to work in the interest of the United States.” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau greeted Albanese with a bro handshake - their arms angled up, hands locked -- and turned this into a bear hug given their shared progressive politics.

>>21994548 Ukraine defiant amid Trump uncertainty, North Korea foray - The uncertainty surrounding US support for Ukraine in the wake of Donald Trump’s election will not dampen the willingness of Ukrainians to fight, the country’s ambassador to Australia says. Vasyl Myroshnychenko said the arrival of North Korean troops to fight alongside Russians should be a reminder to Australia that the implications from the war stretch well beyond Ukraine’s borders. In Perth on Wednesday, Mr Myroshnychenko acknowledged a lack of clarity around the US role in the war in the wake of Mr Trump’s victory. “Everybody’s asking me, what’s going to happen with a new president in America. To be frank, in short, we don’t know. Nobody knows. We try to be optimistic,” he said. “We rely on decisive American leadership. We hope the concept that Donald Trump has presented of peace through strength is something which is aligning with our plans. But of course, we have all been very cognisant of some of the statements … made on the campaign trail, so we’ll have to see how it goes.” Mr Trump has promised to end the war in as little as a day after he takes office. While there are concerns the incoming president could turn off the supply of weapons that has been crucial to Ukraine’s defence, Mr Myroshnychenko noted that Mr Trump had made decisions during his first presidency that had helped Ukraine, such as supplying javelin missiles and imposing sanctions on the Nordstream Two gas pipeline.

>>21994583 Accused Chilean torturer turned Bondi nanny launches 11th hour bid to dodge extradition - In an unusual intervention, the Chilean government has urged Australia to speed up extradition of former nanny Adriana Rivas, accused of taking part in torture and murder under the Pinochet military dictatorship, as she launches a last-ditch legal appeal to remain in the country. Chilean ambassador Jaime Chomali attended Ms Rivas’s renewed bid to avoid extradition in the Federal Court on Thursday, in a measure of his country’s frustration at the long-delayed case. Ms Rivas, 70, is perhaps the most wanted fugitive in Chile, accused of participating in the kidnapping murder of Com­munist Party leader Victor Diaz in 1976. She is also accused of partici­pating in the disappearance of six of Diaz’s supporters, including Reinalda Pereira, a 29-year-old woman who was five months pregnant when she vanished. Ms Rivas has fought extradition since her arrest in Sydney in 2019. The Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement on Wednesday expressed “hopes this case, which has been dragging on for many years, will be resolved as soon as possible to give a due and timely response to victims’ families in their demand for justice”. “Our country attaches a high priority to the extradition of Ms Rivas, both from a legal point of view and in the context of the prosecution of egregious human rights violations constituting crimes against humanity,” it said.

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51881f (208) No.22225247

#38 - Part 65

Australian Politics and Society - Part 33

>>21994695 Video: Myer Christmas window tradition cancelled over protest threat - Myer’s annual Christmas window unveiling has been scrapped after pro-Palestine protesters planned to disrupt the event, saying “there is no joy in genocide”. The unveiling of the annual Bourke Street display in the CBD was expected to happen on Sunday in front of children and families. Myer confirmed on Thursday the event had been cancelled as a result of the planned protest. “In light of recent developments and to ensure the wellbeing and safety of customers and team members, we will no longer hold an event on Bourke Street Mall for the unveiling of our Christmas windows,” a company spokesperson said. “Myer’s Christmas windows have long symbolised joy and community, and we remain committed to providing a safe and positive experience for all visitors.” The windows will still open on Sunday and remain on display until January 5, the spokesperson confirmed. The retailer’s decision came after a protest group said they planned to disrupt the event. “We’re seeking to interrupt the fun and the joy that Myer wants us to share,” one of the organisers, Amy, told radio station 3AW on Thursday. The protesters, who are calling for a free Palestine, planned to meet at the State Library before proceeding to Bourke Street for the window unveiling. Amy said the demonstration would be peaceful. “We’re not seeking to bring bombs and murder children in Bourke Street Mall. We’re seeking to raise banners and play music and blow bubbles. “I think there are a lot of people that don’t actually know how involved our government are in this genocide.”

>>21994751 ‘Christmas is cancelled’: protest threat sparks cancellation of children’s Christmas opening - Hardline anti-Israel activists who shut down the opening of Myer Melbourne Christmas windows in protest over the Gaza war have been condemned by police and the Victorian Premier and prompted a vow to strengthen the state’s anti-vilification laws. Police and Myer will escalate security at the site of the popular Christmas tradition amid concerns the campaigners could still strike at the weekend. The windows, which change in theme each year, are considered the main Christmas attraction in Victoria for children, with more than two million people expected this year. Furious Premier Jacinta Allan said the targeting of a children’s attraction was a new low, and business demanded a tighter rein on the protesters who have caused disruptions in central Melbourne for more than a year. “I am furious that a small group of people have chosen to politicise a beautiful event for children,’’ Ms Allan said. “I’m just as mad at all the others who have quietly stoked this division and egged them on. Blocking the Christmas windows won’t change a thing in the Middle East, but it will let down a bunch of kids in Melbourne.” Ms Allan, who joined by a group of multicultural and religious leaders at Friday’s press conference, also announced Labor would introduce strengthened anti-vilification laws to parliament later this month. Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Tim Tully also criticised the organisers, labelling their actions disgraceful and pledging tight security around the windows. “There’s some things which are sacred, and the Myer Christmas windows is one of those,” he said.

>>21994827 Video: Pro-Palestine protest outside Myer's Christmas windows cancelled after backlash - Myer will not reverse its decision to cancel Sunday's launch of this year's Christmas windows, despite demonstrators scrapping plans to interrupt the event. Disrupt Wars issued a statement today, insisting that the pro-Palestine protest was always intended to be "peaceful and non-violent", and confirming that families and children were never going to be targeted. The statement came just hours after Myer cancelled the official unveiling, which had sparked backlash from all levels of government, the local council, and the public. Disrupt Wars posted on social media last night, asking people to "bring flags, placards, banners, props, noisemakers, and lots of energy" to the opening on Sunday. The protest action has since been cancelled. "The intention was to interrupt the media spectacle and economic gain sought by Myer," organiser Amy Settal said. "The children coming to see the Myer Christmas windows were never a target because children are not a target. In light of Myer's decision to cancel their window reveal event, planned disruptions will not go ahead."

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51881f (208) No.22225248

#38 - Part 66

Australian Politics and Society - Part 34

>>22001897 Pro-Palestine protesters gatecrash opening of Myer Christmas windows - A small group of pro-Palestine protesters targeted the opening of the Myer Christmas windows in Melbourne on Sunday morning, pouring scorn on Premier Jacinta Allan for calling them “morons” days earlier. About 10 activists wearing Palestine flags, keffiyehs and Santa hats stood outside the Bourke Street department store, blew bubbles and chanted: “While you’re shopping, bombs are dropping”, “All Zionists are terrorists” and “Myer, Myer, you hate Christmas, you make money off of Jesus”. They also held signs saying “this moron supports Palestine” and “morons for Palestine”. There was a heavy police presence outside the store, but the protest - which attracted a few counter-protesters yelling, “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, oi, oi, oi!” -- was peaceful. Hundreds of families flocked to Myer’s annual Christmas windows on Sunday morning. Some visitors were oblivious to the political storm engulfing the windows display, which usually attracts about 2.4 million people from November to January. On Thursday, Myer cancelled its launch of the display after a pro-Palestine group said it would disrupt it. Then, on Friday, the group said it would cancel its protest. The issue rapidly turned into a political fight. Allan called the protesters “morons” at a press conference on Friday and insisted that police had all the necessary powers to deal with unruly protesters. She also rejected the opposition’s calls for the introduction of a protest permit scheme similar to that in NSW.

>>22001902 Video: Protesters rallying outside Myer's Christmas windows despite cancelling plans - Protesters are rallying outside Myer's Christmas windows in Melbourne's CBD despite a vow not to. - 9 News Australia

>>22001910 Video: While you're shopping, bombs are dropping': Protesters heckle shoppers outside Myer's Christmas windows but main rally stays away - Protesters have chanted and waved flags outside Myer's Christmas windows in Melbourne's Bourke Street Mall despite cancelling a planned pro-Palestine rally. Extra police were out in full force today in Melbourne's CBD ahead of the quiet unveiling of the annual display, which saw fewer than 10 protesters gather outside Myer. The Australian retail giant scrapped plans to launch its annual festive exhibit with the usual fanfare after protesters planned to flood the event. Though organisers revealed they had axed plans to protest the Christmas unveiling, several protesters were outside Myer chanting as shoppers walked past to catch a glimpse of the display. The protesters chanted "while you're shopping, bombs are dropping" before police arrived on the scene to scatter the group. They returned to the window and were heard chanting "shame on you, shame on you" to passers-by. "This is for the kids, don't ruin it for them," one aggrieved shopper told 9News. "Have your protest, do what you want but leave children alone." Official organisers of the weekly march for Palestine kept their word and stayed clear of Bourke Street Mall today. Myer's cancellation sparked huge backlash towards the protesters from shoppers, the local council and multiple levels of government, including Premier Jacinta Allan.

>>22001969 Anthony Albanese lauds Australia as a future ‘renewable energy superpower’ - Anthony Albanese has told APEC leaders that climate change action, cutting emissions and embracing clean energy are central for Asia-Pacific countries “to build new sources of inclusive growth and lasting prosperity”. Ahead of a likely G20 summit climate change showdown between advanced economies and major developing countries next week, the Prime Minister used his final APEC speech to promote Australia as a future “renewable energy superpower”. Speaking at the APEC leaders’ retreat in Lima before flying to Rio de Janeiro for the G20 summit, Mr Albanese said “the global move to net zero represents the biggest economic shift since the industrial revolution”. “And just as all of us have a role to play in cutting emissions and meeting the challenge of climate change, all our citizens can benefit from seizing the opportunities of clean energy,” Mr Albanese said. “Making the move to more solar, wind and green hydrogen is essential for us to deal with the threat that climate change poses to our environment, our farmers, our forests, our oceans and rivers and our future food security. “It’s also an unprecedented chance for our economies to build new sources of inclusive growth and lasting prosperity. My government’s ambition is for Australia to become a renewable energy superpower.” Global action on climate change will face a major shake-up under Donald Trump, who has pledged to pull out of the Paris Agreement and Green Climate Fund for a second time, after Joe Biden returned the US to the United Nations climate change pacts.

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51881f (208) No.22225250

#38 - Part 67

Australian Politics and Society - Part 35

>>22001983 World leaders issue warning to Trump on trade, but not by name - Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has joined Asia-Pacific leaders in warning against new trade barriers that could slash economic growth and sacrifice jobs, in a signal to US President-elect Donald Trump to rethink his plan to force up the price of imports. The political leaders ended a regional summit in Peru with a sharp message about the need for fair and open trade. Chinese President Xi Jinping denounced the prospect of “back-pedalling” on globalisation. But the Chinese president said he would strive towards a “smooth transition” to the new US administration when Trump takes office in January, in a comment during a meeting with US President Joe Biden that eased fears of conflict between the world’s largest economic and military powers. Leaders at the summit did not name Trump in their talks, according to sources who spoke on condition of anonymity, but many of their concerns about tariffs were directed at the incoming US administration. “We acknowledge the importance of, and will continue to work to deliver a free, open, fair, non-discriminatory, transparent, inclusive and predictable trade,” the leaders’ final declaration said. Albanese backed the statement on free trade, confirming a longstanding position at APEC against trade barriers, but he denied it was aimed explicitly at Trump. “It is squarely aimed at one thing, and that is Australia’s national interests. We are a trading nation and I support free and fair trade. One in four Australian jobs depends on trade,” he said on ABC TV’s Insiders on Sunday.

>>22002007 Prime Minister Anthony Albanese asserts Australian Ambassador to US Kevin Rudd will remain in Washington for 'year or more' - Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has asserted Australian Ambassador to the United States Kevin Rudd will remain in Washington for a year or more despite recent speculation about his position. In an exclusive interview with Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell, Mr Albanese dismissed suggestions Mr Rudd could be replaced and said he would remain for a year or more. When asked about the future of the ambassador’s tenure, Mr Albanese said: “He's Australia's ambassador to Washington and he's doing a very important job. The work that he did with AUKUS was a difficult task to get that through the Congress and the Senate. But when I was there, one of the things that struck me was just how extensive the links that Kevin Rudd had developed with the US Congress and the Senate were.” The Prime Minister’s comments come amid increasing scrutiny of Mr Rudd’s role, particularly following a recent tweet from a top aide to Donald Trump. Trump's newly-appointed Deputy Chief of Staff advisor Dan Scavino posted an image on social media last week implying that Rudd’s time as ambassador was running out. When asked whether he had been concerned about the political implications of the tweet, Mr Albanese declined to comment. “Well, I'm not going to comment on someone who I don't know and have never had a discussion with,” he said about the situation. "The discussion I had with President Trump was very constructive and very positive. I can work constructively. And there was a very good beginning to our relationship with a positive phone call that we had. We spoke for 10 minutes. It was one of the first phone calls that he made." This marked a stark contrast to Mr Albanese’s remarks from 2017, when he admitted he was "scared" Donald Trump, in apparent reference to the president’s controversial rhetoric.

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51881f (208) No.22225251

#38 - Part 68

Australian Politics and Society - Part 36

>>22002025 Japanese troops to join US Marines for Top End training - Australia has ramped up security ties with Japan amid growing fears over China’s military might, green lighting annual deployments of hundreds of Japanese troops to Darwin and a new alliance-style agreement with Tokyo and Washington to counter regional threats. Up to 600 Japanese amphibious force personnel will join ­annual US Marines Corps deployments to the Top End from next year, turbocharging training with Australian personnel. Defence Minister Richard Marles announced the measures with US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and Japanese Defence Minister Nakatani Gen on Sunday, saying a new formal commitment to consult on regional contingencies would provide “substance and a structure” to the trilateral security partnership. “It really is a step forward in terms of the way in which the three of us will operate in a collective and co-ordinated way,” Mr Marles said following three-way talks at Darwin’s HMAS Coonawarra naval base. The commitments came as General Austin declared he was confident the US could deliver on its promise to provide Virginia-class submarines to Australia, and Mr Marles confirmed Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries was one of two remaining contenders to build Australia’s $10bn general purpose frigates. The inclusion of Japanese troops in the annual dry season troop rotations through Darwin comes more than 82 years after Imperial Japan’s bombing of the city. Mr Marles said the arrangement was an “important statement to the region” on the nations’ resolve to work together to meet security challenges “no matter what that circumstance is”.

>>22002060 Former NSA chief Mike Rogers believes Donald Trump will question AUKUS but ultimately support it - Australia should expect Donald Trump to question the AUKUS submarine pact but he is likely to eventually back it when he sees its value to the US, according to the former head of America’s largest intelligence agency. Admiral Mike Rogers, who headed the National Security Agency during Mr Trump’s first term and who worked closely with the then president, says Australia must prepare to make the case about key aspects of its alliance with the US to the transactional new president. This includes the AUKUS plan to buy Virginia-class submarines from the US, a plan that has received pushback from some Republicans who will now control both the Senate and the house. “I do believe the new president is going to ask the following question: Tell me what value AUKUS generates for the US,” Admiral Rogers told The Australian in an exclusive interview in Adelaide. “I think there’s a good case to be made: Hey, look, we’re seeing jobs, we’re seeing capital, flow into the US … it sends a broader message to the entire region about the commitment of Australia, the US and Great Britain to the Indo-Pacific and it clearly signals to China we intend to be strong players,” he said. As a former head of the NSA, Admiral Rogers concedes Mr Trump is sceptical about aspects of the US intelligence community, which he calls a part of the “deep state”. “He truly believes there are elements working in the government, who are actively opposed to (his) vision, who are trying to defeat his initiatives. And he starts this term with a view of ‘I’m going to make sure there’s people in place who understand my ideology or my viewpoint, who are committed to executing that viewpoint’.”

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51881f (208) No.22225252

#38 - Part 69

Australian Politics and Society - Part 37

>>22008558 Caroline Kennedy urges calm on Donald Trump in farewell address as US ambassador to Australia - The outgoing US ambassador Caroline Kennedy has tried to reassure Australia about the implications of a second Trump presidency, while declaring that the Albanese government's nuclear-powered submarine plan is an "existential investment in Australia's sovereignty." The ambassador also criticised the vaccine scepticism embraced by her cousin Robert F Kennedy Jr, who Donald Trump has tapped to be the head of the US health agency, labelling her cousin's views "dangerous". Ms Kennedy made the remarks during a wide-ranging speech at the National Press Club, just weeks before she departs from Canberra. She was peppered with questions about Trump's trade, climate, security policies and cabinet picks, including Mr Kennedy, who has been criticised for spreading misinformation and making false claims about vaccines. Ms Kennedy also delivered a forceful defence of AUKUS, and brushed off questions about whether the huge price tag to deliver nuclear-powered submarines could be justified, pointing to Chinese aggression in the region. "To those who still question whether AUKUS is necessary, ask the Philippines and Vietnam what it's like to have your ships rammed and sunk by Chinese 'coastguard' vessels, or Japan what happens when missiles land close to shore," she said. "AUKUS is an existential investment in Australia's sovereignty and way of life, and you can't put a price on that."

>>22022442 Video: Ambassador Kevin Rudd declares ‘we’re ready’ for a second Trump presidency - Kevin Rudd has declared Australia ‘is ready’ to work closely with Donald Trump and his new administration to bolster an alliance which has never been more important or relevant. Australia’s ambassador in Washington said that in a world of ‘many challenges’ Australia welcomed an active and engaged United States in the Indo Pacific and was ready to deepen that regional engagement under the new president. In his first detailed public comments since Mr Trump’s election, Mr Rudd portrayed Australia as an ally that was willing to actively pursue closer ties with the new US administration and to be seen to be proactively contributing to the broader alliance. “We live in a world of many challenges, and we are clear that the region we want, the interests we have and the values we share require and call for our two nations to work together, and that is what we’ll continue to do with President Trump and his incoming administration,’ Mr Rudd told the United States Studies Centre’s International Strategic Forum in Sydney via video from Washington. Both sides of politics have strongly backed Mr Rudd’s ongoing tenure as ambassador, dismissing claims by critics that Mr Rudd’s previous critical comments about Mr Trump before he became the ambassador should disqualify him from continuing in the role.

>>22022455 Rudd operates as ‘foreign minister’ in DC: Top Biden adviser - US President Joe Biden’s top adviser on Asia has issued a ringing endorsement of Kevin Rudd, declaring the Australian ambassador operates like a foreign minister in Washington while Penny Wong focuses on matters closer to home. Kurt Campbell, Biden’s deputy secretary of state, said Trump should sideline Republican Party hawks who want to overthrow the communist regime in Beijing because such a push would damage relations between the superpowers. Campbell said the world was entering “an acute moment of strategic competition” as Trump returned to the White House, predicting that Chinese President Xi Jinping would feel nostalgic for the days of Biden’s more “rational” presidency. Campbell’s remarks to a forum in Sydney came after Rudd insisted he and his fellow diplomats in Washington were ready to deal with the incoming Trump administration after a top adviser to the president-elect suggested Rudd’s days in the US capital were numbered. Giving Rudd “great credit” for advancing Australia’s interests in Washington, Campbell said that Australia’s US ambassador operates almost like a “foreign minister in his or her own realm here in Washington”, speaking via videolink at a forum organised by the University of Sydney’s United States Studies Centre. In a striking remark, Campbell said that “no country is better at strategic capture than Australia”, adding: “Most Australians don’t realise how much agency Australia has in Washington.”

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51881f (208) No.22225254

#38 - Part 70

Australian Politics and Society - Part 38

>>22022463 Donald Trump must not turn his back on Australia while China rises: Kurt Campbell - US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell has urged the incoming Trump administration not to turn its back on Australia and the Indo Pacific, warning that China is “relentless” in its bid to build military bases and extend its power in the region. In a strongly worded warning to the Albanese Government, Mr Campbell also urged it to be proactive in trying to persuade Donald Trump that ongoing engagement with allies like Australia was a better strategic choice than a more isolationist America. “This is a time right now to be innovative, to be optimistic, to work, to make the argument about why common purpose is in our best interests, and why the United States should not withdraw from the world, from partnerships to work more closely than ever with Indo Pacific partners. Nowhere is that more important than Australia,” Mr Campbell told a United States Studies Centre International Strategic Forum in Sydney via video from Washington. “The hope will be that the next administration will resist the temptation to go inward and to put its interests uniquely first, and to recognise that we are stronger working with allies and partners,” said Mr Campbell who will leave the job when Mr Trump becomes president on January 20.

>>22022506 Labor won’t make Kamala Harris’ mistakes against Trump, ALP boss says - Labor’s national secretary has vowed the party will not repeat the mistakes of Kamala Harris’ US election campaign and will instead focus on the economy in his first closed-door briefing to MPs since the failed Indigenous Voice referendum. Paul Erickson gave the private speech to the federal caucus in Canberra on Tuesday morning, outlining the lessons the ALP had learned this year when incumbent governments in the United States, United Kingdom, India and France were either booted out of office or had their majorities slashed. Erickson, who heads the party’s organisational wing, gave a scathing assessment of Harris’ presidential campaign, according to three MPs who were present but spoke on condition of anonymity. “You have to have a policy offering that is about the future, and we think that in the US, for example, Kamala Harris just campaigned against Trump - ‘Vote for me as I’m not him’ -- and didn’t put forward enough of an alternative plan for the next four years,” one source recalled Erickson saying. “That’s not a mistake we will make.” One of the key lessons from the global swing away from incumbents was that the economy mattered most to voters and, Erickson argued, “Labor is placed well to campaign on its economic record.”

>>22022526 Chris Bowen’s UK-US nuclear energy pact COP out leaves AUKUS partners surprised - The Albanese government has been forced to defend “outlawing” nuclear energy and faced accusations of being an “international embarrassment” after rejecting an invitation from its AUKUS security pact partners to join a global move to speed up the spread of civilian ­nuclear ­energy. At the COP29 climate change talks in Baku, Energy Minister Chris Bowen rebuffed an appeal from the UK and the US to sign the nuclear agreement, aimed at decarbonising industry from March next year. The rejection was despite a British government statement that Australia was expected to join along with more than 30 other ­nations. UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said his country was “reversing a legacy of no nuclear being delivered and moving forward with its advanced nuclear-reactor program”. “Nuclear will play a vital role in our clean energy future. That is why we are working closely with our allies to unleash the potential of cutting-edge nuclear technology,” Mr Miliband said. Later he altered his ministerial statement and dropped all reference to Australia when it became a political issue. The UK and the US had expected Australia to sign the agreement as well as “willing parties” including Canada, France, Japan, South Korea, South Africa, China and Switzerland. But, through the statement from his office, Mr Bowen rejected the UK invitation. “Australia is not signing this agreement as we do not have a nuclear-energy industry,” it said. “Nuclear power is outlawed in Australia. We will continue to work closely with our international partners to reach net zero.

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51881f (208) No.22225256

#38 - Part 71

Australian Politics and Society - Part 39

>>22022574 Video: SpaceX launches classified Optus satellite for ADF - Elon Musk’s SpaceX has launched a secret communications satellite for the Australian Defence Force, weeks after the Albanese government cancelled a $7bn military space program. SpaceX sent the Optus satellite into orbit on one of its Falcon 9 rockets on Tuesday (AEDT), cutting its video feed of the launch “at the customer’s request” before the payload was deployed. US space industry media sites said the “secretive military communications satellite” was headed into geostationary orbit some 36,000km above earth - the same orbit Defence Minister Richard Marles recently warned was now vulnerable to anti-satellite weapons. “SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket at sunset with a payload that has been shrouded in secrecy to the point of not disclosing any specifics of the mission, and not using its original name,” Spaceflight Now reported. The satellite was launched under an opaque $405m contract between Defence and Optus signed in 2022. A Defence spokeswoman said the satellite was “an important element of Defence’s assured access to space-enabled communications” and would “complement our future multi-orbit satellite capabilities”. The satellite was dubbed by US media as Optus-X after the term was used by the US Federal Aviation Administration in its flight schedule. Optus declined to provide further details. “Optus has procured a spacecraft on behalf of another organisation,” a spokesman said. “We respect the privacy of our customers and do not provide comment on these matters.”

>>22030122 Government introduces social media age ban Bill to parliament - Billionaire Elon Musk has taken to his own social media platform X to slam the Albanese government’s Bill to ban social media for kids under 16. If passed, social media companies could be slapped with fines of up to $50m if they fail to do enough to verify a user’s age on their platforms. The world-first legislation, introduced into parliament on Thursday, would also create a legal definition of social media. But Mr Musk, who has been named by President-elect Donald Trump to head a new department of government efficiency, has weighed in saying it “seems like a backdoor way to control access to the internet by all Australians”. Meanwhile, Snapchat is expected to be captured in the definition of social media under Australian law. Snapchat lets users exchange photos, videos and messages rather than offering a posting board-type feature, such as Facebook, Instagram or X. There was some uncertainty around whether Snapchat could escape the proposed ban by arguing it was a messaging service and not a social media platform. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has likened the ban to age restrictions on alcohol, acknowledging people can get around it but arguing that it sets a standard.

>>22030132 Video: Full list of apps that teens will be banned from under new laws released - Teenagers will be banned from using Tiktok, Snapchat, Instagram, X and Reddit until the age of 16 in Australia under new laws to be rushed through Parliament but will still be able to use message services including WhatsApp. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland confirmed on Thursday that the new laws will come into force in late 2025. But they will not be ‘grandfathered’ which means that a 13 year old who currently has a TikTok or Instagram account will theoretically be forced to delete the app until they are older when the new laws come into effect. The Snapchat ban, first revealed by news.com.au, is set to cause uproar among younger Australians who are heavy users of the site amid questions of how difficult it will be to stop children finding a way around the ban. But kids will also still be able to use YouTube and Google classroom under the landmark changes designed to limit the harm that social media is causing teenagers. The new laws will require social media platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent under 16s from having accounts. The law places the onus on social media platforms - not parents or young people - to take reasonable steps to ensure these protections are in place. “We know social media is doing social harm,’’ Mr Albanese said in a statement. “We want Australian children to have a childhood, and we want parents to know the Government is in their corner. “This is a landmark reform. We know some kids will find workarounds, but we’re sending a message to social media companies to clean up their act.”

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51881f (208) No.22225257

#38 - Part 72

Australian Politics and Society - Part 40

>>22041793 ‘Museum of political disasters’: Truth bill dies as Greens join Coalition to block it - Labor’s controversial bid to rid the internet of misinformation is dead after the Greens revealed they would vote it down, leaving the proposal to crack down on conspiracies with no supporters in the Senate. The Greens’ position hands Labor a defeat on a key plank of its broader battle against big tech, which also includes an under-16 social media ban opposed by the Greens, Musk and platforms such as Meta. The Coalition has waged a months-long campaign against Labor’s plan to give a regulator power to pressure social media giants to stamp out false posts, arguing that these laws would have been used to censor arguments against the Voice to parliament during last year’s failed referendum. Communication Minister Michelle Rowland’s bill handed social media firms the power to determine what was true or false to avoid the perception that government bureaucrats would make those calls. Firms such as X and Meta would need to prove they were acting on complaints. But in delegating the call on misinformation to corporations, Labor lost the support of the left-wing minor party, whose communications spokesman Sarah Hanson-Young said she would block Labor’s bill because it allowed social media firms to self-regulate. “The Greens understand that mis- and disinformation is a growing danger to democracy, public discourse, health and safety both in Australia and around the world and needs to be tackled,” she said in a statement. “However we are concerned this bill doesn’t actually do what it needs to do when it comes to stopping the deliberate mass distribution of false and harmful information. “It gives media moguls like Murdoch an exemption and hands over responsibility to tech companies and billionaires like Elon Musk to determine what is true or false under ambiguous definitions.”

>>22042737 Greens torpedo misinformation bill as top Trump ally raises concerns - The Greens will oppose Labor’s legislation combatting online misinformation citing concerns that the bill doesn’t “actually do what it needs to do”, as one of the top Republicans in the US Congress accuses the Australian government of seeking to “censor speech worldwide”. In a final blow to the legislation that would empower the media watchdog to fine social media giants for false and harmful content on their platforms, Greens communication spokeswoman Sarah Hanson-Young revealed on Friday the left-wing party would vote with the Coalition against the controversial legislation. The announcement dashing Anthony Albanese’s hopes of passing the legislation comes as the bill makes waves in the US, with a senior Republican warning the outgoing Biden administration to press Australia that it risked impinging on Americans’ constitutional right to free speech. In a detailed letter to the State Department, Jim Jordan, chairman of the Judiciary Committee in the House of Representatives, said the Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill, currently before parliament, could “pressure American companies to censor online speech outside of Australia, including in the United States”. “We write to request more information about how the State Department intends to engage with the Australian government to address recent threats to free speech worldwide and their effect on American citizens,” the letter, addressed to Uzra Zeya, the Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, said. “There are serious concerns about how Australian authorities can continue to press for censorship and suppression of online speech outside of Australia’s borders”.

>>22055981 Australia Protest Forces Ship To Abort Arrival At Coal Port, 170 Arrested - A climate change protest off the coast of Australia’s New South Wales State forced an inbound ship to turn back from the country’s largest terminal for coal exports on Sunday, the port operator said. New South Wales police said 170 protesters were arrested on Sunday for refusing to move from the shipping channel near the Port of Newcastle. The port, some 170 km (105 miles) from the state capital Sydney, is the largest bulk shipping port on Australia’s east coast. A Port of Newcastle spokesperson said disruption due to the protest was “minimal” but that an inbound vessel “aborted due to people in the channel and has been rescheduled to come in.” The climate activist group Rising Tide, which organized the 50-hour protest that started on Friday, said the vessel forced to turn around was a coal ship. Climate change is a divisive issue in Australia, the world’s second-biggest exporter of thermal coal and the largest exporter of coking coal. A similar protest in November last year disrupted operations at the Port of Newcastle, forcing all shipping movements to cease temporarily.

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51881f (208) No.22225258

#38 - Part 73

Australian Politics and Society - Part 41

>>22057979 Comanchero-linked Sydney fixer jailed in US over AN0M sting - A Sydney fixer with links to suspected cocaine kingpin Hakan Ayik has been sentenced to five years’ jail in the United States for selling a secret messaging app to criminals. Osemah Elhassen will be locked up in a California prison after he pleaded guilty to selling smartphones with AN0M encrypted apps across Colombia. But the AN0M phones were actually a Trojan Horse operation set up by the FBI and Australian Federal Police, who monitored in real time more than 27 million messages sent across the globe. The 51 year old was the first to be sentenced in relation to the AN0M sting in the United States. “This case has such broad implications. I’ve never had a case like this before,” US District Judge Janis Sammartino said. Elhassen, who was described as having Lebanese-Australian background, had been living in Colombia working as a fixer for cocaine networks. The United States Attorney’s Office said “according to his plea agreement, (Elhassen) admitted to helping accomplish the illegal objectives of that enterprise, including drug trafficking, money laundering, and obstruction of justice offences.” Elhassen pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy “in connection with the AN0M enterprise”. He was one of 17 accused in the case, with Ayik named as the lead defendant who was also charged with racketeering.

>>22058474 Google, Meta urge Australia to delay bill on social media ban for children - Google and Facebook-owner Meta Platforms urged the Australian government on Tuesday to delay a bill that will ban most forms of social media for children under 16, saying more time was needed to assess its potential impact. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's centre-left government wants to pass the bill, which represents some of the toughest controls on children's social media use imposed by any country, into law by the end of the parliamentary year on Thursday. The bill was introduced in parliament last week and opened for submissions of opinions for only one day. Google and Meta said in their submissions that the government should wait for the results of an age-verification trial before going ahead. The age-verification system may include biometrics or government identification to enforce a social media age cut-off. "In the absence of such results, neither industry nor Australians will understand the nature or scale of age assurance required by the bill, nor the impact of such measures on Australians," Meta said. "In its present form, the bill is inconsistent and ineffective." The law would force social media platforms, and not parents or children, to take reasonable steps to ensure age-verification protections are in place. Companies could be fined up to A$49.5 million ($32 million) for systemic breaches.

>>22058489 Google to build subsea cable linking Australia's Darwin to Christmas Island - Australia's Indian Ocean territory of Christmas Island will be connected by subsea cable to the northern garrison city of Darwin, a project backed by Alphabet's Google that Australia says will boost its digital resilience. Christmas Island is 1,500 km (930 miles) west of the Australian mainland, with a small population of 1,250, but strategically located in the Indian Ocean, 350 km (215 miles) from Jakarta. The cable announcement comes as the Australian and U.S. militaries upgrade airfields in Australia's north, where a rotating force of U.S. Marines will be joined by Japanese troops next year. Google's vice president of global network infrastructure, Brian Quigley, said in a statement the Bosun cable will link Darwin to Christmas Island, while another subsea cable will connect Melbourne on Australia's east coast to the west coast city of Perth, then on to Christmas Island and Singapore. Australia is seeking to reduce its exposure to digital disruption by building more subsea cable pathways to Asia to its west, and through the South Pacific to the United States. "These new cable systems will not only expand and strengthen the resilience of Australia's own digital connectivity through new and diversified routes, but will also complement the Government's active work with industry and government partners to support secure, resilient and reliable connectivity across the Pacific," said Communications Minister Michelle Rowland in a statement.

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51881f (208) No.22225259

#38 - Part 74

Australian Politics and Society - Part 42

>>22058505 ‘United against American-style division’: Long-awaited anti-vilification reforms reach parliament - Victorians who incite hateful or threatening behaviour will face up to five years in jail under the state government’s proposed anti-vilification laws, which will be brought before parliament on Tuesday. Premier Jacinta Allan detailed the long-awaited changes - which include tough fines and jail sentences for perpetrators of hate crimes -- on Tuesday morning, claiming “American-style division” was infiltrating Victoria. The proposed laws would expand protections for race and religion, which exist under the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act, to include factors such as gender, sexuality and disabilities. The government will also seek to amend the current exemptions under freedom of expression, which offer some protections in areas such as art and academic research or for religious purposes and matters of public interest. But the introduction of a “political expression” defence – which the government said was necessary to “protect political communication and allow everyone to engage in genuine and robust debate” – was on Tuesday questioned by Jewish Community Council of Victoria chief executive Naomi Levin. “The JCCV looks forward to further engaging with the Victorian government to ensure this defence does not become a catch-all measure that renders these new laws unworkable,” Levin said. The new laws would also create civil offences under the Equal Opportunity Act for vilification on the grounds of personal attributes and expand the Crimes Act to include tough penalties for those who incite hatred.

>>22058528 SA Liberals threaten repeal ahead of historic Indigenous Voice address - South Australia’s Indigenous Voice will make its inaugural formal presentation to state parliament on Wednesday in what will be the first such address ever made before an Australian parliament. But the South Australian Liberals are saying it should be the last and are threatening to repeal the legislation which gives SA elected Indigenous leaders the right to address not just state parliament but also state cabinet and departmental chiefs on issues of concern to Aboriginal people. A special joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament will be held in the SA Legislative Assembly at 11am on Wednesday where State Voice presiding officer and indigenous health professional Leeroy Bilney from the SA West Coast city of Ceduna will speak on behalf of Aboriginal South Australians. His address comes after a troubled month for the SA Voice with four of its elected representatives having suddenly resigned and continuing concerns over low voter turnout fuelling claims that the organisation lacks the standing to address parliament and cabinet. Attorney-General and Aboriginal Affairs Minister Kyam Maher said that while the Voice had experienced some “teething problems” in its first year he was confident South Australians would see its benefits now it was up and running. He said the Voice delegates had already addressed State Cabinet and had meetings with public service department chiefs and given advice sought by the SA Government on legislation that had particularly relevance to indigenous South Australians.

>>22058594 Request Denied:US appeals court won't revisit Ghislaine Maxwell's sex trafficking conviction- A U.S. appeals court has rejected British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell's request to revisit its decision upholding her conviction for helping the late financier Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse teenage girls. In an order on Monday, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan denied Maxwell's request that all its active judges review her case, known as en banc review. A three-judge panel on Sept. 17 rejected several arguments to set aside her 2021 conviction. Maxwell, 62, plans to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, which is not required to hear her case. She is serving a 20-year sentence at a low-security prison in Tallahassee, Florida, and is eligible for release in July 2037. Arthur Aidala, a lawyer for Maxwell, said in an email he was disappointed with Monday's order, and "cautiously optimistic" the Supreme Court would take up her appeal. Maxwell was convicted on five charges for recruiting and grooming underage girls for Epstein, her former boyfriend, to abuse between 1994 and 2004. In upholding her conviction, the appeals court cited the trial judge's finding that Maxwell played a pivotal role in facilitating abuse that caused "significant and lasting harm." It also rejected Maxwell's claim that Epstein's 2007 non-prosecution agreement with federal prosecutors in southern Florida, leading to a 2008 guilty plea on state prostitution charges, shielded her from being prosecuted in New York.

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51881f (208) No.22225262

#38 - Part 75

Australian Politics and Society - Part 43

>>22064730 Video: Furious Fatima Payman uses Senate to accuse Pauline Hanson of racism - A furious Fatima Payman has used the Senate to accuse Pauline Hanson of "vile" racism before being forced to withdraw, after Senator Hanson repeatedly questioned whether Senator Payman was eligible to sit in parliament. Senator Payman spoke after the One Nation senator attempted to table a document raising Senator Payman's possible Afghan citizenship as a reason for her to be excluded from parliament under Section 44c of the constitution. Section 44 prevents anyone holding a citizenship of another country from sitting in parliament, however Senator Payman has previously sought legal advice confirming she has taken all possible steps to renounce her Afghan citizenship, which the Taliban-controlled state has not finalised, and so can stand as a senator. Senator Payman used the Senate to say Senator's Hanson's behaviour was racist. "Senator Hanson has worn the burqa in this place. Maybe it's time she pack her burqa and go to Afghanistan and talk to the Taliban about this," Senator Payman said. "All that Senator Hanson has done in this place is spread hatred, spread division. I am very honoured that I live rent free in Senator Hanson's mind, but I think you've got better things to do than worry about Section 44."

>>22064738 Lidia Thorpe suspended from the Senate for remainder of the week - Lidia Thorpe has been suspended from the Senate for the remainder of the parliamentary sitting week, after she ripped up a motion by Pauline Hanson on the chamber floor on Wednesday. It means she cannot vote or participate in debate until the end of the session on Thursday. Senate President Sue Lines said Senator Thorpe's behaviour was "physically threatening" and "would not be tolerated." She said she had told the independent senator it would be "in [her] interest to attend the Senate" to explain her conduct, but that she had declined to do so. The motion to suspend was moved by Labor Senate leader Penny Wong, who said "the gravity of the conduct" necessitated suspension. "All Australians have a right to be safe at work … We all have a responsibility for our behaviour. We express our views respectfully to understand each other's perspective," she said. Senator Wong said there had been "dozens of instances" of Senator Thorpe making "abusive comments … [and] offensive gestures" in the chamber, and that she had caused distress to other First Nations senators. "Despite attempts to work with Senator Thorpe, she has been increasingly been engaging in this behaviour." Labor and the Coalition voted in favour of the suspension alongside One Nation, Ralph Babet, David Pocock and Jacqui Lambie.

>>22069654 Lidia Thorpe grandstands from press gallery after Senate suspension - Suspended senator Lidia Thorpe has entered the press gallery viewing area of the Senate yelling pro-Palestinian slogans, putting officials on edge and prompting a large security response at Parliament House a day after she was barred from the chamber for throwing papers at One Nation leader Pauline Hanson. Thorpe’s Senate gallery stunt on Thursday was a second breach of parliamentary rules as nobody is allowed to disrupt proceedings and she was already barred from the chamber. Her statements earlier in the day that Hanson was a “convicted racist” also prompted legal letters from the One Nation leader. Parliament’s final scheduled sitting day of the year had begun when at 9.45am, Thorpe entered the gallery that is typically restricted to media use and calmly asked “What’s going on?” to attract attention. As surprised journalists scrambled for their phones and wrote down what Thorpe had said, the senator silently raised her fist, paused for a few moments, and yelled loud enough for the whole chamber to hear, “Free, free Palestine. From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” Thorpe then left the chamber.

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51881f (208) No.22225263

#38 - Part 76

Australian Politics and Society - Part 44

>>22069693 Video: Elon Musk and Joe Rogan respond to criticism of US podcaster by ABC's chair Kim Williams - Podcaster Joe Rogan and Elon Musk have responded to comments made by the ABC's chair Kim Williams, who suggested the popular podcaster "preyed on people's vulnerabilities" in a way which was "deeply repulsive". With the caption "LOL WUT", Rogan reposted a clip on social media platform X of the ABC chair criticising him during an appearance at the National Press Club on Wednesday. Hours later Mr Musk weighed in, comparing the ABC to Russian state media in a separate post on X. "From the head of Australian government-funded media, their Pravda," he wrote. Pravda, which translates to "truth", was the official newspaper of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Responding to a question after his address to the National Press Club on Wednesday, Mr Williams had said "people like" Rogan "preyed on people's vulnerabilities", and suggested they help spread conspiracies. "They prey on fear, they prey on anxiety, they prey on all of the elements that contribute to uncertainty in society, and they entrepreneur fantasy outcomes and conspiracy outcomes as being a normal part of social narrative," Mr Williams said. "I personally find it deeply repulsive. And to think that someone has such remarkable power in the United States is something that I look at in disbelief." The comments come after Mr Musk criticised the Australian government's plans to restrict social media use for young people, suggesting the laws would lead to government control of the internet.

>>22069698 Candace Owens: Immigration New Zealand denies visa for far-right US commentator - Immigration New Zealand has denied the work visa for far-right commentator and conspiracy theory promoter Candace Owens. Acting deputy chief operating officer Jock Gilray said “Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has declined the application from Candace Owens for an Entertainers Work Visa”. “Under section 15(1)(f) of the Immigration Act, an individual may not be granted a visa to come to New Zealand if they have been excluded from another country.” The 35-year-old, who last month had her Australian visa cancelled, was set to give a speech at West Auckland’s Trusts Arena on November 14. Owens began her career as a conservative activist, joining the conservative media company The Daily Wire in 2021 but was fired in March for promoting anti-Semitic conspiracy theories. In recent months, the 35-year-old has leaned into Holocaust denial, spurred by her stance on the October 7 attacks on Israel and the ongoing war in Gaza. Her name was even cited in the Christchurch mosque shooter’s manifesto. In August, Owens announced a speaking tour of Australia and New Zealand this month - but her Australian visa was cancelled at the last minute.

>>22080668 Children and teenagers under 16 to be banned from social media after parliament passes world-first laws - Children and teenagers will be banned from using social media from the end of next year after the government's world-first legislation passed the parliament with bipartisan support. That means anyone under the age of 16 will be blocked from using platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook, a move the government and the Coalition argue is necessary to protect their mental health and wellbeing. The late vote capped off a frantic evening in the Senate, where the government managed to ram through most of its legislative agenda on the final full sitting day of the year. Coalition senators Matt Canavan and Alex Antic crossed the floor to vote with the entire crossbench against the laws, which received mixed reviews from mental health experts during a snap Senate inquiry this week. Liberal Richard Colbeck abstained. It followed an hour of spirited debate that saw crossbenchers question and heckle the major parties over what they said was a rushed and flawed law. The major parties had moved quickly to pass the legislation before the end of the parliamentary year, despite reservations from some Coalition MPs, the Greens and independents who called for more time and greater scrutiny. Tech companies also agitated for the debate to be delayed until the government's age-verification trial is finalised. Under the laws, which won't come into force for another 12 months, social media companies could be fined up to $50 million for failing to take "reasonable steps" to keep under 16s off their platforms. There are no penalties for young people or parents who flout the rules.

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51881f (208) No.22225264

#38 - Part 77

Australian Politics and Society - Part 45

>>22080681 Video: Australia's social media ban for children makes global headlines as some news outlets ask if their country could be next - Australia's social media ban for children has made headlines around the world, as articles questioned how it could work and whether similar laws would be introduced elsewhere. The legislation passed through the Senate on Thursday, and while it still faces one final vote in the lower house to approve amendments, that will be a formality. The world-first laws have sparked a flurry of attention abroad, with media outlets in multiple countries keeping an eye on the debate. Russia's state-run news agency TASS published an online article announcing the bill had been approved "by a majority of senators". It pointed out two of the platforms Australian children would likely be unable to access, Instagram and Facebook, were already banned and "recognised as extremist" in Russia. The Hindi-language daily Amar Ujala, one of India's largest newspapers, outlined concerns about the new legislation, including Greens senator David Shoebridge's warning "children from rural areas and the LGBTQ community" would be harmed under the laws. "Many critics said that the law could be difficult to implement. They hoped that the government would conduct another study on it, which would tell how children can be kept out of social media in the right way," its story read. Australia's laws are expected to come into effect in 12 months, and will ban children under the age of 16 from many, but not all, social media platforms and websites. In the United Kingdom, many news outlets have been following the debate in Australia, particularly after Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said he would consider pursuing similar laws in the future.

>>22080732 ‘Black Friday sale on VPNs’: Social media ban faces early obstacles - Passing the world-first laws that restrict Australians under the age of 16 from accessing social media may have been the easy part. Enforcing them is another story altogether. From Monday, Australia’s online safety regulator will pressure social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook owner Meta, Snapchat and TikTok to introduce ways to verify the age of their users to comply with the blanket ban. The tech giants which widely criticised the laws as rushed and lacking crucial details about how they will be implemented in practice -- must now work with the eSafety Commissioner, who has 12 months to figure out how the new regime will operate when it takes effect in late 2025. If they fail to comply, platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, X and Reddit could be fined up to $50 million after the government secured bipartisan support for the laws this week. Attention has already turned to how kids can circumvent the ban, with Fred Schebesta, the co-founder of comparison website Finder advertising a Black Friday sale on Virtual Private Networks - software that allows users to appear as though they are accessing the internet from a different country. “Parents! Finder is having a VPN sale for Black Friday. Special discount for those under 16,” the tech and crypto entrepreneur posted on X. The legislation does not specify how sites should verify users’ ages. However, Australians won’t be forced to provide their passports or driver’s licences. Platforms can only collect government-issued identity documents if they have provided users with an alternative method of verifying their age. Alternative methods could include monitoring user interactions and behaviour for signs that they are underage or facial age estimation software.

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51881f (208) No.22225266

#38 - Part 78

Australian Politics and Society - Part 46

>>22080749 Meta, TikTok and Snapchat respond to new Australian laws banning social media for kids and teenagers under 16 - Technology giants such as Meta, TikTok and Snapchat have responded to the government's new social media laws, which ban children and teenagers under 16 from using the platforms. The world-first laws passed the Senate late on Thursday night and immediately made headlines around the world. Under the laws, which won't come into force for another 12 months, social media companies could be fined up to $50 million for failing to take "reasonable steps" to keep under 16s off their platforms. Now, the tech companies behind the apps used by millions of Australians have responded - and they have plenty of questions. Meta, which owns both Facebook and Instagram, said in a statement that the company "respects the laws decided by the Australian Parliament". "However, we are concerned about the process which rushed the legislation through while failing to properly consider the evidence, what industry already does to ensure age-appropriate experiences, and the voices of young people. Last week, the parliament's own committee said the 'causal link with social media appears unclear,' with respect to the mental health of young Australians, whereas this week the rushed Senate Committee report pronounced that social media caused harm." Meta said this demonstrates "the lack of evidence underpinning the legislation and suggests this was a predetermined process".

>>22080779 Meet Australia’s best friend in Washington… no, not Kevin Rudd - US congressman Joe Courtney was at his home in Connecticut on an otherwise quiet Monday evening when the call came through from Kevin Rudd. As the Albanese government’s ambassador in Washington, Rudd had the job of informing Courtney that he had just been awarded an Order of Australia, in recognition of his tireless advocacy in progressing the US-Australia alliance and facilitating the AUKUS submarine pact through an often hostile US Congress. There’s no doubt Courtney has gone the extra mile when it comes to advancing the partnership between the two nations. In 2017, when the first Donald Trump administration was considering tariffs on Australia, Canberra’s then-ambassador Joe Hockey asked him if he would be interested in establishing a Congressional Friends of Australia Caucus after realising there was no such thing on Capitol Hill, where there’s a bipartisan group for everything from shoes (the “Congressional Sneaker Caucus”) to other countries (the “Congressional Friends of Ireland Caucus” is one of the most active). Courtney, a Democrat who had struck up an earlier friendship with former Labor opposition leader Kim Beazley, soon became the caucus co-chair alongside then-Republican congressman Mike Gallagher. For the past few years, his work has helped make AUKUS a reality by creating the training pipeline for Australian sailors to attend submarine school in South Carolina and Connecticut, boosting funding for the US industrial base, and ensuring the passage of legislation allowing the sale of Virginia-class submarines to Australia.

>>22086214 Albanese says Elon Musk has an agenda on social media ban - Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has signalled next year’s federal election will be later rather than sooner while accusing Elon Musk, the tech billionaire and confidante to US President-elect Donald Trump, of pursuing his own interests in opposing Australia’s ban on social media for under-16s. Albanese said he was prepared to talk to Musk about the ban, and he assured Australians they would have “a bit of time” before worrying about going to the polls. The social media ban was one of 45 pieces of legislation passed by the parliament last week which has prompted speculation Albanese will seek to go to the polls as early as the end of February or in early March. The social media ban - which will affect platforms including Facebook, Instagram and Reddit -- has attracted global attention, with Australia the first democracy to put in place a ban on under-16s. Musk, whose X platform will also be affected by the ban, has described it as a “backdoor way to control access to the internet by all Australians”. Albanese said he was prepared to talk to anyone about the ban and its implementation, but he stressed that the parliament had clearly supported the move. “We’ll talk to anyone,” he said. “But with regard to Elon Musk, he has an agenda, he’s entitled to push that as the owner of X, formerly known as Twitter. But we are determined to get this done. The parliament has overwhelmingly passed this legislation and it’s the right thing to do. I want children to have a childhood. I want them to engage with each other.”

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51881f (208) No.22225269

#38 - Part 79

Australian Politics and Society - Part 47

>>22086271 ‘Absolutely gutted’: Cases dropped against soldiers over notorious war crimes allegations - The ex-soldier suspected of committing one of the most notorious alleged war crimes involving Australian special forces in Afghanistan will never face justice after an elite investigative agency concluded its case was too weak to put before a jury. The Office of the Special Investigator (OSI) has told witnesses it will not charge the former Special Air Service Regiment sergeant suspected of brutally murdering an injured and unarmed Afghan farmer. It is a decision that has shattered the Australian army medic who exposed the alleged crime and agreed to testify against the accused man. It also highlights the failure of the OSI to achieve results almost four years after it was created by the Morrison government to investigate the Brereton inquiry’s findings that at least 39 Afghans may have been executed by about two dozen special forces soldiers. The highest profile of the cases involves a suspected execution first revealed in 2019 by former SAS medic and decorated soldier Dusty Miller, who blew the whistle in a series of interviews with this masthead and 60 Minutes. Miller detailed how an injured Afghan man, Haji Sardar Khan, was in his care before being taken away by a senior SAS soldier and allegedly summarily executed during an operation in southern Afghanistan in March 2012. “The decision not to prosecute has absolutely gutted me. I think about the death every day of my life. The OSI has taken too long to do nothing and the soldiers who have stood against war crimes and the Afghan families who are still grieving deserve justice,” Miller said. The second alleged execution case that the OSI has decided not to prosecute is against another former soldier. It was exposed by the ABC and is known within special forces ranks as the “village idiot” killing. Miller was also one of two witnesses to this alleged war crime, which involved the suspected shooting of an unarmed disabled man as he was trying to limp away from Australian soldiers.

>>22093187 Sex offenders to be booted from Defence Force in sweeping overhaul - Sex offenders will be kicked out of the Australian Defence Force and potential leaders tested for emotional intelligence under a sweeping overhaul to combat the crisis of military personnel taking their own lives at alarming rates. The federal government released on Monday its response to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, announcing it had accepted 104 of the 122 recommendations, with a further 17 recommendations under review. A statutory agency will be established to drive reforms to decrease suicide rates in the military, and a wellbeing agency focused on the transition from military to civilian life will be created within the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. A formal inquiry will also be set up into sexual violence in the ADF. The terms of reference and timing are still to be determined. The royal commission, the findings of which were delivered in September, found current and former service personnel were 20 times more likely to die by suicide than in combat, a figure blamed in large part on cultural failings within Defence. The royal commission found that at least 1677 serving and former Defence personnel ended their lives between 1997 and 2021, but it said the true number of preventable deaths could be more than 3000 because of undercounting. “We can’t bring back those that we’ve lost, but we can fight to stem this terrible epidemic and we can strive to bring it to an end,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Monday. As a key part of the government’s response, the Chief of the Defence Force will issue a directive establishing “a presumption that anyone in the Australian Defence Force who is found to have engaged in certain forms of sexual misconduct will be discharged”. In a shift that moves the ADF’s practices closer to corporate standards, anyone disciplined over sexual assault, harassment or other offences such as stalking would be dismissed, subject to judgment on the balance of probability.

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51881f (208) No.22225271

#38 - Part 80

Australian Politics and Society - Part 48

>>22093202 Video: Comanchero Brisbane vice president charged over Australia's largest ever cocaine seizure - A Comanchero outlaw bikie gang leader has been charged over Australia's largest ever cocaine seizure, police say. A transnational organised crime syndicate with links to the Comancheros is alleged to have attempted to bring 2.34 tonnes of cocaine into Australia. Eleven men and two juveniles were arrested on Saturday night and in the early hours of Sunday morning, in a joint investigation between the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Queensland police. The arrests include the vice president of the Comancheros Brisbane chapter, and a patched member. Authorities allege the group attempted to import the drugs into Queensland by sea. AFP Commander Stephen Jay said authorities had been tracking the vessel allegedly sent to pick the drugs up from a mothership in international waters hundreds of kilometres off the Queensland coast. "As the vessel returned to the Queensland coast it suffered mechanical issues and broke down, triggering a coordinated police action," he said. He said it was the second boat that broke down in the alleged attempt. The accused spent $150,000 late last week on a new vessel to reach the mothership, he said. "We'll allege that the syndicate had made two attempts with two separate boats, both of which broke down," Commander Jay said. The men onboard were stranded at sea for several hours before police arrived.

>>22098959 Family Court grants child access to cross-sex hormones despite ‘regret syndrome’ concerns - A gender dysphoric 15-year-old has been granted access to cross-sex hormones despite a Family Court judge citing a legal void of the consequences of people regretting their change of gender and medically trying to reverse the decision. Judge Terry McGuire ruled in favour of the child -- known to the court as Kelly – taking the treatment, despite Kelly’s father indicating he did not support the intervention and did not provide his express consent. Kelly has a developmental disorder, has identified as a girl since she was a toddler, and is currently experiencing bone degeneration, which is at least partly caused by the puberty blockers she has taken since 2022. In delivering his decision, Justice McGuire said the court was “not oblivious” to medical, social science and legal considerations in respect of gender dysphoria, and relied on the evidence of five medical practitioners to inform his ruling. But he said there was a “dearth of jurisprudence” pertaining to “regret syndrome” experienced by children who change their mind or wish to reverse their medical transition, despite there being a “prolificity of social comment” on the topic. “Noting Kelly (is a teenager), the court is not oblivious to and has given strong consideration to medical, social science and legal considerations in respect of gender dysphoria treatment in other jurisdictions and with the considerable assistance of the Independent Children’s Lawyer,” he wrote in his judgment. The ruling comes as the Federal Circuit and Family Court continues to grapple with the complexities of gender identity, especially in the context of children, medication and surgery. International researchers commissioned by the UK Cass review this year found Australia’s guidelines on gender-affirmative medicine lacked rigour and independence, and failed to recommend formal assessment processes that screened for body image problems, autism spectrum disorder, sexual orientation or physical health conditions.

>>22111614 Missiles launched from Bushmaster vehicles could soon be operated by the Australian army - A mobile missile launcher transported by Bushmaster vehicles is a step closer to being operated by Australian soldiers, with Defence to formally examine whether the locally designed weapon system can soon be brought into service. Known as StrikeMaster, the Australian-developed product utilises a pair of Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) mounted on top of the domestically produced Bushmaster, which can be fired at enemy targets on land and sea out to at least 250 kilometres. First unveiled in 2022 by defence companies Kongsberg and Thales, the StrikeMaster and its ship-killing NSMs is being touted as a sovereign and cost-effective option for delivering a potent "area denial" capability across Australia's top end. Now the ABC can reveal the Albanese government has this week approved a tender process that will pit the StrikeMaster against the American-made High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), currently being used by Ukrainian forces. Under Project LAND 8113 phase two, Defence will consider whether the army should adopt the cheaper and locally produced StrikeMaster, which uses sea-skimming missiles, instead of buying a second regiment of HIMARS, which fires multiple long-range rockets.

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51881f (208) No.22225272

#38 - Part 81

Australian Politics and Society - Part 49

>>22128144 Anti-radicalisation drive: ASIO and AFP recruit teachers and parents - A “shocking” surge in youth radicalisation is fuelling a concerning spike in counter-terror investi­gations, with ASIO and Australian Federal Police chiefs asking teachers, parents and health professionals to help identify early signs of online-fuelled extremism. ASIO director-general Mike Burgess and AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw on Friday will reveal 20 per cent of the spy agency’s priority counter-terror cases involve youth, with children as young as 12 being investigated by Joint Counter Terrorism Teams. The intervention by Australia’s top security chiefs comes as they ramp-up collaboration with Five Eyes partners to fight a global ­explosion in extremism fanned ­predominantly via digital platforms. Mr Burgess, who in August lifted Australia’s terror threat level from possible to probable, said “as a parent, the numbers are shocking; as an intelligence officer, the numbers are sobering”. “Around 20 per cent of ASIO’s priority counter-terrorism cases involve young people. In every one of the terrorist attacks, disruptions and suspected terrorist incidents in Australia this year, the alleged perpetrator was a young person,” Mr Burgess said. “Parents, teachers, health professionals and frontline workers need to understand and identify the early signs of radicalisation. Once ASIO and the AFP get involved, it is usually too late -- the young person is already in a dark and dangerous place.” Mr Kershaw, who said he was concerned by the increasing number of youth being investigated by the JCTT, also backed a “whole-of-society response” to intervene early and neutralise extremist threats. “A priority for the AFP is to limit the accessibility of violent extremist material and promote education and awareness for those in protective roles, including parents, educators and healthcare providers, to maximise prevention and early intervention options,’’ Mr Kershaw said.

>>22128180 Elon Musk’s Starlink blitzes NBN’s ageing Sky Muster satellites in internet speed stakes - Elon Musk’s Starlink has blitzed the National Broadband Network’s ageing satellite system in the internet speed stakes, heaping further pressure on the $620m taxpayer-funded satellite venture that faces an uncertain future. The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission’s report on Thursday comparing the broadband performance of the two satellite services found that Starlink - the network developed by Mr Musk’s astronautics company SpaceX -- significantly outperformed the NBN’s Sky Muster system. The average latency - the time taken to send data from the user to the server and back again – was 29.8 milliseconds for Starlink services, the report found. That compared with 664.9 milliseconds for Sky Muster’s services. The reduced latency indicated that Starlink provided a “more reliable experience” than Sky Muster when using real-time applications such as video conferencing and online gaming, the competition watchdog said. The report also found a stark difference in download speeds. While Starlink recorded an average speed of 192 megabits (Mbps) across all hours, decreasing to 165.5 Mbps during busy weeknight periods, Sky Muster’s maximum plan, which offers its users speeds of up to 100 Mbps, were more than 50 per cent lower. The NBN’s premium offering notched an average download speed of 83.2 per cent of maximum speeds across all hours, decreasing to 66.1 per cent during busy hours. Starlink’s array of 4000 satellites, which remain in low orbit, deliver customers much faster speeds as the data transmitted has far less distance to travel. By contrast, Sky Muster employs two 6.4 tonne geostationary satellites that span 20m and orbit Australia at a much higher altitude. Announced by the Gillard government in 2012, and subsequently launched in 2015 and 2016, the pair of satellites have a lifespan of about 15 years, and are due to be decommissioned in the early 2030s.

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51881f (208) No.22225275

#38 - Part 82

Australian Politics and Society - Part 50

>>22128344 Pope elevates Australian-based Ukrainian bishop Mykola Bychok to world's youngest cardinal at 44 - Pope Francis has elevated Melbourne Bishop Mykola Bychok to the position of cardinal, during a grand ceremony attended by hundreds of people at St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. At the age of 44, Cardinal Bychok becomes the youngest member of the College of Cardinals, Australia's highest-ranking Catholic, and the first cardinal from Australia since George Pell. The Ukrainian-born missionary, who moved to Melbourne four years ago and will be eligible for Australian citizenship next year, told the ABC he "never expected" this. "At this age, my dream was to be a Redemptorist to belong to the congregation of The Holy Redeemer, to be a priest and that's it," he said. "I fulfilled this plan, and I was the happiest man in the world." He said he does not know why he was chosen to be a cardinal - most other cardinals are in their 70s --- but he added that he believed God would "strengthen" him in his new role. He said he aims to be a cardinal who is "flexible, holy, accessible and without eminence". He has also pledged to use his new position to keep raising awareness about the ongoing war in Ukraine. In the hierarchy of the Catholic Church, the most senior title after the Pope is cardinal. Cardinals are chosen by the pontiff to be his inner council and give advice on how to run the church. Because Cardinal Bychok is under the age of 80, he will also be eligible to vote in the Papal Conclaves to select future popes. His selection has been seen by some Vatican observers as part of an effort by Pope Francis to choose outsiders and make the church more geographically diverse with cardinals from all corners of the globe.

>>22134125 ‘Unity of Syrians abroad’: Australia joins historic commemoration - Syrian Australians took to the streets of Sydney to celebrate the historic fall of the Assad regime, joining a global chorus of millions of revellers. While the future of the Middle East increasingly skews to uncertainty, millions of Syrians who were made refugees by decades of civil conflict celebrated the new possibility of a democratic future. As rebels seized Damascus on Sunday afternoon, Australian time, Syrian Australians were quick to take to the streets in a car rally, vowing to “raise our voices” in marking the first ideological change in government in more than 53 years. “(Celebrate in) solidarity with our people inside Syria and in joy in the victories of our people, God willing,” a Facebook post promoting the event reads. “This rally will symbolise the unity of Syrians abroad and support the resilience of our people. Let us come together to raise our voices and show the world we stand united in hardships and victories. “Raise our voices and show the world we are together for better and worse.” In Chullora, a suburb within Canterbury-Bankstown, trucks drove draped in the flags of Syria, Palestine and Lebanon, with some revellers even taking to the street on horseback. In Rouse Hill and Greenacre, the streets were similarly awash with the red, white, green and black flag of Syria, many of them bearing the word “freedom”.

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51881f (208) No.22225276

#38 - Part 83

Australian Politics and Society - Part 51

>>22134154 The Bike Boy Scandal - Peter Meuleman: ‘Were they worried about Ryan or were they worried about Daniel Andrews?’ - Mediation efforts have collapsed in a dispute involving Daniel and Catherine Andrews, a cyclist and a leading law firm, with the cyclist’s father declaring “I want all of this exposed in court”. A car crash dispute involving former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews, his wife Catherine, a cyclist and a leading law firm is headed for trial after the collapse of mediation. Major legal firm Slater & Gordon and lawyers for cyclist Ryan Meuleman, who was 15 when he was struck by the Andrews’ family SUV in Blairgowrie in January 2013, failed to resolve their long-running stoush at court-ordered mediation last week. A Supreme Court trial is scheduled for May next year. Ryan’s father, Peter Meuleman, said he could not discuss details of the mediation but maintained that Slater & Gordon had never been able to explain how it came to be involved in the case. “Why did a Labor-aligned law firm suddenly turn up out of nowhere and want to act for my son?” he asked. “I didn’t reach out to them and my ex-wife didn’t reach out to them. We both thought the other parent had signed up with them. But the fact is, they just turned up and acted like they were in charge. How did they get my mobile number? How did they get my name?” Mr Meuleman said Slater & Gordon, which denies any wrongdoing, did everything it could “to keep the crash, and the subsequent TAC settlement, out of the media”. “Were they worried about Ryan or were they worried about Daniel Andrews?” he said. Mr Meuleman said the evidence at trial would show Slater & Gordon was working behind the family’s back in its negotiations with the TAC to keep Ryan’s crash settlement secret because of its “sensitive nature”. “How was that in Ryan’s best interests?” he asked. “Politics should have had nothing to do with this crash. Slater & Gordon should be ashamed of themselves. They thought we wouldn’t find any of this out. I want all of this exposed in court.”

>>22140000 News Corp is working with Dutton to bring us down: Albanese - Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called out the influence of News Corp’s alleged bias, warning colleagues during a cabinet meeting that Rupert Murdoch’s media empire was openly working to back Opposition Leader Peter Dutton. Four cabinet sources said that in Monday’s meeting, Albanese said News Corp’s newspapers - which include The Australian and city tabloids -- and the Coalition were increasingly “working together” on similar lines of Labor criticism months out from the election. One cabinet source said Albanese was firm and matter-of-fact as he reflected on the tactics of the conservative press in recent months as Labor has continued its slow downward polling trend. “He said News Corp and the opposition were now working hand in glove and that this was an embedded part of the political dynamic that we all needed to deal with,” one source said. A different minister emphasised that Albanese’s remarks were not a self-pitying “sook-up” in a similar vein to comments made in an October ministerial meeting, first reported by this masthead, in which he complained about criticism of his flight upgrades. “It was about the fact that they are openly cheerleading now and not even pretending to be balanced. Every little thing is being blown up into epic proportions,” the minister said. Another source said the prime minister had a habit of blaming media coverage after missteps. Albanese is this week preparing to unveil Labor’s childcare policy in a rally-style speech in the seat of Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather on Wednesday, highlighting Labor’s focus on winning back the seat. In the same cabinet meeting, sources said he also expressed confidence in retaining a swag of West Australian seats that Labor won from the Coalition at the last election.

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51881f (208) No.22225278

#38 - Part 84

Australian Politics and Society - Part 52

>>22140006 ‘Divides people unnecessarily’: Peter Dutton would not stand in front of Indigenous flags as prime minister - Peter Dutton has declared he would never address the nation with both the Australian and Indigenous flags behind him at press conferences should he become prime minister, arguing that the practice “divides people unnecessarily”. The Opposition Leader has been choosing not to have the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander flags behind him during public appearances and confirmed on Monday night it was a practice he would seek to continue in top office. “I’m very strongly of the belief that we are a country united under one flag and if we’re asking people to identify with different flags, no other country does that, and we are dividing our country unnecessarily,” he told Sky News. “We should have respect for the Indigenous flag and the Torres Strait Islander flag, but they are not our national flags.” Mr Dutton said Anthony Albanese wanted “to be all things to all people” across a number of issues. “The fact is that we should stand up for who we are, for our values, what we believe in,” he said. “We are united as a country when we gather under one flag, which is what we should do on Australia Day.” The Coalition leader controversially called for people to boycott Woolworths this year after the supermarket giant announced it would stop stocking Australia Day merchandise, in a move Labor said was out of touch and not focused on more pressing issues such as cost of living.

>>22140009 Queensland Premier David Crisafulli blocks debate on abortion for four years in ‘unprecedented’ move - Debate on abortion laws has been banned in the Queensland parliament for at least four years after new Premier David Crisafulli moved an unprecedented motion to gag MPs and prevent landmark reforms from being rolled back. In a move Christian groups have condemned as “undemocratic” and a “significant attack on free speech”, Mr Crisafulli’s ­motion will block MPs from introducing any legislation to restrict or improve access to termination of pregnancy services in the state. It will also prevent motions requiring MPs to express views in parliament on the Termination of Pregnancy Act 2018 that removed abortion from the Criminal Code and allowed the procedure on request up to 22 weeks’ gestation. It comes after Mr Crisafulli faced ­intense questioning during the October election ­campaign over his personal ­beliefs on abortion, the staunch pro-life views expressed by his candidates and desires of some in his partyroom to restrict access to the procedure. Labor seized on the issue during the election, running attack ads on social media about Mr Crisafulli’s ­“secret plans” to roll back reforms. Moving the surprise motion on Tuesday morning, Mr Crisafulli said Queensland voters had rejected Labor’s US-style scare campaign to remain in office. “Queensland has said no to politicising a sensitive issue,” he said. “I said from day one, it was not part of our plan, I said there will be no changes.” Describing the motion as “unprecedented”, Katter’s Australian Party leader Robbie Katter, who had previously flagged plans to negotiate with LNP MPs to “calibrate” legislation to something they would be willing to support, said he was “gobsmacked” that Mr Crisafulli had banned abortion debate. “What do the pro-life people do in Queensland now?” he said. “We were going to be the only party to bring something in here like this and we try and do it with respect, appreciating that it is a tricky subject for people, but we should have a right to bring something in here and certainly those babies need representation.”

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51881f (208) No.22225280

#38 - Part 85

Australian Politics and Society - Part 53

>>22140013 Australian Border Force launch Operation Lunar to target illegal boat arrivals in the NT - A multi-agency border operation has been launched in the Northern Territory to combat a rise in illegal boat arrivals in Arnhem Land waters. The Australian Border Force (ABF) has this week stood up extra land, sea and air patrols in the region, with support from the Australian Defence Force and Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA). Last month saw two separate discoveries of suspected Chinese asylum seekers in Arnhem Land and multiple recent sightings of illegal fishing boats in the area. It prompted Arnhem Land traditional owners and the NT government to call for stronger border protection of the remote coastline. ABF's Rear Admiral Brett Sonter said the operation would include an expansion of on-ground surveillance in partnership with local communities. "Illegal foreign fishers will not be tolerated in Australian waters and my message to them is clear: you will be found and we will intercept you," he said in a statement. "You will lose your catch, your equipment, potentially your vessel, and you may be arrested and prosecuted under Australian law." Rear Admiral Sontar said maritime people smuggling ventures had also been attempting to use "common illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing corridors to reach Australia". Northern Land Council chair Matthew Ryan welcomed the move but said border authorities should have acted sooner after local Indigenous rangers sounded the alarm. "They slept on the wheel and hopefully now they're steering it properly, wide awake," he said. Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro welcomed the new operation, describing recent illegal arrivals as a "national security and biodiversity issue".

>>22145904 PNG’s Prime Minister calls for NRL-led visa overhaul - Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister says he wants the country’s entry into the NRL to usher in more streamlined visa arrangements for his people to visit Australia and has vowed to make Port Moresby a safer destination for Australian rugby league fans. In an interview with The Australian, James Marape has also cleared up confusion over the national security element of the $600m Australian taxpayer-funded deal, saying it does not include an Australian veto over his country’s future security relationships but reiterates Australia’s status as the PNG’s closest security partner. Mr Marape said the awarding of an NRL team to PNG from 2028, to be formally announced on Thursday morning, would kickstart a clean-up of Port Moresby and a crackdown on lawlessness, opening a new tourism gateway to the country’s World War II sites and exotic eco-tourism destinations. Papua New Guineans can face long waits to get Australian visas and unexpected rejections, in a situation that has frustrated successive PNG leaders, who have jealously eyed the ease of travel between Australia and New Zealand. Mr Marape said he understood Australia’s border security concerns, and his country would use the NRL announcement to have a fresh look at visa arrangements to ensure PNG rugby league supporters and business travellers had trouble-free access to Australia.

>>22145912 Australia officially launches $400 million Pacific Policing Initiative in Brisbane - Pacific police chiefs say they are poised to send more deployments of multi-national police forces to hotspots around the region after state-of-the-art training facilities were opened in Queensland. The accommodation and training centres in Brisbane are a key pillar of the Pacific Policing Initiative, which Australia is supporting with $400 million in funding and the expertise of the Australian Federal Police. Papua New Guinea's Police Commissioner David Manning said at the initiative's official opening on Tuesday morning that it "provides a clear, effective and agile mechanism through which we can support our Pacific family in times of need". As well as providing training, Commissioner Manning said the Brisbane facilities would serve as the headquarters of the Pacific Police Support Group, a multinational cohort of police that could be deployed around the Pacific at short notice. Pacific leaders endorsed the initiative at the Pacific Islands Forum leaders' meeting in Tonga earlier this year. Shortly after that, a group of around 30 officers from 11 countries were deployed in October to Samoa under the banner of the Pacific Police Support Group to provide security support for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) after receiving training in Brisbane.

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51881f (208) No.22225281

#38 - Part 86

Australian Politics and Society - Part 54

>>22145920 Peter Dutton accused of ‘hatred’ over Indigenous flag stance - Peter Dutton’s vow to stand only in front of the Australian flag at public appearances - and not the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags -- has been condemned by one of the nation’s top Indigenous leaders for invoking “hatred”. The Opposition Leader said on Monday he would continue the practice of appearing with only Australian flags, as he has been doing, if he were to win the election and fill the nation’s top job. Opposition Indigenous Australians spokeswoman Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has similarly vowed to cut back on Welcome to Country ceremonies in government, which she argued were being done mostly for the financial gain of organisations and individuals who were hired to conduct such events. Uluru Dialogue co-chair Pat Anderson - one of the leading campaigners for the voice to parliament – accused Mr Dutton of invoking hatred. “It’s deeply disappointing and disturbing that some people have extended the “No” to all things ­recognising, and more importantly celebrating, First Nations Peoples, histories and cultures,” Ms Anderson said. “This is yet another remark from a man who’s made a career of using First Nations matters to not only invoke hatred but as a deliberate and inflammatory political move in his quest for the top job.”

>>22157710 Alice Springs in turmoil: Shock history of teenagers in alleged baby assault - The two teenage boys who allegedly broke into a home in Alice Springs and struck a woman with a detachable metal freezer handle so hard it rebounded, hitting a two-month-old baby and causing a brain bleed and fractured skull, had collectively been charged with almost 300 other offences and bailed 35 times - and were currently on bail. In a serious escalation in the crime crisis that has long gripped the Northern Territory, police have also charged a man with breaking into a woman’s home and raping her while she slept, ­despite the man being on a good behaviour bond at the time. In another incident, police ­arrested two teenage boys for ­aggravated robbery on Thursday after they allegedly demanded ­alcohol from a 57-year-old man at his home, threatening him with a baseball bat and a tomahawk. One allegedly breached a suspended sentence in doing so, and the other was charged last month for exposing himself to a midwife. The Australian can reveal shocking new details of the latest spate of violent crime to hit the Territory, as NT police on Thursday called in extra officers to conduct an around-the-clock patrol of the besieged Outback city. While the government ­ignored calls from the NT opposition for an immediate curfew on everyone in Alice Springs, Police Commissioner Michael Murphy warned that significant criminal behaviour, including sexual ­assault, abduction and home burglaries, had spilled out of the city centre and into suburban streets. Mr Murphy confirmed there has been a spike in serious crime since December 3, and said police had seen crime shift away from the city and into the suburbs. “It’s totally unacceptable, and people need to feel safe in their homes,” he said. “We’ve seen a shift from really public space and inner-city activity to activity in the suburbs.” Extra police patrols flocked to Alice Springs on Thursday after Mr Murphy and NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro raced to the area in a police aircraft.

>>22157730 Alice Springs residents, leaders vent anger and frustration over violent crime - Alice Springs residents and leaders say they're angry and frustrated at crime in their community and fear they're witnessing "lawlessness" at a level never seen before, as the chief minister and police commissioner fly in to tackle a rise of violent crime. A string of violent incidents in recent days - including a home invasion that left an infant with a fractured skull and the alleged rape of a woman in her own home by an unknown man --- prompted the NT leaders to urgently travel to Alice Springs on Thursday. Police Commissioner Michael Murphy said the nature of crime had changed in the town, listing abductions, sexual assaults and home invasions among a string of incidents over the past week. "We've seen the escalation in the suburbs … an escalation from that antisocial behaviour into serious crimes," he said in a press conference on Thursday. Commissioner Murphy said ongoing police operations would be bolstered with extra police from Darwin and repurposed to focus on the suburbs, and a fugitive taskforce would be set up to focus on "high harm" and repeat offenders. Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said she would spend the day holding emergency briefings with police and other community leaders, and flagged federal support may be called upon to bolster the local police force.

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51881f (208) No.22225283

#38 - Part 87

Australian Politics and Society - Part 55

>>22157799 Scott Morrison says Donald Trump and allies must reclaim global institutions - Scott Morrison says Donald Trump’s win is a chance to better defend global bodies like the World Trade Organisation and World Health Organisation from attempts by autocratic rivals to blunt their effectiveness from within, while also holding domestic elites in the US to a new level of accountability. In a key speech to the Dallas Committee on Foreign Relations on Thursday (Friday AEDT), Mr Morrison warned there was a critical battle for institutions playing out both domestically in the US as well as on the world stage. Mr Morrison took aim at China for flouting World Trade Organisation rules and, in relation to the outbreak of the pandemic, the failure of the World Health Organisation to “properly investigate, to demand information from China.” He said this “cost the lives and livelihoods of millions, and could do so again.” The former prime minister also used his speech to defend Mr Trump from criticism he was seeking to skirt checks on his power by stacking courts, intimidating journalists and revamping the bureaucracy to more fully implement his wishes. Trump was not attacking liberal democratic institutions, but challenging the unaccountable elites who were controlling them with Mr Morrison saying they had accrued “significant cultural, corporate and political power over the past fifty years. The visceral and hysterical reaction to Trump … by the elite class is an acknowledgment of the genuine threat posed to their authority and the potential for the norms they have enshrined being reset,” he said. “This is not a threat to democracy, as they would protest. It is in fact the opposite. It is actually a triumph of liberal democracy in action.”

>>22157820 Conservative US commentator Candace Owens granted NZ visa after government intervention - The controversial US commentator Candace Owens has been granted a visa to enter New Zealand after the government stepped in and reversed Immigration New Zealand’s earlier rejection of her application. The far-right influencer and podcast host, who has advanced conspiracy theories and antisemitic rhetoric, including minimising Nazi medical experiments in concentration camps, was granted a visa after appealing to Chris Penk, the associate minister for immigration. A spokesperson from Penk’s office confirmed to the Guardian on Thursday the minister had exercised his discretion to approve her application. “The minister made his decision after considering representations made to him, including the importance of free speech,” the spokesperson said. Immigration New Zealand originally declined her visa application in November, after Owens was denied entry to Australia in October. Under New Zealand’s Immigration Act, an individual may not be granted a visa if they have been excluded from another country. “Subsequently, Ms Owens requested intervention from the associate minister of immigration to exercise his discretion and grant her a visa,” Penk’s office said. The Free Speech Union, which lobbied the government to grant Owens a visa, praised the associate minister’s decision. “It was appalling to see Immigration New Zealand follow in the footsteps of Australia and deny Owens’ entry on spurious grounds,” said Jonathan Ayling, its chief executive. “It’s a dangerous situation to be in when the state begins to cherrypick which voices we hear from.”

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51881f (208) No.22225285

#38 - Part 88

Australian Politics and Society - Part 56

>>22162940 Former defence minister and member for Menzies Kevin Andrews dies aged 69 - Former federal minister Kevin Andrews, 69, has died after a year-long battle with cancer, according to a statement released by his family. The statement, which was posted on X by former prime minister Tony Abbott, said Mr Andrews passed away peacefully overnight, with his wife Margie by his side. The father-of-five represented the blue ribbon seat of Menzies in Melbourne's east for three decades, holding prominent cabinet positions in the Howard and Abbott Coalition governments. He was a senior figure in the Liberal party's right wing who championed conservative causes and served at various times as minister for defence, social services, immigration, ageing and workplace relations. "We are deeply proud of his service to our country, our local community and his party, although shattered by his death after a year-long battle with cancer," the statement said. "Kevin was devoted to his country, his family, and his faith and lived a full life of service. "Right up to his death, he was working on a number of projects, including his memoirs, which we will endeavour to have published posthumously." Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described Mr Andrews as a strong advocate who was always personable to deal with. "Kevin Andrews was old-school, he could have strong views, but always put them forward in a polite and appropriate way, and he's someone who was respected for that across the parliament," he said. Mr Albanese said he had reached out to Mr Andrews's family to offer a state funeral.

>>22162963 Donald Trump’s unique moment to change the world from day one - Donald Trump has a unique chance to change the world after reclaiming the White House, with transformations in the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Indo-Pacific demanding his attention from day one. This is a daunting challenge and opportunity. Not only is the world being shaken by tectonic upheaval and conflict, it must also contend with the ultimate agent of change in Trump - a man committed to a different vision of America’s global mission. Two former Australian prime ministers, Scott Morrison and Tony Abbott, believe that a more experienced Trump will be good for America and the globe, revive the US economy and provide more decisive leadership. They tell Inquirer he will take an unorthodox and robust approach to solving problems - creating fresh challenges --- but conclude there will be opportunities and a good news story for Australia. Abbott says the great chance arising from Trump 2.0 is that “a more robust America will create a safer and more prosperous world in the medium term.” He rejected suggestions there would be a return to US isolationism, arguing that Trump “looks like he’s eager to involve himself in all of these various trouble spots and make a positive difference.” Morrison says Trump’s natural instinct is to embrace disruption as a tactic to generate opportunities and wrong-foot his rivals. “That’s always been Trump’s modus operandi. He disrupts and then sees what opportunity can come out of that disruption. He’s very good in chaos,” Morrison says. Asked about the best advice for dealing with Trump, Morrison has two rules. “Listen would be my first advice,” he says. “You don’t have to tell him everything you think you need to tell him in the first five minutes.” The second rule is to disregard the crowd. “Canberra is full of people with preconceived notions,” he says. “Suspend them all. They’re all wrong.”

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51881f (208) No.22225287

#38 - Part 89

Australian Politics and Society - Part 57

>>22163076 Puberty blockers for trans youths are banned indefinitely in the United Kingdom after a review found an unacceptable safety risk - The British government has banned the use of puberty blockers for children because they pose “an unacceptable safety risk’’. Existing emergency measures banning the sale and supply of ­puberty-suppressing hormones will be made indefinite, following advice from medical experts, Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced on Wednesday (Thursday AEDT). The ban will apply to England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales and also makes it an offence for doctors outside of the UK to prescribe the blockers for British children suffering gender dysphoria. Mr Streeting said he was listening to “clinicians, not politicians” and declared it a scandal that such drugs had been given to trans youths without proof they were safe or effective. “Trans people feel unsafe, unrecognised and unheard and that must change,” he told the House of Commons. “The (puberty blocker) medicine has been provided on grounds of insufficient evidence, and young people go without the care and support they need. “That evidence should have been established before being prescribed for this purpose. It is a scandal such medicine (has been) given to vulnerable young children without proof it is safe, effective or through rigorous safe­guards of a clinical trial.” Some fellow Labour MPs claimed his decision was discriminatory, but the decision was widely lauded among prominent gender-critical voices. Feminist campaigner Helen Joyce said on X that Mr Streeting not only stood firm on the temporary ban on puberty blockers he inherited from the previous government, but he carefully closed loopholes and has now made it indefinite. “This despite a sustained campaign of lies and emotional blackmail,’’ she said. She hailed the move as another step towards puberty blockers being relegated to “a shameful chapter of history”, in which parents and health professionals were emotionally blackmailed into harming children in the name of progress.

>>22166142 Video: Melbourne Storm drops regular Welcome to Country ceremonies before matches - One of Australia’s most respected sporting clubs in Melbourne Storm will no longer hold regular Welcome to Country ceremonies. Melbourne Storm has long held fruitful partnerships with First Nations organisations and is aware the decision has the potential to inflame what has become a sensitive issue since Welcome to Country ceremonies became common place at Australian sporting events. The club, which was unavailable for comment but privately confirmed its decision, said “we’re really keen to let our actions (rather than words) reflect what we stand for as a club in the community”. The club will continue with Welcome to Country for the NRL’s Indigenous round, and highlight a culture that seeks to unite its people in a common goal. Melbourne Storm actually dropped Welcome to Country late in the 2024 season, a decision that received no fanfare at the time but one that has now become an official club call. Storm typically has boasted a number of Indigenous players, in its history, including Josh Addo-Carr, Greg Inglis, Will Chambers, Peter Robinson, Dane Nielsen and Reimes Smith. Welcome to Country ceremonies have drawn some negative reactions in recent times, most notably that delivered by Aboriginal elder Uncle Brendan Kerin prior to the GWS v Brisbane semi-final at Olympic Park in Sydney on Saturday September 14. “A Welcome to Country is not a welcome to Australia (but) a welcome to the lands you’ve gathered on. It is not a ceremony we’ve invented to cater for white people. It’s a ceremony we’ve been doing for 250,000 years -- plus BC. And the BC stands for Before Cook,” said Kerin.

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51881f (208) No.22225288

#38 - Part 90

Australian Politics and Society - Part 58

>>22168081 Allan govt confirms Melbourne’s annual Australia Day parade is officially dead - Melbourne’s annual Australia Day Parade is officially dead with the state government confirming there are no plans to revive the event four years after it was canned. The Sunday Herald Sun can reveal the Victorian government has no plans to reinstate the event in Melbourne’s CBD next year, while it has also revealed that the official policy from the Department of Premier and Cabinet will give thousands of government workers the option to choose to work on Australia Day and negotiate an alterative day off. A Department of Premier and Cabinet spokesman acknowledged that the day had become controversial and that some smaller events would still be held and that people could choose to work depending on their belief. “We also recognise that January 26 means different things to different people,” they said. “On this day, we encourage conversation and reflection on the different meanings of the day for all Victorians.” Ngarra Murray, Co-chair of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, welcomed the decision to not hold the parade in Melbourne. “The Aboriginal community has a range of views on January 26, but whichever way you look at it, it’s a day of mourning for a lot of our people. “So it’s not a date to celebrate.” The decision to scrap the event first happened in 2020 when then premier Daniel Andrews claimed it was cancelled because of COVID-19. But the reason to cancel the march was questioned as the event was being cancelled despite the Boxing Day Test being allowed to go ahead which attracted a crowd of more than 30,000 people.

>>22173736 News Corp boss Michael Miller says Anthony Albanese is ‘wrong’ to suggest the media company is out to get him - News Corp Australasia executive chairman Michael Miller has rubbished claims by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese that the media company’s mastheads are “working hand in glove” with Opposition Leader Peter Dutton to bring down the government. According to reports in The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, Mr Albanese told a cabinet meeting last Monday that News Corp titles were “cheerleading” for the opposition, and that Labor ministers needed to “deal with” the alleged tactic. But in an exclusive interview with The Australian, Mr Miller said the Prime Minister’s criticism of News Corp was “wrong”. “He called it a campaign - there is no campaign,” Mr Miller said. “His criticism is wrong. Our editors and journalists call it as they see it when it comes to issues of national importance.” Mr Miller said the PM’s narrative that News Corp (publisher of The Australian) was out to get him and his party was a ploy straight out of Labor’s “election playbook”. Several mainstream media outlets had observed that Mr Albanese’s response to the rising tide of anti-Semitism in Australia had been lacking, Mr Miller said, but the Prime Minister chose to specifically lash out at News Corp. “Most media, not just our mastheads, said the Australian government’s response has been delayed and deficient in terms of addressing growing anti-Semitism and the protection of our Jewish communities,” he said. “We weren’t alone in making that point.”

>>22173755 Welcome to Country: Storm to review and overhaul its cultural diversity plan for 2025 - A bold Melbourne Storm has admitted the club will pull back Acknowledgement to Country ceremonies this coming season. And Storm management will undertake a cultural planning review for 2025 to determine how often Welcome to Country, where an elder performs the on-field custom, will be used. Some rival NRL clubs immediately applauded Melbourne’s stance. This masthead has been told Melbourne may instead acknowledge the international cultures and backgrounds of its players next season. Melbourne only engaged in three Welcome of Country formalities this year and will discuss using the same amount next season, which would include Anzac Day and Indigenous Round. All NRL clubs independently determine whether to perform a Welcome to Country ceremony. Sydney NRL clubs are convinced Melbourne is reviewing its cultural acknowledgments because the Storm was becoming too “caught up” trying to copy the AFL’s strong “woke” stance. This masthead spoke with multiple NRL club chief executive’s but none wanted to comment publicly for fear of a political backlash. Several clubs privately claim the AFL was “heavily woke” and that the Storm may have felt a desire to perform cultural ceremonies in AFL-mad Melbourne. “Good on Melbourne Storm,” said one Sydney-based CEO. “The Storm are located in the heartland of the AFL, who are so woke. Melbourne probably felt they had to do every game when they didn’t.” Another CEO said: “The AFL is very woke and every sporting organisation based in Melbourne probably wants to keep up with the AFL.”

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51881f (208) No.22225289

#38 - Part 91

Australian Politics and Society - Part 59

>>22173771 Anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons seized in WA Counter Proliferation investigation - Australian Border Force (ABF) officers have seized 29 items, including grenades, a trip mine and an anti-aircraft round, during search warrants in Perth's north east. The ABF's Counter Proliferation team began investigating an Australian man, 31, after officers at the Sydney International Mail Gateway x-rayed a package from Kazakhstan destined for Perth, in August 2024. Officers suspected the consignment was a World War II era weapon, and referred it to the Department of Defence's Joint Explosive Ordinance Support (JEOS) team. The item was identified as a German anti-tank projectile. Last Tuesday (10 December 2024) ABF officers, supported by the West Australian Police Force (WAPF) and JEOS, executed two simultaneous search warrants at residences in Bassendean and Bellevue. The ABF seized items including stick grenades, ammunition, trip mine, anti-aircraft round, daggers, flags with Nazi iconography and digital devices. JEOS specialists confirmed the weapons did not currently contain explosive material, but could have the potential to be repurposed and used as an explosive device. "The proliferation of military-grade technology and weapons of mass destruction is a complex global issue that requires coordinated efforts," Superintendent James Ryan said. "Counter proliferation isn't only the physical interdiction of illicit goods but also the intelligence, collaboration and coordination with our partners, that supports our operational activity. Anyone attempting to import military grade weapons is a concern to us and a threat to Australia's national security."

>>22179588 Video: Under fire: New video shows Australians at war in Ukraine - Dramatic footage has emerged of Australians fighting Russian forces in Ukraine showing the chaos and horror on the frontline as their unit is targeted by drones and enemy gunfire. It is believed to have been shot by Geelong man Noah Tassalini, 19, who is serving with Ukraine’s 16th Battalion. The GoPro footage, posted online, shows his unit taking heavy fire as it shoots at unseen Russian soldiers and drones flying overhead. Several Australian voices can be heard, with one yelling “I’m going to skin you!” across enemy lines. The video was shot in October as the Australians joined Ukrainian troops trying to repel Russia’s 336th Marines in Eastern Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region. There is swearing as the Australians fire unsuccessfully at a drone, and laughter as they take cover in the trenches after surviving a burst of enemy fire. “Missed us!” one of the Australians yells, as another tells him to “relax”. The Australian was unable to contact Mr Tassalini, but in recent posts on Reddit he said he was recovering from “some pretty sever (sic) contusions and other bits and bobs”. In earlier comments to Seven News, he said he joined Ukraine’s foreign legion in February. “I didn’t want to sit around in Australia and watch it all happen. I just wanted to come here and actually do something,” Mr Tassalini said.

>>22179612 Video: Bushmaster IMV in the Kursk Region, Russia. Australian Armor in Service with UA Air Assault Forces - The Australian Bushmaster is a so-called Infantry, or Protected Mobility Vehicle. It was deployed during the occupation of Afghanistan, but since the withdrawal of Western forces from the Hindu Kush, the government in Canberra decided to send the Bushmaster to Ukraine, where it is helping Ukrainian Air Assault Forces during their dangerous missions in Kursk Oblast.

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51881f (208) No.22225291

#38 - Part 92

Australian Politics and Society - Part 60

>>22185075 Video: Australia sends 'immediate' search and rescue assistance to Vanuatu following powerful earthquake - At least 14 people have died and hundreds more have been injured after a magnitude-7.3 earthquake struck off Vanuatu on Tuesday, causing widespread damage across the South Pacific island nation. Rescuers worked through the night trying to reach some people yelling under the rubble. The Red Cross reported the latest toll early on Wednesday, citing government sources. An official at Port Vila's hospital told Vanuatu's national broadcaster VBTC that more than 50 were injured. Australia is sending urgent assistance to Vanuatu where the death toll is expected to rise as search and rescue teams work to reach people trapped under collapsed buildings. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the earthquake caused "significant damage", adding that Australia would send urban search and rescue teams, as well as emergency medical assistance, to help recovery efforts. "We are closely monitoring the situation and stand ready to provide further assistance to the people of Vanuatu as the extent of damage becomes clear," Senator Wong said in a joint statement with Matt Keogh, the acting minister for international development. "Australia and Vanuatu share a deep and enduring partnership. We are family and we will always be there in times of need."

>>22185111 OPINION: Welcome to Country isn’t for every occasion. Good on you, Melbourne Storm -"The news of the Melbourne Storm reviewing their Welcome to Country policy is good, but hardly controversial. What we know is the Storm are not doing away with Welcomes to Country. They are engaging with Indigenous communities to consider the way in which they recognise Indigenous people and culture at home games. Quite specifically, they have said they will keep the ceremonies at culturally significant celebrations. So let’s be clear - we have an entity that is still committed to performing these ceremonies at certain events and is working collaboratively with Indigenous groups as to how it recognises Indigenous culture and people. And the punishment for that sin? Being brandished as an oppressive force in the demotion of Indigenous recognition. If you want the Australian public to grasp the reality of these ceremonies, if their sacred and genuine nature is to be preserved, my advice: cease with the activism. Because while the historical form of these ceremonies may be up for debate, I am quite sure that the most accurate versions are not those that include a lecture in colonial guilt. Have the ceremony, but lose the extremism. It only discredits the person performing it and risks alienating the broader community. So, have the Welcome to Country, but also allow people to think about when and how that’s best done. Let’s not crowd out the nuance, and importantly, let’s not lose sight of what we’re trying to achieve for Indigenous Australians. Sounds a bit like what the Melbourne Storm are doing; and for that, they should be congratulated. The way I see it, they are an example to the majority of good-hearted Australians who genuinely want the best for their fellow citizens but want to consider the best way to do that. That’s an Australia I would love to see, the kind of Australia I know we can be." - Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, senator for the Northern Territory and the federal opposition’s spokeswoman for Indigenous Australians - smh.com.au

>>22191537 Australia to reopen embassy in Kyiv almost three years after Russian invasion - Australia will reopen its embassy in war-torn Kyiv next month, almost three years since its diplomats fled to neighbouring Poland in the days ahead of Russia’s brutal invasion. Foreign Minister Penny Wong, on her first visit to Ukraine since Putin’s troops rolled across the border in February 2022, confirmed Australia’s ambassador would return full-time in January, as the country faces growing pressure from US President-elect Donald Trump for the war to end. Wong, the first member of the federal government to visit the capital since Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in July 2022, also pledged $66 million to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to assist with Ukraine’s vital recovery and reconstruction efforts. Another $10 million would also be given in assistance to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund to provide heat and electricity for Ukrainians, she said. Wong said her visit came as a pivotal moment in the war almost three years since Russia, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, decided to invade. She said Russian President Vladimir Putin had “sunk to new lows” in using North Korean soldiers, and it was a reminder that the security of both the Euro-Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific was interconnected.

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51881f (208) No.22225294

#38 - Part 93

Australian Politics and Society - Part 61

>>22202424 148 Australians return home from Vanuatu as rescuers continue search for earthquake survivors - Australians who were caught up in this week's Vanuatu earthquake have returned home on RAAF flights overnight. A total of 148 Australian evacuees were on board, with the RAAF standing by to mount more missions if required. Images released by DFAT showed some of the Australians boarding an RAAF Globemaster transport plane in Port Vila. Port Vila's commercial airport is still closed following the magnitude-7.3 earthquake that struck near the capital on Wednesday. Australian aid teams also arrived in Vanuatu to assist in desperate search and rescue efforts for people believed to be trapped under flattened buildings in Port Vila. A 64-person Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) and two search dogs arrived the day after the magnitude-7.3 earthquake struck near Vanuatu's capital, Port Vila. On top of that, a six-person Australian Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT) are now on the ground and nine Australian Federal Police members will work alongside the Vanuatu Police Force on command and control. The death toll has been revised from 14 to nine but is still expected to rise, according to Vanuatu's National Disaster Management Office. Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong described the earthquake as a "dreadful tragedy" and said Australian aid would help in critical recovery efforts.

>>22202611 Musk is ‘ready to bankroll’ UK populist Farage. Is Australia next? - British populist leader Nigel Farage has been memorably photographed drinking a pint of goats’ testicles for a reality TV show in Australia, and copping a banana milkshake all over his pinstripe suit while campaigning in Essex. But a potentially more significant addition to his political photo album emerged on social media this week, taken at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort. Standing in front of an eye-catchingly tacky portrait of the resort’s owner is an awkward-looking trio: Farage, his Reform UK party’s money-bags treasurer, Nick Candy, and Elon Musk. The reason? Tesla founder and X owner Musk pumped high-octane financial and tech support into Trump’s election bid and gave it lift-off. Now, he is mulling whether he might similarly rev up Farage’s momentum in Britain. Newspaper reports have suggested Musk could use X’s British subsidiary to furnish Reform UK - which has only five MPs in the 650-seat House of Commons, but got 4 million votes in the July election and came second in 98 seats -- with up to $US100 million ($157 million). Farage says that no cheques have been written, and that even if Musk does decide to pony up the dough it will be nothing like this much. Could Musk visit his populist-reformist zeal on Australia, too? Possibly even quietly encouraged by Mar-a-Lago’s Aussie habitués, such as Gina Rinehart? Britain’s Daily Telegraph reported that one of Musk’s chief concerns is with the country’s Online Safety Act, which puts onerous responsibilities on social media companies to police their own content. Musk has also been watching this debate in Australia. When an X user posted on Australia’s disinformation bill in September, Musk retweeted it with a single word: “Fascists”. For Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and even for Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, the concern should be that this kernel of antipathy could metastasise into the kind of antagonism he is venting at Britain.

>>22204058 Qube Ports faces more strikes across Australia - Strikes at major Australian ports are set to continue in an ongoing dispute between unionised workers and Qube Ports over contract negotiations. Work stoppages will take place in Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Gladstone, Melbourne, and Port Kembla. On Monday, union members went on strike at 10 ports around the country for a day, but they have been sporadically conducting lower-level industrial action throughout Australia since September. Upcoming industrial actions will affect ports handling bulk goods, including grains, steel, and machinery. Additionally, all participating port workers plan to stage eight-hour stoppages when vessels berth. Qube’s major coal, grain, and fertiliser operation in Port Kembla in Wollongong is facing 13 rolling work stoppages between December 20 and January 3. The dispute between the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) and Qube Ports has been ongoing since contract negotiations broke down in April 2024. The MUA accused Qube of deliberately delaying negotiations and has been calling on the government to intervene and prevent the company from bypassing collective bargaining. Qube has offered its staff an 18% wage rise over four years but the union is also asking for changes to current rostering rules that let the company determine workers’ shifts at 4pm the day before they begin and fatigue management rules to prevent company managers from allocating dangerous work patterns.

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51881f (208) No.22225295

#38 - Part 94

Australian Politics and Society - Part 62

>>22214254 Video: Russian social media video appears to show Australian man captured in Ukraine - Russia's ambassador to Australia has been hauled in for a meeting with diplomatic officials as concerns grow for a Melbourne man captured while fighting for Ukraine's armed forces. Pro-Kremlin social media accounts posted a video on Sunday showing a man with his hands tied and dirt across his face being hit across the head as an unseen person questions him in Russian. In response, the man identifies himself as 32-year-old Oscar Jenkins and, speaking in both English and Ukrainian, says he is a biology teacher who lives in Australia and Ukraine. He was asked about why he was in Kramatorsk - almost 700 kilometres east of Kyiv --- and if he was being paid to fight. The ABC has independently verified Mr Jenkins' identity. Russian Ambassador Alexey Pavlovsky met with Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials for about half an hour on Monday afternoon, but declined to comment as he entered and left the headquarters. Acting Foreign Minister Mark Dreyfus said the government had made representations to Russia and urged them to comply with international law, while they worked to locate Mr Jenkins and provided consular assistance to his family. "We urge the Russian government to fully adhere to its obligations under international humanitarian law, including with respect to prisoners of war," he said. "Our immediate priority is understanding where Mr Jenkins is and confirming his wellbeing." Both Russia and Australia are parties to the 1949 Geneva Convention which sets out the rules for the treatment of prisoners of war, including that they are protected from violence. Earlier on Monday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the video was "concerning" and that the Australian embassy in Moscow and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) were investigating it. "We are working through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide support including for this gentleman, trying to ascertain the details and the facts," he said. "We know that the Russians often put out information that isn't right, so our embassy in Moscow is working but in addition to that Foreign Affairs and Trade are working here as well."

>>22214281 Video: ‘Prisoner swap or gulag’: Aussie Cossack Simeon Boikov asks to be exchange for captured mercenary Oscar Jenkins - Self-styled “Aussie Cossack” Simeon Boikov says he is ready to be swapped for a Melbourne man captured by Vladimir Putin’s forces in Ukraine, declaring a prisoner exchange will save Australian mercenary Oscar Jenkins from a Russian gulag. Hours after Russian forces released video of Mr Jenkins being interrogated after his capture in Donbas, Australian-born Boikov, who has been holed up in Russia’s Sydney consulate for more than two years in defiance of two police warrants, said Mr Jenkins “doesn’t have many other choices”. “It’s clear on the video that they’re interrogating him, and they’ve been beating him as they’re interrogating him, because the Russians don’t look kindly upon mercenaries,” he told The Australian. “So the only way this Jenkins character is ever going to return back to Australia safely and quickly is if there’s a deal on the table. And I’m happy to be part of a deal.” The Russian video, circulated on Telegram, shows Mr Jenkins being interrogated after his capture in Donbas and telling his captors he is 32 and lives in both Australia and Ukraine. Dressed in camouflage and with dirt on his face, Mr Jenkins is hit on the side of the head twice in the footage, with his Russian military interrogator saying in Russian: “Don’t blame me for slapping you.” Boikov said he had appealed to Russian officials: “Don’t beat him. Don’t kill him. Let’s exchange him.”

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51881f (208) No.22225296

#38 - Part 95

Australian Politics and Society - Part 63

>>22214304 Australia demands answers from Russian ambassador over Australian prisoner of war - A Melbourne man fighting as part of Ukraine’s foreign legion has become the first known Australian soldier captured by Russian forces in the Donbas region and paraded on social media as a Western mercenary. The Russian ambassador to Australia, Alexey Pavlovsky, was called into the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on Monday afternoon after footage of 32-year-old Oscar Jenkins, with his hands tied and being slapped across the face by a man speaking Russian, was widely circulated on social media platform Telegram on Sunday. Acting foreign minister Mark Dreyfus said Australia was seeking urgent updates on Jenkins’ whereabouts and wellbeing. Army veteran Glenn Kolomeitz, who has advised Ukraine’s foreign forces, said several Australians had been killed while fighting with the international legion against Russia’s invasion. “This is the first Australian to be captured,” he said. “Russia is clearly exploiting that fact through its information operations, its propaganda machine. They’ll continue to do that, and use this as some kind of leverage with the Australian government because they know Australia has been a big supporter of Ukraine since day one.” This masthead has independently confirmed Jenkins’ identity as a former student at Melbourne Grammar, one of Victoria’s most prestigious schools. He graduated in 2010, studied biomedical sciences at Monash University and moved to China in 2015. Since 2017 he has been working as a lecturer at Tianjin college. In video footage shared widely by pro-Putin accounts, Jenkins, speaking in both English and broken Ukrainian, gave his name and age and said he was a biology teacher who joined the armed forces because he wanted to help Ukraine.

>>22214323 Video: Melbourne friend describes ex-Melbourne Grammar student Oscar Jenkins as a talented athlete with ‘big heart’ - An old school friend of Oscar Jenkins described him as a well-liked guy with a “big heart” and a supremely talented athlete who dropped off the radar when he moved to China in 2015. The friend said the school community was in a state of shock at the news of Mr Jenkins’ capture by Russian forces. “I think we’re all a bit shocked to see what has happened to Oscar in Ukraine,” the friend said. “It’s awful to see an old school friend being held prisoner, seeing him in military clothing being detained is really disturbing.” Mr Jenkins graduated from Melbourne Grammar School in 2010, before studying at Monash University and then moving to China, where he has been working as a teacher for most of the last decade. Mr Jenkins excelled at cricket, footy and athletics during his time at school, with a picture shared by his friend showing Mr Jenkins running hard in a school relay race. However, the friend said Mr Jenkins’ Australian mates had heard basically nothing from him since he left the country. “Oscar was a great sports person and was well liked,” Mr Jenkins’ friend said. “He had a big heart and a good sense of humour. He went off to China to teach a few years ago, and after that lost touch with a lot of his Australian mates.”

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51881f (208) No.22225300

#38 - Part 96

Coronavirus / COVID-19 Pandemic, Australia and Worldwide - Part 1

>>21768209 WA Premier tells Port Hedland council 'stick to knitting' after anti-COVID vaccine motion passes - The Western Australia Premier has told a council in the state's north to "stick to its knitting" after it passed a motion urging state and federal governments to suspend some COVID-19 vaccinations. The Town of Port Hedland held a special council meeting on Friday and has instructed its chief executive to write to authorities nationwide to immediately stop the use of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. The motion centred on a conspiracy theory about DNA contamination from COVID vaccines. Premier Roger Cook said the Port Hedland council had gone "off the rails" by spreading the unverified claim. "The Town of Port Hedland should stick to its knitting," the Premier said. "It should stay focused on the services and people of that community. "It's another example of that council lacking the focus on the issues which matter to their constituents … making sure they look after the people, not get distracted by these silly ideological debates." The Town of Port Hedland councillor who put forward the motion, Adrian McRae, ran as a candidate for the Great Australia Party, which campaigned against vaccine mandates at the 2022 federal election. He made headlines earlier this year over his appearance on Russian state television endorsing the transparency of Vladimir Putin's election victory. Cr McRae agreed that weighing in on national vaccine policy was not the council's job, but said state and federal governments had failed to take community concerns about the safety of COVID vaccines seriously. The DNA argument surfaced during the pandemic and has been discredited by several international bodies and the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care. "DNA is stored in the protected centre of our cells - the nucleus. The mRNA is broken down quickly by the body. It never enters the nucleus and cannot affect or combine with our DNA in any way to change our genetic code," the department's website reads.

>>21853246 COVID-19 inquiry finds vaccine ‘strollout’ cost lives, eroded trust - The Morrison government’s delays procuring COVID-19 vaccines cost lives and delivered a $31 billion hit to the economy, while Australians have lost trust in government and the health system is still struggling, the first wide-ranging inquiry into the national response to the virus has found. The report, released on Tuesday afternoon, revealed more than $210 billion in federal government stimulus aimed at protecting the economy amplified the inflation pressures still working their way through the country. Almost five years later, it said children were still suffering from mental health and academic consequences of school closures, people are now more reluctant to receive vaccines, families experienced higher levels of domestic violence, and elective surgery backlogs still plague hospitals. The year-long inquiry, compiled by senior public servant Robyn Kruk, experienced economist Angela Jackson and infectious disease expert Catherine Bennett, found Australia had done very well in handling the pandemic. They said it had fared well compared to other countries that experienced a larger loss of life, health system collapse and more severe economic downturns. But there could have been less collateral damage. A new Australian Centre for Disease Control, which the Albanese government on Tuesday said would be operating by 2026, was central to their recommendations for evidence-based approaches that build trust.

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51881f (208) No.22225302

#38 - Part 97

Coronavirus / COVID-19 Pandemic, Australia and Worldwide - Part 2

>>21853276 Anthony Albanese has failed to bash Scott Morrison and shield premiers with this Covid-19 report - "It’s little surprise that Anthony Albanese didn’t turn up for the release of inquiry findings into the Morrison government’s handling of the pandemic. Unfortunately for the Prime Minister, it was probably more notable for its praise of Scott Morrison, describing leadership at the national level as “courageous”. The final report handed down in Canberra on Tuesday afternoon was considered by cabinet on Monday. It has had 24 hours to pick through the 800 pages and find the worst of it. The problem is that at least in the initial stages of the pandemic, the report found the Australian government’s response was considered world-leading. Two words used in a background briefing to journalists were “amazing” and “remarkable”. Unsurprisingly, it had its fair set of criticisms, of what could be done better and what should and should not be done in future. Every Australian lived through the deprivation of liberties and is now living with the consequences. But the Prime Minister has been denied another final nail to hammer into his predecessor’s coffin, if that was the motivation when he pledged before the last election to hold a royal commission-style inquiry. “The inquiry considers that the decisive and difficult decisions taken by the prime minister and other Australian government ministers at the outset of the pandemic demonstrated courageous leadership and actions consistent with the precautionary principle,” it said. “The rapid response leaders implemented protected Australian lives in the first wave and set us on a path that reduced the overall negative impacts of the pandemic. “Above all, Australia’s success in responding to the pandemic was a testament to the willingness to put community interests ahead of self-interests and to all do our bit as part of ‘Team Australia’”." - Simon Benson, Political Editor - theaustralian.com.au

>>21955697 ‘Whitewash’: New Zealand foreign minister blasts Australian COVID inquiry - New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters has blasted the Australian government’s inquiry into the handling of the pandemic while warning Canberra against taking further steps to make deporting New Zealand-born criminals easier. The 79-year-old leader of the conservative New Zealand First Party is in his third stint as New Zealand’s deputy prime minister, having previously served in the role in Jacinda Ardern’s Labour government and Jim Bolger’s National government. “You guys haven’t had a review, you’ve had a whitewash,” Peters said in Auckland about the Albanese government’s COVID inquiry released last month. “And I’m out to make sure it doesn’t happen in my country … We are going to get to the truth.” Ardern established a royal commission into the pandemic in 2022 that has since been expanded and extended under Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who leads the conservative National Party. As demanded by Peters, the royal commission will also examine use of vaccines and vaccine mandates, social and economic impacts of COVID policies and whether similar public health benefits could have been achieved with shorter lockdowns. Peters said New Zealand’s tough response to COVID, while understandably strict at the beginning of the pandemic, became a “disaster” over time as “basic factual incongruities” were ignored in a bid to stamp out the virus. Shutting schools for extended periods was a damaging decision, he said. “Children were the least vulnerable [to the virus], and we knew that, but we shut the whole thing down,” he said. “The cost to New Zealand is that we are still struggling to come out of that malaise. That is accentuated by our massive levels of truancy. If we hadn’t closed our primary schools, that would not have happened. But there’s an unwillingness to say we got it wrong.”

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51881f (208) No.22225304

#38 - Part 98

Coronavirus / COVID-19 Pandemic, Australia and Worldwide - Part 3

>>21961370 Too many journalists slipped into activist mode on Covid, and then Donald Trump - "This column, forecasting a Trump election win, last week expressed surprise so many news consumers remain loyal to media sources that regularly get things hopelessly wrong, even national elections. The left-liberal US media got Trump and the electorate wrong for nine years but last week showed little sign of understanding why. This column was reminded of the sullen faces on the ABC on election night 2019 when Liberal leader Scott Morrison beat Labor’s Bill Shorten. A similar example here was coverage by parts of the media, but particularly the ABC, of the Covid pandemic and rules imposed by federal and state governments to deal with it. Many reporters behaved like political enforcers rather than questioning journalists. Some at the ABC even referred to health editor Norman Swan as a “single source of truth on Covid”. Yet his public forecasts in 2020 of the imminent collapse of the hospital system were utterly wrong. This may be why the federal government’s 871-page inquiry into Covid, released on October 29, landed with a dead cat bounce. If you don’t have the time or energy to read it, an easy way to understand what really happened in 2020 is to look at the testimony of US health chief Anthony Fauci before the US House Oversight and Accountability Committee. Fauci freely admitted many of the harshest rules he oversaw had no science behind them and were simply best guesses. There had never been any work to assess the US “six feet separation” rule or mask-wearing for children. The federal report says many children’s mental health was severely affected by lockdowns and millions of children’s educational results were hampered by remote learning. Yet the ABC’s Swan told Radio National in March 2020: “We’ve just got to shut down schools … the risk to your child is low but it’s a public health measure because children spread the virus. And my feeling is we are, to be blunt, dicking around.”" - Chris Mitchell - theaustralian.com.au

>>22008537 Video: RFK Jr’s vaccine views ‘dangerous’, cousin Caroline Kennedy warns Australian audience - The outgoing US ambassador to Australia, Caroline Kennedy, has labelled her cousin Robert F Kennedy Jr’s views on vaccines “dangerous”. After a speech to the National Press Club in Canberra, Australia on Monday, Caroline Kennedy took aim at a number of Trump administration appointees including Tulsi Gabbard, warning that her appointment would “obviously … be of great concern”. Donald Trump has nominated RFK Jr to oversee US health agencies, despite his propagation of anti-vaccine conspiracy theories, and Gabbard to be director of national intelligence, despite her being a vocal supporter of Russia. Caroline Kennedy told reporters that as an ambassador, she’s “not supposed to comment on politics and now you’re asking me to also comment on family”. “But, yes, I think Bobby Kennedy’s views on vaccines are dangerous … but I don’t think that most Americans share them. So we’ll just have to wait and see what happens. “But certainly he’s - you know, I grew up with him. So, I have known all this for a long time and others are just getting to know him.” She noted her uncle Ted Kennedy “spent 50 years fighting for affordable healthcare in the Senate”, work that the former president Barack Obama built on with the Affordable Care Act. “My Aunt Eunice started the Special Olympics and the national institute of maternal and child health is now named after her. “So I would say that our family is united in terms of our support for the public health sector and infrastructure and has the greatest admiration for the medical profession in our country, and Bobby Kennedy has got a different set of views.”

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51881f (208) No.22225306

#38 - Part 99

Coronavirus / COVID-19 Pandemic, Australia and Worldwide - Part 4

>>22022601 Former celebrity chef Pete Evans to publish cookbook with RFK Jr - Former celebrity chef turned conspiracy theorist Pete Evans has teamed up with anti-vaxxer and Donald Trump’s pick for US health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr, to produce a new cookbook for children. In the book, titled Healthy Food for Healthy Kids, Evans has created 120 paleo- and keto-friendly meals for children that will be published by Kennedy’s Children’s Health Defence, one of the largest US anti-vaccine groups. “So pleased and thankful that Robert Kennedy Jr set this up for me with his Children’s Health Defence team,” Evans posted on Telegram, the Daily Mail reported, before the post was removed. “Stay tuned for more.” The book, which is available for pre-order, will be released in January 2025. In 2015, another children’s paleo cookbook co-authored by Evans was dumped by publisher Pan Macmillan after dietitians and doctors widely criticised it. The book, Bubba Yum Yum: The Paleo Way, recommended feeding infants a DIY baby formula made from bone broth. Evans’ latest cookbook came after he met Kennedy in January 2020 just before the outbreak of COVID-19 when he was invited to Kennedy’s home in Los Angeles to film an interview with him. The two became known during the pandemic for regularly posting debunked conspiracy theories about COVID-19. That was the same year that Evans was dumped from his $800,000 a year gig as co-host of Sevens’ My Kitchen Rules, and that he was fined $25,000 by the Therapeutic Goods Administration for selling a device called a “BioCharger”. The device, which critics mocked as a “glorified lava lamp”, claimed it could help with the “Wuhan coronavirus”. The TGA said this claim had no apparent foundation.

>>22064755 NSW government to withdraw and repay more than 23,000 fines issued during the COVID-19 pandemic - The NSW government will withdraw and repay more than 23,000 fines issued during the COVID-19 pandemic after receiving fresh legal advice. More than 50,000 penalty notices were issued for breaching public health orders during the height of the pandemic, according to the government. In 2022, Revenue NSW withdrew more than 36,000 penalty notices because the NSW Commissioner of Fines Administration found that those penalty notices did not comply with the Fines Act. The commissioner found the penalty notices did not sufficiently detail the description of the offence committed. Revenue NSW said at the time it did "not mean the offences were not committed" and the remaining fines would "still be required to be paid if not already resolved". But the remaining 23,539 COVID-19 fines were not withdrawn because the government said they were "formulated differently" with a clearer explanation of the offence. On Tuesday, the government announced it would also cancel those fines and refund individuals $5.5 million because the notices contained insufficient details. In a statement, Commissioner of Fines Administration Scott Johnston said he has exercised his statutory authority to withdraw the fines. "Following representations made to the commissioner of police and myself concerning the validity of COVID-19 penalty notices, I have decided to exercise my statutory authority and withdraw these notices," he said. "Revenue NSW will be reaching out to all affected customers to support them through the finalisation of their matters."

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51881f (208) No.22225308

#38 - Part 100

Coronavirus / COVID-19 Pandemic, Australia and Worldwide - Part 5

>>22104830 True state of vaccine hesitancy revealed as Moderna factory opens - Commercial scale mRNA vaccines will be produced onshore for the first time in Australia with the opening of US pharma company Moderna’s Melbourne factory, as new analysis reveals six in ten of all parents are feeling distressed since the pandemic over vaccinating their children. As the US pharmaceutical company Moderna officially opens a commercial-scale mRNA manufacturing facility in Melbourne on Wednesday morning - three years since a $2 billion deal was secured by the Morrison government early in the pandemic -- vaccination sentiment and trust in public health is under the spotlight. Moderna - which grew from a US biotech company to a global pharma giant during the pandemic as mRNA technology came of age – is producing test batches and awaiting final ­licensing approval to produce Covid-19 vaccines. Respiratory Syncytial Virus vaccines for the over 60s are approved by the FDA and are under review by the regulator in Australia. A combined Covid-influenza vaccine is also planned. Moderna’s supply of mRNA vaccines from its factory at the Monash Technology Precinct in Clayton in Melbourne’s southeast shores up sovereign manufacturing of mRNA vaccines in Australia and is an important step in future pandemic preparedness. These preventive treatments have revolutionised immunisation and have broad horizons in the future including expanding to the treatment of cancer and potentially genetic diseases. The Moderna deal also links Australian scientists with an international pathway of research and development. Fourteen clinical trials advancing the technology are already underway. Federal health minister Mark Butler, who will attend the factory opening on Wednesday, described sovereign supply as “a major step forward in helping protect Australians against future pandemics”. Mr Butler referenced last month upon the release of the Covid-19 Response Inquiry final report, concerning issues of trust in public health post-pandemic and cited a precipitous decline in childhood vaccination. Even though Moderna is not producing vaccines on the children’s National Immunisation Schedule, medical affairs director in Australia, Dr Andrea McCracken, said vaccine sentiment was something that the company was closely monitoring amid a large degree of confusion in the community about when and for whom Covid-19 boosters were advised. Australia also faced a significant challenge in its influenza vaccination rates. “Covid has not gone away, … one of the challenges is obviously around vaccine fatigue. People were faced with all sorts of information that was very confusing, and there was a lot of misinformation. There was advice that wasn’t necessarily clear and transparent. I think that all we can do is keep presenting the evidence, and that evidence-based research I think will resonate with many individuals.”

>>22077791 Victoria records spike in Covid cases ahead of Christmas - Victoria is recording a sharp rise in Covid infections ahead of the Christmas period, with chief health officer Dr Clare Looker urging at-risk residents to take precautions now. In its latest Covid surveillance report ending November 26, the state’s health department recorded a spike in the number of people in hospital with Covid, with the seven day average now at 197, a 59 per cent increase from the same period in October. The department also says the number of notified cases has increased 44 per cent in the last month. Dr Looker urged Victorians to take steps this week to protect themselves and those around them, particular at-risk groups. “It’s the simple things that can have a big impact,” she said. “If you’re feeling sick, please stay home. If you need to go out, or you’re visiting a higher risk setting like an age care home or a hospital, it’s a good idea to wear a mask.”

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51881f (208) No.22225309

#38 - Part 101

Julian Assange: Indictment, Extradition, Plea Deal and Freedom - Part 1

>>21803697 Julian Assange’s dad thanks Putin for his ‘support’ - The father of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says he’s grateful to Russian President Vladimir Putin for the long-standing support of his son amid his ongoing “persecution” by Western authorities. John Shipton, who arrived in Moscow on Sunday ahead of the BRICS international summit, told Russian state-owned news agency RIA Novosti that Putin was “the first head of state to defend Julian’s interests as a publisher and a citizen” in 2012. He said Putin’s support came as his son was receiving “every smearing lie and calumny that the institutions of state and those hangers-on in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia could deliver upon his head.” “Putin defended his interests as a publisher and journalist. For that, I extend my affection to your president. And my thanks,” he said. Shipton is in the country at the invitation of Russian journalist Mira Terada, co-chair of the BRICS Journalists’ Association. The BRICS is an alliance started by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Shipton also praised controversial populist, pro-Russian European leaders - Hungary’s Viktor Orban and Slovakia’s Robert Fico -- and warned of the dangers of information control and the role of “colour revolutions” in destabilising several former Soviet nations. Shipton claimed non-government organisations and news agencies, news publishers and journalists were being heavily influenced by the United States government to attempt to undermine the cohesion of the state.

>>21803724 Sputnik Tweet: Video: BIG NEWS: ASSANGE’S FATHER EXTENDS GRATITUDE TO PUTIN FOR DEFENDING HIS SON IN 2012 - John Shipton, Julian Assange's father, has thanked President Vladimir Putin, noting that in 2012, Putin was the first head of state to defend Assange’s rights as a publisher and journalist. At a time when Assange faced relentless smears from the US, UK, and Australia, Shipton acknowledged Putin's support. "For that, I extend my affection to your president," he told Sputnik. Shipton, founder of Australia's now-defunct Wikileaks Party, arrived in Moscow on Saturday night at the invitation of the BRICS Journalists Association and its co-chair Mira Terada, a human rights advocate and publicist.

>>21803724 Stella Assange Tweet - My father-in-law John Shipton does not speak for my husband. As anyone who has followed Julian already knows, Julian believes in extreme skepticism when it comes to all states with large intelligence sectors, who have committed war crimes, engaged in censorship, or sought to imprison or assassinate journalists. Our family is culturally and politically diverse and dinners are sometimes… interesting! #InterestingFamilyDinners #LoveConquersAll

>>21839262 How Julian Assange’s father is derailing his chance of a US presidential pardon - Julian Assange’s dictator-loving dad John Shipton, who has links to the Communist Party of Australia, is derailing his chances of a US presidential pardon. The father of the WikiLeaks founder was in Russia this week praising Vladimir Putin but he has also previously met with Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad who used chemical weapons on his own people. And Mr Shipton, 80, has been a guest of the Australian Communist Party in Perth and accepted an invitation from Ireland’s Communist Party to speak in Brussels. Australia spent significant political capital to get Assange out of London’s maximum security Belmarsh prison in June where he was being held while the United States attempted to extradite him on spying charges. Assange’s brother Gabe Shipton has been lobbying United States President Joe Biden to grant him a pardon before he leaves office in January. But John Shipton’s Russia propaganda visit has dented those hopes, which were already optimistic given fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton had labelled Assange a “tool of Russian intelligence” after WikiLeaks published damaging emails that derailed her 2016 election campaign. Stella Assange distanced herself from Mr Shipton’s Russian visit this week. “Anyone who has followed Julian already knows Julian believes in extreme scepticism when it comes to all states with large intelligence sectors, who have committed war crimes, engaged in censorship, or sought to imprison or assassinate journalists,” she wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

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51881f (208) No.22225311

#38 - Part 102

Julian Assange: Indictment, Extradition, Plea Deal and Freedom - Part 2

>>22064772 US lawmakers urge Biden to pardon Assange to send ‘clear message’ on media freedom - President Joe Biden has been urged to pardon Julian Assange by two US congressmen who warn they are “deeply concerned” the WikiLeaks founder’s guilty plea deal sets a precedent for prosecuting journalists and whistleblowers with espionage offences. James McGovern, a progressive Democrat from Massachusetts, and Thomas Massie, a libertarian Republican from Kentucky, wrote to the president with the bipartisan request to pardon the Australian publisher earlier in November. The pair urged Biden to “send a clear message that the US government under your leadership will not target or investigate journalists and media outlets simply for doing their jobs”. In a letter dated 1 November, McGovern and Massie expressed “appreciation” that the criminal case had been resolved and an extradition request to the United Kingdom dropped, bringing “an end to Mr Assange’s protracted detention and [allowing] him to reunite with his family and return to his home country of Australia”. But the pair said they were “deeply concerned” the deal required Assange, a publisher, to “plead guilty to felony charges”. McGovern and Massie, who previously worked with other members of Congress to call for the charges to be dropped, urged Biden to pardon Assange, arguing “a pardon would remove the precedent set by the plea”.

>>22064779 All eyes on Biden as timeline ticks for Assange pardon - Julian Assange supporters are confident Australia can place political pressure on US President Joe Biden to grant the Wikileaks founder a pardon before he leaves office. Assange's wife Stella and his brother Gabriel Shipton were lobbying MPs in Canberra on Wednesday for support to put diplomatic pressure on America for a pardon to be granted during the dying days of the Biden administration. Mr Shipton said time was running out for a pardon to be secured before Donald Trump was sworn in as president in January. "The parliament was integral to getting Julian out and they were the key to unlock his cell basically and they can continue and finish the job and push for this pardon," he told AAP. "There's a ticking clock going on for when the president can make the decision to pardon Julian." Mr Shipton said there was concern a pardon would not be issued with Mr Trump being back in the White House. He indicated Mr Albanese could hold significant sway with Mr Biden in securing a pardon for the WikiLeaks founder. "When (Albanese) was advocating for Julian, a lot of the firewall was on the separation of powers and that we could not interfere with the US Department of Justice process," he said. "Now that the process is at a conclusion, it really is in the power of President Biden to unwind this precedent that originated with the Trump administration. (A pardon) would be a real coup for the prime minister."

>>22208854 Julian Assange Doc Pulled From Sundance, Won’t Be Completed in Time Due to ‘Unexpected Developments’ - “The Six Billion Dollar Man,” a new documentary from Eugene Jarecki about Julian Assange, will no longer premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January as “recent and unexpected developments” have occurred that make it impossible for the movie to be completed on time. The Sundance-winning “House I Live In” filmmaker revealed on Friday that the film has been withdrawn so he can properly finish it before it premieres. “The truth is, significant recent and unexpected developments have emerged at the heart of the story which, if not incorporated in the version for Sundance, would not represent a finished film. Sundance has shaped my career and been a cornerstone of my journey - only something of this magnitude could make me withdraw,” Jarecki explained in a statement. The film was due to play as a special screening, not in competition, when the festival gets underway at the end of January. Per the Sundance synopsis, the documentary followed Assange facing a possible 175 years in prison for exposing U.S. war crimes and the ensuing case.

>>22224007 Video: Stella Assange Tweet: Merry Christmas to everyone from Julian, Stella, and our kids, Gabriel and Max. May the new year bring a steadfast push for peace and dignity for all.

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51881f (208) No.22225312

#38 - Part 103

AUKUS Security Pact and Nuclear Submarine Program - Part 1

>>21755730 An AUKUS First, Seven Royal Australian Navy Enlisted Sailors Graduate Nuclear Power School - Demonstrating another significant milestone for the Australia, United Kingdom, United States (AUKUS) trilateral security partnership, 12 Royal Australian Navy uniformed personnel, including the first seven enlisted sailors, graduated from the U.S. Navy’s Nuclear Power School at Joint Base Charleston-Naval Weapons Station, Oct. 11. The enlisted Royal Australian Navy sailors, who trained alongside U.S. sailors, began the naval nuclear power training pipeline in October 2023. Since then, they have been learning their specific rates, as well as the fundamentals of design, operation and maintenance of naval nuclear propulsion plans. These sailors are the vanguard of Australia establishing a sovereign conventionally armed, nuclear-powered, submarine (SSN) fleet in the early 2030s. “Naval Nuclear Power training is exceptionally rigorous and to have seven Australian sailors and five officers complete the program and move on to the Nuclear Power Training Unit takes us one step closer to operating our own SSNs,” said Chief of the Royal Australian Navy Vice Adm. Mark Hammond. “Two days after assuming command of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, I presided over the graduation of the first three Royal Australian Navy officers from Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit Charleston,” shared Adm. Bill Houston, Director, Naval Reactors. “I have been nothing but impressed by the quality of Australian sailors and officers in our training pipeline and serving aboard our nuclear-powered submarine.” Following graduation, the Royal Australian Navy sailors will report to the Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit Charleston for training focused on shipboard nuclear power plant operation and maintenance of the U.S. Navy’s nuclear fleet.

>>21773932 New AUKUS submarine servicing and shipbuilding precinct at Henderson to 'rival resources industry' in WA - Western Australia's Henderson shipyard will house a multi-billion-dollar defence precinct for naval shipbuilding and servicing of AUKUS nuclear-powered submarines to create an industry the state government claims will rival the state's massive resources industry. The Commonwealth today announced it would invest $127 million over the next three years for initial works, including feasibility studies and a detailed design. Defence Minister Richard Marles and Premier Roger Cook announced the cooperation agreement between the two governments for the shipyard in Perth's south would create a total of about 10,000 high-skilled jobs. "This represents the most significant defence industry offering to Western Australia since federation," Mr Marles said. The defence precinct will be established at the southern end of the shipyard and will be used to build new landing craft for the Australian army and new general purpose frigates for the Navy. After eight years of lobbying by the WA government, the Commonwealth has also agreed maintenance of the country's future nuclear-powered submarines, as part of the AUKUS defence agreement with the United States and the United Kingdom, will occur at Henderson. The shipyard will carry out depot-level maintenance on the submarines, meaning more than one dry dock will need to be built and thousands of highly-skilled workers will be needed into the future.

>>21789284 US congress asked to consider alternative AUKUS plan - The US congress has been handed an alternative AUKUS plan whereby it would not sell nuclear-powered submarines to Canberra and instead build up to eight new Virginia-class boats that could be retained in US Navy service and operated out of Australia. The eight extra Virginia-class submarines could be used for both US and Australian missions while freeing up funds for Canberra to invest in other capabilities such as long-range anti-ship missiles, drones, loitering munitions, B-21 long-range bombers, or other strike aircraft. The idea is canvassed by Ronald O’Rourke, a highly regarded specialist who has worked as a naval analyst for the Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress since 1984, who labels the alternative model a US/Australian “military division of labour”. Under the alternative model, Mr O’Rourke says that “up to eight additional Virginia-class SSNs would be built, and instead of three to five of them being sold to Australia, these additional boats would instead be retained in US Navy service and operated out of Australia along with the five US and UK SSNs that are already planned to be operated out of Australia under Pillar 1 as SRF-West (Submarine Rotational Force-West)”. Mr O’Rourke links the case for the alternative model to concerns over whether the US industrial base can meet the target of producing 2.33 Virginia-class submarines per year - the rate needed to replace the boats sold to Australia.

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51881f (208) No.22225313

#38 - Part 104

AUKUS Security Pact and Nuclear Submarine Program - Part 2

>>21809147 US is on track to sell Virginia-class subs to Australia, says AUKUS supporter Joe Courtney - US congressman Joe Courtney says Washington is not pursuing an AUKUS “Plan B” whereby America would operate Virginia-class submarines out of WA instead of selling them to Canberra, warning this would see Australia effectively “conceding control over the undersea domain.” The alternative “Plan B” proposal is contained in a paper prepared for members and committees of Congress by Ronald O’Rourke, a highly regarded specialist who has worked as a naval analyst for the Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress since 1984 when Ronald Reagan was still US President. Mr Courtney, the co-chair of the bipartisan AUKUS working group, said that while Mr O’Rourke was seen as a “treasure” to the US Congress he was “not infallible” and his alternative plan would involve a “pretty radical” restructure of Australia’s military force. Under the O’Rourke model - which his CRS paper labels a US/Australian “military division of labour” -- up to eight extra Virginia-class submarines would be operated out of Australia by the US Navy and used for both US and Australian missions. This in turn would free up billions of dollars for Canberra to spend on other capabilities apart from submarines such as “long-range anti-ship missiles, drones, loitering munitions, B-21 long-range bombers, or other strike aircraft.” However, Mr Courtney said the O’Rourke plan would come with major downsides for Canberra. “I don’t think the AUKUS plan really contemplated Australia conceding control over the undersea domain,” he said. “That sort of jumps out.” “Having a division of labour where the US pretty much operates the attack submarines exclusively pretty much puts Australia – at least eventually – out of the submarine business once the Collins-class are retired.”

>>21826734 Japanese officials observe secretive Jervis Bay exercises ahead of likely AUKUS invitation - Cutting edge autonomous maritime technology has been showcased during secretive AUKUS exercises on the NSW south coast, with US Defence officials signalling Japan could soon be involved in the experimental maritime activity. Military personnel from Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom have for the past three weeks participated in the tri-lateral Autonomous Warrior 2024 exercises around the Naval Base HMAS Cresswell in Jervis Bay. The activity is a key part of AUKUS pillar two endeavours, which involve joint development of emerging military technologies that harness aspects such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing and autonomy. The ABC can reveal several Japanese officials have also attended the event as "observers" ahead of a likely invitation for the nation to formally participate in the event next time. "We had them come as observers to this exercise and among our four nations there was a priority that we look forward to expanding and deepening our cooperation going forward," a senior US Defence official said. "The planning for the next exercise is underway so the full details of what their participation will be in the future hasn't yet been determined. "But I think they will move from being an observer to being a participant in the activity".

>>21839315 Video: Ambassador John Bolton tells 7NEWS Donald Trump re-election could mean AUKUS subs plan torn up - Australia’s plans to acquire a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines would be torn-up if Donald Trump is re-elected next week, according to a former top Republican party security advisor. The AUKUS defence pact would be one of the first US alliances to undergo a major review under an incoming Trump administration - with the official warning Australia not to take the agreement “for granted”. “I think it could be in jeopardy,” former US ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton told 7NEWS. “All Trump looks at is the balance sheet, and if he sees more US expenditure than those of other parties to the agreement, then I think there will be trouble.” The defence bill that passed on Capitol Hill late last year requires the president of the day to give the final tick of approval before any US submarines are delivered to Australia. And Ambassador Bolton is now encouraging America’s ally to immediately mount arguments in favour of the alliance if Trump wins the November poll. “You’ve got to explain that these Australian submarines can patrol the Indian Ocean and the waters of the Pacific around Australia (and) southeast Asia.” “This is an incredible addition to … American national security. That’s what he (Trump) needs to understand,” Ambassador Bolton said.

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51881f (208) No.22225314

#38 - Part 105

AUKUS Security Pact and Nuclear Submarine Program - Part 3

>>21860613 AFP chief talks AUKUS, election integrity and radicalisation with global security partners - Australian Federal Police commissioner Reece Kershaw will meet British and US counterparts in Europe next week to brief them on the AFP’s new AUKUS Command, established to secure the nation’s nuclear submarine program. The AFP, which is working closely with the Department of Defence and Australian Submarine Agency, has been tasked with shielding AUKUS secrets and protecting key personnel, technology and submariners. Ahead of next year’s federal election, Mr Kershaw will also hold meetings with law enforcement heads of countries where elections have recently been held to discuss election integrity and the “ongoing and persistent threat of foreign interference”. Amid a wave of extremism fanned by digital platforms, ­Australia’s top cop will raise domestic cases of youth radicalisation with security agency heads “who have provided the AFP with ­information”. Mr Kershaw, who recently had his term extended until October 2026, will meet with Five Eyes Law Enforcement Group security chiefs in Glasgow, and also travel to Paris. “I will outline to relevant partners the AFP’s role in AUKUS, which will help protect and secure Australia’s nuclear submarine program. The AFP is working closely with the Department of Defence and the Australian Submarine Agency, and already the AFP has provided key protection to US submariners on recent visits to Western Australia,” Mr Kershaw said.

>>21867683 Fire at BAE’s British sub plant ‘could set back AUKUS’ - The Albanese government was scrambling for information on a massive fire at the UK’s main nuclear submarine plant on Wednesday that analysts warned could set back the delivery schedule for Australia’s $368bn AUKUS boats. Huge plumes of smoke and yellow flames erupted at BAE Systems’ Barrow-in-Furness facility about 12.45am local time, with two workers taken to hospital with smoke inhalation. Emergency services said there was “no nuclear risk” from the fire but local residents were advised to stay indoors. The fire took hold at the site’s huge Devonshire Dock Hall, which stands 51m high, and 58m wide and is currently being expanded. It was unclear how much damage was caused by the blaze, but at any one time there can be multiple submarines inside the plant at different stages of construction. BAE is currently working on the tail end of orders for the UK’s Astute-class submarines, as well as the new Dreadnought-class ballistic missile boats for the Royal Navy, and is drawing up plans for the SSN-AUKUS, which will form the basis of Australia’s submarine fleet. The company will build Britain’s AUKUS boats at Barrow-in-Furness, and Australia’s in Adelaide. The Australian Submarine Agency said: “We are aware of a fire on site in Barrow-in-Furness and are in contact with our counterparts in the United Kingdom.” BAE Systems said it was working with emergency services to deal with the fire, but declined to provide further details on the extent of the damage. Strategic Analysis Australia director Michael Shoebridge said the fire came at an “awful time for AUKUS”, and could delay Australia’s already-ambitious submarine construction schedule. “The Barrow facility is critical to the construction of the AUKUS submarines and the British navy’s current submarines, so it’s hard to see it not being a setback, not just for the UK but for all three AUKUS partners,” Mr Shoebridge said. “It comes at a time when we need the UK’s submarine industrial base to be expanding.”

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51881f (208) No.22225316

#38 - Part 106

AUKUS Security Pact and Nuclear Submarine Program - Part 4

>>21874825 Five out of six Collins submarines out of action in critical blow to national security - Only one of the nation’s ageing Collins-class submarines is currently operational in a critical blow to national security, as corrosion problems, maintenance delays and long-running industrial action wreak havoc on the fleet’s availability. Five of the six boats are out of action and there are now serious questions over the navy’s ability to extend the life of the fleet by a further ten years to bridge a looming capability gap before Australia’s nuclear submarine’s arrive. The Australian can also reveal the Collins boats, which are approaching the end of their original 30-year lifespans, are now being used more lightly when they are available under a deliberate strategy to avoid unnecessary wear and tear. One of the submarines, HMAS Sheean, has been stuck in maintenance at Adelaide’s Osborne yard for more than two years with unprecedented corrosion issues, while a second, HMAS Rankin, has been tied up at Osborne for at least five months awaiting upgrades. Three of the boats - HMAS Farncomb and two others which The Australian is not naming for security reasons - are undergoing or about to undergo maintenance work at Perth’s Henderson precinct. The remaining Collins boat, which The Australian is also not naming to preserve its operational security, has recently been deployed on exercises and is available for tasking. It’s understood one of the boats at Henderson is due to exit maintenance in coming weeks, and could re-enter service soon subject to official clearances. Defence insists another of the boats could be pulled from scheduled maintenance in an emergency. An industrial dispute between unions and the government’s submarine maintenance corporation ASC has exacerbated the problems, setting back work on HMAS Sheean and preventing HMAS Rankin from being lifted from the water.

>>21874854 Yes sparks will fly if Trump wins but AUKUS is safe, says Austal’s chair - The chairman of navy shipbuilder Austal predicts sparks will fly over AUKUS if Donald Trump wins the US election but sees no risk of the security pact collapsing. Richard Spencer knows what it is like to be sacked by Mr Trump. He was dumped as secretary of the US Navy by the Republican leader in 2019 after a disagreement over the disciplinary process for a Navy SEAL who was eventually convicted of posing with the corpse of an Islamic State fighter in Iraq. Mr Spencer, who is also global chairman of former Australian treasurer Joe Hockey’s Bondi Partners, said his history with Mr Trump would have no bearing on Austal or on Bondi. He views AUKUS as the best piece of “statecraft” in 50 years and completely rejects criticism by former prime minister Paul Keating of the military alliance between the US, the UK and Australia. The former US marine and Wall Street veteran hosted his first annual general meeting as Austal chairman in Perth on Friday. The company has already been anointed by the Albanese government as its monopoly navy shipbuilder in the state. Mr Spencer said AUKUS would stay on course regardless of whether Mr Trump or Kamala Harris won the US election. “That’s for a bunch of reasons,” he said “One, just the national security aspect of it, as it pertains to both the US and our closest ally over here in Australia. “Two, it has so much more far-reaching consequences than just national security. It really is a one plus one equals three piece. Statecraft, which I think is the reason that it has such bipartisan support in the US. There’s very little downside. Whether Trump or Harris gets in, I don’t think AUKUS is in threat.”

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51881f (208) No.22225318

#38 - Part 107

AUKUS Security Pact and Nuclear Submarine Program - Part 5

>>21906707 Caroline Kennedy calls for ‘AUKUS visa’ as Canberra braces for election result - United States ambassador Caroline Kennedy has called for the creation of a special AUKUS visa to ensure Australia can achieve its plan to acquire nuclear-powered submarines, as senior ministers insisted the US-Australia alliance will be in good shape regardless of whether Donald Trump or Kamala Harris wins the presidency. As video emerged of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese saying in 2017 that Trump “scares the sh*t out of me”, deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley accused Labor of hoping for a Harris victory when the election results are revealed on Wednesday [AEDT]. Federal politicians and policymakers were anxiously awaiting the results of the US election, with Trump widely seen as a more volatile and unpredictable contender compared to Harris, who is expected to continue the thrust of President Joe Biden’s foreign policy. The Albanese government is insisting that Kevin Rudd will remain Australia’s top diplomat in Washington even though the former prime minister made remarks strongly critical of Trump before taking up his posting. Pointing to the difficulties involved in the ambitious nuclear-powered submarine project, Kennedy told a Submarine Institute of Australia conference in Canberra the three nations in the alliance needed faster, easier ways for work to proceed. “We need new ideas to make this possible, and an AUKUS visa is one way to move this along,” she said. Such a visa could allow defence industry workers in Australia, the US and United Kingdom to easily move between the three nations to work on submarines and advanced military technologies covered by the so-called “pillar II” of AUKUS

>>22111641 Jake Sullivan says AUKUS critical to global security - National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has championed AUKUS as “one of the most ambitious defence projects in modern history,” and the linchpin of US efforts to build an “integrated defence industrial base for the free world.” Mr Sullivan promoted AUKUS as one of the outstanding achievements of the Biden Administration, and a key piece of America’s global strategy to deter future conflicts in an era of growing strategic uncertainty. In a message to Donald Trump, Mr Sullivan said it was imperative to strengthen the US defence industrial base to deter threats in Europe, the Middle East and Indo-Pacific arising from greater co-operation between China, Russia, North Korea and Iran. This would require “not just more investment, but smarter investment, production, innovation and integration with allies.” In comments that will be seen as a warning against any return to isolationism, Mr Sullivan said it was necessary for the US to “equip our partners when they come under attack.” Mr Sullivan said a three-pronged approach had been employed to revive the US defence industrial base. The Biden Administration had boosted production of munitions and weapons systems, better leveraged innovative technologies and the power of the commercial sector and, finally, it had embarked on a new initiative to “build an integrated defence industrial base for the free world.” Mr Sullivan framed AUKUS as the key centrepiece of this latter effort - not just in its delivery of a nuclear powered submarine capability for a key ally -- but in the creation of opportunities for innovation and collaboration on “cutting edge technologies and advanced cyber, undersea capabilities, electronic warfare, Quantum, AI and hypersonics.” He also opened the door to other nations joining in on AUKUS pillar 2 co-operation, declaring that “we do see other partners coming into work with us.”

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51881f (208) No.22225320

#38 - Part 108

AUKUS Security Pact and Nuclear Submarine Program - Part 6

>>22157759 Collins-class subs listed as ‘project of concern’ - The navy’s ageing Collins-class submarines have been listed by Defence as a “project of concern” amid long-running maintenance problems that reduced the fleet to just a single operational boat in recent months. The move will trigger closer ministerial oversight of Collins’ sustainment as Defence prepares to activate a high-risk $5bn plan to extend the ageing boats’ lives by another decade. The Australian revealed in November that five of the six Collins subs were out of action as corrosion, delays and industrial action blew out sustainment schedules. Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy announced the remedial action on Friday, saying Defence would develop an improvement plan by early next year. “By listing Collins-class sustainment as a product of concern, the government is demonstrating its commitment to remediating these challenges and ensuring the submarine enterprise, which includes Defence and ASC Pty Ltd, delivers and sustains improved performance,” he said. The Australian revealed the Collins submarines, which are approaching the end of their original 30-year lifespans, are now being used more lightly when they are available under a deliberate strategy to avoid unnecessary wear and tear. The state of the submarines has raised serious questions over the Defence’s ability to undertake life-of-type extension upgrades to all six of the boats, as planned, to bridge a potential capability gap before Australia’s nuclear submarines arrive.

>>22185135 Video: US national security adviser Sullivan says Trump should like 'burden sharing' AUKUS deal - The AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine partnership with Australia will benefit the United States and is the kind of "burden sharing" deal that President-elect Donald Trump has talked about, U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said. In an interview with Australia's Lowy Institute think tank published on Tuesday, Sullivan said he had confidence AUKUS would endure under the Trump presidency, as it enhances U.S. deterrent capability in the Indo-Pacific and has Australia contributing to the U.S. industrial base. The trilateral AUKUS deal struck in 2021 is Australia's biggest defence project, with a cost of A$368 billion ($245 billion) by 2055, as Australia buys several Virginia-class submarines from the United States while also building a new class of nuclear-powered submarine in Britain and Australia. "The United States is benefiting from burden sharing - exactly the kind of thing that Mr Trump has talked a lot about," Sullivan said of the AUKUS agreement. Australia has agreed to invest $3 billion in U.S. shipyards that build the Virginia-class nuclear submarines it will be sold early next decade amid concerns that a backlog of orders could jeopardize the deal. Australia having conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines enhances America's deterrent capability in the Indo-Pacific, Sullivan said. "Australia is directly contributing to the U.S. submarine industrial base so that we can build out this submarine capability, supply Australia in the nearer term with Virginia class submarines and then in the longer term with the AUKUS class submarine," he added.

>>22185161 Trump won’t torpedo AUKUS subs deal, says Marles - Plymouth, England | US President-elect Donald Trump is unlikely to scupper or rewrite the $368 billion AUKUS nuclear-submarine deal, Defence Minister Richard Marles says. On a visit to Britain where AUKUS was a key focus, Mr Marles played down the growing fears that Trump may try to make the deal his own by demanding a higher price from Canberra for the delivery of US Virginia-class submarines. The Australian taxpayer has already written out a $US3 billion ($4.7 billion) cheque to help the US defence industry deliver more submarines. But in Washington there are lingering worries that the US can barely build enough Virginia-class boats to cover its own needs, let alone supply Australia. But Mr Marles said he was confident Trump would recognise the deal’s merits. “What we’re doing is helping put more Virginias in the water,” he said. “We are making it work for America by the contributions that we’re making to their supply base.” He said there had been a “lineage of commentary” raising questions and doubts about AUKUS ever since the pact was announced three years ago. But “for all the commentary that there has been, AUKUS is progressing and is actually happening”. Legislation enabling AUKUS had passed Congress with bipartisan support, he said, and key figures in the incoming Trump administration had backed the deal. Trump himself has not commented publicly on AUKUS, allowing the speculation to continue to run.

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51881f (208) No.22225321

#38 - Part 109

AUKUS Security Pact and Nuclear Submarine Program - Part 7

>>22204062 Australia Plans Investment of Up to US$100 Billion in Naval Shipbuilding - The Australian government reports it is reaffirming its commitment to continuous naval shipbuilding and taking steps to enhance the long-term strength of the shipbuilding industry. It is part of a plan by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to expand the shipbuilding efforts for national defense and to expand employment in the industry. The government released the 2024 version of the Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Plan which outlines the long-term plan for naval shipbuilding. The government is calling it a record investment which over the next 30 years could reach upward of US$100 billion. The minimum anticipated investment is at least US$82 billion. Among the changes to the plan versus the prior government’s strategy, the Albanese government reports the new plan includes 55 newly announced vessels. Through a 30-year forecast, the plan signals a long-term demand for shipbuilding including the planned nuclear-powered submarine program. As previously announced, the government is also moving forward with enhanced surface combatants and support ships such as landing craft. According to the government, these decisions incorporated into the plan will create an inter-generational pipeline of naval construction projects that will support around 8,500 jobs in shipbuilding and sustainment by 2030. Additionally, it anticipates 20,000 jobs over the next 30 years in support of Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine program. The government plans to invest nearly US$1 billion in vocational education programs to help support the expansion of the shipbuilding workforce. This is in addition to the US$150 million budgeted to attract, train, and retain a new workforce for the nuclear-powered submarines.

>>22208864 Video: ‘I am a Submariner’ marketing campaign launches to entice deep sea recruits - Australians will be seeing new “I am a Submariner” advertising under the most recent marketing campaign to gather recruits for the Australian Defence Force. The campaign focuses on filling recruitment targets for the nation’s incoming nuclear submarine fleet demands. “The National Defence Strategy reinforces the need for growth and retention of highly skilled people to deliver Australia’s national defence. People are, and will remain our most important capability,” Minister for Defence Personnel Matt Keogh said. “The rollout of this new advertising campaign, coupled with the new training facility at HMAS Stirling, shows the Albanese government is diving right in to grow and skill our Defence workforce. “These works at HMAS Stirling will be delivered by Western Australian businesses, supporting local jobs and creating opportunities in the trade and construction industries.” Priority submariner roles that Defence is actively seeking to recruit for Australia’s current and future submarine workforce reportedly include communication networks operators, submariner electrical fitters, electronics technicians, fixed and mobile plant mechanics, and the following for nuclear-powered submarines: electricians, electronics technicians, mechanics, weapons and sensors network technicians, and electronic warfare network technicians. “Our submariners are rightly regarded as some of the best in the world. The new Submarine Training Centre which is being built at HMAS Stirling will continue this proud tradition of highly skilled submariners well into the 21st century,” Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Mark Hammond said.

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51881f (208) No.22225322

#38 - Part 110

Australia / China Tensions - Part 1

>>21768193 Kevin Rudd calls for vigilance to deter Xi’s threat to global order - Kevin Rudd says the world must ride out the threat posed by Xi Jinping through a combination of deterrence and diplomacy, avoiding a conflict that could redefine global politics, up-end the US-China relationship and generate “death and destruction at an unimaginable scale.” Australia’s top diplomat in Washington is also championing realism towards China’s stabilisation of ties with the US and its allies, arguing this represents merely a “shift in tactical diplomacy” as Beijing continues to press its challenge to the existing international order. While it is unusual for an Australian ambassador to so publicly examine a leading international figure such as Xi Jinping, Dr Rudd has a unique vantage point as a former prime minister, foreign minister, diplomat and world expert on Chinese affairs. In his new book, “On Xi Jinping” Dr Rudd argues that Mr Xi has changed China through the power of his own ideology and individual political leadership, offering an “alternative authoritarian development model for the world.” Mr Xi’s objective is to “change the international order itself, underpinned by an increasingly powerful China as the emerging geopolitical and geo-economic fulcrum of that order.” Dr Rudd also says that Beijing remains “locked in a death struggle with the United States to secure the commanding heights across all critical domains of technology, most crucially artificial intelligence.”

>>21773945 Papua New Guinea's chance at an NRL team may hinge on a pledge not to sign a security deal with China - Papua New Guinea's hopes of fielding a team in Australia's NRL competition could hinge on a promise from its government not to sign a security deal with China. Australia and PNG are closing in on agreement that would see Canberra provide up to $600 million in support for the NRL bid. The ABC can reveal the negotiations include an assurance PNG will not sign a security deal that could allow Chinese police or military forces to be based in the Pacific nation. When asked about the security element, PNG Prime Minister James Marape said it was not the "main feature" of the agreement. "I would not be in a position to say that that's the only reason why this has been happening," he told the ABC. "For PNG and Australia, we have deeper sentimental values. Both nations love rugby league, both nations have a strong affinity. And all in all, we're working towards far bigger issues than just the security aspect to it." In a sit-down interview with the ABC, he said the deal was about bringing Australia and PNG closer together. "Rugby league is one element of our soft diplomacy," he said. "It's one element of the Albanese Labor government using every tool of statecraft to bring the people of the Pacific and Australia together and ensure that Australia is the partner of choice." The minister said he didn't believe there was a place for Chinese police in the Pacific. "We make no secret of the fact that there's geopolitical competition in this region," he said. "Countries outside the region are always seeking to form security partnerships with Pacific nations. But Australia, as a proud member of the Pacific family, is committed to being the partner of choice."

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51881f (208) No.22225323

#38 - Part 111

Australia / China Tensions - Part 2

>>21773947 Using rugby to sabotage China-PNG cooperation? See how ‘sincerely’ Australia treats PICs - "How sincere is Australia when developing relations with countries of the South Pacific islands, a region Canberra always views as its own backyard and considers to be under its sphere of influence? The answer is that Australia's offers are never without conditions. In its views, it is all about what is in its tool box to control those island countries. According to a report from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Monday, Canberra is considering providing up to $600 million in support for Papua New Guinea's hopes of fielding a team in Australia's National Rugby League (NRL) competition, but the condition is that PNG shouldn't sign a security deal with China. On one hand, it is about rugby, on the other, it is about China's perceived influence. If Australia has truly linked these two unrelated matters, that would be laughable. If we delve into the reason behind this possible move by Australia, we could uncover its deep-seated zero-sum mentality and its questionable methods for exerting influence over Pacific Island countries (PICs) to jeopardize their cooperation with other nations. For a long time, Australia has approached these countries with a condescending attitude. The so-called cooperation is primarily for the sake of Australia's own interests, rather than the interests of those island countries. Especially as China has strengthened its cooperation with the region in recent years, Australia feels its supremacy being challenged, but fails to reflect on why it is losing hearts of these countries. The fact that it sees China's presence in the region as a threat and tries to sabotage China's cooperation with regional countries demonstrates a lack of respect for their sovereignty. The South Pacific island countries are becoming aware that Australia is not conducting its diplomacy correctly by using the region to engage in competition. Australia's approach to the region has strong geopolitical purposes, and is likely to backfire." - Global Times - globaltimes.cn

>>21819443 Video: China accuses Australia of ‘systemic racism and hate crimes’ as Xi meets Putin in Russia - China has accused Australia of “systemic racism and hate crimes” and “hypocrisy” after an Australian diplomat raised international concerns about human rights abuses in Xinjiang and Tibet in the UN. In some of the sharpest comments launched at Canberra by Beijing during the “stabilisation” era, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Li Jian on Wednesday evening denounced Australia for criticising China publicly. “Out of their ideological bias, Australia, the US and a handful of other Western countries stoked confrontation at multilateral platforms for their selfish political interest,” said the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, in response to an apparent dorothy dixer by China’s national broadcaster CCTV. “Australia, long plagued by systemic racism and hate crimes, have severely violated the rights of refugees and immigrants, and left Indigenous people with vulnerable living conditions,” the Chinese government spokesman continued. “Australian soldiers have committed abhorrent crimes in Afghanistan and other countries during their military operations overseas. “These Western countries turn a blind eye to their severe human rights issues at home but in the meantime point their fingers at other countries. This says a lot about their hypocrisy on human rights,” he said. The Chinese Foreign Ministry’s counterpunch followed accusations by China’s UN Ambassador Fu Cong that Australia and its allies and partners were resorting “to lies to provoke confrontations.” Anthony Albanese said Australia had been “clear and consistent” with China in its concerns over Beijing’s human rights abuses. “We, of course, will always stand up for Australia’s interests. And when it comes to China, we’ve said we’ll cooperate where we can, we’ll disagree where we must, and we’ll engage in our national interest” Mr Albanese said at a press conference in Samoa on Thursday. “And we’ve raised issues of human rights with China. We’ve done that in a consistent and clear way,” the PM said.

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51881f (208) No.22225325

#38 - Part 112

Australia / China Tensions - Part 3

>>21819455 Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian’s Regular Press Conference on October 23, 2024 - Lin Jian: "On October 22, at the Third Committee of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Pakistan delivered a joint statement on behalf of 80 countries. They pointed out that issues related to Xinjiang and Xizang are China’s internal affairs. They spoke against the interference in China’s internal affairs under the pretext of human rights, and stood for abiding by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and respecting the right of people of each state to choose independently the path for development fit for their national conditions. Promoting and protecting human rights is the common cause of humanity and requires the joint effort of the international community in solidarity. Out of their ideological bias, Australia, the US and a handful of other Western countries stoked confrontation at multilateral platforms for their selfish political interest, which undermines international fairness and justice, and is by no means what the international community wants. Australia, long plagued by systemic racism and hate crimes, has severely violated the rights of refugees and immigrants, and left Indigenous people with vulnerable living conditions. Australian soldiers have committed abhorrent crimes in Afghanistan and other countries during their military operations overseas. We urge Australia, the US and a handful of other Western countries to face up to and address their own severe human rights problems, stop the wrongful moves of politicizing human rights issues and using them as tools, and play a constructive role in international cooperation on human rights." - mfa.gov.cn

>>21819466 Chinese envoy criticizes Australia, US for 'double standards' on human rights, downplaying Gaza situation - "While Australia, the US and a handful of other Western countries turn a blind eye to their severe human rights issues at home, in the meantime they point their fingers at other countries, which says a lot about their hypocrisy on human rights, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Wednesday, in response to over 100 countries who have voiced support for China in various ways and opposition to interference in China's internal affairs under the pretext of human rights at the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly. Australia and the US, among a few others, reached new lows in their practice of "double standards" in front of the world, by downplaying the situation in Gaza, while smearing against China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region over human rights issues, said Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, at the Third Committee of the 79th session of the General Assembly, on Tuesday, according to the official website of the Permanent Mission of China to the UN. This reveals, once again, the true intentions of Australia and the US to use human rights as a pretext to interfere in China's internal affairs and curb its development, and to broadly suppress developing countries that adhere to an independent and autonomous foreign policy, Fu noted. It is clear to the whole world that China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Xizang Autonomous Region have remained stable and prosperous, where all ethnic groups live together in harmony. The so-called assessment report on Xinjiang is fraught with lies and deception. It is purely a product of coercion of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) by the US and a few others, Fu said." - Global Times - globaltimes.cn

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51881f (208) No.22225327

#38 - Part 113

Australia / China Tensions - Part 4

>>21860582 Australia to ramp up missile production as Indo Pacific enters new missile age - Australia said it was boosting its missile defence capability amid "significant concerns" about China's test of an ICBM in the South Pacific, and will bolster weapons stockpiles and exports to security partners as the region enters a new "missile age". Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy said in a speech on Wednesday that Australia was increasing its missile defence and long-range strike capability, and would cooperate with security partners the United States, Japan and South Korea, to contribute to regional stability. "Why do we need more missiles? Strategic competition between the United States and China is a primary feature of Australia's security environment," he told the National Press Club in Canberra. China test fired an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile in September that travelled over 11,000km to land in the Pacific Ocean to Australia's north-east. Conroy said the Indo Pacific was on the cusp of a new missile age, where missiles are also "tools of coercion". "We expressed significant concern about that ballistic missile test, especially its entry into the South Pacific given the Treaty of Rarotonga that says the Pacific should be a nuclear weapons free zone," he told reporters in response to a question. Australia was deploying SM-6 missiles on its navy destroyer fleet to provide ballistic missile defence, he added.

>>21874872 US' indoctrination leading Canberra astray: China Daily editorial - "In 2021, Australia's decision to join the United States and the United Kingdom to form the trilateral security alliance AUKUS triggered domestic and international concern about an accelerating arms race in the region and its consequences. This concern intensified when the three countries announced their agreement for Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines with the help of its two alliance partners. Now, the country has exacerbated the concern by announcing its intention to increase its missile defense and long-range strike capabilities. In a speech on Wednesday, Australia's Minister for Defense Industry Pat Conroy said Canberra would invest up to 18 billion Australian dollars ($12 billion) to boost its manufacturing of missiles, including making advanced guided missile systems in the country for the first time. The Australian defense industry chief justified the move by saying that strategic competition between the US and China has become a primary feature of Australia's security environment. In other words, as a close US ally, Australia is obliged to help its ally win this competition. As a country that comfortably sits tens of thousands of miles away from all the major global and regional hot spots, the acquisition of nuclear-powered subs and long-range missiles is beyond the country's defensive needs. This has called into question the purpose of AUKUS' and Australia's role in the grouping, which is displaying an increasingly aggressive character. Rather than continuing to wade into dangerous waters, Canberra should reflect on the fact that it is the US and its allies that are responsible for creating the "unbridled strategic rivalry" in the Asia-Pacific region as part of their efforts to curtail China's development momentum." - chinadaily.com.cn

>>21888295 ‘Job not done’: Don Farrell flies out to seal end of lobster, beef bans amid AUKUS concerns - Trade Minister Don Farrell has set off for Shanghai to press his Chinese counterpart to remove the remnants of Beijing’s $20bn trade coercion campaign as China’s state media fulminates over Australia’s “increasingly aggressive” AUKUS posture. Late on Sunday, Senator Farrell was set to meet with China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao in Shanghai. The two-day trip closely follows a visit to Beijing late last week by some of corporate Australia’s most senior figures, who met with Chinese leaders in the Great Hall of the People. People familiar with the Trade Minister’s agenda said his top priorities were to get assurances that China would honour its deal to allow the resumption of Australia’s live lobster trade by the end of the year and to secure an end of bans on a clutch of Australian beef abattoirs. “We can’t rest on our laurels. The job is not done,” Senator Farrell said before flying from Australia early on Sunday. “I will continue to press for the full resumption of normal bilateral trade,” he said.

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51881f (208) No.22225329

#38 - Part 114

Australia / China Tensions - Part 5

>>21906209 Chinese Commerce minister gives Don Farrell ‘personal assurances’ Australian beef, lobster bans to end - Don Farrell has declared trade with China could grow by another $75bn, as he called for more ambition in the economic relationship after receiving a “personal” assurance from the Chinese Commerce Minister that bans on Australian beef and lobster were likely to end before the federal election. Speaking exclusively to The Australian on the rooftop of Shanghai’s Peace Hotel, the Trade Minister outlined a bullish outlook that departed from the government’s previous focus on “diversification” from China. While Senator Farrell’s two-day China trip meant he missed the Adelaide event that kicked off Anthony Albanese’s re-election campaign, the factional heavyweight used the Shanghai backdrop to add to the Labor pitch. “Trade has been a great success story over the life of this government,” he told The Australian on Monday, adding that thanks to the Albanese government’s ­“patience and persistence”, Australia’s trade ties could grow significantly in the coming years. “It was $327bn last year. Why can’t it be $400bn?” he said. “We can do that, but simultaneously we can increase our ­exports to other countries as a defensive mechanism.”

>>21949056 Eavesdropping air fryers ‘sending data to China’ - Air fryers may be serving up a side of surveillance with your chicken and chips. Three makers of the popular kitchen gadget have apps that want to record audio on your phone and send your data to China, consumer group Which? has said. The consumer group tested four types of smart gadgets to see how invasive they were of users’ privacy. Air fryers made by Xioami, Aigostar and Cosori all wanted to record audio on users’ phones with no specified reason, as well as know the customer’s precise location, Which? said. The Aigostar and Xiaomi fryers both sent people’s personal data to servers in China and the Xiaomi app connected to trackers from Facebook and TikTok. Among other tested devices, the Huawei Ultimate smartwatch was classed as giving invasive access to parts of someone’s phone, including precise location, the ability to record audio, access to stored files and the ability to see all the other apps installed. All of the air fryers, watches, TVs and smart speakers that were tested required privacy consent to work properly. The researchers said that smart TV menus were “littered with ads and thirsty for user data”. Samsung’s TV app requested eight “risky” phone permissions, including being able to see all the other apps on a phone, second only to the Huawei smartwatch, Which? said. The Bose portable home speaker and app were “stuffed with trackers, including Facebook, Google and digital marketing firm Urban Airship”, it found. Trackers are software in an app that monitors data about your activity, including how you use the app, your location and the device you are using. This data is often sent to companies such as Facebook and Google, which use it to target users with personalised adverts.

>>21961394 Snubbed: Australia’s best friend in the Pacific gets cold shoulder from Canberra - Solomon Islands’ most strident anti-Beijing warrior watched last week, quietly seething, as surveyors began work on the first Chinese infrastructure project in the nation’s most populous province, Malaita. Before he was deposed as premier of Malaita last year, Daniel Suidani had banned Chinese companies from entering the province, putting him in open conflict with the pro-Beijing central government of Manasseh Sogavare, then prime minister. Suidani even blocked the installation of Huawei mobile phone towers in his one-man war against China’s most concerted bid anywhere in the South Pacific to exert its power. But now he sees young children being trained by Chinese police in martial arts. The rebellious Suidani believes the values of the Chinese Communist Party are irreconcilable with those of Solomon Islands and corrosive of democracy - a heretical stance that led to his dismissal from office in February last year for refusing to accept the country’s “one China” policy. In elections early this year the popular Suidani was swept back into parliament and Martin Fini, the pro-China premier who replaced him, booted from his seat. Hefty bribes paid to some of Suidani’s erstwhile supporters from a CCP slush fund, a trumped-up arrest and constitutional impediments have set back his plans to be premier again, but in the meantime he remains the most effective bulwark against Beijing’s encroachment into the sprawling archipelago. Which makes it all the more baffling that the provincial strongman is being blanked by the Albanese government.

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51881f (208) No.22225330

#38 - Part 115

Australia / China Tensions - Part 6

>>21994109 China tells other world leaders: be like Australia’s Anthony Albanese - Beijing has nominated Anthony Albanese as the leader other American allies should emulate ahead of a meeting between the Australian Prime Minister and China’s President Xi Jinping in South America. In an editorial published on the eve of meetings of APEC and G20 leaders in Peru and Brazil, the China Daily praised the Australians PM’s “strategic autonomy” amid “unprecedented geopolitical complexity and uncertainty” after the election of Donald Trump. The party-state masthead, Beijing’s most authoritative English language masthead, offered the Australian Prime Minister as an exemplar for other American allies as they engage in the difficult “balancing act” between their security partner in Washington and their economic relationship with China. The party-state controlled masthead said hawkish picks in Trump’s cabinet would make this balance “not an easy one”, and suggested leaders could learn from Albanese who has talked up Australia’s trade relationship with China ahead of the summits. “Australia, however, might offer some useful reference for those struggling to strike such a balance,” the China Daily editorialised. “Australia’s ties with China deteriorated when the previous Australian government fell under Washington’s anti-China spell,” the masthead continued. “But Canberra has woken up to the significance of those ties under the Albanese government and set out repairing them. The strategic autonomy the Albanese government has displayed has proved that those ties are in both parties’ interests. It is also evident that economic ties with China and the US do not have to be mutually exclusive.”

>>22001931 ‘We have not changed our position’: PM brushes off China’s praise - Anthony Albanese has brushed-off praise from a prominent Beijing mouthpiece by declaring he does not “subscribe” to the state-owned China Daily, as Chinese President Xi Jinping skipped the first gathering of APEC leaders in Peru in favour of one-on-one meetings. With Mr Xi not turning-up to the first leaders’ sessions in Lima, the Prime Minister caught-up with outgoing US President Joe Biden, who is attending his final international summits before vacating the White House in January. Mr Albanese and Mr Biden, who have met formally 11 times since the 2022 election, were photographed grinning and shaking hands ahead of the APEC leaders’ informal dialogue, also attended by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. Mr Albanese is expected to meet with Mr Xi at the G20 summit in Brazil. The likely Xi-Albanese meeting follows a China Daily editorial published on the eve of APEC and G20 summits praising the Australian Prime Minister’s “strategic autonomy” amid “unprecedented geopolitical complexity and uncertainty” following the election of Mr Trump. The editorial confirms that Beijing has nominated Mr Albanese as the leader other American allies should emulate as they balance relations with China and a second Trump administration.

>>22001948 ‘Meek and weak’: Former top diplomat blasts Albanese on China - Japan’s former top diplomat in Australia has launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, accusing him of being “weak and meek” in his handling of relations with China. Shingo Yamagami, who served as Japan’s ambassador in Canberra from 2021 to 2023, also welcomed Donald Trump’s US election victory, predicting he would help deter a Chinese invasion of the self-governing island of Taiwan. Yamagami’s comments preceded an expected meeting of Albanese and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Brazil in coming days, and a meeting between Defence Minister Richard Marles and his Japanese and US counterparts in Darwin on Sunday. “There’s no question that Anthony Albanese has been weak and meek vis a vis China. This is common knowledge in the international community,” Yamagami told this masthead. “Otherwise, how could China praise Anthony Albanese?” The state-owned China Daily newspaper urged Western leaders to emulate Albanese in an editorial published on Thursday, praising him for his “strategic autonomy” in balancing relations between Beijing and Washington. “He has done everything not to displease China and has hesitated in calling a spade a spade, which was really good for China,” said Yamagami, who previously served as head of Japan’s spy agency, the Intelligence and Analysis Service. Albanese should have more forcefully condemned China’s increasingly assertive conduct in the South China Sea and East China Sea, he said.

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51881f (208) No.22225332

#38 - Part 116

Australia / China Tensions - Part 7

>>22008527 Donald Trump, tariffs to top Anthony Albanese’s G20 talks with Xi Jinping - Chinese President Xi Jinping will hold a third bilateral meeting with Anthony Albanese at the start of the G20 summit, with the leaders expected to discuss the aftermath of Donald Trump’s election victory, tariff war fears and strengthening the China-Australia trade relationship. Just over 12-months after Mr Xi hosted the Prime Minister in Beijing for their second meeting, the pair will sit down in Rio de Janeiro at a time of heightened anxiety for China over the scale of Mr Trump’s threatened 60 per cent tariffs on Chinese imports. Mr Albanese, who is not seeking a meeting with Mr Trump following the G20 summit, will not hold formal talks with outgoing US President Joe Biden, who on Monday (AEDT) became the first American leader to travel to the Amazon. Amid concerns Australian products could be slugged with tariffs of up to 20 per cent, Mr Albanese has pledged to seek a positive outcome for local goods with a Trump administration, while not interfering between the US and China.

>>22014905 Xi Jinping moves to lock-in Anthony Albanese on trade at G20 - Xi Jinping has urged Anthony Albanese to join him in transforming the China-Australia relationship into a more mature, stable and fruitful partnership that will project “stability and certainty to the region and the wider world” in the wake of Donald Trump’s election victory. The Chinese President - who has assembled the Communist Party’s highest-ranking officials in South America to launch a charm offensive of world leaders at the APEC and G20 summits -- told the Prime Minister that their discussions in Beijing last year had been “very productive over the past year and more”. Mr Xi and Mr Albanese met at the Chinese president’s Rio de Janeiro hotel, where the Communist leader is receiving world leaders offsite from the G20 summit. Mr Albanese was brought in to meet Mr Xi immediately after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The third bilateral meeting between Mr Xi and Mr Albanese ran for about 30 minutes before the leaders headed in their motorcades to the G20 opening session. Mr Xi’s diplomatic full court press comes amid fears in Beijing of a US-China trade war after Mr Trump pledged to impose 60 per cent tariffs on all Chinese products. Marking the 10th anniversary almost to the date since he addressed the federal parliament in 2014, Mr Xi told Mr Albanese “we have maintained close communications at all levels, actively promoting the implementations of our common understandings, and made positive progress. I wish to work with you, Mr Prime Minister, to make our comprehensive strategic partnership more mature, stable and fruitful and inject more stability and certainty to the region and the wider world.”

>>22014937 Penny Wong ‘gravely concerned’ as Australian Gordon Ng sentenced to seven years in Hong Kong pro-democracy crackdown - Australian Gordon Ng has been sentenced to more than seven years as part of the biggest crackdown on Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement since Beijing imposed a national security law on the former British colony in 2020. Ng was one of 47 democracy campaigners - dubbed the “Hong Kong 47” - who were charged with conspiring to commit subversion for their involvement in an attempt to win a majority in the city’s local elections. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the Australian government was “gravely concerned” by the sentence, which was delivered in Hong Kong hours after Chinese President Xi Jinping told Anthony Albanese to take “great care” of relations with Beijing. “Australia has expressed our strong objections to the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities on the continuing broad application of national security legislation, including in application to Australian citizens,” Senator Wong said in a statement issued shortly after the sentencing on Tuesday. “We call for China to cease suppression of freedoms of expression, assembly, media and civil society, consistent with the Human Rights Committee and Special Procedure recommendations, including the repeal of the National Security Law in Hong Kong,” she said. “This is a deeply difficult time for Mr Ng, his family and supporters. Our thoughts are with them following the sentencing,” the Foreign Minister added. “The Australian government has advocated at senior levels in support of Mr Ng’s best interests and welfare and has sought consular access to Mr Ng. We will continue to do so,” she said.

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51881f (208) No.22225333

#38 - Part 117

Australia / China Tensions - Part 8

>>22022557 Jimmy Lai tells HK court he was in the business of ‘delivering freedom’ as Canberra unites to condemn Beijing - Pro-democracy news publisher Jimmy Lai has told a Hong Kong court he was in the business of “delivering freedom” as he spoke for the first time in a foreign collusion case that has been condemned across Australia’s political spectrum. Speaking in court on Wednesday, the most high profile figure in Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement said he started his media business after the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. “I thought it was a good opportunity for somebody like me, a businessman who has made some money, to participate in delivering information which I think is freedom,” Lai, 76, told the court. “To participate in delivering freedom was a very good idea for me at that time … the more information you have, the more you are in the know and the more you are free.” Lai is accused under the national security law Beijing imposed on Hong Kong in 2020 of colluding with foreign forces, a charge that could carry a sentence of up to life in prison. He has pleaded not guilty. The highly politicised trial in a territory once known for its respected legal system has drawn condemnation from liberal democracies around the world and across the full spectrum of Australian politics. In an unusual demonstration of cross party solidarity, Labor, Coalition and Greens senators joined to condemn Beijing for its persecution of Lai and called for his “immediate and unconditional” release. “I know that many Australians who have visited and grown to admire and love Hong Kong over the years … for its vibrancy, its energy and its entrepreneurialism and, most particularly, its liberal institutions and freedoms, are distressed by the path that Hong Kong is taking,” said Liberal senator Dave Sharma.

>>22042747 Japan hosts Five Eyes group meeting for first time - Japan hosted a gathering of senior enlisted service members from the Five Eyes intelligence partnership Wednesday, the first time a nonmember state has done so, in a move that highlights the growing cooperation between Tokyo and its Western allies amid shared concerns about a rapidly deteriorating international security environment. The meeting with members from the grouping - comprising the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand -- took place as part of a broader conference held in Tokyo among senior enlisted personnel from across the Self-Defense Forces. “We saw a great opportunity to invite the Five Eyes nations to this SDF gathering so that our enlisted leaders can broaden their understanding of the situation in other countries,” Air Self-Defense Force Chief Warrant Officer Osamu Kai, who represented Japan at the gathering, told the Japan Times, adding that another key goal was to promote Japan’s vision of a Free and Open Indo Pacific. While this marked the first such meeting outside a Five Eyes country, it wasn’t the first time Japan has been involved in such gatherings. For instance, SDF personnel were invited to a similar conference of Canadian senior enlisted members last month. As tensions rise between China and the West, experts have said that Japan - seen as standing on the frontlines of regional strategic challenges – can offer the intelligence grouping the use of its information-gathering capabilities, particularly in the field of electronic surveillance, along with its insight on Asian geopolitics.

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51881f (208) No.22225334

#38 - Part 118

Australia / China Tensions - Part 9

>>22042753 Japan hosts Five Eyes intel meeting for 1st time; experts warn of Tokyo’s eagerness to become the ‘sixth eye’ - "The Five Eyes alliance hosted an intelligence group meeting in Japan on Wednesday, the first time that such a meeting has been held in a non-member country, a reflection of Tokyo's "critical position for gathering information on nearby China," Nikkei Asia reported. Chinese experts warned of Japan's eagerness to join the alliance, but suggested that as the Five Eyes countries are all of Anglo-Saxon origin, Japan will seem "an outsider." The group is only using Japan's zeal to serve their own hegemonic purposes, analysts said. The decision to hold the meeting in Japan reflects its "growing importance as an intelligence-collecting base in the Indo-Pacific region," Nikkei Asia reported. Japan has long sought to enhance its status by pursuing membership in the Five Eyes grouping. And to gain this position, Japan is striving to align itself more closely with the Five Eyes in various fields, including military, security, politics and culture, Zhou Yongsheng, a deputy director of the Japanese Studies Center at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Wednesday. While the possibility of Japan becoming the "sixth eye" is increasing, potential membership will depend on negotiations among member states, as the Five Eyes is not merely an intelligence sharing group, it is rooted in shared ethnic heritage and cultural ties, as all members are of Anglo-Saxon origin, Zhou said. In contrast, Japan does not share the same ethnic and cultural background with these countries, which will make it "an outsider" in this context, Zhou said." - Fan Anqi - globaltimes.cn

>>22042771 Video: Taiwan's president to visit remaining Pacific allies - Taiwan President Lai Ching-te will visit Taipei's three remaining diplomatic allies in the Pacific on a trip starting at the end of November, but the government has declined to give details on US transit stops. Taiwanese presidents usually use visits to allied countries to make what are officially stopovers in the United States, Taiwan's most important international backer and arms supplier, which frequently anger Beijing. On two occasions in the past two years China staged military drills around Taiwan after presidential or vice-presidential stopovers in the United States. On those stopovers, Taiwanese presidents often meet friendly politicians and give speeches. Reuters reported last week that Lai was planning to stop off in Hawaii and maybe the US territory of Guam while he was in the Pacific. Asked repeatedly by reporters at a news conference on Friday for details on the stopovers, Deputy Taiwan Foreign Minister Tien Chung-kwang said they were in the planning stages and would be announced at an "appropriate time". China would do all it could to stymie the trip - Lai's first abroad since being inaugurated in May - but Taiwan would not be deterred, he said. "We won't dance to their tune. We will do what we have to do and what we plan."

>>22049450 Lai authorities’ political manipulation activities using trips to countries having so-called ‘diplomatic ties’ with Taiwan region will lead nowhere: FM - "The one-China principle is a basic norm in international relations and prevailing international consensus. The Lai Ching-te authorities' political manipulation activities and provocations using trips to countries having so-called "diplomatic ties" with Taiwan will lead nowhere, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Friday, in response to reports that Taiwan regional leader Lai will visit three Pacific island nation "allies" at the end of this month in his first overseas trip since taking office. It will not shake the solid and strong international commitment to the one-China principle, or stop the overriding historical trend towards China's reunification, Lin said. "We urge relevant countries to see clearly the trend of history at an early date, and make the right decision that truly serves their fundamental and long-term interests," Lin told a routine press conference. In response to whether China demanded the US not to allow Taiwan's Lai to "transit" in US territory when he travels to the Pacific, Lin said that Chinese President Xi Jinping in the meeting between Chinese and US Presidents in Lima stressed that the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués are the political foundation of China-US relations and they must be observed." - Global Times - globaltimes.cn

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51881f (208) No.22225336

#38 - Part 119

Australia / China Tensions - Part 10

>>22058546 Chinese ambassador tells Australia not to risk bilateral ties after Trump US election victory - China's ambassador to Australia has declared there's "no reason" that Donald Trump's return to the White House should damage the relationship between Canberra and Beijing. Xiao Qian struck a buoyant tone at the opening of a press conference marking the tenth anniversary of the Australia-China comprehensive strategic partnership, saying ties were "back to the right track" after being "derailed" under the Coalition. But the ambassador fielded multiple questions about the president-elect and what his return to power would mean for ties between China, the US and Australia. Mr Trump has appointed several China hawks to key positions in his administration, and some analysts predict he's likely to demand allies join US efforts to curb China's military and technological prowess. Mr Xiao said the bilateral relationship between Australia and China had to be handled "maturely" and both countries should try to protect its "foundations." "There are reasons for us to be responsibly managing relations bilaterally, well enough, maturely enough, so that our two peoples can continue to benefit," he said. "There is no reason to compromise our respective interests for the sake of a third party," said Mr Xiao. The US president-elect has also vowed to impose massive 60 per cent tariffs on Chinese goods, sparking fears of a global trade war which could inflict massive damage on Australia's economy.

>>22064745 Ex-Japanese ambassador Shingo Yamagami ‘called in’ to Penny Wong’s office over China remarks - Former Japanese ambassador to Australia, Shingo Yamagami, has revealed he was “called in” to Penny Wong’s office to be cautioned over public criticism of China even before Labor was elected in 2022 and she became the foreign minister. Describing the summons to an ambassador to be cautioned by “a heavyweight MP of the Labor left” who was not even in government as “extraordinary and unacceptable”, Mr Yamagami said it was not clear whether Senator Wong was speaking on behalf of the ALP or just expressing her own views. The then ambassador said he was told in 2021 to come to the parliamentary office “promptly”, where it was revealed he had to be cautioned because his “remarks were being used politically”. “In a plain language, it was meant to be that since my remarks are so controversial that I must shut up my mouth,” Mr Yamagami has written in a book in Japan. “The choice of the word ‘caution’ smacked of lecturing. As a general protocol of diplomacy, it was extraordinary and unacceptable for any ambassador representing his country to nod to such a message from somebody who is not even representing her country.” The summons followed a report in The Australian Financial Review calling for a unified policy on China based on Mr Yamagami’s public support for “policy co-ordination and harmonisation” between Australia and Japan on China policy.

>>22064750 China warns New Zealand against joining AUKUS - The Chinese ambassador to New Zealand says if New Zealand were to join security grouping AUKUS it would "inevitably" have negative consequences for the country's relationship with China. In a wideranging interview with state-owned Radio New Zealand released on Wednesday, Wang Xiaolong expressed significant concerns about the trilateral security pact between Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom. "AUKUS entails the transfer of weapons-grade nuclear materials from a nuclear weapon state to a non-nuclear weapon state for the first time in history," Dr Wang said. "If that is allowed to happen, it will raise serious questions about the integrity of the [nuclear] Non-Proliferation Treaty regime." Dr Wang's remarks follow comments from Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who said earlier this month that any potential response from China, should New Zealand sign up to AUKUS, was "not a consideration for us". "Whether New Zealand gets involved or not is a conversation we continue to explore and get into," Mr Luxon said then. AUKUS is a two-stage defence pact formed in 2021 by the US, Britain and Australia as part of efforts to push back against China's growing influence in the Asia Pacific region. The first stage, or "pillar", of AUKUS is designed to deliver nuclear-powered submarines to Australia, while the second pillar is focused on delivering advanced capabilities and sharing technologies across a range of areas. When asked about the potential economic consequences if New Zealand joined Pillar Two, Dr Wang said: "Inevitably, that will have a negative impact on the relationship."

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51881f (208) No.22225338

#38 - Part 120

Australia / China Tensions - Part 11

>>22069538, >>22069709 Darwin Port’s Chinese owner scrambles to stave off forced sale - The Chinese company that controversially purchased Darwin Port nine years ago is scrambling to offload assets and pay down debt to stave off creditors and avoid a forced sale of its key Australian asset. The Northern Territory government is so worried about the situation it has written to Landbridge seeking further information about the group’s ability to meet its financial obligations, and said it is reviewing its rights. The possibility Darwin Port could be taken back from its Chinese owner was welcomed by Coalition MPs who believe the most important maritime port in northern Australia should never have been sold to them. Shandong Landbridge Group defaulted on a 500 million yuan ($107 million) bond earlier this year, prompting auditors PwC to warn its local subsidiaries -- which own the port and rely on the Chinese parent for ongoing funds – are in a precarious position. “In the event the parent entity is unable to restructure its debt, an insolvency event could occur,” PwC said in its financial report for the year ending June 30 filed with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. “A material uncertainty exists that may cast significant doubt on the group’s ability to continue as a going concern.” In 2015 Landbridge controversially paid $506 million to secure a Northern Territory government tender for a 99-year lease over the port, which the government considers a strategic maritime asset in northern Australia. The sale led former US president Barack Obama to express displeasure to then-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull when the lease was first signed, given up to 2500 US Marines rotate through Darwin each year. In 2021, amid growing tensions between Canberra and Beijing, the Coalition ordered a review of the deal, citing national security concerns. The Defence Department review found there were insufficient grounds to scrap the lease.

>>22080769 Labor shrinks Australia’s diplomatic footprint in China - The Albanese government is closing Australia’s consulate in Shenyang, shrinking its diplomatic footprint in China for the first time since the Whitlam government recognised Beijing in 1972. The Australian can reveal that Australia’s consulate in Shenyang, the capital of Liaoning Province, will be closed next week on December 6. Chinese officials have been briefed on the impending closure, which will further the imbalance in diplomatic representation in the two countries. A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed the closure late on Friday. “The Australian Government continues to evaluate our diplomatic presence to ensure we are best positioned to advance Australia’s national interests, and deliver value for taxpayer money,” the DFAT spokesman told The Australian. The three staff in the consulate - which opened in 2019 in the Morrison era -- will be relocated to Australia’s remaining missions in China. Along with Australia’s embassy in Beijing, Australia has consulates in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu on the Chinese mainland, as well as a consulate in Hong Kong. By contrast, the number and size of China’s diplomatic postings in Australia have continued to grow in recent years as the volume of Chinese international students has remained robust, and as tourists from China continue to far outnumber Australians visiting China. In addition to China’s embassy in Canberra, China has consulates in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide where its giant 5600 sqm compound was opened in 2021 in the midst of Beijing’s epic trade coercion campaign on the Morrison government.

>>22080773 Ties between Australia, China 'back on track': Albanese takes care to rebuild relations derailed by previous govt, observers say - "The Australia-China relationship is back on track after a period of disruption, analysts said, citing the recent meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Both leaders reiterated their shared desire to build a mature and stable relationship. Analysts say Albanese has taken great care in rebuilding relations with China, which were derailed by the former conservative coalition government. This was echoed on Tuesday by China's Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian, when he said the year 2022, when Albanese was elected, was the "year of stabilization" in Australia's relationship with China. At a news briefing marking the 10th anniversary of the Australia-China comprehensive strategic partnership, Xiao said ties were "back on the right track". "We experienced a difficult time for several years until two years ago," he said. "Since then, we have successfully changed that situation."" - Karl Wilson - chinadaily.com.cn

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51881f (208) No.22225339

#38 - Part 121

Australia / China Tensions - Part 12

>>22098847 China lifts trade ban on last two Australian meat processors - The last two meat processors barred from shipping produce to China have been granted re-entry after a diplomatic standoff that lasted more than four years. The abattoirs, both located in Queensland, were re-added to an official Chinese export-licence list on Tuesday, marking what the ­Albanese government billed as a “return to business as usual” for the $13.9bn export industry. The welcome move follows talks with officials in China this week and a positive meeting between Anthony Albanese and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Brazil last month. Brisbane-based Australian Country Choice and Warwick-based John Dee were the final two meat processors, from a list of 10, to be granted re-entry to the Chinese market. “This is great news for Australian exporters, producers and farmers,” the Prime Minister said on Tuesday. “Since we were elected we’ve worked tirelessly to resume trade and that’s exactly what we are ­seeing. “It’s a win for trade and a win for Australian jobs - something my government will always back.” Australia is forecast to export $2.2bn worth of beef into China this financial year, making it the second largest market for Australian beef after the US. Ostensibly the suspensions were put in place due to Chinese accusations of incorrect labelling and contamination of meat products. But the timing of the bans, in August 2020 for John Dee and October 2021 for ACC, came during heightened diplomatic tension between Canberra and Beijing after then prime minister Scott Morrison called for an investigation into the outbreak of Covid in Wuhan.

>>22098865 Video: Taiwan president stops in Hawaii during Pacific tour, drawing ire from China - The Taiwanese president, Lai Ching-te, has begun a two-day US stopover in Hawaii as part of a Pacific tour after declaring his democratically governed island a key force for promoting global peace and stability. The trip has sparked fury from China, which views Taiwan as its own territory and opposes any foreign interactions or visits by the island’s leaders. China’s foreign ministry said on Sunday it had lodged “serious protests” with the US. China has been stepping up military pressure against Taiwan, including two rounds of war games this year, and security sources have told Reuters that Beijing may hold more military exercises to coincide with Lai’s tour, which also includes a stopover in Guam, a US territory. It is Lai’s first foreign trip since taking office in May. After Hawaii, he will go to the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau, three of the 12 countries that retain formal diplomatic ties with Taipei and a part of the world where China has been exerting stronger influence. Speaking to reporters before his departure, Lai said: “Thank you to the US government for upholding the principles of safety, dignity, comfort and convenience for helping the smooth process of this trip.”

>>22098885 ‘Prevent war’ - Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te’s Pacific focus - Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te arrived in the Marshall Islands on Tuesday, after visiting the US on the first stop of a Pacific tour that has angered Chinese leaders. Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine extended Mr Lai a “very warm welcome” after his ­arrival in the capital, Majuro. “Taiwan and the Marshall ­Islands share a traditional Austronesian culture as well as the values of freedom and democracy,” Mr Lai said in his response. Mr Lai spent two days in the US, discussed “China’s military threats” towards Taiwan in a call with former US Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and met government officials and members of congress. China opposes any international recognition of Taiwan and its claim to be a sovereign state. It especially bristles at official contact with Washington, Taiwan’s most important security backer. The Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau are the three Pacific island allies Mr Lai will visit as part of his first overseas trip since taking office in May. They are among 12 nations, including The Vatican, that still recognise Taiwan’s claim to statehood after others were poached by China with promises of aid and investment. China, which insists Taiwan is part of its territory, has fumed over recent US arms sales to the island and Mr Lai’s stop in Hawaii, where he was welcomed with red carpets and garlands of flowers. Mr Lai and Ms Pelosi discussed “China’s military threats toward Taiwan”, presidential spokeswoman Karen Kuo said in ­Hawaii, describing the 20-minute call between the “long-time friends” as “warm and amicable”.

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51881f (208) No.22225341

#38 - Part 122

Australia / China Tensions - Part 13

>>22098914 Lai authorities, US seek ‘more provocative’ move; China vows strong countermeasures - "Secessionist authorities of Taiwan region and external forces are acting more provocatively during the power transition time in the US, with the Chinese mainland voicing strong opposition and vowing strong and resolute countermeasures, as Taiwan regional leader Lai Ching-te made a "stopover" in Hawaii during his trip to the Pacific, and the US announced another round of arm sales to the island. China firmly opposes official interactions between the US and Taiwan region, firmly opposes the leader of the Taiwan region making a "stopover" in the US in any name or under whatever pretext, a long-standing and clear position, Chen Binhua, a spokesperson of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office said on Sunday. Chen made the remarks in response to a media question on Taiwan regional leader Lai Ching-te's "stopover" in Hawaii amid his trip to so-called "diplomatic allies" in the Pacific. Chen noted that the Chinese Foreign Ministry has lodged serious protests with the US. "We urge the US to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, fully see the separatist nature and damage of Lai and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities, and handle the Taiwan question with prudence," Chen said. On the US arm sales, China will take strong and resolute countermeasures to firmly defend national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, the spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday." - Yang Sheng and Liu Xuanzun - globaltimes.cn

>>22104717 China ‘irrelevant’ to PNG NRL deal, minister says - Papua New Guinea will get an Australian taxpayer-funded NRL team without having to explicitly rule out a future security agreement with Beijing, PNG Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko has revealed, declaring the deal “has nothing to do with China”. Ahead of an announcement next week on PNG’s inclusion in the league from 2028, Mr Tkatchenko also revealed a secure fortress would be constructed in Port Moresby for the team’s players and their families, saying PNG would “do our utmost best” to keep foreign recruits safe. The Albanese government has committed $600m to underwrite the new PNG team over a decade, while PNG has backed tax-free status for players and announced PGK100m ($A37.5m) for accommodation, facilities and grassroots game development. The government is backing PNG’s NRL ambitions as part of a push to sideline China in the Pacific that also includes a planned new security agreement with Nauru. The Nauru deal, which the government hopes to finalise in coming weeks, is modelled on a landmark deal with Tuvalu that gives Australia a veto over the country’s future security agreements in return for permanent visas for Tuvaluans. Australian government sources said there was a “security element” to the PNG NRL deal. But Mr Tkatchenko said Australia had not insisted on any formal security undertakings by PNG in the final agreement. “It was discussed at the highest level, and we all said ‘It’s totally irrelevant to what we’re trying to achieve here’,” he told The Australian. “We don’t need to commit ourselves in that regard. You know, the game has nothing to do with China at all. “This is to get us into the NRL. This is to build up our relationship between Australia and Papua New Guinea through sport. And we don’t want to get disrupted with geopolitics on this one.”

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51881f (208) No.22225342

#38 - Part 123

Australia / China Tensions - Part 14

>>22104758 Vanuatu and China's bilateral agreement for aviation development - The Vanuatu Government signed a bilateral agreement on Civil Air Transport and a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on Traffic Rights with the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) yesterday to enhance bilateral ties in aviation, tourism and trade. CAAC Administrator Song Zhiyong shared that during the past two days, the two countries have prolonged in discussions and shared dialogues in relations to air transportation and how to strengthen them. “Vanuatu has long been a good friend of China in the South Pacific,” Mr. Song said. “Over the past 42 years, the relationship between the two resulted in something stronger, and we are appreciative of how Vanuatu has stood and supported the One-China Policy. Our aim is for both leaders to support the aviation impact at a national effort. During the past four months, we have maintained consultations between the countries to sign the Air Service Agreement and the Memorandum of Agreement on Traffic Rights to provide legal foundation for airline services to meet national and international demands.” Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Minister for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Matai Seremaiah, conveyed his thanks on behalf of the Vanuatu Government and said it is the first time for the CAAC to foster a relationship with the Civil Aviation Authority of Vanuatu (CAAV). “Vanuatu is dependent on tourism, from a Government scale, we are committed to partake in the agreement to promote marketing and tourism in the country,” he said. CAAV Acting Director and Deputy Director Ellory Takiau said the MoA is to bind the agreement made during the Prime Minister’s visit to China this year to sign the Air Transportation Agreement which will allow Chinese planes to make direct flights between China and Vanuatu.

>>22128261 Boat carrying Chinese nationals said to have arrived in NT - Authorities are ­investigating the arrival of a boat carrying multiple Chinese nationals on a remote stretch of Northern Territory coastline. Multiple sources on the ground in the NT had received on Thursday similar accounts of a vessel making landfall near Maningrida in West Arnhem Land. If confirmed, it would be the latest in a growing line of boats to make it to the Australian ­mainland. According to one source, Chinese nationals called triple-0 upon their arrival and asked for police assistance. Road closures due to flooding in the area are said to have slowed the response. An Australian Border Force spokeswoman said the ABF did not comment on or confirm operational matters. The reports will add to growing concerns about the inflow of foreign vessels -- mostly illegal fishing boats, but increasingly also people-smuggling ventures – making it to the mainland. Last week, the NT government issued a statement calling for a stronger federal response to the rising number of illegal vessels in the region. Members of the remote community of Gunbalanya in western Arnhem Land late last month found nine foreign nationals, all carrying Chinese passports, walking on a road towards the community. And less than a month ago, the Northern Land Council - which represents traditional owner communities across the top half of the NT – said Indigenous rangers had helped four foreign men they found at Croker Island. The NLC said the four told rangers they had paid $US6000 ($9317) to be brought to Australia. In May, five men believed to be from West Africa were found at Saibai Island, in the far-northern reaches of the Torres Strait.

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51881f (208) No.22225346

#38 - Part 124

Australia / China Tensions - Part 15

>>22128297 Australia ramps up policing and security assistance to Solomon Islands - Australia has agreed to ramp up policing and security assistance to Solomon Islands as the federal government prepares to unveil a slew of Pacific initiatives designed bolster its strategic position in the face of fierce competition from China. Earlier this year, the Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele declared that he wanted Australia's help to double the size of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) to about 3,000 officers. A source familiar with discussions told the ABC that Australia had now agreed to support a "substantial" increase in the size of the RSIPF, although it's not yet clear whether it has promised to fund a specific number of new officers. They said that Australia has also agreed to provide additional policing assistance in Solomon Islands by expanding its policing presence in the country, as well as ramping up the amount of equipment it provides to RSIPF. A spokesperson for the Foreign Minister Penny Wong declined to comment, citing ongoing discussions between Australia and Solomon Islands. The Australian Federal Police also declined to comment. Both Australia and Solomon Islands have been working towards an announcement next week, but the ABC has been told it's now likely to be pushed back - potentially until early next year. Mr Manele is also facing a no-confidence motion in parliament from prominent MP Gordon Darcy Lilo, with a vote expected in mid-December, which could also complicate the announcement and its timing. Solomon Islands has been beset with periodic civil unrest over the last three decades, and both Mr Manele and his predecessor Manasseh Sogavare have declared they need to bolster the country's policing capability to reduce tensions.

>>22134133 Scott Morrison says Labor must embrace AUKUS as a military deterrent against China - Scott Morrison says Labor must embrace AUKUS as a military deterrent against China to harness its full potential under a second Trump administration or risk undermining the appeal of the landmark agreement. The former prime minister said Beijing had changed tactics in its diplomacy with Australia - “using the carrot, not the stick” -- but cautioned that China’s long-term objective remained the same: to isolate the US. Mr Morrison warned of risks to AUKUS in the stabilisation of ­relations with Beijing, saying Australia could not be “apologetic” about the purpose of the security agreement – especially given the sharp Republican focus on China as a strategic adversary. In comments that will put pressure on Australia-China relations, Mr Morrison said “in promoting AUKUS here in the US we need to appreciate that its primary reason for being is to provide a deterrent against adversarial threats. The primary one of those is China. And to pretend it’s not does not aid the argument well here”. “We must be conscious that support for AUKUS in the US, particularly amongst Republicans, is because it is a very successful partnership to provide a military deterrent to their biggest strategic rival. And don’t diminish that. Own it. Because it’s true. And if owning it means the Chinese don’t like it, well, too bad.” Mr Morrison said more effort should be directed to developing AUKUS pillar two, arguing it was the “reason for AUKUS” - to create “a single defence industrial base ecosystem between the three jurisdictions (US, UK and Australia) where there’s less regulation, there’s greater integration, there’s more innovation”.

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51881f (208) No.22225349

#38 - Part 125

Australia / China Tensions - Part 16

>>22134163 Video: Australia inks treaty with Nauru locking out growing Chinese influence - Australia and Nauru have signed a landmark new treaty which will see the federal government provide $140 million in budget and security support to the Pacific Island country in return for gaining effective veto powers over many of its national security decisions. The government says Commonwealth Bank has also agreed to set up branch in Nauru to ensure the nation isn't left without a bank when Bendigo exits next year. In return, the government of Nauru has agreed with Australia that the country's critical infrastructure "shall not be used by any third party for security purposes". Australia will also be able to veto any engagements by third countries in Nauru's "security and key critical infrastructure sectors". The agreement is similar in some ways to the Falepili Union which Australia signed last year with the Pacific Island nation of Tuvalu. The pacts are part of a broader push by Australia to cement its strategic position in the Pacific in the face of increasingly fierce competition with China. Nauru switched recognition from Taiwan to China in January this year, and representatives from the Bank of China have visited the Pacific nation earlier this year to explore setting up a branch in the wake of Bendigo's exit. The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with Nauru's President David Adeang on Monday morning in Canberra to sign the new agreement, which will see the government hand over $100 million in budget support over five years, along with $40 million in security support. Nauru faces a deeply uncertain financial outlook, and Mr Albanese said Australia's ongoing budget support would "strengthen Nauru's longer-term stability and economic resilience" and "give the Nauru government the certainty it needs to make long-term investments for its citizens in areas like education, health and social services". Mr Adeang called Australia "not just a friend but a family" and said the treaty would "strengthen our own economy, enhance our mutual security and address critical challenges".

>>22151657 Australia, PNG unveil deal for Papua New Guinea team to enter NRL in 2028 - Australia and Papua New Guinea have unveiled a long-awaited deal handing PNG its own NRL team, confirming the league's most ambitious expansion since formation, and notching what the federal government is hailing as a major strategic victory. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, his PNG counterpart James Marape and NRL rugby league boss Peter V'landys announced the agreement on Thursday morning in Sydney's CBD, with Mr Albanese declaring it a "great day" for both countries. "Rugby league is the national sport of Papua New Guinea and PNG deserves a national team," he said. "The new team will belong to the people of Papua New Guinea. It will call Port Moresby home. "And I know it will have millions, literally, of proud fans barracking for it from day one." Mr Marape also celebrated the announcement, calling it "monumental" for his country, saying it was "pivotal in anchoring the PNG-Australia relationship" and would help unify people across PNG. Under the agreement, Papua New Guinea will join the NRL in 2028 and will become the competition's 18th or 19th team, depending on what happens with other franchise bids before then. Mr Albanese confirmed that the federal government would provide $600 million over a decade to help make the team a reality. In return, Papua New Guinea has agreed to sign what has been called a "parallel" agreement on "strategic trust" between the two countries, which is designed to stop China from gaining a significant security foothold in the Pacific country. A Pacific diplomatic source told the ABC that Papua New Guinea understood that if it struck a policing or security agreement with China then Australia would be within its rights to sink the agreement and the NRL team. They also stressed that the Marape government had made it very clear to Australia that it had no intention of taking such a step.

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51881f (208) No.22225351

#38 - Part 126

Australia / China Tensions - Part 17

>>22151668 NRL deal money well spent to keep China at bay - "Spending $600m over a decade on a Papua New Guinean NRL team is a stunningly good investment in Australia’s national security. Australian taxpayers shell out about that much on aid to PNG every year, but few could point to tangible benefits for the country where 40 per cent of people continue to survive on less than $5 a day. The NRL deal is an entirely different proposition. PNG is rugby league mad, and the sport is its national game. Its elevation to the NRL is a nation-building moment and binds the country to Australia more tightly than ever. As the deal was formally announced, James Marape called Anthony Albanese “my brother” and described him as a “visionary”, underscoring the immense gratitude in PNG that Australia has made this happen. Albanese shares Marape’s love of the game, but as he said in their joint press conference, the deal is also about Australia’s self interest. Australia could never tolerate a Solomon Islands-style security agreement between Beijing and its nearest neighbour, and the NRL deal ensures any such proposal would gain absolutely no traction with Port Moresby. Unlike recent deals with Tuvalu and Nauru, Australia will not have an explicit veto over PNG’s future security relationships. But clauses in the confidential NRL agreement make clear that it is contingent on ongoing “strategic trust” between the countries, and that Australia can terminate its funding for the PNG side at any time if that trust is undermined. China could offer PNG a fortune to try and gain a security foothold in the country, but no PNG prime minister in his right mind would entertain such an offer, because to do so would risk the country’s hard-fought participation in the NRL." - Ben Packham - theaustralian.com.au

>>22151670 ‘Better than a veto’: NRL soft power play packs a secret punch on China - "The setting of the press conference told the story. No footballs were thrown, no cheerleaders waved pom poms. The leaders, wearing suits and ties, stood beside each other at the formal, rather bland, Commonwealth Parliamentary Offices in Sydney. Not at one of the city’s top rugby league stadiums, as might have been expected. Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys hovered at the side of the podium, as if on the interchange bench rather than the field. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his Papua New Guinea counterpart James Marape were the stars of the show as they announced a PNG team would enter the NRL in 2028. The decision to eschew any kind of razzmatazz was a deliberate one by Albanese and his team. The message to Australians watching at home: this is a serious foreign policy initiative, not a matter of fun and games. The government is aware that, with many voters struggling to pay their mortgage or rent, many Australians could easily blanch at the idea of handing over $600 million over 10 years to set up a new rugby league team in the Pacific. “This isn’t about sport; this is about safety and security,” Pacific Minister Pat Conroy told talkback radio in Perth, where listener anger was apparently running hot against the deal. The strategic rationale for the deal is clear. PNG is easily the biggest nation in the Pacific and Australia’s closest neighbour. It’s in our national interest to stop it from falling under China’s spell, as the Solomon Islands did just two years ago. PNG’s leaders are understandably not enthused about highlighting the security side of the league deal. They are seeking deeper economic ties with China as a way to lift their citizens out of poverty and don’t want to offend Beijing. Senior Australian government sources, however, say the document contains a clear assurance that PNG will only partner with Australia and other Pacific nations on security matters. A policing deal between PNG and Beijing - like one Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi pushed for during an April visit to Port Moresby -- would be out of bounds, they say. So would a Chinese military presence in PNG." - Matthew Knott - smh.com.au

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51881f (208) No.22225352

#38 - Part 127

Australia / China Tensions - Part 18

>>22202391 Video: China to stay in Solomons despite new deal with Australia - Chinese forces will not be required to leave the Solomon Islands as part of a new security arrangement agreed to by Anthony Albanese and Solomons leader Jeremiah Manele, with the deal struck between Canberra and Honiara on Friday to exist side-by-side the Pacific island nation’s controversial pact with Beijing. The agreement has been described by experts as falling short of what the government would “ideally” like to see -- chiefly the end of a Chinese presence on the Solomon Islands – but as being likely to bring Chinese influence to “a stand still” and stop any further growth of its security arrangements with Honiara. In response to a request from the Solomon Islands, the Prime Minister announced Australia would pump $190m into a pact with the Solomon Islands to bolster the nation’s police force and provide Canberra’s Pacific neighbour with a sovereign security capability that would reduce “reliance on external partners over time”. But when asked on the 14 Chinese police officers currently in the Solomon Islands as part of the permanent rotating presence agreed to by Beijing and Honiara in 2022, Mr Albanese would not say whether Australia had an expectation that the Chinese forces would now pull out. “We have agreements with the Solomon Islands and part of that is making sure that Australia remains the security partner of choice,” he said. The Australian understands that while Canberra is concerned about the presence of Beijing in the Solomon Islands and throughout the Pacific, the government acknowledges the question of the enduring presence of Chinese police officers is a “sovereign decision” of Honiara.

>>22214343 Top Gun pilot to be extradited to US over claims he illegally trained foreign pilots - A former US marine pilot who became an Australian citizen nearly 13 years ago had been informed he will be extradited to the United States of America over claims he illegally trained Chinese pilots. Daniel Edmund Duggan, 55, has been in custody since October 2022 following a request from the US to extradite him for charges of conspiracy, arms trafficking and money laundering. American authorities allege he breached money laundering and arms export control laws while teaching foreign pilots at a flying academy in South Africa more than 12 years ago. The father-of-six is also accused of breaching US arms control laws by instructing pilots, including Chinese citizens, on how to land atop an aircraft carrier. The US authorities allege he was paid more than $110,000 for his expertise but he had not sought the government’s permission to undertake the role. Mr Duggan has consistently denied the allegations, which have not been tested in court. He and his family have fought for two years against attempts to extradite him to the US to face court over the allegations. On Friday, his wife and six children received a short letter informing them Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus had determined to surrender Mr Duggan to the US. In a short statement, Mr Dreyfus confirmed his decision, acknowledging the “public interest in the matter”. “I confirm that on 19 December 2024 I determined under section 22 of the Extradition Act 1988 (Cth) that Daniel Duggan should be extradited to the United States to face prosecution for the offences of which he is accused,” he said. “On 24 May 2024, Mr Duggan was found by a New South Wales Magistrate to be eligible for surrender to the United States. “Mr Duggan was given the opportunity to provide representations as to why he should not be surrendered to the United States. In arriving at my decision, I took into consideration all material in front of me.” Mr Duggan’s family were told he would be extradited sometime after December 30 and before February 17 next year.

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51881f (208) No.22225353

#38 - Part 128

Australia / China Tensions - Part 19

>>22214384 Ex-US fighter pilot accused of training Chinese military to be extradited to the United States - A former US Marine accused of training Chinese military pilots will be extradited to face charges in the United States, Australia’s Attorney General confirmed Monday, dealing a blow to supporters who have mounted a public campaign for his freedom. Daniel Duggan, a naturalized Australian, was arrested in the state of New South Wales in 2022 based on a 2017 US grand jury indictment that accuses him of training Chinese military pilots in violation of a US arms embargo. Duggan denies the charges, claiming that US officials knew about his activities and that he was only training civilian pilots as China’s aviation sector boomed. Duggan has been in custody since his arrest in October 2022, just weeks after returning to his family in Australia from six years working in China. He was detained by Australian police acting on the request of US authorities. The 2017 indictment filed in the District of Columbia says that “as early as 2008,” Duggan received an email from the US State Department telling him he was required to register with the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls and apply for permission to train a foreign air force. Instead, it claims he conspired with others - including the Test Flying Academy of South Africa (TFASA) -- to export defense services in violation of an arms embargo on China. In a statement to CNN in 2023, TFASA said it complies with the laws of every jurisdiction in which it operates. The statement said Duggan undertook one test-pilot contract for the company in South Africa between November and December 2012, and “never worked for TFASA on any of its training mandates in China.” Duggan moved to China in 2013 and renounced his US citizenship at the US embassy in Beijing in 2016, though it was backdated on a certificate to 2012 to reflect when he became an Australian citizen, according to his lawyers. In an 89-page submission filed to Dreyfus’ office in August, Duggan’s lawyers alleged the former US serviceman had become a political pawn during a time of heightened US-China tensions. It said that his case had been used to send a message to Western pilots that any dealings with China will not be tolerated by the US, or its allies.

>>22214410 Video: Wife condemns ‘inhumane’ extradition of former fighter pilot to US - A former US fighter pilot and Australian citizen accused of training Chinese fighter pilots will be extradited to the United States to face charges of arms trafficking and money laundering. Daniel Duggan was arrested in Australia in October 2022 at the request of the US after being accused of providing military training to Chinese pilots in South Africa between 2009 and 2012. His arrest came shortly after Australian authorities said they were investigating the practice of former military personnel being offered lucrative contracts to train pilots in China. In May, a Sydney court found that Duggan, 56, was eligible to be extradited to US, where he could face up to 60 years’ jail if found guilty. He has spent more than two years in detention in Australia, much of it in solitary confinement. Duggan has the option of appealing to the Federal Court against Dreyfus’ decision to approve the extradition. The father of six had made a last-ditch attempt to avoid prosecution in the US, sending an 89-page submission to Dreyfus outlining why the extradition should not go ahead. Saffrine Duggan, the pilot’s wife, said in a statement that she and the couple’s six children had been left devastated by the attorney-general’s decision. “We are shocked and absolutely heartbroken by this callous and inhumane decision which has been delivered just before Christmas with no explanation or justification from the government,” Saffrine said. “We feel abandoned by the Australian government and deeply disappointed that they have completely failed in their duty to protect an Australian family. We are now considering our options. It is very difficult to explain to the children why this is happening to their father, especially now, at this time of year. We are all terrified that we may not see him for a very long time. My children are very, very sad.” After serving for more than a decade in the US Marines, Duggan moved to Australia in 2005 and founded a flight school in Tasmania. He has been an Australian citizen for nearly 13 years but is due to be extradited by February.

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51881f (208) No.22225354

#38 - Part 129

Child Sexual Abuse, Pedophilia, Human Trafficking and Satanism Investigations - Part 1

>>21768314 Video: The Sydney airport arrest that unravelled a global crime ring and caught a ‘demon’ - The arrest of an Australian man at Sydney Airport has led to the unravelling of a global child abuse ring and the capture of its alleged leader, dubbed the “demon”. Queensland father Gary Richmond-Jones was jailed for two years in August for the planned abuse of a 12-year-old girl while on holiday in the Philippines with his wife and children. In a July investigation into Australia’s contribution to the insidious online child abuse trade, of which the Philippines is the epicentre, the Herald reported that a stranger had contacted Richmond-Jones on X advertising child abuse material and leaving a number. While in Manila with his family in 2022, the former car salesman from Mackay downloaded the encrypted messaging app Telegram to contact that person. He said he was interested in “real” underage Filipino girls, “took his pick” from sexual photos of several children and asked “what price” for a range of “services” which equated to various forms of sexual abuse. After organising a meeting spot, he decided not to go through with the abuse and stopped responding to the stranger. He later told a Sydney court he had an eleventh-hour realisation that “child abuse is never okay”. But his incriminating conversations, including the child abuse material, remained on his phone and were discovered by Border Force officials upon his return to Australia. The Australian Federal Police arrested him, sparking a Philippine National Police (PNP) investigation that discovered the alleged puppet master of the international paedophile syndicate, which sold child abuse videos to foreigners for as little as $13. Authorities say that man was Teddy Jay Mojeca Mejia, a Filipino fugitive who’d been hiding in Dubai since 2021. Thanks to the AFP’s arrest of Richmond-Jones and the intelligence it passed on to the PNP, Mejia was last month extradited to Manila and charged with offences relating to the alleged abuse of 111 children. The 32-year-old is accused of luring vulnerable children aged between nine and 11 into making sexual videos, which he sold online to at least 19 people from countries including Australia.

>>21781110 Alleged sex-cult leader James-Robert Davis jailed over domestic violence offences against woman he 'enslaved' - A New South Wales man accused of running a sex cult where women were allegedly kept as slaves has been sentenced to 25 months imprisonment for assaulting a former partner and another woman. James-Robert Davis appeared via audio-visual link in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday after last month being found guilty of seven offences, including assault and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Davis was arrested in March 2021 after a Four Corners investigation in which multiple women told the ABC that Davis had sexually or physically abused them. In sentencing remarks, Magistrate Clare Farnan described Davis's course of conduct as "a serious type of domestic violence because the offending had become normalised within a relationship". In 2021, Felicity Bourke told Four Corners she was subjected to months of psychological manipulation, coercive control and repeated physical and sexual violence perpetrated by her former partner, James-Robert Davis. Felicity described how she was told to sign a contract that would make her a "slave", was forced to wear a collar, and was tattooed with a number as part of what was pitched to her as a form of sexual role-play known as BDSM. At the time, Davis claimed that activity was consensual. In court, Magistrate Farnan found that the situation was properly characterised as one of domestic violence and the actions of Davis constituted a serious breach of the trust involved in this relationship. The court accepted that one count of assault involved Davis slapping Felicity so hard that it resulted in a burst eardrum. Another count of common assault involved Davis caning Felicity so hard that it left welts, which he claimed was consensual. The magistrate said that due to the nature of the relationship, it was difficult for Felicity to decline to consent to that type of activity. Davis's actions towards Felicity were "particularly concerning" because the power imbalance in the relationship "left [her] with little recourse", the magistrate added.

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51881f (208) No.22225356

#38 - Part 130

Child Sexual Abuse, Pedophilia, Human Trafficking and Satanism Investigations - Part 2

>>21793516 Grant Harden: Pedophile soccer coach who abused seven boys has sentence reduced - A vile pedophile and volunteer soccer coach who sexually abused seven boys has had six months shaved off his lengthy prison sentence, with a court hearing he had been attacked in jail forcing authorities to move him to another prison. Grant Harden, of St Clair in western Sydney, was jailed after he filmed his sexual abuse of seven children and shared the videos online with a pedophile ring. Harden’s offences were described as “extreme” and the sick child abuse material he produced as being “of a most shocking kind” after he subjected his victims, who were as young as four, to horrific abuse. He was arrested in May 2020 as part of the AFP’s sweeping sting on a pedophile network before he was ultimately handed a crushing 30-year jail sentence. His non-parole period was set at 22 years and told he would not be eligible for release until May 2042 when he would be 51. However, this year, he launched an appeal, in part claiming his sentence was “manifestly excessive”. The Court of Criminal Appeal - comprising Justices Natalie Adams, Ian Harrison, Peter Hamill -- dismissed two of the three grounds on which he appealed. “The possession and distribution of images of sexual abuse, torture and humiliation of very young children, including toddlers and babies constitutes serious offending,” Justice Adams said in a judgment published on Friday. They did find that his sentence was the subject of error because District Court Judge Sarah Huggett was given incorrect details by the prosecution about the maximum penalty for the child abuse material offences. The mistake at the time was not picked up by Harden’s lawyers either. In June 2020, the law was changed, increasing the maximum penalty for the offence of transmitting child abuse material using a carriage service from 25 years to 30 years. However some of Harden’s offending pre-dated the legislation being amended. His total sentence was reduced down to 29 and a half years, with a 21-year, six-month non-parole period meaning he’ll remain in jail until at least November 7, 2041.

>>21793646 Video: Vindication for victims as paedophile counsellor Allan Keith Huggins jailed for at least 20 years - When one of serial paedophile Allan Keith Huggins' victims first reported the abuse, police did not believe him. The then-teenager instead received a beating from his father for potentially ruining someone's career. Years later that victim, Garry Faint, described the experience as a "nightmare", saying his parents died without knowing the truth about Huggins. "They believed him over me," Faint said. Huggins today learned he would likely die in prison for sexually abusing multiple boys during the 1970s and '80s. The abusive former counsellor received a minimum 20-year jail term, backdated to 2020, making him first eligible for release in 2040, when he would be 92 years old. He was found guilty in August on 36 counts of molesting 10 young male patients in Armidale, in northern NSW, between 1977 and 1986. As the emotionless 77-year-old was led from the Sydney courtroom, his many victims and their supporters let out cheers and jabs of abuse. "Hope you rot now you bastard," one said. Another victim of Huggins' abuse, Phil Wright, said the outcome was better than many had expected and marked the end of a long journey after the crimes were first reported to police more than four decades ago. "It feels like an amazing vindication," he said. Both Wright and Faint reported the abuse to adults, including members of the Catholic church, but were either not believed or ignored, Judge Penelope Hock noted during sentencing. Faint went to police after fleeing an assault by Huggins, but was instead driven home by the officers to be dealt with by his parents. The officers had a brief conversation with his father, who later gave him "the biggest hiding of (his) life", leaving him with injuries including broken ribs. Before the beating, the court was told his father said: "You f-cking little bastard, you're going to wreck someone's career." "The police did not take any action," Judge Hock said. "This was no doubt in part because of the offender's respected position in the community."

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51881f (208) No.22225357

#38 - Part 131

Child Sexual Abuse, Pedophilia, Human Trafficking and Satanism Investigations - Part 3

>>21798551 How a ‘monster’ allegedly used popular gaming platform for sadistic sextortion plot - A “monster” who used popular gaming and social media platforms to groom a child into committing “sadistic” violent and sexual acts is part of a growing trend, NSW Police allege. Police will allege NSW man Jake Vandermeel connected with a “vulnerable child” on a social media platform in August 2023, and continued to converse with the girl on multiple platforms for nine months. The 28-year-old would play online games with the girl, aged 15, for up to six hours a day at times and would convince the child to commit sexual acts and self-harm for his own gratification. Police allege Vandermeel threatened the girl with rape, abduction and murder if she didn’t comply with his requests.The girl eventually reached out for help through Kids Helpline, who helped her report the alleged abuse to her family and police. Vandermeel was arrested on Wednesday at Safety Beach, around 30 kilometres north of Coffs Harbour, and charged with multiple child sex abuse offences, including using a device to engage in sexual activity with a child, to groom a child under 16 years old for sex and to cause a child to commit a sexual act. Vandermeel is allegedly part of a growing trend of “sadistic sexploitation”, a deviation of typical sextortion cases where instead of grooming the child for financial gain, the victims are being used for the offender’s own personal gratification. Sex crimes squad commander Detective Superintendent Jayne Doherty described the alleged offending as “the most horrendous acts that anyone can perform against a child”. “For investigators to sit and read almost nine months of conversations where this man is manipulating and coercing this child to commit violent acts against themselves, filming them for him. It breaks your soul a little bit,” she said. “Yesterday, we arrested a monster.”

>>21803688 West Australian paedophile Dennis McKenna denied parole - One of Australia's most prolific child sex offenders has been denied an early release on parole. Dennis John McKenna, 79, abused dozens of boys from 1977 to 1990 at a student's boarding lodge in the West Australian town of Katanning. The Prisoners Review Board on Monday declined his bid for parole - two years ahead of his prison term ending. The board has said it would not make the reasons for the refusal of parole public for the best interests of McKenna's victims. Survivor Todd Jefferis praised the decision to reject parole. Mr Jefferis said McKenna should never be released, let alone allowed out on parole early, because of the severity of his crimes. "They were the most heinous crimes you can imagine committed against children," Mr Jefferis said. Mr Jefferis said he wrote a response to the board urging its decision makers not to release McKenna early. "We put in our submissions, and we campaigned pretty hard," he said. "Sometimes these people get it wrong … in this case, they've got it right, they've got it very right." McKenna's abuse sparked a state inquiry in 2012 which suggested more than 20 community figures ignored complaints or failed to act. His brother, Neil McKenna, was the senior supervisor from 1985-1990. He was found guilty in 2012 of three offences against a female student. The WA government announced in August that the hostel he managed, now called Katanning Residential College, would be demolished.

>>21906253 Sydney and Melbourne airports to tackle human trafficking and modern slavery in new campaign - Major Australian airports have banded together to target human trafficking as reports of modern slavery increase by more than 10 per cent. Sydney and Melbourne airports will now display images and messages about human trafficking on digital screens and billboards, encouraging people to report suspicious behaviour. Pairing with anti-human trafficking organisation A21, the “Can You See Me?” campaign will educate people on the signs of human trafficking. Signs at airports can include people avoiding eye contact and social interaction, not being in control of their own passport or documentation, acting unusually submissively, being unaware of their destination, having a language barrier with travelling companions, and wearing clothing that’s not appropriate. Melbourne Airport chief executive officer Lorie Argus said the partnership “goes beyond just airports - it’s about people’s lives”. “By joining forces with Sydney Airport, the AFP and A21, we’re taking a stand against modern slavery, a hidden crime that destroys people’s futures,” Ms Argus said. “Knowing that human trafficking is a real and daily threat, we feel a deep responsibility to protect our passengers.”

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51881f (208) No.22225360

#38 - Part 132

Child Sexual Abuse, Pedophilia, Human Trafficking and Satanism Investigations - Part 4

>>21906418 Video: Australia’s largest airports join forces in the fight against human trafficking - In an Australian first, Sydney Airport and Melbourne Airport have joined forces to launch a public awareness campaign to fight human trafficking. The country’s two largest international airports have partnered with anti-human trafficking organisation, A21, to run the “Can You See Me?” campaign, with guidance and input from the Australian Federal Police (AFP). This initiative will educate people on how to recognise and report the signs of human trafficking. From today, digital screens and billboards at both airports will display images and messages, stating that slavery still exists and urging people: “If you suspect it, report it.” QR codes also link to videos and information on how to identify and stop these crimes. Digital screens in key areas will display these messages, including check-in counters, gates and baggage carousels. Combined, Sydney and Melbourne airports cater for 68 per cent of Australia’s total international passenger traffic. While the “Can You See Me?” campaign runs over the next month, close to 7 million passengers are expected to pass through both the domestic and international terminals at the two airports. A21 has rolled out this program in high-profile spaces worldwide - from Times Square billboards, screens at Heathrow Airport, train stations in Thailand to inflatable screens in vulnerable Cambodian communities---reaching an impressive 3.4 billion people globally. Modern slavery is a growing issue in Australia, with the AFP receiving 382 reports in 2023/2024 financial year, a 12 per cent increase on the previous year. Cases include trafficking, forced marriage, sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, debt bondage, forced labour, deceptive recruitment and organ trafficking. The Global Slavery Index estimates 41,000 people in Australia live under conditions of modern slavery.

>>21949211 Video: Dozens of ex-staff at elite private school accused of historical sexual, physical abuse - More than two dozen former Carey Baptist Grammar School staff have been accused of molesting students on campus, at camps and in teachers’ cars over three decades. The Age early this year revealed that three survivors of alleged abuse had come forward with historical claims against three male teachers at the co-educational private school in Melbourne’s east. Now more than 30 people have come forward alleging physical and sexual abuse at the school from the 1960s to the 1990s, according to law firm Judy Courtin Legal. The firm confirmed 32 ex-pupils had contacted it about alleged abuse at the school, accusing 26 staff members -- but not all have decided to take action. The alleged abuse took place at the school, in teachers’ cars, on school-run camps and during “unsupervised tutoring” both on and off premises, according to complaints. The firm is representing four former pupils who claim they were subjected to sexual abuse, grooming or serious physical assaults by former Carey staff. It said it was also in contact with two others considering taking action. One legal proceeding filed this year involves one teacher and another male associated with the school and is expected to go to trial in August 2025, according to the firm. An ex-student who is suing the school said the legal process added to the pain and trauma of survivors. “Sadly, this protracted legal process only adds to the pain and trauma caused, not only by the actual abuse but also now through the legal process by the institution that let us down so gravely in the first place,” she told The Age.

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51881f (208) No.22225362

#38 - Part 133

Child Sexual Abuse, Pedophilia, Human Trafficking and Satanism Investigations - Part 5

>>21974814 Pedophile priest Bryan Coffey:‘Free pass for sexually abusive clerics’: Catholic Church not liable, High Court rules- A Catholic diocese in regional Victoria has been found not liable for the historical sexual abuse of a young boy by one of its priests, in a landmark decision that casts doubts over thousands of legal cases against religious orders nationwide. The High Court on Wednesday overturned on appeal a previous ruling by Victoria’s Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal that had found the Ballarat diocese was legally responsible for the misconduct of its former priest, Father Bryan Coffey. The relevant legislation did not provide a basis for imposing vicarious liability on the church because the priest could not be legally considered as an employee, the High Court found. The matter has already come to the attention of attorneys-general at state and federal levels, with the High Court conceding that “reformulation of the law of vicarious liability is properly the province of the legislature,” according to the judgment. The diocese and its current bishop, Paul Bird, were sued in the Supreme Court of Victoria by a man who said he was sexually assaulted by Coffey at his parents’ home in Port Fairy in 1971. The man, known in court documents as DP, was five years old at the time of the abuse. Coffey, who is now deceased, received a three-year suspended sentence in 1999 after being convicted of charges including false imprisonment and the indecent assaults of males and females under 16.

>>21974828 Pedophile priest Bryan Coffey:‘High Court limits church liability for child abuse- Australia’s highest court has freed the Catholic Church of liability over some cases of child sexual abuse by priests, potentially destroying claims by victim-survivors. The High Court on Wednesday overturned on appeal a previous ruling by Victoria’s Supreme Court that the diocese of Ballarat was vicariously liable. It found the relevant legislation did not provide a basis for imposing such responsibility because the priest was not a direct employee of the church. The diocese and its current bishop, Paul Bird, were sued by a man who said he was sexually assaulted by Father Bryan Coffey at his parents’ home in Port Fairy in 1971 when he was five years old. Coffey, who is now dead, received a three-year suspended sentence in 1999 after being convicted of charges including indecent assaults of males and females under 16 and false imprisonment. The man, known as DP in court documents, didn’t tell anyone except for his partner about the assault until 2018. DP made a claim for more than $1.5 million for loss of earnings as a result of the assaults, a figure described by Justice Jack Forrest in a December 2021 decision as “bold”. Justice Forrest ultimately found the church had vicarious liability because of the close relationship between the then-bishop, diocese and community, ordering DP receive $200,000 in damages for pain, suffering and loss of enjoyment of life, $10,000 for medical expenses and $20,000 in other damages. The principal issue in the High Court appeal was whether the diocese could be held vicariously liable for abuse committed by Coffey, despite the priest not being formally employed by the diocese. That form of liability is usually reserved for employers responsible for the wrongful or negligent actions of their employees, regardless of whether the organisation was at fault. The Victorian courts had extended that to the church, finding Coffey was still a “servant of the diocese” and through the role had the “power and intimacy” to abuse children. But Wednesday’s decision ruled the lower courts had overreached. The High Court said it has repeatedly refused to extend the boundaries of vicarious liability to include independent contractors. “Expanding the doctrine to accommodate relationships that are ‘akin to employment’ would produce uncertainty and indeterminacy,” the judgment summary read. “As the priest was not an employee, there could be no finding of vicarious liability on the part of the diocese.”

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51881f (208) No.22225366

#38 - Part 134

Child Sexual Abuse, Pedophilia, Human Trafficking and Satanism Investigations - Part 6

>>22002030 Gillard urges states to act after ‘deeply concerning’ ruling that Catholic Church is not liable in abuse case - Former prime minister Julia Gillard has called on Australia’s attorneys-general to urgently consider how to deliver justice to survivors of child abuse after the High Court ruled that a Catholic diocese was not liable for the historical sexual abuse of a young boy in Victoria. Gillard, who in 2012 established the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, said she was “deeply concerned” about the High Court ruling. The royal commission - widely considered among the most important decisions of Gillard’s period as prime minister from 2010 to 2013 -- lifted the lid on decades of child sexual abuse that had occurred in Australian institutions. But the High Court sent shockwaves through advocates for survivors last week when it overturned on appeal a previous ruling by Victoria’s Supreme Court and its Court of Appeal that had found the Catholic Church’s Ballarat diocese was legally responsible for the misconduct of its former priest Father Bryan Coffey. On Wednesday, the High Court found that the relevant legislation did not provide a basis for imposing vicarious liability on the church because the priest could not be legally considered an employee. The diocese and its current bishop, Paul Bird, were sued in the Supreme Court of Victoria by a man who said he was sexually assaulted by Coffey at his parents’ home in Port Fairy in 1971. The man, known in court documents as DP, was five years old at the time of the abuse. Coffey, who is now deceased, received a three-year suspended sentence in 1999 after being convicted of charges including false imprisonment and the indecent assaults of males and females under 16. Last week legal experts warned that the landmark decision could cast doubt over thousands of legal cases against religious orders nationwide. Other common law jurisdictions, including Britain, Canada and Ireland, have developed the principle of vicarious liability to apply to religious orders. Gillard, contacted by this masthead for comment, made it clear yesterday that she was taken aback by the High Court’s decision. “I am deeply concerned about the implications of this High Court ruling, and I believe attorneys-general must urgently consider how best to ensure survivors can attain justice,” she said.

>>22008499 Video:Veteran broadcaster Alan Jones charged over indecent assault allegations- Veteran broadcaster Alan Jones has been charged for indecent assault and touching offences spanning more than two decades. NSW Police charged the former 2GB radio host with 24 offences against eight victims, after arresting him at his luxury Circular Quay apartment around 7.45am on Monday morning. Jones has been granted conditional bail, and will appear in the Downing Centre local court on December 18. The charges included 11 counts of aggravated indecent assault (victim under authority of offender), nine counts of assault with act of indecency, two counts of sexually touching another person without consent and two counts of common assault. Assistant commissioner in charge of state crimes Michael Fitzgerald revealed in a press conference the youngest of Jones’ alleged victims was 17 years old. “I wish to commend the victims and their bravery in coming forward,” he said. “They fully are aware, as are the investigators, that the hard work is just beginning, and they have given their statements fully aware that they will go before the courts.” Fitzgerald said police believe more people will come forward with allegations against Jones. “The strike force will continue, and (officers are) currently talking to people and will continue to talk to people,” he said. Police granted Jones bail under the strict conditions that he surrender his passport and not enter any airport. He is required to remain living in Sydney, and is not allowed to contact any complainant or witness in relation to the ongoing police investigation. He is also not permitted to disclose the identities of alleged victims to the media or any third party, except for his lawyers. Fitzgerald said police will allege Jones knew some of the alleged victims personally and some professionally.

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51881f (208) No.22225370

#38 - Part 135

Child Sexual Abuse, Pedophilia, Human Trafficking and Satanism Investigations - Part 7

>>22008509 Video:Alan Jones charged with 24 offences against eight victims over two decades- Alan Jones has been charged with 24 offences against eight alleged victims spanning two decades after a lengthy police investigation into allegations of indecent assault and sexual touching. The broadcaster and former Wallabies coach was arrested at his luxury Circular Quay apartment at 7.45am on Monday over allegations he indecently assaulted, groped or inappropriately touched multiple young men. Jones was driven in an unmarked police car to Day Street police station, where he re-emerged hours later after being granted bail. Jones has been charged with 11 counts of aggravated indecent assault, nine counts of assault with an act of indecency, two counts of sexually touching another person without their consent and two counts of common assault. Police said Jones knew some of his alleged victims personally, some professionally, and in some circumstances the alleged abuse took place the first time they met Jones. The youngest of the alleged victims was aged 17 at the time of the alleged offences. At 5.10pm, a frail-looking Jones, flanked by his lawyers, was met by a waiting media pack as he left custody. Wearing a green tracksuit and matching shoes and using a walking stick, Jones did not answer reporters’ questions as he was ushered to a waiting car. His lawyer, Chris Murphy, told reporters Jones “denies any misconduct”. “Nothing has been tested. Nothing has been proven. Alan Jones will assert his innocence appropriately in the courtroom,” Murphy said. Jones was granted bail with restrictions on his travel and contact with alleged victims. He will face Downing Centre Local Court on December 18. For the past nine months, detectives from Strike Force Bonnefin, run by the State Crime Command’s Child Abuse Squad, have been conducting a top-secret investigation into Jones. The strike force was formed after a lengthy investigation by the Herald and The Age, which revealed in December that Jones had used his position of power, first as a teacher and later as the country’s top-rating radio broadcaster, to allegedly prey on a number of young men.

>>22008519 How Alan Jones rose to power grilling the most powerful - Who is Alan Jones? Over 35 years, Alan Jones established his position as Australia’s most influential radio host, quizzing eight prime ministers and 11 NSW premiers and dominating Sydney’s airwaves with 226 consecutive rating wins. He regularly courted controversy, clashed with politicians and wielded great power. On Monday Jones was arrested over allegations that he indecently assaulted, groped or inappropriately touched multiple young men. After a nine-month investigation by Strike Force Bonnefin, detectives swooped to arrest Jones at his Circular Quay home. The strike force was formed following a lengthy investigation by The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, which revealed in December that the 83-year-old had used his position of power over an almost 60-year period to allegedly prey on a number of young men.

>>22022612 Video: Police investigate alleged abuse of boys inside South Australia’s notorious Magill Training Centre - A top-secret police investigation has been launched into alleged historical abuse against children inside South Australia’s most notorious youth prison. One alleged victim, who was held in the Magill Training Centre in the ‘90s when he was 10 years old, spoke to 7NEWS about his experience. Only now, decades later, does he feel strong enough to share his story. “They put the fear of God into us kids that were in there, so that we didn’t come forward,” he said. “We were too scared.” The boy was locked up with his alleged abusers and recalls being dragged from his cell in the middle of the night, bashed and repeatedly raped. “In my case it was three separate staff members, and it was more like a weekly thing or a couple of times a week,” he said. Dozens of former prisoners allegedly fell victim, with many now demanding compensation from the government. Andrew Carpenter from Websters Lawyers is representing at least six. “They all operated in code names, which goes to show what kind of paedophile ring was working there. They shut this centre down and then nothing,” Carpenter said. “Many people are coming forward from different decades explaining the same instances. I don’t think we’ve hit the tip of the iceberg.”

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51881f (208) No.22225372

#38 - Part 136

Child Sexual Abuse, Pedophilia, Human Trafficking and Satanism Investigations - Part 8

>>22064768 WA government rejects host of recommendations resulting from inquiry into institutional child abuse - Survivors of institutional child sexual abuse have been left disappointed after the WA government rejected a host of recommendations resulting from an inquiry aimed at improving support available to them, including allowing the names of known child abusers to be published prominently on church websites. Just 11 recommendations out of 33 made by a parliamentary committee were accepted by the government or accepted in principle, while 14 are under further examination, and eight were not accepted. Two recommendations were rejected relating to the contentious issue of permanent stays - where a court halts child abuse proceedings when it considers there is no possibility of a fair trial, due to the passage of time, deterioration of evidence, or death of the accused. The committee wanted applications for permanent stays in such cases only to be allowed after the end of the trial on the matter, and had also sought a reconsideration of any permanent stays granted against child sexual abuse claims prior to that judgement. But the government did not agree, suggesting this "would result in a court hearing a trial that was necessarily unfair or an abuse of process and could be constitutionally invalid." Terry Martino, an advocate from the group Survivors of Child Abuse (SOCA), lashed out at both the government’s response, and the fact his group only found out about the tabling of the report after a call from ABC News. "Survivors bared their souls at the inquiry, they shared the most intimate details of their abuse and the impact it's had on their lives," he said. "To find out that information was then used to form a report, that was then in large part, in many cases rejected by the government, it's actually quite cruel. It's appalling conduct. The report opens with the government stating that they acknowledge the strength of survivors. These are meaningless words that infuriate survivors."

>>22069752 ‘We invited him into our home’: parents and victims of Queensland paedophile Ashley Griffith decry ‘horrific abuse’ - Parents and victims who were raped and abused by former childcare worker Ashley Paul Griffith have told a Queensland court about the “unimaginable pain” his crimes have caused. Griffith is being sentenced in the Queensland district court after pleading guilty to committing 307 sexual offences against dozens of children under his care in Brisbane and Italy between 2007 and 2022. Most of the victims are girls who were aged between three and five at the time. The court was told that Griffith “lacked empathy for his victims” and had attempted to justify his actions. He sat impassively in the dock, often wringing his hands, as victims and their parents spoke about the impact of his actions. A young woman, who was abused by Griffith on more than 50 separate occasions when she was three and four years old, told the court she grew up exhibiting symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. She began self-harming at 12 years old and had panic attacks at school. “I will never know what my life could have been like,” the woman said. “I can never know what it would have been to grow up unafraid of people. He recorded himself abusing me and put recordings of me on the dark web. His actions have profoundly impacted my life. I have missed out on a normal childhood.” The woman’s mother said, as a five-year-old, the girl had withdrawn from speaking to adults. “She didn’t have the vocabulary to tell us why she was scared of adults. She just knew they were people to be feared. How were we to know the greatest danger to our child was the one entrusted with her care? How do you tell your child, who is also at crisis point, that you’ve been the victim of sexual abuse?”

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51881f (208) No.22225373

#38 - Part 137

Child Sexual Abuse, Pedophilia, Human Trafficking and Satanism Investigations - Part 9

>>22069791 Video: Victims of daycare paedophile Ashley Paul Griffith share impact statements as sentencing begins in Brisbane - A woman whose daughter was taught by Ashley Paul Griffith has described the emotional and psychological impact on her family after inviting him into her home for Sunday dinners, birthday parties and to play football with her teenage sons. Ashley Paul Griffith is being sentenced in the District Court in Brisbane after pleading guilty to 307 charges against 69 children at early learning centres in Brisbane and Italy. All victims were females aged between two and seven. The offences, which include rape, repeated sexual conduct with a child and producing child abuse material outside of Australia, happened between 2003 and 2022. The court heard the offending occurred while the children were awake, sometimes when they were distracted by devices that he provided them, and also when they were asleep. The mother of one of the victims, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, told the court how she first gave her child's kindergarten teacher a lift when she saw him walking by himself to a bus stop. "This friendship spilled over to the rest of our family and other parts of our lives," she said. The court heard the 46-year-old man became part of her family, and even attended her daughter's birthday party where he did face-painting for the guests. In her victim impact statement, the woman described how the betrayal has had an emotional and psychological impact on everyone in her family. "Our oldest son has lost trust in humanity. When we broke the news to him, his response was 'That is it, no one is allowed to come into our house anymore'." "You thought you were being Christ-like, but you literally invited the devil into our home."

>>22073254 Video: Woman who was charged after reporting Australia's worst paedophile faces court - Yolanda Borucki was the whistleblower who revealed the missed opportunities to arrest Ashley Paul Griffith sooner and today was her chance to try to clear her name in court.

>>22079573 Life Sentence:Notorious daycare paedophile Ashley Paul Griffith sentenced to life in prison for abusing children in Australia and Italy- One of Australia's most notorious paedophiles has been sentenced to life in prison after confessing to raping and abusing scores of children in daycare centres in Australia and overseas. Former childcare worker Ashley Paul Griffith pleaded guilty in September to more than 300 charges against 69 children in early learning centres in Brisbane and Italy over almost two decades. Griffith will have a non-parole period of 27 years, with Judge Paul Smith describing his offending as "depraved". He won't be eligible to apply until 2049. He appeared emotionless as he fronted the Brisbane District Court on Friday for the second day of sentencing. Judge Smith found "significant harm" had been caused by Griffith, "and significant harm will continue to be caused". He said Griffith's "risk of re-offending would be high" if he was released into the community. "This was very serious, offending in terms of length and scale. The victims were very vulnerable, and there was a significant breach of trust," Judge Smith said. "People expect their children will be protected in childcare centres." Judge Smith said the case warranted the maximum penalty due to the length of the offences, the number of victims, their age and vulnerability, the planning involved, and the fact that he uploaded the abuse online. Several people screamed at Griffith in the courtroom as his sentencing wrapped up.

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51881f (208) No.22225377

#38 - Part 138

Child Sexual Abuse, Pedophilia, Human Trafficking and Satanism Investigations - Part 10

>>22079613 Australia’s worst pedophile sentenced to life in prison - A leading child safety advocate has questioned why Australia’s worst pedophile, childcare worker Ashley Paul Griffith, was not given an indefinite life sentence after being found guilty of abusing 69 little girls. Griffith, 46, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 27 years on Friday, more than two years after he was arrested for crimes that spanned two decades across Queensland, NSW and Pisa, Italy. Griffith’s earliest release date is August 20, 2049. He will be 71. But advocate Hetty Johnston said that while she was grateful for the conviction, a more severe sentence was warranted. “It’s beyond my comprehension why he didn’t get an indefinite sentence, a life indefinite sentence, because he will always and forever be dangerous,” Ms Johnston said. In September, Griffith pleaded guilty to 307 offences against 65 girls in Queensland and a further four girls overseas. Most of his victims were aged between three and five, but the youngest was believed to be just one, and the oldest seven or nine. In the Brisbane District Court, Judge Paul Smith set the non-parole period beyond the usual 15 years to 27 years. He said the seriousness and gravity of the charges warranted the maximum penalty. Under Queensland’s Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act, introduced in 2003 after being championed by Ms Johnston, judges can order offenders who have a high risk of reoffending to remain behind bars. “Like all legislation that’s in the view of some as too harsh, judges don’t like to give that sentence,” she said. “It’s defeating the intention of the legislation and the more it happens, the more precedence is on the books and it just gets dumbed down.”

>>22079621 Video: How Australia’s worst pedophile, Ashley Paul Griffith, exploited a broken system - Shocking failures to prevent and detect the sexual abuse of children in daycare centres have been revealed in court as the nation’s worst pedophile, Ashley Paul Griffith, was sentenced to life imprisonment. Griffith was able to abuse children at will as he repeatedly moved from one childcare centre to the next, despite concerns about his conduct and repeated workplace problems dating back two decades. He was free to regularly isolate girls and to brazenly abuse them while recording with multiple cameras including one set up on a tripod, the court was told. Sentencing remarks in Brisbane’s District Court on Friday painted a picture of an abject failure of child protection measures and a litany of missed opportunities to stop Griffith. No little girl was safe from the predator, who abused his victims when they were awake or asleep or in front of other children. Most of his victims were aged between three and five, but the youngest may have been just one. Griffith told police he had a sexual interest in older girls too but targeted those he thought were easier prey. Heart-wrenching victim impact statements from parents brought home the immense damage inflicted since. As devastated parents worry about the potential long-term impacts, some are tormented over whether to tell their daughters about the abuse when they appear to have no recollection of it. Griffith, 46, will have to serve at least 27 years’ jail before becoming eligible for parole. Prosecutors asked for a minimum of at least 30 years, but Judge Paul Smith took into account Griffith’s guilty pleas and assistance he offered police. There were 65 victims in Queensland and four in Italy, some abused over many months. Griffith now faces extradition to NSW to face justice for allegedly abusing dozens more girls at a single childcare centre in Sydney.

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51881f (208) No.22225378

#38 - Part 139

Child Sexual Abuse, Pedophilia, Human Trafficking and Satanism Investigations - Part 11

>>22079659 Video: Childcare inquiry urged after 'depraved, violent' rapist jailed for life - The parents of girls raped by one of Australia's worst pedophiles want an investigation into how childcare centres "betrayed" them by not detecting his depravity for almost two decades. Ashley Paul Griffith, 46, has been sentenced to life imprisonment over hundreds of sex offences against almost 70 girls while working in Queensland's childcare industry. He pleaded guilty to 28 counts of rape against girls primarily aged three to five at childcare centres in the state between 2007 and 2022. Brisbane District Court Judge Paul Smith imposed a non-parole period of 27 years on Friday, saying Griffith was "depraved and has a high risk of reoffending". "People expect their children will be protected in childcare centres and this will be a concern to every parent in this state," he said. Dozens of parents of victims and some of the victims themselves, now young adults, were in court for the sentencing. Some parents yelled obscenities at Griffith as he was taken back into custody, telling him to "burn in hell". Outside court, one mother welcomed the sentence, but felt anger at Griffith and the childcare centres which employed him. "We feel we have had some justice," she said. "When she is older I will be able to tell her (Griffith) got put into prison for life because of the actions of incredible Australian Federal Police agents." A father who spoke outside court thanked prosecutors and called for an investigation into the childcare centres. "There are businesses, staff and regulators who ignored the signs. They didn't follow through on reports and failed to supervise our children," he said. "We hope the department of education thoroughly investigates these centres."

>>22079670 Australia's worst pedophile:How Ashley Paul Griffith was caught as a pedophile on the dark web- Deep in the putrid bowels of a dark web society of pedophiles, where monsters relish in each other’s depravity, a user named Zimble posted a “how to” guide on molesting little girls. “Without knowing specifics about the child’s personality, is she shy or super affectionate?” he wrote. “My first priority would be to try to get her sitting on my lap. This can be very easy with some children.” He went on to describe in detail the incremental nature of his techniques, giving advice to other predators on what had worked in his “experiences”. It was 2014 and “Zimble”, one of the 45,000 members of a global online pedophile network called The Love Zone (or TLZ), had uploaded a catalogue of his perverse activities. Six little girls had been filmed and photographed by Zimble as he molested them. He uploaded ten videos and 46 photographs of his crimes against them and wrote to the site’s VIP area, asking to be considered for approval. Impressed, they gave it to him. Zimble didn’t know it, but his days rejoicing among his own kind were numbered. Lurking inside TLZ were investigators from the Queensland Police Service. They had infiltrated the site and from within, went straight to the top. The CEO of this cesspit was a predator named Skee. On June 10, 2014, they tracked him down to a suburban home in Adelaide. His name was Shannon McCoole - a 32-year-old child and youth worker who’d been abusing the foster children he’d been paid to protect. His arrest would spark a Royal Commission, but not before police walked into his house, opened his laptop and took over his account. They posed as him for months as they collected information and data, doing their best to arm themselves with what they’d need to track down predators and rescue their victims. When news of McCoole’s arrest and the take-down of TLZ became public, Zimble, like many of his cockroach-like friends, panicked. He cleared his hard drive and left his job in Pisa, Italy, where he’d been abusing more children, and fled to his home country: Australia. For years, Zimble and the little girls he’d filmed remained unidentified. But the images had given up enough clues to indicate they were in Australia. Clothing worn by the children was sold by major Australian retail chains. Chillingly, other items in the room suggested they were being molested within the walls of a childcare centre. Then, in August 2022, an investigator from the Australian Federal Police victim identification team watching one of the videos noticed something. A brand name on a blanket. A little digging determined it was a brand of blanket sometimes used in childcare centres. A little more digging gave them the names of those childcare centres who had purchased them. And more digging still would lead them to childcare worker Ashley Paul Griffith.

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51881f (208) No.22225381

#38 - Part 140

Child Sexual Abuse, Pedophilia, Human Trafficking and Satanism Investigations - Part 12

>>22079717 Video: AFP Statement on the sentencing of a Gold Coast Childcare worker for rape and sexual assaults - "The AFP recognises that today is a deeply traumatic day for so many people whose lives have been permanently affected by the crimes of one man. As always, our thoughts are with the families and victims and we will continue to offer support to each and every one of them. The bravery of the victims and their families has humbled our investigators and we know any jail sentence will not be enough for those whose trust was breached in such an horrific manner. The AFP acknowledges the painstaking work done by so many of our skilled investigators and specialists that led to the offender being arrested, charged and jailed so he can no longer hurt children. This is a job nobody wishes we had to do, but unfortunately there are too many predators who prey on our children. About 50 AFP members have worked on this case since 2014 and I want to pay tribute to each one including our victim identification specialists and the Queensland Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team. We also thank our partners in the Queensland Police Service, New South Wales Police Force, Department of Home Affairs and our global law enforcement partners, who we have collaborated with since 2014, to bring this man to justice. As always, our thoughts remain with the victims and their families." - Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Justine Gough, 29 November 2024

>>22079717 Q Post 1735 - There is nothing more precious than our children. Evil has no boundaries. The choice to know will ultimately be yours. These people are SICK! To those who are courageous enough to speak out - we stand with you! You are not alone in this fight. God bless. Q - https://qanon.pub/#1735

>>22093221 Survivors of paedophiles working at Launceston General Hospital receive $7.85 million compensation after state settles claim - Survivors of alleged historical child sexual abuse at a Tasmanian hospital have received a combined $7.85 million settlement, with one claimant saying that while no money could remedy the abuse, it was "life-changing". Law firm Arnold Thomas and Becker has resolved five claims against the State of Tasmania or the Tasmanian Health Service, averaging over $1.5 million per claim. Another two in-principle settlements have also been reached, with another 20 claims underway. The claims allege abuse by former paediatric nurse James "Jim" Geoffrey Griffin and another nurse at the Launceston General Hospital (LGH) with some extending to other settings. Principal lawyer Kelly Schober said the health service and the hospital should have done more to protect the children while they were inpatients and had failed to provide a safe place. "As part of that, we say [they] knew, or ought to have known, that children at the hospital might be at risk of physical and sexual abuse, particularly by Griffin," she said. "We say, the hospital, they had received red flags for nearly 20 years in relation to various concerns of … grooming, sexual abuse or inappropriate conduct, and these were effectively ignored by the health system and also staff." Griffin worked as a paediatric nurse at the LGH between 2009 and 2019. He was charged with multiple child sex offences in October 2019, but died by suicide before the allegations could be tested in court. The revelations against him were one of the reasons the recent Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government's Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings was established, and the LGH was one of the key institutions probed into.

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51881f (208) No.22225385

#38 - Part 141

Child Sexual Abuse, Pedophilia, Human Trafficking and Satanism Investigations - Part 13

>>22104670 Explosive new documents reveal details of charges against Alan Jones - Former broadcaster Alan Jones is alleged to have fondled penises, stroked thighs, squeezed bottoms and pulled one man’s scrotum, according to explosive court documents obtained by this masthead. The charge sheets reveal details of the 26 allegations against Jones relating to nine complainants. The alleged offending took place between June 2001 and December 2019 and allegedly occurred at Jones’ former home in Newtown, his harbourside apartment, his farm at Fitzroy Falls in the Southern Highlands and other places across Sydney. Jones, who also coached the Wallabies, was arrested at his luxury Circular Quay home at 7.45am on November 18 and released on conditional bail that afternoon. The 83-year-old is charged with 11 counts of aggravated indecent assault, 11 counts of assault with act of indecency, two counts of sexually touching another person without consent and two counts of common assault. The identities of his alleged victims have been suppressed. The nine complainants are understood not to know each other. In the documents, filed to the court and obtained by this masthead on Tuesday, police claim the indecent acts included kissing on the lips, the corner of the mouth and “using his tongue”. Regarding three of the men, Jones is alleged to have touched, “fondled” or “rubbed” their penis. On one occasion, police allege Jones “touched [the complainant’s] penis, pulling his scrotum”. He is further accused of squeezing knees and bottoms, touching faces and legs, touching or stroking thighs - at one point “close to his [the complainant’s] groin” -- kissed another complainant and “caressed his upper arm”. The charges follow a major investigation by The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age which revealed allegations that Jones used his position of power to prey on a number of young men, indecently assaulting them, groping or inappropriately touching them without their consent.

>>22157857 $5.9m payout by Western Bulldogs to child sex abuse survivor Adam Kneale slashed by more than half - A record $5.9m compensation payout by the Western Bulldogs to a child sex abuse survivor has been slashed by more than half on appeal. But the AFL club failed to overturn a jury’s finding that it was liable for Adam Kneale’s suffering at the hands of fundraising volunteer and convicted pedophile Graeme Hobbs in the 1980s, which his lawyers hailed as a victory. A Supreme Court jury returned the landmark verdict last year, awarding Mr Kneale $5,943,151 in damages - the largest sum awarded by a jury to an abuse survivor in Australia and the first against an AFL club. The club appealed both the jury’s findings and the compensation payout. On Thursday, the Court of Appeal slashed the jury’s award for pain and suffering and economic loss, reducing the total payout to $2,637,573. But it upheld the jury’s finding that the club was liable for the years-long sexual abuse suffered by Mr Kneale as a teenager. Mr Kneale’s lawyer, Rightside Legal partner Michael Magazanik, said the ruling sent a strong message that organisations would be held to account. “The Western Bulldogs will pay a hefty price for their failure, but that’s nothing compared to the cost to Adam. The Club caused him massive pain and suffering but tried to avoid paying him anything,” he said. “The Bulldogs leadership in the 1980s and 90s had chances to stop the abuse, but a series of red flags was ignored. “And even now the club’s current leadership can’t or won’t face the music - it fought Adam to verdict at trial and lost. And now it has lost again.” Mr Magazanik said the revised sum of $850,000 for pain and suffering remained the highest award for general damages in Australian legal history. With interest, Mr Kneale will receive about $2.9m.

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51881f (208) No.22225393

#38 - Part 142

Child Sexual Abuse, Pedophilia, Human Trafficking and Satanism Investigations - Part 14

>>22157927 Clergy abuse survivors hit out at moves to ban protests outside Australian places of worship - Survivors of clergy abuse have expressed deep concern at proposals to ban protests outside places of worship, with lawyer John Ellis saying a blanket ban would have seen him arrested outside a Sydney cathedral last year. Anthony Albanese on Wednesday backed proposals in New South Wales and Victoria to ban such protests after an arson attack on the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne and antisemitic vandalism in Sydney. Speaking about the proposals, the prime minister said he “cannot conceive of any reason, apart from creating division in our community, of why someone would want to hold a demonstration outside a place of worship”. This rankled abuse survivors, particularly those who engaged in what they describe as a respectful demonstration outside St Mary’s cathedral in Sydney after George Pell’s death, and others who have tied ribbons on the fence outside St Patrick’s cathedral in Ballarat for years. Ellis was among those outside St Mary’s last year. “Had such a ban, as is now suggested, been in place a few years ago, I would have been arrested for being outside St Mary’s cathedral with other abuse survivors during George Pell’s funeral,” he said. Ellis was abused as an altar boy for years by a paedophile priest in the 1970s. When he sued the church and Pell himself, the Sydney archdiocese, under Pell’s leadership, took an aggressive approach in fighting his case despite internally accepting that Ellis had been abused and knowing of other complaints about the same priest. It successfully argued in NSW’s highest court in 2007 that, as an unincorporated association holding its assets in a protected trust, it did not legally exist and could not be sued. The defence came to be known as the “Ellis defence” and was used to thwart countless other claims until it was scrapped in 2019. Ellis, whose legal work predominantly involves abuse claims, is adamant that a blanket ban on protests outside cathedrals would have seen him arrested and suffer anew. “That would have been a great travesty and a kick in the guts to all abuse survivors,” he said. Ellis said he understood and supported the idea behind the ban proposal - the need to respect faith, including by ensuring it can be exercised without persecution or attack. But he said there were already laws designed to do precisely that, which target violent protest, offensive behaviour, racial abuse and discrimination. “A peaceful protest should never be unlawful. Full stop,” he said. “People should be allowed their voice and their truth, however uncomfortable that is for others.”

>>22162993 Child sex abuse victims rescued in the Philippines after Aussie men charged - Half a dozen children as young as two years old have been placed in the care of child welfare services in the Philippines after two Australian men and two Filipino women were charged with alleged child sex abuse offences. An international child sexual abuse investigation between the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) led investigators to arrest two women in the southern Philippines on November 14. Six children were removed from harm in the Cagayan De Oro region and transferred to the care of social services. The women, aged 23 and 43, were charged with a range of human trafficking and child abuse material offences. 9News understands the charges were triggered after two Australian men were charged for allegedly possessing and soliciting child abuse material connected to the young Filipino victims. The joint-investigation was launched after Tasmanian police arrested a 41-year-old man following a search warrant of his Kings Meadows home. During the search they allegedly found child abuse images and videos on the 41-year-old man's phone, along with a text conversation facilitating the sale of child abuse material. After further digital forensic analysis of the seized phone, AFP investigators determined that the facilitator and child victims were based in the Philippines. AFP Manila Liaison Officer detective sergeant Daisie Beckensall said the case was a "powerful reminder" of the importance of the AFP's relationship with international authorities. "These children's lives have been irrecoverably damaged and we know there are too many other children still at risk," Beckensall said. "That is why we will never give up our fight to keep children safe and stop those who try to exploit or abuse them."

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51881f (208) No.22225395

#38 - Part 143

Child Sexual Abuse, Pedophilia, Human Trafficking and Satanism Investigations - Part 15

>>22163029 Sydney Swans, former development coach Mark Heaney sued over shock sexual abuse claims - A promising young footballer robbed of the chance to play AFL is suing the Sydney Swans after he alleges he was sexually abused by his development coach over a traumatic two-year period. Thomas Marino* (Not his real name) was only a boy when Mark Heaney, who spent the mid-2000s coaching junior footy players in Melbourne’s east, allegedly started grooming him after he was recruited to the Sydney Swans Junior Academy more than a decade ago. Mr Marino has now launched legal action against the Swans and Heaney, seeking compensation for “injury, loss and damage” he claims were caused by the club’s failures to keep him safe from a predator. “The purpose of bringing this claim is to seek justice for the harm and trauma I have endured, to hold those responsible accountable and to achieve a resolution that provides closure and supports my ability to rebuild my life,” Mr Marino told the Saturday Herald Sun. “This is about addressing the opportunities I lost - including the chance to pursue a career in the AFL --- as a result of what I experienced.” In a Supreme Court writ filed this week, it is alleged Heaney took advantage of his position as a coach at the NSW academy to groom and sexually abuse Mr Marino. He is accused of pressing his penis against the boy when teaching him how to hold a football, stripping naked in front of him, watching him while he was showering, sending explicit photos and instigating sexualised conversations. “On several occasions, (Heaney) directed the plaintiff to remove articles of clothing during training sessions so that (he) had to train whilst wearing nothing but his underwear and boots … as punishment for the plaintiff having made errors during a training drill,” the writ alleges. “On at least 20 occasions, (Heaney) inappropriately slapped, smacked, touched or squeezed the plaintiff on his buttocks and penis.” In 2014, Heaney was jailed after pleading guilty to one count of using a carriage service to groom a person under 16 years after the boy told his parents about the explicit photos.

>>22184897 Video: Alan Jones pleads not guilty to indecent assault charges as alleged 10th victim revealed - Alan Jones has vowed to fight “baseless” allegations of indecent assault levelled at him by complainants who say the veteran broadcaster touched and kissed them inappropriately, as explosive new claims of indecent behaviour are levelled at the former radio superstar. Eight new charges related to a 10th complainant emerged early on Wednesday, in the hours before Jones was to appear in court for the first time since he was accused of indecent assault spanning nearly two decades. The charges were based on allegations Jones repeatedly assaulted the complainant, known as Complainant J, when squeezing his genitalia and kissing him in Sydney’s Southern Highlands during the early 2000s. Jones was swamped by a waiting media pack and members of the public when he arrived at Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court flanked by solicitors Bryan Wrench and Chris Murphy. Outside court, Jones said he was “certainly not guilty”. “I will not be engaging in a running commentary in the media,” he said. “But I want you to understand that these allegations are all either baseless or they distort the truth and you should know that prior to my arrest I was given no opportunity by police to answer any of these allegations.” Jones said he had “never indecently assaulted these people”. “The law presumes that I am not guilty and I am not guilty. That’s all I can say at the moment,” he said. “But I am emphatic I will be defending every charge before a jury in due course.”

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51881f (208) No.22225397

#38 - Part 144

Child Sexual Abuse, Pedophilia, Human Trafficking and Satanism Investigations - Part 16

>>22202452 New Australian laws to stop child sex abuse, terror content among tech giants - Tech giants will have to actively prevent the spread and storage of child sexual abuse and violent terror content under world-first laws taking effect in Australia that do not require companies to weaken or breach encryption. Fines of up to $49.5 million await file and photo storage services like Apple iCloud, Google Drive and Microsoft One Drive, messaging apps like WhatsApp and social media platforms where messages are a prominent feature, such as Instagram, if they do not comply with the new standards taking effect on December 22. In an exclusive interview eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said she was confident Australia’s regulations “thread the needle” on protecting privacy - with no companies required to breach encryption --- while ensuring abusive and harmful material was not proliferating online unchecked. “What we’ve done is ensured a broad range of rights are being protected, but technology companies will not be able to hide behind the shield of ‘I can’t see it, so I’m … turning a blind eye’,” she said. Ms Inman Grant said even though encrypted services had technological exemptions, they were not “absolved” from the responsibility to reduce the sharing and storing of child sex abuse and terror content. “We do not expect you to break or weaken encryption, but we do expect you to provide alternative plans of action in terms of how to disrupt and deter.”

>>22202569 Video: Yolanda Borucki cleared of computer hacking after media interview about Australia’s worst pedophile - Childcare manager Yolanda Borucki has been found not guilty of computer hacking after she went to the media about Australia’s worst pedophile, Ashley Paul Griffith, with a magistrate finding the prosecution failed to prove basic essential elements of the charge. Magistrate Kerrie O’Callaghan delivered the decision on Friday morning, 16 months after Ms Borucki’s home was raided by detectives from Queensland’s online child exploitation squad, Task Force Argos, following a complaint from her former employer, the Uniting Church “The prosecution has failed to prove the elements of the offence beyond reasonable doubt. I find Ms Borucki not guilty and the charge is dismissed,” Ms O’Callaghan said. Ms Borucki, 60, cried in court and hugged husband Victor, who, sitting in the Brisbane Magistrates Court public gallery, had clapped after the verdict was delivered. “I am relieved but exhausted too,” she said outside court. After the acquittal, her lawyers blamed the Uniting Church for instigating the failed prosecution, and criticised police for pushing ahead with it. The charge carried a maximum 10-year jail sentence. In the end the case fell well short, raising questions about why it was pursued amid powerful arguments from Ms Borucki’s lawyers that she had served the public’s interest in bringing to light details of a missed opportunity to stop Griffith from raping and abusing children in daycare. When the trial went ahead last month, defence barrister Mr McCafferty questioned if the hacking charge was an act of retaliation by the church. Ms Borucki had revealed in an interview on A Current Affair that Griffith was seen “kissing” a little girl in a fort at a Brisbane childcare centre run by the church in October 2021. Police dismissed the complaint against Griffith, and another complaint from a mother in April 2022, without searching his home or seizing his devices, and say they did not have enough evidence to do more than they did. After police dismissed the October 2021 complaint, Griffith returned to work at the Uniting Church daycare centre. Then, after he was told he was being made redundant, he raped a little girl at the same daycare centre before moving on to work at other centres where he abused at least three more girls. Griffith, now 46, last month was jailed in the District Court in Brisbane for at least 27 years for his abuse of 65 girls in Queensland and four in Italy. He now faces extradition to NSW for allegedly abusing dozens more girls at a single childcare centre in Sydney.

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51881f (208) No.22225407

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PREVIOUSLY COLLECTED NOTABLES

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Q Research AUSTRALIA #1 ---————————— https://www.fullchan.net/?337a41b9e08ffdbd#13viiZbGABXXZF5oKyFjgc2wsh9RHeuhahdRDikmk3Lt

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51881f (208) No.22225413

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THREAD ARCHIVES

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51881f (208) No.22225427

CURRENT DOUGH

https://pastebin.us/?436797c021094bb0#FFCUFdEwfFyjafgd9qo5d7Wm4Yy1M3BcZqW46LL91shQ

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51881f (208) No.22225435>>22225438 >>22228776 >>22228920 >>22238673 >>22254892 >>22268338 >>22301142 >>22314386 >>22357731 >>22357744 >>22357749 >>22357751 >>22371065 >>22371114 >>22444396 >>22460297 >>22465854 >>22482626

[pop]YouTube embed. Click thumbnail to play.

>>22179588 (pb)

>>22214254 (pb)

Australian soldier Oscar Jenkins may have been 'missing' in Ukraine for months

Andrew Greene and David Estcourt - December 2024

Australian authorities were alerted to the "disappearance" of Melbourne man Oscar Jenkins weeks before a hostage video emerged of the captured soldier being interrogated by Russian forces in eastern Ukraine.

The ABC has learnt that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) first learned of concerns for the welfare of the 32-year-old last month, with those close to the former teacher not knowing his whereabouts for months.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday refused to say if the government would consider a prisoner swap deal, but reiterated that they had made representations to the Russian government on Mr Jenkins's behalf.

An American soldier who previously served alongside Mr Jenkins in Ukraine's armed forces has also described his anguish at recently learning his friend had been captured by the enemy and his urge to want to run into battle to save him.

"First thought I wanted to do was get the f*ck up, find out how to f*cking get to him and be the f*ckng person to drag his ass out of prison camp," the US foreign fighter has told the ABC's AM program.

The American national, who asked to be identified only by his call sign "Forrest" because he was still serving in Ukraine, said his Australian comrade was a selfless soldier, willing to face danger and often gave away money to those who needed it.

"He was ready to go [to the] frontline with no armour, no weapon, and just there to kill Russians and keep Ukrainians safe, like, he was in it for Ukraine," Forrest said.

"He was very patriotic and he was the hell of a damn good soldier too … everything he did was to keep f*cking Ukrainians safe," he added.

Forrest, who only learnt of his Australian friend's capture after the publication of the Russian military's hostage video, told the ABC he was "just worried sick about him".

A diplomatic source familiar with Mr Jenkins's case said the Australian government did not doubt the authenticity of the hostage video that emerged on the weekend, but said authorities were yet to determine precisely when it was recorded.

Mr Jenkins's family in Melbourne declined to comment about his situation when contacted by the ABC on Monday but were receiving consular support from DFAT officials.

On Monday afternoon, Russia's ambassador to Australia, Alexey Pavlovsky, was called into a meeting at DFAT headquarters in Canberra for about half an hour but declined to comment as he entered and left the building.

Russia urged to adhere to international law

In a statement on Monday, Acting Foreign Minister Mark Dreyfus urged the Russian government "to fully adhere to its obligations under international humanitarian law, including with respect to prisoners of war".

"I reiterate the government's clear advice to all Australians --- do not travel to Ukraine."

Shadow Foreign Minister Simon Birmingham welcomed the decision to call in Mr Pavlovsky for a meeting on Tuesday, but added that the government needed to explain what steps it was taking to locate Mr Jenkins and ascertain his wellbeing.

Australian pro-Kremlin propagandist Simeon Boikov --- known by his online moniker Aussie Cossack — has reposted the apparent hostage video, stating that he should be part of a prisoner swap deal.

The outspoken social media figure is the leader of the Australian Cossacks, which styles itself as a military unit, and is holed up in the Russian consulate in Sydney to avoid an arrest warrant for an alleged assault.

Last week, prosecutors also revealed that a "significant volume" of foreign language material had allegedly been found on the devices of two accused Russian spies, Kira Korolev and her husband Igor, leading to delays in their espionage case.

At least seven Australians are believed to have died fighting in Ukraine since Russia's invasion began in 2022, but Oscar Jenkins is believed to be the first to be captured and held as a prisoner of war.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-24/australian-soldier-captured-in-ukraine-missing-months/104759098

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4yxTBBctaE

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51881f (208) No.22225438>>22225440 >>22225443

[pop]YouTube embed. Click thumbnail to play.

>>22225435

Australian soldier Oscar Jenkins has been captured by Russia. What happens now?

Maddy Morwood - 25 December 2024

1/2

This week, a hostage video emerged of captured soldier and Australian man Oscar Jenkins being detained and interrogated by Russian forces in eastern Ukraine.

While diplomats say they are still working to confirm the 32-year-old's location and conditions, the ABC learnt that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) was alerted to concerns regarding his whereabouts last month.

Ukraine has been enlisting foreign volunteers into its international allegiance since Russia's full-scale invasion began in 2022.

At least seven Australians are believed to have died fighting in Ukraine since, but Mr Jenkins is believed to be the first Australian soldier to be captured and held as a prisoner of war.

So, what happens now? And what legal protection do people who joined Ukraine's forces have if they are captured by Russia?

What are the conditions of a POW kept in Russia?

Speaking to ABC's RN Breakfast on Tuesday, Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Birmingham said Russia should be treating all prisoners, including Mr Jenkins, "humanely and fairly, with respect and in accordance with the laws of war".

And while he said it was up to Russia to "live up to those standards", he acknowledged "far too many reports" have been seen of Russia failing to do so.

Mr Jenkins identified himself as a former teacher in a video posted by pro-Kremlin social media accounts on Sunday that shows a man with dirt across his face being interrogated and struck on the head by Russian captors.

The ABC also verified Mr Jenkins's identity independently.

Keir Giles, Russian military expert and senior consulting fellow of the Russia and Eurasia Programme at Chatham House, told RN Breakfast Mr Birmingham's expectations are "extraordinarily unlikely".

"As painful as it is to say, we have to face up to the unfortunate reality that it would be extraordinarily unlikely for Russia to do that," he said.

If a prisoner is not murdered immediately after capture --- which is becoming increasingly routine — Russia follows a standard procedure of subjecting prisoners to extreme psychological duress and systemic physical torture, Mr Giles explained.

Through placing pressure on the families of those who have been captured, and on the Ukrainian government, Russia "incentivises prisoner exchanges".

"This is a tactic implied to by Russia to secure high-profile assets being returned from Ukrainian captivity," he said.

Could Australia and Russia perform a prisoner swap?

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday declined to say if the government would consider a prisoner swap deal for Mr Jenkins, but that they had made representations to the Russian government on Mr Jenkins's behalf.

He also refused to say when the government first became aware of the case.

Mr Giles said that Mr Jenkins, however, may have been captured at an almost "favourable time" due to the increased interest on the Russian side in negotiating swap agreements and to start negotiations with the Ukrainian side.

"It appears that Ukraine's incursion into the Kursk region of Russia has actually captured highly valuable Russian individuals they want back," he said.

"In terms of looking for opportunities for making exchanges, this is a good time. As soon as you get these people back, the less they suffer in Russian captivity."

Donald R Rothwell, professor of international law at ANU College of Law, said that Mr Jenkins would join a larger pool if Russia decides to treat Mr Jenkins as a prisoner of war.

The pool would consist of Ukrainian prisoners of war who "may be transferred for Russian prisoners of war during the conflict or at the end of the war".

"That is not a process Australia would be involved in as it is not a party to the war," he said.

Otherwise, any other form of prisoner swap would have to be done "through political means" which could include Simeon Boikov, Professor Rothwell said.

Known by his online moniker Aussie Cossack, Mr Boikov is an Australian pro-Russian influencer currently holed up in the Russian consulate in Sydney to avoid an arrest warrant.

Reposting the hostage video of Mr Jenkins, Mr Boikov stated that he should be part of a prisoner swap deal.

Mr Giles said that the swap would "solve quite a few problems" if Russia were willing to an exchange of that kind but "is fairly far-fetched" compared to the regular prisoner exchanges seen with Ukraine.

(continued)

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51881f (208) No.22225440

>>22225438

2/2

What is the difference between a prisoner of war and a mercenary?

The description of a mercenary is one which Russia routinely applies to foreign fighters who have been captured instead of a prisoner of war --- whether or not they meet that category, Mr Giles said.

As such, captured prisoners can be treated as criminals and prosecuted as one.

"Often these people are actually signed up with Ukraine armed forces and are not mercenaries in any recognised sense of the term," Mr Giles said.

"This pretence by Russia that they are [mercenaries] allows them to put them through a sham legal trial and on occasion, sentence them to death."

Professor Rothwell said the main legal issue concerning Mr Jenkins is what Russia chooses to classify him as.

"Prisoner of war status applies to combatants and they enjoy protections under the 1949 Geneva Convention to which both Australia and Russia are parties," he said.

"Alternatively, Mr Jenkins could be classified as a mercenary, and the 1977 Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions makes clear that a mercenary shall not have the right to be a combatant or a prisoner of war."

But he says that as Mr Jenkins is a foreign national, admitted to his captor that he was being paid, and was taking part in the hostilities it is "therefore legally significant".

Mr Giles said it was all part of the "threat" that Russia creates and there was "sadly" no way of telling what could happen and at what pace.

"It is all part of the routine, part of the theatre and the fiction that Russia has created about the foreign fighters who are assisting Ukraine out of their own goodwill."

Recent Russian executions

Earlier this week Ukraine's Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights said that Russian forces have recently executed five Ukrainian prisoners of war.

Dmytro Lubinets said on the Telegram messenger app on Sunday that Russian troops had shot five unarmed soldiers after capturing them.

Mr Lubinets gave no details, but said he would report the executions to the UN.

"Russian war criminals who shoot Ukrainian prisoners of war should be brought before an international tribunal and punished with the most severe punishment provided for by law," Mr Lubinets wrote.

Russia did not immediately comment on the incident.

They have previously denied committing war crimes.

The Australian government is warning Australians not to travel to Ukraine or join the military efforts against Russia.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-25/australian-soldier-oscar-jenkins-what-happens-now/104760386

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAnHFZ0kIi8

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51881f (208) No.22225443>>22225446

>>22225438

‘Your typical Aussie cricket boy’: Why Oscar Jenkins went to fight in Ukraine

Sherryn Groch and Ashleigh McMillan - December 23, 2024

1/2

On the cricket field, Oscar Jenkins was “your typical Aussie”, his former Melbourne teammates say: a formidable all-rounder, easy to chat to -- though perhaps more deep thinking than most.

Some had seen him as recently as this year, at a cricket reunion during a visit home -- from teaching in China, they assumed.

But those at Jenkins’ old Toorak Prahran Cricket Club were stunned on Monday when they learnt he had been captured by Russian soldiers on a Ukrainian battlefield.

In footage that began circulating online on Sunday, Jenkins -- with his hands tied – is paraded before the camera by Russian soldiers. The 32-year-old is seen being slapped across the face and questioned.

In broken Ukrainian and English, he explains he has been fighting in the Donbas region to help Ukraine. It’s unclear how long Jenkins -- who left Australia to teach and travel in China in 2015 – has been fighting with Ukrainian forces. He is the first Australian known to have been captured by Russia.

Matt Gobbo played cricket with Jenkins for years and hadn’t heard about his friend’s efforts in Ukraine until the start of this year.

He described Jenkins as intellectual -- “supremely talented but so humble at the same time”.

The Jenkins family are not Ukrainian, but “he always wants to help people”, Gobbo said.

“I’m sure it’s why he is over there -- just trying to help.”

Maurice Clayton played cricket with Jenkins for more than a decade, recalling the “great” Jenkins would often help out coaching juniors at the prominent Melbourne club.

Toorak Prahran Cricket Club president Neil Gumley coached Jenkins for years and played with him in their premiership win about a decade ago.

He says Jenkins has “a heart of gold”. His late father, Scott, a dentist, was also a well-loved player, and the family remained close to the club, Gumley said.

“He’s your typical Aussie cricket boy -- he helped us win that premiership. He’s maybe a bit smarter than average, more deep thinking. Thoughtful.

“He rode his bike to China, through Australia, up through Vietnam and places. On an adventure.”

Jenkins studied biomedical sciences at Monash and had been working as a lecturer at Tianjin college in China.

He graduated from the prestigious Melbourne Grammar in 2010, where former school friends said he was well liked and kind. He was vice-captain in his final year, and a talented football player too.

Steve Zayler has known Jenkins since he was young, playing footy and cricket together in Prahran, where their families still play.

“He was always quiet, but such a talented guy. Very generous. A great dry sense of humour,” he said.

Jenkins’ former science teacher and cricket coach Marcus Richards also spoke of his smarts and athleticism.

“He was a very academic, terrific young man,” he said. “He was just a lovely kid to have in the class. Very, very well behaved.”

One ex-school mate who did not wish to be named said Jenkins was “quirky, but a really great guy”.

“But after school, he lost contact with many of his friends,” they said.

Jenkins moved away from “that sort of Melbourne Grammar upbringing”, the friend said, focused on veganism and sustainability in China.

In one YouTube video last year, discussing his efforts to “force” people to turn vegan, Jenkins said he had lost touch with most people, apart from his mother.

(continued)

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51881f (208) No.22225446

>>22225443

2/2

Ukrainian-born Kateryna Argyrou, who runs the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations, said the video of Jenkins’ capture brought her to tears on Monday morning.

“I felt sick when I saw the Russians abuse Oscar. But I was also surprised and touched to hear him speaking Ukrainian,” she said.

“He’d really made an effort to learn the language. He wasn’t afraid to say all he wanted to do was help Ukraine. We need to bring him home. He’s one of our own.”

At least eight Australians have been killed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, including Victorian man Joel Benjamin Stremski, and Queenslanders Brock Greenwood and Matthew Jepson, who died while holding off Russian troops in the country’s east in October.

Dozens of Australians are believed to still be fighting, often paid as part of the foreign legion.

They largely stick together, says Australian Asher Robinson, whose efforts on the ground co-ordinating aid in Ukraine often puts him alongside them in the line of fire.

Footage of Jenkins’ capture was first shared by Alexander Sladkov, a Russian military propagandist, who said the Australian would face trial and prison as a Western mercenary. But he added that Russians were actively hunting for foreign fighters, potentially to secure prisoner swaps, often listening for foreign accents and language on Ukrainian radio intercepts.

Russians commonly target foreign troops, said Argyrou, who visited the frontline in the Donbas last month and met Australians fighting there. “They see them as trophy prisoners of war.”

Online, Australian-run accounts, including some collaborating with Russian military bloggers, have been running their own campaign against those fighting in Ukraine -- “doxxing” Australians by posting their names, photos and personal details, and calling for their capture or “extermination” if they return home. Their families have also been harassed.

Those accounts include the “Aussie Cossack”, belonging to Australian pro-Putin propagandist Simeon Boikov, who has been holed up in Sydney’s Russian consulate for the past two years to avoid jail time after the assault of a 76-year-old man.

Gleeful at news of Jenkins’ capture, Boikov has already demanded a “prisoner swap” -- himself for Jenkins.

The government -- on guard for Russian misinformation – says it is seeking more details about Jenkins from Moscow and has warned Australians not to travel to Ukraine to fight.

The Russian embassy in Australia has been contacted for comment.

Robinson, briefly home in Australia this Christmas for the first time in more than two years of fighting, says Russia’s attacks had been amped up recently. That included in the Donbas, where Jenkins was fighting, as Moscow looked to snatch territory before winter froze fighting into a slower crawl.

“It’s awful out there -- what they’re dealing with,” he said.

https://www.theage.com.au/national/your-typical-aussie-cricket-boy-why-oscar-jenkins-went-to-fight-in-ukraine-20241223-p5l0ck.html

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51881f (208) No.22225525>>22262535 >>22268370 >>22307831 >>22320843 >>22320883 >>22339502 >>22351441 >>22351506 >>22357756 >>22370665 >>22370868 >>22370892 >>22387534 >>22387539 >>22400178 >>22460329

File (hide): ed911e4832cbbf2⋯.mp4 (6.01 MB,640x360,16:9,President_elect_Donald_Tru….mp4) (h) (u) [play once] [loop]

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>>22163076 (pb)

Trump vows to stop ‘transgender lunacy’ and recognize only two genders as ‘official policy’

Isabel Keane - Dec. 23, 2024

President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to immediately stop “transgender lunacy” and make it “official policy” to only recognize two genders, male and female.

“With the stroke of my pen on day one, we’re going to stop the transgender lunacy,” Trump told supporters at AmericaFest 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona, on Sunday, according to a video shared by C-Span.

“I will sign executive orders to end child sexual mutilation, get transgender out of the military and out of our elementary schools and middle schools and high schools,” he said, drawing cheers from the crowd.

“Under the Trump administration, it will be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female,” he continued as he also vowed to “keep men out of women’s sports.”

“Doesn’t sound too complicated, does it?”

Trump railed off against transgender rights several days after the Senate gave the green light to the Pentagon’s ginormous $895 billion annual budget on Wednesday, which includes provisions that strip coverage of transgender medical treatments for children of military members.

The Senate passed the 1,800-page National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in an 85-14 vote, moving the measure onto President Biden’s desk.

Every fiscal year, which starts on Oct. 1, Congress is tasked with passing the NDAA to authorize defense spending and specify expenditures. This year’s bill comes two months late and amounts to a roughly 1% uptick over last year’s budget.

While NDAAs historically garner bipartisan support, Republicans managed to slip the provision on transgender healthcare through, much to the displeasure of Democrats.

Specifically, the NDAA blocks the military’s health care service Tricare from footing the bill for “gender transition” coverage for service members’ children who are under the age of 18.

Twenty-one Senate Democrats, led by Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), voted against the provision, which Baldwin claimed would impact anywhere from 6,000 to 7,000 children of service members.

There are some 10,000 transgender youth ages 6 to 22 with parents active in the military, according to an estimate from the Modern Military Association of America.

https://nypost.com/2024/12/23/us-news/trump-vows-to-stop-transgender-lunacy-only-recognize-two-genders/

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51881f (208) No.22225621>>22225625 >>22333802 >>22371190 >>22451021 >>22460329 >>22490539 >>22490564 >>22490631 >>22490661 >>22490679 >>22494569 >>22494654

>>21943412 (pb)

>>22163076 (pb)

United Kingdom’s ban on puberty blockers for children is not a culture war but a safety matter

The UK decision to ban puberty blockers for children indefinitely is yet another warning for Australian legislators and officials.

BERNARD LANE - December 12, 2024

1/3

Yet again, Australia’s health ministers and officials have been warned about puberty blockers, the drugs given to minors who reject their birth sex and want the “wrong puberty” to be chemically suppressed.

The typical response from our gender medicine lobby, and their social justice backers in politics, is that any scepticism about standards of evidence and safety is somehow right-wing bigotry.

But the latest wake-up call is the decision to impose an indefinite ban on puberty blockers announced by the UK’s Labour government under Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who happens to be gay.

And of course, Streeting -- like those in Australia critical of puberty blockers – is concerned about the welfare of vulnerable young people. This is not a culture war. The endocrine systems of minors know no politics.

“The Cass review [into paediatric gender medicine] made clear that there is not enough evidence about the long-term effects of using puberty blockers to treat gender incongruence [also called gender dysphoria] to know whether they are safe or beneficial,” Streeting said in the UK House of Commons.

“That evidence should have been established before they were ever prescribed for this purpose.

“It is a scandal that medicine was given to vulnerable young children without the proof that it is safe or effective or through the rigorous safeguards of a clinical trial.”

Adolescence, normally, is a time of rapid gains in bone density, setting the body up for a healthy adult life, and important change and development in the brain that continues at least until age 25.

Puberty blockers suppress the natural sex hormones that play a part in this crucial development. Talk of blockers being “fully reversible” strains credulity. There is no such thing as the wrong puberty, or a person born in the wrong body.

Hence Streeting’s statement, “We do not yet know the risks of stopping pubertal hormones at this critical life stage. That is the basis upon which I am making decisions. I am treading cautiously in this area, because the safety of children must come first.”

Puberty blockers have been the drivers of the unprecedented international surge in young people, predominantly teenage females, identifying out of their birth sex and seeking medicalised “affirmation” of a transgender or non-binary identity.

Their distress is real, but there are often pre-existing issues other than gender that may better explain what they are going through. These underlying difficulties include mental health disorders, autism, ADHD, abuse, trauma and awkward same-sex attraction.

After April’s final report from the UK Cass review -- the world’s most comprehensive inquiry into the care of young people with gender distress – it should be beyond argument that the gender medicalisation of minors has no solid evidence base to justify such life-altering interventions.

Systematic evidence reviews -- the gold standard for evaluating healthcare – have reached the same sobering conclusion in very different health jurisdictions from Sweden to Florida and the UK. The evidence is very weak and uncertain. There is no way of knowing with confidence that puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones will be safe and beneficial for minors with gender distress.

Gender clinics in public children’s hospitals in Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Sydney and other Australian cities introduced experimental medicine as routine treatment without any high-quality data.

We have listened as health ministers and bureaucrats dismiss the relevance of the Cass review with talking points from the local gender medicine lobby. We were told that unlike the London-based Tavistock clinic, whose shortcomings led to Baroness Hilary Cass’s appointment, our gender clinics are “multidisciplinary”.

In fact, the Tavistock also claimed to be multidisciplinary. And in any case, we haven’t been told how multiplying the number and type of clinicians magically compensates for everybody’s near total ignorance about the safety and effects of the medical interventions.

You will also hear the vague claim that Australia’s gender clinics are more “careful”. Yet the per capita use of puberty blockers in our country appears to be higher than it was in the UK. British people express disbelief when told that in Australia girls as young as 15 have been referred by children’s hospital gender clinics for double mastectomies.

(continued)

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51881f (208) No.22225625>>22225631

>>22225621

2/3

Baroness Cass commissioned an evaluation of gender medicine treatment guidelines internationally, noted their reassuring talk of “multidisciplinary teams” at work in the gender clinic, but also found in those guidelines a lack of agreement about the very purpose of assessing patients.

Part of the problem is that the dominant “gender-affirming” treatment model is influenced by identity politics. Fear of “pathologising” a trans identity may make clinicians hesitate to use the perfectly ethical psychotherapy needed to seriously consider the role of non-gender factors in a minor’s distress.

Australia’s Health Minister, Mark Butler, should know all this. His officials have briefed him on the fact that the Cass-commissioned guideline evaluation judged Australia’s de facto national treatment guideline to be of low quality, lacking in rigorous development, and not recommended for use. Yet this document, issued by the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne, is used across Australia. It has been judged “untrustworthy” by a pioneer of the evidence-based medicine movement, Canada’s Professor Gordon Guyatt.

Butler’s officials have also encouraged him to resurrect an unreliable 2019-20 review by the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) to fend off persistent calls for a proper Cass-style review in this country. The RACP review was affected by serious conflicts of interest and had nothing to say about the safety of the specific medical interventions. In this tradition of reviews that fail to ask the right questions, we have had recent pseudo-inquiries ordered by the Queensland and NSW governments. In South Australia, independent MP Frank Pangallo almost managed to broker a promising parliamentary inquiry in his state. In the Senate, motions for a gender clinic review put by the One Nation party, have been defeated amid pious but hollow statements about avoiding “culture wars”.

The original culture war was the conversion of former gay rights organisations into LGBTQ lobbies focused on trans-rights activism and the promotion of paediatric gender medicine. This is why, in the UK, the only peak gay group that campaigned against puberty blockers was the LGB Alliance, founded in 2019. Its concern is that potentially same-sex attracted young people are being converted by gender medicine into trans “heterosexuals”.

There is a basis for this fear in historic data from pioneering gender clinics in Amsterdam and London. Older LGB people will often say they recall a period of bodily discomfort growing up and sometimes had thoughts of opposite-sex identification. Today’s young detransitioners, who regret gender medicalisation, include young people who say they have come to accept their same-sex orientation.

Detransitioners, disaffected Democrats, troubled parents of no particular politics and members of LGB Alliance USA were among those who went to Washington, DC, last week to bear witness as the US Supreme Court heard a constitutional challenge to a Republican state ban on paediatric gender medicine. The breadth of the social movement opposed to gender medicalisation of minors is not well understood.

What almost everybody has heard is the “transition or suicide” lever deployed to persuade reluctant parents to agree to medical interventions despite the risks for their children including sterilisation, impaired sexual function, a severely restricted relationships pool and lifelong status as a medical patient. In no other area of healthcare do clinicians talk about suicide risk in such a reckless manner, carrying a real risk of becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy. The studies cited for these alarming claims are low-quality anonymous online surveys of self-selected respondents who are well versed in the suicide narrative. The one robust and specific study, published early this year by Finnish researchers and based on comprehensive health registry data, found that suicide risk is driven by the psychiatric co-morbidities of gender clinic patients, not by their gender distress, and there was no evidence that medical transition reduced suicide risk.

The suicide trope has been used in Australia to frustrate transparency and accountability in paediatric gender medicine. This dates back to 2020, when the RACP advised the then federal health minister Greg Hunt that a national inquiry into gender clinics “would further harm vulnerable patients and their families through increased media and public attention”. This unsupported claim, coming from a medical college conflicted by its history of promoting paediatric gender medicine, has been revived by health officials briefing Mr Butler.

(continued)

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51881f (208) No.22225631

File (hide): 24d8dfb6c7e7b94⋯.jpg (376.94 KB,1880x1057,1880:1057,Protesters_gathered_at_the….jpg) (h) (u)

File (hide): 7895e31d534fffa⋯.jpg (323.64 KB,2128x1423,2128:1423,Hormone_treatment_in_child….jpg) (h) (u)

>>22225625

3/3

In the UK, members of Mr Streeting’s own Labour Party continue to be among those making irresponsible threats of suicide -- on behalf of distressed young people. To his credit, Mr Streeting did not give in to emotional blackmail but commissioned a review by an expert on suicide prevention Professor Louis Appleby, whose report is highly relevant to political and media commentary in Australia.

“The way that this issue has been discussed on social media has been insensitive, distressing and dangerous, and goes against guidance on safe reporting of suicide,” he said.

“One risk is that young people and their families will be terrified by predictions of suicide as inevitable without puberty blockers -- some of the responses on social media show this.

“Another is identification, already-distressed adolescents hearing the message that ‘people like you, facing similar problems, are killing themselves’, leading to imitative suicide or self-harm, to which young people are particularly susceptible.”

Can Australia’s political system rise to the challenge of this medical scandal in the making?

How many of our politicians have stayed silent so far, but would quietly agree with National Party MP David Gillespie, who spent 33 years in medicine before politics, and recently declared paediatric gender medicine to be lacking in evidence, a breach of the rule “First, do no harm,” and “a blot on the medical profession”.

Referring to the Cass review, he asked “why NSW Health and other state health departments haven’t responded like the grown-ups in the UK … and in Scandinavia.”

Why, indeed?

---

Lifeline: 13 11 14

https://www.lifeline.org.au/

SANE Support line and Forums: 1800 187 263

https://saneforums.org/

Headspace: 1800 650 890

https://headspace.org.au/

---

RESOURCES:

NHS statement - Puberty blockers: what you need to know -

https://healthmedia.blog.gov.uk/2024/12/11/puberty-blockers-what-you-need-to-know/

Sweden’s Systematic Review on outcomes of hormonal treatment in youths with gender dysphoria -

https://news.ki.se/systematic-review-on-outcomes-of-hormonal-treatment-in-youths-with-gender-dysphoria

Professor Louis Appleby's Report: Review of suicides and gender dysphoria at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust -

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-suicides-and-gender-dysphoria-at-the-tavistock-and-portman-nhs-foundation-trust/review-of-suicides-and-gender-dysphoria-at-the-tavistock-and-portman-nhs-foundation-trust-independent-report

Dr David Gillespie: A doctor-turned-politician warns that gender medicine has substituted mere opinion for hard evidence -

https://www.genderclinicnews.com/p/gender-voodoo?r=130uly

---

Bernard Lane edits Gender Clinic News

https://www.genderclinicnews.com/

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/health/united-kingdoms-ban-on-puberty-blockers-for-children-is-not-a-culture-war-but-a-safety-matter/news-story/48c2e8d123c4ed426f7adaa3a3af5857

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51881f (208) No.22225652

[pop]YouTube embed. Click thumbnail to play.

>>21793734 (pb)

>>21881260 (pb)

>>22134154 (pb)

The Bike Boy Scandal (Dan Andrews Car Crash) - Christmas Message to Cath and Dan Andrews

Dec 25, 2024

A Christmas message to Catherine and Dan Andrews from the Bike Boy campaign

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mc7mYlmocYw

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51881f (208) No.22225665>>22225685 >>22238703 >>22238734 >>22254814 >>22254832 >>22254863 >>22268309 >>22276573 >>22301069 >>22301099 >>22301109 >>22301124 >>22307893 >>22307909 >>22314338 >>22327980 >>22328004 >>22328013 >>22333635 >>22333651 >>22333662 >>22339463 >>22363017 >>22363030 >>22363037 >>22370306 >>22370423 >>22370472 >>22370522 >>22370553 >>22379024 >>22379359 >>22387511 >>22400411 >>22400465 >>22400536 >>22400575 >>22408603 >>22408619 >>22408655 >>22408692 >>22408724 >>22416549 >>22416572 >>22416629 >>22416640 >>22428559 >>22430571 >>22444477 >>22444496 >>22465895 >>22465935 >>22481988 >>22482035 >>22482080 >>22490495 >>22490509 >>22490520

File (hide): 04c7a4c32d061bb⋯.jpg (570.46 KB,2160x2700,4:5,Gfm7iroaYAARrSJ.jpg) (h) (u)

>>22118150 (pb)

Peter Dutton blasts Labor and international community on Christmas Day

MOHAMMAD ALFARES - December 25, 2024

Peter Dutton says the “sheer ­magnitude” of the nation’s anti-Semitism crisis threatens to overshadow Hanukkah, as he accused the Albanese government and the international community of the “shameful” treatment of Israel for 14 months.

Wednesday marked the first time the beginning of Hanukkah and Christmas Day had coincided in 19 years, with hundreds of thousands of Jewish Australians celebrating despite the threat of growing anti-Semitism.

Referencing the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel, the Opposition Leader denounced what he described as a “sordid moral inversion” by the Inter­national Criminal Court, accusing it of unfairly targeting Israeli leaders while ignoring acts of ­terrorism.

Mr Dutton’s message comes just weeks after a Melbourne synagogue was firebombed and one of Sydney’s biggest Jewish suburbs was attacked by anti-Jewish ­vandals.

“This Hanukkah, there is much that will weigh heavily on the minds of Jewish people in Israel, around the world, and here in Australia,” Mr Dutton said.

“There’s the plight of hostages who remain in Hamas’s captivity.

“There’s the chilling reality that in Israel’s hours of need since 7 October 2023, some of its allies have shamefully behaved more like adversaries and demanded standards of Israel which they would never expect of themselves in similar circumstances.

“And there’s the sordid moral inversion of the ICC that has criminalised Israeli leaders for taking the fight to those terrorists responsible for the greatest loss of Jewish life on a single day since the ­Holocaust -- terrorists who will never rest until the Jewish state is exterminated.”

He said these events showed a double standard in how Israel was treated compared to other nations facing similar circumstances.

Mr Dutton also invoked the historical significance of Hanukkah, a Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple and the miracle of the menorah. Hanukkah is one of the only Jewish holidays that is meant to be celebrated in public.

“From the hate-filled mob that gathered on the steps of Sydney Opera House to the firebombing of Melbourne’s Adass Israel Synagogue, intolerable incident after intolerable incident has been tolerated due to a vacuum of political leadership,” he said.

“Australians are alarmed by what has transpired on our soil -- not only because it’s an attack on one segment of our community but because it’s also an attack on our democratic values and liberties, especially freedom of belief.”

Turning his focus to domestic issues, he said “decent Australians” had observed “in shock and with disgust” intimidation, vilification and crime directed against people of Jewish faith for 14 months.

“In a frightening way, Australians who have read about the history and horrors of the Holocaust have, for the first time, grasped how that catastrophe eventuated.

“They have seen, with their own eyes, a type of hate that if left unchecked unleashes greater evils.”

He promised that a Coalition government would act decisively to “restore law and order” and ­provide “moral clarity” on issues of national and international ­significance.

“In that spirit, may the ordeals of the last 14 months be all the more reason for Australia’s Jewish community to commemorate ­Hanukkah as a confident statement of your solidarity, strength, faith and hope,” he said.

“As you do, I say with you, Am Yisrael Chai.”

Anthony Albanese did not make a specific statement on ­Hanukkah on Wednesday, despite the historic alignment of the Jewish holiday and Christmas.

The Prime Minister has faced criticisms this year that he has not done enough to stem the anti-Semitism crisis, especially through his increasingly pro-Palestine position at the UN.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin has called this Hanukkah the “most significant and meaningful Hanukkah the community has marked in generations”.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/peter-dutton-blasts-labor-and-international-community-on-christmas-day/news-story/e77e22480719c90740cc8bfc43dfde0c

https://x.com/PeterDutton_MP/status/1871734261411389896

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51881f (208) No.22225685

>>22118150 (pb)

>>22225665

Festival of Lights much needed for Melbourne’s Jewish community

Benjamin Preiss - December 25, 2024

The story of Hanukkah is based on events that took place in ancient times, but for Jews living in Melbourne, the festival’s meaning is particularly poignant this year.

Less than three weeks after the Adass Israel synagogue was firebombed in Ripponlea, Jewish leaders say their festival of lights is much needed at this moment.

This year, Hanukkah starts on Christmas Day, beginning on Wednesday evening. Although it always occurs towards the end of the year, it is relatively uncommon for the festival to coincide so neatly with Christmas.

Adass Israel synagogue board member Benjamin Klein said it had been a difficult time for his community since their place of prayer was set alight this month. But the arrival of the “kid-oriented” festival was most welcome, he said.

Children at his synagogue mark Hanukkah by singing songs in a choir, and they receive Hanukkah “gelt” (money in Yiddish) and gifts.

Klein said his congregation was unable to light their candelabra, called a menorah, in their synagogue, which was badly damaged in the fire.

“But at the same time [the festival] does symbolise light and does symbolise that we will be able to come through again,” he said.

This year, the Adass Israel congregation will hold their Hanukkah festivities in a temporary synagogue.

The firebombing came after a rise in antisemitic incidents in Australia. Over the past year, Klein said, he had personally experienced an increase in antisemitic abuse.

He said that every fortnight or so people had shouted antisemitic slurs like “dirty Jew” as walked to synagogue with his children. “I never experienced it before.”

But he insisted these instances of antisemitism had made him more determined to continue his religious practices and traditions.

“It makes you stronger and tougher and more adamant that we will continue our way of life.”

Hanukkah celebrates a revolt by a group of Jewish rebels, known as the Maccabees, who fought back against a Greek-Syrian king who had sought to suppress Jewish practices more than 2000 years ago.

The festival commemorates the re-dedication of the second temple in Jerusalem after it was desecrated. When the Maccabees went to relight the temple’s menorah, they found only enough oil to last one day. However, the oil miraculously lasted eight days. This “Hanukkah miracle” is why the festival lasts eight days.

Jews observe the festival by lighting a candle on the first night and progressively adding one for each evening of Hanukkah. They eat oily foods, including fried donuts and a kind of potato cake called latkes.

Ark Centre rabbi Gabi Kaltmann, who organised the Pillars of Light celebration at Federation Square on Wednesday night, agreed it had been an incredibly tough year for Australian Jews.

Many people in the Jewish community were outraged and unnerved by the display of racism on the steps of state parliament last week when neo-Nazis unfurled an antisemitic sign.

“Everybody’s looking for a little bit of light,” Kaltmann said. “The whole concept of Hanukkah is to add light every night. It’s such a beautiful festival to share with other people.”

Kaltmann said he had been overwhelmed by the response of people from different faiths and multicultural backgrounds who had responded to his invitation to the event saying they would join him in Federation Square because they wanted to call out antisemitism.

“We will stand up, and we’ll share our culture, our tradition and our faith.”

He said more action was needed to tackle antisemitism and called for a national conversation about racism.

Adass Israel congregant Eli Unfanger said his community would mark Hanukkah with joy and happiness.

“But at the same time, we’re reflecting on how we don’t have our synagogue,” he said. “It’s a different mindset.”

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/festival-of-lights-much-needed-for-melbourne-s-jewish-community-20241225-p5l0lj.html

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51881f (208) No.22228776

>>22225435

Kremlin attacks ‘Russophobic policy’ in acknowledgment of captured Australian

JAMES DOWLING - 26 December 2024

The Russian government has acknowledged the capture of Australian Oscar Jenkins along the Russo-Ukrainian frontline for the first time, grandstanding on Australia’s dogmatic adherence to Western allies amid a tense diplomatic negotiation.

In a briefing by the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry, spokesperson Maria Zakharova said the Kremlin had been contacted by Australian officials regarding Mr Jenkins’ capture, confirming government officials were investigating the matter.

As reported by Reuters, relaying information from Russian news agency TASS, Ms Zakharova took a swipe at Australia for “obediently (following) in the footsteps of the collective West, which pursues a Russophobic policy” in the same briefing on Wednesday.

“Efforts are currently under way to verify reports of the captured Australian citizen,” she said. “We are monitoring the situation alongside the relevant agencies.”

“The Australian political establishment (has a) hostile stance towards Russia.

“Canberra obediently follows in the footsteps of the collective West, which pursues a Russophobic policy.”

Mr Jenkins served with the Ukrainian Foreign Legion and was reportedly captured while fighting in the Donbas region. He is the first Australian combatant reportedly captured by Russian forces in Ukraine.

So far the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has provided consular support to the 32-year-old Melburnian’s family and urged Russian counterparts to meet its humanitarian obligations in his treatment as a prisoner of war.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was set to address local and international media on Thursday evening AEDT in a rare media address regarding Russia’s foreign policy.

The Kremlin’s acknowledgment of Mr Jenkins’ reported capture comes after Russian ambassador to Australia Alexey Pavlovsky was called before DFAT in Canberra on Monday.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Mr Jenkins graduated from Melbourne Grammar School in 2010, before studying at Monash University and then moving to China in 2015.

Having fallen out of contact with many of his friends and loved ones in Australia, he was seen in social media video on Sunday taken prisoner by Russian troops.

Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Mark Dreyfus was contacted for comment.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/kremlin-attacks-russophobic-policy-in-acknowledgment-of-captured-australian/news-story/80eae6b2783f9916a949e2019d237048

https://tass.com/politics/1893321

https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/1989140/

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51881f (208) No.22228920>>22228930

>>22225435

Aussies fighting in Ukraine: What we know

Video of a former Melbourne man captured, hit and taunted by a Russian soldier in Ukraine has raised concern about his welfare - and how many other Aussies are caught up in the conflict.

David Mills and Clare Armstrong - December 23, 2024

1/2

Officials are urgently seeking information about Oscar Jenkins, the Australian man fighting in Ukraine seen captured, hit and taunted by a Russian soldier in disturbing video.

Working through the embassy in Moscow, the government hoping for more clarity about Mr Jenkins’ case in the coming 24 hours.

The delicate diplomatic situation is further complicated by concerns about Russia seizing on the attention surrounding Mr Jenkins to fuel its propaganda efforts about the war in Ukraine.

Here’s what we know.

Who is the man who has been captured?

The Australian man featured in the disturbing video circulating on Telegram has been identified as Oscar Jenkins. He had reportedly been fighting in the Donbas region at the time of his capture.

In the clip, he states that he is 32 years old and works and studies in China.

Mr Jenkins is reportedly a former student of Melbourne Grammar, but had moved to the Tianjin region of China to study biology in 2015.

A Ukrainian security source told NewsWire that Mr Jenkins was fighting as part of the International Legion of Defence of Ukraine, a loose coalition of ex-soldiers and volunteer fighters drawn from other nations that was established shortly after Russia’s invasion.

Estimates of the number of foreign nationals fighting as part of the Legion vary. While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has boasted some 16,000 foreigners had attempted to join, reports have suggested the figure is closer to 1500-2000.

Eugene Hawryszko from the Association of Ukrainians in Victoria said Mr Jenkins was not known to the organisation but they were attempting to find out more about him.

How many Australians are fighting in Ukraine?

Mr Jenkins is not the first Australian revealed to be fighting against Russian’s invasion of Ukraine.

In July this year, it was reported that a 24 year old man from Queensland, Brock Greenwood, had been killed in the conflict.

Dave (not his real name), who had served with Matthew Jepson in the ADF and was also fighting in Ukraine, told the Townsville Bulletin that Jepson had put his safety on the line for an unknown Ukrainian soldier shortly before he was killed.

Mr Hawryszko said “No one really knows how many Australians have gone over to fight” as some of them “go in as visitors and end up in the armies”.

It was known that a number of ex-service members of the Australian Army had volunteered for the fight in Ukraine, but it is not known if Mr Jenkins had been in that category.

Just last week, The Australian reported on the issue of Australians fighting in Ukraine, with accompanying video featuring unmistakable Australian accents.

More information is being sought from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Australia’s travel advice for Ukraine explicitly states citizens should not travel to the war torn country under any circumstances.

“There is a serious risk to life,” the official federal government advice says.

(continued)

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51881f (208) No.22228930

>>22228920

2/2

The government’s Smart Traveller website also states Australian law “prohibits Australian citizens, residents, and holders of Australian visas from engaging in hostile activities overseas unless they are serving in the armed forces of a foreign country”.

Any Australian who travels to Ukraine to fight with a non-government armed group on either side of the conflict, or who recruits another person to do so, is warned their activities “may amount to criminal offences”.

“Russian proxies have reportedly given foreign nationals extrajudicial death sentences for engaging in the war in Ukraine,” the Smart Traveller advice says.

What will happen to Mr Jenkins?

Speaking to reporters this morning, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Australian embassy in Moscow was trying to ascertain the details of Mr Jenkin’s position, and condition. The government would make “appropriate representations,” he said.

“We know that the Russians often put out information that isn’t right,” he said.

“We always look after Australians,” he said.

A pro-Putin activist who has sought refuge in the Russian embassy for some months, Simeon Boikov, who has called himself “the Aussie Cossack”, has offered himself as a prisoner exchange with Mr Jenkins.

“The only way to keep Oscar Jenkins out of jail is for the Australian government to agree to a prisoner exchange deal, and guess what I’m offering,’’ he said on social media.

Some believe Mr Jenkins could have been deliberately targeted as an English speaker.

Retired army general Gus McLachlan said the Russians were likely monitoring communication between Ukrainian forces so they could target foreign voices.

“They will be seeking to either kill or capture these soldiers … with [the] specific purpose of using them to convince the world that they are dominating,” he told the ABC.

“We also know that, of course, Ukraine and other countries then are willing to make additional concessions to get those soldiers back in prison exchanges.”

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/world/aussies-fighting-in-ukraine-what-we-know/news-story/50459e4de6db6b0953e47d8b73c618c9

https://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/news/queensland-soldier-fighting-in-ukraine-recounts-final-heroic-moments-of-matthew-jepson/news-story/6458d36998288cae4067f3c683fc5101

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51881f (208) No.22238673>>22238680 >>22268338

>>22225435

Ukraine flags prisoner swap for taken Aussie Oscar Jenkins

JAMES DOWLING - 27 December 2024

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Captured Australian Oscar Jenkins will be classified as a prisoner of war in diplomatic negotiations with his Russian captors, providing a pathway to a prisoner swap despite concerns his nationality could complicate dealings.

Speaking to The Australian, Ukrainian ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko confirmed Mr Jenkins was a serving member of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, saying his government would assist in his safe return as it would any Ukrainian soldier under Russian captivity.

Having relayed the same confirmation to the Australian government on Friday, Kyiv has urged Russia to exercise all the restraints mandated by international war in its treatment of POWs.

The Australian understands Australia will not have consular access to Mr Jenkins, meaning it cannot communicate with him during his imprisonment, and will instead use the Ukrainian government as a go-between.

Non-government organisations such as the Red Cross will also act as emissaries to provide welfare checks on the 32-year-old Melburnian. It is a process in line with the treatment of American and British nationals made POWs.

Mr Myroshnychenko urged patience, cautioning the journey to Mr Jenkins’ release will likely be a “long, drawn out process” in which Russia could easily use Mr Jenkins’ lucrative status as a foreign national to extract “additional collateral” during any discussion of prisoner exchange.

It is understood Australian diplomats anticipate Mr Jenkins would likely be offered up in exchange for Russian prisoners detained within Ukrainian, rather than a more unorthodox exchange for a Russian prisoner outside of the conflict zone, such as the self-styled “Aussie Cossack” Simeon Boikov.

“This is happening behind the scenes, it’s only the final outcome we see,” Mr Myroshnychenko said. “It’s not really in the public domain … those who are confirmed as prisoners of war get on the lists for exchange, and then there is a lengthy process.

“We (Kyiv) focus on (bartering with) the Russian prisoners of war kept in Ukraine, and because he was a Ukrainian member of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, that applies to him. Of course the fact that he’s an Australian citizen (means) we will have two tracks (of negotiation) … but we’re co-ordinating closely.”

“We had a senior level meeting on Christmas Eve at DFAT (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade), where we discussed this issue. So I can assure you that this is treated as a priority. The only thing is we don’t have a mechanism of how that could be sped up, and we just have to rely on the procedures that we’ve had previously and were already in place.”

(continued)

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51881f (208) No.22238680

>>22238673

2/2

The Ambassador warned of the difficulties in negotiating with a “pariah state”, saying many freed Ukrainian POWs returned with confronting accounts of torture inflicted during captivity.

“I’ve lived through this because we see many of the Ukrainians captured as prisoners of war in Russia in lots of different video footage these days,” he said. “It’s traumatising for us. So I express my deepest sympathies to his mother and to his relatives. I feel their pain.”

“All the international humanitarian law conventions are now applying to this case, so he should be treated accordingly. And we urge Russia to stick to that.

“The problem is that Russians often do not stick to that, and we’ve seen it with our soldiers who come out of captivity and they are sharing some heinous, awful stories about the torture they’ve been exposed to.

“Russia has been behaving like a rogue stake for a long period of time … They have undermined all the international rules based system, and they’re behaving like an imperialistic country trying to capture territory, trying to revive an empire.”

Despite this, Mr Myroshnychenko pledged Mr Jenkins, like the other captured foreign nationals before him, would be treated “as a hero” by Ukrainians.

“All those people who have chosen to come and support Ukraine and fight for Ukraine, they’re Ukrainian heroes, they could not sit on a couch and see how Russia is killing civilians,” he said. “He is certainly a hero.”

The increasingly direct dialogue between Russo-Australian diplomats has already injected far more direct and derisive rhetoric into the appointed voices of either nation, with Australia batting off accusations of pursuing “Russophobic policy” on Thursday.

Mr Jenkins served with the Ukrainian Foreign Legion and was reportedly captured while fighting in the Donbas region. He is the first Australian combatant reportedly captured by Russian forces in Ukraine.

The Kremlin first acknowledged Mr Jenkins’ reported capture after Russian ambassador to Australia Alexey Pavlovsky was called before DFAT in Canberra on Monday.

“The circumstances are extremely challenging, but the Australian Government is working closely with the government of Ukraine and appropriate organisations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, to confirm Mr Jenkins’ whereabouts and support him and his family,” an Australian government spokesperson said.

“Australia has made our expectations clear to Russia - it must comply with international legal obligations and ensure Mr Jenkins’ welfare.”

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/oscar-jenkins-confirmed-a-prisoner-of-war-amid-warnings-of-tense-negotiation/news-story/91d6670c7bfdb215bed376b1f8ce6b39

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51881f (208) No.22238703>>22238734

>>22225665

ALP inaction on anti-Semitism shocking, says Nova Peris

ALEXI DEMETRIADI - December 26, 2024

Former senator Nova Peris has decried rampant “un-Australian anti-Semitism”, slamming the government’s failure to properly respond to the ancient hatred as the Jewish community celebrated Hanukkah and moved with “optimism” into the new year.

Gold medal-winning Olympian Ms Peris -- a vocal supporter of the Jewish community – has lambasted anti-Semitism masquerading as “anti-Zionism”, saying that Jewish people had always been falsely accused as the “villain of the day”, which had now “taken hold” in Australia.

Writing in Friday’s The Australian, Ms Peris called for greater solidarity among Indigenous people towards Jewish Australians and slammed her former Labor colleagues in the federal government for failing to address the “growing hatred”.

“As a nation we cannot ignore our beating heart,” she said.

“Who are we? What are we becoming? Are we not a Western country founded on morals and values?

“Australia has long prided itself on being a land of safety, freedom, and mutual respect. Anti-Semitism is a betrayal of these values. It is un-Australian, accelerates moral decay, and must be confronted head-on.”

The former ALP senator’s intervention comes after a year of rising anti-Semitism, culminating in recent vandalism attacks in Sydney’s east, the firebombing of the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne, and a neo-Nazi protest on the steps of Victoria’s parliament, which included a sign reading “Jews hate freedom”.

“The federal government’s failure to address this growing hatred has emboldened extremists,” Ms Peris said. “And what began as hateful graffiti has escalated to violent acts.”

Anthony Albanese’s response has been criticised by Jewish leaders and the opposition, especially when compared with stronger action and rhetoric by Labor premiers, particularly NSW’s Chris Minns.

In May, Ms Peris quit as the Australian Republic Movement’s co-chair in response to what she said were fellow leader Craig Foster’s “inaccurate and divisive comments” on the Israel-Hamas conflict. In June, she became an inaugural patron of the Labor Friends of Israel Australia, alongside former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews.

Ms Peris said Australia had “helped secure the conditions for Jewish self-determination” and must recommit to those principles as forces at home and abroad sought to undermine that right.

“We must reject any attempt to erase the Jewish connection to their homeland and remain steadfast in the fight for justice, freedom, and respect for all peoples,” Ms Peris said, calling the “surge in anti-Semitism … shocking (and) driven by harmful myths”.

“These include denying the Jewish people’s connection to Israel, misrepresenting anti-Semitism as opposition to ‘Zionist colonialism’ or ‘genocide’, and ­reviving baseless conspiracy theories of Jewish control.”

Ms Peris said it had given nefarious actors “pretext to vilify” Jewish Australians and “legitimise” attacks against them.

“The Jews get accused of whatever is considered the worst sin of the day,” she said, pointing to vilification of the Jews as “capitalists” in communist Russia and “communists” in Nazi Germany.

“It is a slippery slope and our once tolerant society is sliding down it more quickly than most.”

It comes after The Australian revealed how Jewish families were refusing to hide their faith as Hanukkah and Christmas coincided. Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said the community had observed the “most significant and meaningful Hanukkah in generations”, adding that they would go into the new year feeling “optimistic”.

“I am immensely proud of how the community has withstood a year of despair and pain where at times it has felt that our enemies were closing in and our future in this country was in peril,” he said, thanking the “support of fellow Australians” and praising Ms Peris.

“When we talk about leadership, moral clarity, strength and truth we must speak of Nova Peris, who is a lioness and a friend that I personally and the community will always cherish.

“Standing up for the few against powerful adversaries, refusing to bow to what is trendy and staying true to who we are is how the Jewish people have always survived and Nova embodies that spirit.”

The NSW government has changed planning laws to allow places of worship to install bollards, fences and lighting to bolster security without waiting for ­bureaucratic approval.

On Christmas Eve, Victoria Police arrested the alleged leader of the “anti-Semitic protest” at state parliament on December 20.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/alp-inaction-on-antisemitism-shocking-says-nova-peris/news-story/4282993ae617ce5094d7acb25591ef70

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51881f (208) No.22238734>>22238741

>>22225665

>>22238703

Indigenous lore shares common cause with Israel’s struggle

NOVA PERIS - December 27, 2024

1/2

As a nation, we cannot ignore our beating heart and the fundamental questions of who we are and what we’re becoming. Australia prides itself on being a land of safety, freedom and mutual respect. But the rise of anti-Semitism is a betrayal of those values.

During World War I, Australians stood shoulder to shoulder with the British in the fight against the Ottoman empire. This campaign not only liberated lands from oppressive rule but also paved the way for the Balfour Declaration of 1917, which formally recognised the Jewish people’s right to establish a homeland in their ancestral territory. Australia’s contributions to this chapter in history reflect the values of justice, freedom and self-determination that define our nation.

By helping to secure the conditions for Jewish self-determination, Australians upheld principles that offered hope to a people who had endured centuries of persecution. These efforts remind us of our shared history with Israel and the importance of standing against oppression -- then and now. We must reject any attempt to erase the Jewish connection to their homeland and remain steadfast in the fight for justice, freedom and respect for all peoples.

More than 8000 Jewish Australians have fought in our wars to protect our freedoms. Jewish Australians have contributed enormously in nation building; they’ve enriched our society immeasurably. As an Aboriginal Australian, I deeply value their contributions and stand with them against the rising tide of anti-Semitism.

It’s been shocking and deeply saddening to witness the surge in anti-Semitism in Australia -- a trend driven by misinformation and harmful myths. These include denying the Jewish people’s connection to Israel, misrepresenting anti-Semitism as opposition to “Zionist colonialism” or “genocide”, and reviving baseless conspiracy theories of Jewish control and subversion.

There is only one Jewish state in the world where Hebrew, the language of the Bible and evidenced in the Dead Sea scrolls, is spoken. This is not merely a linguistic curiosity but a profound testament to the Jewish people’s unbroken connection to their ancestral homeland.

For millennia, their language, faith and culture have remained rooted to the land of Israel. This bond is etched in sacred texts and archaeological evidence, forming an undeniable link that cannot be undone by ideological rhetoric and the chanting of protesters.

As an Aboriginal woman, I understand that profound connection between people and land. Aboriginal Australians have maintained this bond for over 60,000 years, despite displacement and colonisation. Similarly, the Jewish connection to Israel spans more than 4000 years.

For those who question the Jewish connection to Israel, even the Koran -- written over 600 years after Jesus – acknowledges the Jewish people’s divinely ordained link to the land. The term “Israel” appears in the Koran in reference to the Children of Israel (Bani Isra’il in Arabic) approximately 40 times across various chapters.

Israel did not suddenly emerge in 1948. For centuries, the region was under colonial rule of the Ottoman empire. After World War I, the British mandate ended, and the United Nations voted for a two-state solution: one Arab state and one Jewish state. Israel’s legitimacy is historically, legally and spiritually grounded.

(continued)

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51881f (208) No.22238741

>>22238734

2/2

Denying this connection is not only inaccurate but harmful. It is akin to denying the spiritual bond Aboriginal Australians have with our lands. Earlier this year, I stood in Israel and witnessed the pain following the Hamas terror attacks of October 7. That horror underscores the threats Jewish people face globally.

Israel is not an apartheid state. It is a democracy where two million Arabs live as free citizens alongside seven million Jewish people. Arab Israelis have full civil rights and actively participate in the Israel Defence Forces, government and broader society. These facts counter accusations of systemic oppression.

This is a dishonest means of creating a “respectable” pretext to vilify and intimidate ordinary Jewish Australians, to “legitimise” attacks on their property and buildings, and to exclude them from equal participation in our society.

This impulse shares similarities with the 19th century pogroms in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, as well as the demonisation that later enabled the Holocaust. The Jews get accused of whatever is considered the worst sin of the day. In Communist Russia, Jews were condemned as capitalists. In Nazi Germany they were condemned as communists.

Anti-Semitism is taking hold far too rapidly in Australia -- to the extent that neo-Nazis are now emboldened enough to display a huge banner on the steps of the Victorian parliament claiming “Jews Hate Freedom”. And far-left protesters now march our streets claiming Jews are genocide supporters. It’s a slippery slope, and our once tolerant society is sliding faster than most.

The federal government’s failure to address this growing hatred has bolstered extremists. What began as hateful graffiti has escalated to violent acts, such as the burning of the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne. These acts echo the horrors of 1930s Germany.

The narrative of Jewish dominance, such an embedded trope of anti-Semitism, is a baseless conspiracy theory designed to vilify and isolate Jewish communities. If Jewish people truly controlled governments, as extremists claim, international bodies such as the UN would not consistently criticise Israel, while ignoring Hamas’s atrocities, including the holding of more than 100 hostages to this day.

Anti-Semitism accelerates our moral decay. Australians must unite against this rising hatred by rejecting false narratives and fostering understanding and compassion. As billions across the world have just celebrated Christmas -- the birth of a Jewish baby, Jesus – let’s reflect on the power of truth and love to overcome hate.

Nova Peris is a former senator, dual Australian Olympian and gold medallist, and an inductee into the Sports Australia Hall of Fame.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/indigenous-lore-shares-common-cause-with-israels-struggle/news-story/5b01b09d7571180bb00b2973eb872c2d

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51881f (208) No.22238792>>22254832

[pop]YouTube embed. Click thumbnail to play.

Federal Liberals heavily involved in elevation of Brad Battin to the Victorian leadership

JOHN FERGUSON - 27 December 2024

Not since Jeff Kennett was re-elected to run the party in 1991 has a Victorian Liberal leader been handed such a winnable path to government.

Brad Battin’s ascension to the leadership on the third attempt is a triumph of persistence over the toxic malaise that has gripped the Victorian party for decades.

It is also a triumph over petty internal snobbery that questioned whether a former cop and MP who ran a bakery could be handed the keys to what was once a treasured Liberal position.

Battin spoke relentlessly on Friday about the need for unity, which is ironic given his backers have torn to shreds his predecessor, John Pesutto.

They will argue, of course, that Pesutto committed political suicide over reincarnated Liberal MP Moira Deeming.

Which he did.

But these battles can come at a high price, even if Pesutto only occasionally looked like a leader who would pick up the 17 seats needed to win the 2026 election.

Driving much of the urgency around the December 27 vote is panic in Canberra that the state Liberals will bungle the looming federal election.

There is plenty of evidence to suggest the Liberals’ defeat in last year’s federal Aston by-election was fuelled at least in part by the internal bloodbath over Deeming.

The bigger picture is that Peter Dutton needs to win seats in Victoria if he wants to win government.

He and others were deeply worried the Spring Street cancer would spread into the federal sphere.

This has been driving much of the chatter over the months leading to Friday’s spill.

While much will be said about the split between Liberal moderates and the conservative groupings, a lot of what has happened is personality-based rather than anything deeply ideological.

To that end, what Battin offers is straightforward politics driven by unity, the cost of living, crime, and servicing the growth corridors.

It is these outer-suburban growth areas where Dutton and his backers believe there is blue sky for the Liberals.

Battin, the bloke from the suburbs, will be sold as an aspirational success story who understands the basic concerns of basic people.

Where the parallels can be made with 1991 are quite clear.

Jeff Kennett profited from a Labor budget and economy in crisis.

While the Victorian economy is not yet in crisis, the state’s budget most definitely is in 2024.

After more than a decade in power, Labor is failing to get out of its own way, carrying so much pandemic and post-pandemic political baggage that it will struggle to win the next election.

Battin’s mission possible is lined with political opportunity.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/federal-liberals-heavily-involved-in-elevation-of-brad-battin-to-the-victorian-leadership/news-story/9b8268d81242fa2048d87c5e70777121

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2jnQFVjEqE

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51881f (208) No.22238916>>22238921 >>22254865

>>21906209 (pb)

>>22058546 (pb)

Respect our territorial claims, says Chinese ambassador Xiao Qian

BEN PACKHAM - 27 December 2024

1/2

China’s top diplomat in Canberra has challenged Australia to ­remedy what he says are “misunderstandings” on Taiwan and show “respect” for Beijing’s territorial claims in the South China Sea, just days after his country ­removed its last trade ban on Australian exports.

In an exclusive interview ­following the resumption of the live lobster trade, ambassador Xiao Qian also accused the Australian Strategic Policy Institute of encouraging “negative” views on China, as the think tank warns its independence was under threat following a government-ordered review.

Mr Xiao welcomed the trade milestone, approved by Beijing last week, declaring a “full turnaround” had been achieved in ­bilateral ties.

But he said the nations continued to have differences that needed to be managed “wisely”, including on the question of ­Taiwan. “I have a very strong impression that there are people in this country who have mis­understandings about Taiwan,” Mr Xiao said this week.

Australia’s longstanding one-China policy does not recognise Taiwan as a country but supports unofficial trade and cultural ties with the self-governed territory.

But Mr Xiao said he believed some in Australia viewed it as a sovereign state, despite widespread international recognition that Taiwan was “part of China”.

“This is a misunderstanding that … needs to be corrected,” Mr Xiao said.

The future of Taiwan looms as the Indo-Pacific’s biggest security issue, with Mr Xiao reiterating Beijing’s position that it sought peaceful reunification with the territory but “cannot give up the choice of resorting to force”.

On the region’s other key ­security hotspot, Mr Xiao declared: “Australia is not a party to the South China Sea issue and should respect China’s sovereignty and the common interests of regional countries.”

His comments, months before a federal election, underscore deep divisions between Australia and its major trading partner as Donald Trump’s imminent return to the White House injects fresh uncertainty into US-China relations.

Taiwan’s representative in Australia, Douglas Hsu, said the territory was facing a campaign of “cognitive warfare” by China, but it remained “a vibrant ­democracy and a global economic powerhouse”.

“Since Taiwan is a democracy, anything regarding Taiwan’s ­future needs to be determined by the willingness of the Taiwanese people,” Mr Hsu said.

(continued)

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51881f (208) No.22238921

>>22238916

2/2

The Albanese government has worked to stabilise ties with China while opposing “unilateral changes to the status quo” in relation to Taiwan. It has also stated with key ­partners that Beijing’s territorial claims in the South China Sea are inconsistent with international law, backing the position with joint freedom-of-navigation operations with the US, Japan and The Philippines.

Mr Xiao said exercises in the South China Sea by “non-regional countries … threaten peace and stability”.

He said ASPI, which faces the axing of its Washington office and increased government oversight after the Varghese review, had ­fostered views that he said were “pretty negative on China”.

“Many of their views are based on a Cold War mentality that China is growing and China is growing strongly, so China is going to challenge the existing international order,” Mr Xiao said.

He argued that these were also “misunderstandings”.

But ASPI’s executive director Justin Bassi said the think tank, which Beijing singled out in its 2020 list of “grievances” with ­Australia, would continue its “data driven and objective research” to “pour sunlight on all malicious actions”. “That a think tank lives in the heads of the regime of the second biggest economy and military in the world shows ASPI’s global ­influence and Beijing’s extreme sensitivity to criticism,” he said.

Mr Xiao will mark three years in his post in January amid speculation in Canberra’s diplomatic circles that his term may soon come to an end. But he said he was yet to receive directions from ­Beijing on whether he would stay on in Canberra or return home.

Former Defence official Michael Shoebridge said there was no mistaking China’s position on the region’s most pressing security issues. “I don’t think there is a misunderstanding about Beijing’s intentions towards Taiwan, or its outrageous claim of extensive sovereignty over the South China Sea,” he said.

Labor senator Raff Ciccone, who chairs federal parliament’s intelligence committee, said in a recent speech that Taiwan was a “robust” democracy and “a friend and a partner” to Australia.

The removal of China’s bans on Australian lobster on the Friday before Christmas marked the end of Beijing’s $20bn a year in trade sanctions against Australia after bilateral relations soured during the Covid pandemic.

The outcome followed painstaking diplomacy by the Albanese government to take the heat out of the China relationship with its policy to “co-operate where we can, disagree where we must, and engage in the national interest”.

Australia’s major political ­parties used a bipartisan Senate motion in August to reject ­Beijing’s use of a five-decade-old UN resolution to press its claim over Taiwan.

The 1971 resolution recognises the People’s Republic of China as “the only legitimate representative of China to the UN”. But Labor and Coalition senators ­declared UN Resolution 2758 “does not establish the People’s Republic of China’s sovereignty over Taiwan”.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/respect-our-territorial-claims-says-chinese-ambassador-xiao-qian/news-story/765841f78e8c3fd80d5cd16516b744ca

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51881f (208) No.22248798

File (hide): c49006f639abbdd⋯.jpg (308.57 KB,750x740,75:74,LG_1.jpg) (h) (u)

File (hide): 7e90d7f936b0ab6⋯.jpg (254.59 KB,852x674,426:337,Q_4396.jpg) (h) (u)

Anti-authoritarian group The Satanic Temple deemed ‘undesirable’ in Russia

Novaya Gazeta Europe - 4 December 2024

The Russian government has added The Satanic Temple, an American religious group that uses Satanic imagery to advocate for personal freedoms and secular values, to its list of “undesirable” organisations, Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office announced on Wednesday.

In a statement, the Prosecutor General’s Office accused members of The Satanic Temple of “promoting occult ideology” by using Satanic symbols to “discredit traditional spiritual and moral values” as well as “spreading destructive pseudo-theological ideas and justifying violence … with the support of US government agencies”.

“The Satanic Temple actively supports participants of extremist and terrorist movements, speaks negatively about the special military operation [and] calls for the overthrow of the constitutional order in Russia”, it continued, adding that the organisation’s website contained information on “fundraising for the Armed Forces of Ukraine”.

The Satanic Temple was founded in 2012 by Harvard graduates Lucien Greaves and Malcolm Jerry. Distinct from the similarly-named Church of Satan, it describes its mission as to “encourage benevolence and empathy among all people, reject tyrannical authority, advocate practical common sense, oppose injustice and undertake noble pursuits”.

While officially registered as a religion in the US, the organisation is non-theistic and focuses its efforts instead on “preserving and advancing secularism and individual liberties”. It has chapters in the US, Canada, Australia, Germany and Finland, with Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office estimating its membership at some 10 million people worldwide.

The Temple’s website contains information on a relief programme to help its members in Ukraine reach safety, but makes no reference to support for the Armed Forces of Ukraine as alleged by the Prosecutor General’s Office.

In Russia, any organisation deemed “undesirable” by the government is legally obliged to dissolve itself, and any involvement in its activities becomes illegal. To date, over 190 organisations have been deemed “undesirable” by the Russian government, including Novaya Gazeta Europe, Nobel-Prize-winning human rights organisation Memorial, and the Free Russia Foundation.

https:// novayagazeta .eu /articles/ 2024/ 12/ 04/ anti-authoritarian-group-the- satanic-temple-deemed-undesirable-in-russia-en-news

https:// epp. genproc. gov. ru /web/ gprf/ mass-media/ news ? item =99479483

https:// x.com/ LucienGreaves/ status/ 1865131242456256782

https:// www. christianpost. com/ news/ russia-adds-satanic- temple-to-list-of-undesirable-groups .html

https:// qanon .pub /#4396

https://qresear.ch/?q=satanic+temple

>God wins.

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51881f (208) No.22254814

File (hide): 10769bac88cc3f0⋯.jpg (1.18 MB,3200x2133,3200:2133,GeaKz9fbIAAxYAD.jpg) (h) (u)

File (hide): 08684d8d49c289f⋯.jpg (1.08 MB,4000x2667,4000:2667,GeaLQEjbUAA0o82.jpg) (h) (u)

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>>22225665

Cost to rebuild firebombed Adass Israel synagogue soars, police yet to make arrests

MOHAMMAD ALFARES - 30 December 2024

The cost of rebuilding the Adass Israel synagogue has soared to tens of millions of dollars, with police yet to make any arrests four weeks after the terror attack.

Rebuilding the Melbourne ultra-Orthodox synagogue to its former glory is now estimated to cost between $25m and $40m, with the building requiring state-of-the-art security systems, including cameras, bollards and guards, to prevent future attacks.

Details of the plans come as federal backbencher Julian Hill, who once accused Israel of being “hell-bent on formalising a policy of apartheid” and has called on Australia to fast-track formal recognition of a Palestinian state, was informally appointed by the federal government to liaise with leaders of the synagogue.

It’s understood the Victorian-based Labor MP and Assistant Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs will act as a middle-man between Jewish synagogue leaders and Anthony Albanese. The Australian has approached his office for comment.

The Prime Minister’s office said liaising with the Jewish community fell under Mr Hill’s current portfolio as the Assistant Minister of Multicultural Affairs.

Although Immigration Minister Tony Burke retains full responsibility for maintaining the relationship between the federal government and the Adass community, Mr Hill will use his position to assist Mr Burke.

Sources have told The Australian Mr Hill’s office requested that a three-phase report be drafted in coming weeks, which includes a detailed plan by an architect and a timeline for construction to begin.

It comes as Mr Hill joined hundreds of Jewish people along with opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson to celebrate Hanukkah last Wednesday, which coincided with Christmas Day for the first time in 19 years.

Rabbi Gabi Kaltmann said the community was honoured to welcome Mr Hill, who “spoke powerfully” and condemned anti-Semitic incidents in the fallout from the Israel-Gaza war.

So far, more than $2m has been raised in a campaign that had an initial target of $1m, with some of the largest donations being made by News Corp founder ­Rupert Murdoch, the Herald Sun, the Pratt Foundation, and the Gandel Foundation.

A visibly shaken Prime Minister previously vowed to help rebuild the Melbourne synagogue during his visit on December 10, but Jewish leaders are yet to find out how much money the federal government will provide.

Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler said “Anyone who describes Israel as an ‘apartheid’ state, when it is the only democracy in the Middle East where two million Arab citizens live with equal rights, either has a sinister agenda or has absolute zero understanding of history and the region”.

Board member Rabbi Benjamin Klein said a detailed plan would be handed to Mr Hill’s ­office in the coming weeks.

The community hope to also expand the synagogue in future to include a multifunctional centre with a playground, a woman’s mental health facility and a library.

“We did have another meeting just before Christmas and the government said to us that they put a special minister to be your liaison,” he said. “They’ve asked us to work through plans, to put forward a three-phase report where we talk about the lockdown, the planning and the rebuild, and to work on a timeline for them.

“They asked us to keep them informed throughout the project and they’ll be able to work with us and tip money into it,” Mr Klein said. “We haven’t sat down with a proper architect yet but we do have another meeting planned with architects in mid-January then we’ll start formalising numbers, and then we’ll be funnelling that back to the government.

“Together with our fundraising and together with insurance, we hope to put something big and grand on there.”

Director of fundraising Chayim Klein extended his gratitude to the federal government.

“We deeply appreciate all they have done for us so far, and look forward to continuing our work together in the future,” Mr Klein said.

As of this week, Victoria Police and the federal police did not have updates, with both agencies telling The Australian information would be provided in due course.

You can donate to the synagogue via www.charidy.com/rebuildadass

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/cost-to-rebuild-firebombed-adass-israel-synagogue-soars-police-yet-to-make-arrests/news-story/69f432e4a83eb0b3de77d48d47001dc1

https://x.com/AlboMP/status/1866332292538614198

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51881f (208) No.22254832>>22254834

>>22225665

>>22238792

‘We’re both former cops’: Brad Battin reveals why he admires Peter Dutton

DAMON JOHNSTON - 30 December 2024

1/2

New Victorian Liberal leader Brad Battin believes he shares strong political values with Peter Dutton and is preparing to campaign shoulder to shoulder with the Opposition Leader in next year’s federal election.

In an interview with The Australian, Mr Battin said he admired Mr Dutton for taking strong policy positions during his three years as federal Opposition Leader and because both Liberal leaders were former police officers, they had a shared history.

“He is decisive. He goes through a process, makes a decision, and then sticks to that decision,” he said on Sunday.

“He’s articulate in defending his position when he has to … and I think people respect that.

“I know I do.”

Mr Battin revealed Mr Dutton telephoned him when he was appointed state Opposition Leader last Friday after the collapse of John Pesutto’s leadership in the fallout from his defamation case loss to Liberal MP Moira Deeming. He said the federal leader’s message was one of “congratulations, you have got an opportunity” and “it takes a lot of hard work in opposition”.

“(He said) you’ll have to make decisions that people don’t like, but you have got to do the right thing by what you see as the right direction to have any chance,” he told The Australian.

Mr Battin said he was looking forward to campaigning with Mr Dutton, particularly in Melbourne’s outer suburbs and growth corridors, which both leaders have identified as being central to the future of the Liberal Party.

“Yep, I would definitely share similarities with Peter Dutton,” he said. “The values we both hold resonate through the areas where people are aspirational. It’s the old Liberal Party we used to talk about … aspirational voters, ­people who are working hard and want reward for effort.

“They are the ones who have been neglected the most.”

Mr Battin, who spent his first weekend as Opposition Leader piecing together a new shadow cabinet that he expects to unveil in early January, said being a police officer was ideal preparation for political leadership.

“One of the greatest things you learn from policing is real-life experiences … you (have to be) willing to make decisions and it toughens you up, so you have to have a thick skin,” he said.

“I will be willing to work with Peter Dutton to get a federal Liberal government and the only message I gave him on the phone was we’ll always be happy to chat.”

Mr Battin said despite his support for Mr Dutton, there would likely be times when the two differed. “What’s in the front of his mind is what’s in the best interests of Australia, and what’s in the front of my mind is what’s in the best interests of Victoria,” he said.

(continued)

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51881f (208) No.22254834

>>22254832

2/2

During Liberal leadership tensions, internal rivals described Mr Battin as being from the party’s “right-wing conservative” faction; Labor is expected to focus its attack on him in this area.

Mr Battin said this description was an “extreme simplification” and he didn’t consider himself to be right-wing conservative but a politician with strong family values and a true believer in Liberal ideals. “It might suit an argument for someone trying to paint you into a position, but from where I come from I have family values … and a conservative economics background,” he said.

“Coming from business, every dollar in I want to make sure I get the most value out of it.”

Mr Battin said to describe him as a right-wing conservative was “ridiculous” and he was proud of his small business background. He owned and operated a Bakers Delight for three years.

Mr Battin said he was not a religious person. “I got baptised when I was 14, and went back to my local church recently for the first time in many years,” he said.

“I am not a religious person. We don’t have a religious family but we have family values that we all share.”

While Mr Battin has been careful to avoid making any “captain’s calls” on specific policies since taking over the leadership, he has identified Victoria’s crippling state debt, which is soaring towards $200bn, and budget deficits as priorities.

“If we don’t get the budget under control, every single other policy will fail and that’s what the government is facing right now,” he said.

“They can’t deliver services because they haven’t got the money.

“It will be our priority to ­ensure we can either grow the economy, which therefore makes state debt a lower concern, or find other ways we can make changes to stop the waste already in the system.”

A promise to order a wholesale review of state taxes in the lead-up to the 2026 Victorian election is also on the cards for Mr Battin. “It’s taxes that are preventing people from investing or creating jobs that need to be ­addressed first,” he said.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/were-both-former-cops-brad-battin-reveals-why-he-admires-peter-dutton/news-story/cf68595c97c65426234955bbee02955c

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51881f (208) No.22254863>>22262445 >>22262471 >>22262503 >>22268298

File (hide): f1dbe93f238a31f⋯.jpg (236.34 KB,850x838,425:419,VL_1.jpg) (h) (u)

>>22225665

‘Gutter politics’: Victorian Labor attacks the Duttons in smear campaign

MOHAMMAD ALFARES - 30 December 2024

The Victorian ALP has been accused of getting into “gutter” politics after launching a highly personal social media attack on Coalition Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and his wife.

With Labor’s polling share falling sharply in Victoria ahead of next year’s federal election, the Victorian ALP manipulated a five-year-old newspaper report on the Duttons to attack them.

The post went up about 11am on Monday under the heading “We all know that one couple” and a secondary line stating “Justifying dating your new partner to your friends who don’t like him” above a 2019 newspaper photo quoting Ms Dutton saying of her husband: ‘‘He’s not a monster.’’ The original Queensland-based Sunday Mail newspaper front page was headlined “My Pete’s no monster’’.

Opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson, a Liberal senator from Victoria, has called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to take “this grubby meme down immediately”.

“This is just grubby gutter politics from a desperate government slipping in the polls,” Mr Paterson told The Australian shortly after the post was published.

“We all know Labor’s plan for the election next year is negative personal attacks on Peter Dutton, this is just a preview. When you run out of ideas to tackle the cost of living and have no second-term agenda, that’s all that is left.

“He [Mr Albanese] should order the Labor Party to take this grubby meme down immediately.”

The Melbourne-based state ALP headquarters is understood to have full responsibility for posting social media content.

The Victorian leadership has distanced itself from the post.

Premier Jacinta Allan’s office declined to comment on Monday about the Facebook post on the party’s account which features prominent photos of the Premier and Prime Minister.

The latest three-month Newspoll, compiled for The Australian and reported last week, revealed the federal Coalition for the first time has drawn level with Labor in ­Victoria, where the state Labor government has lost ground heavily in polling, with the federal two-party-preferred support now split 50-50.

The three-month total represents an almost 5 per cent swing against the Albanese government compared with the 2022 election result.

Labor’s primary vote has fallen to a new low of 30 per cent in Victoria. This represents a three-point fall over the past three sample periods. Labor’s Victorian primary vote is now lower than the 32 per cent support it has in NSW and only a point higher than its primary vote of 29 per cent in Queensland.

The poll also found Labor has lost ground across vital demographics, as well as losing its edge in the two most populous states, NSW and Victoria.

The Australian also reported last week that while the two major parties were tied 50-50 nationally on a two-party-preferred basis in the three-month poll, the cost of living has pushed Labor down into second place among 35 to 49-year-olds as a shift towards the Coalition in recent months has strengthened.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/gutter-politics-victorian-labor-attacks-the-duttons-in-smear-campaign/news-story/46a6f2f9d33e811304cd751dcae65673

https://www.facebook.com/VictorianLabor/posts/1178727250479360

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51881f (208) No.22254865

>>22238916

Anthony Albanese being a ‘good boy’ for China, defence expert Peter Jennings says

SARAH ISON - 29 December 2024

A former official in the senior ranks of the defence department says China expects Anthony Albanese to continue being “a good boy” and follow Beijing’s demands on Australia to soften its language towards China, in the wake of comments from the ambassador to Australia calling on Canberra to clarify “misunderstandings” on Taiwan and respect Beijing’s territorial claims in the South China Sea.

Peter Jennings said Chinese ambassador Xiao Qian’s language was “less insulting” than what had been said by officials in the past, but the message to Australia remained the same.

“That message is ‘do what we want’, basically,” Mr Jennings, now the Strategic Analysis Australia director, said.

He said the resumption of the lobster trade earlier this month was clearly “a reward” for Australia’s approach to China under the Labor government, but that Beijing still wanted the government to go further.

“Albanese is being rewarded for being a good boy,” he said.

“He’s mostly done what he’s been told. He’s shut criticism down. He doesn’t react when they do bad things in the South China Sea.”

Mr Xiao also criticised commentary by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, which is set to receive significant government oversight in coming months after a review into its operations, because of the negative view it portrayed of China.

The intervention by the Chinese ambassador ahead of the federal election -- due by May next year – comes as Beijing announced sanctions on a number of defence firms, including one from Australia.

According to the foreign affairs ministry, Beijing will sanction organisations such as Raytheon Australia because they or their parent companies are selling arms to Taiwan.

The sanctions will include a freezing of any assets in China owned by executives of the targeted companies, while trade and collaboration between Chinese organisations or individuals with the Australian and US firms will be banned.

A Foreign Affairs and Trade Department spokeswoman said Australia’s approach to China would always be “to co-operate where we can, disagree where we must and engage in our national interest”.

“As the Foreign Minister has said, by navigating our differences wisely and engaging in dialogue we can grow our relation­ship and uphold our respective national interests,” she said.

“Australia shares our region’s concerns about China’s destabilising actions in the South China Sea, including dangerous actions by Chinese vessels towards the Philippines, and its excessive maritime claims which are inconsistent with international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.”

The DFAT spokeswoman said the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister had frequently raised these concerns with their Chinese counterparts.

“There has been no change to our one-China policy,” she said.

Mr Jennings said that regardless of any tangible policy changes, the optics of seeming more amenable to China would have consequences for Labor.

“It’s just an example of our government’s tin ear that they don’t seem to realise that being seen to be too deferential for China is bad politics,” he said.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/pm-being-good-boy-for-china-says-defence-expert-peter-jennings/news-story/9958b21278da9d1bb2fcd379cbf01bee

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51881f (208) No.22254878>>22482380

ADF recruitment officially opens to Five Eyes

SARAH ISON - 29 December 2024

Canadian, American and British citizens will be eligible to join Australia’s defence forces by the end of the week, as the government reveals 400 New Zealand residents have applied to be part of the ADF since July.

The program allowing Five Eyes partners to join the ADF was announced this year, in the wake of figures revealing the nation’s defence force was facing a shortfall of nearly 4500 troops and was not on track to reach Defence Department goals of having 69,000 men and women in uniform by the early 2030s.

On top of offering $40,000 bonuses for personnel to remain in the ADF, Labor announced New Zealanders, Canadians and people from the US and UK would be able to join up as long as they had lived in Australia for at least 12 months, had not served in a foreign military within the previous two years and passed security vetting.

Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Minister Matt Keogh said the recruitment and retention challenge facing the ADF called for “bold” solutions.

“As outlined in the National Defence Strategy, Defence must recruit, retain and grow a highly specialised and skilled workforce, and that’s why from 1 January, 2025, we’re further expanding who is eligible to join the Australian Defence Force,” Mr Keogh said.

“Our people are our most important capability, but we’ve had to be bold and innovative to reverse the Defence recruitment shortfalls of the last government in order to grow the Australian Defence Force.

“From 1 January eligible permanent residents from our Five Eyes partners -- the United Kingdom, United States and Canada – living in Australia can apply to join the ADF.“

While the government said earlier this year it expected to recruit about 350 people to the scheme by the end of the 2024-25 financial year, Mr Keogh confirmed 400 New Zealand permanent residents had started the application process in the past six months.

And according to latest figures, the government is tracking a 24 per cent increase in overall ADF personnel numbers this financial year compared to the last.

As the ADF recruitment scheme officially opens to the Five Eyes, Labor continues weighing up a Pacific recruitment plan, despite having hit a stumbling block with Papua New Guinea, which is wary of a proposal that would force those who join to become Australian citizens.

PNG Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko told The Australian last month Canberra and Port Moresby needed to find a way forward that would not “affect the sovereignties of both countries”.

Other incentives to recruit more Australians to the ADF include a program launched in October that offers $1000 bonuses for personnel who refer someone to joining the ADF should that person go on to complete 12 months of service.

The ADF in July also launched a new recruitment campaign, “Unlike any other job”, which advertises the benefits of joining the ADF with TV and social media promotions.

But UNSW adjunct fellow Jennifer Parker warned the campaign “diluted” the message and failed to tap into the sense of purpose young people would receive with an ADF career.

“The recruitment shortfall in the ADF today isn’t due to a lack of attractive offers. Defence salaries are competitive, benefits are strong and the opportunities for career advancement are significant,” she wrote in The Strategist last month.

“But none of that will resonate with young Australians if the message of service is diluted. What the current advertisements fail to communicate is the sense of purpose that comes with wearing the uniform. That message, embedded in the traditions of the navy, army and air force, is what will inspire a new generation to enlist.”

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/adf-recruitment-officially-opens-to-five-eyes/news-story/5a65b3b83d9983875b4c62f37fd9ef2c

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51881f (208) No.22254892>>22254896

>>22225435

Vladimir Putin a problem for all, Australian Brigadier warns

JACQUELIN MAGNAY and SARAH ISON - 29 December 2024

1/2

Australia’s top military officer in London has warned Russia’s use of North Korean and Iranian forces to destroy democratic Ukraine is “everyone’s business” and declared our nation’s role in holding back Vladimir Putin’s ambitions in Europe is “so important”.

As US President Donald Trump looks to wind back US involvement in the years-long conflict, Brigadier Grant Mason has issued a clarion call for supporting the Ukrainians and said it is a bigger and more devastating war than either the 1950s Korean War or the more-than-decade-long conflict in Vietnam.

Brigadier Mason is moving from his command of an increasingly important Australian mission in London three years after overseeing Australia’s defence in the region. As he comes home to lead a strategic review on what the Australian Defence Force can learn from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Brigadier Mason said in an exclusive, wide-ranging interview that Russia’s move to use its worldwide coalition in Europe makes this a fight the nation must be involved in.

“The concern now is Russia is relying on other countries like Iran, North Korea and China in a conflict that was localised initially to Western Europe,” he said. “We are engaged because there is a connectedness between those two areas: that’s ­really clear and therefore that is our fight. When Russia started leaning on other allies like it has to try and win an illegal war over the illegal invasion of Ukraine, that becomes everyone’s business.

“We are contributing to the fight that is so important … We can’t miss the fact that the scale of the conflict is so severe none of us anticipated this following WWII. Even South Korea or Vietnam just didn’t match what we are seeing in Ukraine.’’

The senior officer’s comments come as Mr Putin apologised on Saturday that a “tragic incident occurred in Russia’s airspace” when an Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashed and killed 38 people as the likely result of being hit by a missile from Russia’s missile defence system.

Mr Putin, in a call on Sunday (AEDT) with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Ilham Aliyev, claimed Russian air defences were fending off an attack from Ukrainian drones in the region at the time of the plane’s descent.

With the Azerbaijan Airlines disaster the latest by-product of Russia’s illegal invasion, Ukrainian ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko on Sunday said Australia’s ongoing support in the fight against Russia would be vital in 2025.

“We’re in this together, a lot will depend on the outcomes of this war,” he said “It will define the global security architecture and this region. Looking into the future we hope 2025 we can be together and strong and negotiate an end of war through strength. We rely on Australian support, we never forget it.”

Overseeing Australia’s defence in the region has been the most intense time of Brigadier Mason’s 35-year military career, except for his on-the-ground combat command in Afghanistan and Iraq.

“I don’t think anyone could have predicted such a phenomenal change in the geopolitical circumstances since 2021,’’ he said, sitting in a room at Australia House in London hours before his official handover as head of Australia’s defence staff to RAAF Air Commodore Matthew Harper.

It has been a time of great change, with the strategically crucial “supercharged” AUKUS arrangement with Britain and the US, but also the aftermath of Brexit, the death of the Queen, the celebrations of a new King and Russia’s dramatic invasion of Ukraine, which increasingly is becoming linked to the Indo-Pacific.

If that wasn’t enough for the small ADF team in London to keep busy, there was also the Australian defence strategic review, the national defence strategy, a new Labour government and upheaval in the Middle East.

(continued)

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51881f (208) No.22254896

>>22254892

2/2

Brigadier Mason’s warning about the need to stick with Ukraine will likely resonate most with Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton heading into an election year, as they both consider how they would handle a new Trump administration in Washington for the next three years.

Mr Trump has made it clear that he intends to find a deal to end the almost three-year war once he takes office on January 20, and the president-elect’s two closest allies -- vice-president-elect JD Vance and the world’s richest man Elon Musk – have been virulently sceptical of outgoing President Joe Biden’s support for the government of Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky.

While Brigadier Mason does not comment on the potential change in US strategy, he makes it clear he feels Australia’s involvement -- through assisting in the training of Ukrainian army recruits to the provision of Bushmasters, Abrams tanks, a Wedgetail plane, drones and body armour – has been vital for Ukraine’s survival and strategically the right thing to do.

He believes when the conflict is over, the toll may be greater than even realised today.

“It’s very difficult to get a handle on the figures,” he said. “Potentially around 700,000 Russians killed or wounded and 200,000 Ukrainians, and even if they are inflated by 50 or 75 per cent, we are still talking about 200,000 people.”

Strategic Analysis Australia founder and director Michael Shoebridge said the comments by Brigadier Mason were “way out in front” of government policy and he hoped Labor would pay attention to his calls.

“The government … haven’t been as clear about this axis of co-operation between Russia, China, North Korea and Iran,” Mr Shoebridge said. “So he’s absolutely right, but he also seems to be out in front of government policy, which would be interesting to see if government policy will catch up with his objective analysis.”

Former Defence Department deputy secretary Peter Jennings said while co-operation between Russia and countries such as North Korea was of concern, it indicated Moscow’s weakness rather than strength.

“The longer the war goes on, the more risk Putin faces that sooner or later, that the oligarchs or the generals are just going to have enough … I think people tend to over-estimate Russia’s strength,” Mr Jennings said.

“One sign of weakness is that they’re now turning to what I ­describe as malnourished and worm-infested North Korean troops to fight their wars for them because they don’t want to recruit any more Russians to be killed. Really, that’s a sign of weakness, rather than strength. I think for us, one of the things that means is that North Korea has now found a new export product, which is people, soldiers.”

Brigadier Mason is keen to stress that Australia cannot make major decisions by looking at the current conflict. His work in his new role may be included in the next national defence strategy for Australia in 2026.

“I don’t want to get distracted by drones or the tactics of the trenches,” he said. “I am trying to elevate our thinking to look at the strategic level from an organisation department level, what is it about around innovation or supply-chain resilience or mobilisation of factory capabilities, rapid acquisition of technologies and the short learnings applied in Ukraine.

“If you want to be in a better position come the next conflict, whatever that is or wherever it is, you need to be able to do a, b or c and not just defaulting to what we often hear in military circles of preparing for the last war as opposed to preparing for the next.”

Planning has been a cornerstone of Brigadier Mason’s most recent military life, with the rapid developments in AUKUS and the policy planning for Australia to have a nuclear-powered submarine, as well as advanced capabilities under the second pillar of the tripartite agreement that has been a particular focus in the past few years.

“To say the tempo in Canberra and within the organisation has been very, very high is an understatement,’’ he said.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/defence/putin-a-problem-for-all-australian-brigadier-warns/news-story/021e174db7cf6ebbf38493406c6b09bb

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51881f (208) No.22254943>>22268355 >>22288283 >>22288461 >>22301165 >>22321028 >>22351454 >>22444595 >>22490485

File (hide): 6aaeb37ee02b656⋯.jpg (420.53 KB,750x1316,375:658,EM_23.jpg) (h) (u)

File (hide): 20ff9af52ac15d8⋯.jpg (566.55 KB,750x1049,750:1049,AN_1.jpg) (h) (u)

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>>21947984 (pb)

Elon Musk trolls Sydney Morning Herald for predicting he will be 'forced to hand over the reins' at Tesla in 2025

Billionaire Elon Musk has given a brutal reply to the Sydney Morning Herald after the publication made the wild prediction he will leave his role at Tesla in the new year.

Patrick Staveley and Max Melzer - December 30, 2024

Elon Musk has hit back at the Sydney Morning Herald after the masthead wildly predicted the billionaire would quit Tesla in 2025.

SMH published an opinion piece by technology editor David Swan on Sunday evening which shared a series of predictions for tech in the new year.

One of the predictions centred on Musk and whether his busy list of commitments would force him to part ways with Tesla as he focuses on a new role in 2025 as the joint lead of the Department of Government Efficiency in the Trump administration.

"To be juggling leadership roles at X, Tesla, SpaceX, xAI, the Boring Company and Neuralink was already unsustainable," the SMH op-ed read.

"Musk has already found himself at loggerheads with MAGA diehards like Steve Bannon over immigration issues, and the inauguration is still weeks away. He’s also been at loggerheads with the justice system, after a US judge blocked Musk’s $US56 billion ($90 billion) pay package from Tesla.

"After constant controversies and distractions, it will all come to a head in 2025, and Musk will be forced to hand over the reins at Tesla, a company many mistakenly think he founded."

The 53-year-old hit back with a tongue-in-cheek reply on X, after a Musk supporter shared the article's headline with a quote from the prediction.

"I predict that the Sydney Morning Herald will continue to lose readership in 2025 for relentlessly lying to their audience and boring them to death," he said.

Social media influencer and journalist at The Post Millennial Andy Ngo, also chimed in on the thread, saying the SMH had previously published lies about him after it claimed he had been banned from X before being reinstated.

"The Sydney Morning Herald published these lies. I was never banned on this platform, even under the worst times from the prior regime," he said.

Musk's comments come after the SMH was forced to issue an apology for falsely identifying South Australian barrister Ian Roberts as one of the two men who died during the Sydney to Hobart yacht race on Friday.

NSW Police confirmed two men, aged 55 and 65, had died but neither was publicly identified initially.

Authorities confirmed the 65-year-old was aboard the Bowline and was a native of South Australia in a press conference on Friday morning.

Hours later, the SMH published an article identifying the man as Mr Roberts, the skipper and owner of the Bowline.

However, that article was taken down within an hour after it emerged the Adelaide-based barrister was in fact alive and well.

The paper subsequently issued a public apology to the 65-year-old after the error was identified.

"The Sydney Morning Herald incorrectly named Adelaide barrister Ian Roberts as one of the victims in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race," the SMH said in a statement.

"This was incorrect. We apologise to Mr Roberts and his family."

Nick Smith, 55, and Roy Quaden, 65, were later identified as the men to have died.

The Sydney Morning Herald’s circulation has been steadily declining for several years, losing more than a million readers since 2022 across digital and print.

In May, the paper bragged about having 7.3 million readers across all platforms, but that figure was down 1.1 million from its 2022 results.

https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/elon-musk-trolls-sydney-morning-herald-for-predicting-he-will-be-forced-to-hand-over-the-reins-at-tesla-in-2025/news-story/1ec0b3fb3aa99d2af1b76fa3b76b3007

https://x.com/GailAlfarATX/status/1873409669651452155

https://x.com/GailAlfarATX/status/1873408681884459240

https://www.smh.com.au/technology/elon-musk-quits-tesla-flying-cars-take-off-the-predictions-for-tech-in-2025-20241229-p5l11s.html

https://archive.vn/o3yW8

https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1873410294359421048

https://x.com/MrAndyNgo/status/1873411111250452657

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51881f (208) No.22262445>>22262471 >>22262503 >>22268298

File (hide): 1adc3106b715a19⋯.jpg (491.13 KB,750x1292,375:646,PD_26.jpg) (h) (u)

>>22254863

‘Gutter politics’: Peter Dutton forces Anthony Albanese to order Labor post be removed

MOHAMMAD ALFARES - December 30, 2024

Anthony Albanese has been forced to order a highly personal attack against Peter Dutton and his wife be scrubbed from the ­Victorian ALP’s social media ­accounts.

The Prime Minister’s intervention came after Mr Dutton called on ­Mr Albanese and Labor to show his family respect and avoid an election campaign dominated by personal attacks, after the Victorian ALP targeted him and Kir­illy Dutton in a “gutter politics” social media post.

With Labor’s polling share falling sharply in Victoria ahead of next year’s federal election, the Victorian ALP manipulated a five-year-old newspaper report on the Duttons to attack them.

The post went up about 11am on Monday under the heading “We all know that one couple” and a secondary line stating “Justifying dating your new partner to your friends who don’t like him” above a 2019 newspaper photo quoting Ms Dutton saying of her husband: ‘‘He is not a monster.’’

The original Queensland-based Sunday Mail newspaper front page was headlined “My Pete’s no monster’’.

With the election to be called within months, and possibly as soon as the end of January, the Opposition Leader vowed that his campaign would be clean and would not target family members such as the Prime Minister’s fiancee, Jodie Haydon.

“I can assure you: the Liberal Party I lead will not be targeting Jodie Haydon,” he said in a statement. “I respect and like Jodie but she is not an elected official and will not be the subject of humiliation, attack ads or public smear by the Liberal Party.

“I would ask the PM to equally respect my wife.”

The post was taken down from the Victorian Labor Party’s social media feed less than an hour after Mr Dutton’s statement.

A spokesperson for Mr Albanese on Monday night said: “When the tweet was drawn to his attention, the Prime Minister demanded it be taken down.

“Families should be off-­limits.”

Victorian ALP secretary Steve Staikos defended the post, ­declaring it was “not a personal attack at all”.

“It’s supposed to be a comedic meme,” Mr Staikos said.

When asked whether the post used a doctored screenshot, Mr Staikos said: “I don’t agree.”

Opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson, a senator from Victoria, described the post as “grubby gutter politics from a desperate government slipping in the polls”.

“We all know Labor’s plan for the election next year is negative personal attacks on Peter Dutton; this is just a preview,” Senator Paterson said. “When you run out of ideas to tackle the cost of living and have no second-term agenda, that’s all that is left.”

The Melbourne-based state ALP headquarters is understood to have full responsibility for posting social media content.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan’s office declined to comment on Monday about the Facebook post on the party’s account, which also features prominent photos of her together with Mr Albanese.

The latest three-month Newspoll, compiled for The Australian and reported last week, revealed the federal Coalition for the first time has drawn level with Labor in ­Victoria, where the state Labor government has lost ground heavily in polling, with the federal two-party-preferred support now split 50-50.

The three-month total represents an almost 5 per cent swing against the Albanese government since the 2022 federal election ­result.

Labor’s primary vote fell to a new low of 30 per cent in ­Victoria in the October-­December analysis. This represents a three-point fall over the past three quarters.

Labor’s Victorian primary vote is now lower than the 32 per cent support it has in NSW and is only a point higher than its primary vote of 29 per cent in Queensland.

The poll also found that Labor had lost ground across key demographics, and given up its edge in the two most-populous states of NSW and Victoria.

The Australian also reported that while the two major parties were tied nationally on a two-party-preferred basis, the high cost of living had pushed Labor down into second place among 35 to 49-year-olds.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/gutter-politics-victorian-labor-attacks-the-duttons-in-smear-campaign/news-story/46a6f2f9d33e811304cd751dcae65673

https://x.com/PeterDutton_MP/status/1873644440205885774

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51881f (208) No.22262471

File (hide): 99be15194217484⋯.jpg (384.71 KB,750x1212,125:202,JP_5.jpg) (h) (u)

>>22254863

>>22262445

Labor ministers admit Dutton marriage meme is stupid and mean

Olivia Ireland - December 31, 2024

Labor minister Jason Clare has joined campaign strategists across the political spectrum in condemning the meme cooked up by the Victorian Labor Party mocking the marriage of Peter Dutton and his wife, Kirilly, describing the Facebook post as stupid and unfair.

But state secretary Steve Staikos has defended the decision to upload the post to the party’s Facebook page on Monday, saying it was not designed to attack Dutton’s wife but to be a meme.

This argument did not wash with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who on Monday evening ordered the state branch to take down the post, which used a 2019 front-page photo of the couple with the caption, “Justifying dating your new partner to your friends who don’t like him”.

The controversial post creates a headache for Albanese, as the party machine’s social media strategy is trialled ahead of the federal election that must be held in the next few months.

Bruce Hawker, co-founder of Labor lobbying firm Hawker Britton, said a successful campaign required proper structures for approval, overseen by a senior operator who exercised caution.

“The question needs to be asked: ‘Is it something that just offends common decency standards because it’s an incursion into the lives of others?’ ” he said.

“Dragging a wife who’s not a politician into the political fray [is inappropriate] and unfortunately some people just don’t get it and there can be a culture of groupthink that takes over.”

Staikos said the intention was never to attack Kirilly Dutton.

“It wasn’t supposed to be an attack on the wife of the opposition leader at all. It was supposed to be a meme,” he said.

NDIS Minister Bill Shorten and Clare, the education minister, condemned the post.

“It’s mean and it’s dumb,” Shorten told The Nightly.

“There is no way Albo would approve of this … it steals the political oxygen from the government.”

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Clare said: “I think it was stupid and it was wrong, and I’m glad it’s been taken down. A family should be off-limits.

“We’re on the ballot paper, not our partners, and that’s why when the prime minister saw it, he demanded that it be ripped down, and I’m glad it has.”

Victorian Labor Premier Jacinta Allan was also critical of the post, saying in a statement to The Australian: “The post has been removed -- that’s appropriate. Families must be off-limits.”

The Dutton marriage meme is not the first time the Victorian branch of the Labor Party has stumbled in its social media messaging.

In 2016, then-Victorian premier Daniel Andrews was quizzed about his use of a Drake reference in a Facebook post and had to admit he did not really know the musician’s work.

“The best political leaders are the ones who really have a hand on the tiller and [are] making sure they’re privy to very important decisions and don’t just leave it to others to do,” Hawker said.

Redbridge’s director of corporate affairs and communications, Tony Barry, said the Dutton meme was a sign there was a lack of message discipline in the party.

“They don’t see him as a politician or even a human but as a caricature, and that’s a very dangerous situation for them if that’s a sentiment shared by the broader Labor campaign machine,” he said.

“This points to the fact that they don’t seem to have landed a negative message, and they’re just using their personal biases and prejudices. That works in Brunswick and Glebe, but it confirms to those in outer suburbs that these guys don’t have any solutions to their problems.

“It’s just a general lack of message discipline, so something in the machine has broken down somewhere.”

Dutton on Monday tweeted his response to the post, pledging the party he led would not target Albanese’s fiancee, Jodie Haydon, as he demanded that Albanese respect his wife.

Coalition home affairs spokesman James Paterson went further, accusing Labor of giving up on the cost-of-living crisis and instead focusing on personal smears.

Both former Liberal federal directors Brian Loughnane and Andrew Robb were baffled by Labor’s decision to post the meme.

“It was disgraceful. It’s a symptom of the appalling state of the Labor Party in Victoria,” Robb said.

“It’s about as low as you go, and I just hope that they learn a lesson and start to compete along the policies that people want to know about, not the garbage that they are touring around.”

Loughnane said he agreed with both Shorten and Dutton’s comments about the post and hoped Labor’s election strategies would improve.

“It’s worse than stupid, it’s juvenile game-playing that has no place in Australian politics,” he said.

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/labor-ministers-admit-dutton-marriage-meme-is-stupid-and-mean-20241231-p5l1ei.html

https://x.com/SenPaterson/status/1873543581119701243

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51881f (208) No.22262503>>22262511

>>22254863

>>22262445

‘Families must be off-limits’: Jacinta Allan slams Labor’s Dutton attack

DAMON JOHNSTON - 31 December 2024

1/2

Premier Jacinta Allan has joined federal Labor and Liberal politicians to condemn a Victorian ALP social media post attacking Peter Dutton’s wife as party chiefs privately admit to an error of judgment ahead of next year’s election.

Just one day after declining to criticise her own party’s social media attack on the Dutton family and describing it as a matter for ALP head office, Victoria’s Labor leader has now joined the wave of bipartisan criticism directed at the “grubby” and “gutter” political attack.

“The post has been removed, that’s appropriate. Families must be off-limits,” Ms Allan said in a statement to The Australian.

The Premier’s about-face followed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s dramatic intervention on Monday night to demand Victorian Labor pull the social media post down.

In an unlikely unity ticket on Tuesday, Albanese cabinet minister Jason Clare joined Liberal criticism over Victorian Labor’s social media attack, describing it as “stupid” and “wrong”.

“I’m glad it’s been taken down. A family should be off-limits. We’re on the ballot paper, not our partners,” Mr Clare, the federal education minister, said on Tuesday.

“And that’s why when the Prime Minister saw it, he demanded that it be ripped down. And I’m glad it has.”

With the ALP facing plunging support in Victoria ahead of next year’s federal election, Victorian Labor launched the social media attack that used a five-year-old newspaper report on Peter and Kirilly Dutton to attack them.

The Labor meme carried the heading “We all know that one couple” and a secondary line stating “Justifying dating your new partner to your friends who don’t like him” above a 2019 newspaper photo quoting Ms Dutton saying of her husband: ‘‘He is not a monster.’’ The original Queensland-based Sunday Mail newspaper front page was headlined “My Pete’s no monster’’.

The Australian understands party chiefs were privately admitting on Tuesday the social media post published on Facebook and other platforms about 11am on Monday was an own goal and were conceding the party needed to learn serious lessons from the episode.

Labor state secretary Steve Staikos initially defended the post on Monday, saying it was “not a personal attack at all” and was “supposed to be a comedic meme”. But Victorian Labor pulled the post down on Monday evening after Mr Albanese intervened with his office saying “families should be off-­limits”.

(continued)

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51881f (208) No.22262511

File (hide): 4ffba93bcd164fd⋯.jpg (596.03 KB,2048x2731,2048:2731,Jason_Clare.jpg) (h) (u)

File (hide): bb5d41a03835357⋯.jpg (528.16 KB,2048x2730,1024:1365,Dan_Tehan.jpg) (h) (u)

File (hide): 32ece1d3626a106⋯.jpg (638.72 KB,2048x2730,1024:1365,Sarah_Henderson.jpg) (h) (u)

>>22262503

2/2

Senior Victorian Liberal shadow ministers Dan Tehan and Sarah Henderson launched strong attacks on the Victorian ALP over the now scrubbed post.

“Labor started the term talking about creating a better politics and a more family-friendly parliament and now they are resorting to this. We had a minister for the republic who disappeared without trace and it seems they have been replaced by a minister for grubby politics,” Mr Tehan, the shadow immigration minister, told The Australian.

“Labor always has its priorities wrong. You would think they would be focused on the Australian people, not the leader of the Opposition as we enter the New Year. It just shows they have no plan for our country and have run out of ideas to fix it.”

Senator Henderson, the shadow education minister, slammed Labor’s social media post.

“This was a disgusting smear against Peter Dutton and his family which shows Labor has given up governing with no solutions to the cost-of-living crisis Victorians are suffering,” she told The Australian.

“After destroying the Victorian economy, we can expect to see more gutter politics from Labor in the lead up to the election which will confirm it has nothing to offer except incompetence, fear and division.”

The Prime Minister’s intervention came after Mr Dutton called on ­Mr Albanese and Labor to show his family respect and avoid an election campaign dominated by personal attacks.

The Opposition Leader vowed that his campaign would be clean and would not target family members such as the Prime Minister’s fiancee, Jodie Haydon.

“I can assure you: the Liberal Party I lead will not be targeting Jodie Haydon,” he said in a statement. “I respect and like Jodie but she is not an elected official and will not be the subject of humiliation, attack ads or public smear by the Liberal Party.

“I would ask the PM to equally respect my wife.”

Newspoll, compiled for The Australian, has revealed the federal Coalition for the first time has drawn level with Labor in ­Victoria, where Labor has lost ground heavily in polling, with the federal two-party-preferred support now split 50-50.

The three-month total represents an almost 5 per cent swing against the Albanese government since the 2022 federal election ­result.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/its-stupid-labor-joins-libs-in-blasting-dutton-attack/news-story/2b558e8f7909fd3565945aeff8f09b45

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51881f (208) No.22262535

>>22225525

John Howard and Peter Costello challenge Anthony Albanese on Donald Trump’s ‘possibly illegal’ tariffs

TROY BRAMSTON - December 30, 2024

John Howard and Peter Costello have attacked Donald Trump’s plan to levy a tariff of 10 to 20 per cent on goods imports to the US, including from Australia, and questioned whether it might be ­illegal under international law given the free-trade agreement signed in 2004.

In exclusive interviews with The Australian ahead of the release of the 2004 cabinet papers from the National Archives of Australia on Wednesday, the former prime minister and treasurer urged the Albanese government to argue strongly that Australia should be exempt.

The inauguration of Mr Trump as president on January 20 will present a significant challenge for both Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton, with the imposition of tariffs and the future of the AUKUS nuclear submarine agreement key policy matters to discuss with the incoming US administration.

Mr Howard, who negotiated the Australia-US Free Trade Agreement 20 years ago, labelled Mr Trump’s tariff proposals as “ridiculous” and “crazy” and said they would damage the international economy.

“I am concerned to put it mildly, very concerned, about Trump’s talk about tariffs,” Mr Howard said. “Trade has delivered millions of people out of poverty. Unilaterally imposing tariffs of that order of magnitude on countries willy-nilly is just bad for world trade and it’s bad for the world economy.”

Mr Costello added that Australia would also be collateral damage from the president-elect’s proposed 60 per cent tariff on Chinese imports to the US given Australia’s $200bn annual exports to China, including iron ore, natural gas and gold. “A lot of our raw materials end up being put into manufactured goods by the Chinese and exported to the US,” the former treasurer said. “So, I am not in favour of tariffs. That would not be good for Australia. It’s certainly, in my view, not in the spirit, if not the letter, of the free-trade agreement, and we should be doing everything we can to try and convince the Americans of that.”

Mr Howard and Mr Costello questioned whether it might be ­illegal under international law for the US to slap tariffs on Australia given the FTA signed by their government in 2004 and entered into force in January 2005. The ­Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade notes that 96.1 per cent of Australian exports to the US are tariff-free.

“Is it legal for Trump to put a tariff on Australia under our free trade agreement?” Mr Costello asked. “We went to great lengths to negotiate this FTA and, as far as I know, it is binding in international law. I would have thought that a universal tariff would be a breach of the FTA, right? So what is the status of the FTA? Is he going to unilaterally repudiate it?”

Last month, Mr Trump announced that he would impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canada and Mexico. These and other proposed tariffs are likely to lead to retaliatory tariffs on the US as occurred in Mr Trump’s first term.

Leading economists warn that levying tariffs would represent a significant risk for the global economy with no benefit to the US while consumers will end up paying more for important goods. The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act (1930), which increased tariffs by about 20 per cent, resulted in global trade declining by about two-thirds.

The former prime minister and treasurer cautioned that it was not yet known what tariffs Mr Trump would levy and if Australia would be granted an exemption from steel and aluminium exports as it was during his first term. The US has a trade surplus with Australia.

Mr Costello emphasised that the Albanese government needed to put the case to Mr Trump that Australia should be exempted from the imposition of new tariffs under international law. “I don’t know what the Americans are intending to do,” he said. “I would be arguing, ‘Hang on, we have an FTA. You entered into it. We entered it. It is effective in international law. You have no right to do it’ …

“A tariff is not good for Australia. I would be arguing that a tariff is not good for America either. That’s the thing I would try and convince Trump of.”

Mr Howard said he was on a “unity ticket” with Mr Costello and also encouraged the Albanese government to make a strong case to the US not to impose tariffs which he agreed “could be” illegal.

The former prime minister also reaffirmed that he would not have voted for Mr Trump at last month’s election if he were a US citizen. He would not have voted for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris either.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/john-howard-and-peter-costello-challenge-anthony-albanese-on-donald-trumps-possibly-illegal-tariffs/news-story/fee4c28061233cb997280cfe34103167

https://qresear.ch/?q=Troy+Bramston

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51881f (208) No.22262558>>22328053 >>22333774 >>22428278 >>22428316

>>22140006 (pb)

Woolworths reverses decision to stop selling Australia Day merchandise

ELI GREENBLAT - 31 December 2024

Woolworths will be proudly celebrating Australia Day in January after its decision to ditch celebratory merchandise such as flags and thongs triggered a tsunami of protests, eventually leading its chief executive to resign.

Learning the lessons of last Australia Day -- which triggered a call from Opposition Leader Peter Dutton to boycott the supermarket giant – Woolworths will once again make room for flags and other paraphernalia in its stores as well as heavily advertise the event to shoppers as they walk through the doors.

There will also be specific “Perfect for Australia Day” sections within stores, at both Woolworths supermarkets and Big W stores, as well as an expanded range of Australia Day-themed merchandise online to highlight the retailer’s newly embraced celebration of the holiday after the 2024 crisis.

“We will be celebrating Australia Day as a team, and with our customers,” a Woolworths spokesman told The Australian on Tuesday.

The supermarket giant had acknowledged the mistake when the retailer said it would no longer stock Australia Day merchandise due to a “gradual decline” in sales.

Many saw the decision as a sop to activists who have long called for January 26 to be dumped as Australia Day, as it represented the “invasion” by British colonists of a land inhabited by Indigenous people.

“While we did make changes to our merchandise range last Australia Day due to decline in demand in our stores, we listened and recognised that many customers and teams wanted us to do more to help them celebrate the day,” the spokesman said on Tuesday.

“In our supermarkets we will do this through the lens of great Australian food that is perfect for the day, while Big W will also showcase products perfect for family and friends coming together over the Australia Day long weekend.

“Our store team members are also welcome to celebrate the day in-store. We respect everyone’s choices in how they choose to spend the day.”

Even Woolworths’ Australia flags will be made in Australia instead of China.

The 2024 debacle ignited a storm around not only the celebration of Australia Day but also the continued intrusion of corporate Australia and leaders into politics and social campaigns.

At the time Mr Dutton strongly criticised the actions of then Woolworths chief executive Brad Banducci for stripping out Australia Day merchandise from stores, two months after the defeat of the Indigenous voice referendum. During the lead-up to the vote, many corporate leaders lectured the public to vote Yes and many large businesses donated heavily to the Yes campaign.

“I think it’s up to customers whether they want to go in and buy the product or not,” Mr Dutton said amid the furore last January in a radio interview.

“If they don’t want to celebrate Australia Day, well, that’s a ­decision for them, but I think ­people should boycott Woolworths.”

Anthony Albanese said at the time that Mr Dutton had his priorities wrong with his call for a boycott, with the Prime Minister adding it wasn’t the place of governments to tell businesses what to do and he was more concerned with supermarket prices than what they sold.

Mr Banducci announced his resignation one month later, with many seeing the Australia Day controversy as a contributing factor to his planned departure.

Only this month Australian Venue Co, which owns 200 pubs and bars across Victoria, NSW, Queensland and South Australia, was forced to apologise and back down on an earlier edict for its pub managers not to allow ­flagwavers and Australia Day ­celebrators to display patriotic fervour in their establishments. “Australia Day is a day that ­causes sadness for some members of our community, so we have ­decided not to specifically celebrate a day that causes hurt for some of our patrons and our team,” an Australian Venue Co spokeswoman said at the time.

That was rescinded, after pub boycotts spread across social media, with the pub owner admitting the decision had caused “concern and confusion”.

Woolworths has highlighted that in July, it began selling Australian-made Australian flags in all Woolworths supermarkets.

In November, it also introduced Australian-made ­Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags to its range. Rival Coles has always sold Australia Day merchandise and will continue to do so.

“We will continue to stock a range of summer entertaining merchandise throughout January, as we have done previously,” a Coles spokesman said.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/woolworths-reverses-decision-to-stop-selling-australia-day-merchandise/news-story/8663e9b9ad97ae91672041f5da5deb3d

https://qresear.ch/?q=Woolworths

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51881f (208) No.22262593>>22262608

>>21974814 (pb)

>>21974828 (pb)

>>22002030 (pb)

Nation’s top lawmakers to meet after Catholic Church found not liable for clerical abuse

Cameron Houston - December 31, 2024

1/2

Attorneys-general offices from Australia’s states and territories will meet next week to consider urgent legislative reforms after a contentious court decision that a Catholic diocese was not liable for the clerical abuse of a five-year-old boy.

The High Court ruled in November that the Ballarat diocese, in regional Victoria, could not be held responsible for misconduct by its former priest, Father Bryan Coffey, because he could not be legally considered an employee of the church.

The landmark decision has upended thousands of legal cases against religious orders nationwide, including more than 1800 civil claims currently before courts in Victoria.

The Ballarat diocese and its current bishop, Paul Bird, were initially sued in the Supreme Court of Victoria by a man who said he was sexually assaulted by Coffey at his parents’ home in Port Fairy, in south-west Victoria, in 1971.

The man, known in court documents as DP, has spoken for the first time and called for urgent intervention by state and territory legislatures.

“I strongly support immediate legislative reform across Australia to ensure that historical abuse survivors are not left in a compromised position with no legal recourse to pursue compensation remedies, or [left] in limbo with legislative reform taking years to come into play,” he said in a statement to this masthead.

“The legal landscape has slowly changed for survivors with the limitation period and the Ellis defence being removed. I hope that this will be the next round of significant legislative reforms which will continue to strengthen legal protections for victims across Australia.”

His lawyer, Sangeeta Sharmin from Canberra law firm Ken Cush and Associates, confirmed she would meet with representatives from the nation’s attorneys-general offices on January 7.

Correspondence from Sharmin sent to the group outlines the potential impact of the High Court judgment handed down on November 13.

“Religious orders, and potentially any respondent to a claim for abuse, will potentially argue that they are not vicariously liable for the abuse perpetrated by its members where they are not strictly employees, such as Scout leaders, sporting coaches, religious teachers in schools, volunteers and other non-employment based roles,” the letter from December 3 said.

“Our client DP, is now in the position where even though he was abused by Father Coffey at his home in the context of pastoral care being provided, by a convicted criminal, he has no legal remedy to compensation.”

The documents urged then-Victorian attorney-general Jaclyn Symes to make several amendments to the Wrongs Act 1958, including the “immediate insertion of a retrospective provision to allow for vicarious liability to extend to relationships ‘akin’ to employment”.

NSW was commended for it being one of the few states with provisions for vicarious liability.

However, Sharmin notes the states would be served by having one set of identical rules across the nation and recommends amendments that would specifically name religious orders, bodies or institutions in the Civil Liability Act 2002.

The attorneys-general met in Melbourne earlier this month and raised the issue with a source with direct knowledge of the meeting confirming there was widespread support from the states and territories to look into the issue.

Sharmin suggested that any reforms be known as “DP’s law”.

(continued)

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51881f (208) No.22262608

File (hide): 1dcd92287d4a4ce⋯.jpg (503.99 KB,1241x1755,1241:1755,0001.jpg) (h) (u)

File (hide): cd30a05162cc3a1⋯.jpg (740.04 KB,1241x1755,1241:1755,0002.jpg) (h) (u)

File (hide): 625f2b852697c80⋯.jpg (609.45 KB,1241x1755,1241:1755,0003.jpg) (h) (u)

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>>22262593

2/2

In December 2021, Supreme Court of Victoria Justice Jack Forrest found the church had vicarious liability because of the close relationship between the then-bishop, diocese and community. He ordered DP receive $200,000 in damages for pain and suffering, $10,000 for medical expenses and $20,000 in other damages.

That decision was upheld by the Court of Appeal in April, following an appeal by the diocese and its lawyers.

Coffey, now deceased, received a three-year suspended sentence in 1999 after being convicted of 12 counts of indecent assault on a male person under the age of 16 years, one count of indecent assault on a girl under 16 years and one count of false imprisonment.

The principal issue in the High Court appeal was whether the diocese could be held vicariously liable for abuse committed by Coffey, despite the priest not being formally employed by them.

The Victorian courts had extended that principle to the church, ruling that Coffey was still a “servant of the diocese” and through his pastoral role had the “power and intimacy” to abuse children during visits to parishioners’ homes.

However, the nation’s highest court ruled the lower courts had overreached. The High Court said it had repeatedly refused previous attempts to extend the boundaries of vicarious liability to include independent contractors.

“Expanding the doctrine to accommodate relationships that are ‘akin to employment’ would produce uncertainty and indeterminacy,” the judgment summary read.

However, the High Court conceded in its judgment that “reformulation of the law of vicarious liability is properly the province of the legislature”.

The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference did not respond to requests for comment.

However, Bird had previously thanked the High Court for its careful consideration. He said, at the time of the judgment, the diocese would examine the findings and its implications.

A spokesperson for the Victorian government said the government had “always sent a clear message to child abuse survivors -- we stand with you in your fight for justice and always will”.

“We are considering the findings of the High Court and any action we may need to take, and have raised the issue with the federal attorney-general,” the spokesperson said.

https:// www.theage .com.au/national/ nation-s-top-lawmakers-to-meet-after-catholic-church-found-not-liable-for-clerical-abuse-20241230 -p5l17v. html

https:/ /www.smh .com.au/ interactive/hub /media/ tearout -excerpt/ 38458/ Letter-to-Hon. -Jaclyn-Symes-DP's-law-03.12.2024 .pdf

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51881f (208) No.22262642>>22262653

File (hide): 33ca681a334b63a⋯.jpg (320.81 KB,2400x1601,2400:1601,A_QAnon_sign_at_the_U_S_Ca….jpg) (h) (u)

File (hide): de9cc92d4ee2639⋯.jpg (1009.06 KB,2400x1583,2400:1583,A_woman_holds_a_sign_refer….jpg) (h) (u)

Four years after the Capitol riot, why QAnon hasn't gone away

Jude Joffe-Block - DECEMBER 30, 2024

1/2

After a mob of pro-Trump protesters breached the U.S. Capitol through a broken window on Jan. 6, 2021, a lone Capitol Police officer, Eugene Goodman, diverted the group away from the Senate chamber. The pack of protesters then chased Goodman up a staircase.

The man leading the mob was wearing a black T-shirt emblazoned with an eagle inside of a large red, white, and blue "Q."

Douglas Jensen later told the FBI he read content about the QAnon conspiracy theory online daily. He said he had worn the shirt and put himself at the front because he "wanted Q to get the attention."

Most of the rioters who stormed the Capitol that day were inspired by then-President Donald Trump's calls to be there. But many also cited or were adherents of the baseless QAnon conspiracy theory. Over the past four years, the online extremist community has continued to be subtly courted by Trump and some of his most powerful allies.

The theory, which emerged in 2017, claims that Trump is involved in a secret battle against evil members of the alleged deep state, or in other tellings, a powerful cabal of government and Hollywood elites engaged in satanic child abuse. Some QAnon claims and themes echo longstanding antisemitic tropes. An anonymous source called Q, who supposedly had access to high level intelligence, posted cryptic clues, known as Q drops, on online message boards.

"The QAnon community believes that by decoding these drops, one can understand not just the moves and countermoves in the secret battle, but also essentially predict the future," said Logan Strain, who began reporting on QAnon six years ago after he noticed the movement was not just "staying in the dark corners of the internet." He co-hosts the QAA podcast under the pseudonym, Travis View.

On Jan. 6, many QAnon followers at the Capitol believed they were participating in what is called "The Storm" in QAnon lore. It is supposed to be an apocalyptic-type reckoning when the evil forces are finally punished.

Instead, more than a thousand people have so far been criminally sentenced for participating in the Capitol riot on Jan. 6. More than 1,560 people have been charged with federal crimes.

A changing landscape online

In the aftermath of Jan. 6, a number of social media platforms doubled down on their efforts to ban QAnon content.

By that point, there was a rich online ecosystem of QAnon influencers who had figured out how to monetize spreading QAnon-related content and analysis. In response to the crackdown, influencers moved to less moderated platforms, like Telegram and Rumble.

"The movement didn't go away by any means. It was just essentially moved and splintered into various networks," said Katherine Keneally, the director of threat analysis and prevention for the nonprofit Institute for Strategic Dialogue, which studies extremism.

Some QAnon influencers were even recruited to join Trump's social media platform, Truth Social, by Kash Patel, who's now Trump's pick to lead the FBI. Patel previously served as a board member and advisor for the social media platform.

"We also need everybody on Truth Social because it is the only place where we can actually have a conversation without getting shut down by the clown show that is the censorship operation at Titter [sic] and Fakebook," Patel said in 2022, using disparaging names for Twitter and Facebook during an appearance on the MG Show, which has promoted QAnon.

That same year, billionaire Elon Musk, who's now one of Trump's closest allies, bought Twitter and renamed it X. He allowed banned QAnon accounts to return.

Both Trump and Musk have repeatedly shared QAnon-related content on their respective social media platforms, which seems to be a way to wink at the movement.

"It's incredibly dangerous when we do see high profile figures amplify this language and symbols because it provides adherents this perceived legitimacy to their beliefs and their movement," said Keneally, who pointed out that QAnon has been associated with violence, including the Capitol riot.

Trump's brand of politics expanded the Republican coalition to include constituents who believe in conspiracy theories and hadn't previously been reliable voters, said Joseph Uscinski, a political scientist at the University of Miami. That gave Republican politicians a strong reason to court these newly energized voters. "And that involves saying things that are prominent in QAnon, but saying all sorts of other conspiracy theories, too," Uscinski said.

(continued)

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51881f (208) No.22262653

File (hide): 785a768c91acd92⋯.jpg (207.15 KB,852x662,426:331,Q_3466.jpg) (h) (u)

>>22262642

2/2

Celebrating Trump's return

QAnon adherents are now celebrating the incoming Trump administration and his cabinet picks.

A 2018 Q drop previously mentioned Patel as "a name to remember." That history, along with Patel's rhetoric about the deep state and previous overtures to QAnon -- which include signing copies of one of his children's books with a slogan associated with QAnon (he said he learned the slogan in a movie) and promoting an account called "Q" on Truth Social – have made Trump's pick to lead the FBI popular among QAnon followers.

When asked about Patel's past comments about QAnon and appearances on related podcasts, Trump transition team spokesperson Alex Pfeiffer told NPR, "This is a pathetic attempt at guilt by association."

Strain, the QAA podcast host, said the fantasy among some of Trump's most ardent supporters for retribution for Trump's perceived enemies, "very much echoes a lot of QAnon fantasies about a storm of mass arrests."

Red Pill News, an online show and podcast which shares QAnon content, included in a recent episode a fake alert meant to sound like an official notification from the Emergency Alert System.

"Donald Trump is now your president," a monotone voice reads after a series of tones. "All deep state traitors are to report immediately to Guantanamo Bay detention camp for court martial via televised military tribunal."

It's hard to know how widespread belief in QAnon is today or ever was.

One challenge is that QAnon is hard to define. Various conspiracy theories that had been floating around the fringes of American culture for decades became incorporated into the movement. "Everything has sort of been sucked into QAnon at one point or another," said Adam Enders, an associate professor of political science at the University of Louisville who studies belief in conspiracy theories.

As a result, the movement was like a "choose your own adventure book," said Uscinski.

The nonprofit PRRI, which conducts polls on religion, found that 19% of Americans believe in the core theories associated with QAnon, up from 14% in 2021. The poll found the number rose to 32% among Republicans who support Trump.

Mike Rothschild, the author of "The Storm is Upon Us: How QAnon Became a Movement, Cult and Conspiracy of Everything," said the QAnon movement showed there was a market for "instantaneous conspiracy content creators" who churn out fresh conspiratorial content on social media pegged to the news of the day.

Influencers learned they could "make money by getting shares and replies and responses and retweets to this outlandish stuff that they put out," Rothschild said.

There haven't been new Q drops in years and there appears to be less interest in online content analyzing those drops in the way there once was, said Rothschild.

But ideas QAnon helped popularize, like the idea of a battle against an evil deep state, and anti-vaccine conspiracy theories, have become common ideas on the right.

"QAnon as a movement based around secret codes and clues and riddles doesn't so much exist anymore," Rothschild said. "But it doesn't need to exist anymore because its tenets have become such a major part of mainstream conservatism and such a big part of the base of people that reelected Donald Trump."

https://www.npr.org/2024/12/30/nx-s1-5230801/qanon-capitol-riot-social-media

---

Q Post #3466

Jul 22 2019 19:51:16 (EST)

These people are stupid.

Enjoy the show!

Q

https://qanon.pub/#3466

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51881f (208) No.22268298

File (hide): f1dbe93f238a31f⋯.jpg (236.34 KB,850x838,425:419,VL_1.jpg) (h) (u)

>>22254863

>>22262445

‘It’s embarrassed Labor’: Bill Shorten blasts Dutton meme

DAMON JOHNSTON and MOHAMMAD ALFARES - 1 January 2025

Bill Shorten has branded Victorian Labor’s social media misfire against the Dutton family as an “embarrassment” to the ALP.

The former federal Labor leader and Victorian ALP veteran conceded on Wednesday that the Facebook post attacking Peter and Kirilly Dutton was an own goal that damaged the party. “Whoever did it has caused embarrassment to the whole Labor Party,” he told The Australian.

State and federal Labor MPs and party figures are questioning how Victorian Labor -- long considered the best political campaigning operation in the country – has found itself amid a crisis of its own making.

Victorian Labor has come under sustained criticism from Labor and Liberal MPs since it attacked the Duttons on Monday with a meme based on a five-year-old newspaper report.

The meme carried the heading “We all know that one couple” and a secondary line stating “Justifying dating your new partner to your friends who don’t like him” above a 2019 newspaper photo quoting Ms Dutton saying of her husband: ‘‘He is not a monster.’’

The original Queensland-based Sunday Mail newspaper front page was headlined “My Pete’s no monster’’.

Victorian Labor state secretary Steve Staikos initially defended the meme on Monday, denying it was an attack on Ms Dutton and saying it was “supposed to be a comedic meme”.

Mr Staikos declined to respond to Mr Shorten’s criticisms of the meme on Wednesday but The Australian understands that in the wake of the bipartisan storm of protest over the attack, party chiefs will review Labor’s social media strategy.

Anthony Albanese ordered Victorian Labor to delete the post hours after it was published and declared “families should be off-­limits”.

Despite initially refusing to criticise the post and describing it as a matter for ALP headquarters, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan on Tuesday evening condemned the attack.

“The post has been removed, that’s appropriate. Families must be off-­limits,” she said in a ­statement.

State Labor launched its personal attack on the Duttons as support for the party in Victoria, a traditional stronghold, plunges, suggesting several seats could be in danger at this year’s federal election.

Labor sources said there were a lot of serious questions being asked internally about how the “stuff up” was allowed to happen and concerns were emerging about the possibility it could be symptomatic of deeper problems within Victorian Labor.

“People are asking, is it a one-off stuff-up or a sign of a deeper malaise?” one Labor figure said.

Labor and Liberal MPs have been lining up to criticise the meme, with Albanese cabinet minister Jason Clare describing it as “stupid” and “wrong”.

“I’m glad it’s been taken down. A family should be off-limits. We’re on the ballot paper, not our partners,” the federal Education Minister said on Tuesday. “And that’s why when the Prime Minister saw it, he demanded it be ripped down. And I’m glad it has been.”

Victorian Liberal shadow ministers James Paterson, Dan Tehan and Sarah Henderson led the charge against Victorian Labor, Senator Paterson branding the post as “grubby gutter politics from a desperate government slipping in the polls”.

“We all know Labor’s plan for the election next year is negative personal attacks on Peter Dutton; this is just a preview,” Senator Paterson said.

“When you run out of ideas to tackle the cost of living and have no second-term agenda, that’s all that is left.”

Mr Tehan said Labor should be focused on fixing the country’s problems and the attack revealed the party had “no plan for our country” and had “run out of ideas to fix it”.

Senator Henderson, the Coalition education spokeswoman, described it as a “disgusting smear against Peter Dutton and his family which shows Labor has given up governing, with no solutions to the cost-of-living crisis Victorians are suffering”.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/its-embarrassed-labor-bill-shorten-blasts-dutton-meme/news-story/3a9f3a16855d8c2821e74e5cddffbde0

https://archive.is/20241230083217/https://www.facebook.com/VictorianLabor/posts/1178727250479360

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51881f (208) No.22268309>>22314374

>>22080668 (pb)

>>22225665

Social media companies have no ‘moral lens’: Dutton

SARAH ISON - December 31, 2024

Peter Dutton says tech giants like Facebook “basically gave us the middle finger” when the former government sought to curb the boom in child exploitation material online, describing the experience as “a real eye opener” that has informed his policy for under 16s to be banned from social media platforms.

The Opposition Leader, who was home affairs minister when the Australian Centre to Child Exploitation was set up, said it had become clear to him that social media platforms saw users as young as 14 as nothing more than a “revenue model”.

“That (centre) was concentrated on trying to stop pedophile networks from distributing graphic content and children being sexually abused,” Mr Dutton told the Diving Deep podcast.

“When we dealt with the companies at that stage, with Facebook and Meta and others, they basically just gave us the middle finger and said that we’re not going to help you in stopping that information being distributed between theses networks.

“It was a real eye opener to me at the time because I just thought they’d have the same moral lens as anyone in the corporate world. And what it said to me at the time and what has been reinforced since is they just see a 14-year-old as a revenue model and I just don’t think we can accept a model that has a different set of laws and arrangements in the real world to what it is online.”

The Coalition started calling for under 16s to be banned from social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and X for most of the year before Labor announced it would adopt the same policy.

An age verification trial is now underway, with live testing of teenagers with different technologies that could block access to take place in coming months.

Some advocates, including those from the disability sector, have raised concern with the world-first ban, which they warn could isolate young people who rely on the social media platforms for connection.

However, Mr Dutton said he envisaged the tech giants creating separate and safer platforms for young people, allowing them to still have access to social media but with limits around what they can see.

“There’s a lot of harm that’s been done and a huge rise in mental health issues in Australia … I think social media has a real case to answer here,” Mr Dutton said.

“For some kids under 16 it’s a real torture.”

However, he said other legislation aiming to reduce harm done online, specifically Labor’s misinformation bill, was ill-conceived and needed to be firmly off the agenda at the next election.

“I don’t know whether the government will take it to the next election but I hope they’ve heard the message pretty clearly that there’s not support for it across the community,” he said.

The negative impact of social media has been a prominent issue more broadly in recent months, with concerns around the facilitation of anti-Semitism in particular.

Mr Dutton revealed he had Jewish friends who were considering going back to Israel, because they felt it would be safer than Australia.

“Israel is under threat from a nuclear power in Iran … but they still feel they would be safer going back to Israel,” he said.

“It really breaks my heart because I just don’t think we’d treat any other part of our community like that, not the Indian community, not the Chinese community not Catholics, not Protestants, not atheists.”

Ahead of an expected reshuffle within the Coalition in coming weeks, Mr Dutton said there were people on the backbench who “well and truly deserve to be on the frontbench” but that there was little jostling for position in comparison to the post-Howard era.

“Sometimes people can be advancing their own causes, but over the last two and a half years, there’s a common purpose that everyone is signing up to, people aren’t playing games or trying to reposition,” he said.

“People are right to have ambition, there are some very well credentialed colleagues and others who are on the backbench and who well and truly deserve to be on the frontbench.

“But when we lost government after John Howard lost, we were in this internal conflict and we were at war with each other and it was just not productive. We are at the polar opposite of that now.”

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/social-media-companies-have-no-moral-lens-dutton/news-story/33a7a4a704fcd6f61c9db741d3999b86

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6BlDZgIViU

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51881f (208) No.22268316

File (hide): bb0f7f88dab254e⋯.jpg (471.04 KB,1999x1706,1999:1706,Searching_for_Skylab_piece….jpg) (h) (u)

The day Jimmy Carter told Australia he was sorry

Farrah Tomazin - January 1, 2025

Washington: A concerned Jimmy Carter apologised to Australia after America’s first space station exploded as it re-entered Earth’s atmosphere, scattering debris across the outback in a spectacular display of sonic booms and flashing lights.

The little-publicised apology from the 39th US president, who died on Sunday at the age of 100, took place in 1979, during his first and only term in the White House.

“I was concerned to learn that fragments of Skylab may have landed in Australia,” Carter wrote in a message to then prime minister Malcolm Fraser, referring to the 77-tonne space station operated by NASA and the US government.

“I am relieved to hear your government’s preliminary assessment that no injuries have resulted. Nevertheless, I have instructed the Department of State to be in touch with your government immediately and to offer any assistance that you may need.”

Skylab’s return to Earth marked the end of the $US2.6 billion ($4.2 billion) project, launched in May 1973 in a bid to prove that humans could live and work in space for extended periods.

The space station was occupied by three groups of astronauts who conducted nearly 300 scientific and technical experiments on board, including medical experiments to study the effects of zero gravity on the human body.

Skylab re-entered the atmosphere several thousand kilometres further from its orbital track than planned -- sending flaming debris into the West Australian desert – after a command was sent to alter its path away from the US in a bid to “avoid risking American lives”.

Had there been injuries or property damage in Australia, the US was bound by treaty to indemnify those hurt.

“We’re glad it’s down, but we would have liked to have seen it never sighted over Australia,” Skylab project director Richard Smith was quoted saying in a 1979 New York Times article shortly after the space station re-entered Earth’s atmosphere.

Tributes continue to pour in for the former president, who died in his home state of Georgia on Sunday (US time).

The former peanut farmer turned Nobel Peace Prize winner will be honoured with a state funeral at Washington National Cathedral on Thursday, January 9 (US time), with US President Joe Biden delivering the eulogy.

Funeral services will begin this Saturday, when a motorcade accompanying Carter will travel to his childhood home in Plains, Georgia.

The procession will briefly pause in front of his family’s farm before moving on to the Carter Presidential Centre, where he will lie in repose until the early morning of Tuesday, January 7.

The remains of the late president will then be brought to Washington, where he will lie in state at the US Capitol Building until his funeral on Thursday, which has been declared a national day of mourning.

https://www.theage.com.au/world/north-america/the-day-jimmy-carter-told-australia-he-was-sorry-20250101-p5l1go.html

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51881f (208) No.22268338>>22268340

>>22225435

>>22238673

Ukrainians reunite in Australia in shadow of major POW release

JAMES DOWLING - 31 December 2024

1/2

Ukrainian diplomats and community leaders are hopeful a New Year’s Eve prisoner exchange between Russia and their homeland may pave the way for the release of captured Australian Oscar Jenkins.

The swap in northern Ukraine on Monday was the 59th since the conflict began in 2022, with 187 soldiers from ­either side returned along with two civilians.

It brings the total number of freed Ukrainians to 3956, with 1358 released in 2024 according to Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko.

With Mr Jenkins captured by the Russians last week after months fighting for Ukrainian forces, Mr Myroshnychenko told The Australian that he had renewed confidence the former Melbourne Grammar boy could be exchanged in a future POW swap.

“It gives me hope that we will get Oscar Jenkins exchanged as well. However, there is no kind of clear timeline of when and how that will happen,” he said. “It gives me confidence that we have a clear mechanism for exchange, and we have successfully approved it many times now.”

Mr Myroshnychenko agreed Mr Jenkins had tangible propaganda value to his Russian captors. “The fact that that video (of his capture) was released means he’s already part of the Russian propaganda,” he said.

“They want the world to see it. A lot of the prisoners get sentenced in Russia for whatever crimes that Russians may want to decide to assign those people.”

Australian Foundation of Ukrainian Organisations co-chair Kateryna Argyrou also said the release, mediated under secrecy by the United Arab Emirates, set a clearer diplomatic pathway for freeing other prisoners of war.

“What we’ve seen in the past is that the Russians are quite unpredictable,” Ms Argyrou said.

“Sometimes they want a public show, they want to spin their message, their propaganda in the media. How they would use Oscar in this case, I don’t know, whether they would have a fake show trial, (or) whether they use the global platform that’s already been created because of his video … to spin their message and get some sort of propaganda across more widely.”

Another reunion for a Ukrainian family torn apart by the war took place in Australia this week, as displaced Ukrainian Kateryna Odarushenko was reunited with her younger sister Yelyzaveta “Liza” Komar in Sydney.

Kateryna, Liza and their sister Valentyna, all hailing from Kyiv, were separated after the Russian invasion. Kateryna and Valentyna initially fled to Poland and eventually settled in Australia on humanitarian visas.

“You think it’ll just be three months and we will come back home, because we had everything. We had a good life, job, we had friends, we had a home, and one day you just understand you need to leave everything and move on, because you need a safe life,” Kateryna, 36, said.

“I like this country. I really love it, but it’s not my home.”

Liza, 24 opted to stay and enlisted in the Armed Forces of Ukraine as a combat medic. She said her stint of leave from the frontline felt “surreal”.

“It felt like I was travelling back in time, because when I saw my sisters, it was like I saw them just like they were before the war,” Liza said with the aid of an interpreter.

“I got used to the video contact we’ve had over the past few years, but when we physically saw each other, it was like we just jumped back to the peaceful times.

“I’m under a lot of stress. It’s very mentally exhausting. It’s also very mentally traumatising … but people can adapt, and I have adapted to life at war.”

(continued)

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51881f (208) No.22268340

>>22268338

2/2

Liza had served with a number of foreign nationals who enlisted with the Armed Forces of Ukraine, commending their efforts as she celebrated the return of captured comrades.

“It’s very pleasant news, and it’s great to see, especially taking into account what I’ve heard,” she said.

“My female friends that were defending Azovstal, I heard the stories first-hand from them, what conditions they were in and what they were subjected to … how they come out physically changed.”

Mr Jenkins’ release will be complicated by a wave of soldiers captured by Russia in its sweep through the Kursk frontline, along with Kremlin policies reportedly incentivising the capture of foreign nationals among its intelligence agencies, given the greater leverage they provide to negotiators.

UN Rapporteurs have repeatedly described “widespread and systematic” torture in Russian prisons housing POWs.

“When I saw the video, what really struck me was that Oscar was speaking in Ukrainian, which means that he took the time to learn the language,” Ms Argyrou said.

“Knowing how ruthless the Russians are, Oscar wasn’t afraid to speak his mind and say “I’m here because all I want to do is to help Ukraine”.

“Oscar would have been living under very difficult conditions there. It was evident he was covered in mud, had his hands tied, was sleep-deprived, stressed and on top of all of that he was being physically and verbally abused. Those are all the things that really upset me because I have seen it so many times before.”

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/ukrainians-reunite-in-australia-in-shadow-of-major-pow-release/news-story/b75b4afb92626434738a1bd7b5fc969e

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51881f (208) No.22268355

>>22254943

Here’s why Elon Musk changed his name on X to ‘Kekius Maximus’ - and what it means

Emily Crane - Dec. 31, 2024

Elon Musk bizarrely changed his X profile name to “Kekius Maximus” on Tuesday - sparking a flood of questions from supporters and critics alike.

The world’s richest man, who boasts nearly 210 million followers on the platform he has owned since 2022, also switched up his profile avatar to feature an image of the popular Pepe the Frog character clad in gladiator-like armor.

Musk, a confidant of President-elect Donald Trump, has yet to offer a full explanation for his sudden name change.

But there are a few hints.

What could Kekius Maximus mean?

Elon watchers online have suggested that the new moniker is a bizarre combination of Pepe the Frog and Russell Crowe’s character, Maximus Decimus Meridius, in the 2000 blockbuster “Gladiator.”

Musk’s new profile image shows Pepe the Frog clad in golden armor while holding a video game controller.

Pepe, which started off as simply a cartoon in the “Boy’s Club” comic series, allegedly became associated online with white supremacists and the alt-right during the 2016 presidential election.

The Anti-Defamation League dubbed the character a hate symbol and described it as the “Alt Right’s favorite meme.”

However, Musk and many others who are chronically online have always rejected those claims.

A link to gaming?

The Tesla founder teased his handle change in a post on X on Tuesday, writing: “Kekius Maximus will soon reach level 80 in hardcore PoE.”

PoE is an apparent reference to the popular “Path of Exile 2” video game, which Musk is known to play.

Connection to cryptocurrency?

Kekius Maximus is also the name of a “memecoin” - a cryptocurrency based on a popular online meme.

Musk has previously caused massive ripple effects in the crypto market with his social media antics - notably with the dogecoin.

In the wake of Musk’s handle change, the Kekius Maximus crypto’s value soared by more than 900% as of Tuesday afternoon, according to the CoinGecko site.

It wasn’t immediately clear, though, if Musk - who has previously shown support for memecoins - has anything to do with Kekius Maximus specifically.

Speculation of a burner account

Many have speculated online, too, that Musk’s motive is rooted in claims that he is running a burner super-fan account.

Internet sleuths have been suggesting that the Space X CEO is behind an account - operating under the name Adrian Dittmann - that heaps praise on him.

Musk has denied being Dittmann - and mocked people who claimed he’s operating the alt account.

Deepening the mystery, Dittmann appears to be a character who operates only on X - there is almost no evidence of a person with that name operating outside the social media platform.

Musk added fuel to the fire by retweeting a post from the Dittmann account on Tuesday that mentioned the Kekius Maximus saga.

“Imagine you’re a journalist writing about Elon on X and it goes: ‘Elon Musk, aka Kekius Maximus, on X…,'” the Dittmann post read.

https://nypost.com/2024/12/31/us-news/why-elon-musk-changed-his-name-on-x-to-kekius-maximus/

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51881f (208) No.22268370>>22276667 >>22276711

File (hide): 9b687601adb046c⋯.jpg (349.55 KB,750x910,75:91,ScoMo_42.jpg) (h) (u)

File (hide): ec6b308f413f10d⋯.jpg (148.52 KB,1185x1100,237:220,GgLpm_Tb0AA71aU.jpg) (h) (u)

>>21867793 (pb)

>>22162963 (pb)

>>22225525

Scott Morrison spends New Year’s Eve with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago

James Massola - January 1, 2025

Former Australian prime minister Scott Morrison and his wife have spent New Year’s Eve at US President-elect Donald Trump’s exclusive members-only club, Mar-a-Lago.

Morrison posted a photo of himself and Jenny, dressed in formal evening wear, alongside Trump and his wife, Melania, on social media with the message “HNY 2025 from Mar-a-Lago”.

Trump bought the resort in Palm Beach, Florida, for about $US7 million in 1985 and has since renovated the beachfront property extensively.

Membership of the club reportedly costs $US1 million ($1.6 million) a year. Australian billionaire Anthony Pratt, chairman of paper and packaging company Visy Industries, is said to be a member, while mining magnate Gina Rinehart was at the club on the night Trump secured election to a second term as president.

Morrison and Trump developed a bond during the US president’s first term in the White House and the former prime minister has retained close links with senior figures from Trump’s first term in office.

The former MP for the Sydney seat of Cook launched his book, Plans for Your Good, at an event last year hosted by US ambassador Kevin Rudd. Trump’s former vice president, Mike Pence, and his former secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, were on hand for the launch.

Since leaving politics, Morrison has taken a role as vice chairman of US consulting firm American Global Strategies, which was founded by former Trump administration officials Robert O’Brien and Alex Gray.

In an interview in early 2024, Morrison reflected on his relationship with Trump, saying a re-elected Trump “doesn’t pose any concerns in terms of the impact on Australia’s national interests”.

Morrison dealt with both Trump and President Joe Biden during their presidencies and said both were committed to the US-Australia alliance.

“The commitment to the alliance was strong and reliable with both of them,” Morrison said. “I think both of them, particularly on our biggest existential threat, which is China, I think Donald Trump was the disrupter in terms of the West’s relationship with China, that was absolutely essential. Had it not been for him, I doubt the world would have woken up to the threat.”

Morrison and Trump met up in May 2024 when Trump gave his “warm” support to the AUKUS submarine deal during a private meeting at Trump Tower in New York.

“Trump is often accused of being isolationist, but he just doesn’t like the US being taken for a ride and we cannot be accused of that,” said Morrison in a reference to the billions of dollars Australia will spend to help the US industrial navy base as part of the AUKUS deal.

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/scott-morrison-spends-new-year-s-eve-with-donald-trump-at-mar-a-lago-20250101-p5l1ki.html

https://x.com/ScoMo30/status/1874317282933108747

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51881f (208) No.22276573>>22276581

>>22225665

Hindu community leaders’ warning for Anthony Albanese on religious hatred

ALEXI DEMETRIADI - 1 January 2025

1/2

One of the country’s top Hindu leaders has warned the nation is “incubating religious intolerance” with its failure to clamp down on anti-Semitism, claiming those who hate Jewish Australians “hate people of all faiths ­except their own”.

It comes as Hindu leaders strengthened bonds with Jewish Australians amid 2024’s rampant anti-Semitism and that community’s “453 days of nightmares”, which came to a head in November and December with attacks in Sydney and Melbourne, only months before a federal election set to be dominated by the Israel-Hamas conflict’s domestic reverberations.

The Hindu community has been one of the strongest supporters of Australian Jews -- NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president David Ossip said there had been “no better friend” – and Hindu Council of Australia vice-president Surinder Jain said it was “heartbreaking” that threats toward that community were coming from “within Australia itself”.

“The past 453 days have been a nightmare for Jewish Australians,” he said.

“A constant barrage of threats, vandalism and hate speech has created a climate of fear … chants of hate and slogans calling for the eradication of Israel have become all too common.”

But Mr Jain said anti-Semitism was a “symptom” of a broader disease plaguing the nation -- namely, “religious intolerance”, which had incubated in Australia after a year of rising hatred.

“Those who hate Jews also hate people of other faiths except their own,” he said.

“This is not just a problem for Jews, but for people of all faiths and for Australia. We must take firm action to stamp out anti-Semitism, just as we would any other form of hatred.”

After Melbourne’s Adass Israel Synagogue was firebombed in a possible terrorist attack, the Hindu Council wrote to Anthony Albanese demanding his government more strongly act.

“The time for (talk) has passed,” its president, Sai Paravastu, wrote to the Prime Minister. “We need strong and decisive leadership to protect the rights and safety of all Australians.”

The letter, which was also sent to Peter Dutton and Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, said recent anti-Semitic attacks were “not isolated” but a “disturbing escalation” in crimes targeting Australia’s multicultural communities.

The firebombing was followed by another anti-Semitic vandalism attack in Woollahra, a notable Jewish suburb in Sydney, and the painting of Islamophobic graffiti in the city’s southwest and an alleged attack targeting a prominent sheik.

“(The attacks are a) wake-up call that demands tougher government action and a zero-tolerance approach to violent extremism,” Mr Paravastu said.

A spokeswoman for Mr Albanese said the Prime Minister had been “clear” that every Australian had a “right to be proud of who they are, and to feel welcome and safe in Australia”.

“Anti-Semitism has no place in Australia and we unequivocally condemn it,” she said.

This week, a spokeswoman for Foreign Minister Penny Wong said “nothing was more important for our future” than cementing Australia as a “pluralist nation”, welcoming different races and religions, and “respecting each other’s right to live in peace”.

It follows Mr Albanese’s emotional address at the Sydney Jewish Museum where he decried another targeting of the community and the fact Australian Jews felt unsafe in their country.

(continued)

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51881f (208) No.22276581

>>22276573

2/2

Mr Ossip is on the NSW government’s Faith Affairs Council alongside Mr Jain -- the pair worked together to overturn Uber’s ban on Sydney mother Swastika Chandra – and applauded the Hindu Council’s and wider Indian-Australian community’s mateship.

“The steadfast, unflinching support we’ve received (from the Hindu community) during the past 15 months has been remarkable and deeply appreciated,” he said, noting the “extraordinary contribution” that Indian-Australians had made to the country.

“It is a long-term relationship built on shared values, a common worldview and a joint commitment to doing all we can to contribute to our society.”

Anger in the Jewish community at the government’s handling of anti-Semitism came to a head in December, when Mr Ossip stood alongside NSW Premier Chris Minns after another anti-Semitic vandalism attack.

He could not, however, bring himself to stand alongside Mr Albanese a few hours later at the Sydney Jewish Museum, citing the Foreign Minister’s “policy moves against Israel”, and her alleged “incendiary, demonising and provocative rhetoric”.

Faith NSW chief executive Murray Norman, whose organisation represents a coalition of faiths and is helping the council establish a Sydney Hindu school, said every Australian had a “duty to step up” in 2025.

“We can’t solve what’s happening overseas, but what we can do is step up (in Australia) and say ‘that’s not right’,” he said.

“The Jewish community feels under the threat, the Muslim community hurts after seeing what’s happening in Gaza.”

Mr Norman said that he believed neither overseas conflicts nor Australia’s societal conditions would “get any simpler” and it was therefore vital that Australians looked after each other.

“Every chance we get we should be thinking ‘what can I do to help someone else’,” he said.

“That’s what it means to be an Australian.”

Next year’s federal poll is likely to have a foreign policy hue, with the government copping flack from both the Jewish and Muslim communities for the tightrope it has attempted to walk.

The government has sought to balance strongly combating anti-Semitism domestically -- strengthening or enacting legislation, like new anti-doxxing laws – with votes to recognise Palestinian statehood and a two-state solution at the UN.

It has, however, alienated both the Jewish and Muslim communities, neither of whom believe the government has been strong enough in the respective areas ­affecting their members.

In October, Mr Jain said his community had “lost faith” with the “divisive” Greens, saying the council encouraged its members to preference the party last.

Unlike recent political engagement by the Muslim community -- where, on paper, it has the numbers in some southwest Sydney seats to run Labor close – Hindu Australians are fewer in number and more dispersed.

The marginal NSW seat of Parramatta is the electorate with the largest Hindu population, with 20 per cent of its about 100,000 voters from the faith, where India-Australia Parliamentary Friendship Group chairman Andrew Charlton holds about a 4 per cent margin.

The estimated cost of rebuilding the Adass synagogue soared to upward of $40m and while Victoria police are investigating the firebombing as a probable terror attack, no arrests have been made four weeks after the incident.

More than $2m has been raised for its rebuilding, with some of the largest donations being made by News Corp founder ­Rupert Murdoch, the Herald Sun, the Pratt Foundation, and the Gandel Foundation, with the Victorian and federal governments also pledging funding.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/hindu-community-leaders-warning-for-anthony-albanese-on-religious-hatred/news-story/08f96d7fbcf9a937114832cfc65f98ab

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51881f (208) No.22276588>>22333788

Clive Palmer applies to trademark ‘teal’ and ‘Clive and Pauline Party’

Olivia Ireland - January 2, 2025

Billionaire Clive Palmer has applied to trademark the terms “teal” and “Clive and Pauline Party”, sparking condemnation from independent MPs.

Applications submitted to IP Australia reveal the founder of the United Australia Party applied to trademark “teal”, “teals”, “the teal party” and “AusTeal” on December 2 and sought to trademark “The Clive and Pauline Party” on November 18.

A spokesperson for the billionaire declined to say why these applications were made.

Independent politicians were confused and frustrated by Palmer’s attempt to trademark phrases associated with the Climate 200 group.

The upcoming federal election could be the last one in which Palmer, who spent over $100 million at the previous election on his United Australia Party, can spend large amounts on trying to sway votes before new donation laws come into effect, capping what any individual or party can spend.

In November, Palmer made headlines again when he pledged to take federal Labor’s proposed donation cap of about $800,000 on spending in each federal electorate to the High Court.

The bill continues to be negotiated over the summer because an agreement between the major parties could not be achieved in the last parliamentary sitting period of 2024.

Several polls predicting a close race, and the prospect of a minority government, will give MPs on the crossbench more bargaining power.

Teal independents such as Kooyong MP Monique Ryan were not aware of Palmer’s applications until contacted by this masthead.

“I would have thought Clive Palmer would have a full dance card in 2025 re-registering his own party, fighting fraud charges and rebuilding the Titanic,” she said.

“Having said that, there’s no doubt that he and Pauline would make a lovely couple.”

In March, Palmer appealed to the High Court to halt prosecutions for alleged fraud and dishonesty brought by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. The matters are still unresolved.

A spokesperson for One Nation leader Pauline Hanson disputed suggestions the two Queenslanders would merge their parties, despite Palmer’s application to trademark “The Clive and Pauline Party”.

“There’s no risk of a Clive and Pauline Party, so unless there’s another Pauline, there’s no party,” he said.

Independent member for Wentworth Allegra Spender also questioned the legitimacy of Palmer’s application: “Antics like this are exactly why people are fed up with politics as usual.”

North Sydney MP Kylea Tink said Palmer’s attempt to trademark a colour reveals he does not understand the teal movement.

“This movement is about so much more than a word made up by the media and I expect actions like this will just spur new communities on.”

Trademarking a colour such as teal is possible, says Lisa Egan, an intellectual property partner at law firm Mills Oakley, but for any application to be successful, the phrase needed to be distinctive to whatever good or service it applied to, and it could not be too similar to something already on the register.

IP Australia typically takes about two to three months to determine if something can trademarked, meaning the decision could be known as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese calls the next election, which must be held no later than late May.

The authority will also consider any objections.

“The process can be very drawn out,” Egan said.

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/clive-palmer-applies-to-trademark-teal-and-clive-and-pauline-party-20250102-p5l1n7.html

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51881f (208) No.22276602

File (hide): 8c65abd89721e5f⋯.jpg (180.45 KB,2047x1152,2047:1152,British_Army_Apache_AH_64E….jpg) (h) (u)

New Apache helicopters may be tied with drones

BEN PACKHAM - 1 January 2025

1/2

The Albanese government has signalled the army’s planned $5bn fleet of Apache attack helicopters will be teamed with armed drones to keep crews safe and extend the aircraft’s lethal­ity, as it pushes back against critics who argue the aircraft could soon become obsolete.

The first of 29 new Boeing Apache helicopters will be ­delivered this year, amid evidence from the war in Ukraine that manned helicopters are ­increasingly vulnerable to attack by missiles and drones.

The government is forging ahead with the purchase as Japan moves to retire the platform and the US axes its next-generation attack-helicopter program.

The US Army continues to operate the Apache but has begun partnering them with armed Gray Eagle drones, giving the helicopter’s crew access to their weapons and sensors from up to 110km away.

Defence has not confirmed if it will buy the General Atomics Gray Eagle, telling The Australian the AH-64E Apache is a ­superior capability in its own right. But it flagged the helicopters would operate with drones in the future as part of a $4.3bn-$5.3bn investment in uncrewed systems over the next 10 years.

“The AH-64E Apache carries a range of sensors, munitions and weapons well beyond that of an uncrewed platform, and provides the critical step change in capability to enable the teaming of crewed-uncrewed aerial systems,” a Defence spokesman said.

He said the Australian ­Defence Force’s future drone investments would “work together and complement crewed systems on missions that will support a strategy of denial, hold potential adversaries at risk and increase the potency of our ­capabilities”.

“Crewed attack helicopters will remain an essential part of the Australian Defence Force’s capability mix to support land force operations across a range of operational scenarios,” the spokesman said.

The Apache, armed with a 30mm automatic cannon, wing-mounted rockets and hellfire missiles, is regarded as the world’s best attack helicopter. It is bristling with advanced systems, including electro-optical sensors and radar technologies, to seek out targets and counter enemy attacks.

But some experts have urged the government to abandon the Apache purchase, given the scores of helicopters destroyed in Ukraine by surface-to-air missiles including shoulder-fired systems, and even cheap quadcopter drones.

Former Defence official Marcus Hellyer said the war had shown attack helicopters were “just not survivable in the face of any kind of modern air-defence system”.

“It’s a struggle to see how they are going to survive in a fight with a peer or near-peer adversary,” Dr Hellyer said.

Rather than spending $5bn on an “exquisite” helicopter fleet, the government should go all-in on drones, he argued.

“If it’s to do reconnaissance, well, you can get lots of (unmanned aerial vehicles) to do that role; if it’s to do attack, you can do that with UAVs,” Dr Hellyer said.

He said the army’s new High Mobility Artillery Rocket System also offered the ability to attack targets at long ranges without “flying into the teeth of the enemy’s air defence network”.

But retired major general Mick Ryan, author of a new book on the war in Ukraine, said the key lesson from the conflict was on the need to use capabilities differently from those used in the past.

“(Attack helicopters) won’t be out there on the front line, they’ll be sitting back because they have very good electromagnetic protection and communications, and they’ll control fleets of drones,” he said.

“We’ve got to go back and really look at tactics and techniques for their use -- not just partnering with uncrewed systems, but protecting them against uncrewed systems as well.”

(continued)

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51881f (208) No.22276667>>22276669 >>22276711

>>22268370

Former Australian prime minister details God's faithfulness amid trials: 'He's always been there'

Jon Brown - January 01, 2025

1/2

The former prime minister of Australia explained to The Christian Post how God sustained him when he led his country through an especially tumultuous time, and explained how he has learned to find his value not in power, but in God's love for him.

Scott Morrison, a Christian who served as Australia's 30th prime minister from 2018 to 2022, detailed his faith journey in his 2024 book, Plans For Your Good: A Prime Minister's Testimony of God's Faithfulness.

The book posits three main questions based on Jeremiah 29:11, exhorting readers to consider "Who am I?," "How should I live?," and "What should I hope for?" The book provides pastoral reflections on how to answer such fundamental questions while weaving compelling stories from his own life and time in office.

Morrison emphasized to CP that the book is not a political memoir, but rather a message of hope to readers facing their own doubts and struggles.

"It's not a political book," he said. "If I wanted to write a political book, it probably would have been three times longer and would have been full of defenses and advocacy of my political agenda. That's what I did in politics, and I did that for a long time."

Morrison said his faith was not something he went into very often in great depth while serving as prime minister, but that leaving the public stage has offered him "an opportunity for me to just to be very open about my Christian faith and to declare it."

'A very difficult time'

Morrison's time as prime minister was marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, which he described as the biggest crisis Australia had faced since World War II.

The COVID-19 protocols in Australia drew criticism from some who believed they were too strict, though the country of 25 million people was one of the few able to bring new community-acquired COVID-19 cases down to zero in 2020. Morrison pushed back against critics who maintain there was a global conspiracy to oppress citizens.

"It was a very difficult time, and I think there was a lot of uncertainty and anxiety at the time," Morrison said. "People were trying to understand and explain what was going on. I just knew that we were dealing with a pathogen which was very, very dangerous and we had to deal with it. If there was a conspiracy, no one invited me to the meetings."

"It was tough. You're never going to get remedies and responses to that which was going to make everybody happy," he added.

Morrison said dealing with the rise of China was the most difficult issue he had to deal with as prime minister, noting how the Chinese government "sought to bully and break Australia," even as they were straining under the weight of the pandemic, a recession and some of the worst natural disasters the country had seen "in quite some time."

"Everywhere I went, I was seeing devastation and heartache in my own country, and that was heartbreaking," he said, adding that he credits God for strengthening him "to stand up to China and to do so with the backing of many of our friends, particularly in the United States, with whom I formed some very good personal and close relationships."

'Anxiety is human'

Morrison is also very open in his book about how he began to suffer anxiety attacks while serving as prime minister that required medication in 2021. He urged Christians not to be ashamed if they need help with their mental health amid what he described as "an anxiety crisis, particularly in Western society."

"Anxiety is human," he said, adding that his anxiety was not caused by policy challenges or security threats, but rather "physical exhaustion combined with the tenacious, relentless, personal, vindictive attacks --- principally through secular voices in the media and opponents."

"We're all flesh and blood, mind and spirit," he said. "And these things can affect us after some period of time."

"I say to Christians that you take a pill for a headache, and your mental health is no different," he said. "The stresses that we labor under at times need that sort of support."

"I was on my knees at that time, I was praying, I was seeking the counsel and support of Christian friends and others, but there are physical things that happen that can affect your mental health, and you've got to be mindful of those things."

(continued)

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51881f (208) No.22276669

File (hide): 9e3bd2a50659871⋯.jpg (454.82 KB,2349x1576,2349:1576,President_Donald_Trump_and….jpg) (h) (u)

>>22276667

2/2

Morrison also said Christians should acknowledge the spiritual aspect of anxiety by casting their anxieties on the Lord.

"As Christians, we need to learn how we can just hand these things over to God; the anxieties are real, the things we're anxious about are real," he added. "We can't pretend they're not there, and we've just got to deal with them and hand them over to Him and allow Him to give us peace."

'Constant source of strength and wisdom'

Morrison stressed the importance of having a community of believers who upheld him in prayer while he was in office, including a tight-knit group of pastors.

"You can't live your faith other than in community of brothers and sisters in Christ, and that's intentional by design, I believe," he said.

"God helps us when we're on our knees in prayer; He helps us when we're reflecting on His work, and He also encourages us and supports us through those he puts around us. I've always been blessed with that, and, frankly, sought it out."

Morrison suggested the increasingly secular nature of Western societies makes Christian fellowship even more vital.

"You can't live in a secular society faithfully and strongly if you're not in a community of those who love Christ," he said. "They are a constant source of strength and wisdom and support and love, and to be in such a community is one of the great joys and blessings of Christian life."

'We don't have to prove anything'

A section in the third chapter of Morrison's book delves into the many setbacks and failures he has suffered, starting with when he was fired from his job in the country's tourism agency during his late 30s. He claims he was fired for political reasons by then-Prime Minister John Howard, with whom he had a good relationship and whose campaign he worked for.

The experience, he writes, was "humiliating and soul destroying," but revealed to him how much he was placing his self-worth in his own accomplishments instead of in God's unconditional love for him.

"We don’t have to prove anything to God, even the things we think we are doing for Him," Morrison writes. "God’s love has nothing to do with what we think we can offer. He loves us just as we are, in all our brokenness."

"God’s love is transformational if you allow it to be. It’s one thing to accept it; it’s entirely another to let it transform you and allow you to see yourself through His eyes instead of through the perspective of what you have or haven't accomplished."

That lesson would prove invaluable throughout the rest of his life and steel him to experience other losses, including ultimately losing reelection as prime minister in 2022. He writes that while some politicians who lose begin to crave the "relevance" they lost, he is free from such an "affliction."

Morrison suggested to CP that one of the greatest lessons he has learned is God's faithfulness regardless of what vocation to which he is called in the different seasons of his life.

"I just found God faithful to me in every walk of life, whether it was as prime minister, as a treasurer, as a cabinet minister, a member of parliament, a father, senior chief executive, all these sorts of things that I've done over the course of my life," he said.

"He's always been there with me, and that's really what I'm trying to say. It doesn't matter what your vocation is, what job you have, what you're doing in life. The prize is Christ and His presence. That's what will sustain you always in everything."

https://www.christianpost.com/news/former-australian-prime-minister-details-gods-faithfulness.html

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51881f (208) No.22276711

File (hide): 2213a9a140de216⋯.jpg (235.4 KB,2048x1152,16:9,Simon_Holmes_a_Court.jpg) (h) (u)

File (hide): 560630e0f554409⋯.jpg (458.21 KB,750x1125,2:3,SHAC_1.jpg) (h) (u)

>>22268370

>>22276667

Scott Morrison as popular as Rolf Harris: Simon Holmes a Court

SARAH ISON - 2 January 2025

Activist and businessman Simon Holmes a Court has compared Scott Morrison’s popularity to that of sex offender Rolf Harris after the former prime minister spent New Year’s Eve with Donald Trump at the president elect’s Mara Lago Resort.

In a repost of Mr Morrison’s photo with Mr Trump, the Climate 200 founder said that, should the former prime minister ever read the replies to his tweet, “it’ll be the second time he’ll have wished he could stay in the US and avoid ever coming back home”.

“(Mr) Morrison is almost as popular as Rolf Harris,” Mr Holmes a Court said.

The comments were seized upon by opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson, who demanded the teal independents that Mr Holmes a Court funded should explain their position.

“That Simon Holmes a Court believes meeting with the democratically elected leader of our closest ally is in any way comparable to child sexual abuse says more about him than Scott Morrison,” Senator Paterson said.

“Teal MPs should explain whether they endorse the unhinged views of their chief fundraiser. If they held the balance of power after the next election, what influence over Australia’s foreign and national security policy would he wield?”

Mr Holmes a Court and sitting teal MPs were contacted for comment.

North Sydney MP Kylea Tink criticised the Coalition for hypocrisy and made a veiled swipe at the party’s major donors such as Gina Rinehart.

“Simon Holmes a Court’s opinions are his own. He was not, nor has never been, my chief fundraiser and I have never consulted him on policy,” she said.

“The only people seemingly concerned with his ‘policy positions’ appears to be the Liberal Party which I assume reflects how they accept policy advice from their backers like Gina Rhinehart.

“That might be how it works for them but as a community independent the only people I listen to are my community.”

The criticism of Mr Holmes a Court and the independents he funds comes as mining magnate Clive Palmer sought trademark the terms “teal” and “Clive and Pauline Party” last year. It is unclear why the United Australia Party founder made such applications.

The ‘teal wave’ was one of the most significant elements of the 2022 election, with questions now arising over whether Labor would enter into power-sharing agreements with the independents should it lose majority at the next election.

Senator Paterson warned a Labor government reliant on taels and Greens support would risk the relationship with the US under the Trump administration.

“We can’t afford to risk projects like AUKUS and our most important security alliance in an uncertain world,” he said.

Concerns around the US relationship have been raised since Mr Trump was successfully re-elected, given figures like Australian Ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd had made scathing comments of the leader in the past.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/morrison-as-popular-as-rolf-harris-holmes-a-court/news-story/7869dadecd9d589f8d5c487d30a75685

https://x.com/simonahac/status/1874426407184707890

https://archive.vn/6CctC

>You attack those you fear the most.

>For God and Country.

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51881f (208) No.22288283>>22288286 >>22288461 >>22301165 >>22351454

>>21947984 (pb)

>>22202611 (pb)

>>22254943

After US election, Elon Musk could turn focus to Europe and Australia

Michelle Rimmer and Cameron Nicholls - 3 January 2025

1/2

The world's richest man just helped Donald Trump return to the White House, but Elon Musk isn't just interested in the future of the United States.

The billionaire is increasingly injecting himself into European politics.

Over the past six months, Musk has been outspoken about issues far beyond America's borders.

The billionaire has argued that Britain is "turning into a police state" and claimed that the once-shunned German far-right political party Alternative for Deutschland (AfD) is the country's "only hope".

He's also called for a new election in the United Kingdom, despite one being held in July last year, and argued that "only Reform can save Britain".

Reform UK is a populist, right-wing political party led by Brexiteer Nigel Farage.

The pair met before Christmas at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort, where they discussed political tactics and there are reports Musk is planning to donate up to $160 million to the party.

Farage told GB News that Musk said "he genuinely fears that the mother country of the English-speaking world is going down the tubes and he agrees Britain needs reform", during their meeting.

This week, the US tech-mogul released a series of posts on his social media platform X in an apparent attempt to discredit UK's Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

In several posts, he called for the release of far-right British activist Tommy Robinson, who is serving an 18-month prison sentence for contempt of court for repeating false allegations a Syrian refugee schoolboy was a violent thug.

He also added his voice to calls for a national inquiry into a child abuse scandal that occurred in an English town from 1997 to 2013.

In 2014, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Rotherham, commissioned by the local council, found approximately 1,400 children were sexually abused by a network of men "with Pakistani heritage".

Similar cases of abuse have been found in multiple UK towns and some perpetrators have been brought to justice.

Musk, in a post on X, accused Starmer, who was head of England's Crown Prosecution Service for five years from 2008, of failing survivors.

Six hours later, the UK's Opposition Leader Kemi Badenoch echoed his calls for a national inquiry in a post on X.

Farage replied pointing out Badenoch's Conservative Party had 14 years in government to launch their probe and elected not to.

It's not the first time Musk has criticised the Starmer government. In July last year, as parts of England grappled with anti-immigration riots, Musk posted on X that "civil war is inevitable".

Elsewhere, Musk has thrown his support behind Germany's AfD party, describing them as the "last spark of hope" for the nation, and is set to host the party's leader for a live interview on X.

He laid out his support for the party in an opinion piece for German newspaper, Welt am Sonntag, which led to the resignation of the masthead's opinion editor and accusations from the government that Musk is attempting to influence next month's German election.

Opinion polls are predicting the anti-immigration AfD party is on track to become the largest opposition group.

Musk argued his "significant investments" in Germany gave him a right to speak out about the nation's politics.

UK, Europe in Musk's sights

Richard Johnson, a senior lecturer in US and UK politics at Queen Mary University of London, says Musk's family background plays a role in why he's so interested in British affairs.

"His grandmother was English, she was from Liverpool and emigrated to South Africa, and Musk has talked about identifying as being of British or English heritage, not Afrikaner," Dr Johnson said.

"He made visits to Britain all throughout his life, including in his childhood … this is not an unfamiliar environment for him to get into, in some ways, it's the natural next country for him to extend his political influence."

Musk also has an affinity with potent political and social issues that have dominated debate in the West in recent years, as evidenced in the UK's July 2024 general election and again now in the lead-up to Germany's ballot next month.

"The issues that he's paid most attention to have been immigration and its associations with crime, free speech and online regulation, and gender and transgender issues," Dr Johnson said.

"Again, I think that comes from his own particular background, being the father of a transgender child who he's now cut off connection with.

"Those are clearly issues that are close to his heart and he pays attention to those, and he wants to shape the political conversation in Britain and in other countries."

(continued)

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51881f (208) No.22288286

File (hide): b12c80c149006ef⋯.jpg (210.05 KB,3000x1963,3000:1963,Elon_Musk_makes_a_point_du….jpg) (h) (u)

>>22288283

2/2

In a 2021 interview with The Babylon Bee podcast, Musk said the "woke mind virus is arguably one of the biggest threats to modern civilisation".

The business mogul's staunch views on hot-button issues align most closely with right-wing parties like the UK's Reform and Germany's AfD.

Michael Cox from the London School of Economics says "ego" can't be ignored as another potential driver.

"The underlying facts are this is a very, very rich man, highly ambitious, and he wants to have much more than just influence in the United States," Professor Cox said.

Then there's his business interests.

In the wake of Trump's US election victory, the share price for electric car maker Tesla, of which Musk owns the majority stake and is the CEO, has risen 66 per cent.

"In business, it's often the case that the hype and the attention that you get, the aura that you can get as a business leader can actually be financially rewarding for you because when people are investing in a company, they're also investing in you as a business leader," Dr Johnson said.

"If you can show that you are a powerful person, that you have powerful contacts, that you can shape the political weather, that you can help elect a president of the United States, that perhaps you can completely up-end the British political party system … people assume that you'll be able to find success in business as well, whether or not that's always the case is a different matter."

Why Musk may want a say in Australia

Musk played a pivotal role in Trump's November election win in the US, donating hundreds of millions of dollars to the Republican nominee's campaign.

He also campaigned with Trump and, at one stage, held a lottery where he handed out $US1 million ($1.6 million) a day to voters in swing states who had signed a petition "in favour of free speech and the right to bear arms".

Some experts are warning Musk could be interested in Australia's federal election, which must be held on or before May 17.

"I think globally, certainly Australia will be in his sights, I'd be interested to see what he says," Professor Cox said.

"I suspect that the pressure he's going to put on Australia, if it is pressure, is he's going to try and move the Australian political debate further to the right and away from where it is at the moment, with Prime Minister Albanese."

In November, the tech tycoon took a swipe at Albanese over the Labor Party's plan to ban children from social media.

"Seems like a backdoor way to control access to the Internet by all Australians," Musk replied to a post from Albanese on X.

The billionaire has previously demonstrated his ability to exert influence in Australia.

In 2017, Atlassian chief Mike Cannon-Brookes challenged Musk to build a battery that would improve the stability of South Australia's power network.

Musk went on to win a tender that saw him build the world's largest lithium-ion battery in the state.

Professor Cox says the global influence Musk wields should be taken seriously.

"It's a pretty remarkable position he's in now, I mean, it's unprecedented.

"He's also got a massive influence through representing in a sense, the future … he's not a technophobe, he represents a kind of new technological shift, you know going to Mars, getting to the moon … there's a kind of extraordinary character here, a new phenomenon in American politics and one that is already having a big impact, not only in the United States, but also around the world."

Musk and Farage were contacted for comment.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-03/musk-could-turn-focus-to-europe-and-australia-after-us/104780406

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51881f (208) No.22288461

File (hide): 5f0d9e1cf777136⋯.jpg (255.85 KB,827x732,827:732,CBBS_1.jpg) (h) (u)

File (hide): 1fe1d495d98f372⋯.jpg (310.98 KB,750x1225,30:49,MR_1.jpg) (h) (u)

>>21947984 (pb)

>>22254943

>>22288283

‘Not a place for respectful debate’: Chris Bowen quits X

PAIGE TAYLOR - 3 January 2025

Climate Change and Energy minister Chris Bowen has quit Elon Musk’s social media platform X for Bluesky, saying X is “no longer the place for informed and respectful conversation”.

Mr Bowen’s left X about four months after he was pilloried online for a “cringe” post that other X users suspected was a contrived text exchange with a staffer.

He had posted a screenshot that began with a text message to him that read: ‘Hey boss, new ABS data out today shows that our Govt’s Energy Bill Rebates helped lower energy bills by 6.4%.

‘Without them, bills would have gone up and Aussie homes and businesses would be paying more.

‘Want me to post it on your social media?’

The screenshot shows a reply from Mr Bowen: “Good stuff, yeah post right away, thx mate”.

The message was about a $300 energy rebate that Labor unveiled in the 2024-25 federal budget in May last year.

Some users asked whether the text exchange was genuine.

On Friday, Mr Bowen told The Australian: “In considering my approach to social media in 2025, I reached the view that X is no longer a place where you can have an informed, respectful conversation on important issues like climate change.

“So despite having more than 140,000 followers, entering 2025 saw the deactivation of my X account,” he said.

Mr Bowen used the platform formerly known as Twitter to underscore his political messages, attack the opposition and sometimes to document life outside work such as a trip to the theatre. Last year on his first Father’s Day since the death of his dad, he wrote: “it’s not an easy day for many”.

In recent days Mr Bowen has begun posting regularly on Twitter founder Jack Dorsey’s Bluesky, which describes itself as “social media as it should be”. His BlueSky posts appear identical to those on his other social media accounts such as Instagram.

Bluesky, founded by 33-year-old software engineer Jay Greber, distinguishes itself from X with features that is says give users control of their experience and a chance to “shape the culture of the platform as a whole”.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/not-a-place-for-respectful-debate-chris-bowen-quits-x/news-story/7b798fbadb391c4d83c290d8328b49f4

https://x.com/bowenchris

https://bsky.app/profile/chrisbowenmp.bsky.social

https://x.com/MRobertsQLD/status/1828660833507066149

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f79739 (287) No.22301069>>22301073

>>22225665

Ice hockey world championships canned in Victoria in fears of anti-Israel protests

MOHAMMAD ALFARES - 6 January 2025

1/2

Ice Hockey Australia has abandoned holding world championship matches in Melbourne over fears Israel’s presence would make it too dangerous for players and fans, sparking accusations the government is destroying the nation’s global reputation.

In a “strictly confidential” email obtained by The Australian, IHA president and director Ryan O’Handley advised the International Ice Hockey Federation’s executive body on December 30 that the World Men’s Division II (Group A) championships would be canned due to safety and security concerns associated with Israel’s participation.

The event, originally scheduled for April-May, was expected to be a landmark occasion for Australian sports, marking the first time since 2011 this country would host the division championships.

At this stage, there has been no official announcement from the IIHF or the Australian federation.

Victoria Police said it had provided feedback about current protest activity in Melbourne, but any decision to cancel the event “was one for Ice Hockey Australia”.

“We understand that people are concerned following the synagogue fire in Ripponlea on 6 December; however, there are currently no known or specific threats to any Victorian organisation, infrastructure or event, and police encourage people to go about their daily business,” a Victoria Police spokesperson said.

But in his email, Mr O’Handley claimed concerns over Israel’s participation were first raised in October when Victoria Police warned IHA of a “high chance of an incident” during the championship.

“By the end of October, the venue and the District Docklands precinct also expressed their concerns to us regarding the safety and security of the event. This prompted us to begin correspondence with the IIHF regarding these concerns and the escalating anti-Israel activities in Melbourne,” Mr O’Handley wrote in the email.

“Then, as you are all likely aware, there was an arson attack on a synagogue in Melbourne on December 6th. Subsequent discussions with the venue and precinct occurred, along with a thorough risk assessment and consideration of all of our options. It was concluded just prior to Christmas that we could not host due to significant safety and security risks associated with Israel’s participation.”

Mr O’Handley said the decision to dump the championships was not politically motivated.

“Our decision is based entirely on the fact that the safety and security of participants, the venue and precinct staff, and the general public cannot be assured to a reasonable level due to the current environment in Melbourne,” he said.

“It is my understanding that they will offer the hosting rights to another country in our division in the first instance and they have not suggested we will be sanctioned in any way.”

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22301073

>>22301069

2/2

Opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson said anti-Semitism was left to fester in the streets of Melbourne, accusing both the Albanese Labor government and Premier Jacinta Allan’s leadership of “disastrous” consequences for the nation’s international reputation.

“The Albanese and Allan governments have let anti-Semitism get completely out of control and this is the result,” Senator Paterson said.

“It is absolutely disastrous for our international reputation that we can’t safely host international sporting events due to a failure to tackle rampant extremism since 7 October.

“This is yet another wake-up call that it is past time to enforce the law and take this community safety crisis seriously before it gets even worse.”

In a statement sent to The Australian, a spokesperson for IHA confirmed “significant consultations” were made with important stakeholders.

“Ice Hockey Australia holds the health and safety of participants, spectators and the wider community (as) an absolute priority,” the spokesperson said.

“Significant consultation took place with varied and relevant important stakeholders related to the Men’s Division IIA World Championships, including the International Ice Hockey Federation.”

A Victorian government spokesperson said the event was not funded by the taxpayer, and the decision to cancel it was made by the organisation, and was not made on advice from police.

The nation’s peak Jewish body labelled the cancellation a “dreadful” and “dangerous” capitulation, and called for the state and federal sport ministers to intervene.

“This is a dreadful decision and should be rescinded,” Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said.

“It cannot be that violent extremists dictate which visiting sporting teams come to our country and deprive Australians of the joy of watching live international sports.

“They are playing directly into the hands of thugs and racists who have calculated that their violence and threats will lead to Israelis being abandoned and cut adrift.

“We urge the governing body to reconsider its position and expect that the Minister for Sport will intervene to ensure this dangerous capitulation does not stand.”

Australia last hosted the division championships in 2011 and won gold with a team featuring history-making NHL star Nathan Walker.

Israel’s expected opponents in the games would have included Australia, Belgium, Serbia, the Netherlands and the UAE.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/ice-hockey-world-championships-canned-in-victoria-in-fears-of-antiisrael-protests/news-story/a957d6c5135f7c15808829b5043c855f

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f79739 (287) No.22301099>>22301102 >>22301109 >>22307893 >>22314338 >>22314350

>>22225665

‘Don’t point fingers at us’: Israeli ambassador’s message to Australians

Matthew Knott - January 6, 2025

1/2

Israel’s top representative in Australia has declared that mounting pressure from the Albanese government and the international community will not accelerate the creation of a Palestinian state as he insisted antisemitism was the main driving force behind global criticism of Israel.

In a rare interview, Israeli ambassador Amir Maimon said he believed many Australians fail to grasp the seriousness of the security threats his nation faces. He vowed to do a better job telling Israel’s story to the Australian public.

Maimon’s extended interview with this masthead at the Israeli embassy in Canberra came after a turbulent year in the once-close Australia-Israel relationship that culminated in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lashing out at Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on social media.

Tensions flared between the two nations after the April killing of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom in Gaza and later when Australia regularly broke with Israel in votes at the United Nations and denied a visa to a former Israeli cabinet minister.

“I am struggling to understand why it is so difficult for the international community as a whole to support the just cause, the just war in which we’re engaging,” Maimon said when asked about the war in Gaza, which has entered its 16th month.

More than 45,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the war began following Hamas’ shock October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel, including more than 130 killed in Israeli air strikes over a 48-hour period last week, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

Asked what he would say to ordinary Australians who feel anger at Israel over the high civilian death toll in Gaza, Maimon said: “I will tell the average Australian that he is asking the wrong guy because the war could have been over on October 8 if Hamas had released all the hostages and laid down their arms … I think that to point the fingers towards Israel is simply wrong. You are criticising the ones who were attacked, you are criticising the ones who were butchered.”

Describing Israel as a “peaceful nation”, Maimon continued: “It’s Hamas that is using hospitals and mosques and kindergarten and schools to hide and to store their weapons systems. This is something that should not be accepted, and you cannot criticise the nation that is trying to uproot this cancer.”

A veteran diplomat who served in the Israeli military’s paratrooper unit, Maimon said he believed many Australians did not appreciate that Israel had contended with hostile neighbours since its creation in 1948 and faces threats on multiple fronts ranging from Gaza and the West Bank to Iran, Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq and Syria.

“You feel blessed -- you live in your beautiful country isolated from the rest of the world,” Maimon said of Australians.

“I remember when it was revealed in 2022 that China signed a security agreement with the Solomon Islands, the headlines were, ‘Wow, it is so close to our borders, about 1500 kilometres away’.

“My response was, ‘I wish that all our adversaries were so far away’.”

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22301102

>>22301099

2/2

Human Rights Watch in December accused Israeli authorities of intentionally depriving Gaza of access to safe water for drinking and sanitation, while Medecins Sans Frontières said it was “witnessing clear signs of ethnic cleansing” in northern Gaza.

A New York Times investigation published in December found the Israeli military had “severely weakened its system of safeguards meant to protect civilians” during the war on Gaza, including by occasionally authorising strikes on senior Hamas leaders that could endanger more than 100 non-combatants.

Maimon insisted it was “absurd” that the International Criminal Court had charged Netanyahu with war crimes over Israel’s conduct in the war, condemning the move as “pure antisemitism”.

“As a proud Jew, I’m worried because I think that the root cause of what we see worldwide has nothing to do with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict but with antisemitism,” he said.

Acknowledging he was “disappointed” by Australia changing its voting patterns at the UN, Maimon sought to ease tensions by saying that Israel and Australia continue to have a “good and close relationship” underpinned by shared values.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has angered local pro-Israel advocates by saying Australia wants to help build momentum for a two-state solution and urging the UN to establish a timeline for the declaration of a Palestinian state.

Maimon countered that there was no prospect of a two-state solution until Hamas is removed from power in Gaza and that such an “agreement cannot be imposed on either Israel or the Palestinians”.

He said that international calls for a two-state solution often overlooked fundamental problems -- including whether Palestinian refugees should be granted a “right of return” to Israel – and the power struggle between Hamas and Fatah, a rival political party that dominates the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank.

“So, yes, people can talk about it and people can vote about it, and it won’t change anything on the ground unless the two parties that are involved can reach an agreement,” he said.

He expressed hope that Israel and Hamas would soon strike a ceasefire agreement that would allow for the return of the remaining Israeli hostages from Gaza.

With one year left of his ambassadorial term, Maimon expressed regret that, in his view, many Australians have a one-dimensional view of Israel that is dominated by the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

Pointing to Israel’s status as a world leader in technology such as facial recognition software, he said: “I wish I could do better, and I’m taking it upon my responsibility … to bring Australians to a better understanding of what Israel is all about.”

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/don-t-point-fingers-at-us-israeli-ambassador-s-message-to-australians-20250105-p5l25e.html

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f79739 (287) No.22301109>>22301112

>>22225665

>>22301099

‘How can I do better?’ Israeli ambassador’s candid confession

Matthew Knott - January 6, 2025

1/2

Amir Maimon is no stranger to diplomatic challenges.

Israel’s ambassador to Australia began his foreign service career in Ethiopia in the early 1990s, when the sitting government in Addis Ababa was on the verge of being toppled by a coalition of left-wing rebel groups.

Maimon, a retired lieutenant colonel who served for 14 years in the Israeli military’s paratrooper unit, used his experience to co-ordinate the daring airlift of 14,325 Ethiopian Jews to Israel in less than two days.

The secret mission, known as Operation Solomon, involved cramming more than 1000 people onto a single aeroplane with its seats removed, a world record that remains intact today.

Maimon went on to hold senior diplomatic postings in London, Canada, Turkey and Washington before serving as Israel’s first ambassador to Lithuania.

He arrived in Canberra as Israeli ambassador in January 2022 on a mission to refocus the relationship from the conflict with Palestine towards trade, defence and technological co-operation.

It was not to be.

The following October, Hamas militants stormed across the border from Gaza, killing an estimated 1200 Israelis and taking about 250 people hostage. As Israel launched a ferocious campaign to dismantle Hamas’ military capability -- at a devastating cost to civilians in Gaza – the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was again dominating global headlines.

Maimon spoke to the National Press Club after the October 7 attacks, but he has maintained a low public profile, granting only occasional interviews and preferring to engage directly through meetings with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Foreign Minister Penny Wong and other senior government figures.

However, with a year remaining of his posting in Canberra, Maimon knows he must do more to tell Israel’s side of the story to the Australian public and stop a once-close bilateral relationship from spinning out of control. Domestically, the war in Gaza has strained social cohesion, with Jewish Australians startled by a surge of antisemitic attacks, and other Australians aghast at the civilian death toll in Gaza.

“I feel a bit sorry and sad that the discussion about the conflict dominates the discussion,” he said in an extended interview with this masthead at his Canberra residence during Hanukkah, the sacred Jewish holiday that ended on Thursday.

He is on a mission to use the rest of his tenure, he said, “to bring Australians to a better understanding of what Israel is all about”, including its status as a modern technology pioneer.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22301112

>>22301109

2/2

While he remains a forthright advocate for his nation, Maimon used the interview to strike a conciliatory tone, expressing disappointment but not anger at the Albanese government’s shift away from Israel at the United Nations. He previously sought to play down tensions between Israel and Australia at a rare December press conference -- a day before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used a lacerating social media post to accuse the government of encouraging antisemitism with its “extreme anti-Israel” positions.

Asked whether the government could have done more to crack down on rising antisemitism before the arson attack on the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne in December, Maimon said: “I always believe that we can do better. I’m always asking, ‘How can I do better?’ And I believe that, yes of course, here in Australia, many things could have been done in a different way. But now it’s not about the past, it’s about the future.”

Maimon spoke in personal terms, not just as a diplomat but as a worried grandfather whose grandson has been called up to serve with the Israeli military.

“I’m worried that I will get the wrong telephone call,” he said. “This is insane, and this is something that I’m not sure that the average Australian understands.”

Maimon says he has struggled to understand Australian alarm at the prospect of a Chinese military base in the Pacific, when Israeli citizens face regular rocket and missile attacks from adversaries such as Iran and proxies such as Hamas and Hezbollah.

“As a parent, I feel a personal failure that I failed to provide my children with a more secure environment,” he said as his media adviser’s phone lit up with another Israeli air raid warning.

He is insistent that Australians should blame listed terror group Hamas -- not Israel – for the estimated 45,000 deaths in Gaza.

While clearly unimpressed by Wong’s efforts to create momentum towards a two-state solution before the war is over, Maimon said he accepts that a Labor government will not always vote in line with Israel at the United Nations.

“I’m realistic, I’m an experienced diplomat and I understand that it will not always be possible to get 100 per cent of what I’m wishing for,” he said.

“Sometimes I will have to leave with the 80-85 per cent I know I can get.”

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/how-can-i-do-better-israeli-ambassador-s-candid-confession-20250105-p5l25h.html

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f79739 (287) No.22301124>>22327980

File (hide): 5098c633e26cd76⋯.jpg (704.25 KB,2048x1536,4:3,GgjtkczbEAA2HAb.jpg) (h) (u)

File (hide): 1a2c6149a14a857⋯.jpg (227.8 KB,1025x1367,1025:1367,Yvonne_Strasser.jpg) (h) (u)

File (hide): 8f545d239b45649⋯.jpg (573.54 KB,2048x2730,1024:1365,Executive_Council_of_Austr….jpg) (h) (u)

>>22058044 (pb)

>>22168048 (pb)

>>22225665

Anti-Semitic attacks continue as car graffitied in Sydney

SUMMER LIU - 6 January 2025

An anti-Semitic graffiti attack has left the Jewish community in Sydney reeling over a “lack of decisive action” after a car was spray painted with the slogan “F*ck the Jews” in the early hours of Monday morning at Queens Park, near a Jewish school.

The attack is under investigation by Eastern Suburbs Police and is believed to have occurred between 7am on Sunday and 5.45am on Monday, when police were alerted.

The owner of the vandalised car Stuart Veron believes it was a random attack and he “just got unlucky” that his vehicle was the target.

He condemned the perpetrator as a “rat” and said the community “would be disgusted” by the hate crime as “there’s no place for that in this community or anywhere in Australia”.

Mr Veron said the police told him they currently have no leads.

Clinical psychologist Sharon Greenberg, 64, reported the incident to police despite feeling “frozen” but said she is not shocked by the incident as there continues to be a lack of decisive action against perpetrators of anti-Semitic hate crimes.

“I keep saying … to myself, I wish I was shocked but I’m not shocked because this has been the climate for over a year here,” Dr Greenberg told The Australian.

“I’m feeling sad, I’m feeling angry and I’m also feeling anxious from realising that the feeling of safety we have is … really rocked at a time like this.

“The holocaust didn’t start with crematoriums, it started with cartoons, slogans, people shouting out hate statements, and in the end six million people died.”

Dr Greenberg said this was not a vandalism incident but instead “a crime of hate”.

“This is targeted, it’s considered, somebody has come there in the middle of the night with a can of black spray paint, and they’ve done a very good job in very bold letters, very bold acts in the middle of the night in a very quiet suburban little street here,” she said.

Dr Greenberg called for the government to take action.

“This has to be dealt with at a very high level, this isn’t about having security cameras in front of your home, the leaders have to make a stand here.

“We actually came from South Africa several years ago and created a beautiful life. I actually feel very emotional; it’s a beautiful country but there is suddenly a feeling of safety, taken from under your feet.”

Local resident Yvonne Strasser, whose grandmother was killed in the holocaust was visibly emotional when seeing the car and said such hate crimes “is how it starts”.

Ms Strasser said she “heard it was racial slurs, but I thought it would be anti-Israel, not anti-Semitic”.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said the perpetrator attacked an area that is “another suburb with a large Jewish community and multiple Jewish communal facilities”.

“No one just vandalises a car with a racist slogan,” he said on X, formerly Twitter.

“It is the product of endless incitement, demonisation and a belief that such attitudes are freely permitted, even celebrated.”

This comes after similar anti-Semitic attacks rocked the community in Woollhara late last year, as the words “F*ck Israel” was graffitied on multiple cars, and a separate incident saw “Kill Israel” painted on a wall and a car torched.

The most extreme incident saw a ute, and nine cars targeted in graffiti attacks on Wellington, Tara, Fullerton and Ocean Streets and three buildings, including the Matt Moran-owned Chiswick restaurant, also graffitied.

In addition to anti-Israel slogans, cars were graffitied with a message reading “PKK coming,” which appeared to be a reference to the Kurdistan Workers Party, which is considered by Australia to be a terrorist organisation.

NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president David Ossip said: “It is unacceptable that Jewish Australians and Australians of all backgrounds have had to wake up yet again and see messages of hate prominently displayed in their neighbourhood.”

“It is intolerable that Australians are having to go to bed fearful that their cars or properties will be defaced overnight with anti-Semitic anti-Semitic hate speech.

“We cannot allow ourselves to become desensitised to acts of Jew-hatred and allow illegal conduct such as this to become normalised.”

Mr Ossip called for laws to be tightened in order to address the rise of hate speech and incitement to violence and said that “individuals who commit crimes must be identified and face the full force of the law”.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/antisemitic-attacks-continue-as-car-graffitied-in-sydney/news-story/5d868e5683b396ba90e6f7e9ffd96a04

https://x.com/AlexRyvchin/status/1876010467854016612

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f79739 (287) No.22301142>>22482380

>>22225435

Defence reserves ‘understrength’; to be trained like Ukrainian fighters

JOANNA PANAGOPOULOS - 5 January 2025

A new approach to training Australian Defence Force reservists would be modelled on a five-week program to train Ukrainian nationals to fight Russian forces, allowing the ADF reserves to “rapidly scale” in the event of a “crisis”.

A 78-page strategic review of the ADF reserves -- the nation’s part-time soldiers, who represent 33 per cent of the total ADF workforce – found it was “understrength”, with a recruitment shortfall of more than 1070 personnel forecast for 2023-24. It noted that future recruitment targets would not be met “without significant reprioritisation and resource allocation”.

As a result, the government has vowed to improve the recruitment and retention of reservists, while also battling to turnaround a workforce crisis that has left the ADF understrength by 5000 personnel, threatening the rollout of new capabilities including promised nuclear-powered submarines.

As Australia enters the most complex strategic environment since WWII, the review says that, increasingly, ADF capabilities would not be distinguished by full-time (ADF) or part-time forces (ADF reserves) but only by the ability of the reserves to provide “an expansion base for the ADF in times of crisis”.

“While the need to address the shortfall of permanent ADF workforce is understood, there is a need to ensure that the importance of the part-time workforce of the ADF is acknowledged and a contemporary Employee Value Proposition is developed and delivered as a matter of urgency,” the review said. Conducted between December 2023 and April 2024, the review also recommended the ADF Reserves adopt a “minimum essential training approach” for non-technical entrants to speed up their entry, which would be based on an approach taken by the Australian Army’s training of Armed Forces of Ukraine recruits.

In 2023 alone, Australian rotations trained more than 1200 Ukrainian soldiers in the UK under Operation Kudu. Ukrainian recruits graduate following an intensive five-week training course that teaches basic war-fighting skills, first aid, explosive hazard awareness and marksmanship.

The Albanese government has agreed to this “minimum essential training” model as part of the review and, once implemented, Australian reserves would ideally take no more than six weeks for initial training where it has previously taken up to two years.

“Operation Kudu (for Armed Forces of Ukraine recruit) provides a useful reference point in how to streamline and focus training to achieve priority capability effects in the most efficient way possible. It also highlights what critical foundation skills cannot be bypassed,” the review said.

The review also recommended redesigning the reserves workforce to better integrate it with the ADF, including a larger “operational” workforce.

The government has committed to recruiting, by 2030, 1000 more “operational level” personnel who would focus on delivering “short-notice capacity”. The government will also develop a specialised reserves cyber workforce as the skillset will be increasingly needed “in time of crisis”.

The review also found many reservists are employed in essential civilian roles that will exempt them from call-out in the case of an emergency, and the government needed to determine in which cases the reserves’ roles trumped their civilian employment, calling it a “significant and unquantified risk” to the ADF.

The Albanese government agreed to 13 of the 14 recommendations in the review, to be implemented no later than the end of 2025.

In a foreword to the report, Defence Minister Richard Marles said reservists play an important role in addressing Defence’s “workforce crisis”.

He said the “structure, shape and role” of the reserves needed to adapt to “ensure the reserve workforce complements the total Defence workforce and provides the expansion base for the ADF in times of crisis”.

The reservist workforce was more than 41,700 in March, with about 32,300 providing service. Separately, the estimated ADF workforce will be 58,600 by June 30 next year, against a requirement of 63,597.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/defence/defence-reserves-understrength-to-be-trained-like-ukrainian-fighters/news-story/fdf339297d3f418e2bb2291760ab7021

https://www.defence.gov.au/about/reviews-inquiries/strategic-review-of-the-adf-reserves

https://www.defence.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-12/Strategic-Review-of-the-ADF-Reserves-Factsheet.pdf

https://www.defence.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-12/Strategic-Review-of-the-Australian-Defence-Force-Reserves.pdf

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f79739 (287) No.22301165

File (hide): 3f42f09f816b326⋯.jpg (74.42 KB,750x241,750:241,EM_24.jpg) (h) (u)

File (hide): 7aa48b7c34ecc72⋯.jpg (177.25 KB,750x468,125:78,NFMP_2.jpg) (h) (u)

>>22254943

>>22288283

The bromance of two of Donald Trump’s biggest supporters, Elon Musk and Nigel Farage hits a rocky patch

JACQUELIN MAGNAY - 6 January 2025

In an extraordinary intervention, Elon Musk, one of the world’s richest men and the confidante of incoming US president Donald Trump, has called for a new political leader of one of Britain’s political parties.

Mr Musk called for Nigel Farage, whose leadership of the British political party Reform UK has elevated it to be a serious rival to the Conservative Party, to stand down insisting he “doesn’t have what it takes”.

Mr Musk has apparently taken umbrage at Mr Farage’s refusal to allow far right protagonist Tommy Robinson, the former leader of the English Defence League, to become involved with Reform UK.

Robinson is serving an 18-month prison sentence for contempt of court after breaching a court order not to defame a Syrian refugee.

He has previously been jailed for assault and contempt of court.

Mr Musk tweeted on Sunday: “The Reform Party needs a new leader. Farage doesn’t have what it takes.”

Mr Farage said Mr Musk was a “remarkable individual”, but reiterated that Robinson, currently in jail for contempt of court, was not a suitable fit for the party.

Mr Farage replied to Mr Musk on X: “Well, this is a surprise! Elon is a remarkable individual but on this I am afraid I disagree.

“My view remains that Tommy Robinson is not right for Reform and I never sell out my principles.”

Mr Farage had met Mr Musk before Christmas at Mr Trump’s Florida resort, Mar-a-Lago. There had been suggestions that Mr Musk may make a substantial donation to the Reform UK party.

In the past few days Mr Musk had been boosting Mr Robinson’s views, which led to Mr Farage insisting the activist was not what the party needed.

In the latest tweet, Mr Musk even suggested another Reform politician, Rupert Lowe, “made a lot of sense” to replace Mr Farage.

Mr Musk’s statements have appeared to cool the bromance between him and Mr Farage, putting Mr Trump in an interesting position as they are both keen supporters of his.

The British politician had also previously described Mr Musk as “cool” and that he would help the Reform UK party resonate with younger voters.

On Sunday he downplayed the differences of opinion.

But in recent weeks Mr Musk, who is tipped to be named in Mr Trump’s administration as co-chairman of the Department of Government Efficiency, has overtly criticised Britain’s domestic politics. He claimed one senior Labour minister, Jess Phillips, the safeguarding minister, deserves to be in prison for not opening a new inquiry into widespread child sexual exploitation carried out by gangs of men of Pakistani origin in Oldham, Greater Manchester. He smeared her as a “rape genocide apologist”.

Mr Musk also accused the prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, who was the head of the Crown Prosecution Service at the time of the offences, to be complicit “in the rape of Britain”.

On Sunday Mr Farage distanced himself from Mr Musk’s remarks, telling the BBC: “The fact that Musk supports me and supports Reform doesn’t mean, as two grown-ups, we have to agree with everything the other says.

“I believe in free speech even if what people say is offensive -- if you find it offensive, if most people find it offensive.

“Would I rather live in a world where we’re free to cause offence rather than a world in which free speech and debate get shut down? I know which of those two I prefer.”

However, he acknowledged that Mr Musk’s remarks about Ms Phillips were “very, very tough”.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/world/the-bromance-of-two-of-donald-trumps-biggest-supporters-elon-musk-and-nigel-farage-hits-a-rocky-patch/news-story/7edc4568489a6945ec54b5b80a5c6fe5

https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1875904634419859928

https://x.com/Nigel_Farage/status/1875918844562473373

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f79739 (287) No.22307831

>>22225525

Anthony Albanese shrugs off tariff concerns on pre-election road trip blitz

RHIANNON DOWN and GREG BROWN - 7 January 2025

Anthony Albanese has been urged to meet with Donald Trump imminently after the US president-elect returns to the White House, as the Prime Minister shrugs off suggestions Justin Trudeau’s demise could hold political lessons for him.

After the long-serving Canadian Prime Minister resigned following a caucus revolt in part ignited by the proposed tariffs, Mr Albanese said he had “made the case” to Mr Trump that Australia should not be subjected to trade barriers.

Security experts have urged Mr Albanese to meet with Mr Trump at an early opportunity to cement the close ties between Canberra and Washington, with one warning that recent events in Canada portrayed the “real risk” of failing to establish a working relationship.

On a pre-election road trip through regional Queensland, Mr Albanese declared on Tuesday that his conversation with Mr Trump had been “positive” and sidestepped questions on whether Mr Trudeau’s fate posed a cautionary tale for him.

“I have had a positive discussion with President Trump, the incoming President of the US as well as being the former president,” Mr Albanese said.

“We were very constructive. We spoke about Australia’s relationship with the US, when it comes to defence and national security, but also on the economy.

“The US has had a trade surplus with Australia since the Truman presidency and it is in the US’s interests for us to continue to implement the Free Trade Agreement which has the support on a bipartisan basis in the Australian parliament.”

Former Ambassador to the US Arthur Sinodinos said Mr Albanese should meet with Mr Trump shortly after his inauguration.

“It’s early days to be making assumptions about how president Trump would implement his tariff commitments, whether they would be general or more selective and the extent to which they are a negotiating ploy,” he told The Australian.

“I’ve argued in the past it would be desirable for the Prime Minister to meet with the president at an early date because of the close relationship between the two countries.

“It would also give him a perspective on how America’s security is affected by developments in the Indo-Pacific, and the importance of the relationship with allies and partners like Australia in this regard.”

Strategic Analysis Australia director Michael Shoebridge said Mr Trudeau’s demise was a “nasty precedent for Mr Albanese to ponder”.

“It shows the real risk for Anthony Albanese if he can’t establish a working relationship with Donald Trump, because a bad relationship with Donald Trump has proven radioactive to Trudeau’s leadership,” he said.

“The obvious risk for Mr Albanese is that Trump sees him as weak and problematic, just like you did Trudeau, and the result is massive damage to the bilateral relationship and corrosive damage to Mr Albanese as a leader.”

The Australia Institute senior adviser Allan Behm said Australia’s relationship with the US was vitally important but ultimately different to Canada’s, advising Mr Albanese to meet with Mr Trump but not to look like he’s in a “mad rush to be the first person there”.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/anthony-albanese-shrugs-off-tariff-concerns-on-preelection-road-trip-blitz/news-story/5665341a46e93f4806772f3ce01cb23c

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f79739 (287) No.22307865

File (hide): a0107c234534a45⋯.jpg (263.51 KB,2048x1153,2048:1153,US_President_Joe_Biden_C_C….jpg) (h) (u)

File (hide): a7956caa2c9c965⋯.jpg (147.74 KB,750x462,125:77,GP_307.jpg) (h) (u)

>>21994024 (pb)

PM praises ‘good friend of Australia’ Justin Trudeau after resignation

JOSEPH OLBRYCHT-PALMER - 7 January 2025

Anthony Albanese has praised Justin Trudeau after the Canadian Prime Minister announced he is resigning amid haemorrhaging support within his party.

Mr Trudeau’s popularity has plummeted in recent years, with polls painting a grim picture for the governing Liberal Party’s chances at the general election in October.

Mr Albanese on Tuesday called his outgoing Canadian counterpart “a good friend of Australia” who had “worked closely with both Labor and Coalition governments”.

“I will say this as well about Justin Trudeau, every single time that has been a natural disaster in Australia, we have had Canadians on the ground here, whether it be flooding events, bushfires,” he told reporters.

“I wish Justin Trudeau all the very best in whatever he chooses to do next in his life.

“I regard him as a personal friend but he is a great friend of Australia.”

Mr Trudeau announced his resignation on Monday evening (local time) after nearly a decade in the job.

He said he would remain prime minister until his party picked a new leader.

“I’m a fighter. Every bone in my body has always told me to fight because I care deeply about Canadians,” he told a press conference.

“I care deeply about this country, and I will always be motivated by what is in the best interest of Canadians.”

Mr Trudeau has been grappling with many of the same cost of living challenges facing Mr Albanese.

Much like Australians, Canadians have been forking out more on groceries and housing since the end of the Covid-19 pandemic.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/breaking-news/anthony-albanese-praises-friend-hustin-trudeau-after-resignation/news-story/1f370572ea4f199d182b6e872e3fe437

https://x.com/GeorgePapa19/status/1876379407084118469

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f79739 (287) No.22307893>>22307909 >>22314338 >>22328027 >>22363017 >>22363037 >>22370522 >>22387524

>>22225665

>>22301099

Albanese minister to fly to Israel to mend fractured relationship

Matthew Knott - January 7, 2025

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus is preparing to travel to Israel within weeks in a bid to help mend the fractured relationship between the Albanese and Netanyahu governments.

Dreyfus, who is Jewish, is one of the strongest supporters of Israel in the Labor caucus and his planned trip would be the first by a government minister since Foreign Minister Penny Wong visited the Middle East almost a year ago.

Tensions between the two nations boiled over last month when Netanyahu accused the Albanese government of fomenting a rise in antisemitism in a fiery intervention just days after Australia’s ambassador to Israel was summoned by the nation’s foreign minister for a rare dressing down.

Dreyfus, one of Labor’s most senior ministers, planned to travel to Israel last year for the first anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attack but had to cancel the trip when Iran launched missile strikes on the nation.

Local pro-Israel groups were angered that Wong did not visit a kibbutz that was attacked by Hamas terrorists on October 7 during her trip, with the Executive Council of Australian Jewry describing the omission as “insulting and deeply concerning”.

Dreyfus is expected to meet with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and other senior officials on the trip, during which he will emphasise the longstanding ties between Australia and Israel.

A spokesman for Dreyfus said the trip had not been finalised.

Dreyfus’ father and grandparents were Holocaust survivors who arrived in Melbourne after fleeing Nazi Germany.

Netanyahu used social media last month to claim that an arson attack on the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne could not be separated from the “extreme anti-Israeli position of the Labor government in Australia”.

Netanyahu singled out the government for its decision to reverse Australia’s diplomatic position on Israel’s presence in the occupied Palestinian territories at the United Nations and to deny ex-Israeli minister Ayelet Shaked a visa on grounds she could threaten social cohesion.

“Anti-Israel sentiment is antisemitism,” he said.

Wong responded in a speech days later by saying: “It is not antisemitic to expect that Israel should comply with the international law that applies to all countries.

“Nor is it antisemitic to call for children and other civilians to be protected, or to call for a two-state solution that enables Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security.”

Netanyahu’s post came after Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar called in Australia’s ambassador, Ralph King, for an official reprimand over the decision to deny Shaked a visa.

Sa’ar said the move was “based on baseless blood libels spread by the pro-Palestinian lobby in Australia, and it is a shame that a friendly country like Australia chose to base it on them instead of the long-standing friendship between the countries”.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said at the time that his department refused Shaked’s visa because of fears she would “seriously undermine social cohesion” while in Australia.

“Ms Shaked has said that all the Palestinians should leave Gaza. If somebody wanted to come here and had previously said that they had nominated specific cities in Israel and said they should be completely levelled, I wouldn’t give them a visa to come here and make speeches,” he said.

In a speech to parliament after the October 7 attacks, which killed some 1200 people in 2023, Dreyfus described Australia’s relationship with Israel as “deep and enduring” and defined by “a bond of true friendship”.

Dreyfus has argued that Labor has not committed to recognising a Palestinian state, even though the party’s platform says it is expected to be “an important priority” for the government.

“The only way an enduring and just two-state solution can be achieved is through a negotiated outcome between the two parties and, as Labor has long made clear, that requires recognition by the Palestinians of the rights of the people of Israel to live in peace within secure borders,” he wrote after Labor’s 2021 conference.

Israel’s bombardment and ground invasion in Gaza since the October 7 attack has killed more than 45,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/albanese-minister-to-fly-to-israel-to-mend-fractured-relationship-20250106-p5l2ar.html

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f79739 (287) No.22307909>>22328027

>>22225665

>>22307893

‘Apologist for appalling government’: Mark Dreyfus slammed over planned Israel visit

NOAH YIM - 7 January 2025

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, a prominent Jewish member of cabinet, will visit Israel to help mend frosty relations between the two countries, Anthony Albanese has announced.

Prominent opposition Jewish MP Julian Leeser has slammed the move as a “pre-election gimmick” and said Mr Dreyfus is an “impediment to addressing anti-Semitism in this country”.

“The Prime Minister is not sending a champion of the Jewish community,” Mr Leeser said. “He is simply replacing one apologist for this appalling government with another”.

The Prime Minister said Mr Dreyfus would be there “about a week”.

Mr Dreyfus had a trip scheduled for the one-year anniversary of the October 7 terrorist attacks but it was cancelled when Iran launched missiles against Israel.

The trip would be the first by a cabinet minister since Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong visited Israel last January.

The relationship between Australia and Israel has been frayed since the October 7 attacks, the following conflicts, and the heated domestic debate in Australia. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last month said the burning of the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne was an “abhorrent act of anti-Semitism” and connected it to the “extreme anti-Israel position of the Labor government in Australia”.

Mr Albanese, when questioned whether or not he and Senator Wong should visit Israel instead to mend the relationship, said “the Attorney-General is the appropriate person to visit Israel”.

The Nine newspapers reported Mr Dreyfus was preparing to visit “within weeks”.

Mr Leeser said the visit announcement came after Mr Albanese “focused for so long on the politics of the inner city left, he now realises he has lost the trust of mainstream Australians when it comes to the proliferation of anti-Semitism in our country and the betrayal of a longstanding Australian ally”.

“Sending Mark Dreyfus to Israel will not change the underlying failure of this government -- which is the weak leadership of Anthony Albanese and hard-left policies of Penny Wong,” he said.

“In sending Mark Dreyfus, the Prime Minister thinks he is sending someone respected by the Jewish community to pour oil on troubled waters. He is not.

“Dreyfus’s silence on Israel is deeply felt across the Jewish community. Not only has he remained in Labor’s cabinet and gone along with every anti-Israel policy of the Albanese government, but as the minister responsible for Royal Commissions, the AFP and the Human Rights Commission, he has been an impediment to addressing anti-Semitism in this country.

“He has done nothing to clean up the Jew hatred at the AHRC. He has opposed the judicial inquiry into anti-Semitism on campus recommended by his own special envoy on anti-Semitism and, for more than a year, he failed to direct the resources of AFP or the AHRC to deal with the unprecedented anti-Semitism in this country.

“By sending Dreyfus to Israel, the Prime Minister is not sending a champion of the Jewish community. He is simply replacing one apologist for this appalling government with another.”

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin welcomed the announcement and said he “hope(s) that his visit marks a reset in Australia’s relations with Israel”.

“Every senior member of our government should go there to tour the south, bear witness to the horrors of October 7, and meet with witnesses, survivors and soldiers in order to understand the evil that Israel is facing and why the defeat of Hamas and the rescue of the hostages is the moral cause of our times,” he said.

“We hope that the Attorney-General returns to Australia with a new-found appreciation of why standing with Israel through this time of peril is not only the right thing to do, but in the national interest.

“We expect the Attorney-General will receive some difficult questions both about Australia’s treatment of Israel through this war, and its failures in regards to domestic anti-Semitism. We hope that his visit marks a reset in Australia’s relations with Israel and restores what was once thought to be unshakeable, bipartisan support for the Jewish State.”

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/apologist-for-appalling-government-mark-dreyfus-slammed-over-planned-israel-visit/news-story/7b5e2f36b375109539037d6a5bba2c75

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f79739 (287) No.22314338>>22314340 >>22314350

>>22225665

>>22301099

>>22307893

‘Very thankful’: Top Palestinian envoy praises Australia for breaking with Israel

Matthew Knott - January 7, 2025

1/2

The departing de facto Palestinian ambassador to Australia has predicted a re-elected Albanese government would recognise a Palestinian state as he praised Labor for daring to repeatedly anger Israel and break with the United States in its stance on the Middle East.

Izzat Abdulhadi will end his term as head of the general delegation of Palestine in Australia next week after more than 18 years in the role.

Abdulhadi forcefully rejected claims by Israel’s ambassador to Australia, made in an interview with this masthead, that Hamas should be held responsible for the death toll in Gaza, arguing Israel had waged the war with reckless disregard for civilian lives.

“This attack by Hamas [on October 7] does not justify this mass killing, the burning of hospitals, the killing of women and children who do not support Hamas,” he said from the West Bank.

“It is beyond imagining what is happening there … even if Hamas uses human shields, this does not justify Israel killing the shields.”

Almost 46,000 Palestinians have died in Gaza since the war began in 2023, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, including 49 people killed in Israeli air strikes on Monday.

Israel, which says it is fighting to ensure its citizens are no longer at risk of Hamas terrorist attacks, began the war after the group’s October 7 incursion, during which about 1200 people were killed and more than 240 taken hostage.

This masthead revealed on Tuesday that Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus is planning to travel to Israel in the coming weeks to help stabilise a bilateral relationship that has become increasingly acrimonious.

Opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson accused Foreign Minister Penny Wong of antagonising the Netanyahu government, saying it “speaks volumes that the attorney-general is being sent to Israel to try to repair the profound damage to the bilateral relationship”.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Tuesday that Dreyfus “is an appropriate person to visit Israel”.

“We have people regularly visit our friends, and Mark Dreyfus is visiting,” the prime minister told reporters.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said Dreyfus would face “difficult questions” about Australia’s stance on Israel and the rise of antisemitism in Australia.

“We hope that the attorney-general returns to Australia with a newfound appreciation of why standing with Israel through this time of peril is not only the right thing to do, but in the national interest,” he said.

Abdulhadi, who is not technically an ambassador because Australia does not recognise a Palestinian state, expressed regret that Australia had not recognised Palestinian statehood during his tenure, but said he was “very optimistic” a Labor government would do so if it won the next federal election, which is due by May.

“There are many indications that they will recognise the state of Palestine and I think it will be actually surprising if they don’t after all the positions they have taken,” he said, pointing to strong support for Palestine in the union movement and Labor membership base.

“Recognition of the state of Palestine should not be pending Israel’s approval because self-determination for the Palestinian people is a right under international law.”

Labor’s policy platform “calls on the Australian government to recognise Palestine as a state” and says it “expects that this issue will be an important priority”.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22314340

>>22314338

2/2

Abdulhadi, who arrived in Australia in 2006, said he was “very thankful and grateful” to the Albanese government for shifting Australia’s position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“They have had the courage to take difficult positions that have sometimes attracted a lot of criticism,” Abdulhadi said.

“I think there has been a lot of progress under this government for Palestine, and I hope it will continue.”

Abdulhadi credited the government for voting in favour of a ceasefire in Gaza at the United Nations, designating the Palestinian territories “occupied” rather than “disputed” and scrapping the Morrison-era recognition of West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

He also praised Wong for restoring funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestinian refugees, and a major speech in which she said recognition of Palestine did not necessarily have to come at the end of a negotiated peace process.

The government has reversed Australia’s long-standing voting record on several UN resolutions, including by supporting a December motion calling for Israel to end its presence in the West Bank and Gaza as soon as possible.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded by attacking the government on social media, accusing it of adopting an “extreme anti-Israeli position” that had encouraged a surge of antisemitism in Australia.

Abdulhadi represents the Palestinian Authority, which is dominated by Fatah, a more moderate political rival of Hamas, but is not a member of either party.

He said the war in Gaza had been so deadly that the international community should gather to rethink the rules of war, as it did after World War II.

“We Palestinians are all in grief, in tears, watching these images on the TV,” he said.

Abdulhadi labelled Israel’s actions in Gaza a genocide, echoing several major human rights organisations and nations such as South Africa, which has filed a genocide claim against Israel at the International Court of Justice.

Israel has rejected the genocide charge.

Abdulhadi said he regarded Hamas’s October 7 attacks as “totally wrong” but added: “We can’t just perceive history as beginning on October 7.

“We can’t ignore the root causes of the problem: the siege of Gaza, what happened in 1948 [when Israel was founded] and the continuous systematic oppression of Palestinian people.”

He urged the government to create a settlement pathway for the estimated 1400 Palestinians who had sought refuge in Australia that would allow them to work, access Medicare and study at university.

“These new arrivals can be an asset for Australia, not a liability,” he said. “Many of them are doctors, dentists, engineers. They are very tired and exhausted by what happened in Gaza and they want to start a new life.”

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/very-thankful-top-palestinian-envoy-praises-australia-for-breaking-with-israel-20250107-p5l2i1.html

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f79739 (287) No.22314350

>>22301099

>>22314338

The Israeli ambassador calls him ‘wonderful’. But Palestine’s top envoy is heading home

Matthew Knott - January 8, 2025

When Israel’s ambassador to Australia held a press conference in Canberra last month, he heaped praise upon a surprising recipient: his Palestinian counterpart, Izzat Abdulhadi.

Amir Maimon said he had “lots of respect” for Abdulhadi, adding he was “very sad” that his lengthy tenure as the head of the general delegation of Palestine in Australia was about to end.

“He’s a wonderful man,” Maimon told the reporters gathered at the Israeli embassy on the day the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne was firebombed.

“And I’m not just saying it because I’m a diplomat and you expect diplomats to use nice language. He’s a real fine gentleman.”

Asked about the comments, Abdulhadi appears somewhat bemused, saying he and Maimon had previously held civil discussions at functions in Canberra but had not met since the war in Gaza began 15 months ago.

“Usually, it’s very difficult dynamics between the occupier and the occupied,” Abdulhadi says.

“It’s very difficult to try to separate the policy of government from a person who represents the government that colonised you. For them, it’s easier to do something.”

While most ambassadors hold short postings of three to four years, Abdulhadi, 67, has represented Palestine in Australia since 2006 -- a time when John Howard was in power, social media was in its infancy and the militant group Hamas had just claimed a majority of seats in the Palestinian parliament.

“It was a very difficult mission,” he says, adding he did not receive a salary or other financial support to carry out his duties for the first two years because of sanctions on the Palestinian Authority.

Originally from Nablus, in the occupied West Bank, Abdulhadi spent two decades running a Palestinian non-profit organisation before arriving in Australia. A self-described “technocrat”, he speaks in the analytical manner of a university professor and is not a member of either of the main Palestinian political parties: the Islamist group Hamas (now a designated terrorist organisation in Australia) or Fatah, the more secular party founded by Yasser Arafat.

Although far from a firebrand, he reveals he was rebuked last October by officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). His offence? Being too complimentary of the government in an interview with The Australian Financial Review.

With two new political groups, The Muslim Vote and Muslim Votes Matter, seeking to harness anger over the war in Gaza in safe Labor seats with large Muslim populations, Abdulhadi had warned Arab voters against taking revenge on Labor at the ballot box and said they should not let their interests be hijacked by outside forces.

“DFAT told me they don’t like this kind of interference in domestic issues,” he says. “I told them it’s not interference.”

While the Greens and some pro-Palestinian advocates have accused Labor of being too supportive of Israel and enabling a genocide in Gaza, Abdulhadi has adopted a more conciliatory approach, praising the Albanese government for taking a “balanced position” on the conflict.

“They’ve had the courage to take difficult positions that have sometimes attracted a lot of criticism,” he says.

Australia Palestine Advocacy Network president Nasser Mashni recently argued that the idea of a two-state solution is “absolutely dead”, in part because of the huge growth of Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

Abdulhadi disagrees, saying there is still hope for an independent Palestinian state beside Israel despite the formidable obstacles.

“First, the most important thing for us is to have a state,” he says. “People sometimes ignore the importance of a state for self-determination, for organising people, for empowering communities.”

Because Australia does not recognise Palestine as a state, Abdulhadi is not technically an ambassador and has not enjoyed the privileges most other diplomats enjoy. The upside is that rules limiting the amount of time diplomats can spend in the country have not applied to him, allowing him to remain in Australia for almost two decades.

Now, having passed retirement age, his time in Canberra is over (Abdulhadi’s posting officially ends next week but he has returned to the West Bank early because of family issues). His major regret: his tenure ended without Australia recognising Palestinian statehood, despite momentum steadily building for such a move for years within Labor.

“While I was in Australia, my dream all the time was to raise the Palestinian flag when I’m still an ambassador,” he says. “Now that will be up to my successor.”

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/the-israeli-ambassador-calls-him-wonderful-but-palestine-s-top-envoy-is-heading-home-20250107-p5l2i2.html

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f79739 (287) No.22314374>>22314377 >>22320983

>>22268309

Albanese defends teen social media ban after Zuckerberg's Trump embrace

Tom Crowley - 8 January 2025

1/2

Plans to give Australia's eSafety watchdog new powers are moving ahead even as the federal government braces for hostility from the Trump administration's tech backers over what they regard as "censorship".

Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg declared a "new era" for his company this week, ditching fact checkers and accusing foreign governments of "going after American companies and pushing to censor more" in a bid to ingratiate himself with the incoming president.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, whose child social media ban and other online safety initiatives have placed him at odds with US tech giants, said on Wednesday platforms had a "social responsibility" and defended his approach.

"I know that our strong action is being watched right around the world because other leaders that I've spoken to have indicated that they applaud [it]," he said.

A spokesperson for Communications Minister Michelle Rowland confirmed the government was still progressing ambitious plans to expand Australia's regime for policing online spaces.

The minister is sitting on recommendations from senior public servant Delia Rickard, who has canvassed options for new laws to combat social media "pile-ons", body image harms, self-harm promotion, and tech-based domestic violence, among others.

The government's position on those specific elements is unclear, and a spokesperson for the minister could not say when Ms Rickard's report would be published.

Online safety plans still active

But the minister has said current online safety laws are not "fit for purpose" and confirmed in November she would press ahead with at least one of Ms Rickard's recommendations, to introduce a "duty of care" on platforms to take reasonable steps to shield users from harm.

Ms Rowland said that approach would align with regulatory regimes in the UK and Europe, which Mr Zuckerberg expressly singled out this week as "institutionalising censorship."

"There's been widespread debate about potential harms from online content. Governments and legacy media have pushed to censor more and more. A lot of this is clearly political," he said.

Minister Rowland was forced to shelve a related plan late last year to require platforms to remove online "misinformation and disinformation" after failing to secure Senate support.

Her spokesperson said the government was still considering "other ways to support Australians with trusted and reliable information" after its misinformation and disinformation proposal fell over.

"Access to trusted information has never been more important."

In the mid-year budget update, the government confirmed new funding for the ABC, SBS and the Australian Associated Press.

It also passed a law last year to criminalise the creation and sharing of sexually explicit, AI-generated "deepfakes," another of the topics it had asked Ms Rickard to consider.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22314377

>>22314374

2/2

Government at odds with Zuckerberg and Musk

Its social media ban for children under 16 has also been legislated but will not take effect for a year.

Mr Albanese said the purpose of the ban was to "defend Australian families… We know that the rise in mental health issues has been linked to social media. And we make no apologies for standing up for the interests of young Australians."

Meta was critical of the social media ban, which a spokesperson said the company would respect but believed was "rushed" and unsupported by evidence.

Australia's eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman-Grant, whose office was established by the previous Coalition government and who is responsible for enforcing existing online safety laws, has repeatedly clashed with another tech tycoon and Trump ally, Elon Musk.

Last year, Mr Musk's platform X threatened legal action against the commissioner over her order to remove footage of the Wakeley church stabbing, which Mr Musk said amounted to an attempt at "global censorship".

Ms Inman-Grant said she received death threats following the highly-publicised incident.

The PM repeated the government's strong support for Ms Inman-Grant on Wednesday.

"We think [she] does a terrific job. She has to put up with a lot of criticisms, all of it unfounded and we will back her," he said.

Peter Dutton has also defended Ms Inman-Grant in the past, calling her "one of the finest public servants in the employment of the Commonwealth of Australia."

But the opposition leader also voiced sympathy for X during its stoush with eSafety, saying it was "silly" to expect posts be deleted worldwide.

The Coalition supports the government's child social media ban, which it had proposed itself. But it was scathing of the misinformation and disinformation proposal, which it derided as "censorship".

The Greens opposed both measures but has also been critical of tech platforms. The party's communications spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young said Mr Zuckerberg's shift away from fact checking was "very dangerous" and would lead to a "free-for-all on misinformation, disinformation and abuse and trolling."

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-08/albanese-defends-social-media-ban-zuckerberg-embraces-trump/104795538

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f79739 (287) No.22314386>>22315461

>>22111614 (pb)

>>22179612 (pb)

>>22225435

Australia commits $100m to build more army Bushmasters at Thales Bendigo

Shannon Schubert - 8 January 2025

The federal government has announced a new $100 million contract for Bendigo defence manufacturer Thales Australia to build another 40 Bushmaster protected vehicles.

Thales has built 130 Bushmasters for the army over the past two years.

The deal will supply vehicles to the army's Second Long-Range Fires Regiment at the Edinburgh Defence Precinct in South Australia.

The vehicles will support a multi-mission phased array radar battery to provide critical command and control functions.

Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Minister Pat Conroy said the contract responded to a regional arms race and great strategic uncertainty.

"We need to deter anyone who has any thought of threatening Australia. The best way of doing that is to let them know we have the weapons and the range to strike back," he said.

"It's the best armoured truck in the world. We've seen it save lives in the Middle East and it's saving lives in Ukraine right now."

The Bushmasters rose to notoriety in Ukraine's war against Russia after Australia donated more than 100 to Ukraine.

The federal government is currently running a tender to put missiles on army vehicles, with the Bushmaster one option under consideration.

Mr Conroy said that decision would be made at the end of the year.

"We're expanding the Australian Army and equipping it with long-range strike capability. We're moving the army from having a range of 40km to having a range of over 500km," Mr Conroy said.

"We're rapidly building up our missile stockpiles and expanding our Australian Army."

Contract follows scandal, braking issues and uncertainty

The contract gives security for the future of the Bendigo manufacturer after it made staff redundant when government contracts dried up in 2022.

The new deal will provide work at the facility until the end of 2026, supporting 250 local ongoing jobs.

It also comes after its French-owned parent company was linked to an Australian corruption scandal, involving a bottle of champagne.

In October, Thales was referred to the National Anti-Corruption Commission following an auditor-general report that uncovered evidence of "unethical conduct" over a $1 billion munitions contract.

The rollout of the army's Hawkei vehicles built by Thales was also plagued by problems and delayed due to braking issues.

The $1.3 billion contract to build 1,100 of the small tactical vehicles and their trailers was plagued with problems, leaving the vehicles sitting idle outside the Central Victorian factory.

In July last year, Mr Conroy said the issue was resolved and the Hawkeis were in the process of being rolled out to the army.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-08/bushmaster-contract-thales-bendigo-australian-government-army/104792788

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ad00f5 (1) No.22315461

>>22314386

>and expanding our Australian Army

Good Luck

The next Australian government needs a bolder plan for the navy

Jennifer Parker 7 Jan 2025

The past year brought a renewed focus on Australia’s deteriorating security situation and maritime capability. Despite the maritime emphasis in Australia’s 2024 defence announcements, the country remains far from being adequately positioned to defend its extensive sea lines of communication, subsea cables and broader national interests at sea.

With a federal election due by May, the next Australian government must spend on the navy, address the capability gaps and make timely decisions on future capability.

In the past 12 months, the oceans on which we depend for our protection and prosperity have experi­enced a dramatic deteriora­tion in security terms, unseen in recent decades. Globally, from the Black Sea to the Red Sea, maritime trade is under pressure. Europe has experienced further attacks on critical maritime infrastructure, including subsea cables -- the backbone of internet connectivity.

Closer to home, we’ve witnessed escalating aggression from China’s coastguard, which regularly has attacked Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea.

Australian sailors have been placed at risk, most recently when a Chinese fighter pilot inexplicably deployed flares in front of an Australian helicopter operating in international airspace. This is not simply a canary in the coalmine; it means the breakdown of global norms.

If a conflict arises in the Indo-Pacific, it will be inherently maritime in nature and we will be compelled to fight with the capabilities we have at the time.

In February 2024, the government announced a historic expansion of the surface combatant fleet---the destroyers and frigates of the Royal Australian Navy equipped with offensive and defensive weapons including missiles and torpedoes. But this expansion is not expected to materialise until the 2030s.

During the past 12 months there has been an integration of new missile capabilities in the navy’s small fleet. Announcements have included the acceleration of building ships for the army and key achievements in training, treaties and export controls to support Australia’s acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines. In fact, 38 percent of Defence’s spending plan, the Integrated Investment Program, across the next decade will be directed towards maritime capabilities.

These developments are positive, but they have not shifted the needle in the near term to address Australia’s vulnerabilities in the maritime domain.

Australia’s surface combatant fleet has been reduced from 11 to 10 with the decommissioning of HMAS Anzac because of its age. The mine-hunting fleet also has been diminished, leaving only two vessels remaining after a mid-year decision to cancel their replacements. Australia’s two tankers, critical for replenishing fuel, food and ammunition for naval ships, have been laid up for most of 2024 because of defects. Additionally, much of Australia’s hydrographic capability, vital for surveying beneath the surface of the water, has been decommissioned, leaving only one ship in operation.

The list goes on. These issues are the product of decades of delayed and indecisive decision-making compounded by a lack of investment. The increasing frequency of attacks in the maritime domain, coupled with the absence of strategic warning time for a potential regional conflict, highlights the urgent need to address Australia’s waning maritime power. This is not simply a nice-to-have but an essential requirement for an island nation when global security norms are being redefined.

More:

https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-next-australian-government-needs-a-bolder-plan-for-the-navy/

Related:

Faulty $1.2b navy ships out of action until 2025

Andrew Tillett Sep 6, 2024

Both of the navy’s $1.2 billion supply ships will be out of action until early next year as engineers struggle to identify the cause of defects that have crippled the new vessels for months.

The inability to use the faulty Spanish-built ships has frustrated naval chiefs and left the navy needing New Zealand and US tankers to refuel Australian destroyers and frigates on the high seas, and as China’s military pushes deeper into the Indo-Pacific.

More:

https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/faulty-1-3-billion-navy-ships-out-of-action-until-2025-20240905-p5k83s

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f79739 (287) No.22320843>>22320848 >>22320883 >>22320949

>>22225525

Anthony Albanese’s bid to claim Trump card and China ace

GREG BROWN - 8 January 2025

1/2

Anthony Albanese says he is ­better placed than Peter Dutton to forge a productive relationship with Donald Trump, arguing his close ties with Indo-Pacific leaders would be valuable to the US president-elect in an era of competition between major powers.

The Prime Minister signalled he would not change his approach with China if Mr Trump launched a trade war, lauding the reopening of trade with Beijing as an economic win for Australia.

“We are a sovereign nation and we will act in terms of our economic interest,” Mr Albanese told The Australian. “We believe in free trade, not protectionism.”

Mr Albanese on Wednesday visited a massive cattle station in the Northern Territory seat of Lingiari, boasting that his government’s success in lifting beef restrictions would lead to exports to China surpassing $2bn this year, higher than when restrictions were implemented in 2020.

“They (beef exports to China) have not only hit back, they have hit back stronger with the lifting,” he said.

The 1.2 million hectare Lake Nash cattle station, owned by prominent graziers Peter and Jane Hughes, is home to up to 60,000 cattle and China is a key market for the beef produced there.

Mr Albanese said the restart of the lobster trade had been “incredible”, with more than 500,000kg of the shellfish being exported to China since Christmas Day.

The Coalition has argued that there is a risk to the US relationship if it is left to the Albanese government to deal with Mr Trump, as Mr Albanese and several cabinet ministers have previously voiced strong criticisms of the president-elect.

Mr Albanese said it was he who was better placed to forge close ties with the incoming administration, arguing the relationships he had forged with regional leaders would carry weight with Mr Trump.

Despite Mr Trump vowing to pull the US out of the Paris climate accord and accelerate fossil-fuel development, Mr Albanese said Mr Dutton’s lack of ambition on climate change would diminish Australia’s standing in the region and reduce Canberra’s geo­strategic relevance. He said Pacific leaders had not forgotten Mr Dutton’s joke in 2015 -- caught on a boom mic – making light of rising sea levels in the ­region.

“We have improved our relationship with the Pacific,” the Prime Minister said. “It has been repaired. It was in disarray when we came into office.

“A precondition of credibility is action on climate change and Peter Dutton’s position on the ­Pacific and climate change is one where they all remember him ­joking about the impact of climate change on their countries.”

Mr Albanese said Australia was respected around the world as a middle power under his leadership. “Peter Dutton has not developed relationships with other people around our region and around the world,” he said.

“One of the things that puts Australia at good stead with our ­allies is the role that we play in our region.

“I have an excellent relationship with Japan and India, as well as the United States.

“The relationship that we have built with Indonesia, we have seen the products of our diplomacy and the work we have put in place.”

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22320848

>>22320843

2/2

Mr Albanese said his positive first phone call with Mr Trump had left him optimistic on the ­relationship and the future of the AUKUS security pact.

The Prime Minister will ­attempt to replicate the actions of the former Coalition government during the first Trump administration and win carve outs from tariffs for Australian products ­exported to the US.

In the wake of comments by Mr Trump pushing for Greenland and Canada to become provinces of the US, Mr Albanese said he would not respond to ­comments from the incoming leader unless they impacted Australia.

When asked if Mr Trump’s comments showed he had ambitions to expand US territory, Mr Albanese said: “I will leave that to commentators about what the ­incoming president has to say”.

With Mr Trump likely to unwind US support for low-emissions technologies and withdraw from the Paris agreement, Mr Albanese said he did not think this would lead to a slowing of ­momentum on global climate change action. Mr Albanese said strong action on climate change would continue to be the overwhelming policy of nations in APEC and the G20.

“Countries aren’t about to change whether they believe climate change action is necessary,” the Prime Minister said. “They will do that because the science, overwhelmingly, is agreed and they will respond accordingly. But secondly as well, the economic opportunity that is there from acting on climate change and the shift to net zero is evident to all as well.”

The interview with The Australian came as Mr Albanese this week hit the ground campaigning for the first time in 2025, pledging infrastructure and housing ­announcements in Queensland and Western Australia.

On Thursday, Mr Albanese will unveil a $200m housing and infrastructure package for WA and allow international shipping to enter three more ports in the state’s north.

First-point-of-entry status will be given to the northern facilities of Wyndham, Ashburton and Dampier, with Mr Albanese to spruik the announcement in the town of Kununurra before campaigning in Perth later in the day. He will be joined by West Australian Premier Roger Cook, who is facing an election in March.

There will also be funding to build 1367 homes in WA and ­community infrastructure projects, such as sporting and childcare facilities.

Mr Albanese said the first-point-of-entry approvals would allow businesses in WA’s north to import and export goods close to their operations, rather than having to send products to ports further away.

“We always look for ways to support businesses and communities -- which is why the changes to first port of entry will make a huge difference across the East Kimberley and Pilbara, shoring up local jobs and supply chains,” Mr Albanese said.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/anthony-albaneses-bid-to-claim-trump-card-and-china-ace/news-story/2a7138f2b7d0f47a47138f6349cf543f

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f79739 (287) No.22320883>>22339443 >>22339502

>>22225525

>>22320843

‘I’m strong, I’m pro-Israel, I can work best with Donald Trump’: Peter Dutton hit backs at Anthony Albanese’s diplomacy claims

RHIANNON DOWN and GREG BROWN - 9 January 2025

Peter Dutton says it is “comical” to think Anthony Albanese can be a better global partner for US president-elect Donald Trump than he would be, pointing to recent Australian votes against Israel in the United Nations and the Prime Minister’s past comments on Mr Trump as marks against Labor in pursuing a relationship with the Republican.

Mr Albanese told The Australian on Wednesday that he is better placed than the Opposition Leader to forge a productive relationship with Mr Trump, arguing his close ties with Indo-Pacific leaders would be valuable to the new administration.

“Peter Dutton has not developed relationships with other people around our region and around the world,” Mr Albanese said.

“One of the things that puts Australia at good stead with our allies is the role that we play in our region … I have an excellent relationship with Japan and India, as well as the United States.”

But Mr Dutton hit back on Thursday, saying he had already worked with Mr Trump’s first administration and accused the government of failing to engage the US president-elect since he secured the White House last November.

The Liberal leader also brought up Mr Albanese’s comments, made at the start of Mr Trump’s first term, that the the billionaire had scared “the shit” out of him.

“President Trump is not somebody to be ‘scared’ of, but somebody that we can work very closely with -- and that’s exactly what the Coalition under my leadership will do,” Mr Dutton told The Australian.

“The PM’s past juvenile and undergraduate comments that the President is someone who ‘scares the s..t out of him’ is a reflection of his inability -- even as a senior shadow minister at the time – to have the right policy instincts and the right strength of leadership.”

And with the Coalition more aligned to Mr Trump’s strong support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s war against terror group Hamas in Gaza, Mr Dutton suggested Labor’s support for Palestine in the UN would also count against Mr Albanese’s attempts to forge a relationship with the new administration.

“It’s comical for him to now say ‘trust me with the US relationship’ when his own government has split with the USA on key votes at the UN, and we’ve seen little evidence of him engaging and influencing the incoming Trump administration in the national interest, which is a real concern,” he told The Australian.

“In fact, he bristled at the question he was asked on this matter earlier in the week.”

Mr Albanese has said his positive first phone call with Mr Trump had left him optimistic on the relationship and the future of the AUKUS security pact, and he will attempt to replicate the actions of the former Coalition government during the first Trump administration and win carve outs from tariffs for Australian products exported to the US.

But he has not pursued a pre-inauguration meeting with Mr Trump like UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Italian leader Georgia Meloni both have, and Australian Ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd has spent part of the summer before the Republicans take over the White House holidaying back in Queensland.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/im-strong-im-proisrael-i-can-work-best-with-donald-trump-peter-dutton-hit-backs-at-anthony-albaneses-diplomacy-claims/news-story/e3c9df3f6ce3e81edda26f14759a6c82

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f79739 (287) No.22320949>>22320953

File (hide): 247c201e0b45ae0⋯.jpg (289.42 KB,2047x1152,2047:1152,Anthony_Albanese_and_West_….jpg) (h) (u)

File (hide): 34f25f67a3f294a⋯.jpg (214.71 KB,2048x1152,16:9,WA_Premier_Roger_Cook.jpg) (h) (u)

>>22320843

WA Premier Roger Cook: we are ‘proudly independent’ from federal Labor

PAUL GARVEY - 9 January 2025

1/2

West Australian Labor Premier Roger Cook has declared his ­government is “proudly independent” and that his focus is on ensuring re-election rather than helping Anthony Albanese shore up crucial WA seats.

In his first sit-down interview of the year, and on the eve of the Prime Minister arriving for the first of many visits to the west ahead of this year’s federal election, Mr Cook noted there were differences of approach between WA Labor and its federal counterparts on a “whole range of issues”.

The WA Premier also flagged his intention to capitalise on his state’s new-found national electoral significance by targeting federal funding for a multibillion-dollar overhaul of port infrastructure. And he stressed that his government did not take anything for granted despite holding a seemingly impregnable position ahead of the March state election.

In comments that will do little to dispel the impression that WA Labor wants to put distance between itself and a struggling federal government ahead of two elections due in as many months, Mr Cook said he would not be distracted from his own campaign.

“Unlike other premiers around the country, I’ve got an election to win myself, so that’s my focus,” Mr Cook said.

“I’m just going to make sure I focus on the eighth of March, and making sure that we communicate to the West Australian people what our plan for the future is, how we’re going to keep the economy strong, how we’re going to maintain strong growth in jobs.

“While I understand the Prime Minister has his own race to run, we are focused on our election at the moment, and that will obviously be soaking up our entire bandwidth between now and the eighth of March.”

The next federal election must be held by May 17.

Since Mark McGowan’s shock retirement in May 2023, Mr Cook has -- to the displeasure of some backbenchers and party members – been a strong advocate for WA’s world-leading mining and oil and gas industries. He successfully lobbied Mr Albanese to pause plans for federal Nature Positive laws that would have increased regulatory uncertainty for those sectors, repealed the contentious Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act, and to the frustration of environmental groups watered down the state’s environmental approvals processes.

Multiple decisions by the federal government have caused headaches for Mr Cook’s government and have given ammunition to the bedraggled state opposition. On top of the Nature Positive furore, the federal ban on live sheep exports, industrial relations changes and decisions around Aboriginal heritage have been felt keenly in the west.

While Mr Cook said the Prime Minister’s backdown on Nature Positive showed he understood the significance of WA and its mining sector, he acknowledged there were differences between their governments.

“We are a WA Labor government. We are proudly independent in terms of our perspective, because Western Australia has a unique role to play,” he said.

“And so from that perspective, there will always be not differences of opinion, but differences of approach in terms of a whole range of issues.

“The important thing to do, though, is to make sure that you’ve got a strong relationship with the federal government so you can continue to communicate the priorities for the state and that they can make sure that they’re backing you.

“I’m really pleased with the work that the Albanese government has done to support us in a lot of our economic policies, and obviously we’d like to see that continue.”

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22320953

>>22320949

2/2

Federal Labor’s best result in the west in 2022, when the party picked up four additional seats, effectively delivered Mr Albanese the prime ministership. Labor’s ability to hold on to those gains could determine if it can hold on to power. Since his election, Mr Albanese has made more ­visits to WA than any other prime minister.

Mr Cook has used his state’s increased electoral significance to extract guarantees the continuation of the controversial GST floor arrangements, which have delivered billions of extra federal taxpayer dollars to a state rolling in mining royalties.

Asked what he hoped to attract from federal leaders trying to court the WA vote, Mr Cook said he was looking for support for major port developments planned for Perth and the regions.

The government has unveiled a long-term plan to relocate WA’s main container port from Fremantle to Kwinana in Perth’s south, a project set to cost more than $7bn. There are also plans to upgrade the Geraldton port in WA’s Midwest and progress the long-awaited Oakajee port project, which in its latest iteration is envisaged as a clean energy hub.

“We need significant assistance around transport infrastructure, particularly around ports,” Mr Cook said.

“That’s for the future for the state, and … it’s for the future of the national economy as well.”

The Albanese government’s announcement this week of a further $7.2bn for upgrading Queensland’s Bruce Highway -- meaning it will commit 80 per cent of the funding for the project – has encouraged WA.

Mr Cook enters the election campaign in a seemingly ­unbeatable position, given the Liberal Party won just two of 59 lower house seats back in 2021. But he said he had warned his party room not to take anything for granted.

“It’s something that we talk about openly, making sure that people understand that any election is a loseable election,” he said.

“You have to be humble, you have to make sure you go to the people with a plan, with a policy that respects their vote. And that’s what we’ll be doing over the next 60 days.”

State opposition MPs have long been quietly hoping for the state election to be held before the federal poll, in the hope that voter discontent with the Albanese government could translate into a few extra seats at a state level.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/wa-premier-roger-cook-we-are-proudly-independent-from-federal-labor/news-story/ab9f4a8b07920c5b0e91e4344b69d8bc

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f79739 (287) No.22320983>>22320991

>>22314374

Michelle Rowland slams Meta over fact check decision and backs news outlets

RHIANNON DOWN and JARED LYNCH - 9 January 2025

1/2

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland says the need for ­access to trusted information has “never been more important” after tech giant Meta abandoned independent fact-checking on its social media platforms in the US.

After tech billionaire and Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg announced he was scrapping third-party fact checkers on Facebook and Instagram, Ms Rowland declared the antidote to online misinformation was “quality, fact-checked information” from public broadcasters.

Meta’s shift towards X-style “community notes”, where users comment on the accuracy of posts, comes just weeks ahead of Donald Trump’s returns to the White House. The president-elect -- a close ally of tech billionaire and X Corp owner Elon Musk – has previously criticised Meta for hindering free speech and censoring right-wing views.

Meta’s changes to third-party fact-checking are occurring only in the US at this stage, not in other jurisdictions such as Australia.

With the Albanese government increasingly at odds with Mr Trump over a push to place limits on social media access and combat online misinformation, Ms Rowland said Labor was committed to “high quality and diverse public interest journalism”.

“Misinformation can be harmful to people’s health, wellbeing, and to social cohesion,” a spokesman for Ms Rowland said.

“Misinformation … is complex to navigate and hard to recognise.

“Access to trusted information has never been more important.

“That’s why the Albanese government is supporting high quality, fact-checked information for the public through ongoing support to ABC, SBS and AAP.”

Anthony Albanese said tech giants had a “social responsibility” and backed his government’s ban on teenagers under 16 accessing social media, which passed parliament with bipartisan support in the final sitting week of the year.

“We know that the rise in mental health issues for young people is linked with social media,” the Prime Minister said.

“All of the experts tell us that that’s the case. So we’ll continue to act in our national interest.

“And I say to social media -- they have a social responsibility and they should fulfil it.”

Labor will also force tech ­giants to pay for Australian journalism under a new scheme that will tax digital platforms, such as Facebook, if they do not negotiate with news providers.

The initiative announced in December was in response to threats from Meta to block news content on its platforms if it’s forced to pay. Meta withdrew from the Morrison-era media bargaining code, which was worth an estimated $1bn to media outlets.

eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant warned Meta that despite the changes, it “must comply with Australian law” and her organisation would continue to remove harmful content, such as child sex abuse, pro-terror and cyber abuse material.

“eSafety will continue to ensure compliance and we note Meta’s comments in relation to its ongoing focus on this area,” she said. “eSafety will also continue to use its transparency powers to require or request answers from tech companies about what they are and are not doing to tackle a range of online harms and whether they are living up to the government’s Basic Online Safety Expectations.”

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22320991

>>22320983

2/2

Australian National University Tech Policy Design Centre founding director Johanna Weaver said Meta’s move “underscores both the futility and fragility of stand-alone self-regulation”.

“With Trump’s election, it is even more unlikely that this type of tech regulation will come from the US,” Professor Weaver said.

“This creates opportunities for other governments brave enough to step into the breach.”

Monash University associate professor of news and political communication Emma Briant criticised Meta’s move to abandon fact checkers, saying anyone surprised by the decision “learned nothing from Mark Zuckerberg’s role in the Cambridge Analytica affair”.

Cambridge Analytica was a data firm that worked for the Trump’s 2016 campaign and shut down following allegations about its misuse of Facebook data and the tactics it pitched to clients.

“While they may pay lip service to the policy concerns of the moment, tech oligarchs run their companies to maximise profits and minimise costs, not to be society’s protector or mediate a neutral, democratic town hall,” Professor Briant said.

“This applies to all of them, not just Elon Musk. There is nothing to stop tech oligarchs weaponising their platforms to suit political objectives when the moment is right.

“Fact-checking is only one small part of the solution to the problem of contemporary propaganda.”

Cyber safety expert Susan McLean, who has 27 years’ experience in cybercrime with Victoria Police, also criticised the move, saying more education for children and adults was required to improve “digital literacy”.

“It’s just going to allow misinformation to thrive,” she said. “There’ll be limited protections in place for abuse. Again, it puts the onus on the victim of the abuse to report it, rather than the platform proactively removing content.”

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/michelle-rowland-slams-meta-over-fact-check-decision-and-backs-news-outlets/news-story/62c9b33ce7cf0d8892368efe7a7266bf

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f79739 (287) No.22321028

>>22128180 (pb)

>>22254943

Telstra and Musk ink deal to bring texting to Australia’s dead zones

Daniel Lo Surdo - January 9, 2025

Major telco Telstra has signed a new deal with Elon Musk’s satellite network Starlink, allowing customers to send a text message from almost anywhere in Australia -- including rural and regional dead zones.

Under the deal announced on Thursday, Telstra customers will be able to use Musk’s low-earth orbit satellites to communicate with other users across Australia. It marks a new foray into the direct-to-handset technology for Telstra, whose network covers all but 0.3 per cent of the Australian population.

Telstra’s global network and technology executive, Shailin Sehgal, said the technology would be “particularly relevant” for customers in regional and remote parts of Australia without a reliable mobile connection.

“Technology is always evolving, and we’re committed to staying at the forefront of innovation,” Sehgal said.

“Australia’s landmass is vast and there will always be large areas where mobile and fixed networks do not reach, and this is where satellite technology will play a complementary role to our existing networks.”

Optus announced a similar deal with Starlink in 2023, with a promise to launch text messaging capability from late 2024, with voice and data services said to be available from late 2025. However, Optus’ text messaging offer is yet to launch and the company has not said when these services will come online.

On Thursday an Optus spokesperson said the company is conducting local testing with SpaceX and “re-evaluating our timelines to deliver this product”.

Telstra customers with an iPhone 14 or later model will be able to access the technology, which can be used wherever there is a direct line of sight to the sky. Thick tree canopy or a vehicle cover will block access, though cloud cover shouldn’t pose an issue.

Australians could use Starlink’s low-earth satellite to communicate with emergency services or text those who can assist with a pressing matter. Initially only text messaging will be available, though Telstra hopes to expand to voice messaging and data as the satellite service evolves.

The latest digital inclusion index found that Australians in regional and remote areas are the most digitally excluded in the nation, hampering access to education, healthcare and other essential services. Index authors noted the adoption of low-earth satellites could help to “address” inequalities spurring a persistent digital divide.

Starlink has been available in Australia since 2021 and is now used by more than 200,000 national customers.

Telstra inked its first deal with Starlink in 2023, which allowed its regional and rural customers on the fringes of connectivity access to low-earth satellites for broadband and voice services in their homes.

It signed another deal with satellite provider Lynk Global in February, with which it has already started testing the capacity of text messaging in mobile dead zones.

https://www.smh.com.au/technology/telstra-and-musk-ink-deal-to-bring-texting-to-australia-s-dead-zones-20250109-p5l34c.html

https://www.telstra.com.au/exchange/telstra-to-bring-spacex-s-starlink-satellite-to-mobile-technolog

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f79739 (287) No.22327980>>22327995 >>22328004 >>22328013 >>22333651 >>22333662 >>22370306 >>22370423 >>22370472

[pop]YouTube embed. Click thumbnail to play.

>>22225665

>>22301124

Allawah synagogue in southern Sydney vandalised with swastikas, Jewish community leaders call for swift action

Danuta Kozaki - 10 January 2025

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A synagogue in southern Sydney has been vandalised with several swastikas spray-painted onto exterior walls in what NSW Police have described as "offensive" graffiti.

Police are investigating the incident at the Allawah synagogue and said it likely happened in the early hours of Friday morning.

Warning: This story contains an image of a Nazi symbol.

In red paint next to one of the swastikas was the message "HITLER ON TOP ALLAH…"

It follows a number of anti-Israel and anti-Semitic graffiti incidents in Sydney's east in recent weeks.

Last week, a car was spray-painted with the phrase "F*ck the Jews" in Sydney's east at Queens Park, and last year a synagogue in Melbourne was the subject of an arson attack.

NSW Police said the latest incident was believed to have happened about 4:10am on Railway Parade in Allawah, with police from St George Area Command investigating the incident.

Police released CCTV footage on Friday which shows two people dressed in black hoodies approaching the building.

In a statement police said they would like to speak to a man who may be able to assist with their investigation.

"He is described as being of Mediterranean/Middle Eastern appearance, of medium build, and with a long brown beard," it said.

"The man was last seen wearing a black hooded jumper, black pants with a white stripe on the side, and aviator-style sunglasses."

Premier condemns 'monstrous act'

The Allawah synagogue is in NSW Premier Chris Minns's local electorate of Kogarah.

Mr Minns labelled the vandalism a "monstrous act" and said it was carried out by individuals with "hate in their heart" determined to divide the community.

"I think that the painting of a swastika on a Jewish building shows you everything you need to know about how appalling these particular individuals are and what their ultimate aim when it comes to members of the Jewish community," he said.

"It's around the corner from my house, and I know that the people that I represent and the community that I live in completely repudiate that kind of horrifying vandalism, that horrifying violence in our community."

Mr Minns said he had spoken to the president and vice-president of the synagogue, who were appalled by the incident.

"But they don't believe, and nor should they, that this is representative of the community's acceptance and closeness to the Jewish community in southern Sydney," he said.

"There are, unfortunately, some bastards out there that are determined to rip our community in two."

NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna said he was confident those responsible would be caught.

Police are investigating under Operation Taskforce Shelter alongside the counter-terrorism team.

"Those people wanting to do this sort of thing we say to you, you will get caught, you will get prosecuted and you will be put before the courts," Commissioner McKenna said.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22327995

>>22327980

2/2

Jewish leaders call for swift arrests

The President of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies David Ossip said "enough is enough".

"It is not normal or acceptable that Australians are having to wake every morning filled with apprehension about whether or not there has been another anti-Semitic hate crime overnight," he said.

Sarah Schwartz, executive officer of the Jewish Council of Australia, said this wasn't only an attack on Jewish people but one on Australia's values of inclusivity and diversity.

"Now, more than ever, we remain committed to fighting against all forms of racism in Australian society so individuals and communities can live without fear of discrimination or violence."

Alex Ryvchin from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry said the community expected those responsible to be arrested swiftly.

"People who deface houses of worship with the symbol of genocide should face the full force of the law. As long as these people evade justice for trying to terrorise Australian citizens, it will continue," he said.

Mr Ossip noted that Nazi symbols and messages were illegal under Australian law.

"We cannot allow ourselves to become desensitised to acts of Jew-hatred and allow illegal conduct such as this to become normalised," he said.

"This behaviour is reprehensible and undermines the social harmony and cohesion which we all treasure."

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-10/southern-sydney-synagogue-allawah-vandalised-swastika/104803138

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1PKERzFgs0

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f79739 (287) No.22328004

>>22225665

>>22327980

‘Bastards’: Angry premier condemns new graffiti attack on Sydney synagogue

SUMMER LIU - 10 January 2025

A southwest Sydney synagogue has become the latest target of anti-Semitic vandals who spray-painted swastikas and the words “Hitler on top” on the building early on Friday morning.

Red and black swastikas defaced the white walls of the Synagogue on Railway Ave, Allawah, with police at the scene searching for leads to identify the vandals.

Two men in dark clothing and facial coverings were reportedly seen loitering around the synagogue at early hours of the morning.

Police from St George Police Area Command are investigating and believe the incident occurred between 3.55am and 4.30am on Friday morning.

NSW Premier Chris Minns arrived at the synagogue, which is in his electorate, on Friday morning and was seen speaking with leaders of the synagogue and police officers.

Mr Minns called the perpetrators “bastards” and individuals who “have got hate in their hearts, that are determined to divide our community in two” at a press conference.

Mr Minns said the perpetrators “should be ashamed of their actions, not just in southern Sydney but across metropolitan Sydney in the last few months” and vowed to continue strengthening laws and putting resources towards crime prevention.

Southern Sydney Synagogue President George Foster said police informed him of the incident at 4.30am and “apologised that they only just missed the people who did it”.

Dr Foster said the rise of anti-Semitic hate crimes must be addressed by prosecution.

“That’s what we have to do to try and stop it … that might slow them down,” he said.

Dr Foster is also the president of the Australian Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Descendants and said the rise of anti-Semitism in Australia mirrored the start of World War Two.

“My parents were Hungarian survivors, and seeing what I’m seeing on the wall, particularly referencing Hitler … just brings back images of way back to 1933, when Jewish businesses and Jewish institutions were graffitied with signs of swastikas”.

“It’s truly distressing”.

Australia used to be an “accepting, happy, joyous place” for Dr Foster, as he said he would “kiss the ground … every time I come back to this country, because I believe it’s the best country on earth”.

Now, Dr Foster laments that his community now have to pray in a building with bars on the windows and CCTV all around.

“The community is feeling vulnerable and distressed,” Dr Foster said, but are “determined to continue to live in the way we have been living”.

This incident is the third just this week, with a car in Sydney’s east being tagged with “F..k the Jews” and the arrest of a 20-year-old man who allegedly made a threatening “gun gesture” at a man outside of a synagogue in St Ives both occurring on Monday.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton called the incident “grotesque act” and said, “it must be condemned”.

“As history shows, these repulsive incidents are a precursor to greater evils, and it’s no wonder our Jewish community in Australia is living in fear. I hope the perpetrators are caught and face the full force of the law,” Mr Dutton said.

“If there’s no repercussions for committing these disgraceful crimes, there will be no deterrence.

“When will this lesson be learned and how many more incidents of antisemitism need to occur in our country before action is taken. Enough is enough.”

“The community expects swift arrests to be made and for those who deface houses of worship with the symbol of genocide to face the full force of the law,” Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said.

“As long as these people evade justice for trying to terrorise Australian citizens, it will continue.

“We’re also calling on our fellow Australians, particularly those in positions of influence across society, to end the silence and publicly denounce this behaviour as repugnant to our national values and a threat to us all.”

President of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president David Ossip called for action, and said “Enough is Enough”.

“We are outraged by yet another disgraceful attack on a Jewish place of worship overnight,” Mr Ossip added.

“This is unacceptable and undermines the social harmony and cohesion which Australians have long treasured.

“Laws must be tightened to more effectively deal with hate speech and incitement to violence and individuals who commit crimes such as this must receive penalties sufficient to ensure that such conduct is deterred and not normalised.”

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/bastards-angry-premier-condemns-new-graffiti-attack-on-sydney-synagogue/news-story/a41711f89663b8cd0764a599762d2aa9

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f79739 (287) No.22328013

>>22225665

>>22327980

AFP reveal More than 100 anti-Semitic attacks on Jews in one month

MOHAMMAD ALFARES - 10 January 2025

The Australian Federal Police have received more than 100 reports of anti-Semitic attacks targeting Australia’s Jewish community in just one month, new figures from Operation Avalite reveal.

Since December 9, 2024 the AFP has received 124 reports of crime for potential offences under the commonwealth legislation.

Of these, 102 reports are under investigation and 22 reports have not been accepted for further investigation.

Anthony Albanese said at the time the taskforce was established in response to three anti-Semitic attacks: the terrorist attack on the Adass Israel synagogue in Ripponlea, an attack on Jewish Labor MP Josh Burns’ electorate office, and an incident in Woollahra in Sydney where a car was torched and buildings vandalised with anti-Israel messages.

Under Operation Avalite, investigation teams were placed in Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne, with authorities able to use legislation to investigate and prosecute offending that criminally targets the Australian Jewish community and federal parliamentarians.

The Prime Minister has faced immense pressure to step up the government’s response from the opposition, who have accused Labor of allowing anti-Semitism to go unchecked.

Despite releasing the latest figures to The Australian on Friday, the AFP did not reveal any new details about their investigation into the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne, which was set alight on December 6, 2024.

The cost of rebuilding the synagogue has soared to tens of millions of dollars, with police yet to make any arrests four weeks after the terror attack.

The figures come after the Southern Sydney Synagogue became the latest target of anti-Semitism, with vandals spray-painting swastikas and the phrase “Hitler on top” on its walls early on Friday morning.

Nazi symbols defaced the white walls of the Synagogue on Railway Ave, Allaway, with police at the scene searching for leads to identify the vandals.

NSW Premier Chris Minns arrived at the synagogue, which is in his electorate, on Friday morning and was seen speaking with leaders of the synagogue and police officers.

Mr Minns called the perpetrators “bastards” and individuals who “have got hate in their hearts, that are determined to divide our community in two” at a press conference.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/afp-reveal-more-than-100-antisemitic-attacks-on-jews-in-one-month/news-story/bf5db6fb477d4d0107901d72894b6aa1

https://www.afp.gov.au/news-centre/media-statement/afp-statement-special-operation-avalite-update

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f79739 (287) No.22328027

File (hide): de1ed04d737c5da⋯.jpg (196.96 KB,1036x1312,259:328,Gg6GDmdaMAMpeuN.jpg) (h) (u)

File (hide): 3eabe0d807a62dd⋯.jpg (172.53 KB,1022x1263,1022:1263,Gg6GDmeaUAAXrPR.jpg) (h) (u)

>>22307893

>>22307909

Labor pro-Palestine faction calls for ‘clarity’ on A-G’s Israel trip

RHIANNON DOWN - 10 January 2025

A Labor factional group supporting Palestine has called on the government to “clarify the purpose” of Mark Dreyfus’s trip to Israel, revealing a deepening split over the Middle East conflict within the party.

Labor Friends of Palestine has declared the group holds “deep concerns” about the Attorney-General’s week-long visit, citing Israel’s “ongoing war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem”.

The left-wing faction has demanded the only purpose of the relationship-mending visit should be to make clear that Australia “stands unequivocally with international law”, calling on Israel to stop its “genocidal actions or face comprehensive sanctions”.

The strongly worded statement referred to Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a “fugitive under ICC arrest warrants”, after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest order in November for crimes against humanity and war crimes.

Mr Dreyfus, Labor’s most senior Jewish MP, revealed his intention to travel to Israel to repair the fractured relationship between the Albanese government and Israel which has become strained over the Israel-Hamas conflict. Tensions flared last month when Mr Netanyahu accused Labor of overseeing a rise in anti-Semitism and criticised Australia’s support for a UN General Assembly resolution calling on Israel to withdraw from the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

“Any message delivered by Australia’s first law officer must be consistent with international law and with the positions taken by Australia at the United Nations and in bilateral statements,” Labor Friends of Palestine said.

“Most importantly, Israel must understand that Australians demand an end to the genocide, in line with the January 2024 ICJ ruling and the Australian-supported December 2024 United Nations vote for an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire.

“Australia must also insist that Israel comply with measures ordered by the ICJ in January and March 2024 to ensure ‘unhindered provision at scale’ of ‘urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance to Palestinians throughout Gaza’.”

Labor Friends of Palestine warned Mr Dreyfus that international law bodies could lay “further grave charges” against Israeli leaders, and “any meeting with war criminals would seriously damage the reputations of Australia and the Attorney-General”.

The group also pressed for the recognition of a Palestinian state “in line with official ALP policy”, and demand an end to “genocide” in line with a UN vote for a ceasefire which Australia supported last month.

“Mark Dreyfus should make clear Australia’s backing for the July 2024 ICJ ruling that Israel’s occupation is illegal and settlements must be dismantled as rapidly as possible,” Labor Friends of Palestine said.

“The Attorney-General needs to emphasise Australia’s unwavering support for the rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination.

“This should include immediate recognition of the state of Palestine in line with official ALP policy.”

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/labor-propalestine-faction-calls-for-clarity-on-ags-israel-trip/news-story/e91ea88ed63dc14756c73b4bfdc5baaa

https://x.com/labor_palestine/status/1877585534807322692

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f79739 (287) No.22328053>>22328065 >>22345254

>>22262558

High commissioner to snub Australia Day for a second time

RHIANNON DOWN - January 09, 2025

Australia’s high commissioner to Britain, Stephen Smith, has signalled to organisers that he will not attend an annual Australia Day gala dinner, a year after he cited sensitivities around celebrating the day.

Mr Smith, hand-picked by Anthony Albanese, has indicated he may not be in London for an annual gala dinner to celebrate Australia Day, sparking criticism from organisers and attendees that he was abandoning the national day.

The then-newly appointed high commissioner ignited uproar last year when he informed organisers he would not be opening the doors to the Exhibition Hall of the Australian high commission in London for the fundraising event.

The black-tie gala, run by the Australia Day Foundation, has been a fixture of the London social calendar for two decades, and has been attended by some of the nation’s most prominent business and industry leaders living in Britain.

The event has also attracted some of Australia’s greatest exports, including Kylie Minogue, Delta Goodrem, Natalie Imbruglia, Tim Minchin and band Human Nature, and showcased food cooked by celebrity chefs including Maggie Beer and Neil Perry.

The annual celebration of the Australian-Britain relationship will be held at the Peninsula Hotel in London on January 25 and will be attended by 400 ticketholders, with Mr Smith indicating to organisers last week he would not be among them.

Phil Aiken, who chaired the Australia Day Foundation for 13 years, said it was disappointing to hear Mr Smith would not attend the landmark social event.

“It’s great that the Australia Day dinner will happen again this year, albeit not at Australia House,” he said. “And it’s disappointing that I understand the high commissioner is unable to attend.”

Proceeds from the fundraising event go to supporting Australians studying in Britain.

This is the second year the event has been affected by controversy, after Mr Smith told organisers it would not be appropriate to hold the gala around January 26, which marks the First Fleet’s landing in Sydney in 1788.

The event is traditionally hosted on the closest Saturday to Australia Day, which has been dubbed Invasion Day by some Indigenous campaigners and become the subject of protests.

The Australian understands Mr Smith will attend a diplomatic reception marking Australia Day scheduled for January 23.

The high commissioner’s suggestion he will not make an appearance at the dinner two days later has been criticised by those involved in the event as disrespectful, considering the national day has not been officially changed from January 26.

Mr Smith, a former Labor cabinet minister in the Rudd-Gillard governments, has reportedly sought to eradicate pointless parties from the social calendar since assuming the role in January 2023.

The high commissioner cited concerns around cost as the reason he axed the charity dinner last year.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/high-commissioner-to-snub-australia-day-for-a-second-time/news-story/077d5ddb0db2d1ee62e98568f4ec6b92

‘January 26 is still Australia Day’: High commissioner cancels London gala over ‘sensitivities’ - December 11, 2023

https://archive.vn/vL7Ql#20057006

Dutton attacks High Commissioner for Australia Day ‘shame’ - December 12, 2023

https://archive.vn/vL7Ql#20062088

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f79739 (287) No.22328065

>>22328053

Richard Alston slams UK envoy Stephen Smith over Australia Day ‘activism’

RHIANNON DOWN - 10 January 2025

Former Australian high commissioner to Britain Richard Alston has accused his successor Stephen Smith of “indulging his own prejudices”, “alienating every Australian in London”, and hating socialising after he backtracked on his plan to skip Australia Day celebrations.

After Mr Smith sparked uproar when he informed organisers he would not be attending a gala dinner celebrating the national day because he may not be in London, before reversing his position, Mr Alston declared the high commissioner “clearly doesn’t enjoy the job and hates the socialising”.

Mr Alston -- a former Liberal Party president and Howard government minister who served as high commissioner between 2005 and 2008 – said Mr Smith treated the commission’s lavish residence, Stoke Lodge, as his “private home”, and “effectively refuses” to make the manor house available for functions.

The high commissioner said he had been “able to rearrange his official travel plans” following revelations in The Australian that he would snub Australia Day celebrations for a second year in a row, after he signalled to organisers he may not be in London for the event.

Mr Smith ignited controversy last year when he informed organisers he would not be opening the doors to the Exhibition Hall of the Australian high commission in London for the gala. He reportedly cited concerns it would not be appropriate to hold the dinner around January 26, which marks the First Fleet’s landing in Sydney in 1788.

“Stephen Smith’s behaviour has not been in Australia’s best interests, simply indulging his own prejudices and alienating every Australian in London,” Mr Alston said.

“He clearly doesn’t enjoy the job and hates the socialising, effectively refuses to make the High Commission or the residence ­accessible for functions, despite them having been open to visiting Australians since time immemorial. It treats the residence as his private home, which it is not. It is an Australian hosting venue.”

Mr Alston said Mr Smith’s backflip was clearly the result of pressure from the government over his “misguided activism”.

“His refusal to come clean on his real reasons suggest that he is off on a frolic of his own, and that both DFAT and the Prime Minister do not support his misguided activism,” Mr Alston said.

“I knew him quite well in government, and found him both pleasant and sensible. I do not recognise his current incarnation.

“His caving is clearly a result of pressure from the government back home, and is a big slap in the face to him.”

Mr Smith, who was hand-picked by Anthony Albanese for the role, will deliver a “personal message” from the Prime Minister at the fundraiser dinner, which is attended by some of the nation’s most prominent business and industry leaders living in Britain. The event is traditionally held on the closest Saturday to Australia Day, this year falling on January 25.

“The high commission will be hosting a series of Australia Day events in the week leading up to Australia Day given Australia Day falls on a Sunday,” a spokesman for the Australian high commission in London said.

“The high commissioner has now been able to rearrange his official travel plans in order to attend the Australia Day Gala dinner on Saturday 25 January for the purpose of delivering a personal message from the Prime Minister to the dinner.”

Peter Dutton has accused Mr Smith of being “ashamed” of the national day, saying he should be “looking for a new job” if he does not believe in Australia Day.

“We have the institutions here in our country that make us a great democracy, freedom of speech, we have the ability to contribute in an egalitarian way and that is to be celebrated,” Mr Dutton said.

Mr Smith, a former Labor cabinet minister, has reportedly sought to eradicate parties from the social calendar since assuming the role in January 2023.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/top-diplomats-backflip-on-australia-day-absence/news-story/1ff718a2889e0a43b10d5c6cb2d981b0

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f79739 (287) No.22328090

Anti-Voice band back together as Price, Abbott back Warren Mundine for key seat

Paul Sakkal - January 9, 2025

Australia’s conservative establishment has mobilised in a bid to secure Nyunggai Warren Mundine, one of the key Indigenous advocates against the Voice to parliament, the prized Sydney seat of Bradfield that the teal movement is hoping to win.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott, former deputy prime minister John Anderson and senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price are lobbying local branch members to back Mundine, who is in a tight contest to be the Liberal candidate for the wealthy northern Sydney seat.

Mundine, a former federal Labor president who switched parties and ran unsuccessfully for the Liberals in 2019 on the NSW South Coast, helped deliver the party a major political win as a director of the main group opposing the Voice.

Price said she travelled across Australia with Mundine leading the anti-Voice movement that generated big momentum in Liberal branches in 2023, helping to grow the profile of Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.

“I truly believe with him [Mundine] as one of our candidates, we have a better shot at winning this next federal election,” Price said in a video sent to party members and obtained by this masthead.

But Mundine’s opponents on the left of the party argue the 68-year-old conservative is not the right person to take on a well-funded campaign from teal candidate Nicolette Boele, whose years-long run for the seat received a boost from incumbent Liberal MP Paul Fletcher’s December decision to quit politics.

Fletcher said late last year that the choice of candidate was up to the party. But, he added, “I will say just one thing: I think it would be a smart move to choose one of our outstanding Liberal women to carry the Liberal banner in Bradfield”.

Mundine is in a field of four for a vote to be held on an unconfirmed date in the middle of the month: moderate faction candidate and technology executive Gisele Kapterian, local councillor Barbara Ward and cardiologist Michael Feneley.

Abbott praised Mundine, who lives locally, as a person of moral and intellectual strength who would be an “adornment to the parliament”.

“The fact that Warren was once the national president of the ALP, I see as an asset for us Libs, not a problem to be explained away,” the former prime minister said in a statement to this masthead.

“Warren has always been about doing the right thing by the battler … [and] is living proof that it’s the Liberal Party, and not Labor, that’s best for the people on struggle street.”

Mundine, who could not comment due to party rules about speaking to the media, was the national president of the Labor Party between 2006-07, but quit the organisation in 2012, saying it was “not the party I joined”.

He had been in line for a Labor Senate spot that did not eventuate. Mundine then unsuccessfully ran as the Liberal candidate for the federal seat of Gilmore in 2019. In September 2023, he pulled out of a hotly contested race for a NSW Liberal Senate position.

Holding Bradfield will be crucial to Dutton’s chances of winning the election due by May.

Bradfield was the only Liberal-held seat in which more people voted for the Voice (52 per cent) than against. All former Liberal seats held by teal independents voted “Yes”.

If Mundine were to win preselection, the Coalition would have at least three Indigenous candidates alongside incumbent senators Price and Kerrynne Liddle. Labor will likely have four Indigenous MPs in the next parliament.

Mundine, backed by the right faction, and Kapterian, supported by the moderates, are considered frontrunners, with Kapterian seen by most as the favourite. Mundine’s chances are boosted by right-wing branches moving into Bradfield in a redistribution of electoral boundaries of the seat that takes in suburbs such as Chatswood, Lindfield and St Ives.

Due to low population growth, teal MP Kylea Tink’s neighbouring seat of North Sydney will be abolished at the next election, shifting Bradfield southwards and cutting its margin from 4.2 per cent to about 2.5 per cent for the Liberals. Tink weighed a tilt for Bradfield, but decided against it.

Ahead of announcing his resignation last year, Fletcher lashed the teal movement, drawing a rebuke from teal MPs.

Fletcher gave a speech at the Sydney Institute in December arguing candidates such as Tink represented a “giant green con job”, with campaigns “carefully designed to dupe traditional Liberal voters”.

Boele did not comment on Mundine’s candidacy, but said, “the people of Bradfield want a representative who works for us, not a political party”.

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/anti-voice-band-back-together-as-price-abbott-back-warren-mundine-for-key-seat-20250108-p5l2qy.html

https://qresear.ch/?q=Warren+Mundine

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f79739 (287) No.22328149>>22328152 >>22328181 >>22351460 >>22363058

>>21809147 (pb)

>>22080779 (pb)

Bipartisan support for AUKUS leading into new Donald Trump era

JOE KELLY - 9 January 2025

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Leading Democratic and Republican congressmen say the AUKUS security pact is a model for how the US should engage with allies and that its domestic political support is growing, as Donald Trump entertains using military and economic force against friendly nations to expand America’s global footprint.

The bipartisan endorsement of the landmark trilateral security agreement from the Democratic co-chair of the Congressional AUKUS Working Group, Joe Courtney, and the Republican chairman emeritus of the powerful House Foreign Affairs Committee, Michael McCaul, comes less than two weeks before the inauguration of Donald Trump ushers in a new-era for America in world affairs.

Mr Courtney and Mr McCaul framed the AUKUS agreement as an instrument to rally democracies in the Indo-Pacific while ­deterring Chinese aggression.

Anthony Albanese this week declared he was better placed than Peter Dutton to manage ties with the incoming administration. Mr Albanese played down differences between his government and Mr Trump on issues such as climate change, arguing instead that his close relationships in the region with Asian leaders would carry weight with the incoming president.

The US president-elect on Wednesday (AEDT) signalled he was serious about breaking his own path in foreign policy by doubling down on audacious plans to acquire Canada, Greenland and the Panama Canal.

He talked up ambitions to make Canada the 51st state -- including through the use of economic force – and refused to rule out the use of the US military to seize control of the Panama Canal and Greenland, a Danish territory. In addition, Mr Trump flagged plans to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.

These aspirations were swiftly rejected as unrealistic by Canada, Panama, Greenland and Denmark -- a founding member of NATO along with the US – as well as the current Biden administration and other European leaders.

Speaking in Paris, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said US ­acquisition of Greenland was “not going to happen” while French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said there would be “no invasion”. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz responded to Mr Trump’s comments by saying that “a certain lack of understanding has emerged with regard to recent statements from the US”.

“Borders must not be moved by force,” Mr Scholz said.

Amid lingering uncertainty over Mr Trump’s approach to the Indo-Pacific and handling of AUKUS, Mr Courtney said the $US895bn ($1.44 trillion) National Defence Authorisation Act, which passed congress in December, “strengthened the Pillar One submarine program” and revealed the “strong bipartisan support” for the trilateral security partnership between the US, Australia and the UK.

Under Pillar One, the US has agreed to sell Australia at least three Virginia class submarines to help Canberra develop its own fleet of nuclear-powered submarines; Pillar Two is aimed at enhancing advanced technology co-operation - including in cyber, undersea, quantum science and hypersonic capabilities.

Writing in The Australian, Mr Courtney, who was last year appointed into the Order of Australia, said “one of the clear indicators” of AUKUS’s success was the high interest of US allies -- New Zealand, South Korea, and Japan – in becoming partners in the security agreement.

Mr McCaul said the AUKUS agreement “keeps Chairman Xi (Jinping) up at night” and was confident it would continue to enjoy bipartisan support “as we work to deter CCP aggression in the Indo-Pacific”.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22328152

>>22328149

2/2

Former prime minister Scott Morrison, who spent New Year’s Eve with Mr Trump at Mar-a-Lago, said in December that the Albanese government needed to champion AUKUS as an agreement aimed at deterring Chinese military aggression, to maximise its potential under a Trump administration. “In promoting AUKUS here in the US we need to appreciate that its primary reason for being is to provide a deterrent against adversarial threats,” Mr Morrison said. “The primary one of those is China. And to pretend it’s not does not aid the argument well here”.

Mr Albanese has overseen a normalisation of relations with Beijing since taking office and told The Australian this week he would not change his approach if Mr Trump launched a trade war, declaring that “we are a sovereign nation and we will act in terms of our economic interest”.

Mr Courtney said the recent National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) continued to build momentum for AUKUS in three important ways, including by “legalising Navy ship repairs to any yard overseas operated by a close ally”.

This would help “skill up and acquaint Australian naval personnel and shipyard workers with the repair and maintenance of Virginia-class submarines” while ensuring there was an “increased submarine presence in the Indo-Pacific” by reducing gaps caused by long transit times back and forth to US repair yards.

“Having US subs now permitted to undergo repair and maintenance overseas … recognises Australia’s progress toward gaining proficiency,” he said.

Second, the NDAA provided the US Department of Defence with a mandate to analyse potential benefits of including Japan in the Pillar Two program. “Congress has heard loud and clear this interest from democratic allies in the Indo-Pacific, and the NDAA formally asked the Pentagon to seriously examine the benefits and challenges of Japan as a potential participant,” Mr Courtney said.

Third, he said the NDAA was a case of the US congress acting forcefully to support submarine production essential to meeting the AUKUS schedule for the sale of Virginia-class submarines to Australia.

“In the national defence bill, we successfully reversed the Navy’s woefully inadequate request to cut procurement of a Virginia-class submarine and provided the Navy the authority to purchase a second Virginia-class submarine in 2025,” he said.

Mr McCaul said Mr Xi and the Chinese Communist Party were “not slowing down in their malign agenda --- and the US and its allies must rise quickly to face that challenge”.

He said AUKUS was a “prime example of how we should be partnering with and trusting our allies”. “This crucial defence partnership keeps Chairman Xi up at night, and I am confident it will continue to enjoy bipartisan support as we work to deter CCP aggression in the Indo-Pacific,” Mr McCaul said.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/defence/bipartisan-support-for-aukus-leading-into-new-donald-trump-era/news-story/c774522f5276b020fbe8a2542a1797a0

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f79739 (287) No.22328181>>22328186

>>22328149

Bipartisan support in US helping fuel AUKUS impetus

JOE COURTNEY - 9 January 2025

1/2

In the closing days of the 118th US congress, passage of the National Defence Authorisation Act revealed once again that the three-year-old trilateral security agreement between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States has strong bipartisan support.

Each NDAA enacted since the rollout of AUKUS in September 2021 has steadily and surely authorised and implemented the building blocks to make the vision of this unique enterprise a reality.

After the initial announcement in September 2021, it was clear there were significant legal barriers in US law that, if left untended, would prevent the three nations from reaching AUKUS’s ambitious goals.

Only the US congress and the Australian and UK parliaments could enact the necessary reforms to share the jealously guarded “Crown Jewels” of each nation’s national security apparatus.

Beginning in 2022, all three nations moved quickly to start joint training of Australian naval officers and sailors who needed to upskill in the operation of nuclear-powered naval vessels.

The US congress authorised such training for Aussie personnel through a provision proposed by former congressman Michael Gallagher (R-WI) and I. The UK began a similar program as well.

Today more than a hundred Australian sailors and officers have graduated from the US nuclear submarine schools in South Carolina and Connecticut, and this past summer, the Virginia-class submarine USS Hawaii (SSN 776) had, for the first time, an Australian officer at the helm as it arrived in Perth to receive maintenance.

In 2023, after the release of the AUKUS “Optimal Pathway” plan jointly designed by the navy leadership of all three nations, congress’s “to-do list” grew significantly. The Pathway called for the US to authorise the sale of Virginia-class submarines to Australia, accept Australia’s $3bn investment into the US submarine industrial base, train Australians in submarine maintenance, streamline technology and information sharing, and make the UK and Australia eligible for accelerated investment by the US Department of Defence in Pillar Two projects.

Remarkably, despite the sprawling size of this legislative agenda spread across multiple committee jurisdictions, the House and Senate found a way to bundle this package in just six months within the NDAA signed into law on December 22, 2023.

After that heavy lift and all of the interagency follow-on work the bill required, the 2024 legislative session of the 118th congress was not expected to see much AUKUS action. With the dust now settled after the passage of the annual defence bill and submarine-related appropriations, it is clear the momentum behind AUKUS still positively flexed its muscles.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22328186

>>22328181

2/2

First, the NDAA significantly strengthened the Pillar One submarine program by legalising navy ship repairs to any yard overseas operated by a close ally. One of the key components of the Optimal Pathway was to skill up and acquaint Australian naval personnel and shipyard workers with the repair and maintenance of Virginia-class submarines.

The Australian government is committed to building out its submarine industrial base workforce and infrastructure, and having US subs now permitted to undergo repair and maintenance overseas boosts that effort and recognises Australia’s progress toward gaining proficiency.

Notably, the reform will also meet the Optimal Pathway’s calls for increased submarine presence in the Indo-Pacific by reducing gaps in US naval presence caused by long transit times back and forth to US repair yards.

The second AUKUS amendment was a mandate to the US Department of Defence to analyse the potential benefits of including Japan in the Pillar Two program.

One of the clear indicators of AUKUS’s success is the high interest of US allies -- New Zealand, South Korea and Japan – in becoming partners in the security agreement.

Congress has heard loud and clear this interest from democratic allies in the Indo-Pacific, and the NDAA formally asked the Pentagon to seriously examine the benefits and challenges of Japan as a potential participant.

Lastly, congress acted forcefully through both the NDAA and the short-term spending package to support submarine production, which is essential to meeting the AUKUS schedule for the sale of Virginia-class submarines to Australia.

In the national defence bill, we successfully reversed the navy’s woefully inadequate request to cut procurement of a Virginia-class submarine and provided the navy the authority to purchase a second Virginia-class submarine in 2025.

And through the Continuing Resolution, passed just before the new year, congress delivered $5.7bn to the Virginia-class submarine program -- a significant infusion of funding to keep the construction tempo rising and invest in our frontline shipyard workers.

In the same year congress was marred with record low productivity and high levels of division, the AUKUS mission still saw real momentum among politicians in both chambers and on both sides of the aisle.

That level of bipartisan, bicameral support in a challenging political environment sends a powerful signal to naysayers and sceptics that the AUKUS mission has a strong foundation of support ready to withstand the political winds the new year will bring.

Joe Courtney is a US congressman for Connecticut’s Second District.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/bipartisan-support-in-us-helping-fuel-aukus-impetus/news-story/319b2de5d7c160f99cbac8ac4b07b901

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56dade (1) No.22331028

File (hide): 76866f26e6a2ed1⋯.mp4 (10.64 MB,444x960,37:80,SaveTwitter_Net_YsS7HWjqci….mp4) (h) (u) [play once] [loop]

LISTEN TO THIS YA FUCKEN MUPPET CUNTS!

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f79739 (287) No.22333635>>22333637 >>22428559

>>22225665

Josh Frydenberg: Anti-Semitism being unchecked in Australia is an election issue, Anthony Albanese

JOSH FRYDENBERG - 10 January 2025

1/2

A few weeks back I found myself walking with some friends into a local watering hole in the Victorian country town of Nagambie, population 2300.

A local woman stopped me. “Mate,” she said. “I watched your documentary on anti-Semitism and I want you to know you’re not alone. I stand with you.”

They were warm and genuine words, the type I am hearing increasingly from everyday Australians. Sentiment is shifting as Australians are alert to the fact that what has been happening in our country across the past 15 months is just not on.

Attacks on Jewish places of worship, Jewish schools, Jewish-owned businesses and Jewish artists, among many others, are not isolated incidents but, sadly, daily occurrences. Holocaust survivors are seeing alarming parallels with the Europe they witnessed in the 1930s, as events here at home have led to unprecedented international travel warnings being issued, calling for Jewish people to reconsider visiting Australia.

Tragically, anti-Semitism is becoming normalised for the first time in our history, compelling one of the nation’s most distinguished citizens, former governor-general Sir Peter Cosgrove, to say: “Hitler would be proud.”

But there are signs the silent majority are starting to find their voice, with more people recognising that rising anti-Semitism threatens not only the relatively small Australian Jewish community but the safety, security and values of our entire community.

Sporting champions, business leaders, media figures and religious leaders are publicly calling out anti-Semitism as not just un-Australian but anti-Australian for the division and violence it is now creating. Just days ago in these pages the president of the Hindu Council of Australia called for “firm action” and “decisive leadership” to “stamp out anti-Semitism”, saying the rise in Jew hate was “not just a problem for Jews but for people of all faiths and for Australia”.

It was an important intervention from a national leader of Australia’s fastest growing religion that the government chooses to ignore at its peril.

Ever since the barbaric Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, our governments, federal and state, have done too little, too late, to protect the community from the rising tide of hate, preferring to turn the other cheek, avoiding the hard decisions and hoping the problem will just go away. But it hasn’t. It has become only worse as those who hate and those who harm have been emboldened by the inaction.

But now, with the new year upon us and a federal election soon to be called, we the voters have an opportunity to hear from our leaders what they will do differently to take back the streets and protect the public from the mob.

While cost of living as an election issue is paramount, domestic safety and security are too.

Unlike previous electoral cycles, this time social cohesion is on the ballot paper -- and the party that promises real action will be rewarded. More of the same will not cut it. Neither will more empty words. What is required is the law to be enforced and, where necessary, the law to be strengthened.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22333637

[pop]YouTube embed. Click thumbnail to play.

>>22333635

2/2

We need a government that is proactive, not reactive. A government that anticipates, not prevaricates. A government that is strong, not weak. A government that takes responsibility to restore Australia to what it was and what we should all want it to be.

No more tolerance for people who openly call Jews “Nazis”, celebrate the atrocities of October 7, wave terrorist flags, chant “globalise the intifada” and call for the abolition of the state of Israel.

These people are not Israel’s problem, they are Australia’s problem. They have no impact on the Middle East, contribute nothing to a balanced legitimate debate and sow only domestic division and hate.

If the federal government thinks it can sidestep this issue it is wrong. Every week there are numerous examples of how the government’s failure to take decisive action is infecting our daily lives. People are taking notice. People are fed up.

There have been disruptive demonstrators at everything from the Myer Christmas windows to performances by American comedian Jerry Seinfeld, from the local university campus to the main shopping strip of our local CBD. And now we learn this week that Ice Hockey Australia is no longer hosting the Men’s World Championships in Melbourne because of the violent protests Israel’s participation is expected to attract.

In the leaked email, Ice Hockey Australia’s president is reported as saying: “It was concluded just prior to Christmas that we could not host due to significant safety and security risks associated with Israel’s participation.”

It’s unbelievable that here in Australia, a country known as the sporting capital of the world, authorities could not stand up for what is right and deliver for the athletes and spectators a safe event.

All Anthony Albanese could say in response was how “unfortunate” it was the championships were cancelled, when in reality it is a disgrace. Another shameful episode on the government’s watch, projecting our weakness abroad and confirming our lack of security here at home.

Australia has a proud history as a tolerant, harmonious, multicultural nation. But across the past 15 months our reputation has been tarnished as our leaders have failed to act.

Now, as we start a new year and approach the federal election, politicians and the public alike have an opportunity to turn a new page and reclaim what has been lost.

Josh Frydenberg is the former federal treasurer and host of the Sky News documentary Never Again: The Fight Against Antisemitism.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/josh-frydenberg-antisemitism-being-unchecked-in-australia-is-an-election-issue-anthony-albanese/news-story/17fe3ab0043f82deeff91c59b6cb5449

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ngva62KPv4

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f79739 (287) No.22333651>>22333662 >>22408655 >>22416629 >>22416640

>>22225665

>>22327980

‘Monstrous:’ Sydney synagogue, home hit with anti-Semitic graffiti a day after another was vandalised

Another Sydney synagogue and a home have been vandalised with anti-Semitic graffiti, only a day after another place of worship in the city was targeted.

Emma Kirk - January 11, 2025

Vandals have graffitied a synagogue in Sydney’s inner west overnight, a day after swastikas were sprayed on the Southern Sydney Synagogue in Allawah.

Police were called to a home that was covered with graffiti on Henry St in Queens Park about 6.30am on Saturday.

It was only an hour later they were notified the Newtown Synagogue on Georgina St had also been vandalised.

Offensive comments were also written on a poster at Marrickville Rd in Marrickville, which police allege is a separate incident.

A NSW Police spokesman said an investigation into the incidents has commenced.

“The NSW Police Force takes hate crimes seriously and encourages anyone who is the victim of a hate crime or witnesses a hate crime to report the matter to police,” a spokesman said.

“It is important that the community and police continue to work together to make NSW a safer place for everyone.”

Heading up the Anti-Defamation Commission - a civil rights organisation against anti-Semitism and other forms of hatred - Dr Dvir Abramovich described the act as an unforgivable outrage and said immediate action should be taken.

“To defile a synagogue - a place of worship, hope, and sanctuary - with the ultimate emblem of genocide and evil is nothing short of an attack on the very heart of our nation,” he said.

“It’s an assault on every value we hold dear, and it screams that anti-Semitism is no longer hiding in the shadows - it’s out in the open, brazen and unashamed.

“These swastikas, painted in malice, are not just symbols - they are bullets aimed at the soul of the Jewish community.”

Dr Dvir said Holocaust survivors who rebuilt their lives in Australia now had to witness the symbols of their tormentors defacing their places of worship.

“This isn’t just graffiti - it’s a gut-wrenching reminder that the same hatred that fuelled the extermination camps is still alive and kicking.

“And make no mistake: this isn’t just a Jewish issue. This is an Australian issue. Because an attack on one community is an attack on all of us.”

In the early hours of Friday, police discovered swastikas and anti-Semitic slurs had been sprayed on a synagogue in Sydney’s south while they were patrolling the area.

Police released images of the people they allege spray-painted swastikas on the Southern Sydney Synagogue, which was described as a “monstrous act” by Premier Chris Minns.

Southern Sydney Synagogue president George Foster told NewsWire it was distressing, upsetting and created uncertainty in the Jewish community.

“The theory is it may not stop with just graffiti, it could move to violence, which has happened in other countries,” Mr Foster said.

Premier Chris Minns has extended a $340,000 grant from the Premier’s Discretionary Fund to the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies to contribute towards enhanced security measures for their community.

“I am aware that police are currently investigating offensive, antisemitic graffiti that was located on a home in Sydney’s east and on a synagogue in Newtown overnight,” he said.

“Police have also released CCTV vision of the person alleged to have graffitied the Southern Sydney Synagogue yesterday.

The premier labelled the acts “monstrous and appalling”.

“Our message is clear - these acts designed to intimidate and divide will not work,” he said.

“These people are determined to divide our community in two.

“The Minns Labor government will continue to strengthen the laws protecting people’s right to worship safely as well as ensuring NSW Police have the resources they need to catch the people who commit these bastardly acts.

“When parliament resumes this year, we’ll be introducing legislation that protects religious institutions and places of worship to prevents attempts to intimidate or stop religious people from practicing their faith.”

Any witnesses are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/crime/sydney-synagogue-home-hit-with-antisemitic-graffiti-a-day-after-another-was-vandalised/news-story/9a6114842eff7ead86130113ce5e355f

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f79739 (287) No.22333662

File (hide): 273e16b32db3974⋯.mp4 (8.19 MB,960x540,16:9,Sydney_synagogue_targeted_….mp4) (h) (u) [play once] [loop]

>>22225665

>>22327980

>>22333651

Sydney synagogue and house targeted with swastikas and anti-Semitic graffiti

David Hirst - 11 January 2025

Police are investigating after offensive graffiti was found spray-painted on a synagogue and a house in Sydney.

About 7:30am on Saturday morning, police were notified after graffiti was spray-painted on a synagogue on Georgina Street, Newtown in Sydney's inner west.

Warning: This story contains an image of a Nazi symbol.

Several red swastikas were painted along the front fence of the place of worship.

On Friday morning, the Allawah synagogue in southern Sydney was vandalised with several swastikas spray-painted onto exterior walls in what NSW Police have described as "offensive" graffiti.

Also on Saturday morning, officers attended a house on Henry Street, Queens Park in Sydney's east, after being notified about 6:30am that an anti-Semitic slur had been spray-painted on the front of the property.

The words "F*ck Jews" were sprayed on the outside of the home.

Police have launched investigations into each of the incidents.

It follows a number of anti-Israel and anti-Semitic graffiti incidents in Sydney's east in recent weeks.

A police investigation has also commenced into offensive comments written on a poster on Marrickville Road in Marrickville.

Funding boost for security after vandalism

David Ossip, president of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, said the targeting of synagogues should "sicken us all".

"No-one should think that these are just acts of vandalism," he said.

"This is a concerted campaign to intimidate, harass and menace the Jewish community.

"These hate-filled cretins need to know that they will not succeed."

NSW Premier Chris Minns on Saturday announced a $340,000 grant to the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies to contribute towards enhanced temporary security measures.

On the graffiti, Mr Minns said that "these acts designed to intimidate and divide will not work".

"These people are determined to divide our community in two. We will always call out these acts for what they are --- monstrous and appalling."

Dvir Abramovich, Chair of the Anti-Defamation Commission, described the incidents as "terrorism against our Jewish community".

"When Nazi symbols appear once, it's horrifying. When they appear twice in rapid succession, it's a crisis demanding immediate action," he said.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-11/offensive-graffiti-sprayed-on-synagogue-and-house-sydney/104806956

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f79739 (287) No.22333774>>22333776

>>22262558

Official Australia Day website wipes January 26 ‘history’ section, references to British colonisation

Frank Chung - January 11, 2025

1/2

January 26 represents a painful day in history for many First Nations people --- but for the official Australia Day organising body, it seems the solution is to literally erase that history altogether.

A new arrival to Australia, wanting to know more about the national holiday, may learn from the official Australia Day website that January 26 “is an important date” in the country’s history “that has evolved over time”.

But why is it important? And how has it evolved over time?

Anyone hoping that these vague allusions will be expanded upon will, it seems, have to search elsewhere for answers.

The National Australia Day Council (NADC), the government-owned not-for-profit which coordinates Australia Day events and the Australian of the Year Awards, has quietly stripped all mention of British colonisation and the history of the holiday itself from its website.

“The marking of January 26 is an important date in Australia’s history and has changed over time --- starting as a celebration for emancipated convicts and evolving into what is now a celebration of Australia that reflects the nation’s diverse people,” the page previously read.

Today, the reference to “a celebration for emancipated convicts” no longer appears.

“Australia Day is about so much more than the events of one day --- it is about where we have come from, who we are as a nation and what we aspire to be,” it now reads.

“January 26 is an important date in Australia’s history that has evolved over time. On our national day we can reflect on our complete and complex history and understand that acknowledging and reconciling our past helps lay a path to a stronger future. We respect and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ survival, resilience and over 65,000 years of continuous culture.”

But nowhere to be found on the website is any detail of that “complete and complex history”.

Internet archives show that in March 2022, the Australia Day website was updated to entirely remove the “history” section from the “about” page, which previously offered a timeline of January 26 compiled by Darwin-based historian Dr Elizabeth Kwan.

The since-deleted timeline began by acknowledging January 26 “has long been a difficult symbol for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who see it as a day of sorrow and mourning”, noting that before 1770 “Aboriginal peoples had been living for more than 60,000 years on the continent we now know as Australia”.

It then laid out the key events, starting with Captain James Cook raising the Union Jack on Possession Island on August 22, 1770 and Captain Arthur Phillip arriving with the First Fleet at Port Jackson on January 26, 1788.

In the 1800s, “early almanacs and calendars and the Sydney Gazette began referring to January 26 as First Landing Day or Foundation Day” and in Sydney, “celebratory drinking, and later anniversary dinners became customary, especially among emancipists”, it read.

In 1818, NSW Governor Lachlan Macquarie officially acknowledged the day as a public holiday on the 30th anniversary, and by the late 1800s most of the colonies were celebrating the occasion.

Aboriginal leaders met in Sydney on Australia Day in 1938 for a “Day of Mourning” on the 150th anniversary, and in 1988, as the nation marked its bicentenary, 40,000 marchers protested at the first “Invasion Day” at Bondi.

It wasn’t until 1994 that Australia Day was consistently recognised as a public holiday on January 26 itself, rather than a long weekend.

The timeline drew from a lengthy 2007 essay by Dr Kwan, commissioned by the NADC, titled Celebrating Australia: A History of Australia Day, which also used to appear in full on the Australia Day website before at some point being replaced with the abridged summary.

A spokesperson for the NADC confirmed that “significant updates to the website took place in 2022”.

“The website is regularly updated and refreshed with new program resources and to reflect current key messaging or campaigns in place,” they said.

“The NADC website itself does not seek to provide definitive historical resources or to provide an authoritative history of Australia Day, but instead seeks to actively promote our national day by providing information and resources that help inspire national pride and unity through our core programs --- the celebration of Australia Day and encouraging all Australians to ‘Reflect. Respect. Celebrate’, the Australian of the Year Awards, Australian citizenship and civic values programs.”

The NADC said Dr Kwan’s essay was still “regularly quoted and referenced by the NADC in response to enquiries from the media or others with questions about the history of Australia Day”.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22333776

>>22333774

2/2

Debate over changing the date of Australia Day has escalated in recent years, with multiple councils opting to hold citizenship ceremonies outside of January 26 in 2025, while others vote to restore key ceremonies to the national holiday.

“There won’t ultimately be any resolution between people who have fundamentally different concepts of January 26,” CQUniversity historian Dr Benjamin Jones told NCA NewsWire last week.

“There is a greater sense of awareness that there are at least conflicted views.”

Speaking to SBS in 2017, Dr Kwan said there had been a growing realisation by the federal government after the post-World War II migration from Europe that it had to make the day more inclusive.

“There still had to be an acknowledgment that [Australia] had begun as a British settlement but there was a greater urgency to acknowledge the contributions that were coming from all over the world as well as from Indigenous Aboriginal Australians,” she said.

“So you find this growing attempt to balance celebration on Australia Day with reflection and education, so it saw quite a different side of Australia Day coming through.”

Today, the Australia Day website emphasises the occasion as one where Australians “come together to reflect, respect and celebrate with their communities”.

“It is a day that will mean different things to each of us,” it reads.

“We are all shaped by our own experiences, and we celebrate living in a dynamic, multicultural nation where everyone’s views, beliefs and contributions are valued.”

This year the federal government has provided more than $10 million in grants, administered by the NADC, for more than 750 “inclusive” Australia Day community events across the country.

“Australia Day gives us time to connect with family, friends and community --- a day to celebrate the freedoms we share and the values and beliefs we hold,” Patrick Gorman, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister and for the Public Service, said in a statement last month.

“It is a day to reflect on our complete and complex history, to acknowledge the past, and respect and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ history and continuing culture.”

Under the Community Events Grant Program, “eligible applicants were able to apply for a fixed grant of $10,000 to deliver inclusive events on our national day”.

“To encourage more inclusive and respectful engagement, an additional $5000 was made available for events that include significant Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander elements,” Mr Gorman said.

“Grant-funded events by local councils and community groups are vital to representing the true diversity of Australia and to providing communities the opportunity to reflect, respect and celebrate their way.”

https://www.news.com.au/technology/online/internet/official-australia-day-website-wipes-january-26-history-section-references-to-british-colonisation/news-story/a1319e741b69b40e037a3571d1a783b1

https://web.archive.org/web/20220301021811/https:/australiaday.org.au/about/

https://web.archive.org/web/20220301022317/https:/australiaday.org.au/about/history/

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f79739 (287) No.22333788

File (hide): f658171b887a4cd⋯.jpg (591.28 KB,1536x2048,3:4,GgqdNzOagAAJRy_.jpg) (h) (u)

File (hide): fa43cacb77780b3⋯.jpg (1.01 MB,2048x2048,1:1,GgqdQuubkAA_Y3Q.jpg) (h) (u)

File (hide): da4f876a387b2c4⋯.jpg (769.41 KB,1536x2048,3:4,GgqdSjnacAAYPCo.jpg) (h) (u)

>>22276588

Federal Election 2025: Coalition targeting Teal seats nationwide

Jade Gailberger - January 11, 2025

The Coalition is ramping up a major attack on Teal MPs, including Dr Monique Ryan, in a bid to claw back vital seats at the upcoming federal election.

New campaign material obtained by the Herald Sun seeks to lift the lid on the independent, exposing her voting records, “hypocrisy” and weaknesses.

The assault comes as Liberal leader Peter Dutton will on Sunday kick-start the election year with a rally in Melbourne, where he will outline his priorities and plan for the nation.

A scathing pamphlet being released this week in Kooyong, as part of the Coalition’s “Teals Revealed” campaign, highlights that Dr Ryan has voted with the Greens the most often.

It reminds voters about her workplace drama, pointing out that she was “sued by a female staffer, after Ryan allegedly tried to sack her because she refused to work unreasonable hours”, and that Dr Ryan has refused to say who she would back in a hung parliament.

It also accuses her of supporting higher taxes, being “weak” on crime and union corruption.

Dr Ryan, who was backed by Simon Holmes a Court’s Climate 200, ousted Liberal treasurer Josh Frydenberg from the blue-ribbon seat at the 2022 election.

She is facing a challenge from Liberal candidate Amelia Hamer, with the seat now held on a 2.5 per cent margin.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition Sussan Ley said the Teal independents had said they would change Canberra, but three years on it was clear Canberra had changed them.

“They said they would hold the government accountable: instead they spend most of their time opposing the opposition,” Ms Ley said.

“The Teals claim to be a community movement but are bought and paid for by vested interests, and they have brought big money into Australian politics.

“Australians have been left poorer, less safe and worse off since the Albanese government was elected and that has largely been enabled by the Teal ‘independents’.

“The only way to change the government is to vote for a Liberal candidate in these seats.”

Dr Ryan accused the Liberals of spending the summer “plotting inaccurate and misleading advertising, rather than coming up with evidence-based policy to help Australians with the cost-of-living crisis, housing shortages and climate emergency”.

“Our campaign won’t be stooping to that sort of behaviour. When they go low, we’ll go high,” she said, referencing former first lady of the United States Michelle Obama’s motto.

“This sort of negativity turns young people away from politics --- it’s one of the reasons so many people turned away from the Liberal Party in 2022.”

Goldstein MP Zoe Daniel’s record is also under the microscope, with community safety expected to play a role in the upcoming campaign.

Ms Daniel and Dr Ryan will also be targeted over their support to “scrap the Australian Building and Construction Commission, which had protected small business and workers from CFMEU thuggery”, a Liberal spokesman said.

The Bayside electorate is a key target for the Liberals, with former member Tim Wilson contesting the seat following a bruising defeat to Ms Daniel at the 2022 poll.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/federal-election-2025-coalition-targeting-teal-seats-nationwide/news-story/bd8156429b1cf0a559493cdbc5a50359

https://www.tealsrevealed.com/

https://x.com/pauliec80859931/status/1876489746375205202

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f79739 (287) No.22333802>>22333804 >>22371190 >>22451021 >>22490539 >>22490564 >>22490631

>>21943412 (pb)

>>22163076 (pb)

>>22225621

Family Court allows cross-sex hormones for teen despite ‘real risks’

ELLIE DUDLEY - January 10, 2025

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A teenager has been granted permission to access cross-sex hormones despite a Family Court judge conceding there are risks associated with the treatment, and that he cannot be certain the hormones will benefit the teenager in the long term.

Judge Peter Tree, in delivering judgment in the highly contentious legal case, afforded the teenager -- known pseudonymously as Ash – the “dignity of risk” to take testosterone and continue transitioning from female to male.

In concluding his decision, Justice Tree said he expected Australian courts in the future to see “regret” cases in relation to cross-sex hormone administration to children. “Nonetheless, I have earnestly tried to ascertain what is best for Ash,” he said.

The case, which The Australian has extensively covered over the past year, was brought by one of Ash’s parents who wished to obtain sole parental responsibility to approve the administration of hormones.

The other parent opposed the treatment.

Justice Tree gave “great weight” to the Australian Standards of Care and Treatment Guidelines, which were developed by the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne and endorse a gender-affirming model of care.

However, he said the UK Cass Review -- a landmark report that recommended limitations on medication for gender-dysphoric children – may have been driven by an “overt political imperative” and he gave it “little weight” in reaching his decision.

The Family Court continues to grapple with the complexities of gender identity, especially in the context of children, medication and surgery.

In a separate matter, a judge determined a father’s refusal to conform with traditional gender norms left his three children “confused” and encouraged them to “question their gender identity” after they all began identifying as non-binary, ruling the two youngest children would not be permitted to see their ­father for an extended period.

In another case, the mother of a 13-year-old with gender dysphoria abruptly withdrew an application seeking a Family Court order to allow the child to take ­puberty blockers after trying to have the independent children’s lawyer assigned to the matter thrown off the case.

In handing down his judgment, Justice Tree conceded there was a “real risk” the testosterone treatment “may not achieve all that Ash wants it to” and that “he may still be unhappy with having a body … which he would prefer were different”.

“He may therefore still be to some degree dysphoric,” the judgment reads.

“But overall, the evidence persuades me that there will be some masculinisation, and thus some alleviation of his dysphoria if testosterone were to be administered to Ash, although when, for how long, and to what extent, remains unknown.”

Justice Tree outlined various considerations in favour of Ash accessing treatment, including that he had consistently lived as a male, been exposed to “serious transphobic bullying”, and has worn a chest binder and layered clothing “so as to conceal the female aspects of his appearance”.

He also said Ash had lived “stealth” as a male, meaning he had not disclosed to his classmates that he is biologically female. “(This) has exacted an emotional, social and educational cost on him, including recently having returned to distance education,” the judgment reads.

However, Justice Tree also acknowledged considerations against the treatment, including that the hormones “may not alleviate his dysphoria, either materially or even at all”, and that Ash’s cognitive development is ongoing, meaning he may not understand “all the risks”.

He paid consideration to concerns the treatment may not alleviate Ash’s gender dysphoria, that it may impair his fertility, and that irreversible changes may start about three months after testosterone commences.

Justice Tree found that while the possible risks associated with taking testosterone, including infertility or blood disorders, are “real”, they are “not unacceptable”.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22333804

File (hide): d60527ae8b88321⋯.jpg (553.64 KB,2500x1563,2500:1563,Dr_Hilary_Cass_author_of_t….jpg) (h) (u)

>>22333802

2/2

During the hearing, the court was told Ash and his 10-year-old sister, known as Lee, made a pact that Lee would harvest her eggs to ensure Ash could have children if the transition affected his fertility in the long term.

Justice Tree in his judgment said the parent who opposed treatment “unduly emphasised” the risks in order to further their case, and said while Ash may become infertile it didn’t necessarily preclude him from having children.

“Even if he does become incapable of conceiving a child, if it transpires he forms a relationship with a natal female who is not transgender, or if is, is not infertile, having children is not precluded, although they may not have a genetic connection with Ash,” he wrote.

“It is likely that most Australians would now think the lack of direct genetic connection between a child and their parent is irrelevant. Likewise there remains the prospect of adoption and surrogacy.”

Justice Tree said that in less than two years Ash will turn 18 and therefore “be able to medically do whatever he wants”.

“It would obviously be farcical to reject what a 17-year and 11-month-old young person wants to do as being undeserving of weight, when a month later they can do it anyway,” he said. “Similar considerations apply -- albeit with lesser force – to someone Ash’s age.”

Justice Tree relied heavily on the evidence of a gender clinician who was a witness for the Independent Children’s Lawyer, known to the court as Dr O.

Dr O favoured the World Professional Association for Transgender Health guidelines as “by far the best available guidance at this time, and … informed by decades of expert clinician experience”.

Justice Tree agreed, giving the guidelines -- as well as the Australian Standards of Care and Treatment Guidelines and state government policy – “great weight, because they are models of care arrived at by consensus of the relevant professional bodies”.

He said the Cass Review, a landmark probe that recommended “extreme caution” be taken when prescribing hormones to children, was undertaken “in a vexed environment”.

“I do not overlook that there may have been an overt political imperative behind the Cass Review -- which was, after all, initiated by the UK executive government,” he said.

“Particularly the then UK prime minister is on record of having publicly said on 5 October 2023 -- whilst the Cass Review was being finalised: ‘And we shouldn’t be bullied into believing that people can be any sex they want to be. They can’t. A man is a man and a woman is a woman’.”

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/family-court-allows-crosssex-hormones-for-teen-despite-real-risks/news-story/84f9df1edc30316ab2bb4209737b2f7a

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f79739 (287) No.22339443>>22339463 >>22345205 >>22345214 >>22345238 >>22345254 >>22357770 >>22431685 >>22482221 >>22482246 >>22482279 >>22482339

File (hide): 5f4ce9cc611dc86⋯.mp4 (12.13 MB,640x360,16:9,Peter_Dutton_spruiks_the_i….mp4) (h) (u) [play once] [loop]

>>22320883

Dutton makes case to become PM, rallying Liberal faithful at launch

Jake Evans - 12 January 2025

Liberal leader Peter Dutton has made his case to become prime minister, rallying the party faithful at an event in Melbourne, where the Coalition must make in-roads to win back government at the federal election.

The Coalition hopes to make the Albanese government the first one-term government in almost a century, and has eaten away at Labor's popularity over the past 12 months, according to polling trends.

In his first speech of the year at a Liberal event in Mount Waverley, in Melbourne's east, Mr Dutton laid out his party's priorities if it can win this year's election: fighting cost of living pressures, supporting small business, establishing nuclear power, improving housing supply, "rebalancing" migration levels, lifting general practitioner numbers, a tougher approach to crime and a closer relationship with Israel.

And in an attempt to cut the head off any prospective "Medi-scare" campaign, Mr Dutton also committed to strengthening Medicare under his leadership.

In an homage to president-elect Donald Trump's slogan "Make America Great Again", Mr Dutton stood in front of a podium stamped with "Get Australia Back on Track" - directly lifted from his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon's campaign.

Borrowing from Trump's successful campaign playbook, Mr Dutton asked voters to consider the past three years, and whether they could "afford" another term of Labor government.

"I think the past three years are a good indication of what the future will look like under a returned Labor government," Mr Dutton said.

"A returned Labor government - in majority or minority - will see setbacks set in stone.

"A newly elected Coalition government is a last chance to reverse the decline."

Mr Dutton told supporters he had seen the mood of Australians change under the current government to become more pessimistic and anxious, and the nation less safe and less cohesive.

He said a Coalition government would turn that around by re-energising the economy.

Labor raises 'Medi-scare' spectre

Last week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese began visiting seats in northern Australia in an early campaign blitz, where he sought to paint Mr Dutton as a leader who was pessimistic and sought to divide Australians.

Mr Albanese repeatedly raised instances of commitments Mr Dutton had made and later walked back, including a commitment to hold a second referendum on Indigenous recognition in the constitution.

Speaking after the Liberal rally, Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones warned Medicare was not safe under a Coalition government, despite Mr Dutton's commitment to it in his speech.

"Believe me, if Peter Dutton becomes the prime minister of Australia after this election, he will repeat what he did in government and destroy Medicare," Mr Jones said.

"This election will be a referendum on Medicare."

Outside the rally, a small crowd of protesters voiced their disapproval of Mr Dutton's plan to establish nuclear power in Australia through seven plants to be built over several decades.

Brutal fight for key seats to determine next parliament

The Liberal campaign launch sets the scene for a contest this year that will focus on inflation and the deterioration in affordability and living standards for Australians over recent years.

The pathway for each party to govern in their own right with a majority looks incredibly narrow, setting up a fierce fight over key seats mostly in NSW and Victoria.

Labor could be forced into minority government if it loses just three seats, while the Coalition must pick up 21 if it wants to govern with a majority.

For the Coalition to reclaim government after just a single term in opposition, it will also have to make inroads in Victoria, where it holds only nine of the 39 seats in the second-largest state.

The Coalition is eyeing seats in Aston and Chisholm, where the rally was held, as two seats it hopes to win after losing Chisholm in 2022 and Aston in a by-election in 2023.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-12/dutton-liberal-campaign-launch-federal-election/104808428

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f79739 (287) No.22339463>>22339469 >>22345238

File (hide): f0ec53c5428227a⋯.mp4 (1.97 MB,1024x768,4:3,Anti_nuclear_protesters.mp4) (h) (u) [play once] [loop]

>>22225665

>>22339443

Dutton pledges to repair Australia’s ties with Israel

GREG BROWN - 12 January 2025

1/2

Peter Dutton will make calling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu one of his first priorities if he wins this year’s federal election, as he launched his broad pre-poll vision for the nation on Sunday.

Flanked by his senior team in the target Melbourne seat of Chisholm, the Opposition Leader declared the Albanese government was “worse than Whitlam” and warned the nation will never recover if Anthony Albanese is re-elected.

And as he set out priorities on tax, migration and education, Mr Dutton said he would move personally to repair the nation’s relationship with Israel.

“Every incident of anti-Semitism can be traced back to the Prime Minister’s dereliction of leadership in response to the sordid events on the steps of the Sydney Opera House. Anti-Semitism should have been stopped there and then,” Mr Dutton said in Glen Waverley

“This government is so morally confused it treats our ally, Israel, like an adversary.

“And in the first days of a Coalition government, I will call the Prime Minister of Israel to mend the relationship that Labor has trashed.”

The Albanese government is currently planning to send Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus to Israel soon to mend relations, after Mr Netanyahu attacked Labor’s handling of the domestic anti-Semitism crisis and blasted the government’s recent pro-Palestine votes at the United Nations.

Activists crash Dutton rally

Union officials were among anti-nuclear activists who have turned up to Mr Dutton’s rally.

Trades Hall secretary Luke Hilakari confirmed unions were partly behind the protest, which included an inflatable three-eyed fish in a warning against nuclear.

There was also a separate anti-nuclear campaign out the front of the community centre in Mt Waverley, with members saying they are a grassroots group from the electorate of Chisholm opposing the Coalition’s energy plans.

Inside the town hall were Liberal Party members who heard speeches from Mr Dutton, Nationals leader David Littleproud and deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley.

Election ‘a sliding doors moment’

Mr Dutton said the election of a Coalition government this year would be the “last chance” to reverse the economic and social decline of Australia, as he began his campaigning in 2025.

Mr Dutton called the upcoming election “a sliding doors moment for our nation”, as he attempted to cut through to apathetic voters who are considering giving the Prime Minister one more chance to govern.

He vowed to govern with the “views, values and vision of everyday Australians”, preparing to frame Mr Albanese as being more interested in delivering for a progressive base that is out of touch with the concerns of most voters.

Declaring a Coalition government is the “only chance to get our country back on track”, Mr Dutton claimed the character of Australia was changing under Labor.

“Weak leaders create hard times, but strong leaders create better times,” Mr Dutton said on Sunday.

“And the next federal election is a sliding doors moment for our nation.

“A returned Labor government -- in majority or minority – will see setbacks set in stone.

“A newly elected Coalition government is a last chance to reverse the decline.”

He said Australia had become less safe and cohesive since Mr Albanese became prime minister.

“We’re a remarkable people -- compassionate, stoic, fair and quietly patriotic,” Mr Dutton said.

“But under this Albanese Labor government, I’ve seen the mood of Australians change.

“Australians have endured one of the most incompetent governments in our nation’s history.

“They’ve suffered under one of our country’s weakest ever prime ministers.

“For so many Australians, aspiration has been replaced by anxiety. Optimism has turned to pessimism.

“And national confidence changed to dispiritedness.”

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22339469

>>22339463

2/2

Mr Dutton’s pitch has similarities with Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan, which was aimed at voters who believed their nation fared better in previous eras and that mainstream values were not being prioritised.

While Mr Albanese opened up his 2025 campaigning in regional Queensland seats he won’t win with a whole-of-nation message, Mr Dutton is launching straight into marginal seats in Victoria, a state where the Coalition is aiming to make inroads.

As well as Chisholm, the Liberals are optimistic of winning Aston and McEwen from Labor.

Party figures are also confident of winning the seat of Goldstein from teal independent Zoe Daniel, while strategists believe they are an outside chance of picking up Dunkley, Corangamite and Kooyong.

The Coalition won just 11 out of 39 seats in Victoria at the last election, which has favoured Labor over the past decade.

But the Liberals argue the Labor brand in the state is on the nose due to the cost-of-living crisis and the growing anger towards the state government.

Newspoll last month showed the two-party preferred vote in Victoria was 50-50, representing a nearly 5 per cent swing towards the Coalition since the 2022 election.

In his speech, Mr Dutton argued Mr Albanese was more focused on a “political victory” than good outcomes for Australians.

“Whereas I want our country to be victorious. I want Australia to emerge out of Labor’s cost-of-living crisis,” he said.

“I want future generations of Australians to not be denied the prosperity that previous generations of Australians knew.

“The path to better times and a better country starts with having the right priorities.

“With the right priorities, you create the right policies. And with the right policies, things go right for the Australian people.

“I hope Australians will recognise that a Coalition government is the only chance to get our country back on track.”

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/im-the-last-chance-to-reverse-australias-decline-dutton/news-story/7720b2fd34011d09d4f974ac0a38048e

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f79739 (287) No.22339502>>22351441 >>22370868 >>22370892 >>22387534 >>22387539 >>22400387 >>22408724

File (hide): ec6b308f413f10d⋯.jpg (148.52 KB,1185x1100,237:220,GgLpm_Tb0AA71aU.jpg) (h) (u)

>>22225525

>>22320883

Penny Wong to represent Australia at Donald Trump’s second inauguration alongside Kevin Rudd

RICHARD FERGUSON - 12 January 2025

Foreign Minister Penny Wong will represent the nation at US president-elect Donald Trump’s upcoming inauguration in Washington, with Anthony Albanese’s closest confidant to use the visit to expand co-operation with Mr Trump’s second administration on economics and security.

After concerns the Albanese government has not moved as fast as other allied countries like Britain, France and Italy to forge a relationship with Mr Trump, Senator Wong will go to the president-elect’s swearing in on January 21 with Australian ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd.

Senator Wong on Sunday said she was honoured to be invited by Mr Trump’s inauguration committee to the event, and that she would use it to meet with senior members of the incoming Trump cabinet.

The Foreign Minister has previously told ABC radio in 2021 - before Labor returned to power - that Mr Trump had been prepared to trash alliances for “personal political interest.”

She will also meet with senior congressmen, after a bipartisan alliance in the US House of Representatives declared the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal would only get stronger over the next four years.

The Australian also understands there are discussions about setting up a Quad foreign ministers meeting in the same week as the inauguration, allowing incoming US secretary of state Marco Rubio a chance to discuss China and security with Senator Wong and the Indian and Japanese foreign ministers.

“(The invitation) is a demonstration of the steadfast alliance between Australia and the United States,” Senator Wong said in a statement.

“I am also looking forward to meeting with members of the Trump Administration and Congress during my visit to Washington.

“The United States is Australia’s vital ally, closest global partner, and most important strategic relationship.

“This early visit will be an important opportunity to discuss how we can advance the benefits of our strong economic and security partnership and expand our co-operation.”

The Washington trip comes after the Prime Minister this week told The Australian he would be the best Australian leader with Mr Trump given his extensive contacts through the Asia-Pacific.

Peter Dutton hit back at Mr Albanese’s claim, saying his 2017 comments that Mr Trump at the start of his first term scared “the shit out of” him and the lack of a pre-inauguration meeting would count against Labor’s attempt to bond with the incoming Republican.

French President Emmanuel Macron invited Mr Trump last month to the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Italian leader Georgia Meloni have both had one-on-one sit downs with the president-elect.

Mr Albanese has dismissed the need to meet with Mr Trump before his swearing in, and last week said his phone conversation with Mr Trump after his election victory left him optimistic about the future of the US-Australia relationship.

Mr Rudd’s attendance at the inauguration comes after criticism that he took a holiday in Queensland over Christmas, as Trump officials back in Washington start preparing for power.

The ambassador and former prime minister has met in recent months with a slew of incoming GOP officials including Mr Rubio, Mr Trump’s new national security adviser Mike Waltz and incoming CIA director John Ratcliffe.

But it was former prime minister Scott Morrison -- who served as Australia’s leader at the time of Mr Trump’s first term – who attended the president-elect’s New Years party at his Mar-a-Lago retreat in Palm Beach, Florida.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/penny-wong-to-represent-australia-at-donald-trumps-second-inauguration-alongside-kevin-rudd/news-story/9e0ccb86c883250ef194cd8bf4131791

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f79739 (287) No.22345205>>22345209

>>22339443

Dutton pitches suburban battler roots, calls for ‘education not indoctrination’

Paul Sakkal - January 12, 2025

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Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has highlighted his suburban battler upbringing during his unofficial election campaign launch in the Melbourne seat of Chisholm, where he nominated public safety, lower inflation, cheaper energy and affordable housing as policy priorities for the Coalition.

Speaking to supporters in an electorate his party lost to Labor in 2022, Dutton was eager to talk up his working-class background before outlining how he intended to get Australia “back on track”, in line with the Coalition’s election slogan.

He told the crowd about his plans to ease inflation by lowering government spending; he outlined changes to immigration and foreign ownership in a bid to improve housing affordability; he expressed his desire to address community safety; and he committed to “push back on identity politics”.

“The expensive Panadol policies must stop,” he told the supportive crowd consisting largely of volunteers, candidates and sitting MPs. “The necessary economic surgery to stop wasteful spending must start.”

Dutton opened his speech with a reflection on his working-class upbringing and his work as a Queensland police officer, saying his hard-working nature had allowed him to prosper, in comments reminiscent of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s oft-repeated story of growing up in public housing with his single mum.

“I was born into an outer suburbs working-class family. Mum and Dad -- a secretary and bricklayer – didn’t have much money, but they worked hard every day, and raised their five children with love, support and a strong work ethic,” he said.

“From grade 7 through to university, I threw newspapers, had a lawn mowing run, and worked in a butcher’s shop after school and on Saturdays.

“I saved diligently to afford a house deposit. Buying my first home aged 19 was one of my proudest achievements.”

Dutton previously sold a beachfront home on the Gold Coast for $6 million and was a beneficiary of a family trust, alongside his wife, that owned her company, RHT Investments, which ran two childcare centres. Albanese has repeatedly hinted at Dutton’s use of a trust to cast doubt on the opposition leader’s asset holdings.

Labor was quick to rubbish Dutton’s “policy-free” speech, which came days after the prime minister finished a rapid tour of northern states that he said had helped get him match fit for an election due by May but likely to be held in April.

Labor says Dutton’s policies will lead to lower wages growth and less job security, and Albanese, in an interview with this masthead last week, derided Dutton’s small vision and his relentless negativity.

Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said Dutton had “more front than Myer” and that he had come back from summer leave “with no solutions, no plan” and trying to “present himself as somehow the saviour of everybody”.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22345209

>>22345205

2/2

In his speech to supporters, Dutton said the Liberals were “back in town” in the Labor-dominated state of Victoria, where his state colleagues recently voted to oust John Pesutto and appoint Brad Battin as leader. Battin was present at the launch along with his deputy, Sam Groth.

Victoria has taken on new-found significance in Coalition calculations. The party is confident of winning Labor and teal seats in Aston, Chisholm, McEwen and Goldstein. It is also targeting Kooyong, Dunkley, Hawke and Bruce.

Dutton is expected to travel to the Melbourne seat of Aston on Monday with a focus on crime prevention.

Federal frontbenchers Sussan Ley, Angus Taylor, Michael Sukkar, Michaelia Cash, James Paterson and National Party leader David Littleproud were also among the attendees.

In his speech, the Liberal leader weaved his personal story and economic agenda with occasional thrusts into cultural issues, demanding “education not indoctrination” in schools and drawing arguably his biggest round of applause when he repeated his preference for one national flag rather than three with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island flags.

Citing the reintroduction of the cashless debit card and an audit of Indigenous spending, Dutton claimed the Coalition would focus on real solutions to fix Indigenous disadvantage rather than what he called symbolic “gestures”.

“As Jacinta Price said, it’s time to dispense with the racial stereotyping which treats all Aboriginal people the same,” he said.

He also used his speech to defend his record as health minister, in response to Labor attacks, when he attempted to institute a $7 payment to see a doctor and the Health Department sought to privatise the backroom payments system of Medicare.

He committed to strengthening Medicare in his speech and trumpeted his creation as health minister of a Medicare research fund.

Of Labor’s attacks, he said: “They need a new playsheet, honestly.”

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/dutton-pitches-suburban-battler-roots-calls-for-education-not-indoctrination-in-campaign-launch-20250112-p5l3ni.html

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f79739 (287) No.22345214

>>22339443

Anthony Albanese, Peter Dutton trade personal attacks as gloves come off

ROSIE LEWIS - 13 January 2025

Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton have escalated personal attacks against each other, with the Prime Minister declaring the Opposition Leader “represents a cold-hearted, mean-spirited, sometimes just plain nasty response” to governing.

Mr Dutton hit back by saying Mr Albanese had been the “weakest prime minister since Federation”, as he dismissed the Labor leader’s negative campaign against his personality while conceding it would continue as the federal election gets closer.

Attempting to convince voters of the benefits of Labor’s first term in power, Mr Albanese said Australia needed “leadership with a heart”.

“Peter Dutton represents a cold-hearted, mean-spirited, sometimes just plain nasty response and that’s not going to help people. We’ve provided that immediate cost-of-living relief, plus setting Australia up by producing two budget surpluses, putting that downward pressure on inflation that is so important,” Mr Albanese told ABC radio.

“We want to make sure that we deal with those immediate pressures, but provide for building Australia’s future by doing things like strengthening Medicare, by doing things like making sure we take advantage of the opportunities which are there from the shift to net zero.”

Pressed on whether politics needed to be “that personal”, the Prime Minister responded: “Peter Dutton has built a career on dividing people. He’s built a career on targeting people, particularly people who are vulnerable.

“He’s never sought to bring people together, which is why his own party rejected him and elected Scott Morrison as leader, even though Scott Morrison had a very small base of support because they understood that he represented a shift to a hard right version of the Liberal Party.”

Mr Dutton said the last 2½ years had been “lost years” under Labor but acknowledged Australians would hear more personal attacks from Mr Albanese and Jim Chalmers in the days and weeks ahead.

“The Prime Minister is embarking on the personal attacks because he does not have a positive story to tell about himself. If he had a successful period as Prime Minister, if he had a period of achievement over the last two-and-a-half years, he wouldn’t need to continue to make up these lies and throw this mud,” the Liberal leader said.

“People want more from their Prime Minister and unfortunately, this Prime Minister, who’s the weakest that we’ve seen since federation, is leading in a way that makes Gough Whitlam look like a competent leader of our nation.

“If they had a two-and-a-half year period of achievement and of success for our country, they’d be talking about that. But of course they can’t. They’d be talking about what they have achieved this term before they start talking about what will happen next term.”

Mr Dutton said there was a “better way” under the Coalition, with no higher priority for Australians than cost-of-living.

Mr Albanese said reducing inflation to a number with a two in front of it, rather than a six when Labor was elected, helped Australians because it measured costs across the board and took pressure off families, though he understood people had been doing it tough.

The leaders have already launched their election slogans, with the Prime Minister opting for “building Australia’s future” and the Opposition Leader choosing “get Australia back on track”.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/anthony-albanese-peter-dutton-trade-personal-attacks-as-gloves-come-off/news-story/22d185a494dc39594a243144f103c6e9

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f79739 (287) No.22345238>>22345254 >>22345280 >>22345317 >>22363073 >>22363078 >>22370640 >>22408794 >>22416688

>>22339443

>>22339463

PM dodges Australia Day stoush with Dutton, calls him ‘nasty’

Natassia Chrysanthos - January 13, 2025

1/2

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has sharpened his character assault on Peter Dutton, branding him a mean and nasty opposition leader, as the Coalition ignites new culture wars by attacking Labor’s record on antisemitism and Australia Day in an increasingly personal election campaign.

Dutton revived a political clash over Australia Day on Monday when he vowed to reinstate a rule, scrapped by Labor, forcing councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on January 26, following his claim on Sunday that “every incident of antisemitism” in Australia since late 2023 could be traced to Albanese’s weak leadership.

Albanese, who has promised to “do politics better”, sought to sidestep the vexed debates but escalated a personal attack on Dutton by labelling him “cold-hearted, mean-spirited [and] sometimes just plain nasty” in an ABC Melbourne radio interview on Monday morning.

The exchange prompted the Executive Council of Australian Jewry to call on leaders to put politics aside and collaborate on solutions as police investigated antisemitic incidents in Sydney this week.

“There is too much at stake for Australia’s future for anyone to be playing politics with this issue,” council co-chief executive Peter Wertheim said. “Some bipartisan co-operation would be welcome.”

But the character attacks in early January suggest negative personal politics will feature heavily in this year’s election campaign, despite polls showing the economy will be voters’ top priority, as Dutton tries to force Albanese onto his turf by pursuing culture war topics under the banner of uniting the country.

The Albanese government in 2022 allowed councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on any date from January 23 to 29, overturning a requirement by former prime minister Scott Morrison that they must do so on Australia Day.

Dutton, who last month vowed not to hold press conferences in front of the Indigenous flag, said a Coalition government would reinstate the citizenship ceremony edict within its first 100 days of office.

“It will be a sign of pride and nationalism in our country,” he said. “The prime minister sent a signal to those councils that Australia Day didn’t matter and that it was something to be ashamed of. The prime minister doesn’t talk publicly about that, but that’s exactly what he did.”

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore, whose council has moved its citizenship ceremony to January 29 this year, said it did so because January 26 was “not a day of unity but of mourning, or survival”.

“Advocating for a change of date won’t resolve the devastating and far-reaching impacts of colonisation, but it does provide a platform for an ongoing and honest conversation,” she said.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece said his council held citizenship ceremonies on January 26 but supported “advocating to the federal government to change the date of Australia Day”.

Albanese avoided the debate on Monday.

“My council holds [citizenship ceremonies] on Australia Day,” he said, at a press conference to announce a $3 billion government investment to upgrade the national broadband network.

Dutton said he wanted the country “to be united, not to be divided” -- a counter to Labor’s continued efforts to paint him as too divisive to lead the country.

Asked about Albanese’s characterisation of him on Monday, Dutton said: “I think you will hear this every day from the prime minister and from [Treasurer] Jim Chalmers and others because they don’t have anything positive to say.”

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22345243

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The opposition leader has also escalated his attack on Albanese’s leadership.

“Every incident of antisemitism can be traced back to the prime minister’s dereliction of leadership in response to the sordid events on the steps of the Sydney Opera House,” Dutton said at an unofficial campaign launch in Melbourne on Sunday.

His comments reference pro-Palestinian protests in 2023 following Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel at which several demonstrators chanted antisemitic slogans. Dutton’s allegation, which was not included in an early distribution of the text of his planned speech, is the opposition’s strongest claim yet about Albanese and antisemitism in Australia.

In response, Albanese said antisemitism should not be an issue “where Peter Dutton seeks to divide politically”.

“I said … earlier on in the interview that Peter Dutton could be just plain nasty. And that’s an example,” Albanese said on ABC Melbourne Mornings on Monday.

“It should be [an issue] where he acknowledges that anyone of any decency opposes antisemitism … Everything is a political opportunity for Peter Dutton rather than an attempt to bring the country together on something that surely we all agree.”

Albanese said he had condemned Hamas’ attack and the Opera House protests in October 2023. He said Labor had introduced new laws to ban Nazi salutes, hate symbols and doxxing; appointed a special envoy for antisemitism; and increased funding for security at schools and synagogues.

“We’ll continue of course to work with the Australian Federal Police and security agencies … to investigate acts of antisemitism. We call it out. We call it out each and every time,” he said.

Australia’s Director-General of Security Mike Burgess warned politicians last year to “be careful about their robust political debate” as conflict in the Middle East contributed to an elevated terrorism threat level.

Dutton on Monday declared Australia was facing “one of the most shameful periods in our history” as a surge of antisemitism risked spilling over into hate crimes against other minority groups.

Murray Norman, the head of multi-faith organisation Faith NSW, said all religious groups were aware of an unprecedented rise in antisemitism in a “supercharged environment”.

“Antisemitism needs to be called out at the highest levels,” he said.

“We also need to be aware the Muslim community is hurting, the Hindu community is asking ‘what about us’ and the Christian community standing there, trying to see how they can [offer] support.

“We are coming up to an election, and I think both sides need to be engaging with faith communities and remembering that their words resonate … Politicians need to call out these things, but do some heavy lifting and engage with all the communities.”

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/federal/nasty-albanese-rejects-dutton-s-claim-he-is-at-fault-for-all-antisemitism-20250113-p5l3ry.html

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f79739 (287) No.22345254>>22345280 >>22345317 >>22357770 >>22363073 >>22363078 >>22370640 >>22408794 >>22416688 >>22416701 >>22427841 >>22427866 >>22427961 >>22428194 >>22428278 >>22428316 >>22430614 >>22431695 >>22431744 >>22431836 >>22431841 >>22431862 >>22438055 >>22438069 >>22438098 >>22438150 >>22438184 >>22438288

>>22328053

>>22339443

>>22345238

Mayors back Peter Dutton’s citizenship vow

MOHAMMAD ALFARES and BRENDAN KEARNS - 13 January 2025

Mayors across the nation are rally­ing around Peter Dutton’s plan to reinstate the requirement for local councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day, hailing it as a courageous step to bring the country together.

In Melbourne on Monday, the Opposition Leader vowed to make the changes in his first 100 days in office, as he blasted the ­Albanese government’s approach to the celebrations and accused Anthony Albanese of flagging to councils that the date “didn’t matter” and was “something to be ashamed of”.

The Australian Local Government Association, representing 537 councils nationwide, said it was important to be pragmatic and welcome the flexibility to hold these ceremonies.

“As the closest level of government to our communities, and most trusted, it’s important we reflect and respond to the needs of our local areas,” ALGA president mayor Matt Burnett said.

Mr Barnett said there was a range of reasons why some councils did not hold events on January 26, including extreme heat, staff numbers and costs.

Last year, 81 local councils moved their annual citizenship ceremonies because of feedback from Indigenous communities.

Brisbane lord mayor Adrian Schrinner said it was “right” for Australians to celebrate on the country’s national day. “Australia is the best country in the world to live in, which is why so many ­people want to call it home,” he said. “I think it’s right that Australians continue to celebrate the freedom and opportunities they enjoy on our country’s national day.

“Welcoming new citizens on Australia Day is a tradition we’ve long held in Brisbane and it’s something our council intends to continue.”

Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate also agreed, saying the Glitter Strip had always held citizenship ceremonies on January 26 and would continue to do so, regardless of federal politics.

The City of Melbourne will host nine citizenship ceremonies in 2025, including some on January 26.

Lord Mayor Nick Reece said the council “continues to hold citizenship ceremonies on 26 January”.

“In September 2022, council endorsed its position on 26 January, which includes advocating to the federal government to change the date of Australia Day.”

Adelaide lord mayor Jane Lomax-Smith said council would comply if parliament mandated ceremonies to be held on Australia Day, but flagged the government should be able to compen­sate council for additional costs.

Dr Lomax-Smith said the long-established practice was to hold citizenship ceremonies as close to Australia Day as possible, which ultimately minimised any financial impacts.

“The practice of holding the ceremony on a normal working day allows our civic leaders, new citizens and community to attend all Australia Day events,” she said.

“Of course, if it is mandated by the commonwealth parliament that a ceremony is held on Australia Day then we will comply. However, we may ask the government of the day to compensate council for the additional cost incurred because of their policy.”

The mayor of Mansfield Shire in Melbourne’s outer north, Steve Rabie, praised Mr Dutton. “Good on Peter Dutton for bloody having the balls to stand up and celebrate Australians,” he said.

Under the previous Coalition government, councils that re­scheduled their ceremonies away from January 26 were stripped of the right to host such events.

“I believe we live in the greatest country in the world,” Mr Dutton said.

“I’m incredibly proud of Australians and who we are.

“I’m proud of our Indigenous heritage. I’m very proud of our ­migrant story, and I’m very proud of the fact that we are a country that should stand up and protect and defend its values.

He said the Coalition would act quickly to reintroduce the ­requirement.

“Would we reinstate the requirement for councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day? You bet it’ll be done in the first 100 days, and it will be a sign of pride and nationalism in our country,” he said.

“So the Prime Minister sent a signal to those councils that Australia Day didn’t matter, but that’s exactly what it did,” Mr Dutton said.

He also accused Australia’s high commissioner to Britain, ­Stephen Smith, of being “ashamed” of his country after he signalled he would not attend an annual Australia Day gala dinner, a year after he cited sensitivities around celebrating the day.

“Why government appointments like Stephen Smith would be ashamed of our country is beyond my comprehension,” Mr Dutton said.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/dutton-vows-to-reinstate-australia-day-ceremonies-in-first-100-days/news-story/c292d2b8d0c26acddc0ec9e16f35bae7

https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/peter-dutton-says-he-will-force-councils-to-hold-australia-day-citizenship-ceremonies/news-story/f7777997c7bcd3d3dfa784478456e2b3

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f79739 (287) No.22345280>>22345282 >>22438288

>>22345238

>>22345254

COMMENTARY: No value to nation in deconstructing Australia Day

ALEXANDER DOWNER - 13 January 2025

1/2

As we approach Australia Day, we know the country will be engulfed in controversy about whether we should use January 26 to celebrate our country’s achievements.

It’s unfortunate this debate cannot be put to bed.

There’s a tendency for political debates to descend into those who think that justice can be achieved by deconstructing parts, if not all, of society, and those who want to build on our foundations. These are two very different approaches to objectives that are often shared across the political spectrum. Just about everyone wants a society they perceive to be fair; everyone wants equal rights for all people regardless of their gender, race or religion; and everybody wants Australia’s Indigenous cultures to be admired and respected as the oldest living cultures on Earth.

So how do we achieve those things in the most harmonious way possible?

For the deconstructionists, society needs to become financially more equal and that will happen if some of the wealth of high-income earners is destroyed.

The idea is simple. By imposing confiscatory levels of taxation on high-income earners, the wealthy will be levelled down and some of their prosperity redistributed to others. The idea is that no one will become really wealthy, no matter how hard they work or how inspirationally entrepreneurial they may be.

Experience shows this deconstructionist plan has two downsides. One is it discourages entrepreneurship and wealth creation, encouraging those people to seek greener pastures in other countries. As a result, some of the wealth-creating drivers of the economy are simply taken away, leaving the rest with less ability to support people in need.

What is more, there isn’t a finite quantity of wealth in society. If somebody is entrepreneurial and creative, they have the capacity to create wealth not just for themselves but for the whole community. The point is they create wealth rather than have wealth redistributed to themselves. So the deconstructionist approach will ultimately fail because it will destroy the wealth-creating capacity of society.

Then there are the gender issues. The rights of women can be advanced by destroying some of the rights of men and by discriminating against them in the workplace. That too has a downside. It doesn’t meet the traditional liberal virtue of judging all people on the basis of their merits, not their innate and unchangeable characteristics.

What is more, those who are discriminated against -- males – will gradually grow to resent the discrimination. In the end, the deconstructionist approach will fail because there will be a revolt against it. So that brings us to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. The deconstructionists argue that can be achieved by destroying some of the symbols and conventions of the nation. They assume the nation is inherently racist and much of it needs to be torn down. In particular, they regard the celebration of European settlement in Australia as immoral and inappropriate.

That point of view makes several assumptions. First, that Australia as a continent would have made a greater contribution to human welfare if no one other than the original human settlers had ever come to live. Secondly, it assumes European and subsequent development of Australia has been at best unsuccessful. That assumption is deeply flawed.

I have visited more than 100 countries around the world and I know of none that combines as well as Australia does a high standard of living for most people, extensive individual freedom of choice and expression, and almost unequalled multiracial harmony. To suggest this isn’t something to celebrate is just ignorance.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22345282

File (hide): 0a4f334e5be0d2d⋯.jpg (399.3 KB,2047x1152,2047:1152,Australia_Day_merchandise.jpg) (h) (u)

>>22345280

2/2

Thirdly, it assumes that Indigenous societies structured as they were in 1788 would have been sustainable until 2025. That was never going to happen. One of the nations with advanced technology -- be it European or Asian – would eventually have taken control of the Australian continent.

Indeed, in all probability more than one nation would have done so, and that could have led to very real tensions between different parts of Australia.

The fact that the British settled Australia with their emerging commitments to human rights and economic progress, as well as democratic institutions accountable to the public and a rule of law under which all citizens would be equal, was, to say the least, a blessing for this continent.

But trying to destroy our national symbols and institutions has another downside. It is deeply offensive to the vast majority of Australians. To achieve what is called reconciliation may require tolerance, patience and the creation of new mechanisms. It might even require the creation of some new institutions, particularly educational institutions. But it won’t be achieved by destroying what is important to many people.

Mocking Australia Day, calling it invasion day and demonstrating only offends people. Councils that have cancelled Australia Day ceremonies irritate the majority of people.

Sure, these demonstrations please some Indigenous activists, particularly the more radical ones, as well as others in society who want to deconstruct our whole way of life. That isn’t most people.

Trying to cancel our national day of celebration is not a contribution to reconciliation. It’s one of many divisive symbolic mistakes made by Indigenous activists. The other is using excessively the imported practice of acknowledging traditional owners. There’s a time and a place to do something like that, and all Australians certainly agree the whole nation, including Indigenous Australians, deserves respect. But inserting an acknowledgment at the beginning of every speech, every public event and even at private events is pretentious, patronising and insincere. More importantly, it is starting to irritate people, thereby becoming counter-productive.

The hard-left political activists who have campaigned for Indigenous rights over the past two or three decades have often embraced the deconstructionist political philosophy. It has achieved nothing. And it’s legacy is one of polite irritation throughout the mainstream of Australian society. They’re quiet about it but look how they voted on the voice.

So as we approach Australia Day, it would make more sense if we found ways of building on our strengths as a society rather than looking for ways to deconstruct. Building is likely to win the support of the public whereas deconstruction is only going to alienate vast swathes of our society.

'Alexander Downer is a former foreign minister and high commissioner.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/no-value-to-nation-in-deconstructing-australia-day/news-story/04b114b26a22e1f65631010fe3e8e42d

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f79739 (287) No.22345317>>22428194

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>>22345238

>>22345254

Australia Day poll conducted by the Institute of Public Affairs reveals support for celebration

James Morrow - January 13, 2025

A “vibe shift” against corporate activism has led to a surge in support for celebrating Australia Day on January 26, a new analysis has found, with increasing numbers of younger Australians saying the nation should keep the date.

The latest results of the Institute of Public Affairs’ annual poll of attitudes about the holiday reveal that 69 per cent of Australians agreed with the statement, “Australia Day should be celebrated on January 26”.

This figure was up six points from last year, when 63 per cent of Australians said they supported celebrating the holiday on January 26, marking the arrival of the First Fleet at Port Jackson in 1788.

Among Australians aged 18-24 the swing was even larger.

In 2024 just 42 per cent of Australians in that age group polled by the IPA said they supported celebrating on the 26th.

This year, that figure shot up to 52 per cent, meaning that every age bracket polled now supports Australia Day staying where it is on the calendar.

The poll also found that a whopping 86 per cent of respondents that they were “proud to be Australian”, while 68 per cent agreed that Australia has “a history to be proud of”.

“The vibe and energy around Australia Day have shifted,” said Daniel Wild, the IPA’s deputy executive director.

“It should give the entire community great hope that despite relentless indoctrination taking place at schools and universities, young Australians are growing in civic pride.”

“In the recent past, every January Australians have needed to endure the hand-wringing and navel gazing of the self-appointed thought leaders and elites demanding the country to think of the reasons to be ashamed of Australia. No more,” he said.

Mr Wild also said that the failed Voice referendum, as well as retreats by companies like supermarket chain Woolworth’s and hospitality group Australian Venue Co. in the face of backlashes over their decisions not to stock merchandise or celebrate the holiday, had sent a message.

“It is clear that mainstream Australians have had a gutful of this attitude and being put upon by the elites,” Mr Wild said, adding that the arrival of the First Fleet brought with it values of parliamentary democracy, liberty, fairness and tolerance.

“The 26th of January is more than just a date, it represents the establishment of modern Australia as a free and fair country.”

However, Mr Wild said that despite the results, a “continued campaign” to abolish the commemoration meant “if we do not continue to fight for Australia Day, we will lose it.”

The poll of 1,002 Australians was conducted by Dynata over 14-15 December.

TO CHANGE OR NOT TO CHANGE?

The debate around Australia Day has also seen politicians weigh into the matter, with Employment Minister Murray Watt sparking a debate after an awkward slip of the tongue during a Sunrise interview.

“The date should change, that’s exactly the position of the Government,” Mr Watt initially said, before correcting himself.

“We’ve said repeatedly that we don’t want to change the Australia Day date. I’m not surprised to see that percentage of people in Australia say we should keep the date in place. To be honest, I think most Australians are sick of this debate that we have every single year.

“The opposition is not talking about changing the date. The government is not talking about changing the date. It’s a non-issue really. I’m not sure why we have this debate every year.”

His sparring partner on the breakfast news segment, Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce, took the opportunity to have a quick jab at the slip-up.

“I know, it’s a slip of the tongue. If you play the tape, we started the interview with Mr Watt saying we should change the date,” Mr Joyce said on Sunrise.

“Look, I think people are over having elites tell them how to run the country, deciding to make changes from an executive level.”

https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/australia-day-poll-conducted-by-the-institute-of-public-affairs-reveals-support-for-celebration/news-story/6a97492769ab8d157d21ba13eb2a279f

---

Surge In Support For Australia Day As Mainstream Australians Find Their Voice

Daniel Wild - 13 January 2025

https://ipa.org.au/publications-ipa/media-releases/surge-in-support-for-australia-day-as-mainstream-australians-find-their-voice

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f79739 (287) No.22351441>>22351444 >>22357756

>>22225525

>>22339502

Crucial face-to-face with Donald Trump? It’ll be a journey to the Quad summit

ROSIE LEWIS and BRAD THOMPSON - 14 January 2025

1/2

Anthony Albanese has pointed to a Quad leaders meeting that could be months away for his possible first face-to-face meeting with Donald Trump, as former foreign minister Julie Bishop cast doubt on how long Australian ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd will last.

As concerns grow that the Prime Minister has not moved fast enough to develop a connection with the incoming US president, former ambassador Joe Hockey said Mr Albanese and Peter Dutton should consider offering Mr Trump a state visit to Australia.

While Mr Trump prefers bilateral meetings over multilateral forums, Mr Albanese referred to the Quad leaders summit this year between Australia, the US, India and Japan when asked when he anticipated his first face-to-face meeting with the president-elect and whether there was an upcoming summit he might attend.

No date has been locked in for this year’s Quad summit, after US President Joe Biden hosted the leaders in Delaware in September.

“There is a summit this year, which will be the Quad summit. I note that all the Quad foreign ministers will be visiting President Trump’s inauguration on January 20, including Penny Wong representing Australia,” the Prime Minister said.

“When I had the discussion with the incoming president, we discussed the Quad. We’ve discussed as well with the Indian authorities, with Prime Minister Modi last year when we met. He’ll be hosting the Quad and indeed I had a discussion with the (Indian) high commissioner on January 1 when he visited Kirribilli House with the Indian cricket team. We had a discussion there about those details. But they occur diplomatically and we will get that organised appropriately.”

Foreign Minister Penny Wong will fly out within days to join Mr Rudd at Mr Trump’s second inauguration, and will lead the nation’s efforts to build a new relationship with the new Republican White House.

But Mr Rudd’s position as ambassador has been in question over his past virulent criticisms of Mr Trump and his recent decision to holiday in Queensland over Christmas, just weeks out from the president’s swearing-in.

Asked about Mr Rudd’s future as ambassador, and if she would replace him if still foreign minister, Ms Bishop initially said the question was unfair, before adding: “We haven’t seen what occurs post-transition. It is still president-elect Trump. The inauguration is on the 20th of January so watch this space.”

In November, Trump aide Dan Scavino suggested Mr Rudd might be on borrowed time when he shared a GIF of sand running through an hourglass in response to a social media post in which Mr Rudd congratulated Mr Trump on his election win.

Mr Trump last year described Mr Rudd as “nasty” and said he “won’t be there long” when asked about the former prime minister’s highly critical comments from 2022.

In one now deleted post, Mr Rudd said: “He drags America and democracy through the mud. He thrives on fomenting, not healing, division. He abuses Christianity, church and Bible to justify violence.”

Mr Rudd also referred to Mr Trump as the “village idiot” in comments captured on video.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22351444

>>22351441

2/2

Mr Hockey, who was ambassador in Washington DC during Mr Trump’s first three years as president and who will attend his inauguration next week, noted Australia was one of just two countries to be given a state visit during Mr Trump’s first term.

“It was an incredible accolade for Australia. It costs nothing to make an offer and he is the most powerful person in the world as of next Monday,” the Bondi Partners founder told The Australian.

“Both candidates (for prime minister) should be thinking about offering Trump a state visit to Australia later this year. He was close to visiting Australia prior to his 2020 election and time beat us but it’s something that both the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition will need to think about.”

Michael Shoebridge, founder of Strategic Analysis Australia, said a prime minister who was “in charge and on top of a policy agenda” would want to meet with Mr Trump before the election, due by May, to demonstrate his policy agenda was powerful and something the president-elect would work with.

As Australia seeks protection from tariffs and a guarantee AUKUS will proceed, senior government sources said Mr Albanese wanted to meet with Mr Trump at the earliest opportunity.

They said Senator Wong’s invitation as Foreign Minister to his inauguration was unprecedented. She will hold meetings with members of the Trump administration, members of congress and other inauguration attendees while in the US to build on Mr Albanese’s “early engagement” with the new administration.

Mr Shoebridge said Mr Albanese should have expressed an interest in attending the inauguration.

“Precedent doesn’t really matter when it comes to Donald Trump. Donald Trump will see people wanting to come to his inauguration as a good thing and people staying away as a bad thing,” he said.

“He’s a guy who looks at the size of crowds at his rallies. This idea you can defend decisions not to go by a longstanding diplomatic protocol is a failure to understand the Trump administration. My view is he (Mr Albanese) doesn’t want to meet Trump before the election because he thinks the risks of going badly are too high.”

Mr Dutton said it would be important for Senator Wong to make contact with Mr Trump’s incoming secretaries while she was in Washington, insisting there was “a lot of repair work” to be done.

“Penny Wong has made some pretty derogatory remarks in the past about President Trump. As we know, Ambassador (Kevin) Rudd has, as well. So presumably that will form part of the discussions that they have in Washington to explain whether or not that view has changed,” the Liberal leader told ABC radio.

“Penny Wong has been completely at odds with the US over a number of issues in recent months with regard to the Middle East as well … The damage that Penny Wong has done to a number of relationships should be the focus of repair work over the balance of this term.”

Government sources said Mr Rudd had met regularly with congressional leaders and individuals in Mr Trump’s circles over the past year and was widely regarded as one of the most active and effective ambassadors in the US in developing critical networks among Republicans and Democrats.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/crucial-facetoface-with-conald-trump-itll-be-a-journey-to-the-quad-summit/news-story/e0a7461ad7ad91efb8b54d37965b255f

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f79739 (287) No.22351454>>22490485

File (hide): 9a6cbae4fe441bc⋯.jpg (229.66 KB,750x654,125:109,EM_21.jpg) (h) (u)

>>21947984 (pb)

>>22254943

>>22288283

Albanese warns Musk: Stay away, we’ve got foreign interference laws

Paul Sakkal - January 14, 2025

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has pre-emptively warned the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, not to get involved in the upcoming federal election, noting that Australia has anti-foreign interference laws.

Musk backed President-elect Donald Trump with $US277 million ($447 million) during the US election and is supporting far-right parties in the United Kingdom and Germany, where the billionaire’s posts on his X platform have generated debate about mass migration, crime and identity politics.

Asked in an interview about Musk’s interventions, Albanese said his job was to focus on Australia’s national interest.

“We have foreign interference laws in this country and Australian elections are a matter for Australians,” Albanese said. “I have no intention of being a … commentator on what people overseas want to engage in. People will make their own judgments and have their own views about that.”

The prime minister did not specify which of Australia’s laws protecting from foreign interference would apply to Musk. The laws -- passed by the Turnbull government in 2018 largely in response to allegations of Chinese Communist Party involvement in Australian politics – were mostly targeted at foreign governments.

They include a transparency scheme that requires people lobbying Australian politicians on behalf of foreign interests to register, and laws that make it a crime to influence a political or government process at the behest of another country’s government.

One section of the laws would apply to Musk: a ban on donations from non-Australians to political parties. His company, X, has a local Australian subsidiary.

The Tesla boss’s donations and public support for Trump’s campaign have secured him a place in Trump’s inner circle, but Musk has also involved himself in overseas elections.

Musk has reportedly promised the UK minor conservative Reform party $157 million, despite later clashing with its leader, Nigel Farage. And Musk has pushed discussion about a decades-long grooming gang scandal in northern England -- that was exposed in newspaper reports, official inquiries and the courts from 2013 – to the top of national attention.

In Germany, Musk has endorsed the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), a far-right party that has experienced a rapid rise in popularity but includes figures accused of using Nazi-linked phrases and gestures.

Musk has not endorsed any parties or political figures in Australia.

But he has been critical of the bipartisan push, floated by Opposition Leader Peter Dutton months before Labor adopted it last year, to restrict Australians under 16 from using social media.

Musk has also been highly critical of Australia’s eSafety Commission after it unsuccessfully attempted to force X to remove all videos of a church stabbing in the western Sydney suburb of Wakeley last year.

“Seems like a backdoor way to control access to the internet by all Australians,” he wrote in November of the under-16 ban.

Coalition senators Matt Canavan and Alex Antic led the argument against the under-16 policy, which was also opposed by One Nation leader Pauline Hanson.

Canavan and opposition communications spokesman David Coleman have both praised Musk’s Starlink internet service, while the government this week announced it would put $3 billion towards an upgrade of the NBN.

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/albanese-warns-musk-stay-away-we-ve-got-foreign-interference-laws-20250114-p5l42a.html

https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1859479797329535168

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f79739 (287) No.22351460>>22351462

>>22328149

Joe Biden lauds AUKUS as key achievement

In his final foreign policy speech, Joe Biden declared the US is ‘winning the worldwide competition’, citing the AUKUS defence pact as a pivotal achievement in countering China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific.

JOE KELLY - 14 January 2025

1/2

Joe Biden has claimed AUKUS as one of his key achievements in a speech defending his international record and conduct of foreign policy, arguing that America had created new partnerships in the Indo-Pacific to “challenge China’s aggressive behaviour”.

Mr Biden declared that the United States was now “winning the worldwide competition” and, in a swipe at Donald Trump, argued that America and its alliance relationships were “stronger” than when he took office.

At an address at the State Department, the US President gave a report on the progress he believed his administration had achieved in the past four years -- arguing that the world was “at an inflection point” and that the post-Cold War period was over.

“A new era has begun,” he said. “In these four years we’ve faced crises. We’ve been tested. We’ve come through those tests stronger in my view than we entered those tests.”

Mr Biden said his administration had made the most significant investment in America and its working people since the New Deal and that his investments in climate and clean energy had spurred nearly $500bn worth of private sector investment.

He said that nearly $1.3 trillion had been invested in defence procurement as well as in research and development to fight and win wars, which he argued was the best way for the US to deter adversaries.

“NATO is more capable than it’s ever been and many more of our allies are paying their fair share. Before I took office nine NATO allies were spending two per cent of GDP on defence. Now, 23 are spending 2 per cent (of GDP on defence),” he said.

“We made partnerships stronger and created new partnerships to challenge China’s aggressive behaviour and to rebalance power in the (Indo-Pacific) region,” he said. “We brokered a defence pact known as AUKUS among the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom -- connecting the Atlantic and Pacific allies as only America is able to do.”

Mr Biden said he had taken the quadrilateral security dialogue to the next level and tightened co-operation between democracies to ensure more secure supply chains and greater collaboration on advanced technologies.

The outgoing US President said that there was a fierce economic and technological competition under way -- including competition over human values – but argued the United States was in a better position under his leadership than when he took over the presidency four years ago from Mr Trump.

“Our adversaries and competitors are weaker,” he said. “During my presidency I have increased America’s power in every direction.”

“America is more capable and I would argue better prepared than we’ve been in a long, long time. While our competitors and adversaries are facing stiff headwinds, we have the wind at our back,” Mr Biden said.

“Our sources of national power are far stronger than they were when we took office. Our economy is booming, although there is more work to do … We are the envy of the world,” he said.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22351462

>>22351460

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He argued that Russian leader Vladimir Putin had failed to achieve any of his strategic objectives in Eastern Europe, subjugate Ukraine or break the unity of NATO.

“Today Ukraine is still (a) free, independent country with the potential for a bright future,” he said. “We laid the foundation for the next administration so that they can protect the bright future of the Ukrainian people.”

He also said that, in the Middle East, Iran was weaker than it had been in decades.

“Did you ever think that we’d be where we are with Iran at this moment?” he asked. “After those despicable attacks by Hamas (on Israel) on October 7?

“Now Iran’s air defences are in shambles and their main proxy Hezbollah is badly wounded.”

Mr Biden said the evidence of a seriously weakened Iran and Russia lay in Syria.

“President Assad is both countries’ closest ally in the Middle East. Neither could keep him in power,” Mr Biden said.

The US President said that Israel had contributed to the global outlook by inflicting damage on Iran and its proxies.

While major authoritarian states including Iran, Russian, China and North Korea were aligning more closely with one another, this was “more out of weakness than out of strength”.

Mr Biden said that, with respect to the strength of authoritarian nations, the incoming Trump administration had been left in a better position because of his administration’s management of foreign policy.

“We are in a better strategic position (in) the long-term competition with China than we were when I took office,” Mr Biden said.

He argued that, on its current trajectory, the Chinese economy would never surpass that of the US and made clear he had told Xi Jinping that America’s expectation was for Beijing to play by the international rules.

His administration had taken action against unfair trade practices and had also imposed targeted tariffs on Chinese steel, cars and semiconductors instead of across-the-board tariffs.

Mr Biden said his administration had enlisted US partners in responding to China, arguing he was successful in “building more convergence among our allies on a shared approach to China than ever existed.”

Yet he argued his administration had continued to manage the relationship with China responsibly, created new lines of communication at the highest level and at the military to military level in actions which had prevented the likelihood of conflict.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/defence/biden-lauds-aukus-as-key-achievement/news-story/791779b6ac1bbcddc1d921acb6e7521a

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f79739 (287) No.22351487

>>22214343 (pb)

>>22214384 (pb)

>>22214410 (pb)

Australian pilot Daniel Duggan to fight US extradition order

Joanna Woodburn and Maddison Connaughton - 14 January 2025

The family of Australian pilot Daniel Duggan is set to challenge his upcoming extradition to the United States in the Federal Court.

The legal proceedings are being launched after the Commonwealth government agreed on December 19 to surrender the 56-year-old to the US.

The former US Marines pilot, who moved to Australia in the early 2000s and later became a citizen, is accused of breaching arms trafficking laws by training Chinese pilots in 2012.

US prosecutors claim at a South African flying school called the Test Flying Academy of South Africa (TFASA), Mr Duggan was involved in illegally training Chinese military pilots in how to land on and take off from an aircraft carrier.

If found guilty, he could face up to 65 years in a US prison.

In a video statement, Mr Duggan's wife Saffrine said his family had no choice but to pursue legal action.

"We have been forced to resort to court action today because the government has not been transparent about this case, despite Dan being locked up in maximum-security prison for the past 26 months with no Australian charges," Ms Duggan said in the recording.

"Dan is exercising his rights as an Australian citizen to due process under Australian law.

"We are an Australian family and we deserve a fair go."

Mr Duggan, who is currently being held in jail at Wellington in central western NSW, has denied the allegations.

He was arrested in December 2022 at nearby Orange, where he lived with his wife and six children.

Mr Duggan had been due to be extradited to the US within two months of the request being granted.

Under the Federal Extradition Act, this time frame will now be paused until the judicial review is finalised.

Mr Duggan's legal team has argued he is not eligible for extradition because it didn't become explicitly illegal for Australians to train foreign militaries until 2018.

Mr Duggan's lawyer, Bernard Collaery, told the ABC his client had been indicted in the US under the first Trump administration, "before Australia had comparable laws to the United States" regarding training foreign militaries.

"This is a significant case in terms of the treaty law between the United States and Australia," Mr Collaery said.

In an interview last year with the ABC's Background Briefing program, Mr Duggan said that he "took the word of TFASA [the flying school] that these pilots were Chinese test pilots, student Chinese test pilots. They weren't military".

He said he believed his prosecution was due to rising tensions between the US and China.

"It's solely because this is a political thing --- anything to do with China is considered bad now," he said.

A spokesperson for the attorney-general said as the matter was before the courts, it would be inappropriate to comment beyond confirming Mr Duggan would not be surrendered until the court process was complete.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-14/federal-court-challenge-launched-to-block-pilots-extradition/104815936

https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/courts-law/top-gun-pilot-challenges-attorneygenerals-approval-of-extradition-to-us/news-story/d877d172d9d585c91cc16dd33ddc2dce

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f79739 (287) No.22351506>>22351512

>>22225525

Everything to know about Donald Trump's inauguration

Nick Pearson - Jan 14, 2025

Next Tuesday morning, Donald Trump will take his second oath of office to become president again.

Trump is only the second president to be elected to two non-consecutive terms.

So what is there to know about his second inauguration.

What time is the inauguration?

The swearing-in ceremony begins at midday Washington time on Monday, January 20.

It starts at 4am AEDT on Tuesday, January 21.

It's on at 3am Queensland time, 3.30am in South Australia, and 1am in Western Australia.

What will happen at the inauguration ceremony?

The first official proceeding of the event is the swearing-in of Vice President-elect JD Vance.

Country singer Carrie Underwood will sing the song "America the Beautiful".

Then Trump will be sworn in, followed by his inaugural address.

Faith leaders will end the ceremony with a benediction, followed by a performance of the national anthem by Christopher Macchio.

The inauguration is not a particularly lengthy event, and how long it takes will largely be dependent on how long Trump speaks for.

How will Donald Trump be sworn in?

The swearing-in of Donald Trump will be administered by Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Roberts.

Roberts has presided over every swearing-in since Barack Obama's first inauguration in 2009.

The oath of office has been the same since 1884, and is constitutionally mandated.

The oath reads:

"I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God."

How long will Trump speak?

The shortest address was George Washington's second inauguration, which was just 135 words.

The longest was William Henry Harrison, who, anxious to prove he was still vigorous and energetic despite his age, spoke for 8445 words without an overcoat or gloves.

He died 31 days later.

Trump's first inauguration speech was 1433 words, which is historically on the shorter side.

Will Trump swear the oath on the Bible?

While it is not constitutionally required, Trump will likely swear the oath on a Bible held by his wife Melania.

Last time he was sworn-in, Trump used the same Bible Abraham Lincoln used at his inauguration in 1861.

But the president-elect has just endorsed a new version of his own Bible, billed as the "Inauguration Day Bible".

This edition costs A$113 and features Trump's name embossed on the cover.

The Trump Bible also includes the text of the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and the lyrics to country song "God Bless the USA".

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22351512

>>22351506

2/2

Where does the inauguration take place?

The inauguration ceremony is held at the United States Capitol in Washington DC.

The dignitaries are seated on a platform constructed specifically for the event.

The ceremony is held facing the National Mall, a long strip of turf that runs between the Washington Monument.

Who will be at the inauguration?

Every living former president is expected to be at the inauguration, including Joe Biden.

It was highly unusual for Donald Trump to snub the inauguration ceremony of Biden in 2021 - the first sitting president to do so in a century.

As Trump takes the oath of office, he will be metres away from politicians he has repeatedly attacked in the past, Biden, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and George W Bush.

Kamala Harris is also expected to be there, as is Hillary Clinton, in her capacity as a former First Lady.

Representing Australia at the inauguration is Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd.

Most world leaders will not attend the event, represented instead by ambassadors or foreign ministers.

A series of right-wing firebrand leaders from around the world have been invited: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Argentinian President Javier Milei, El Salvador President Nayib Bukele and Hungarian President Viktor Orban.

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has also been invited, but will need to ask permission to leave his home country.

Bolsonaro had his passport seized in connection with his alleged role in an attempted coup.

Also invited is Chinese Premier Xi Jinping, who will not attend.

The rest of the day

Trump will also be attending a series of events held throughout the day.

At one of the balls held on the day, The Village People have confirmed they will perform.

Trump has been raising a massive sum of money for his inauguration events, with big technology companies like Amazon and Apple writing big cheques.

The total sum is estimated to be A$274 million.

Despite the record haul, Trump's inauguration schedule is dramatically lighter than his predecessors.

Three balls will be held at a golf club Trump owns in northern Virginia.

By contrast, Bill Clinton raised A$39 milllion in 1997 and attended 14 balls.

https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-inauguration-2025-date-time-what-to-expect-everything-to-know-explained/cf75c1d2-1937-47d4-9599-3d6982b4f28e

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f79739 (287) No.22357731>>22357734 >>22357744 >>22357749 >>22357751 >>22371065 >>22371114 >>22444396 >>22460297 >>22465854 >>22482626

File (hide): d4aa48f28f9f76b⋯.mp4 (15.44 MB,640x360,16:9,Australian_fighter_Oscar_J….mp4) (h) (u) [play once] [loop]

>>22225435

Fears captured Australian soldier Oscar Jenkins has been executed by Russian forces

Melbourne private school teacher Oscar Jenkins went to fight for Ukraine last year before being snatched by Russian soldiers.

Chris Reason - 14 January 2025

1/2

An Australian volunteer soldier in Ukraine is believed to have been killed after being captured by Russian forces on the frontline --- the first Australian Prisoner of War to be put to death in more than 70 years.

Sources in Ukraine have told 7NEWS that the body of 32-year-old Melbourne teacher Oscar Jenkins has been found.

The Australian Government says it is making urgent enquiries, even confirming on Monday the Russian Ambassador was called in to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade “to seek information and reiterate Australia’s expectations that Russia will comply with its obligations under international law”.

If confirmed, it’s expected Canberra will react with fury over the incident.

Ukrainian authorities have been contacted and Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence is understood to be working to confirm the truth of the reports.

There is speculation that a body has been recovered but it is yet to be officially identified.

At least six Australians who’ve volunteered for the Ukraine cause have been killed since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.

But Jenkins would be the first to be captured and executed by the Russians.

He’d been serving with Ukraine’s 66th Mechanised Unit in Kramatorsk, Donetsk, when he was taken prisoner by Russian forces in December.

A week later, a video emerged of Jenkins being interrogated and repeatedly slapped in the face by a Russian captor.

“Where are you from?” the soldier asked him in Russian. “Nationality?”

When Mr Jenkins appeared unable to understand, his interrogator slapped his face, shouting: “Speak faster!”

“I’m Australian,” said Mr Jenkins.

“What are you doing here?”

When Jenkins answered that he was a soldier, he was slapped again.

“Are you f*cked in the head? You are a teacher!”

Jenkins is believed to be the first Australian Prisoner of War to die since the Korean War more than 70 years ago.

Australian War Memorial historian Michael Kelly says WWII veteran Horace “Slim” Madden returned to service in Korea and was captured at the Battle of Kapyong in April 1951.

He died of malnutrition and mistreatment in captivity seven months later in November 1951.

Private Madden was posthumously awarded a George Cross.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22357734

>>22357731

2/2

Jenkins had no military background and volunteered for war despite the Australian Government’s plea for citizens not to join Ukraine’s military efforts.

He was a graduate of the prestigious Melbourne Grammar School in 2010, before studying at Monash University where he studied biomedical sciences.

A talented cricket and football player, Jenkins played for the Toorak Prahran Cricket Club in Melbourne.

According to his LinkedIn profile, he played in the premiership winning team in 2013-14 and served as a junior coach for three seasons.

Club President Neil Gumley said Jenkins was a typical cricket-loving Australian who’d be valuable in any team.

The star payer had actually returned to Australia in February for a club reunion.

“He was in good spirits,” said Gumley.

“Oscar is a loved and talented member of the Club.”

In 2015 he moved to China and in 2017 got a job as a lecturer at Tianjin College.

It’s believed he travelled to Ukraine to volunteer last year.

Jenkins was the first known Australian soldier captured by Russian forces.

News of his arrest went viral on Russian websites, where he was paraded as a Western mercenary.

Jenkins was dressed in military gear with his hands bound and dirt smeared on his face.

He was repeatedly asked about why he was in Kramatorsk, almost 700km east of Kyiv.

“I want to help Ukraine,” he said.

The interrogation video was first shared by Alexander Sladkov, a Russian propagandist and military correspondent for Russia 1 and Russia 24 TV channels.

The Federal Government had reacted with anger over the capture, summonsing Russia’s ambassador to Australia Alexey Pavlovsky to DFAT headquarters in Canberra.

In a statement at the time, Acting Foreign Minister Mark Dreyfus said the federal government was “making representations to the Russian government” about the case.

“We urge the Russian government to fully adhere to its obligations under international humanitarian law, including with respect to prisoners of war,” Dreyfus said.

There had been hopes of a possible prisoner swap deal.

Jenkins’ mental health was said to be fragile. In one bizarre video on his personal social media pages, he raved wildly about veganism saving the world.

Military sources in Ukraine told 7NEWS that his behaviour on the frontline in his final weeks had been “erratic” --- and that he’d been complaining the war had been moving too slowly for him.

Ukraine’s Ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko has praised the lost Australians as “Ukraine’s ANZACS”.

The list includes Michael O’Neill, 47, Jed Danahay, 27, Trevor Kjeldal, 40, Sage O’Donnell, 24, Digby Goldthorpe, 26, Matthew Jepson, aged in his 20s, and Joel Stremski, 21.

https://7news.com.au/news/fears-captured-australian-soldier-oscar-jenkins-has-been-executed-by-russian-forces-c-17385010

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f79739 (287) No.22357744

>>22225435

>>22357731

‘All options on the table’ after reports of Australian’s death at Russia’s hands

Matthew Knott and Nick Bonyhady - January 14, 2025

Foreign Minister Penny Wong says all options will be on the table, including expelling Russia’s ambassador to Australia, if it is confirmed that Russian soldiers killed Oscar Jenkins, a Melbourne man who was captured while fighting for Ukraine.

Wong said that the government held “grave concerns for Mr Jenkins’ welfare” and was “making urgent inquiries following the reports of his death”.

7News cited Ukrainian sources in a report on Tuesday who said Jenkins’ body had been found. Jenkins, a former teacher, had been fighting with Ukraine against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s illegal invasion of the democratic country.

Wong said she was thinking of Jenkins’ family in Australia, telling ABC radio on Wednesday morning: “They’ve lived with the fear and uncertainty of a loved one in the middle of a foreign war for many months. I know these reports will be devastating to them, and they are in my thoughts and, I’m sure, the thoughts of many Australians.”

Asked whether Australia could expel Russia’s ambassador to Australia, Alexey Pavlovsky, Wong said that “all options are on the table”.

“Russia is obliged to treat all prisoners of war in accordance with international humanitarian law,” she said. “This includes humane treatment and the right to a fair trial.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said the department was providing consular support to Jenkins’ family.

“His family has requested privacy, and we ask that media respect their wishes,” the spokesperson said.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, told the ABC that Moscow’s forces do “not adhere to any conventions, including those regarding the treatment of prisoners of war”.

“Russia has a deep-seated hatred of these foreigners, like Mr Jenkins; people who have made the responsible choice to stand up for the rule of law and freedom by supporting Ukraine,” he said.

Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham said the federal government should recall Australia’s ambassador to Russia and expel Russia’s ambassador to Australia if Russian forces had killed Jenkins.

“If reports are true that Russia undertook an extrajudicial execution of a captured Australian citizen, then the Albanese government should respond in the strongest possible terms,” Birmingham said.

“Three years ago, the then-Labor opposition urged Russian diplomatic expulsions, yet in government, Labor have undertaken no such action. If Russia has engaged in such an egregious and illegal action, then it must now be a catalyst for action.

“Nothing less than the recalling of Australia’s ambassador to Russia and expulsion of Russia’s ambassador to Australia would be sufficient in such circumstances.”

Jenkins’ plight first came to light when footage began circulating online on December 22, showing him with his hands tied being paraded before a camera by Russian soldiers.

He was seen being slapped across the face and questioned.

In the video, Jenkins, speaking in English and broken Ukrainian, explained he had been fighting in the Donbas region to help Ukraine.

It was unclear how long Jenkins, who left Australia to teach and travel in China in 2015, had been fighting with Ukrainian forces. He was the first Australian known to have been captured by Russia.

Jenkins attended Melbourne Grammar School, studied biomedical sciences at Monash University, and had been working as a lecturer at a Tianjin college in China.

Friends with whom he played cricket at the Toorak Prahran Cricket Club described him as having “a heart of gold”, saying he was well-liked, kind, generous, academic and a deep thinker. “He’s your typical Aussie cricket boy -- he helped us win that premiership. He’s maybe a bit smarter than average, more deep-thinking. Thoughtful.”

Jenkins’ late father, Scott, was a dentist and also a member of the club, with which the Jenkins family maintained a close association.

At least eight Australians have been killed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, including Victorian man Joel Benjamin Stremski, and Queenslanders Brock Greenwood and Matthew Jepson, who died while holding off Russian troops in the country’s east in October. Dozens of Australians are believed to still be fighting, often paid as part of the foreign legion.

https://www.theage.com.au/world/europe/australian-man-fighting-for-ukraine-feared-dead-20250114-p5l4cc.html

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f79739 (287) No.22357749>>22357750

>>22225435

>>22357731

Anthony Albanese, Peter Dutton warn Russia of strongest action possible if Oscar Jenkins has been executed

JAMES DOWLING - 15 January 2025

1/2

Peter Dutton and Anthony Albanese have presented a bipartisan threat of the “strongest possible action” against the Kremlin if Australian foreign fighter Oscar Jenkins is confirmed to have been executed by Russian forces, following his capture in eastern Ukraine.

Speaking at a press conference in Tasmania on Wednesday, the Prime Minister upped the ante after Foreign Minister Penny Wong asserted that “all options are on the table”, including the potential expulsion of Russian ambassador to Australia Aleksey Pavlovsky, should Mr Jenkins be dead.

“If there has been any harm caused that is absolutely reprehensible and the Australian government will take the strongest action possible,” Mr Albanese said.

“I spoke with the Ukrainian ambassador on Monday in my office. We call upon Russia to immediately confirm Oscar Jenkins’ status, we remain gravely concerned. We will await the facts to come out.”

The opposition leader, speaking at a press conference in Halls Gap, Victoria, urged Mr Albanese to send Mr Pavlovsky packing should diplomats prove Mr Jenkins was executed.

“We should send a clear message to Russia and to other similar minded regimes that Australians are sacrosanct, they deserve to be protected by their government and if they are harmed in this way and brutally executed as seems to be the suggestion in this case … There should be a strong reaction,” Mr Dutton said.

“I would encourage the Prime Minister to be open and honest and transparent in relation to this matter. If it is the case that this Australian has been killed then Australia should respond in the strongest possible terms and that is our bipartisan position I’m sure.”

The capture of Mr Jenkins during his service to the Ukrainian Foreign Legion has threatened to further strain Russo-Australian relations during an enduring ebb, prompting insults of “obedience” to the “collective West” from Russian diplomats and fighting language from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Penny Wong says grave concerns for welfare of Oscar Jenkins

Senator Wong earlier on Wednesday said the Australian government held “grave concerns for Mr Jenkins’ welfare” and was “making urgent inquiries following the reports of his death”.

“We do need to ascertain the facts, and we’re working very hard to do that,” she told the ABC.

Senator Wong said Mr Pavlovsky “has been called in” and that “Russia is obliged to treat all prisoners of war in accordance with international humanitarian law, this includes humane treatment and the right to a fair trial”.

“We will look at the facts when they have been ascertained,” she said.

“But I want to be clear, all options are on the table.”

Ukrainian and Australian diplomats on Tuesday were making urgent inquiries after reports that the 32-year-old former Melbourne Grammar boy had died, just weeks after he was captured by Russian forces in the Donbas region of Ukraine.

Mr Jenkins had been classified as a prisoner of war in diplomatic negotiations with his Russian captors, but Ukrainian ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko said he was now focused on finding out if the captured soldier was alive.

“We are now verifying this information to see if it is true … For now we cannot verify whether this has happened,” Mr Myroshnychenko said.

The Australian understands the Department of Foreign ­Affairs and Trade had not received any word of Mr Jenkins’ condition from Russian counterparts since his capture.

Government sources also said there were added complexities surrounding Mr Jenkins’ whereabouts due to the fact he was enlisted and serving with the Ukrainian armed forces.

“The Australian government is making urgent inquiries following reports of Oscar Jenkins’ death,” a DFAT spokesman said. “These reports have not been verified, but we continue to have grave concerns for Mr Jenkins’ welfare. At the Foreign Minister’s direction, the Russian ambassador was called into DFAT on 13 January to seek information and reiterate Australia’s expectations that Russia will comply with its obligations under international law. The Russian Federation is obligated to treat all prisoners of war in accordance with international humanitarian law.”

It was the second time Russian ambassador has been hauled before DFAT over the capture of Mr Jenkins, with hostage negotiations raising the temperature of rhetoric between either side.

Mr Jenkins is the first Australian combatant reportedly captured by Russian forces in Ukraine. If confirmed dead, he would also be the first Australian killed in Russian captivity since the conflict began. Six other Australians have died on the front lines.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22357750

>>22357749

2/2

Russian forces reported to have tortured captured soldiers

UN rapporteurs have repeatedly described “widespread and systematic” torture in Russian prisons housing PoWs.

Australia has not had consular access to Mr Jenkins, meaning it could not communicate with him during his imprisonment, and has instead tried to use the Ukrainian government as a go-between.

Channel 7 has reported Mr Jenkins was allegedly killed by execution, and that a body had been recovered but not identified, while ABC News previously reported DFAT had heard concerns for Mr Jenkins as early as November.

Opposition foreign affairs spokesperson Simon Birmingham called for the diplomatic expulsion of Mr Pavlovsky should reports be confirmed.

“If reports are true that Russia undertook an extrajudicial execution of a captured Australian citizen then the Albanese government should respond in the strongest possible terms,” Senator Birmingham said.

“Three years ago the then Labor opposition urged Russian diplomatic expulsions, yet in government Labor have undertaken no such action. If Russia has engaged in such an egregious and illegal action then it must now be a catalyst for action.

“Nothing less than the recalling of Australia’s ambassador to Russia and expulsion of Russia’s ambassador to Australia would be sufficient in such circumstances.”

Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova last month said the Kremlin was “investigating” Mr Jenkins’ capture as she accused the Albanese government of being “Russophobic”.

“Efforts are currently under way to verify reports of the captured Australian citizen,” she said on December 26. “We are monitoring the situation alongside the relevant agencies. The Australian political establishment (has a) hostile stance towards Russia.

“Canberra obediently follows in the footsteps of the collective West, which pursues a Russophobic policy.”

Responding to the far more direct and derisive rhetoric deployed by the Kremlin, DFAT said Australia was simply acting on its national interests.

“We reject the mischaracterisation of Australia as ‘Russophobic’,” a DFAT spokesman said at the time. “As the Prime Minister has said, we will always look after Australians.”

According to his LinkedIn profile, Mr Jenkins graduated from Melbourne Grammar School in 2010, before studying at Monash University and then moving to China in 2015.

Having fallen out of contact with many of his friends and loved ones in Australia, he was seen in a social media video being taken prisoner by Russian troops.

Video circulated by pro-Putin accounts on Telegram showed the Australian being aggressively interrogated as he tried to communicate in English, broken Ukrainian and French.

At one point, he was asked in Russian: “Do you want to live?” The Australian misunderstood the question, replying: “Live? I am in Kramatorsk, not far.” Mr Jenkins, looking shocked, was hit on the side of the head twice in the footage, with his interrogator telling him in ­Russian: “Don’t blame me for slapping you. Where are you from? Where are you from? Nationality? F*ck, talk faster.”

Late last month Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus appealed to the Kremlin to treat Mr Jenkins humanely after the Russian video footage of him being beaten and abused. “The Australian government is making representations to the Russian government,” Mr Dreyfus said. “We urge the Russian government to fully adhere to its obligations under inter­national humanitarian law, including with respect to prisoners of war.”

Co-chair Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations Kateryna Argyrou expressed her fear for Mr Jenkins on behalf of Australia’s Ukrainian community.

“If it’s true, it’s absolutely horrific. Every single member of our community feels sick to the stomach at the possibility,” she said. “We are waiting with the rest of Australia for more information and expect Russian authorities to immediately respond to the government’s inquiries.”

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/defence/captured-australian-oscar-jenkins-reportedly-executed/news-story/33abd9978fce0c8b97bb146bd07bd6d0

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f79739 (287) No.22357751

>>22225435

>>22357731

Friends serving with Oscar Jenkins in Ukraine believe Australian killed shortly after capture

Andrew Greene and David Estcourt - 15 January 2025

Soldiers who served alongside Oscar Jenkins in the Ukrainian armed forces say they are convinced their Australian comrade was killed by Russia's military shortly after being captured last year.

Numerous foreign fighters and Ukraine supporters have told the ABC they believe the 32-year-old is dead.

But while authorities say they hold "grave fears" for the prisoner of war, they stress they have had no formal confirmation of his fate.

In December, a hostage video emerged of the captured Melbourne man being interrogated by Russian soldiers in eastern Ukraine, weeks after Australian authorities were alerted to his "disappearance".

An American soldier who previously served alongside Mr Jenkins in Ukraine's armed forces said he was notified of his Australian friend's death last week.

The foreign fighter, who asked to be identified by his call sign "Forrest", said he believed his Australian comrade had been killed, and described his grief at losing his "best mate".

"During the identification process they used the tattoo he had, and it was shown it was him … he had the word 'vegan' tattooed on his hand," he told the ABC.

Another Australian with links to Ukraine's armed forces said he had been provided "unnerving information" that pointed to Oscar Jenkins being killed soon after being captured.

"Oscar's body was discovered by my friend's sister squad. It appears that they were executed," said the military figure who is currently based in Ukraine.

"Oscar's body was with three or four others who were from the same squad. [They were] all found in the same area where the video was taken," the Australian figure told the ABC, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade first learned of concerns for the welfare of Mr Jenkins in November.

At least seven Australians are believed to have died fighting in Ukraine since the invasion began in 2022. But Mr Jenkins is believed to be the first to have been captured and held as a prisoner of war.

PM threatens 'strongest action possible' if reports of death confirmed

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it would be "absolutely reprehensible" if any harm had been caused to Mr Jenkins, but stressed Australia was yet to confirm what had happened to the prisoner of war.

"I spoke with the Ukrainian ambassador on Monday in my office," Mr Albanese told reporters in Tasmania.

"We call upon Russia to immediately confirm Oscar Jenkins's status. We remain gravely concerned.

"We will await the facts to come out but if there has been any harm caused to Oscar Jenkins, that's absolutely reprehensible and the Australian government will take the strongest action possible."

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said if Mr Jenkins had been executed, then Russia's ambassador to Australia should be expelled.

"If there is confirmation that Oscar Jenkins has been killed the government should take the strongest possible action, and that is that the ambassador should be withdrawn and the ambassador here in Australia should be sent packing," Mr Dutton said.

On Wednesday Foreign Minister Penny Wong also stressed that authorities were still working hard to verify Mr Jenkins's fate, but insisted the expulsion of Russia's ambassador to Canberra was a possibility.

"All options are on the table," Senator Wong told the ABC's AM program.

"I need to, as the foreign minister, identify and ascertain the facts beforehand.

"Obviously this does not occur in the context of a relationship that has been an easy relationship. This has been a very difficult relationship for many years."

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-15/oscar-jenkins-friends-believe-russia-killed-soon-after-capture/104819238

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f79739 (287) No.22357756>>22357758

>>22225525

>>22351441

Anthony Albanese invited Donald Trump to visit Australia in first phone call

ROSIE LEWIS - 15 January 2025

1/2

Anthony Albanese invited ­Donald Trump to Australia in their first phone call a day after the incoming US president won the November 5 election. The invitation emerged amid warnings the Prime Minister will find it difficult to fit in a face-to-face meeting with the president-elect before the federal election.

As the Coalition accuses Mr Albanese of being missing in action in dealing with Mr Trump, The Australian has confirmed the Prime Minister told the president-elect he looked forward to welcoming him to Australia at the first available opportunity that was convenient for him.

Mr Albanese spoke to Mr Trump the morning after he was re-elected, but it wasn’t known until now that an invitation had been made.

The Prime Minister on Monday pointed to a Quad leaders summit, which could be months away, for a possible face-to-face meeting with the incoming president, with doubts he will be able to see Mr Trump before calling an election unless the government can organise a quick bilateral meeting.

Arthur Sinodinos, Australia’s ambassador in Washington DC from 2020-23, overlapping with Mr Trump’s first presidency, said face-to-face meetings between leaders were always important, particularly early on, to establish a personal relationship.

Given the upcoming federal election is due by May, “it’d be difficult to have a face-to-face sooner rather than later”, he said.

“Perhaps in the margins of a G7 meeting, depending on when that is, that’d be good,” Mr Sinodinos said. “These days most international diplomacy is at that personal level, particularly between leaders. There will be many leaders seeking the president’s ear but Australia does have an important relationship with the US.

“We’ve been strategic with the US in this part of the world so it is important to take the opportunity not just to talk about bilateral issues but also the importance of the US role in the region and why that is important to their security, and how they need us for their security.”

Ensuring AUKUS continued and, if possible, accelerated would be a priority for the meeting, Mr Sinodinos said, as well as the economic and security relationships, what form of engagement the administration wants to have, and what policies it will roll out.

Mr Albanese, who government sources say looks forward to meeting with Mr Trump at the first available opportunity, has spoken about the “very constructive beginning” to the two leaders’ relationship and the efforts he made to connect to more than 100 Democrats and Republicans. He did not seek a meeting with Mr Trump on his way back from the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro in November, when federal parliament was wrapping up for the year.

Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham demanded the Prime Minister “explain why he has passed up multiple opportunities for early engagement with President Trump”.

“At every turn he has failed to reach out to President Trump prior and post his election, unlike the UK’s Keir Starmer, who met with President Trump prior to his election, or Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, who visited him after his win,” Senator Birmingham said. “Now Anthony Albanese is passing up on the opportunity to attend the inauguration. Through inaction Mr Albanese risks missing the opportunity to maximise his influence and engagement with Australia’s most important ally.”

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22357758

>>22357756

2/2

Finance Minister Katy Gallagher pointed out Mr Albanese was one of the first foreign leaders to speak with Mr Trump after his election and she was “very confident” those discussions would continue.

An invitation to Mr Trump’s inauguration went to Foreign Minister Penny Wong and other Quad foreign ministers, which the government says is unprecedented, and she was “absolutely thrilled” to be going.

After former Australian ambassador to the US Joe Hockey told The Australian Mr Albanese and Peter Dutton should be considering offering Mr Trump a state visit later this year, Senator Gallagher was asked if there’d be an appetite from taxpayers to foot the bill.

“In general, we don’t look at state visits -- wherever those … visiting dignitaries come from – as a cost. We don’t weigh it up from that point of view because face-to-face relationships are important,” she told Seven’s Sunrise program.

“We’ve had many state visits. They’re an important part of our relationships with other countries. With the incoming President Trump, I have no doubt there will be very close engagement between both administrations, as you would expect.”

Liberal MP Aaron Violi, who co-chairs the Parliamentary Friends of AUKUS group with Labor MP Luke Gosling, said given the importance of the US-Australia alliance and the nuclear-powered submarine pact, Mr Albanese should meet with Mr Trump “as soon as possible”, and before the election if there was a window to do so.

“Everything looks positive (for AUKUS) but obviously that confirmation is crucial and that’s why it’s important the Prime Minister and Ambassador (Kevin) Rudd and all senior ministers are continuing to engage with the new administration given how important AUKUS is to our short-term and long-term national security needs,” Mr Violi said. “Given the talk of tariffs … we should seek exemptions as we have previously under the Trump administration. That’s the real test for Ambassador Rudd.”

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/anthony-albanese-invited-donald-trump-to-visit-australia-in-first-phone-call/news-story/5edbcf25f7e58b9326ccaaf4bcd0a92b

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f79739 (287) No.22357770>>22357775 >>22428194

>>22339443

>>22345254

Dutton set to legislate January 26 Australia Day as more councils back plan for citizenship ceremonies

BRENDAN KEARNS - 15 January 2025

1/2

Peter Dutton will look at legislating January 26 as the nation’s holiday, as mayors in Labor and independent-held federal electorates back his proposed Australia Day citizenship ceremony crackdown on progressive councils.

The Opposition Leader had called on Anthony Albanese to “stand up to mayors” in local councils that were no longer holding citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day after Labor loosened the rule in 2022 to allow ceremonies three days before or after January 26. Last year 81 councils changed that date of their citizenship ceremonies.

Mr Dutton was asked on Tuesday if he would legislate to permanently recognise January 26 as Australia Day to protect it from changes.

“I’m happy to look at the suggestion and we have to make sure we continue to be proud of who we are as a country,” he said in Ipswich, Queensland, on Tuesday morning in the “must-win” seat of Blair.

Mr Dutton escalated his war of the words with Anthony Albanese, saying he did not want to be told “by woke CEOs and a weak Prime Minister” that he cannot celebrate Australia Day.

“I want to celebrate Australia Day and I want to stand there with those new citizens who have come from a country that they are trying to escape either persecution or poverty, and they want a future for themselves for their children, their grandchildren,” he said.

Mr Dutton’s announcement comes as support from mayors across the country continues to grow.

In Sydney’s Fairfield City Council, which sits in the federal electorates of McMahon and Fowler, Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone hit out at “woke” councils. McMahon is held by Labor Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen on a 9.5 per cent margin and Fowler by independent Dai Le -- aligned with Mr Carbone – on a 1.6 per cent margin.

“I think that many councils take advantage of the current system. They use it, they’re a little bit woke, in my view, compared to our council, and they sort of try and find an excuse to not hold it,” he said.

In the federal electorate of Gellibrand, held by Labor on an 11.5 per cent margin, Hobsons Bay City Council Mayor Daria Kellander said the council has always hosted citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day, and will continue to do so.

“Australia Day has proved a popular choice for residents to celebrate and become citizens. I’m looking forward to hosting my first citizenship ceremony this upcoming 26 January,” she said.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22357775

>>22357770

2/2

Steve Rabie, Mayor of Mansfield Shire Council in Melbourne’s outer north, in the federal electorate of Indi -- held by independent Helen Haines on an 8.9 per cent margin – said “I support the plan. And our council, Mansfield Shire, always has an Australia Day, and on that day we celebrate all Australians”.

Other mayors in Liberal- and National-held seats have also supported Mr Dutton’s call. Anthony Marsh, Mayor of Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, which holds an Australia Day citizenship ceremony, said “we’re not talking about Mornington Peninsula citizenship or Victorian citizenship, it is a federal thing. It’s highly governed by federal regulation so I think it’s appropriate that they determine when that is”.

Bundaberg Mayor Helen Blackburn said “Australia Day is a day for all Australians”, and that she had heard “loud and clear” from her community in Queensland that they want citizenship ceremonies held on Australia Day.

“We need to stand together and we need to enjoy a day that represents us as a community, us as a country,” Ms Blackburn said.

Loddon Shire Council Mayor Dan Straub said he supports Mr Dutton’s commitment “in principle” but being in a more regional council means that flexibility is sometimes needed.

Meanwhile, Labor mayors have come out swinging against Mr Dutton’s proposal. Darcy Byrne, Mayor of Sydney’s Inner West Council, said “like clockwork, after New Year’s and before Australia Day, Peter Dutton tries to start a petty culture wars fight”.

“I remember when he tried to enforce an absurd federal government dress code at citizenship ceremonies, forgetting that, overwhelmingly, proud new citizens dress beautifully and certainly don’t need a fashion diktat from plain old Peter.”

The Inner West Council does hold ceremonies on Australia Day, and Mr Byrne said it “will continue to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day, with an emphasis on the proud Aboriginal history of this continent”.

Anthony Albanese was asked on Tuesday if he would reinstate the mandate but did not answer. He went on to say that he would attend the National Australia Day commemorations.

“I hope that Peter Dutton this year makes the choice to join the National Australia Day celebrations in Canberra. That’s what I did as the opposition leader,” the Prime Minister said.

Mr Dutton responded by rejecting the invitation to attend the event in Canberra because “it is not the tradition”.

“Frankly, I think the Prime Minister is pretty unhinged in some of his comments at the moment,” he said.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/dutton-set-to-legislate-january-26-australia-day-as-more-councils-back-plan-for-citizenship-ceremonies/news-story/00d2c71ed30df4380fc9dc275f8d7fd1

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f79739 (287) No.22363017>>22363020 >>22363030 >>22363037 >>22370597 >>22370619 >>22379024 >>22379048 >>22379102 >>22387524 >>22408749

File (hide): fb6c36470ab0af8⋯.jpg (485.66 KB,750x1000,3:4,MD_1.jpg) (h) (u)

File (hide): 305ba387ab0b08c⋯.jpg (263.5 KB,1469x1121,1469:1121,GhXPruragAA3gHD.jpg) (h) (u)

File (hide): 60644b0f3c0cd1a⋯.jpg (762.15 KB,1100x1032,275:258,POTUS_40.jpg) (h) (u)

>>22225665

>>22307893

‘Long-overdue’: World leaders react to Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal

Anthony Albanese has joined British PM Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron in calling for a ‘permanent, political solution’ in Gaza, and an influx of aid.

GEORDIE GRAY - 16 January 2025

1/2

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has joined British PM Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron in calling for a ‘permanent, political solution’ in Gaza, and an influx of aid after Israel and Hamas agreed on a 42-day ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza .

The deal, set to begin on Sunday, has raised cautious hopes for an end to 15 months of devastating conflict that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, left much of Gaza in ruins, and seen more than 250 Israeli hostages taken, with 33 set to be released in the first stage of the deal.

Mr Albanese on Thursday welcomed the ceasefire, calling it a “constructive step towards peace and stability in the region.”

“Today must mark the beginning of a new chapter for the Israeli and Palestinian ,” Mr Albanese told reporters.

“We hope it will allow the Palestinian people the opportunity to rebuild, reform their governance which is most necessary to pursue self-determination.”

In an earlier joint statement, Mr Albanese and Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong described the deal as “a constructive step towards peace and stability in the region”.

In their statement, they urged all parties to “respect its terms and safeguard a lasting peace”, stressing the importance of ensuring “the immediate release of all hostages and unimpeded and sustained increases in humanitarian assistance to all parts of Gaza”.

They also reiterated Australia’s commitment to a two-state solution, highlighting the need for Palestinian self-determination while condemning Hamas’ atrocities.

“Our thoughts are with all the civilians killed, displaced and taken hostage in this conflict, and the many humanitarian workers who lost their lives in the service of others.”

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, who is in Israel this week in a high-stakes bid to repair Canberra’s relationship with its closest Middle East ally, posted a photo on social media of himself meeting families of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas.

“Today I met with Ella and Daniel in Tel Aviv. Both had family members taken as hostages by Hamas terrorists on 7 October 2023. 467 days later they speak for all of us when they demand the return of all hostages to their families. The ceasefire must make that a reality,” he wrote on X.

At a news conference, US President Joe Biden explained that the deal incorporated elements of the three-phase framework he outlined in May 2024.

He stated that the first phase, set to last six weeks, includes a “full and complete ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas of Gaza, and the release of a number of hostages held by Hamas”.

In exchange, Israel will release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

“I’m proud to say Americans will be part of that hostage release on phase one,” Biden said. “Fighting in Gaza will stop, and soon the hostages return home to their families.”

The ceasefire -- which still requires formal ratification by the Israeli cabinet – is expected to involve the IDF withdrawing from populated areas in Gaza’s east during the first phase, according to Qatar Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, one of the mediators.

Al Thani noted that 33 hostages would be released over the 42 days, although the exact number of Palestinian prisoners to be freed remains unclear.

Reaction to the announcement was swift and varied across the international community.

President-elect Donald Trump announced the deal on his Truth Social platform before it was made official: “We have a deal for the hostages in the Middle East. They will be released shortly. Thank you!”

In a subsequent post, he added, “With this deal in place, my National Security team, through the efforts of Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, will continue to work closely with Israel and our Allies to make sure Gaza NEVER again becomes a terrorist safe haven.”

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22363020

>>22363017

2/2

In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Keir Starmer reflected on the toll of the conflict. “After months of devastating bloodshed and countless lives lost, this is the long-overdue news that the Israeli and Palestinian people have desperately been waiting for,” he said.

“For the innocent Palestinians whose homes turned into a warzone overnight and the many who have lost their lives, this ceasefire must allow for a huge surge in humanitarian aid, which is so desperately needed to end the suffering in Gaza. And then our attention must turn to how we secure a permanently better future for the Israeli and Palestinian people -- grounded in a two-state solution that will guarantee security and stability for Israel, alongside a sovereign and viable Palestine state.”

French President Emmanuel Macron said that a ceasefire deal must be followed by a “political solution” to end the conflict in Gaza.

“The agreement must be respected. The hostages freed. Gazans aided. A political solution must happen,” Macron posted on X.

In Europe, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo expressed relief, stating, “after too many months of conflict, we feel tremendous relief for the hostages, for their families and for the people of Gaza. Let’s hope this ceasefire will put an end to the fighting and mark the beginning of a sustained peace. Belgium stands ready to help.”

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre emphasised the importance of strengthening Palestinian institutions as a step toward peace.

“The Palestinian institutions must be strengthened and prepared to assume full control and responsibility, including in Gaza. Both Israel and Palestine must receive credible security guarantees, and the solution must be anchored regionally,” he said.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed a ceasefire deal, stressing that the “priority now must be to ease the tremendous suffering caused by this conflict”.

“The United Nations stands ready to support the implementation of this deal and scale up the delivery of sustained humanitarian relief to the countless Palestinians who continue to suffer,” he told reporters.

The European Commission’s President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the deal as a turning point.

“I warmly welcome the ceasefire and hostage release agreement in Gaza. Hostages will be reunited with their loved ones and humanitarian aid can reach civilians in Gaza. This brings hope to an entire region, where people have endured immense suffering for far too long. Both parties must fully implement this agreement, as a stepping stone toward lasting stability in the region and a diplomatic resolution of the conflict.”

In a statement, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s office wrote: “The ceasefire provides an important opportunity to substantially increase humanitarian assistance to the civilian population of Gaza.

“Italy is ready to play its part, together with its European and international partners, for the stabilisation and reconstruction of Gaza and to permanently consolidate the cessation of hostilities, also with a view to relaunching a political process towards a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, based on the two-state solution, with Israel and a State of Palestine living side by side in peace and security, within mutually recognised borders.”

Leaders in the Middle East also voiced their support. Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, writing on X, stressed the urgency of delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza.

“Egypt will always remain true to its commitments, a supporter of just peace, a loyal partner in achieving it, and a defender of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people,” he wrote.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, meanwhile, underscored the deal’s significance for regional stability and reiterated Turkey’s commitment to a two-state solution.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/world/longoverdue-world-leaders-react-to-gaza-ceasefire-and-hostage-deal/news-story/4118156ed2cff1c8893f9cbd448dff98

https://x.com/MarkDreyfusKCMP/status/1879636778602402169

https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113833442957238587

https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113833531533520804

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f79739 (287) No.22363030

>>22225665

>>22363017

‘Acknowledge Palestine now’: Labor activists’ post-ceasefire call as Anthony Albanese rules out recognition

RHIANNON DOWN - 16 January 2025

Labor activists have demanded Anthony Albanese immediately recognise Palestine and impose sanctions on Israel until it withdraws completely from the Palestinian territories, despite the Prime Minister’s attempt to neutralise the conflict as an election issue post-ceasefire.

Mr Albanese on Thursday ruled out formally recognising a Palestinian state before the next election, signalling he will only back such a move if terror group Hamas plays no future role in the Middle East.

But Labor Friends of Palestine spokesman Peter Moss said hours later that the Albanese government must follow the ALP constitution and fast track formal recognition regardless.

“Labor Friends of Palestine calls on the Australian government to implement official platform policy and immediately and unconditionally recognise the State of Palestine, joining 146 UN member states, including Ireland, Norway and Spain,” Mr Moss told The Australian

“Australia and the international community should apply comprehensive sanctions under international law, in line with the (International Court of Justice) July 2024 ruling, until Israel ends its illegal occupation.”

The Labor activist group late last week blasted Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus’s trip to Israel to repair relations with the Netanyahu government.

Mr Albanese on Thursday morning welcomed the ceasefire, and paid tribute to both US President-elect Donald Trump and outgoing Biden administration secretary of state Antony Blinken for their role in securing a deal.

While he would not commit to personally reaching out to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to renew Israeli-Australian relations after a difficult 18 months, Mr Albanese said Hamas was the enemy of both Palestinians and Israelis.

When asked if he would recognise Palestine before the next Australian election, due in May, Mr Albanese said that would not be possible.

“I can’t see any circumstance where that can happen before the election,” Mr Albanese said in Canberra.

“There hasn’t been an election in Gaza or West Bank for almost two decades, and, quite clearly, the Palestinians need to have reform as well. Hamas can play no role in a future Palestinian state.

“Hamas is the enemy of the Palestinian people, not just the enemy of the state of Israel.”

The comments came despite Labor having been at odds with the Netanyahu government for months over its support for an increased Palestinian presence at the United Nations.

Mr Netanyahu late last year attacked the Albanese government’s position on Palestine and accused it of fuelling anti-Semitism back in Australia as result.

When asked if he would personally reach out to his Israeli counterpart, Mr Albanese said he saw no issue with Israeli-Australian relations.

“I have no issue with Australia-Israel relations. They remain, in my view, strong.”

Mr Albanese also said he hoped the ceasefire would calm tensions domestically, amid calls from his own envoy on anti-Semitism, Jillian Segal, for an urgent national cabinet meeting to deal with an explosion in anti-Jewish hate crimes.

“I certainly hope, and have consistently called for, the lowering of temperature here,” he said on Thursday.

“Australians, I believe, wanted to see the hostages released. They want to see an end to conflict.”

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/anthony-albanese-wont-back-palestinian-statehood-before-the-election/news-story/2a07d41021a7e815f3a768c04667602d

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f79739 (287) No.22363037>>22387524 >>22408749

File (hide): edfaed2562631a5⋯.jpg (263.97 KB,2047x1152,2047:1152,Israel_deputy_prime_minist….jpg) (h) (u)

>>22225665

>>22307893

>>22363017

Mark Dreyfus plans to visit southern Israel amid fence-mending trip

GABRIELLE BRINER - 16 January 2025

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus plans to visit southern Israeli communities devastated by the October 7 attacks by Hamas militants, unlike Foreign Minister Penny Wong who avoided the area during her trip to Israel a year ago.

The Attorney-General spent his first day in Israel as part of the Albanese government’s attempt to improve the fractured relationship with the Netanyahu government in Jerusalem meeting his counterpart Justice Minister Yariv Levin.

Mr Dreyfus also met two relatives of Israelis held hostage by Hamas in Gaza, saying in a social media post that they “speak for all of us when they demand the return of all hostages to their families. The ceasefire must make that a reality.”

But Mr Dreyfus’s visit has been overshadowed by the announcement of the long awaited ceasefire and hostage deal between Hamas and Israel during one of the most strained periods in the 65-year history of Australia-Israel relations.

On Wednesday, hours before the highly-anticipated hostage release deal was finalised, Mr Dreyfus met with Mr Levin -- who is also Deputy Prime Minister – where a spokesperson said the pair discussed the “long and enduring relationship between Australia and Israel, state of the war including progress in current ceasefire/hostage negotiations and humanitarian conditions in Gaza.”

In a statement before the meeting, Mr Dreyfus underscored Australia’s enduring friendship with Israel, while advocating for the immediate release of hostages, a ceasefire, increased humanitarian aid to Gaza, and a two-state solution. “I will reiterate Australia’s demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, our support for a ceasefire, and increased humanitarian access to Gaza,” he said.

His trip marks exactly one year since Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s controversial visit to Israel, a diplomatic encounter that left many in Israel questioning Australia’s commitment to its longstanding ally. “Australia-Israel relations are at the lowest point I have seen them,” said Senator Dave Sharma, a former Australian Ambassador to Israel.

Australia’s historically close ties with Israel have deteriorated significantly since October 7, exacerbated by the Albanese government’s attitude towards Israel’s actions in their war against Hamas in Gaza, including the civilian death toll and for their humanitarian response.

Under Senator Wong, Australia has supported UN resolutions condemning Israeli settlements, reinstated the term “Occupied Palestinian Territories” and called for Israel to cease its “unlawful presence” in those territories.

These moves have sparked backlash from Israeli leaders, who view them as a significant policy shift and led to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu late last year attacking the Albanese government’s position on Palestine that he warned was fuelling anti-Semitism back in Australia.

On Thursday, Mr Albanese refused to say if he would be personally reaching out to Mr Netanyahu to help repair relations between the two countries, Mr Albanese said: “I have no issue with Australia-Israel relations. They remain, in my view, strong.”

Senator Sharma criticised the Albanese government’s response to the October 7 Hamas attacks as “shameful,” accusing it of failing to adequately support Israel’s efforts to defend itself and secure the release of hostages.

Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, emphasised the importance of combating anti-Semitism to restore Israel’s trust. “It is crucial for Australia to take decisive action against antisemitism for Israelis to view us as allies once again,” he said.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/mark-dreyfus-to-visit-southern-israel-amid-fencemending-trip/news-story/3432b776eb15295631a14681d16e2db4

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f79739 (287) No.22363058>>22408778

File (hide): bd7e601cc1b0129⋯.jpg (345 KB,750x1081,750:1081,KR_33.jpg) (h) (u)

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>>22328149

AUKUS agreement to get ‘strong support’ in Trump administration, Marco Rubio says

JOE KELLY - 16 January 2025

Incoming Secretary of State for Donald Trump’s second term in the White House, Marco Rubio, says that the AUKUS agreement is “something that you’re going to find very strong support for in this administration”.

Speaking at his confirmation hearing, the Florida Senator said he wanted to remove impediments to the trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States and use it to achieve a better and more balanced strategic outlook in the Pacific region.

He argued that AUKUS was the model for US engagement with its allies. He said it was “almost a blueprint in many ways of consortium-like partnership with nation states that are allied to us to confront some of these global challenges”.

Senator Rubio noted that the agreement relied heavily on the Department of Defence, but clarified that AUKUS could help America and its partners in the realms of defence, critical minerals as well as sensitive technologies including artificial intelligence and quantum computing.

Republican Senator Jim Risch -- chair of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee – said that there “hasn’t been much discussion about AUKUS really since the thing started”.

“A lot of us have been pressing the administration to gear that up. It has not been forthcoming,” he said.

He asked Senator Rubio for his thoughts on the trilateral security partnership, its importance and the need for “getting this thing moving”.

Senator Rubio said that it was “one example of how we can leverage the power of these partnerships with allies … to reach outcomes and objectives such as creating a geopolitical and strategic balance in the Pacific region and beyond,” he said.

“So we’ll have to look at that and see what components of whatever impediments exist can be removed by the actions of the Department of State.”

Senator Rubio also made clear that, to maximise the potential of partnerships like AUKUS, it would require a whole of government effort from the United States.

“Very few of these global issues are entirely reliant on the Department of State,” he said. “The Department of Energy, the Department of Defence. We have a host of other government agencies -- Commerce in many cases – who also play a critical role in expediting and going through for example some of the lists of technologies that perhaps are not being transferred because they’ve been deemed sensitive.”

But Senator Rubio endorsed providing access to these technologies. He said that, “in the case of our strong close allies -- that’s the point”.

“You want to be able to find yourself in a situation where you can accelerate partnership by making available to key allies these sensitive technologies that we wouldn’t want to see in the hands or developed by an adversary.”

Senator Rubio also fired a warning to China, saying it had cheated its way to superpower status as it tried to undermine the “liberal world order” long cherished by the US elite.

“We welcomed the Chinese Communist Party into this global order. And they took advantage of all its benefits but they ignored all its obligations and responsibilities.

“Instead, they have lied, cheated, hacked and stolen their way to global superpower status, at our expense.”

Australia’s ambassador to the United States Kevin Rudd responded to the comments on AUKUS made by Senator Rubio by posting on the X social media platform: “Thank you for your great support for AUKUS, @marcorubio.”

“Looking forward to working with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the incoming Trump Administration across the full range of our foreign policy and national security challenges,” Mr Rudd said.

The Democratic co-chair of the Congressional AUKUS Working Group, Joe Courtney, also said that Senator Rubio had been a “strong supporter of AUKUS, helping to enact the landmark AUKUS authorities in 2023”.

“Great to hear that he is committed to continuing advancing the mission when he takes the helm at the State Department,” Mr Courtney said.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/world/aukus-agreement-to-get-strong-support-in-trump-administration-marco-rubio-says/news-story/35316727499cf4e1ebc6c4b554fa508f

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f79739 (287) No.22363073>>22363074 >>22428278 >>22428316

>>22345238

>>22345254

Corporate Australia downplays Australia Day for greater flexibility around public holidays

MATT BELL - 15 January 2025

1/2

Big business will shun Australia Day and allow staff to work on January 26, placing some of the country’s largest employees at odds with opposition leader Peter Dutton, who has vowed to protect the national day should the ­Coalition be elected.

Corporations including Telstra, Commonwealth Bank and AustralianSuper allow staff to work Australia Day and other public holidays for another day off -- perhaps one culturally important to them – championing the move as a win for employees after flexibility around their time off, despite few taking up the offer.

Other businesses including Woodside and EY, which also offer flexibility around Australia Day, will avoid holding any major celebrations and have instead put an onus on employees.

International tourists will also be shielded from Australia’s nat­ional day, with one of the country’s largest travel groups, Intrepid Travel, opting to focus on the Indigenous side of January 26 on tours held on that day.

Intrepid Travel Australia and New Zealand managing director Brett Mitchell told The Australian that about 50 per cent of staff opt to work Australia Day, which was the catalyst for its flexible public holiday policy, adding it was the right decision to not celebrate.

“As part of our reconciliation journey, we’ve listened a lot to what our First Nation partners think about this particular date and also our staff,” he said.

“The more businesses can provide that flexibility and show empathy, it adds up. Allowing staff to not partake in days like Australia Day is one way that ­allows us to foster an inclusive environment, and for us to show solidarity with the community and our partners.”

Mr Mitchell said Intrepid guides have been educated to talk about the Indigenous culture and will be encouraged to talk to tourists and celebrate Indigenous ­people.

“Depending on what country we’re in, we will use January 26 as a great opportunity to talk about First Nations culture and celebrate and even look to bring in an elder or someone connected to that land,” he said.

It comes as a poll published this week by the Institute of Public Affairs showed that 69 per cent of Australians say Australia Day should be celebrated on January 26, up from 63 per cent 12 months ago, while a majority of all age groups now back the day.

The Finance Sector Union has been key to the big four banks and super funds allowing employees to work on Australia Day in exchange for another day off.

National assistant secretary Jason Hall said workers valued flexibility and choice to take a day off when it suited them. “For others, it’s about living their values and not celebrating a holiday on a day that doesn’t resonate, or causes concern, for them,” he said.

“The FSU First Nations Workers Committee acknowledges that many Australians wish to celebrate the success and achievements of the nation that they contribute to every day, but also that Australia Day is a day of mourning, sorrow and invasion for many.”

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22363074

>>22363073

2/2

This year, Australia Day falls on a Sunday, which will see the holiday observed on January 27 in what will mean a long weekend. Few workers take up the opportunity to work Australia Day, with the operator of the Australian Securities Exchange, ASX, yet to receive any request from staff wanting to work on January 27, despite provisions in its EBA.

About 10 per cent of employees at Woodside elect each year to substitute at least one public holiday for an alternate date.

Law firm King & Wood Mallesons, which has more than 1600 employees in Australia, had 78 staff members use its flexible public holiday policy to take 127 days that worked for them in 2024.

Since January 2022, 1648 people out of PwC Australia’s near 9000-strong work force have taken the opportunity to float one or more public holidays.

The Opposition Leader this week said Australians should not be “ashamed of” Australia Day, doubling down on a Coalition election vow to overturn a Labor-era rule and force local councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on January 26 -- a move he would make within the first 100 days if elected to power.

Woolworths, which resumed selling Australian-themed products to coincide with the national day, mandates all office-based staff have the day off, while retail members continue to have the choice to work the public holiday if rostered on under a longstanding policy.

AustralianSuper allows staff to work on the “January 26 public holiday” for another day, while those of a different background can switch another two state-based public holidays.

Non-rostered employees in all Woodside locations are entitled to take leave in exchange for working on a public holiday, up to a maximum of five days a year under its public holiday policy.

The big four banks, ANZ, CBA, NAB and Westpac, all allow staff to swap Australia Day or another public holiday for a substitute day if approved by their manager.

The major accounting firms of Deloitte, EY and KPMG all offer flexible public holidays, which allows staff to swap two existing public holidays with a different day culturally significant to them.

“Our people appreciate the ability to structure their public holiday leave entitlements according to their preferences. For instance, some have chosen to use this policy for Australia Day,” EY Oceania talent leader Lauren Stanton said.

Since 2015, PwC Australia staff have had the choice to work public holidays and take a different day in lieu that suits their cultural, individual and/or religious preference.

PwC Australia chief people officer Karen Lonergan said a floating public holiday policy allowed staff the choice to work nationally recognised public holidays and take a different day in lieu, to suit cultural or religious preferences.

“We’ve found this approach supports productivity and is an example of how we think about flexibility at PwC. It’s just one way the firm demonstrates its commitment to creating a culture of greater inclusion,” she said.

Federal public service workers including those at the Australian Securities & Investments Commission are entitled to public holidays including Australia Day, but can swap any holiday for another day pending manager approval.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/companies/corporate-australia-downplays-australia-day-for-greater-flexibility-around-public-holidays/news-story/9ca67670c517d45c45bec18fd046fe02

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f79739 (287) No.22363078>>22363082

>>22345238

>>22345254

COMMENTARY: Look out, there’s a new vibe about our national day

ZOE BOOTH - January 15, 2025

1/2

Let’s face it -- over the past few years, celebrating Australia Day has become a bit on the nose, especially among university-educated types.

Head to more working-class areas, like my home town of Newcastle, and you’ll still see plenty of people celebrating. But in the city, it’s almost taboo.

This is a far cry from what I -- and probably many of you – experienced growing up. Clearly, something has changed.

For me, the biggest milestone was in 2017, when my (then) beloved Triple J stopped hosting the Hottest 100 on January 26. That was the nail in the coffin. From then on, celebrating Australia Day became entirely outside the Overton window.

Last Australia Day, down at Bondi Beach, I noticed something weird: not a single Australian flag in sight. Sure, a helicopter flew one over the beach a few times (God knows who paid for that), but no flags on towels, bikinis, or even the backs of sunburnt blokes.

Australia Day isn’t seen as a day of celebration anymore. For many, it’s morphed into a public exercise in self-flagellation.

Even my father, proudly displaying an Australian flag in our front yard, was asked by a friend’s wife: “Why do you have that swastika in your yard?”

After October 7, I attended a rally for Israel where I saw a man wearing an iconic red cap. I initially assumed it was a MAGA hat, but it actually said “Make Australia Great Again”.

I complimented him on it, but moments later he was questioned by police. I can only assume it was because he was a white male, alone, in a Trump-style hat.

A few years back, Cricket Australia announced it would avoid referencing Australia Day during its matches, only to backtrack after a public outcry. Meanwhile, in 2017, councils in Fremantle, Yarra and Darebin stopped holding citizenship ceremonies on January 26, prompting backlash from then prime minister Malcolm Turnbull.

Retailers have also waded in -- last year Woolworths said it would no longer stock Australia Day merchandise, only to reverse that decision recently, announcing Australia Day products will return in 2025.

Woolworths clearly feels the vibe shift of 2025. And it’s not just Woolworths. I’ve spoken to people around the world who sense it too. Commentator and historian Niall Ferguson senses it. Without us even realising it, it feels like celebrating Australia Day is becoming acceptable again. It’s not just the holiday itself -- it’s what it represents.

Increasingly, not only Australians but many in the West are refusing to feign guilt for who we are. The years of shaming “white colonists” have lost their grip. I’m not saying the shaming will stop, but it no longer wields the power it once did.

Ferguson argues that this shift is thanks to Donald Trump’s re-election, and I agree. His victory signalled that ordinary Americans want to prioritise their country and are tired of woke ideology and its shame-driven identity politics.

No doubt, Australia Day will still see protests.

Your social media will be full of keffiyeh-clad arts students calling it Invasion Day. But I’d bet good money that Bondi Beach will have more people decked out in Aussie gear than last year.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22363082

>>22363078

2/2

As Pascal Bruckner wrote in perhaps my favourite Quillette essay, Europe (and I’d argue Australia too) is consumed by guilt. Unlike the US, which severed its ties with Europe, Australia remains tethered to the monarchy and its perceived ills.

Some Australian republicans think cutting ties with the monarchy will cure us of this guilt, but anyone familiar with the far left (I was once part of it) knows that nothing will ever be enough.

Even if we became a republic, created Sorry Day, changed the date of Australia Day, voted yes to an Indigenous voice, and renamed every town and river with Aboriginal names, it still wouldn’t satisfy the insatiable demands of woke ideologues.

Like dealing with an abusive partner, the only solution is to refuse to be denigrated.

There are malevolent actors out there who would like to see the West and its values destroyed. We know that you can’t placate them or politely request respect. The only option is to stop playing their game.

It’s the same for those who want us to feel ashamed for celebrating the national day on January 26: stop trying to placate them by removing Australia Day products from shelves or changing the date.

As Bruckner said of Europe: “Either it becomes a convincing world player … or it will be dismembered by hungry predators waiting to devour it piece by piece … It is therefore imperative that we retain our self-confidence as combative occidentals, convinced of the uniqueness of our contributions to civilisation, and who make no excuses for our existence.”

The same applies to Australia. We’re still a young country and, while our national identity may not be as firmly established as America’s or Europe’s, we share a clear foundation in a Judeo-Christian moral framework that emphasises the value of human life, freedom, and individuality. There’s much to be proud of.

Having travelled extensively, I can confidently say there’s nowhere else I’d rather call home.

Of course, we’re not without our challenges -- tall poppy syndrome, an underwhelming culinary scene, and ongoing struggles in education, labour productivity, and housing affordability.

And yes, Indigenous Australians face serious and complex issues, but these cannot be reduced to a simple narrative of blame on white colonisation.

Changing the date of our national holiday won’t magically improve life expectancy, health outcomes or educational attainment for Indigenous communities.

This Australia Day, for the first time in years, I’ll be celebrating -- and I’m not ashamed.

Zoe Booth is a content director at Quillette.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/look-out-theres-a-new-vibe-about-our-national-day/news-story/568adce4361478fc31ed928397b0e593

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f79739 (287) No.22363090>>22371436 >>22371458

File (hide): de191ee84f6a659⋯.jpg (153.04 KB,1685x948,1685:948,Labor_MP_Don_Punch.jpg) (h) (u)

Judge lashes WA government over decision to return boy to abuser

PAUL GARVEY - 15 January 2025

A District Court judge has lashed a decision by West Australian government minister Don Punch to return a ward of the state into the home of a child sex predator as ­“utterly extraordinary” and called on the state to rethink whether it wanted to fight a sex abuse compensation claim against it.

Mr Punch -- a Labor MP since 2017 – was in a senior role with the WA Department of Communities when he helped set in train the return of eight-year-old Dion Barber into the care of his mother and her de facto partner in December 1988.

The Children’s Court had found 15 days earlier that, on the balance of probabilities, the de facto partner had sexually ­abused the boy.

Mr Barber was returned to the family home four months later.

He alleges he was then repeatedly sexually abused by his mother’s partner almost immediately.

Mr Barber is suing the state of WA, arguing it failed in its duty of care during his time as a ward of the state.

Opening the government’s defence on Wednesday afternoon, barrister Fiona Stanton said the state admitted it had breached its duties when Mr Punch and his colleague decided to send the boy back to the family home.

Judge Linda Black questioned how, in light of that admission, the state could argue that it was acting in good faith.

“I find it utterly extraordinary that the state would accept that it knew an eight-year-old … had been sexually abused by his stepfather, made a ward of the state, and within a very short … time returned him to the hands of the man who abused him. I find that frankly unbelievable,” she said.

Judge Black said she did not see how that decision could be anything other than an “egregious breach” of the department’s responsibilities.

The statement of claim from Mr Barber also alleges he was subsequently sexually abused by his biological father, his mat­ernal grandfather and the friend of foster parents -- all of whom he came into contact with during ­periods when he was a ward of the state. The government has disputed whether all of those instances occurred.

Judge Black asked Ms Stanton to ensure her instructors understood the possibility that Mr Barber could be awarded a significant amount of damages solely due its admitted role in the return of Mr Barber to his stepfather’s care.

“The department is at risk of a sizeable damages award just on what they admit, even when you put aside the things they don’t admit,” Judge Black said. “I do not want the plaintiff to get in the witness box if we can avoid it.”

Ms Stanton argued that the court needed to consider that Mr Barber had already suffered significant harm to his wellbeing as a result of the sexual and physical abuse he had suffered at the hands of not only his stepfather but also, allegedly, his biological father before he was made a ward of the state.

She said Mr Barber had also suffered mental harm as a result of his mother’s decision to take the side of his abuser, who denied ever interfering with the boy, and her efforts to give up her children.

Those other factors needed to be considered when weighing up just how much the state should be held responsible for Mr Barber’s long-term conditions.

Earlier, Mr Barber’s lawyer, Joel Sheldrick, said records from the case management conference led by Mr Punch in December 1988 after the sex abuse allegations were made showed that the department believed only Mr Barber and the mother’s partner “actually knew what happened”, a conclusion he described as one of “appalling negligence”.

He said Mr Punch and his colleague appeared to have given no regard to the evidence from the social workers who investigated the incident, to the medical evidence collected at the time, or to the findings of the Children’s Court magistrate who issued the ward order.

“[Mr Barber was] sent back into the hands of an abuser,” Mr Sheldrick said. “The horror this child went through … should not be underestimated.”

Mr Punch holds the Disability Services, Regional Development, Fisheries, Volunteering and Seniors and Ageing portfolios in the Cook Labor government. He is slated to give evidence to the trial next week.

Mr Punch is the member for Bunbury, a bellwether seat that has almost always been held by the party that forms government in WA.

Mr Sheldrick said the damage suffered by Mr Barber at the hands of his mother’s partner damaged his client “irrevocably”. Mr Barber now suffers from complex PTSD, among a host of other physical and mental conditions.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/judge-lashes-wa-government-over-decision-to-return-boy-to-abuser/news-story/6df7e461975d75f5799de74a1eb6a3d8

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f79739 (287) No.22363105>>22408824 >>22408838

>>22079573 (pb)

>>22079670 (pb)

Ashley Paul Griffith to appeal life sentence after pleading guilty to abusing dozens of girls

LYDIA LYNCH - 16 January 2025

A probe into the failings of Queensland’s child protection system that allowed one of Australia’s worst pedophiles to sexually abuse dozens of girls in daycare centres will push ahead despite Ashley Paul Griffith’s decision to appeal his life sentence.

The inquiry, to be headed by the state’s Family and Child Commissioner Luke Twyford, is expected to start work this month and had been tasked with investigating how Griffith was able to repeatedly rape and abuse children for two decades, despite concerns about his conduct.

Describing Griffith’s decision to appeal his sentence as “horrendous”, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said the child safety inquiry would not be delayed but would face new legal complexities.

“When parents send their kids off, they want them to be safe and that was an abhorrent breach of trust, and we will be defending our position forcefully,” he said.

“I don’t want the review to be delayed because there are some issues, including with blue cards that have to be reviewed.

“Clearly this appeal will bring some complexities into that case, but I still remain committed to doing that review, because I don’t think we can wait and leave the system without putting a spotlight over it.

“I think Mr Twyford is the right person to be able to manoeuvre the way through that complexity.”

Mr Twyford, who is also chair of the Child Death Review Board, will be handed powers to compel witness and evidence, similar to those of a royal commission.

Griffith was in November sentenced to life in prison, with a non-parole period of 27 years, after pleading guilty to 309 charges. He lodged an appeal against his sentence on December 20 but the matter is yet to be listed for a court hearing, which could be months away.

The 46-year-old was able to keep his Blue Card to work with children in Queensland despite two reports to police that he had abused girls in two separate Brisbane daycare centres in October 2021 and April 2022.

An internal review was previously completed by police, which found the matters were appropriately investigated and that the claims could not be ­substantiated. Griffith’s phone and homes were not searched and he was not even interviewed over the second complaint, from a three-year-old girl who told her mother that Griffith “touched my privates”.

His Blue Card was suspended only after the Australian Federal Police charged him in August 2022.

The former Miles Labor government resisted calls for a broad ­inquiry into system failures, saying it was sufficient for police to review their own handling of prior complaints against Griffith.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/ashley-paul-griffith-to-appeal-life-sentence-after-pleading-guilty-to-abusing-dozens-of-girls/news-story/0eed5036436f2c1256df9e3104110d2a

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f79739 (287) No.22370306>>22370310 >>22370423 >>22370472 >>22370522 >>22370553 >>22379024 >>22379359 >>22387511 >>22400411 >>22428559 >>22465895 >>22465935 >>22481988 >>22482035 >>22482080

File (hide): d9d3b6599aec638⋯.mp4 (14.53 MB,406x720,203:360,Cars_firebombed_and_graffi….mp4) (h) (u) [play once] [loop]

>>22225665

>>22327980

>>22327980

‘Evil at work’: Jewish leader Alex Ryvchin slams attack on former Dover Heights home

ELLIE DUDLEY - 17 January 2025

1/3

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin says there is an “evil at work” across the nation fuelling horrendous anti-Semitic attacks, calling on Australians to “speak up” on “wickedness” after his former property was at the centre of the latest strike.

Mr Ryvchin, whose former family home was doused in red paint early this morning, said he was deeply concerned that someone will soon die as a result of the escalating hatred of Australian Jews and growing number of anti-Semitic incidents.

He said Anthony Albanese -- along with Deputy Opposition Leader Sussan Ley and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke – had called him personally this morning, with the Prime Minister saying he was “deeply hurt by what had transpired”.

“I fear that we’re going to wake up before long with someone dead. I think that’s the trajectory that we’re on, and we’ve been there for a long time,” Mr Ryvchin told reporters.

“When you have people in our society who were so consumed by wickedness and hatred that they would set fire … to suburban streets and risk the lives of everyone who lives here, simply because they disagree with certain views or opinions, it shows that we’re in a very dangerous state.”

Police and emergency services were called to Dover Heights in the early hours this morning, following reports cars were graffitied with shocking slurs, two vehicles were set alight, and Mr Ryvchin’s former family house was doused with red paint.

One of the cars destroyed by fire, a Mercedes, had “f.ck Jews” sprayed on the side and a Honda had “f.ck Israel” vandalised on its rear windscreen and trunk. Both vehicles were towed this morning as police investigated the scene and sourced CCTV of the horrific strike.

Officers are inquiring as to whether the incident was targeted at Mr Ryvchin. The Australian understands the current residents of the home are not Jewish, but of Asian descent.

Mr Ryvchin, holding a press conference at the crime scene, said he could not be certain the perpetrators knew it was his old house, but “it might be the world’s biggest coincidence if of all the houses in all the streets of this neighbourhood, they hit my former home by accident”.

“To target someone’s home. Someone’s sanctuary. Someone’s family. To endanger the lives of the good and decent Australians who live here. To light a fire on a residential street where families were sleeping,” he said.

“There is an evil at work in this country. We have to recognise that. There are people so consumed by hatred that they would burn those whose words they do not like. How we respond to things like this will determine the fate of our country. I believe that.”

Mr Ryvchin said there had been too many “balancing statements” made by leaders in regards to the Middle East conflict, which have “diluted the potency of any such words of condemnation”.

“We’re not talking about the events in the Middle East, we’re not talking about taking a position on the side of the Palestinians or the Israelis, we’re talking about what is happening to our fellow Australians here,” he said.

“Too many people are using their platforms for complicity and silence, or worse, to do harm.”

Mr Ryvchin said the property, which has been cleaned by council workers, was his family home “for many years”.

In vision obtained by The Australian, residents woken by explosions during the attack can be heard telling police they saw “about three youths” light the fire and flee in a “little Japanese car”.

“They came around the block twice, and then they just got out, put fuel and lit it,” one man could be heard telling police.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22370310>>22370316

>>22370306

2/3

NSW opposition leader Mark Speakman, Vaucluse MP Kellie Sloan, independent MP for Wentworth Allegra Spender and federal Liberal candidate for Wentworth Ro Knox were among the community leaders who flocked to the scene of the crime this morning.

It comes as negotiators from Israel, Hamas, the US and Qatar officially sign their historic ceasefire deal in Doha, with the truce expected to be implemented on Monday.

This afternoon (AEDT) Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said a “deal to release the hostages” had been reached and that he had ordered his security cabinet to convene later in the day, followed by a government meeting to approve the plan.

‘Animals’

NSW Premier Chris Minns earlier today called the perpetrators behind Sydney’s latest anti-Semitic attack “animals” with “hate-filled hearts” and said the overnight strike was “barbaric”.

“There are horrifying, anti-Semitic, violence attacks,” Mr Minns said.

“I never thought I’d see this kind of naked racism and anti-Semitism repeating itself on Sydney’s streets in such an organised, horrifying manner.

“Incidents of anti-Semitism and violent behaviour are increasing… (and) we have to stand together to condemn it unambiguously and send a clear message to these animals that their actions will not be tolerated.”

Pressure to form anti-Semitism national cabinet

This morning’s attack has become the latest in a number of anti-Semitic incidents in NSW targeting synagogues or notable Jewish suburbs, and comes after Australia’s envoy against anti-Semitism, Jillian Segal, called on Mr Albanese to convene a national cabinet to tackle the issue.

Ms Segal told The Australian on Tuesday that Mr Albanese must convene a national cabinet to devise a nationally coherent action plan to combat the crisis, also calling for mandatory custodial sentences for those found to have attacked synagogues.

Speaking this morning after the incident, Mr Albanese labelled the attack an “outrage” but stopped short of backing his envoy’s calls for tougher sentences for anti-Semites.

“This is an outrage, another anti-Semitic attack that is against everything that we stand for,” he said, pointing to charges laid yesterday against a man who allegedly threatened a Jewish organisation.

When asked if legislation should be strengthened, Mr Albanese said that laws “need to be enforced”.

‘Sickening attack’

Sheri Borman, a Jewish eastern suburbs resident, said she was “sickened” by the latest attack on her community.

She and her husband, Neil, had this morning been investigating fences to build around their property to ensure they are not the next victims of an anti-Semitic attack.

“All we want is to live in peace,” Ms Borman said, believing the attackers “just want the sensation of a news item”.

Mr Borman said his family had discussed moving to Israel, where they believed it could be safer than Sydney.

“It’s been the centre of many dinner table discussions,” he said.

“Everyone in the area is concerned. It’s shocking and scary.”

Speaking at the scene alongside NSW opposition leader Mark Speakman, Vaucluse MP Kellie Sloan said she felt it was “like Groundhog Day”.

“Our residents, our local community, really shouldn’t be going to bed at night wondering what’s going to happen the next morning,” she said.

It is yet another anti-Semitic attack after a spate of incidents over the past few months in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, where multiple homes and cars have been targeted.

In early January, a man was arrested after allegedly making “gun gestures” toward members of two Sydney synagogues.

Last Friday, Southern Sydney Synagogue was defaced in anti-Semitic graffiti and -- 24 hours later – Newtown Synagogue was vandalised with Nazi symbols in a rapid escalation of the crisis from words to criminal acts.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22370316

File (hide): 3c29b230233e593⋯.jpg (581.61 KB,2048x2731,2048:2731,Prime_Minister_Anthony_Alb….jpg) (h) (u)

File (hide): e5c17aa6c054832⋯.jpg (890.06 KB,2048x2731,2048:2731,Australia_s_Special_Envoy_….jpg) (h) (u)

>>22370310

3/3

Jewish leaders slam ‘brazen assault’

The Zionist Federation of Australia called Friday’s attack “brazen” and an assault “on all Australians”.

“It’s clear we cannot be lulled into thinking yesterday’s ceasefire deal will magically end 15 months of rabid anti-Semitism here in Australia,” chief executive Alon Cassuto said.

NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president David Ossip said the community was “profoundly disturbed and sickened”.

“Images of cars being firebombed and houses being attacked are scenes which we should never see in Sydney,” he said.

“We simply cannot accept this as the new normal and must not become desensitised to these crimes.”

Dvir Abramovich, Chairman of the Anti-Defamation Commission, called for stronger laws and a “unified front to root out this menace” before it “spirals further out of control”.

“This is a nightmare turned into reality --- a stomach-churning, evil act of unvarnished hatred that defies every ounce of decency we hold dear as Australians,” Dr Abramovich said on Friday morning. “The revelation that the targeted home belongs to a high-profile Jewish leader takes this frontal assault to an even more sinister level.”

The Dover Heights attack comes a day after the Australian Federal Police charged a Western Sydney man with allegedly making death threats against members of a Jewish group, marking the first arrest under its dedicated anti-Semitism task-force.

The AFP announced the arrest on Thursday afternoon, charging a 44-year-old Blacktown man with using a carriage service to make a threat to kill and an additional charge for menace and harassment. Between the two charges there is a maximum 15-year jail penalty.

Police are set to argue he posted death threats to an unspecified Jewish association’s social media.

The federal government has implemented measures amid the rise in anti-Semitic incidents, including an AFP taskforce to “crack down on anti-Semitism, threats and violence” directed at the Jewish community.

The taskforce, known as Special Operation Avalite, has received 124 reports since its inception, including 102 still under investigation, and joins legal reforms aimed at criminalising doxxing and banning the Nazi salute in early 2024.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/multiple-cars-firebombed-and-graffitied-house-attacked-in-dover-heights-antisemitic-attack/news-story/55df0b1912d0c7ce4a93c67d8db1bcc3

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f79739 (287) No.22370423>>22370431

[pop]YouTube embed. Click thumbnail to play.

>>22225665

>>22327980

>>22370306

Sydney home vandalised in anti-Semitic attack previously owned by prominent Jewish leader Alex Ryvchin

abc.net.au - 17 January 2025

1/2

A home in Sydney's eastern suburbs vandalised in an anti-Semitic attack was previously owned by Alex Ryvchin, the co-chief executive of Executive Council of the Australian Jewry.

The prime minister and NSW premier have condemned the incident on Military Road at Dover Heights just before 4am.

Emergency services arrived to find two cars alight, at least one of those cars was spray painted with "f*ck Jews", two others damaged and the garage and front wall of a nearby house splashed with red paint.

NSW Police are investigating the incident and said they "take hate crimes seriously" and urged anyone with information to come forward.

"I can't say with certainty whether the people who did this deliberately targeted me and my family, but … for them to hit this house, my former house of all the houses … will be one hell of a coincidence," Mr Ryvchin said.

"There is an evil at work in this country and we have to recognise that there are people who are so consumed by hatred that they would seek to burn people because they disagree with their words.

"How we respond to things like this will determine the future of the country."

'Comprehensive police response' underway

NSW Premier Chris Minns described the incident as a "disgusting and dangerous act of violence" and evidence of a "rising level of anti-Semitic attacks in our community".

"I never thought I would see this kind of naked racism and anti-Semitism repeating itself on the streets of Sydney in such an organised and horrifying manner."

The fact the property vandalised was formerly owned by Mr Ryvchin "is an active line of police investigation", Mr Minns said.

"I personally spoke to Alex this morning … he is obviously concerned but I was struck with how resilient and strong [he is].

"He is not taking a backward step under any circumstances … everybody is thinking about Alex and his family at the moment."

NSW Police and Counter-terrorism Minister Yasmin Catley said police are doing "everything they can" to arrest those responsible.

"We will hunt you down," she said.

"What we are seeing on our streets is totally un-Australian."

Her message to the eastern suburbs, which has a large Jewish population, and the wider Jewish community was: "We are with you, we support you and we will keep you safe. The NSW Police stand with you every step of the way."

Police Commissioner Karen Webb said authorities had "very strong leads of inquiry".

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22370431

File (hide): d82ea5efb1df7ed⋯.mp4 (13.06 MB,960x540,16:9,Cars_torched_house_sprayed….mp4) (h) (u) [play once] [loop]

>>22370423

2/2

Potential hate speech law changes

Mr Minns said the government would pursue changes to the law, including on hate speech, when parliament resumes in February.

"Some of that will have to do with protecting religious places of worship," he said.

"We will also be pursuing changes to hate law and hate speech in the state … we are not being light-hearted about it. There are very bad people in our community that need to be confronted."

Meanwhile, the federal government announced a rework of its counter-terror strategy, as it contends with anti-Semitic incidents across the country in recent months.

The $106.2 million strategy will provide increased support for early intervention into extremism.

The government will also adopt NSW's Step Together program and roll it out nationally, which offers a helpline and online tools for individuals to identify extremism.

On Thursday, a Sydney man became the first person to be charged under a new operation dedicated to addressing anti-Semitic behaviour over alleged death threats towards a Jewish organisation.

Authorities said that since Operation Shelter was enacted on October 8, 2023, 179 people have been arrested and charged for over 450 offences.

'It's absolutely shocking'

Leonard Gentin, who is a member of the Jewish community and lives around the corner from where the incident took place, said he was appalled.

"I'm actually shaking, it's absolutely shocking," he said.

"It is not acceptable, this is in a very Jewish area … these people are cowards in my opinion, to come at night at 4 o'clock in the morning, if they were brave, why don't they show their faces?"

NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president David Ossip said there is "no room for hate in our community".

"It's time to call this out for what it is. It's a campaign of domestic terrorism targeted at the Jewish community which is intended to intimidate, harass and menace our community."

Mr Ryvchin told the Jewish community to not be afraid.

"Don't look upon this and feel intimidated, don't allow the cowards who did this to win," he said.

"And to my fellow Australians, I want to say don't be silent, find your voice and speak up --- we are not a nation of bystanders."

Political leaders condemn attack

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told ABC's AM the latest incident was an "outrage" and against everything Australia stood for.

He said the repeated incidents were causing fear and harming community unity.

"It is good that yesterday the Australian Federal Police charged a man with allegedly making death threats to members of a Jewish organisation," he said.

"What we need to do is to lower the temperature in the community.

"Australians want to see the conflict end, they want to see hostages released, they want to see people being able to live in peace and security whether that be Israelis or Palestinians."

Treasurer Jim Chalmers acknowledged "the troubling rise in anti-Semitism".

Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton labelled the people responsible for the attack as "terrorists".

"These people aren't hoons, these people are terrorists and they are targeting people to intimidate them, to scare them," he said.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-17/anti-semitic-graffiti-sprayed-car-fire-dover-heights-in-sydney/104828020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9yQZ6UgTIY

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f79739 (287) No.22370472>>22370486 >>22370494 >>22379359

>>22225665

>>22327980

>>22370306

Minns condemns ‘animals’ over attack on former home of Jewish community leader

ALEXI DEMETRIADI - 17 January 2025

1/2

NSW Premier Chris Minns has called the perpetrators behind Sydney’s latest anti-Semitic attack “animals” with “hate-filled hearts” and said the overnight strike in the eastern suburbs, which saw cars set ablaze and a house doused in red paint, was “barbaric”.

Mr Minns also announced concrete changes to protest laws to protect places of worship and, significantly, a strengthening of the state’s hate-speech laws to possibly outlaw the incitement of hatred, not just violence.

It comes after two cars were torched and others vandalised with “f*ck Jews” graffiti overnight in Dover Heights, a prominent Jewish suburb in Sydney’s east.

The former home of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive, Alex Ryvchin, was sprayed with red paint, in what authorities said was unlikely a coincidence and Mr Minns called “horrifying scenes”.

“There are horrifying, anti-Semitic, violence attacks,” Mr Minns said.

“I never thought I’d see this kind of naked racism and anti-Semitism repeating itself on Sydney’s streets in such an organised, horrifying manner.

“Incidents of anti-Semitism and violent behaviour are increasing… (and) we have to stand together to condemn it unambiguously and send a clear message to these animals that their actions will not be tolerated.”

NSW Police are investigating the latest incident, which follows three synagogues being targeted last week with similar anti-Semitic graffiti.

Strike Force Pearl has a 20-detective team to investigate the raft of attacks, which is separate from the Australian Federal Police’s Special Operation Avalite.

Some 124 reports of anti-Semitism or anti-Semitic threats have been reported since Avalite’s inception, including 102 still under investigation.

Mr Minns conceded that each attack could not be viewed in a vacuum and explained his motivation for strengthening hate-speech laws upon state parliament’s return in February.

“We will be pursuing changes to the law to protect places of worship, but also changes to hate speech laws in NSW,” he said.

“I don’t think a firebombing in Sydney’s east is where it begins, but begins with individuals promoting, tolerating and highlighting hatred of our Jewish community.

“A synagogue being burnt down, homes targeted and vandalised -- that’s where it ends, but it begins somewhere else… We’ve got a comprehensive response to this.”

NSW’s criminal hate-speech laws outlaw the incitement or threat of violence against protected groups, including religious and ethnic communities, enclosed in section 93Z of the state crime code.

Mr Minns suggested that he could include the “incitement of hatred” within the criminal drafting of the legislation, saying it shouldn’t be on citizens themselves to seek justice via the civil courts.

“We’re looking at this (including ‘hatred’ in the criminal provision)… something needs to change,” he said.

The Australian has extensively covered hate speech emerging from fringe Islamic centres in western Sydney, predominantly targeting the Jewish community, and strong criticism of the existing laws, which were sent to a law reform review in mid-2024.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22370486

>>22370472

2/2

Mr Minns spoke with Mr Ryvchin - who has been one of the strongest voices against anti-Semitism in the last 15 months, after the incident, and said the ECAJ’s co-convener personified “resilience”.

“I was struck by how resilient and absolutely fortified his commitment to (his) cause he is, and his resoluteness,” Mr Minns said of Mr Ryvchin, who will address the media later today.

“It is a true insight into his character that he is not taking a backward step under any circumstances, and he will not be cowed.”

Mr Minns said he would be “open” to a national cabinet to tackle escalating anti-Semitism, but pointed to recent meetings with Anthony Albanese, adding it was more important that state and federal police were working off the same hymn sheet, which they were.

“(That collaboration) has been the case for a long period of time,” he said.

“My responsibility is to ensure we’re communicating with the federal government, and that public messaging from the NSW government is unambiguous, and that anti-Semitic attacks will never be tolerated and we’ll do everything we can to confront it.”

NSW Police are not at this stage investigating the Dover Heights incident as a terrorist attack, but will continue to pursue leads, motivation, and investigate whether it was linked to any of the other assaults now stretching back to November when Woollahra was first targeted.

Assistant police Commissioner Peter McKenna said the resources afforded to Strike Force Pearl were “significant”, something the premier said he would strengthen and add to if needed.

“(The strike force’s work) is going back months, looking at each offence committed,” Mr McKenna said.

“We don’t stop after a week, we take on (the cases) until we get results.”

The strike force falls under Operation Shelter, which has been running since October 2023 to combat rising levels of hatred, vilification and attacks, and has now arrested 179 people and laid charges for over 452 offences.

“We will not give up, we will follow every lead,” Mr McKenna said.

“(Anti-Semitism is) not acceptable in Sydney, it’s not acceptable in Australia, and we will have every detective that we need, every resource we need, to get to the bottom of these crimes.”

Many Jewish Australians have said they felt unsafe in Australia, particularly Sydney, with one family telling The Australian on Friday that they had discussed moving to Israel between themselves.

Mr Minns said that fact was “devastating”.

“That’s something I’m very concerned about,” he said.

“The Jewish community has contributed so much to our state, so for them to feel unsafe in their own homes, places of worship… It is devastating to hear stories like that (Jewish Australians thinking of migrating away).

“Australia is the second-largest home to Holocaust survivors in the world, and they came to Australia because they felt they would be free of this kind of anti-Semitism… But I want them to know that the vast majority of civil society stands with them against these barbaric anti-Semitic, animalistic acts.”

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/minns-condemns-animals-over-attack-on-former-home-of-jewish-community-leader/news-story/14484cd4b70474016f2049b3e1cdaa10

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f79739 (287) No.22370494

>>22370472

2/2

Mr Minns spoke with Mr Ryvchin - who has been one of the strongest voices against anti-Semitism in the last 15 months, after the incident, and said the ECAJ’s co-convener personified “resilience”.

“I was struck by how resilient and absolutely fortified his commitment to (his) cause he is, and his resoluteness,” Mr Minns said of Mr Ryvchin, who will address the media later today.

“It is a true insight into his character that he is not taking a backward step under any circumstances, and he will not be cowed.”

Mr Minns said he would be “open” to a national cabinet to tackle escalating anti-Semitism, but pointed to recent meetings with Anthony Albanese, adding it was more important that state and federal police were working off the same hymn sheet, which they were.

“(That collaboration) has been the case for a long period of time,” he said.

“My responsibility is to ensure we’re communicating with the federal government, and that public messaging from the NSW government is unambiguous, and that anti-Semitic attacks will never be tolerated and we’ll do everything we can to confront it.”

NSW Police are not at this stage investigating the Dover Heights incident as a terrorist attack, but will continue to pursue leads, motivation, and investigate whether it was linked to any of the other assaults now stretching back to November when Woollahra was first targeted.

Assistant police Commissioner Peter McKenna said the resources afforded to Strike Force Pearl were “significant”, something the premier said he would strengthen and add to if needed.

“(The strike force’s work) is going back months, looking at each offence committed,” Mr McKenna said.

“We don’t stop after a week, we take on (the cases) until we get results.”

The strike force falls under Operation Shelter, which has been running since October 2023 to combat rising levels of hatred, vilification and attacks, and has now arrested 179 people and laid charges for over 452 offences.

“We will not give up, we will follow every lead,” Mr McKenna said.

“(Anti-Semitism is) not acceptable in Sydney, it’s not acceptable in Australia, and we will have every detective that we need, every resource we need, to get to the bottom of these crimes.”

Many Jewish Australians have said they felt unsafe in Australia, particularly Sydney, with one family telling The Australian on Friday that they had discussed moving to Israel between themselves.

Mr Minns said that fact was “devastating”.

“That’s something I’m very concerned about,” he said.

“The Jewish community has contributed so much to our state, so for them to feel unsafe in their own homes, places of worship… It is devastating to hear stories like that (Jewish Australians thinking of migrating away).

“Australia is the second-largest home to Holocaust survivors in the world, and they came to Australia because they felt they would be free of this kind of anti-Semitism… But I want them to know that the vast majority of civil society stands with them against these barbaric anti-Semitic, animalistic acts.”

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/minns-condemns-animals-over-attack-on-former-home-of-jewish-community-leader/news-story/14484cd4b70474016f2049b3e1cdaa10

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f79739 (287) No.22370522>>22370532 >>22370553

>>22225665

>>22307893

>>22370306

Muslim, Jewish leaders call for peace as Dutton writes to PM on anti-Jewish hate

Paul Sakkal and David Crowe - January 17, 2025

1/2

Muslim and Jewish leaders have made a united call to rebuild relations between their communities to counter antisemitic attacks as the Albanese government warns that extremists feel emboldened to perpetrate hate crimes in Melbourne and Sydney.

Prominent Lebanese Muslim leader Jamal Rifi said fringe actors within Sydney’s Muslim community had “militarised” anger over the war for political gain.

Putting a stop to the repeated targeting of synagogues and Jewish areas in Melbourne and Sydney required governments to urgently bring together leaders of both communities, Rifi said.

“We need a sense of unity,” he said. “I call on everyone to not just rely on the passage of time and a ceasefire. We need a proactive approach to bring the community together now.”

Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler endorsed the call for dialogue but cautioned that a mere photo opportunity would not fix the “waves of hatred online and on our streets” after a series of attacks on Jewish homes, schools and synagogues.

“I’m sure a small group of dedicated community leaders -- meeting even for private discussions alone – could do a world of good, but only if everyone is prepared to take antisemitism seriously,” Leibler said.

The comments came after Sydney Jewish leader Alex Ryvchin’s former home was vandalised in the early hours of Friday morning, compounding the concerns about antisemitism and a political row between Labor and the Coalition over the response to the problem.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton wrote to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to call for a national cabinet meeting on anti-Jewish hate, days after Albanese met NSW Premier Chris Minns and Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan on the issue.

Interfaith dialogue between senior Australian Islamic and Jewish leaders broke down in the months after Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack and Israel invaded Gaza, further polarising the two communities.

Melbourne MP Josh Burns, who is Jewish, said Australia was a proudly multicultural nation. “With the ceasefire agreed in the Middle East, now is an opportunity to rebuild relationships across communities in Australia,” he said.

Rabbi Ralph Genende, who works with the Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council, said interfaith contact had been limited since October 7 but that there were recent signs of improvement.

“We would welcome a more robust and regular condemnation of antisemitism, and a stronger willingness from our Muslim cousins and counterparts to work together with us to fight this cancer and all forms of racism, including Islamophobia,” Genende said in a statement.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22370532

>>22370522

2/2

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke committed $106.2 million on Friday to counter violent extremism, while Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus called out politicians’ “grotesque exploitation” of the war in Gaza, which began after Hamas terrorists massacred about 1200 Israelis and took about 250 hostages. About 46,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war, according to Gaza health authorities.

Speaking hours after NSW Police launched an investigation into the incident at Ryvchin’s previous house, Burke acknowledged the growing threat from groups including disaffected members of the Islamic community, fringe pro-Palestinian activists and white supremacists.

“It’s coming from a fringe, and it’s a fringe that at the moment is behaving as though it is emboldened,” Burke said.

“And [it] is in for a rude shock when the full force of the law is brought down on it.”

The government says the $106.2 million would be spent over four years and would include a National Support and Intervention Program, a joint effort with states and territories to discourage people from radicalising so they can reintegrate into the community.

Albanese condemned the latest attack as an “outrage” in remarks that Burke echoed. “There is no place for antisemitism in Australia,” he said in a statement. “It must stop and offenders must face the full force of the law.”

The federal government and police have been under pressure over their management of antisemitism following the firebombing of the Adass Israel Synagogue of Melbourne last month, for which no charges have yet been laid, the arson of Labor MP Josh Burns’ office in June, the vandalism and arson attempt at an inner west Sydney synagogue earlier this week, and repeat vandalism of property in Jewish areas of Sydney. In December, a group of neo-Nazis stood on the steps of the Victorian Parliament House with a banner that read: “JEWS HATE FREEDOM”.

Dutton wrote to Albanese on Wednesday asking him to “show leadership” and call a meeting of all premiers and chief ministers

While Albanese held a meeting with the leaders of Victoria and NSW on Monday, the government’s special envoy to combat antisemitism, Jillian Segal, has called for a national cabinet meeting and warned that perpetrators of antisemitism are going unpunished by the courts.

“It is particularly alarming that incidents such as the firebombing of the Adass Synagogue and repeated acts of hate speech have been met with what Ms Jillian Segal aptly described as ‘effective impunity’,” Dutton said in the letter.

“Stronger action is needed to send a clear message that antisemitism and hate crimes of any kind will not be tolerated in Australia.”

Dreyfus, the government’s most senior Jewish MP, told the ABC from Tel Aviv that the ceasefire in Gaza “should signal the end to grotesque exploitation of the conflict by politicians in Australia,” without naming specific politicians of parties. “Now more than ever, we need unity, and political point-scoring has only fuelled more social discord at home,” said Dreyfus, who is on the Albanese government’s first ministerial mission to Israel in a year.

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/grotesque-politicisation-of-antisemitism-must-stop-attorney-general-20250117-p5l541.html

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f79739 (287) No.22370553

>>22225665

>>22370306

>>22370522

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke launches $106m plan to stop extremism

MOHAMMAD ALFARES - 17 January 2025

The federal government is pouring $106m over four years to counter terrorism and violent extremism through a new strategy that mandates every state to strengthen measures against politically motivated violence.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke introduced the strategy on Friday as he condemned the latest anti-Semitic attack in Sydney that targeted a home once owned by Alex Ryvchin, one of the nation’s most prominent Jewish leaders.

Australia’s terror threat alert was raised from possible to probable last year, with security agencies at the time warning that Australians were becoming radicalised faster and younger, and that terrorism incidents could occur with minimal warning.

Mr Burke on Friday said the nature of radicalisation had changed drastically in the past few years and it now required an “evolved” strategy to deal with it.

“We are increasingly finding people where it is no longer a set ideology -- be it what would be viewed as an extremist ideology purporting to be based on faith, or what would be described as a right-wing, racist ideology – it is now as well mixed ideologies as part of these rapid forms of radicalisation,” he said. “That has meant that as the threat level has evolved, the government’s response needs to evolve as well.”

The highlight of the announcement was a nationwide support and intervention program, developed in partnership with states and territories and designed to prevent individuals from transitioning from radicalisation to engaging in acts of violence.

The government will also deliver a national “Step Together” program using a national website and referral service, so “those concerned about someone they know radicalising to violence can receive confidential online and phone support from qualified staff …”

Mr Burke laid out four main measures that required change.

He said the first and most significant was the support intervention program.

“Effectively this is where someone is identified as a specific risk,” he said. “In those instances, we need to make sure that we have a significant increase in resources.

“This intervention program comes close to doubling the funds that have otherwise been available. Importantly, for all the funding that I’m referring to today, it is now ongoing. Previously, with these sorts of strategies, you have reached dates where the ongoing funding falls off a cliff.”

The second area was what he called the ‘Step Together’ program, where parents are encouraged to seek support for their potentially radicalised children.

The third measure was providing resources about safety in online gaming and the final area was to improve pathways for consultation, development and evaluation of all of these programs.

The anti-Semitic attack in Sydney overnight was labelled a serious crime, and the government has its “best agencies working to hunt down” the perpetrators, Mr Burke said after visiting the Adass Israel Synagogue on Friday.

He said many Australians were unaware of the widespread “bigotry” the Jewish community is facing on a daily basis following the start of the Israel-Hamas war.

“This is not graffiti, this is a hate crime with serious criminal penalties,” he said. “And we have our best agencies working to make sure that these people are hunted down so that we are in a situation to throw the book at them.”

The move also followed a warning from Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, Labor’s most senior Jewish politician, who called for an end to the politicisation of anti-Semitism after Israel and Hamas struck a ceasefire deal.

Mr Dreyfus, who is on the Albanese government’s first ministerial mission to Israel in a year, said the ceasefire should send a message to Australia.

“It should signal the end to grotesque exploitation of the conflict by politicians in Australia,” he told ABC radio’s RN Breakfast from Tel Aviv. “Now more than ever, we need unity, and political point-scoring has only fuelled more social discord at home.”

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/home-affairs-minister-tony-burke-launches-106m-plan-to-stop-extremism/news-story/e2aea0580dc77a086d755fff2544198a

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f79739 (287) No.22370597>>22370601

>>22363017

Ceasefire brings ‘cautious optimism’ for Australian Palestinians, Muslim leaders

ALEXI DEMETRIADI - January 16, 2025

1/2

Palestinians in Australia have said a “long-awaited” Israel-Hamas ceasefire would be a lifeline for their loved ones in Gaza as the country’s peak Muslim bodies “cautiously but optimistically” welcomed the developments.

It comes as the US and Qatar on Thursday said Israel and Hamas had agreed to a ceasefire deal that could begin on Sunday, and would see some hostages return and fighting halt in Gaza.

Mahmoud Kaskeen, born and raised in Gaza, moved to Sydney seven years ago, founding the Gaza Australian Program to help settle Palestinian refugees arriving amid the conflict.

“Any opportunity for peace and an end to violence is something we all hope for,” said Mr Kaskeen, whose sister arrived in Sydney after fleeing the conflict.

“(A ceasefire) could provide much-needed respite for those who have been enduring incredible hardship … (and) an opportunity for humanitarian aid to reach those who need it the most, and for Gaza to rebuild.”

Mr Kaskeen was concerned, however, given ceasefires were “often fragile” and could break down. “The root causes of the conflict need to be addressed for lasting peace to be achieved,” he said.

“A temporary halt in fighting doesn’t necessarily resolve the deeper issues that led to this cycle of violence.”

The past 15 months had been “incredibly difficult and painful” for Gazans, and for those in Australia it was filled with “worry and stress”.

“Every day feels like a constant battle with anxiety about the safety of our families and loved ones,” Mr Kaskeen said. “It’s not just about the physical destruction, but the emotional toll it has on our communities … For those of us outside Gaza, it’s the feeling of being so far away, unable to protect our people.

“We all want peace, but we also want justice … a future where Gaza and Palestinians can live in peace, dignity, and security.”

Palestinian Mariam Dawwas, who arrived in Sydney with her family in late 2023, was “relieved” that a ceasefire was finally reached, but was concerned over whether Israel would break any deal, pointing to its military killing at about 40 people in airstrikes following the announcement.

“(Gazans) were celebrating the (ceasefire) news and they were killed,” Ms Dawwas said, asking why the deal couldn't have been secured earlier. “It’s the same deal that was proposed six months ago. How many thousands (of Palestinians) have been killed (since)?

“(But) I’m happy for the mothers of Gaza, like myself, who survived and are able to hug their children, and not be terrified that they will never hug them again.

“That they can look their (children) in their eyes and say ‘You’re safe’. Only the people of Gaza know how precious that feeling of safety is, and it is still a luxury we do not have.”

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22370601

File (hide): 06c38cf768dc991⋯.jpg (458.92 KB,2000x2666,1000:1333,AFIC_president_Rateb_Jneid.jpg) (h) (u)

>>22370597

2/2

The Australian National Imams Council and the Australian Federal of Islamic Councils both welcomed the development, but urged international leaders to prioritise rebuild efforts and ensure “accountability”.

“(We) deeply welcome the Gaza ceasefire and (hope) that will put an end to the bloodshed,” ANIC said in a statement on Wednesday, adding that the ceasefire “honoured the unwavering resilience” of the Palestinian people.

ANIC senior adviser Bilal Rauf said the imminent ceasefire was a “matter of great relief” and should be “commended”.

“While it will give some comfort to many people whose lives have been devastated by the actions of Israel, there will remain the ongoing questions of accountability, redress and humanitarian relief,” he said, adding it was a “small step in … a long journey”.

Mr Rauf pointed to tens of thousands of civilians killed in Gaza, with many more injured or displaced from what had become a “wasteland”.

“Legal institutions have condemned the actions of Israel in Gaza; (those actions) must be carefully scrutinised,” he said.

“There needs to be a focus on reparations and helping more than two million people who have faced ethnic cleansing, violence and untold suffering.”

AFIC viewed any ceasefire with “cautious optimism” and hoped it ushered “enduring peace in the region”, but echoed demands for a “comprehensive investigation” into Israel’s military offensive.

“While we welcome any steps towards peace, we remain deeply concerned about the devastation and the suffering,” AFIC president Rateb Jneid said, adding that a ceasefire should be a “pathway to lasting peace (which) addresses the roots of the conflict and ­ensures the dignity and rights of Palestinians.”

Dr Jneid said AFIC joined calls for a “comprehensive international investigation” into any alleged crimes by Israel in Gaza, saying peace and rebuilding efforts relied on “accountability”, urging the Australian government to support efforts that would “bring about a just resolution”.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/ceasefire-brings-cautious-optimism-for-australian-palestinians-muslim-leaders/news-story/cc735d9aca05fa89fbcaa3f942ae8f00

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f79739 (287) No.22370619>>22370624

>>22363017

Muslim Vote and Fatima Payman promise to keep heat on Anthony Albanese over Middle East at election

RHIANNON DOWN - January 16, 2025

1/2

Muslim independents, Labor ­activists and pro-Palestine protesters will work to block Anthony Albanese’s attempts to take the Middle East off the election agenda post-ceasefire, as they demand Labor spend federal money on Gaza’s reconstruction and support attempts to arrest Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Prime Minister on Thursday ruled out formally recognising a Palestinian state before the next election, signalling he will back such a move only if terror group Hamas played no future role in a new nation. He also flagged the need for Palestinian “reform”, observing there hasn’t been an “election in Gaza or West Bank for almost two decades”.

But a pair of pro-Palestine independent candidates eyeing Labor ministers’ seats in western Sydney and rogue ex-ALP senator Fatima Payman said on Thursday they would not stop campaigning against the Albanese government until Israel’s democratic government was “held accountable” for alleged war crimes.

With pro-Palestine protests set to dominate major cities on the weekend, despite an end to the fighting in Gaza, the Coalition and Jewish groups are calling for an end to the weekly demonstrations, which they argue have contributed to a rise in intolerance, social division and anti-Semitism.

Mr Albanese on Thursday said, no matter the outcome of the six-week staged ceasefire process, there could be no future Palestinian state with Hamas at the heart of it. “Hamas is the enemy of the Palestinian people, not just the enemy of the state of Israel,” Mr Albanese said.

His comments come as independent candidates, backed by the Muslim Votes political movement, prepare to challenge Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke and Education Minister Jason Clare in their western Sydney seats of Watson and Blaxland at the upcoming election.

Watson candidate Ziad Basyouny said Australia should enact sanctions against Israel, and Blaxland independent candidate Ahmed Ouf said Israel must be held accountable for the “tens of thousands of lives lost, homes destroyed and the atrocities inflicted on innocent families”.

Senator Payman, who quit the ALP to form her own party, called Australia’s Voice, also urged the Albanese government to place sanctions on Israel, divest from “Israeli companies implicated in the occupation”, and support an end to the occupation of Palestinian territories.

“The Australian Labor government’s failure to take decisive action makes it complicit in enabling the ongoing genocide,” she said.

“The Australian Labor government must recognise the state of Palestine as per the Australian Labor Party platform and the will of rank-and-file Labor Party members.”

Labor Friends of Palestine spokesman Peter Moss said the Albanese government must follow the ALP constitution and fast-track formal recognition of a Palestinian state regardless of the internal governance of Gaza and the West Bank.

“Australia and the international community should apply comprehensive sanctions under international law, in line with the (International Court of Justice) July 2024 ruling, until Israel ends its illegal occupation,” Mr Moss said.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22370624

>>22370619

2/2

Demonstrations, sometimes attracting thousands pro-Palestine supporters, have dominated the nation’s capital cities each weekend since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, prompting Peter Dutton to criticise the Labor leader for his failure to halt the protests.

The Opposition Leader on Thursday accused Labor of giving “hope to a terrorist organisation” that Australia will deliver a “political win” to Hamas as a result of the October 7 attack by recognising a Palestinian state.

“The fact that the Prime Minister wasn’t able to stand up and to stare down those people who have been involved in these dreadful protests is a very poor reflection on his weak leadership,” Mr Dutton said.

Liberal senator Dave Sharma, a former ambassador to Israel, said Hamas could not be allowed to play a role in a Palestinian state, and criticised Labor for allowing anti-Semitism to be “supercharged” by being too “permissive towards protests and lawlessness that have crossed the line”.

“It is well beyond time for state governments to reconsider their approval for what are regular weekly pro-Palestinian protests,” Senator Sharma said.

“These protests disrupt business, divert police resources, and their management comes at significant expense to the taxpayer.

“They also frequently degenerate into anti-Semitism, and their hostile and vitriolic slogans frequently make large swathes of our community feel unsafe.”

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin condemned the continued protests after the ceasefire, declaring there was no reason for the “processions of hate”, which drain public funds, to continue.

“It confirms what everyone knew, which is that these protests were never about stopping the war, or even concern for Palestinian civilian casualties,” he said.

Mr Ryvchin’s fellow ECAJ co-convener, Peter Wertheim, said the Palestinians needed to “start acting like a state” before having their nationhood recognised by Australia, by bringing about an end to “violence, corruption, incompetence and cronyism (and) no more indoctrinating Palestinian children at school or in public with hatred for Jews”.

“Any Palestinian state that would emerge without a comprehensive peace with Israel would necessarily become a base for conducting further terrorism and war against it, which would produce more bloodshed and suffering,” Mr Wertheim said. “No responsible person could support such an option.”

Islamic Council of Victoria spokesman Adel Salman said protests would continue even after the ceasefire, declaring activists would continue “turning up until there is justice for Palestinians and an end to the occupation”.

“The intention is for these protests to continue until there is justice for Palestinians. It would be shameful for the world community to look away and think the Palestinian issue has now been resolved,” Mr Salman said.

Socialist activist Josh Lees, who has galvanised pro-Palestinian protests through Sydney’s CBD, said he would continue to march to demand a “end to the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories”.

“We will continue to demand that the Australian government should end its support for Israel and its military ties with this state,” he said.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/anthony-albanese-wont-back-palestinian-statehood-before-the-election/news-story/2a07d41021a7e815f3a768c04667602d

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f79739 (287) No.22370640>>22438184

>>22345238

>>22345254

The Ahmadiyya Muslim community will brave the heat to hold nationwide Australia Day celebrations

BRENDAN KEARNS - January 14, 2025

Australia’s Ahmadiyya Muslim community has vowed to celebrate Australia Day proudly at its mosques as a moment for the community and all Australians to come together.

During events nationwide the Ahmadiyya Muslim community will hoist the Australian flag, hold performances of the national anthem by their children, host speeches from dignitaries to give thanks and enjoy free barbecues.

The community also will offer prayers for the prosperity of Australia.

Despite 35C on January 26 in Sydney in 2024 -- and some local councils citing heat for shunning Australia Day events – the group still came out en masse, donning Australian flag-covered hats for a day of celebration.

The community’s national president, Imam IH Kauser, said: “We, the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, always pray for the progress and development of our homeland, Australia. In keeping with our traditions, we will celebrate Australia Day at all mosques across the country.

“We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our nation, government and fellow citizens because our religion teaches us that love for one’s country of residence is a part of faith.”

Tariq Butt, the external affairs co-ordinator from the group’s Melbourne community in Langwarrin, and Imam Imtiaz Naveed told The Australian the event showed their support for the country and community.

“I think Australia Day is very important for our community because we love to celebrate where we are living in and the country that has given so much to us. And it’s our main thing, is freedom of religion and peace,” Dr Butt said.

“If some country is the country giving us freedom of religion, peace to live in and a very friendly neighbourhood, all of that multicultural diversity and inclusion, we should be celebrating that, so that is why we want to be more part of the country as a law-abiding citizen and whatever the country stands for. We should honour that.”

He said his community came from diverse backgrounds and this kind of event united all the different communities and saw them all celebrate as Australians.

This is an annual event that they have been hosting for more than a decade, with a bigger celebration inviting politicians and dignitaries held the week after January 26. Dr Butt said. “We will be hosting Australia Day with a barbecue and flag hosting and a week after that we are celebrating Australia Day by inviting all the neighbours, politicians, multicultural group leaders. So it will be a huge dinner in this place.”

Dr Butt and Imam Naveed said the community also would hold an interfaith Ramadan event in 2025 designed to bring the Australian community together and develop a greater understanding of the holy month of fasting.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/the-ahmadiyya-muslim-community-will-brave-the-heat-to-hold-nationwide-australia-day-celebrations/news-story/833686d73abf7b6d5ac12b1cd5259104

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f79739 (287) No.22370665

>>22225525

Australia’s 2035 emissions target timetable up in the air as agency considers the Trump effect

COLIN PACKHAM - January 16, 2025

Australia is on course to head to the polls without Labor setting a 2035 emission reduction target, as the agency tasked with advising the government is yet to appoint an expert panel, amid expectations US president-elect Donald Trump will slash US climate change ambitions.

Labor had promised to deliver its 2035 targets by February, in line with the Paris Agreement, but it must first receive advice from the Climate Change Authority, which is now chaired by former NSW Liberal treasurer Matt Kean.

Mr Kean late last year insisted that advice was on course to be delivered to Labor by the end of 2024, but the election of Mr Trump as US president saw the CCA rethink its timetable.

Mr Kean said the agency would need to re-examine its modelling in the wake of the election of Mr Trump. During his first term, Mr Trump withdrew the US from the Paris Agreement and during the recent campaign he said he was likely to do so again, putting global plans to fight climate change into disarray.

With the inauguration of Mr Trump less than a week away, The Australian understands the CCA has yet to finalise its technical expert advisory panel.

The delay will see Australia technically fall foul of its Paris Agreement target, but analysts have said it could be advantageous to head to the polls without a contentious target that could focus voter attention on the cost of reducing emissions.

Because of the delay, Australian voters may not know the intentions of the major parties on emissions beyond 2030.

Labor has set an aggressive target of reducing emissions by 43 per cent from 2005 levels by the end of this decade, a target that the Coalition has aggressively campaigned against, arguing it is unachievable. The Coalition has said it will not offer an alternative plan before the election.

Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen insists Australia is on course to meet its 2030 target.

“Our robust reforms and pragmatic policies are delivering what we’ve always said -- Australia’s 43 per cent target is ambitious but achievable,” a spokeswoman for Mr Bowen said.

“Because we are working with industry and business, there is a clear understanding of what needs to be done over the next five years to reduce emissions in their sectors for Australia to meet its legislated 2030 emissions reduction target.”

Mr Trump has poured scorn on attempts to cut emissions, in contrast to his predecessors.

The outgoing Biden administration last year announced a US target to cut emissions by between 61 and 66 per cent by 2035, but Mr Trump intends to drop this.

Mr Trump has pledged immediate action to bolster fossil fuel production and limit government support for both electric cars and renewable energy.

It is unclear whether Mr Trump can or will overturn Mr Biden’s signature energy transition legislation, the Inflation Reduction Act, which offers a wave of sweeteners to bolster clean energy generation.

The looming election, due by mid May, is expected to be a referendum on the country’s economy, which is buckling under a cost of living crisis and high inflation that saw the Reserve Bank lift interest rates 13 times to a 13-year high.

The voter focus is in contrast to the 2022 election, when emissions were front and centre in the minds of voters. The 2022 election saw the Greens pick up their largest share of the vote and several independents were elected to parliament on a platform of environmental action.

Labor moved quickly to set a target of having renewables generate 82 per cent of the country’s electricity by 2030, substantially reducing emissions. Labor also implemented the Safeguard Mechanism policy, which requires Australia’s largest polluters to reduce emissions by about 5 per cent a year.

But a cost-of-living crisis, fuelled in large part by a surge in utility bills, has seen a swing -- particularly against the Greens.

A record number of Australians have been unable to pay their utility bills. Supporters of the energy transition insist the rollout of renewables is putting downward pressure on bills.

The federal government in May 2024 offered a series of sweeteners, headlined by a $300 energy rebate that has helped temporarily lower inflation. Those rebates are set to end within months, though there are widespread expectations that Treasurer Jim Chalmers will extend them.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/renewable-energy-economy/australias-2035-emissions-target-timetable-up-in-the-air-as-agency-considers-the-trump-effect/news-story/9d582f65c59b00defa68d5da944609c7

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f79739 (287) No.22370868>>22370892 >>22387534 >>22387539

>>22225525

>>22339502

Australia’s ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd meets US President-elect Donald Trump

Australia’s ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd has met Donald Trump -- the first one-on-one engagement between the pair since the former prime minister accepted the post almost two years ago.

Tom Minear - January 17, 2025

Australia’s ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd met Donald Trump last weekend in a bid to build a positive relationship with the President-elect, after his allies suggested he may not last in the top diplomatic post.

It is understood the brief meeting -- the first one-on-one engagement between the pair since the former prime minister became Australia’s ambassador almost two years ago – took place at Mr Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida.

In what was believed to be a positive and normal exchange, Dr Rudd conveyed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s good wishes and said he and Foreign Minister Penny Wong were looking forward to attending his inauguration in Washington DC next week.

Mr Albanese earlier revealed Dr Rudd had “direct contact” with Mr Trump during the transition after he won November’s presidential election in a stunning political comeback.

“That is a good thing that that has occurred,” the Prime Minister told the ABC of the talks.

“That has been very positive.”

During last year’s election campaign, Mr Trump fired an extraordinary broadside at Dr Rudd, saying he had heard he was “a little bit nasty” and “not the brightest bulb”.

The former president had been asked in an interview about the ex-Labor leader’s attacks on him prior to his appointment as the ambassador, including calling Mr Trump “nuts”, “the most destructive president in history” and “a traitor to the West”.

“If he’s at all hostile, he will not be there long,” Mr Trump told GB News.

In the wake of his election victory, several of Mr Trump’s allies including his daughter-in-law Lara questioned Dr Rudd’s future as Australia’s representative in Washington DC.

And after the ambassador deleted the offending social media posts, Mr Trump’s deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino teasingly posted an image of an hourglass.

Dr Rudd has since kept a low profile, refusing to publicly engage with questions about his job security as the Albanese government defended his ability to work with Mr Trump’s team.

On Friday, Mr Albanese praised his efforts, saying he had “worked very hard to develop relationships with the incoming administration”.

The ambassador met prior to the election with Mr Trump’s incoming national security adviser Mike Waltz, his Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and his Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

“That’s how you do diplomacy and that’s how you get results,” Mr Albanese said.

“I’m very confident that Australia is showing the importance we place in the United States relationship by having a former prime minister as our ambassador.”

The Prime Minister has faced some criticism for not proactively seeking his own meeting with Mr Trump like other foreign leaders, with their first face-to-face talks potentially months away given the impending federal election.

In the aftermath of Mr Trump’s victory, he told Mr Albanese in a call that they would have a “perfect friendship”.

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/world/united-states/australias-ambassador-to-the-us-kevin-rudd-meets-us-presidentelect-donald-trump/news-story/9fa93fae7966084338f79acc8638294a

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f79739 (287) No.22370892

>>22225525

>>22339502

>>22370868

Australia will work Trump’s network of influencers, says Wong

Andrew Tillett - Jan 17, 2025

Australian ministers, diplomats and military officers will fan out across the US bureaucracy and engage with Donald Trump’s “broader network” to influence him, as the Albanese government prepares to navigate the next four years of dealing with the mercurial president-elect.

As she prepared to depart for Washington to attend Mr Trump’s inauguration on Monday (Tuesday AEDT), Foreign Minister Penny Wong expressed confidence that the “all of the above” approach Australia would take to engaging with the White House would protect the national interest.

“It’s a fact that president Trump has an ‘America first’ agenda, which will have implications for all countries,” Senator Wong told AFR Weekend.

“We know he does things differently, and of course, there will be issues to address -- but in reality, that’s the case in all our international relationships, under any administration. Australia should be calm and confident in our ability to navigate the national interest.

“That confidence should be reinforced by the fact that we are one of the small handful of foreign governments invited to be there on day one at the inauguration.”

Amid criticism the government has been slow off the mark to reach out personally to Mr Trump, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese revealed on Friday that ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd had made “direct contact” with the president-elect.

“That is a good thing that that has occurred,” Mr Albanese said on radio. “We engage diplomatically … That’s how we get things done. And Kevin Rudd has worked very hard to develop relationships with the incoming administration.”

Dr Rudd and Mr Trump had an informal meeting last week at the president-elect’s luxurious Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago, according to a government source not authorised to speak publicly.

Dr Rudd passed on Mr Albanese’s well wishes to Mr Trump and told him he and Senator Wong were looking forward to attending the inauguration.

Senator Wong is the first Australian foreign minister who will attend a presidential inauguration -- an invitation Dr Rudd played an instrumental role in attaining. The trip will double as a Quad foreign ministers’ meeting by also bringing together representatives from Japan and India to meet incoming US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Mr Trump’s return has sparked consternation in global capitals that he will bring back the confrontational and at times chaotic approach to foreign affairs that defined his first term in the Oval Office.

He has threatened to unleash a worldwide trade war by introducing across-the-board and punitive tariffs to protect American industry and bring back jobs, appointed China hawks to key security roles, sowed doubts over the US commitment to arming Ukraine, promised “hell to pay” if a deal was not done to release Israeli hostages, demanded allies lift military spending and embraced right-wing nationalist leaders.

Sceptics of the AUKUS nuclear submarine pact have also questioned whether Mr Trump will try to redraw the agreement to Australia’s detriment, while the Albanese government is alert that it may need to make the case for exemptions for Australian goods should he go ahead with tariffs.

Senator Wong said the government’s strategy for working with the Trump White House would focus on dealing with a wide array of figures with the president’s ear.

“We engage directly with president Trump, we engage with his team in the White House, we engage with his administration across all the relevant departments, and, of course, we engage with his broader networks,” she said.

“This is the model of diplomacy that we always have with our key partners -- Australia is very experienced at it.”

Mr Trump’s family members such as sons Donald jnr and Eric act as unofficial emissaries on his behalf, while high-profile figures such as technology billionaire Elon Musk and United Fighting Championship boss Dana White have entered the president-elect’s orbit. Although there is always a risk of quickly falling from Mr Trump’s favour.

Senator Wong ruled out apologising for past comments seen as critical of Mr Trump that Labor Party figures including Mr Albanese, Dr Rudd and herself have made.

“The only politician trying to make an issue of this is Peter Dutton. Our American partners aren’t talking about it,” she said.

“The fact that we are one of the small handful of foreign governments invited to the inauguration tells you it’s time for Peter Dutton to stop recklessly trying to create conflict on something as important as this. He’s not taking the kind of calm, confident approach Australia needs.”

https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/australia-will-work-trump-s-network-of-influencers-says-wong-20250116-p5l4wr

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f79739 (287) No.22371065>>22371072

>>22225435

>>22357731

From the classroom to war, how Australian Oscar Jenkins fought for Ukraine

Annika Burgess and Brianna Morris-Grant - 16 Jan 2025

1/2

From biology classrooms to the battlefields of Ukraine.

Oscar Jenkins was a regular citizen when he joined the Ukrainian International Legion.

Now the Australian government has been making "urgent enquiries" with Russian authorities about a report the 32-year-old teacher from Melbourne had been killed.

A video surfaced in December showing Mr Jenkins being interrogated and hit by Russian forces.

At least seven Australians are thought to have been killed while fighting for Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion of the country began in February 2022.

But Mr Jenkins, who had been living in China since 2017, would be the first Australian prisoner of war killed by a foreign power since World War II.

So how did he end up fighting with the legionnaires?

Who are the international legionnaires?

The International Legion was set up by the Ukrainian government not long after the full-scale Russian invasion to recruit foreigners to help defend Ukraine.

The website states that the foreign fighters have played a key role in many crucial campaigns throughout the war and are "embedded within some of the most prominent brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine".

They were involved in the defence of Bakhmut, one of the bloodiest and most gruelling battles in the conflict.

The legion fighters also took part in the relentless campaign in Avdiivka.

Ukraine says its international legion is made up of about 20,000 fighters from 50 countries.

It is not known how many Australians have joined.

Glenn Kolomeitz is a former Australian soldier and lawyer who has given legal advice to members of Ukraine's foreign legion.

He has visited the troops and estimated that at any one time, about 20 to 30 Australians have been involved with the legion.

"During my time in Ukraine, I was living in legion team houses and advising and working with legion teams," he told the ABC.

"I would have seen upwards of 20 to 30 [Australians] in various units, and one in a senior staff role in Kyiv."

No military background required

The application requirements on the legion website appear very basic.

Military experience is not listed as a requirement.

Anyone between 18 and 60 years of age can apply, as long as they have no criminal record or chronic diseases.

The legion only accepts people who understand English, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian or Ukrainian.

But, speaking and understanding Ukrainian isn't a must.

"For civilians going in with no military background, I suspect there's still a vetting process, but they're not looking to see military experience," Mr Kolomeitz said.

Mr Jenkins had no previous military experience before joining the Ukraine defence forces early last year, the Associated Press reported.

Most of the Australian legionnaires Mr Kolomeitz encountered in Ukraine were highly skilled former military personnel.

They were often involved in training Western and Ukrainian civilian fighters.

"They'd be mentoring these Western legionnaires who didn't have military experience," Mr Kolomeitz said.

"I'm sure they were doing the same thing with Oscar."

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22371072

>>22371065

2/2

What was Jenkins's role?

In the hostage video, speaking in English and broken Ukrainian, Mr Jenkins explained to his captors that he had been serving in the Donbas region to help Ukraine.

Mr Kolomeitz said he was in contact with legionnaires in Ukraine, and it appeared Mr Jenkins had been serving alongside commandos involved in major battles.

"He was popular with legionnaires and therefore he would have been popular with his Ukrainian colleagues," he said.

"You can take it that he was accepted as a fighter."

A former Australian commando in Ukraine, who has been serving since the start of the conflict, wrote in a text to Mr Kolomeitz this week: "Oscar Jenkins, the Australian that was captured, he was a friend. We served together".

Mr Kolomeitz said the commando knew Mr Jenkins was a civilian, "but once you're in the Legion, you're no longer a civilian".

"The fact that he was in a unit with this other guy, tells me that he was in the fight."

'He was in it for Ukraine'

An American legionnaire, who went by the name "Forrest", described Mr Jenkins as a selfless soldier who was highly motivated.

"He was ready to go front line, no armour, no weapon, and just there to kill Russians and keep Ukrainians safe," he told the ABC in December.

"He was in it for Ukraine."

According to a guideline for foreign volunteers published in 2024, foreign service people can earn up to 100,000 Ukrainian hryvnia ($3,820) a month.

If they're killed or physically disabled in the line of duty, they and their families can receive a one-time payment of up to 15 million Ukrainian hryvnia ($573,006), according to the same Ministry of Defence guide.

Mr Kolomeitz said he had encountered several soldiers who abandoned well-paid contracts with the Australian Army to fight in Ukraine.

"At the end of the day, it's a very altruistic approach to want to go and serve," Mr Kolomeitz said.

"I know our government doesn't like it, but to serve for Ukraine, it's not just Ukraine's fight, it's the world's fight.

"I think Oscar's motivation would have been very honourable."

What conditions do they face?

Over the years, allegations have emerged of misconduct and abuse in the legion.

The Kyiv Independent has reported extensively on allegations of illegal conduct by some commanders.

An Australian serving with the legion in Ukraine also spoke to the ABC in 2023, alleging that some incompetent Ukrainian commanders were threatening soldiers and putting them in danger.

Mr Kolomeitz had received requests for legal advice from Australians and other members of the legion.

He said the situation over the past year had "improved dramatically", especially regarding equipment and access to Western weaponry.

But in August last year, the Kyiv Independent published a follow-up to its investigations, finding that "many of the problems we shed light on back in 2022 appear to still be there".

It cited poor control over light weapons, commanders physically assaulting and threatening subordinates, and ongoing alcohol abuse in certain units.

Mr Kolomeitz said the main issue facing legionnaires was the increasing complexity of the battlefield.

The prevalence of one-way attack drones had made conditions more challenging and dangerous, he said.

And they were compromising evacuations and logistics.

"You poke your head up and there's going to be a drone there," he said.

"It's a really different battle space."

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-16/australian-oscar-jenkins-ukraine-international-legion-russia-war/104819472

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f79739 (287) No.22371114

File (hide): 1d1f922da7ad6f0⋯.mp4 (9.78 MB,540x960,9:16,Aussies_warned_Fight_in_Uk….mp4) (h) (u) [play once] [loop]

>>22225435

>>22357731

New video warning for Australian soldiers joining Ukraine against Russia: ‘We’ll kill all you, f*ck it’

New video has emerged warning Australian soldiers who join Ukrainian forces in the war against Russia they will be killed, after Oscar Jenkins was reportedly ‘executed’. Warning: Graphic

Sophie Elsworth and Anna Nemtsova - January 17, 2025

Exclusive: A horrifying video has emerged warning Australian soldiers that if they dare to join Ukrainian forces in the war against Russia they will be killed.

The confronting post, uploaded to social media platform Telegram, comes amid worldwide reports Melbourne man Oscar Jenkins was executed by Russian forces after being captured while fighting for the Ukrainian International Legion.

The 17-second clip, posted online, also shows piles of dead bodies -- some still wearing their combat uniforms – as voice issues a stern warning to Australians that if they decide to team up with Ukrainian soldiers they will suffer the same fate.

Warning: Video above may be distressing for some viewers.

“Here is what is going to happen to you f*cking Australian recruits - we’ll kill all you, f*ck it, you are all lying here, some f*cking legion,” the voice can be heard saying in Russian.

“You will die all of you here.”

On a sun-drenched trailer, the video shows what appears up to a dozen soldiers sprawled across one another.

Blood is spattered on some of the corpses, many of them naked.

One of the dead, with no clothes on the upper half of his body, lays face down with his arms crossed above his head.

In one corner of the trailer, there is a pile of guns and other military equipment stacked up.

The video -- narrated in Russian – has not been verified by officials but has been widely shared on the social media platform.

Concerns for Mr Jenkins welfare were raised after a separate video circulated on Telegram in December showing him being interrogated by Russian forces in eastern Ukraine.

In the two-minute clip he was repeatedly asked a series of questions including his name and his country of origin.

He only gives the soldiers his first name, before being asked for his surname and peppered with many other questions.

He then explains he is 32 years of age and he lives in both Australia and Ukraine.

Mr Jenkins, visibly under duress during the interrogation and looking gaunt, answers the questions that are asked aggressively.

He responds mainly in English but also uses some Ukrainian words.

Mr Jenkins also says in the video he is a student and has been studying biology.

The former teacher has previously been living in China before he moved to Ukraine and it is understood he had very little military experience before joining to fight alongside Ukrainian forces.

Authorities including in Australia have not yet been able to confirm if Mr Jenkins is dead but many of his acquaintances believe he is deceased.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said this week that if Mr Jenkins had been killed by Russian forces swift action would be taken.

“We’ve called in the Russian ambassador already,” he said.

“We’re seeking clarification as to whether… any harm has occurred to Mr Jenkins, and we’ll take the strongest possible action if it is the case that any harm has been caused to him.”

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/world/new-video-warning-for-australian-soldiers-joining-ukraine-against-russia-well-kill-all-you-f-it/news-story/3f10c3194cc0ecc64c911917f546f9a4

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f79739 (287) No.22371190>>22371223

>>22225621

>>22333802

EXCLUSIVE: Transgender Pedophile Given Lenient Sentence For Sexually Abusing His 5-Year-Old Daughter After Court Considers “Transphobia” In Sentence

Anna Slatz - January 16, 2025

1/2

Content Notice: This article contains graphic details from a trial related to the sexual abuse of a young child. Some readers may find the content disturbing. Reader discretion is appreciated.

A trans-identified male in Australia has been sentenced to just over 4 years in prison for the horrific sexual abuse of his own 5-year-old daughter. While the offender was given the pseudonym of “Hilary Maloney” by the court, Reduxx can exclusively reveal the pedophile as Autumn Tulip Harper.

Reduxx has chosen to withhold Harper’s male birth name in order to protect the identity of the victim.

Harper, 25, was first identified as a suspect in the production of vile child sexual abuse content after an American pedophile he had been communicating with was arrested in September of 2023. A forensic examination of the pedophile’s devices found that Harper had sent him pornographic images and videos of a young girl via Discord. After identifying Harper as the owner of the account the content had originated from, police in the United States notified Australian authorities of their findings.

On September 15, 2023, police raided Harper’s home in Clayton South, Victoria, and seized his electronic devices. An examination of his cellphone found he had produced 77 files categorized as child abuse material between May and June of 2023. The female child in the materials was identified as Harper’s own 5-year-old daughter.

According to court records, Harper had been in an online BDSM relationship with the American pedophile, who encouraged him to sexually abuse his daughter in exchange for words of validation.

Harper sent the other man a range of images of his daughter, including of her naked, in the shower, and of him sexually posing with her. The court also details there were several videos of Harper kissing the child’s labia, naked buttocks, and licking her anal region. In one of these videos, Harper is heard asking the girl if she “likes it” to which the child clearly responds “no.”

From an analysis of the video and photo evidence, police determined that Harper had directly sexually abused the girl on at least 19 separate occasions in the course of just one month. The sexual abuse media was exclusively sent to the American, who Harper viewed as his “Master.” The man would then heap praise upon Harper, telling him how “impressed” and aroused he was by him, and calling him a “good girl.”

Despite being arrested for the serious crime in September of 2023, Harper was released on bail and was allowed to remain free throughout the duration of the trial.

Harper had shared custody of his daughter with his ex-partner, who only learned of the abuse after police notified her. In a victim impact statement, she spoke of the profound emotional toll the abuse had taken on her daughter, and stated that the child had begun inexplicably “acting out” around the same time the abuse would have started.

“Looking back, the behavioral issues all started from around the time that you were doing these things to her,” the girl’s mother said in court. “I’ve been through a lot in my life but this is the worst thing that’s ever happened to me. To have a child with someone and have your trust in them, even after breaking up and co-parenting, and then find out they’ve done these things … I am just constantly in fear, thinking if her own father could do this to her, what stops a stranger from doing the same? This has completely ruined my trust in others.”

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22371223

>>22371190

2/2

During the trial, forensic psychiatrist Dr. Rajan Darjee was called upon to interview Harper and create a profile of his offending. Disturbingly, Darjee framed Harper as though he were a “female” who had been “pressured” by a male into committing the offenses.

“… This pattern of sexual abuse is one which a more dominant male pressurises, manipulates and/or coerces a female who has access to a child, usually her own, to sexually abuse that child and/or to make that child available to him to sexually abuse,” Darjee wrote in his report to the court, characterizing Harper as though he were a “mother” experiencing dire circumstances.

Referring to Harper using feminine pronouns, Darjee wrote: “She felt the man she connected with cared for and was nice to her, and due to her low self-esteem, lack of assertiveness, loneliness, submissiveness and desperation to be noticed and cared for, it was easy for him to pick up on her vulnerability and manipulate her into the master/slave relationship where he took control of her life. He then involved her in sexual exchanges and then coerced her to sexually abuse her daughter and take videos and photos to share with him. She was not inherently motivated by deviant sexual interests or any other motive, except doing what he told her and keeping him happy, to sexually abuse her daughter.”

Darjee told the court that Harper would not need any “specific interventions to prevent further sexual offending” and dismissed the need for sex offender treatment. He also denied that Harper had a paraphilic disorder, and argued that Harper had no sexual attraction to children.

Darjee further described Harper as “hormonally female” at the time of his offending.

Harper was represented by Isabelle Skaburskis, who identified herself as “Mx. Skaburskis” to the court. Notably, the defense claimed that Harper had “identified as female” since 2019, but photos of Harper from that year show he had a notably masculine appearance at that time.

Reduxx has also been made aware through a source close to the case that Harper had initially been charged under his birth name, suggesting that he only changed his legal identification during the course of the proceedings. Due to his criminal circumstances, he likely would have had to apply for explicit permission to pursue the change from the Secretary of the Justice Department.

Delivering the sentence on August 26, 2024, Judge Nola Karapanagiotidis highlighted Harper’s “gender dysphoria” and experiences with “transphobia” as mitigating factors, and appeared to accept the defense’s argument that he only committed the abuse to be “validated … as a woman and a sexual person.”

Judge Karapanagiotidis reviewed Harper’s “personal circumstances” prior to announcing the sentence, emphasizing that Harper’s mother had been “homophobic and hateful” during his upbringing, and disapproved of his early attempts to wear women’s clothing. She also noted that his ex-partner, the mother of the victim, had not fully validated his gender identity after he expressed it.

“Compounding matters, you had only started to transition in around 2021 and your gender identity was not fully accepted by those around you, including [ex-partner]. Your Counsel submits that at the relevant time you were ‘completely lacking connection in [your] life’ and were experiencing ‘pervasive feelings of rejection and lack of self-worth,'” the Judge stated.

Harper was ultimately sentenced to 4 years and 9 months imprisonment, a steep drop from the maximum 25 year sentence that was available. Prior to delivering the decision, Judge Karapanagiotidis noted that the sentence was lenient, noting: “the sentence that I am about to impose on this charge is lower than the standard sentence.”

He will be eligible for parole just 2 years and 6 months into his sentence.

https://reduxx.info/exclusive-transgender-pedophile-given-lenient-sentence-for-sexually-abusing-his-5-year-old-daughter-after-court-considers-transphobia-in-sentence/

DPP v Maloney (a pseudonym) [2024] VCC 1328 (26 August 2024)

https://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/vic/VCC/2024/1328.html?context=1;query=maloney;mask_path=au/cases/vic/VCC

https://fbacs.com.au/our-team

https://www.criminal-lawyers.com.au/lawyer-profiles/isabelle-skaburskis

https://www.instagram.com/konkarapanagiotidis/p/CgiLyJfvYEZ/

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f79739 (287) No.22371251

>>22064772 (pb)

>>22064779 (pb)

Federal MPs urge President Biden to pardon Assange

Aaron Bunch - January 17 2025

Federal MPs have written to US President Joe Biden asking that he grant Julian Assange a full pardon before leaving office.

The Wikileaks founder was released from custody in June in a freedom deal in which he pleaded guilty to a single charge after the US dropped 17 other espionage offences against him.

The signatories to the letter say Mr Assange's conviction should be set aside, and he should be granted a Presidential pardon, a power often exercised by US Presidents in their final days in office.

"Mr Assange's recent conviction under the United States Espionage Act sets a deeply troubling precedent for press freedom globally," the open letter released on Friday said.

The signatories include independent MPs Zoe Daniel, Helen Haines, Monique Ryan, David Pocock, Kylea Tink and Andrew Wilkie.

Senior members of the Human Rights Law Centre, the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance and The Australia Institute also signed the letter.

Legal action against Mr Assange, 53, started in 2010 after hundreds of thousands of secret documents about the Afghanistan and Iraq wars were published on Wikileaks.

His freedom followed a court appearance before a judge in the US territory of the Northern Mariana Islands in the Pacific where he admitted to conspiring to obtain and disclose classified documents.

The plea deal brought an end to the US government's pursuit of the publisher whose website made him a cause celebre among many press freedom advocates who said he'd acted as a journalist to expose US military wrongdoing.

US prosecutors had repeatedly asserted that his actions broke the law and put the country's national security at risk.

The documents published by Wikileaks detailed thousands of civilian deaths as a result of the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts, and implicated American armed forces in the killing of innocent bystanders.

https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/8869114/federal-mps-urge-president-biden-to-pardon-assange/

https://australiainstitute.org.au/post/australian-leaders-urge-president-biden-to-pardon-julian-assange/

https://australiainstitute.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Open-Letter-to-President-Biden-1.pdf

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f79739 (287) No.22371436>>22371458

File (hide): 8ff893cda095dc7⋯.jpg (391.39 KB,2047x1152,2047:1152,Mr_Barber_s_lawyer_told_th….jpg) (h) (u)

>>22363090

Man suing State of Western Australia recalls his childhood was a ‘horrible nightmare’

EMMA KIRK - January 17, 2025

A man who was allegedly subjected to “horrific sexual abuse” at the hands of multiple family members has told a court his father, step-grandfather and stepfather had all been jailed for sexually abusing children.

Dion Barber, 45, is suing the state of Western Australia over claims he was repeatedly abused in the 1980s and ‘90s while he was a ward of the state.

When he was nine years old authorities placed back in the care of a family member who had sexually abused him, and was abused again by the same man.

Mr Barber told a Perth District Court it was “torturous”.

He said as a young child he would beg to stay at his grandparents’ house so he would not have to be home with his abusive stepfather.

He told the court his grandparents had sexually abused him from about the age of four, but he did not realise it was abuse because they were never nasty to him like his stepfather.

“My stepfather’s sexual assault was always nasty, it was driven by horror,” he said.

“(My grandparents’) wasn’t. I was led to believe that was normal behaviour.

“It was like a game; they made a game of it.”

In about 1993, Mr Barber’s step-grandfather went to prison for sexually assaulting another young child, which “gutted” him at the time because his step-grandfather had been charged with the same offence as his molester.

When he was about 16, Mr Barber said he had little choice but to live with his stepfather, who had molested him years earlier, or be homeless.

His abuser was still in a relationship with his mother after being released from prison.

“I wasn’t given another option, welfare had no housing, I was homeless apart from living with (my mother and stepfather),” he said.

Mr Barber said he lived with constant nightmares from his past and flashbacks of the abuse he endured throughout this childhood.

“Abuse has always been on my mind, it is something that has daunted my mind all the way through, it’s had a huge impact on my life to this very day and probably will until the very end,” he said.

“They are flashbacks of my past, the sexual abuse, my mother screaming at me that I am a liar for as long as I can remember.

“I have tried to take my own life.

“My past, everything that happened made me feel useless, worthless and that I was a liar.

“Not being listened to as a result of child abuse, physical abuse and the feeling of not being wanted were all driving forces for it.”

Defence lawyer Fiona Stanton told the court the state acknowledged Mr Barber had been returned to his abuser while in state care but argued authorities acted in good faith to reunite the family after he expressed that he wanted to live with his mother.

Ms Stanton argued there was always some risk of harm placing a child who was a ward of the state, and that the director general could not provide day to day supervision of a child in their guardianship.

Judge Linda Black disagreed, saying the director-general could remove a child from where they were living, then had responsibility for every aspect of that child’s life.

“I cannot think of any power in the state that is more all-encompassing to affect the life of a citizen,” she said.

“Once a child is sent off to a home to live in, legally my current view is the state maintains responsibility for the day-to-day control of the child.

“If it goes wrong, bad luck for the state.

“For children who can’t protect themselves, the state becomes their protector in every sense a responsible parent would be.”

Mr Barber’s lawyer Joel Sheldrick told the court that evidence would show the devastating effects the abuse had on his client.

Mr Sheldrick said guardianship was a serious obligation but what authorities did after his client was put back in the care of family members was “inexcusable and appalling”.

He said decisions made by authorities were negligent and had “truly catastrophic” consequences on his client.

The trial continues.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/breaking-news/man-suing-state-of-western-australia-recalls-his-childhood-was-a-horrible-nightmare/news-story/294a36adc8ee1ce60b6b1b5647590244

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f79739 (287) No.22371458

>>22363090

>>22371436

Ward of the state had to choose between ‘abuser and homelessness’

PAUL GARVEY - January 17, 2025

A man suing the state of Western Australia has told how authorities effectively gave him the choice ­between returning to the home of his abuser and homelessness when he was still a ward of the state.

Dion Barber is suing the state in the District Court of WA over what he alleges were breaches of its duty of care. The Children’s Court made Mr Barber a ward of the state when he was eight years old, after it determined that on the balance of probabilities he’d been sexually abused by his stepfather.

But he was returned to the home his mother shared with his stepfather just months later, after Don Punch -- at the time a supervisor in the Department of Communities, and who is now a minister in the Cook Labor government – signed off on a plan to reunite the family. Mr Barber has told how he suffered repeated sexual and physical abuse upon his return to his mother’s home, before his mother alerted authorities to the latest abuse.

Continuing his testimony on Friday, Mr Barber told how -- years later and when still a ward of the state – he again returned to live with his mother and his stepfather. By that time, the stepfather had also spent time in prison for the sexual abuse of another child.

Mr Barber told the court he was not happy with those living arrangements but felt like he had been given no other choice by the Department of Communities.

“At that stage I had nowhere else to go, I was railroaded, it was there or the streets,” he said.

“I wasn’t given another option. It wasn’t like Welfare gave me any other option.”

Mr Barber also provided horrific details of his experiences while residing with his biological father and his maternal grandparents while still a ward of the state.

The Department of Communities wrote an affidavit supporting an application from the biological father Kenneth “Mick” Barber, to take guardianship of Mr Barber despite Mick having spent time in jail and having been accused of domestic abuse.

Mr Barber told the court how Mick molested him, tongue-kissed him and left him with love bites after he went into his care. Mr Barber’s time with his father ended when Mick was arrested over the sexual abuse of another child. He later took his own life shortly after his release from prison.

Mr Barber told the court he had been “ecstatic” to hear of his father’s death. “There was no risk of having to face him again,” he said.

He told how shortly upon starting to live with his father at the age of 10, Mick began buying him alcohol. Mick would also take Mr Barber to the bush to help him find cannabis crops that they’d raid.

“Dad would take me out, I could smell the dope when it was wet,” he said.

He also told the court about his experiences with his maternal grandparents, with whom he had regular contact throughout the bulk of his wardship even after his grandfather was also jailed for the sexual abuse of another child.

He said he had also experienced sexual abuse in his grandparents’ home. His grandfather, Mr Barber said, would regularly have sex with his grandmother in front of him and Mr Barber was often told to take off his clothes and climb onto his grandmother in a game they called “horsies”.

He was also frequently exposed to pornographic material by his grandparents, including a Cinderella-themed pornographic video.

Mr Barber told the court about the lasting impacts on his life from his childhood, and in particular the experiences with his stepfather.

He said he had made multiple attempts to take his own life, had longrunning issues with drug addiction, and still experienced frequent flashbacks to the abuse.

He has multiple diagnosed mental conditions including complex PTSD, and has struggled to maintain relationships.

The state has admitted it breached its duty of care when it first sent Mr Barber back to the home his mother shared with his stepfather, but is disputing the extent of the state’s legal obligations and liabilities.

Mr Punch is listed as a witness and is set to be called next week.

If you or anyone you know needs support, you can contact the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732), Lifeline (13 11 14), the Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467), Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636) and Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800).

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

https://www.lifeline.org.au/

https://www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au/

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/

https://www.kidshelpline.com.au/

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/ward-of-the-state-had-to-choose-between-abuser-and-homelessness/news-story/6c53b0515aead6d93c20de498771e6aa

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f79739 (287) No.22379024>>22379030

>>22225665

>>22363017

>>22370306

Defensive Albanese promises ‘action’ on anti-Semitism as ceasefire nears

ALEXI DEMETRIADI - 19 January 2025

1/2

A defensive Anthony Albanese has stressed Australians wanted “action not meetings” to combat the escalating anti-Semitism crisis as NSW Premier Chris Minns conceded imminent hate-speech law reform was a year late.

It comes as world leaders watched and waited ahead of Sunday’s imminent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that he would resume the war if negotiations broke down.

The Prime Minister and NSW Premier issued the update on both governments’ response to Friday’s latest anti-Semitic attack -- where cars were torched and vandalised in Sydney, and the former home of Jewish leader Alex Ryvchin doused in red paint – while announcing a $1bn funding tranche to upgrade the Fifteenth Ave transit corridor linking to the new western Sydney Airport.

“I’m devastated by what happened (in Dover Heights on Friday) and to what happened to Mr Ryvchin’s former home,” Mr Albanese said.

“I spoke to Alex on Friday … And me and the premier have been constantly talking about these issues, and people want to see action.”

The Prime Minister’s comments come after Mr Ryvchin said he feared that someone would be murdered if the anti-Semitic crisis wasn’t quelled, and after Australia’s envoy against anti-Semitism called for an immediate national cabinet and tougher sentences for synagogue attackers.

Mr Albanese ruled out both, pointing to how the Australian Federal Police’s Operation Avalite made its first arrest last week -- charging a man for allegedly making threats toward a Jewish organisation – and that he and state leaders were committed to “stamping out” anti-Semitism.

“My government has legislated against Nazi symbols, legislated against doxxing, and appointed the first envoy to combat anti-Semitism,” he said.

Mr Minns -- who has been widely praised for his 15-month response to anti-Semitism in NSW – admitted he “couldn’t promise an end” to more anti-Jewish attacks, calling those perpetrators behind the recent attacks “terrible people”.

“(The attacks) are despicable … What I can promise is that they’ll be met with a full police response and we will change the law to keep people safe,” he said.

Mr Minns reiterated that he would strengthen the state’s hate-speech laws upon parliament’s February return, saying that the genesis of the recent attacks was in vilification and hate speech that had gone unpunished.

“The initial spark (to the recent attacks) is hate speech in our community,” he said.

“Our government’s going to make a difficult decision soon, but the right one (to strengthen hate-speech laws).

“(Tougher laws would ensure that) if someone’s preaching hatred in the community, it doesn’t manifest itself a few months later in a firebombing or anti-Semitic attack.”

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22379030

>>22379024

2/2

On Friday, Mr Minns appeared to allude that the reform could be to incorporate the “incitement of hatred” into the state criminal code. Currently, the laws, enclosed in section 93Z, outlaw the incitement to -- or threat of – violence.

The Australian has covered for 15 months rising hate speech, predominantly from fringe Islamic centres in southwest Sydney, and criticism of section 93Z.

The government in 2023 amended the provision to allow police to lay charges themselves, in a bid to quicken the prosecution process, and later sent it to a law reform commission, which recommended no changes to its drafting.

But the premier appeared set to plough forward with amendments, conceding it was a step that could have been taken earlier.

“In all candour, yes … I wish it (the provision) was stronger,” Mr Minns said, whose strengthening of the provision would follow a similar legislative move in Victoria.

“If we’re proposing a change to the law, it means there’s a problem there.

“But the government has shown a willingness to look at the situation as it is … and take action if we believe that community harmony and cohesion is at stake.”

The ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas was set to start on Sunday, with 33 hostages held in Gaza being returned in exchange for about 1800 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, a stop to the fighting in the enclave, and Israeli forces pulling back from the strip.

Mr Albanese said he was “hopeful” the ceasefire held.

“It’s good that it’s happened and that it will come into place,” he said.

“We want to see the hostages released, proper aid being able to get to the people of Gaza, and Israelis and Palestinians to both live in peace and security.”

The ceasefire agreement will come into effect at 8.30am local time (5.30pm AEDT) and the first three hostages of the 33 would be released into the care of the International Committee of the Red Cross, who would facilitate their transfer out of Gaza.

Four more hostages would be released the following weekend and the final 26 to be released in the first phase to be spread out over the following five weeks.

The prime minister again would not be drawn into when he would call an election, saying that his focus remained on “governing” and that he would be pilloried by Canberra’s press gallery if he were to “foreshadow” the poll’s possible date.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/defensive-albanese-promises-action-on-antisemitism-as-ceasefire-nears/news-story/769232c76f80916b48fdde3fdef2586d

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f79739 (287) No.22379048>>22379054 >>22379102 >>22408724 >>22416688 >>22416701

File (hide): 985053501159b91⋯.jpg (932.18 KB,4000x2667,4000:2667,Demonstrators_march_toward….jpg) (h) (u)

>>22134046 (pb)

>>22363017

‘Celebrate what?’: Melbourne protests won’t stop for Gaza ceasefire

Rachel Eddie - January 19, 2025

1/2

Pro-Palestinian protesters have vowed to continue the rallies in Melbourne’s CBD, hours before a phased ceasefire between Hamas and Israel was set to come into effect, prompting renewed calls from the state government and business lobby for the weekly marches to end.

After 15 months of rallies, hundreds of people again gathered at the State Library on Sunday wearing keffiyeh scarves and using watermelon imagery as a symbol of Palestinian resistance, calling for boycotts, sanctions and liberation.

Palestinian activist Mai Saif said the ceasefire deal -- due to take effect at 5.30pm on Sunday (AEDT) – did not bring her peace, nor did it bring relief to the tens of thousands of people killed in the war.

Under the deal, fighting in the Gaza Strip would pause, while dozens of hostages held by Hamas would be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

“It doesn’t give relief to every single home that’s been destroyed, every memory, essence, the society, the culture, history, our heritage, our lands, our trees,” Saif said.

“They want us to cheer and celebrate -- for what? They want us to celebrate and say thank you. We are not thankful.”

At one point on Sunday, a man wearing Israel’s flag as a cape approached the back of the crowd during speeches at the State Library. After declining to leave the public space, he was encircled by protesters.

Police officers watched closely, but tempers remained calm and the group eventually dispersed.

Victoria Police estimated about 500 protesters attended on Sunday and said there were no incidents reported

Several attendees wore red caps, in a reference to US President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign, that read: “Make Israel Palestine again.”

The crowd repeatedly chanted on the march to parliament: “All Zionists are terrorists.”

Earlier on Sunday, Jewish Community Council of Victoria president Philip Zajac said he was frustrated that the protesters planned to continue “disruptive and offensive demonstrations through Melbourne’s CBD even after the implementation of a negotiated agreement between Israel and Hamas”.

In a message to community members, Zajac said the council would continue to push the state government, City of Melbourne and Victoria Police to “reclaim the city from these troublemakers”.

He said the community would sleep easier once all hostages were freed. “Until then, the hostages and their families remain in our prayers.”

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22379054

>>22379048

2/2

Acting Premier Ben Carroll said the ceasefire was a positive step and that he was hopeful the protests could come to an end.

“Everyone does have a right to a peaceful protest,” Carroll said on Sunday.

“Protesting in Melbourne is not going to change outcomes overseas. It’s important that we realise we have a CBD that we need to support … and I would hope that we can see a step-down from those protests.”

Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry acting chief executive Chanelle Pearson said the protests were discouraging people from coming into the city, and hurting small businesses in particular.

“Enough is enough,” Pearson said. “Traders are enjoying the swell of tennis fans attending the Australian Open -- we don’t want anything to damage our reputation with visitors. The protests continue to have a negative impact.”

Australia Palestine Advocacy Network president Nasser Mashni told The Age that it was important the protests continued.

“A ceasefire is not liberation. Palestinians deserve liberation, like everyone else,” Mashni said on Sunday.

Protester Zara -- who asked that her surname not be used --- said she wanted justice for Palestine.

She said she would only stop protesting once there was genuine peace, including for those in the occupied West Bank.

“Is Palestine really free after today’s ceasefire?” Zara said. “Politicians are not doing anything, leaders are not doing anything.”

Rallies have been a mainstay of Melbourne’s CBD every Sunday since Israel launched a devastating offensive in response to the October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attack that killed 1200 people. More than 250 people were taken hostage, nearly 100 of whom remain in captivity 15 months later -- though it is uncertain who has survived.

Israel’s response has since killed more than 46,000 people in Gaza, more than half of whom were women and children, according to local health officials.

The agreed ceasefire will pause fighting in populated areas of Gaza, allowing people to return to what’s left of their homes and for a surge of aid to flow.

Under the first phase of the ceasefire, 33 hostages will be released over six weeks in exchange for 737 Palestinian prisoners.

David Southwick, the Liberal MP for Caulfield and opposition police spokesman, said on Sunday the Jewish community would keep fighting for justice, dignity and freedom.

“We will not rest until every hostage is brought home,” he said.

Hash Tayeh, the Palestinian owner of the Burgertory chain, was celebrating the ceasefire at his Olive Tree Bakery in Coburg North on Sunday night with food and entertainment.

“The world cannot turn away now. This is a time to celebrate our survival, mourn our losses, and to prepare for the work ahead,” Tayeh said in a statement.

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/celebrate-what-melbourne-protests-won-t-stop-for-gaza-ceasefire-20250119-p5l5io.html

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f79739 (287) No.22379102

>>22363017

>>22379048

Burgertory boss Hash Tayeh among high-profile Palestinian organisers to pull pin on protests

MOHAMMAD ALFARES - 19 January 2025

The organisers of Melbourne’s weekly pro-Palestine protests have split over the post-ceasefire future of the rallies, with Burgertory boss Hash Tayeh and others pulling out after this week.

The Australian can reveal organisers had a private meeting on Saturday to discuss the continuation of weekly protests following a blowback from Victoria’s peak business lobby, who say families have been discouraged from venturing into the CBD in recent times.

It’s understood a number of high-profile activists will cease to attend weekly protests from next week, a move that came as a surprise for supporters of the movement.

Among them is Mr Tayeh of the Liberation Crew, who will stop attending protests from next week as he shifts his focus to “advocacy, rebuilding, and accountability” efforts both locally and internationally.

Hardline activist Ihab Alazhari of the ‘Sit-Intifada’ will also cease to attend weekly protests from next week.

Mr Alzhari and his son, Ibrahim, have been embroiled in controversy after this masthead revealed the family steel manufacturing business was engaged in large government and private-sector projects that operate in Victoria, NSW and Queensland.

The decision marks a shift in strategy following extensive demonstrations spanning over a year.

However, Victoria’s largest campaign group, Free Palestine Melbourne (FPM), will continue to show up every weekend under the leadership of the president of the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN), Nasser Mashni, who has vowed to continue.

It comes as Anthony Albanese warned on Friday last week that “professional protesters” needed to ensure they “cooled” societal tensions post the ceasefire deal.

The Prime Minister ruled out formally recognising a Palestinian state before the next election, signalling he will back such a move only if Hamas played no future role in a new nation.

Speaking with The Australian, Mr Tayeh said Mr Albanese had been attending pro-Palestinian rallies before being elected in May 2022.

“Albanese supported a Palestinian state before being elected, to the extent of attending rallies and even being outspoken,” he said.

“Albanese, remember your humanity and don’t sell your soul to the highest bidder, the survival of innocence depends on it.”

A ceasefire celebration event will take place on Sunday evening on Melbourne’s inner city Sydney Road, where Gazan families who have relocated to Australia will have a “safe space” to engage with members of the community.

The gathering, open to all members of the public, will feature traditional Palestinian music, free food, and activities for children. Organisers have framed the ceasefire as a vital step toward Palestinian liberation while highlighting the need for continued action.

Key demands include holding Australians who fought with the Israeli Defense Forces accountable for alleged war crimes, supporting the reconstruction of Gaza, and advocating for the establishment of a Palestinian state.

“This is a time to celebrate our survival, mourn our losses, and prepare for the work ahead,” Mr Tayeh said.

“This event also marks a turning point for the organisers. While some groups will continue weekly Sunday rallies, the focus for many will shift toward advocacy, rebuilding, and accountability efforts both locally and internationally.”

Mr Tayeh, who over the years has been subject to border force checks, claims his Melbourne restaurant was allegedly burned down for political reasons.

The firebombing of his restaurant was not the end, with police later dismissing a pig’s heart being dumped at one of his Burgertory stores’ doors as “just littering”, Mr Tayeh said.

A legal case into a firebombing incident at his home was then deemed a cold case by Victoria Police.

“This twisted act, meant to terrorise and demean, was brushed aside without investigation, leaving us with no recourse, no protection, and no support from those sworn to protect us,” he wrote.

Separately, organisers in Sydney and Brisbane remain adamant in holding protests indefinitely.

Socialist activist Josh Lees, who Mr Albanese referred to as a “professional protester”, said he would continue to march to demand an “end to the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories”.

Earlier this week, the Victorian and NSW leadership gave pro-Palestine protests a green light to continue as a ceasefire neared but vowed to arrest any Jew haters or supporters of extremist groups.

It comes as Sydney was rocked by another anti-Semitic attack in which cars were torched and a former home of a Jewish leader was vandalised.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/burgertory-boss-hash-tayeh-among-high-profile-palestinian-organisers-to-pull-pin-on-protests/news-story/93c5563a965f3e77d7cf9b1d5fe59aa7

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f79739 (287) No.22379359

File (hide): 22079a7d2d73976⋯.mp4 (15.34 MB,640x360,16:9,CCTV_captures_moment_of_Do….mp4) (h) (u) [play once] [loop]

>>22225665

>>22370306

>>22370472

Horrific anti-Semitic attack caught on CCTV

LIAM MENDES - 19 January 2025

CCTV footage has emerged of the moment two dark-clothed and hooded figures doused two cars in petrol and splattered red paint on the former home of a high-profile Jewish community leader on ­Friday.

The vision shows a charcoal-coloured hatchback slowing down out the front of the former family home of Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin, before two figures emerge with a fuel container and what appears to be a paint spray gun.

One assailant then sprays the home -- now occupied by non-­Jewish residents – with red paint as the other pours a trail of petrol to the other side of the road before ­igniting a fire.

One car destroyed by fire, a Mercedes, had “f*ck Jews” sprayed on the side; a Honda had “f*ck ­Israel” on its rear windscreen and trunk.

NSW police are investigating whether the attack was targeting Mr Ryvchin and his family in a shocking new development in an anti-Semitism crisis that began to spiral more than 15 months ago.

Colin Rubenstein, executive director of the Australia Israel & Jewish Affairs Council, called for “unreserved condemnation” by Australia’s political leaders and for “law and order” to be restored in the nation.

“The firebombing of Alex Ryvchin’s former home is a shocking and violent escalation in the rising tide of anti-Semitism and outrageous terrorism in Australia, highlighting the increasing risks faced by Jewish individuals in the country,” Dr Rubenstein said. “Security footage revealing the attack under­scores the gravity of the threat, serving as a stark reminder of how unchecked hatred can result in real-world violence against vulnerable communities,” he said.

After viewing the footage, Anti-Defamation Commission chair Dvir Abramovich said he was “burning with rage” and the footage demonstrated what happens when “anti-Semitism festers unchecked … Watching those images of flames and desecration, I feel an anger that cannot be contained - a deep, visceral fury.”

Dr Abramovich had a clear message for the perpetrators: “Let me tell these cowards something loud and clear: your fire will never extinguish our spirit, your venom will never weaken our resolve, your darkness will never overshadow our light”.

“I am furious that in Australia, a country that prides itself on tolerance and equality, such evil is allowed to spread like wildfire. This is a five-alarm emergency that cannot be ignored.”

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/horrific-antisemitic-attack-caught-on-cctv/news-story/1d1349c2a6f8ba7080ea1df3b124ee2e

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f79739 (287) No.22387511

>>21949152 (pb)

>>22225665

>>22370306

Dutton promises mandatory jail time for Hamas, Hezbollah flag wavers

Paul Sakkal - January 20, 2025

1/2

Australians who wave flags of listed terrorist organisations such as Hamas or Hezbollah would face minimum year-long jail terms under a Coalition government, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pleads with people to lower the heat on domestic debate over the war in Gaza following a ceasefire.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, Coalition frontbencher James Paterson and Jewish MP Julian Leeser released their proposals for tough new laws to clamp down on antisemitism following a string of attacks on synagogues and Jewish parts of Melbourne and Sydney in recent months.

Speaking at Bondi’s Central Synagogue, Paterson said people found guilty of terrorism would face a minimum six-year jail-term. Displaying the flags of terror groups -- as seen in the streets of Melbourne and Sydney after the death of Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah – would attract a minimum of a year behind bars under a proposed amendment to federal wage symbols laws that were passed in 2023.

Mandatory minimum sentences are controversial in the legal establishment because, critics argue, they prevent judges considering individual circumstances.

Paterson added that federal laws against inciting violence were inadequate and suggested they should be expended to stop threats against places of worship.

“Unfortunately since then things have only gotten worse,” Paterson said.

“We have seen people behaving with impunity.”

Dutton told reporters: “The prime minister is playing politics with this issue because he sees political advantage in some Green seats by abrogating his priority to Jewish Australians.”

“We were speaking with a family on the way in, who have been the subject of one of these attacks. They’re an Australian family. They’ve lived in the same house for 60 years … An attack on a Jewish family or an attack on any family is an attack on all of us.”

The Coalition has sought to make Albanese’s response to the surge in attacks on Jewish sites as a test of his leadership, repeatedly calling on Labor to convene a national cabinet meeting on antisemitism. The opposition has been one of the most pro-Israel centre-right political parties in comparable nations, rarely criticising the Israeli military operation in Gaza.

Albanese has not agreed to a national cabinet but met the leaders of Victoria and NSW last week to discuss the issue. The government has defended its record by pointing to its appointment of an envoy against antisemitism and laws to criminalise doxxing and the Nazi salute.

On Monday, NSW Premier Chris Minns is planning to strengthen state hate speech laws within weeks and outlaw protests outside places of worship.

Declaring he was increasingly of the view that hate speech was the “initial spark” of brazen antisemitism, Minns said Labor had made the “difficult decision” to table tougher -- and potentially contentious – legislation when parliament resumes next month.

“Our government is going to … strengthen laws, so that if someone’s preaching hatred in the community, it doesn’t manifest itself two or three months later in a firebombing, an attack or something worse,” Minns said. “No stone will be left unturned.”

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22387515

2/2

After the December 6 arson attack on the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan flagged a blanket ban on symbols and flags of listed terrorist organisations -- including Hamas, Hezbollah and white nationalist groups – which extend beyond existing restrictions in federal counter-terrorism laws. Victoria will also prohibit protests outside places of worship. The laws have not yet been legislated and will be considered when state parliament resumes.

Dutton suggested Albanese knew the gravity of the moment warranted a national cabinet meeting but was rejecting the proposal out of personal pride.

Albanese said on Monday that he had forcefully condemned antisemitic acts.

“We certainly need to lower the temperature here in Australia, but we certainly welcome the release of these hostages under the ceasefire deal,” Albanese said on ABC Radio Sydney.

“Antisemitism has been horrific, something that needs to be stamped out. These instances of hate that we have seen aimed at the Jewish community are crimes and they should be prosecuted to the full, and the full force of the law brought to bear on those who engaged in these crimes.”

The Australian Federal Police launched Operation Avelite late last year to clamp down on antisemitic statements and acts. Last week the taskforce, which includes 21 officers, made its first arrest: a western Sydney man charged with using social media to threaten to kill Jewish community leaders.

Special envoy to combat antisemitism Jillian Segal last week called on police forces to do more to enforce existing laws to combat violence and intimidation towards Jews, arguing that political condemnation, while welcome, was insufficient.

Charges have not yet been over a number of high-profile incidents including the burning of cars and graffiti at the former Sydney home of Jewish leader Alex Ryvchin, the vandalism and attempted arson of a Sydney synagogue and the burning of the Adass Israel synagogue.

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/dutton-promises-mandatory-jail-time-for-hamas-hezbollah-flag-wavers-20250120-p5l5ps.html

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f79739 (287) No.22387524>>22408749 >>22430394 >>22430407 >>22430571 >>22444477

File (hide): 129eac3bbc100a5⋯.jpg (544.22 KB,750x1229,750:1229,SH_1.jpg) (h) (u)

>>22307893

>>22363017

>>22363037

Mark Dreyfus called out over Labor’s ‘clearly ineffectual’ response to anti-Semitism

NOAH YIM - 20 January 2025

Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister personally took Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus to task over Labor’s “clearly ineffectual” handling of anti-Semitism and its turn against the Jewish homeland in the United Nations.

Despite Mr Dreyfus earlier saying he had been “warmly welcomed” in all his meetings in Israel, Sharren Haskel said she had expressed to him “disappointment with the shift in the Australian government’s attitude towards Israel”.

“I emphasised our deep concern regarding the shocking rise in anti-Semitism in Australia and the clearly ineffectual response from the Australian government and state governments,” she wrote in a post on X.

“There is no doubt this has been caused in part by the Australian government’s ongoing campaign against Israel.

“I expressed my expectation and hope that Australia’s policy towards Israel will return to reflecting our longstanding relations based on shared values and interests.”

Mr Dreyfus, the most senior Jewish cabinet minister, last week travelled to Israel as part of the Albanese government’s attempt to improve its fractured relationship with the Netanyahu government.

A few days into that trip, Mr Dreyfus told ABC radio he had been “warmly welcomed in all of the meetings that I’ve had”.

“There’s been a very strong friendship between our countries since Israel was founded by the United Nations,” he said.

“And what I’ve felt in all of the meetings is that we should be strengthening that already strong relationship between Australia and Israel. Israeli ministers have, of course, raised some issues, but in a very constructive way.”

When contacted for comment, a spokesman for Mr Dreyfus disputed Ms Haskel’s characterisation of the meeting.

“Australia’s friendship with Israel is strong and enduring,” the spokesman said.

“The Attorney-General does not agree with Ms Haskell’s sentiments, and they are not reflective of the remainder of his meetings in Israel with senior ministers including the President of Israel.”

Jewish Coalition MP Julian Leeser said the trip was a “farce” and that Ms Haskel “knows exactly what has been happening in Australia”.

Ms Haskel previously lived in Sydney for almost seven years.

“Mark Dreyfus can’t pretend to anyone about what’s been happening at home, and what Penny Wong has been doing at the UN,” Mr Leeser said.

“The Deputy Foreign Minister of Israel Sharren Haskel knows exactly what has been happening in Australia.

“She has had the courage to call out the failure of the Albanese government for abandoning the Australian Jewish community and the state of Israel in their time of need.

“Given he is not in charge of Australia’s foreign policy but is directly responsible for the Human Rights Commission, the federal police and the commonwealth criminal law, it’s time Mr Dreyfus came home to deal with the anti-Semitism which is now out of control but which he has been all too slow to act on for the last 15 months.”

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/ag-mark-dreyfus-called-out-over-labors-clearly-ineffectual-response-to-antisemitism/news-story/40943a1fe6321a95b83c79e7c6d1aa66

https://x.com/SharrenHaskel/status/1880846431180951631

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f79739 (287) No.22387534

>>22225525

>>22339502

>>22370868

Here to help, Mr President! Wong, Rudd launch Australia’s mission to Trump

Farrah Tomazin - January 20, 2025

Washington: The Albanese government has moved to shore up its relationship with Donald Trump, with Australia’s US ambassador Kevin Rudd seeking to smooth over tensions with the incoming president as Foreign Minister Penny Wong prepares to meet with his pick for top diplomat.

On the eve of Trump’s inauguration, Wong, who is in Washington to attend the historic event, said the government was looking forward to working with the new Trump administration to advance their shared economic and security interests.

Noting that “every new presidency is a day of profound importance to the world”, Wong said that China, trade and the AUKUS submarine pact would be on her agenda when she meets with Trump’s nominee for Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, and other members of Congress during her visit.

“If you look at how I and others have spoken about the challenge and opportunity that China presents, including for the stability of the region, I think there’s a lot of similarity in the way in which we can discuss China,” she said.

Rudd, who has been working overtime to foster strong relationships with both sides of politics since he took on the job as ambassador, also met briefly with the incoming president at his Trump International Golf Course in West Palm Beach, Florida.

The former prime minister’s future in Washington was thrown into doubt last year when Trump learnt of past comments he had made in which Rudd described Trump as a “traitor to the West” and the “most destructive president in history”.

“I don’t know much about him. I heard he was a little bit nasty. I hear he’s not the brightest bulb,” Trump said when with the comments in an interview with former Brexit party leader Nigel Farage on Britain’s right-leaning GB News.

“He won’t be there long if that’s the case.”

Asked how the meeting went and whether she was confident of a good working relationship, Wong replied: “I think the meeting was a short discussion. Obviously, it went well, as can be seen by the fact that this invitation (to Trump’s inauguration) has been extended.”

“We’ve seen the AUKUS legislation shepherded through, we’ve seen this visit organised, we’ve seen the invitation to the inauguration for both me and also ambassador Rudd. I think that speaks for itself,” she added of the relationship between the two countries.

The push to get in Trump’s good graces comes at a critical time for Australia, which is locked into a $365 billion military pact with the US in the form of the AUKUS submarine deal.

Among his many promises, Trump has vowed to impose trade tariffs of up to 60 per cent on imports, introduce deep tax cuts, significantly boost military spending and deport millions of immigrants from the US.

Australia was encouraged by Rubio’s comments at his Senate confirmation hearing last week, in which the China hawk gave the strongest signal yet that US administration would continue to back AUKUS, describing it as a blueprint for other partnerships to take on China.

“It’s one example of how we can leverage the power of these partnerships with allies … to reach outcomes and objectives, such as creating a geopolitical and strategic balance in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond,” said the Florida senator, who would become Wong’s counterpart if, as expected, his nomination is confirmed by Congress.

Asked if Australia would seek to be exempt from tariff increases, Wong replied: “I’d make the point that in terms of US-Australia economic relationships, that America has had a trade surplus with us since the Truman presidency, so that’s a long time. I’d make the point that, in fact, that trade surplus is two to one in the US’s favour, and I’d also make the point that I think around half of our Australian exports to the US are inputs to US production.

“So it’s an economic relationship which is obviously a great mutual benefit.”

Wong and Rudd were initially one of 200,000-plus guests invited to watch Trump’s swearing-in ceremony outside the US capitol until the 78-year-old Republican moved the event indoors due to dangerously cold weather in Washington on Monday.

https://www.theage.com.au/world/north-america/here-to-help-mr-president-wong-rudd-launch-australia-s-mission-to-trump-20250120-p5l5t6.html

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f79739 (287) No.22387539

>>22225525

>>22339502

>>22370868

Australia foreign minister says Quad in Washington shows 'iron-clad' commitment

Kirsty Needham - January 20, 2025

SYDNEY, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong met her Indian and Japanese counterparts in Washington and said the invitation for Quad foreign ministers to attend President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration showed an "iron-clad commitment" to close cooperation in the Indo Pacific region.

Republican Senator Marco Rubio appears on track for confirmation as Trump's secretary of state on Monday, clearing the way for a meeting of Quad foreign ministers the following day, people familiar with the matter previously said.

The grouping of Australia, India, Japan and the U.S. was formed amid shared concerns about China's growing power.

"It's a demonstration of the collective commitment of all countries to the Quad, an iron-clad commitment in this time where close cooperation in the Indo-Pacific is so important," Wong said on Sunday of the foreign ministers' invitation to Washington.

Wong said she would also meet Rubio and other members of the Trump administration, adding the U.S. alliance was critical to Australia's defence and economic prosperity.

Wong is expected to discuss the AUKUS defence technology partnership with the U.S. and Britain, a decades-long plan to sell nuclear-powered submarines to Australia.

She told reporters in Washington that Australia was "on a pathway of increasing defence expenditure".

"Our focus is very much on how do we continue to deliver on AUKUS, because we do believe that capability is so important for deterrence, which is the way in which you can secure peace," she said.

Defence Minister Richard Marles said in a radio interview on Monday that AUKUS would see Australia make a significant funding contribution to the American industrial base to speed up U.S. production rates of Virginia class submarines.

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australia-foreign-minister-says-quad-washington-shows-iron-clad-commitment-2025-01-20/

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f79739 (287) No.22400178>>22400221 >>22400241 >>22400310 >>22400357 >>22400387 >>22408778 >>22444552 >>22465975 >>22465987 >>22482221 >>22482246 >>22482279 >>22482339

>>22225525

Donald Trump sworn in as 47th US president, denouncing ‘American decline’

Trump returns to power after unprecedented comeback, emboldened to reshape American institutions.

aljazeera.com - 20 Jan 2025

1/2

Donald Trump has been sworn in for a second term as president of the United States in Washington, DC.

Trump used his inaugural address to reiterate his grievances against his political opponents, saying he would “liberate” the country from a “radical and corrupt establishment”.

Declaring that government faces a “crisis of trust”, Trump pledged in his inaugural address a brighter future under his administration. “Our sovereignty will be reclaimed. Our safety will be restored. The scales of justice will be rebalanced,” he said.

Trump claimed “a mandate to completely and totally reverse a horrible betrayal”, promising to “give the people back their faith, their wealth, their democracy and indeed their freedom”.

“From this moment on,” he added, “America’s decline is over.”

Trump also unveiled a series of executive actions he plans to take in quick succession after his inauguration. The executive orders are the first step in what Trump is calling “the complete restoration of America and the revolution of common sense”.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22400221

>>22400178

2/2

Frigid weather rewrote the pageantry of the day. Trump’s swearing-in was moved indoors to the US Capitol Rotunda - the first time that has happened in 40 years - and the inaugural parade was replaced by an event at a downtown arena.

Throngs of Trump supporters who descended on the city to watch the inaugural ceremony outside the US Capitol were left to find other places to view the festivities.

At the US Capitol, Vice President JD Vance was sworn in first, taking the oath on a Bible given to him by his great-grandmother. Trump followed moments later, just after noon Eastern time (17:00 GMT), using both a family Bible and one used by the late President Abraham Lincoln in 1861.

A cadre of billionaires and tech titans - including Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Tim Cook and Sundar Pichai - were given prominent positions in the Capitol Rotunda, mingling with Trump’s incoming team before the ceremony began.

Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, was also in attendance, as he is expected to lead an effort to slash spending and federal employees as Trump’s adviser.

https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2025/1/20/donald-trump-sworn-in-as-47th-us-president-denouncing-american-decline

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f79739 (287) No.22400241>>22400257

[pop]YouTube embed. Click thumbnail to play.

>>22400178

Moments after he was sworn in, Trump wasted no time demonstrating his presidential power

Farrah Tomazin - January 21, 2025

1/2

Washington, DC: It was an inauguration that set the tone for a second-term presidency more emboldened and unchecked than the first.

Six months after he was almost assassinated, Donald Trump embarked on one of the most expansive demonstrations of presidential power in years, using his inauguration speech to unveil a blizzard of executive actions that he said would usher in a new “golden age” and a “revolution of common sense”.

“America’s decline is over,” he said.

Speaking in the Capitol rotunda -- the same building his supporters stormed four years ago as they tried to stop Joe Biden’s election victory – Trump vowed to immediately declare a national emergency at the US-Mexico border and send the military to ensure illegal immigrants stayed out.

He said he would end government programs promoting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), ramp up energy production across the US and set up an external revenue service to collect tariffs he plans to impose on foreign countries.

As he ambitiously moves to expand America’s global footprint, he reiterated his desire to seize the Panama Canal and also said he would rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America -- a proposal that prompted Hillary Clinton, sitting behind him, to laugh.

At one point, Trump even insisted he would plant the American flag on Mars -- a lifelong goal of his increasingly powerful “First Buddy”, Elon Musk.

“America will soon be greater, stronger and far more exceptional than ever before,” he said.

“I return to the presidency confident and optimistic that we are at the start of a really new era of national success. A tide of change is sweeping the country.”

Trump’s speech was slightly less dark than the “American carnage” address he gave at his first inauguration eight years ago, which depicted the US as a crime and drug-infested hellscape with “rusted-out factories, scattered like tombstones”, “mothers and children trapped in poverty” and “forgotten men and women”.

But it nonetheless cast the US as a country that had lost its way under his predecessor -- and one that only he could revive.

“We will be the envy of every nation, and we will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of any longer,” he said.

“Our sovereignty will be reclaimed. Our safety will be restored. The scales of justice will be rebalanced. The vicious, violent and unfair weaponisations of the Justice Department and our government will end.”

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22400257

>>22400241

2/2

But much, of course, has changed since 2017. Back then, no sooner had Trump been sworn into office than almost 500,000 Americans raced to the streets to display their rage in what was the largest single-day protest in US history. Now, the mood in Washington feels less like resistance and more like resignation.

Those who once criticised the incendiary Republican are scrambling to get in his good graces, and some of them even had VIP seating today, such as Amazon boss Jeff Bezos, Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg and media mogul Rupert Murdoch.

Trump, too, is a stronger political leader, emboldened by his election success.

“Many people thought it was impossible for me to stage such a historic political comeback. But as you see today, here I am,” he said.

Much of Trump’s comeback is rooted in his resilience. Here is a man who endured two assassination attempts, two impeachments, four criminal indictments and one criminal conviction. And yet more than 77 million Americans voted for him anyway, drawn by his strongman persona, his grievance fuelled-rhetoric, and because they were deeply unhappy with the status quo.

But while Trump has every right to boast about his astonishing return, he will soon face the challenge of meeting the high expectations he has set.

His sweeping executive orders, from dismantling environmental regulations to banning transgender athletes from women’s sports, could face inevitable legal challenges.

His campaign proposal to boost tariffs on imports from China, Mexico and Canada could spark retaliatory measures, increasing prices for consumers and disrupting global supply chains.

His crackdowns on undocumented immigrants could lead to labour shortages in industries such as agriculture, hospitality and construction.

Even his pledge to reinstate the “remain in Mexico” policy -- which forced migrants to wait in Mexico until the date of their immigration case in court – would require Mexico’s co-operation.

Time will tell if Trump can deliver on the sweeping promises he made. For now, America’s 45th president has returned as its 47th, bigger and bolder than ever.

“Nothing will stand in our way,” he declared, “because we are Americans, the future is ours, and our Golden Age has just begun.”

https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/trump-returns-bolder-than-ever-with-a-speech-that-sets-the-tone-for-his-second-term-20250121-p5l5yr.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIvhmRjzeYk

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f79739 (287) No.22400310>>22400318

>>22400178

International reaction to Trump's inauguration

reuters.com - January 21, 2025

1/2

Jan 20 (Reuters) - The following is reaction from global leaders to Donald Trump being sworn in as U.S. president on Monday.

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT

"President Trump is always decisive, and the peace through strength policy he announced provides an opportunity to strengthen American leadership and achieve a long-term and just peace, which is the top priority."

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER

"I believe that working together again we will raise the U.S.-Israel alliance to even greater heights."

"On behalf of the people of Israel, I also want to thank you for your efforts in helping free Israeli hostages.

"I look forward to working with you to return the remaining hostages, to destroy Hamas’ military capabilities and end its political rule in Gaza, and to ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel."

TAYYIP ERDOGAN, PRESIDENT OF TURKEY

"Since Mr. Trump repeatedly said he would end the Russia-Ukraine war, we as Turkey will do whatever necessary in this regard. We need to resolve this issue as soon as possible. This issue will be on our agenda with our talks with Mr. Trump, and we would take our steps accordingly. I wish Mr. Trump's second term would bring good for all humanity."

OLAF SCHOLZ, GERMAN CHANCELLOR

"Today President Donald Trump takes office. Congratulations! The U.S. is our closest ally and the aim of our policy is always a good transatlantic relationship. The EU, with 27 members and more than 400 million people, is a strong union."

JUSTIN TRUDEAU, CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER

"Congratulations, President Trump. Canada and the U.S. have the world’s most successful economic partnership. We have the chance to work together again --- to create more jobs and prosperity for both our nations."

KEIR STARMER, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER

"For centuries, the relationship between our two nations has been one of collaboration, cooperation and enduring partnership … Together, we have defended the world from tyranny and worked towards our mutual security and prosperity."

"With President Trump's longstanding affection and historical ties to the United Kingdom, I know that depth of friendship will continue."

GIORGIA MELONI, PRIME MINISTER OF ITALY

"I am certain that the friendship between our nations and the values that unite us will continue to strengthen the cooperation between Italy and the USA … Italy will always be committed to consolidating the dialogue between the United States and Europe, as an essential pillar for the stability and growth of our communities."

URSULA VON DER LEYEN, EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT

"Best wishes President @realDonaldTrump, for your tenure as 47th President of the United States. The EU looks forward to working closely with you to tackle global challenges. Together, our societies can achieve greater prosperity and strengthen their common security. This is the enduring strength of the transatlantic partnership."

MARK RUTTE, NATO SECRETARY GENERAL

"With President Trump back in office we will turbo-charge defence spending & production. My warm congratulations to @realDonaldTrump on his inauguration as 47th President of the USA, and to @JDVance as Vice President. Together we can achieve peace through strength - through @NATO."

LUIZ INACIO LULA DA SILVA, PRESIDENT OF BRAZIL

"On behalf of the Brazilian government, I congratulate President Donald Trump on his inauguration. Relations between Brazil and the USA are marked by a history of cooperation, based on mutual respect and a historic friendship. Our countries have strong ties in various areas, such as trade, science, education and culture. I am sure that we can continue to make progress in these and other partnerships."

CHARLES, BRITAIN’S KING:

The king has sent a personal message of congratulations to President Trump on his inauguration, reflecting on the enduring special relationship between the UK and U.S., according to Buckingham Palace.

ULF KRISTERSSON, PRIME MINISTER OF SWEDEN

"Warm congratulations @realDonaldTrump on being sworn in as the 47th President of the United States. Sweden looks forward to continued close cooperation with the U.S."

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22400318

File (hide): b586c012e832867⋯.jpg (99.05 KB,750x329,750:329,AA_24.jpg) (h) (u)

>>22400310

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ALEXANDER STUBB, PRESIDENT OF FINLAND

"I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to you @realDonaldTrump as you assume office as the President of the United States. The U.S. is our key strategic partner and ally. I look forward to close cooperation during your term."

JONAS GAHR STOERE, PRIME MINISTER OF NORWAY

"I congratulate President Donald Trump. The United States is Norway's most important ally, and there are strong ties between our two nations. I look forward to a good working relationship with President Trump and his new administration," Stoere said in a statement."

HAMAS OFFICIAL SAMI ABU ZUHRI:

"We are happy with the departure of Biden, who has the blood of Palestinians on his hand. We hope for the end of this dark era that harmed the U.S. before anyone and that Trump can build his policies on balanced foundations that can cut the road against Netanyahu's evils that want to drown the region and the world."

SYRIA'S DE FACTO LEADER AHMED AHMED AL-SHARAA

"The past decade has brought immense suffering to Syria, with the conflict devastating our nation and destabilizing the region. We are confident that he is the leader to bring peace to the Middle East and restore stability to the region".

TAIWAN PRESIDENT LAI CHING-TE

"The United States is an important security, economic, and trade partner of Taiwan, and a strong ally that shares the values of democracy and freedom. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to the new President Donald J. Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance."

CUBAN PRESIDENT MIQUEL DIAZ-CANEL

U.S. President Donald Trump's action of putting the Caribbean nation back on the U.S.' state sponsors of terrorism list was "an act of arrogance and disregard for the truth."

JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER SHIGERU ISHIBA

"I listened to President Trump's inaugural speech, and I felt that it was 'Make America Great Again' itself. Traditionally, inaugural speech by presidents have been more about setting a tone…I felt very much that it sounded like a continuation of what Mr Trump had been saying throughout his campaign. President Trump prioritises bilateral negotiations over multilateral frameworks, so we will focus on how to leverage the national interests of both countries to contribute to world peace and the global economy. We aim to establish a trusting relationship through substantial discussions."

AUSTRALIA PRIME MINISTER ANTHONY ALBANESE

"I congratulate President Trump on his inauguration, it is a significant achievement to be elected President of the United States of America, not once but twice now, and I look forward to having a constructive engagement with him."

SOUTH KOREA'S ACTING PRESIDENT CHOI SANG-MOK

"The government will strive to further strengthen policy cooperation with the United States and promote mutual interests based on the shared value of the Korea-U.S. alliance," Choi said, citing the alliance's slogan of "We Go Together".

HONG KONG LEADER JOHN LEE

Hopes for full efforts with U.S. President Donald Trump to promote positive relations between Washington and the Chinese-ruled city, although "we will always be prepared for the worst".

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/international-reaction-trumps-inauguration-2025-01-20/

https://x.com/AlboMP/status/1881391529421619699

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f79739 (287) No.22400357>>22400363

>>22400178

Donald Trump says he was 'saved by God' to rescue America as he returns as president

Reuters / abc.net.au - 21 January 2025

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Donald Trump pledged a "golden age of America" following what he described as years of betrayal and decline as he was officially sworn in as the 47th US president.

As he embarked on his second term in the White House, he said he was "confident and optimistic" and had "a mandate to completely and totally reverse a horrible betrayal".

He also used his inaugural address inside the US Capitol to portray himself as a national saviour, as he reflected on two assassination attempts and said: "I felt then and believe even more so now that my life was saved for a reason: I was saved by God to make America great again."

Donald Trump's inauguration live updates: Follow our blog for the latest developments

Within hours, the incoming president was expected to sign a raft of executive actions, including 10 focused on border security and immigration, with others aimed at ending diversity programs and bolstering domestic energy production.

Mr Trump said his top priority was illegal immigration as he declared a "national emergency" on the US-Mexico border, with officials saying troops would be sent there immediately to tackle the issue.

The speech echoed many of the themes he sounded at his first inauguration in 2017 when he spoke darkly of the "American carnage" of crime and job loss that he said had ravaged the country.

"First, I will declare a national emergency at our southern border," he said.

"All illegal entry will be immediately halted and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came."

The 78-year-old took the oath of office to "preserve, protect and defend" the US constitution at 12:01pm, local time, inside the US Capitol.

His vice-president, JD Vance, was sworn in just before him.

Mr Trump will be the first felon to occupy the White House after a New York jury found him guilty of falsifying business records to cover up hush money paid to a porn star.

In addition to declaring an emergency, the president will send armed troops there and resume a policy forcing asylum seekers to wait in Mexico for their US court dates, officials told reporters.

He will also seek to end so-called birthright citizenship for US-born children whose parents lack legal status, a move some legal scholars have said would be unconstitutional.

The inauguration completes a triumphant comeback for a political disruptor who survived two impeachment trials, a felony conviction, two assassination attempts and an indictment for attempting to overturn his 2020 election loss.

"The journey to reclaim our republic has not been an easy one, that I can tell you," Mr Trump said, before referring to the assassin's bullet that grazed his ear in July.

"I was saved by God to make America great again."

The ceremony was moved inside the Capitol due to the cold, four years after a mob of Trump supporters breached the building, a symbol of American democracy, in an unsuccessful effort to forestall Mr Trump's loss to Democrat Joe Biden, 82.

Mr Biden and outgoing vice-president Kamala Harris, who lost to Mr Trump in November, were on hand inside the Capitol's Rotunda, along with former presidents Barack Obama, George W Bush and Bill Clinton.

Former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, who lost to Mr Trump in 2016, arrived with her husband Bill, but Mr Obama's wife, Michelle, chose not to attend.

Tech bosses join Trump

Numerous tech executives who have sought to curry favour with the incoming administration --- including three of the richest men in the world, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg — had prominent seats on stage, next to cabinet nominees and members of Mr Trump's family.

Mr Trump, the first US president since the 19th century to win a second term after losing the White House, has said he would pardon "on day one" many of the more than 1,500 people charged in connection with the January 6, 2021, attack.

He skipped Mr Biden's inauguration and has continued to claim falsely that the 2020 election he lost to Mr Biden was rigged.

Mr Biden, in one of his last official acts, pardoned several people whom Mr Trump has targeted for retaliation, including former White House chief medical adviser Anthony Fauci, former Republican US Representative Liz Cheney and former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22400363

File (hide): 7e90d7f936b0ab6⋯.jpg (254.59 KB,852x674,426:337,Q_4396.jpg) (h) (u)

File (hide): 0be73ce8c1e97b4⋯.jpg (119.42 KB,1920x1080,16:9,200601_1591066627421.jpg) (h) (u)

>>22400357

2/2

Biden issues pre-emptive pardons for his family and Dr Anthony Fauci

Mr Trump will restore the federal death penalty, which Mr Biden had suspended, and require that official US documents such as passports reflect citizens' gender as assigned at birth, incoming administration officials told reporters.

They said he would also sign an order ending diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in the federal government on Monday, which was also Martin Luther King Jr Day, a national holiday in memory of America's most famous civil rights leader.

But Mr Trump will not immediately impose new tariffs on Monday, instead directing federal agencies to evaluate trade relationships with Canada, China and Mexico, a Trump official said, an unexpected development that unleashed a broad slide in the US dollar and a rally in global stock markets on a day when US financial markets are closed.

Some of the executive orders are likely to face legal challenges.

Even as he prepared to retake office, Mr Trump continued to expand his business ventures, raising billions in market value by launching a "meme coin" crypto token over the weekend that prompted ethical and regulatory questions.

Earlier Mr Trump and incoming first lady Melania Trump arrived at the White House, where Biden and outgoing first lady Jill Biden greeted them with handshakes.

"Welcome home," Mr Biden said.

Disruptive force

As he did in 2017, Mr Trump enters office as a chaotic and disruptive force, vowing to remake the federal government and expressing deep scepticism about the US-led alliances that have shaped post-World War II global politics.

The former president returns to Washington emboldened after winning the national popular vote over Harris by more than 2 million votes thanks to a groundswell of voter frustration over persistent inflation, though he still fell just short of a 50 per cent majority.

In 2016, Mr Trump won the Electoral College --- and the presidency — despite receiving nearly 3 million fewer votes than Hillary Clinton.

Mr Trump, who surpassed Mr Biden as the oldest president ever to be sworn into office, will enjoy Republican majorities in both chambers of Congress that have been almost entirely purged of any intra-party dissenters.

His advisers have outlined plans to replace nonpartisan bureaucrats with hand-picked loyalists.

Even before taking office, Mr Trump established a rival power centre in the weeks after his election victory, meeting world leaders and causing consternation by musing aloud about seizing the Panama Canal, taking control of NATO ally Denmark's territory of Greenland and imposing tariffs on the biggest US trading partners.

His influence has already been felt in the Israel-Hamas announcement last week of a ceasefire deal.

Mr Trump, whose envoy joined the negotiations in Qatar, had warned of "hell to pay" if Hamas did not release its hostages before the inauguration.

Unlike in 2017, when he filled many top jobs with institutionalists, Mr Trump has prioritised fealty over experience in nominating a bevy of controversial cabinet picks, some of whom are outspoken critics of the agencies they have been tapped to lead.

The inauguration took place amid heavy security after a campaign highlighted by an increase in political violence that included two assassination attempts against Mr Trump, including one in which a bullet grazed his ear.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-21/donald-trump-is-sworn-in-as-47th-president-of-the-us/104840310

---

Q Post #4396

Jun 3 2020 01:44:26 (EST)

God wins.

Q

https://qanon.pub/#4396

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f79739 (287) No.22400387>>22408778 >>22444552

File (hide): 4c01ce6fc071e3a⋯.jpg (456.29 KB,750x1159,750:1159,KR_34.jpg) (h) (u)

File (hide): 4feeb75f1c8ed79⋯.jpg (183.35 KB,1280x960,4:3,GhwB_sEa8AA_kyj.jpg) (h) (u)

>>22339502

>>22400178

Penny Wong’s golden ticket to the Trump show signals Australia’s strength

Matthew Knott - January 21, 2025

Penny Wong and Donald Trump: the cerebral, cautious champion of Labor’s left and the brash real estate tycoon turned Republican hero. It hardly sounds like a match made in political heaven. Yet there was Australia’s foreign minister, in prime position at Trump’s inauguration in the Capitol Rotunda, seated next to his elder sister, Elizabeth Trump Grau.

Wong stood out in a crowd dominated by leading figures from the global right. Former British prime minister Boris Johnson was there instead of the UK’s current leader, Labour’s Keir Starmer, who didn’t score an invitation. Argentinian President Javier Milei and Italian leader Giorgia Meloni, both populist conservatives, were there too.

Wong, one of only a handful of foreign dignitaries in the room, received a golden ticket to the event despite the crowd size being dramatically cut back when the inauguration was moved indoors because of freezing temperatures. Countries with far bigger populations and economies than Australia’s -- such as France and Germany – didn’t make the cut.

It was “such a privilege and honour to be the first Australian foreign minister to be invited and to attend an inauguration”, Wong enthused after the ceremony.

Wong’s invitation was a promising sign for the United States-Australia alliance, which has entered a new and challenging era with Trump’s return to the White House.

During Trump’s first term, the Coalition was in power. After initially clashing over the resettlement of refugees from Australian offshore detention centres, Trump and Malcolm Turnbull formed a strong rapport. Trump hit it off quickly with Scott Morrison, who received a rare invitation for a White House state visit in 2019.

Joe Biden and Anthony Albanese got along noticeably well, helped by the fact they were both from the centre-left. It’s less of a natural fit now the metaphorical MAGA flag is again flying above the White House, with action on climate change the most obvious point of disagreement (in one of his first official acts on Tuesday, Trump again pulled the US out of the Paris climate accord).

Despite these political differences, Trump has a clear soft spot for Australia, as former US ambassador Joe Hockey said on Tuesday. Helping Australia’s generally amiable reputation with Americans is the fact we have a trade deficit with the US, meaning Trump does not think we are “ripping off” Americans by selling more to them than they do to us. Such goodwill is not something to take for granted: look at the way Trump is feuding with the leaders of Canada and Mexico, threatening to punish them with heavy tariffs.

Notably, the foreign ministers from the other Quad nations -- India’s Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Japan’s Takeshi Iwaya – were also in the rotunda with Wong. This shows Trump, whose first administration resuscitated the Quad, continues to see it as an important vehicle for foreign policy. That is welcome news for Australia given the grouping has significantly elevated our international standing and has strong potential – still largely unrealised – to act as a counterweight to China in the Asia-Pacific region.

On Wednesday, Wong and the other Quad foreign ministers will meet Trump’s Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, who last week enthusiastically endorsed the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine pact at his Senate confirmation hearing. “It is something that I think you’re going to find very strong support for in this administration,” Rubio said, giving the first official confirmation that Trump would back AUKUS.

As for Australia’s man in Washington, Kevin Rudd is showing no signs of going anywhere despite his past criticisms of Trump and an ominous tweet last November by top Trump aide Dan Scavino suggesting Rudd’s days were numbered. Rudd met Trump briefly at his golf course in Florida and was invited to the inauguration (because of crowd restrictions he was in an overflow room with other dignitaries).

There will be challenges and surprises with such a volatile, transactional figure in the White House. Could he, for example, try to squeeze more money out of Australia to pay for the AUKUS submarines? Most definitely. And the task remains for Albanese to build personal chemistry with Trump in a face-to-face meeting, ideally before a Quad summit that may not take place until late in the year.

The vast majority of countries would be desperate to trade places with Australia as they navigate the choppy waters caused by Trump’s remarkable return to the pinnacle of global politics.

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/penny-wong-s-golden-ticket-to-the-trump-show-signals-australia-s-strength-20250121-p5l628.html

https://x.com/AmboRudd/status/1881418206805721498

https://x.com/SenatorWong/status/1881380959993598250

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f79739 (287) No.22400411>>22400417 >>22400465 >>22400536 >>22400575 >>22408603 >>22408619 >>22408692 >>22416549 >>22416640 >>22465895

[pop]YouTube embed. Click thumbnail to play.

>>22225665

>>22370306

Childcare centre set alight, graffitied with anti-Semitic words at Maroubra in Sydney's south-east

abc.net.au - 21 January 2025

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A childcare centre has been set alight and graffitied with anti-Semitic words in Sydney's south-east overnight.

NSW Police said the Storey Street building at Maroubra was set alight just before 1am on Tuesday.

Firefighters found the ground floor of the building, which was unoccupied, well involved in fire.

Police said the building was extensively damaged before firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze.

The fence of the childcare centre was spray painted with "F*ck the Jews".

A crime scene has been established at the childcare centre, less than 200 metres from the Maroubra Synagogue on nearby Anzac Parade, and an investigation is underway.

NSW Premier Chris Minns described the vandalism as "disgusting" and said the "vicious hate crime" was the subject of a major investigation by police.

"The scene of a torched out childcare centre on the same block as a synagogue is completely heartbreaking," he said.

"These bastards will be round up by NSW Police."

Anyone with information, CCTV or dashcam footage have been asked to contact police.

PM condemns 'despicable and horrifying crime'

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited the childcare centre on Tuesday morning and said the attack was the latest in a series of unacceptable anti-Semitic hate crimes.

"The only objective which will be achieved by this crime is the fulfilment of these people being caught, charged and facing the full force of the law," he said.

He spoke about a mural at the childcare centre that had been painted by local members of the community of Jewish, Catholic and other faiths.

"This is a place for children and families, and it should never have been denigrated by this despicable and horrifying crime."

Mr Albanese said he had spoken with AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw and anti-Semitism envoy Jillian Segal.

"My government will support NSW Police to hunt down the offenders and ensure they face the full force of the law through Operation Avalite," he said.

Operation Avalite was established to combat anti-Semitism following a series of arson and vandalism attacks at synagogues in Melbourne and Sydney and Jewish Labor MP Josh Burns' electorate office.

The taskforce is made up of counterterrorism investigators and focuses on threats, violence and hatred towards the Australian Jewish community and parliamentarians.

On Tuesday, the prime minister announced he will convene a meeting of state and territory leaders in response to a wave of anti-Semitic attacks.

Police resources bolstered

Acting NSW Police Commissioner Peter Thurtell said Strike Force Pearl, which has been investigating the string of anti-Semitic vandalism incidents, has been granted additional resources.

"We already have significant resources, but incidents like this highlight the fact that we need to keep putting the resources in to ensure that these offenders are identified and arrested and put before the court," he said.

"These are criminals who are out to destroy our society and we, as the New South Wales Police Force, will do whatever we have to do to ensure that these people are arrested."

Police Minister Yasmin Catley told ABC Radio Sydney the number of staff working under Strike Force Pearl would be doubled to 40.

She said they will also be increasing proactive policing.

"Just in last 24 hours there were more than 300 proactive policing tasks done," she said.

"That's getting around in the community, just keeping an eye on those communities that have seen these just abhorrent attacks."

Mr Minns said he wanted to make it "clear" to offenders that the full resources of the NSW government and police force would pursue them.

There have been eight people already arrested by the strike force and a further 181 arrested as part of Operation Shelter since October 7, 2023.

A 34-year-old woman was arrested in connection to an alleged anti-Semitic attack at Woollahra on December 11 and will appear before court on Tuesday.

Police are investigating if the string of vandalism incidents in the last few months are linked.

Mr Minns said he had not ruled out strengthening laws in NSW and said NSW Police had the option of declaring the attack a terrorism incident.

"What I want to make clear is that police will not hesitate to make that designation if they believe it's appropriate to conduct the investigation," he said.

"But right now, we've got strong laws in New South Wales. We've got a major police presence."

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22400417

File (hide): 38b055a771a892b⋯.mp4 (1.25 MB,1024x576,16:9,Fire_and_anti_Semitic_graf….mp4) (h) (u) [play once] [loop]

>>22400411

2/2

Families to go to other childcare centres while damage is fixed

Families who use the childcare centre, which normally cares for about 60 children per day, were notified of the incident in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Only About Childcare CEO Anna Learmouth said she was "shocked and horrified" by the incident and said the community was "on alert."

"We have been focusing on making sure our team, our families and the children are safe and aware of what is going on," she said.

"This is a very diverse community… we want to make sure everyone feels welcome."

Children who normally attend the centre will be offered places in nearby childcare centres until the building can be repaired.

"We will get operating as soon as possible, as soon as we are allowed to," Ms Learmouth said.

'Pure, unadulterated domestic Jew-hatred'

NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president David Ossip said the attack was an "outrage" that should disturb all Australians.

Mr Ossip said people should not rest their hopes on a ceasefire deal in the Middle East putting an end to anti-Semitism in Australia.

"By targeting a childcare centre, these depraved and cowardly terrorists are issuing another ominous threat against our community and every peace loving Australian," he said.

"This is pure, unadulterated domestic Jew-hatred and should be recognised as such."

Executive Council of the Jewry's head of legal Simone Abel said the Jewish community was "upset and shocked" the centre had been targeted and believed it was likely a case of mistaken identity.

"I think it's a wake-up call to the Australian community at large because unfortunately anti-Semitism is a disease and it spreads and it doesn't just hit Jewish institutions and Jewish people it hits everyone," Ms Abel said.

She welcomed the prime minister's announcement to convene a national cabinet meeting into anti-Semitic attacks in Australia.

"It's essential and we need to recognise that the ferocity and the pace of these attacks is increasing and it will only continue to increase unless we see a really strong response."

Multicultural Affairs Minister Steve Kamper said the targeting of a childcare centre was "unconscionable" and the perpetrators should face the full force of the law.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-21/maroubra-anti-semitic-graffiti-fire-childcare-centre-nsw-police/104840416

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McuERGkdkcY

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f79739 (287) No.22400465>>22400469

File (hide): 8443d28ef253c97⋯.mp4 (5.04 MB,960x540,16:9,Vision_shows_the_moment_a_….mp4) (h) (u) [play once] [loop]

>>22225665

>>22400411

‘These bastards will be rounded up’: Fury after Sydney daycare centre torched in antisemitic attack

Jessica McSweeney - January 21, 2025

1/2

Warning: Graphic content

An antisemitic attack on a childcare centre in Sydney’s east has been labelled “evil”, “despicable” and a potential act of terror after the centre was set alight and graffitied with an offensive slogan, with community leaders warning it may be a prelude to further violence.

Premier Chris Minns has vowed to round up the “bastards” who torched the Only About Children childcare centre on Storey Street in Maroubra just before 1am on Tuesday in the latest antisemitic attack to blight Sydney.

Video of the centre ablaze showed the words “F*ck the Jews” sprayed in black paint on a wall. The building was unoccupied at the time, and there were no injuries

It’s unclear whether the multifaith facility was the intended target of the antisemitic attack. It was owned by an eastern suburbs Jewish family until 2023, and it is situated near Maroubra Synagogue and Mount Sinai College -- an Orthodox Jewish school and preschool.

Detectives combed the area on Tuesday morning, with an accelerant detection dog brought in to sniff the crime scene.

Rosa Cianci, who lives opposite the centre, said she heard several loud voices followed by a bang. “It was like a bomb went off,” she said.

“The whole house was lit up like a Christmas tree. There’s usually no problems around here.”

Lara Wood brought her five-year-old son Jonah, who has been attending the centre for the past year, to assess the damage. She lifted him onto her shoulders to get a better view.

“I explained to him what happened. He said he was scared but wanted to come to see for himself,” she said.

Jonah said he could see “three broken windows” from his vantage point. He is due to start primary school this week, but many families have been left scrambling to find alternative care.

Only About Children chief executive Anna Learmonth confirmed the centre would remain closed until further notice.

“We’re shocked and horrified to see the damage that’s occurred,” she said. “The entire community is on alert.”

Catch the ‘bastards’

There have been at least nine major antisemitic incidents in Sydney since the one-year anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks. Three attacks -- one in Dover Heights on Friday, and two incidents in Woollahra, have involved cars being doused in flammable liquid before being set alight. An accelerant was also used in an attack on a Newtown synagogue.

In October, two buildings at Bondi Beach, including a kosher restaurant, were also set alight.

The Maroubra centre was visited by the NSW premier and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday morning.

Minns said antisemitic attacks in Sydney were becoming more sophisticated and dangerous.

“It is completely disgusting, and these bastards will be rounded up by NSW Police,” he said. “It breaks your heart that we have animals in our city that are prepared to burn down a childcare centre to make this point.”

He said police would consider designating the incident as a terrorist offence if extra resources and power were needed to investigate it.

“Police will not hesitate to make that designation if they believe it’s appropriate to conduct the investigation,” he said.

The prime minster said he “utterly condemned this evil hate crime”.

“Childcare centres are places of joy and harmony … what we saw overnight, in the middle of the night, with this attack, is the latest in a series of antisemitic hate crimes,” Albanese said.

“This is a place for children and families, and it should never have been denigrated by this despicable and horrifying crime.”

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22400469

>>22400465

2/2

‘Wake-up call’

Rabbi Goldstein from the Maroubra Synagogue couldn’t say whether his nearby synagogue was the intended target of the attack.

He said the community refused to be scared, and would come together to support the centre and each other.

“We’re not terrified, we’re just saddened that this can happen in such a peaceful and beautiful part of Sydney. Many people … have young families here and young children to go to the schools here, and it’s just so shocking that it would happen in such a peaceful area,” he said.

“We as Jewish people … show strength and courage in the face of darkness and hatred, we bring light, peace and love, and we join together as a community.”

However, head of legal at the Executive Council of Australian Jewry Simone Abel had “no doubt” the attack on the multifaith daycare centre was a case of mistaken identity.

“It’s a wake-up call to the Australian community at large because, unfortunately, antisemitism is a disease, and it spreads,” she said.

“[These attacks] are a prelude of what’s to come.”

She said the council welcomed the news of a national cabinet, announced by the prime minister on Tuesday morning in response to the attacks, but said there was a sense of frustration it had taken so long.

“We haven’t seen the kind of response that we needed to see earlier on,” she said.

NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president David Ossip said the incident was the latest in a “domestic terrorism” campaign.

“These depraved and cowardly terrorists need to be swiftly apprehended, or we will continue to see an escalation of these acts of terror.”

Last week, the former home of prominent Jewish Australian Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin was targeted in a firebombing.

Two vehicles were set ablaze, multiple vehicles were painted with antisemitic graffiti, and the Dover Heights home was splashed with red paint.

Upon seeing images of the burnt-out childcare centre on Tuesday morning, Ryvchin said families may no longer feel safe sending their children to daycare.

“To plan and execute the firebombing of a childcare centre requires a depth of savagery that is difficult to imagine. Today, families will be having conversations about whether it’s safe to send their children to the places where they should be safest,” he said.

“Places of worship, homes and now preschools have all been targeted by domestic terrorists. Antisemitism consumes everything. It is the disease that is destroying our country.”

Police have so far charged eight people in connection with antisemitic arson attacks across Sydney. This includes an alleged arson attack on the Curly Lewis Brewing Company at Bondi Beach, the Continental Kitchen in Bondi, and two incidents in Woollahra.

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/sydney-daycare-centre-torched-in-antisemitic-attack-20250121-p5l5z9.html

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f79739 (287) No.22400536

File (hide): 7df9818cb6e76c3⋯.mp4 (1.44 MB,304x540,76:135,Childcare_centre_burns_in_….mp4) (h) (u) [play once] [loop]

>>22225665

>>22400411

NSW police taskforce doubled after anti-Semitic ‘scumbags’ torch Sydney childcare centre

ALEXI DEMETRIADI - 21 January 2025

NSW police have doubled the number of detectives on its hate crimes taskforce after a childcare centre was firebombed and vandalised in Sydney’s latest anti-­Semitic attack on Tuesday.

The attack on Maroubra’s Only About Children daycare -- the second firebombing in the eastern suburbs in less than a week – prompted Anthony Albanese to convene a national cabinet to address the crisis, as NSW Premier Chris Minns slammed the “bastards” who had plunged to new “lows”.

On Tuesday evening, NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb announced she had allocated Strike Force Pearl, the unit investigating the hate attacks, a further 20 investigators, effectively doubling its staff-power.

“This boost in resources reflects the seriousness of these crimes and the importance of putting those responsible before the courts as soon as possible,” she said.

Operation Shelter, the NSW police taskforce to protect communities amid fraying social cohesion, has also increased high-visibility patrols around suburbs of concern and places of worship, conducting more than 300 in the past 24 hours alone.

Speaking in Sydney after inspecting the scene, the Prime Minister slammed the “despicable and horrifying crime” and said the attack would “lead to action”.

Mr Minns said civic society “stood together to condemn” the incident. “It is completely disgusting, and these bastards will be rounded up by NSW police.”

The daycare centre is not run or owned by members of the Jewish community but is about 100m from Maroubra Synagogue.

One neighbour opposite the centre, who declined to give her name citing safety concerns, said she woke to “the loudest blast”, believing the noise to be “gunshots from a gang fight”.

“I thought somebody had broken in and shot my mother because she woke screaming,” the woman said.

“But then we saw the smoke come out (from the centre).”

The centre was set alight about 1am on Tuesday with emergency services rushing to the scene to extinguish the flames. Extensive damage was caused to the ground floor but the property was unoccupied at the time.

The attack is Sydney’s second anti-Semitic firebombing strike in less than a week. Jewish Maroubra resident Ben Klein called the latest incident “completely uncivil”.

“There is a complete lack of respect for Australian values, social cohesion and civil society,” he said.

“A childcare centre? How low can they go?”

Neighbours also said the centre’s exterior walls were once adorned with “bring them home posters”, which showed images of hostages kidnapped by Hamas, ­although they were not put up or endorsed by the centre but by community members.

A Maroubra Synagogue spokeswoman said the rise in anti-Semitism was a “scourge on the Australian way of life”, saying it would offer their support to the daycare.

“We will not be deterred by this act of violence and we will not be intimidated by those who are feeding off creating fear,” she said.

Education Minister Jason Clare vowed to split any additional costs of the centre’s rebuild that wasn’t covered by insurance on a 50-50 basis with the state government, asking which “sort of scumbag” would attack a childcare centre.

“You’ve really got to ask yourself that question,” he said, declaring a childcare subsidy period of emergency for the centre, which means it would continue to receive government funding while closed. The government will also waive the gap fee that parents pay.

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry’s legal head, Simone Abel, said the attack was “no doubt” a case of mistaken identity with the nearby synagogue, saying it should be a “wake-up call” that anti-Semitism affected everyone.

Only About Children chief executive Anna Learmonth said she and her staff were “shocked and horrified”, adding that their priority was ensuring the children’s safety.

The NSW Faith Affairs Council called the targeting of a childcare centre “horrifying”, urging religious and community leaders to stand united in opposition to the “anti-religious act of violence”.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/maroubra-daycare-centre-firebombed-in-antisemitic-attack/news-story/a9f1ff5c7f38948fbd4a27d65197aa83

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f79739 (287) No.22400575>>22400583 >>22408603 >>22408619 >>22408692 >>22416549 >>22416572 >>22416604

>>22225665

>>22400411

Police believe ‘overseas actors’ may be behind antisemitic attacks, paid for in crypto

Paul Sakkal and Olivia Ireland - January 21, 2025

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Federal police are investigating whether malicious foreign actors are paying local criminals to carry out violent antisemitic acts in the streets of Sydney and Melbourne, forcing an urgent meeting of police chiefs after a wave of hatred that federal police chief Reece Kershaw said was causing Jews to hide at home.

As the prime minister and state leaders agreed to a new national antisemitism database during a late afternoon national cabinet meeting, Kershaw issued a striking statement floating the possibility that Australians were being paid in cryptocurrency to target synagogues and houses in Jewish suburbs.

“We are looking into whether overseas actors or individuals have paid local criminals in Australia to carry out some of these crimes in our suburbs,” he said in a written statement, adding that he was talking to law enforcement agencies in Five Eyes nations of US, UK, Canada and New Zealand.

“We are looking at if -- or how - they have been paid, for example in cryptocurrency, which can take longer to identify.

“We are looking into whether any young people are involved in carrying out some of these crimes, and if they have been radicalised online and encouraged to commit antisemitic acts.

“Regardless, it all points to the same motivation: demonising and intimidating the Jewish community.”

Kershaw said the intelligence did not equate to solid evidence that could lead to immediate charges, but the potential of foreign interference has injected a new element into a charged debate over the political and law enforcement response to the string of arson and graffiti attacks. ASIO raised the terror threat level from possible to probable in August based in part on tension stemming from the war in Gaza, with spy chief Mike Burgess warning of new mixes of “twisted” ideologies -- including anti-government conspiracy theories, racism, Islamist extremism and neo-Nazism – blending with social media-fuelled personal grievance, intolerance, loneliness and mental ill health.

Kershaw’s statement did not provide any detail about a hostile government or actor that might be behind the attacks. But law enforcement sources unable to speak publicly said police suspected a number of the perpetrators were paid and used anonymous messaging services to receive instructions, leading to a suspicion of overseas involvement.

Federal police have been under pressure to lay charges against offenders in incidents such as the Adass Israel Synagogue attack from early December. Kershaw’s statement was designed in part to explain the complexity of the investigations and unexpected factors that have emerged.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese yielded to Coalition demands for an antisemitism crisis meeting of all state and territory leaders after a childcare centre neighbouring a synagogue was set on fire, the latest of a dozen such anti-Jewish attacks in Melbourne and Sydney.

A statement from Albanese and state and territory leaders after the meeting said scores of arrests had been made by Victorian and NSW police for antisemitic attacks since the start of the conflict in Gaza.

“National cabinet met virtually today to reaffirm that leaders are united in working together to stamp antisemitism out -- and keep it out,” the statement said.

The torching of the Maroubra childcare centre, which came after last week’s arson at the former house of Jewish leader Alex Ryvchin, pushed the prime minister to convene a national cabinet only a day after he rejected calls for “more meetings”.

One senior Labor source said as the frequency and seriousness of the attacks worsened it left Labor with little option but to call the meeting, which had also been pushed for by Labor-appointed special envoy to combat antisemitism Jillian Segal.

Albanese called the Maroubra incident an “evil act” and said the hastily convened meeting would hear from the federal police and state leaders about new measures to clamp down on antisemitism, including a new police taskforce the prime minister helped establish, Operation Avelite, that arrested a 44-year-old western Sydney for making online threats to kill Jewish leaders.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22400583

File (hide): b50f8d9c08d6bf4⋯.mp4 (13.26 MB,640x360,16:9,Antisemitic_message_left_o….mp4) (h) (u) [play once] [loop]

>>22400575

2/2

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, who has twice written to Albanese calling for national cabinet talks, said the prime minister had been “dragged kicking and screaming to hold a meeting” to focus on what he called a campaign of “domestic terrorism”. Dutton and Jewish leaders said Albanese needed to deliver tangible outcomes from the meeting and a sense of optimism for Jewish Australians, who he said were living in fear.

Albanese announced Operation Avelite last year to combat antisemitism and banned doxxing and the Nazi salute, but the outbreak of racist incidents has continued, putting pressure on the prime minister to counter the violence as he has been trying to outline his election-year agenda.

By early afternoon on Tuesday, some state officials were yet to be briefed on the agenda for the meeting, reflecting the speed with which it was organised.

At a morning press conference after the childcare centre fire, NSW Premier Chris Minns referred to the perpetrators as “bastards” and “animals”, declaring that hate speech against Jews was likely fuelling the acts. Minns revealed this week he would push ahead with hate speech laws despite a bureaucratic review advising him against laws that may curtail freedom of speech, amid concerns about anti-Jewish hatred emanating from fringe Muslim preachers.

Alongside Minns, Albanese called the attack “evil”.

“Childcare centres are places of joy and harmony … This attack is the latest in a series of antisemitic hate crimes,” Albanese said.

Leading Jewish groups, including the Executive Council of the Australian Jewry and the Zionist Federation of Australia, welcomed the national cabinet meeting and called for action on anti-vilification laws, which the federal government and opposition have shunned due to free speech concerns, a tougher definition of antisemitism, permit and no-mask rules for protests, and clearer directions for police to prosecute violent hate speech.

There have been at least nine major antisemitic incidents in Sydney since the one-year anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks. Three -- one in Dover Heights on Friday and two incidents in Woollahra – have involved cars being doused in flammable liquid before being set alight. An accelerant was also used in an attack on a Newtown synagogue. In October, two buildings at Bondi Beach, including a kosher restaurant, were set alight.

In Melbourne last year, the office of Jewish Labor MP Josh Burns had a fire set inside, and another fire mostly destroyed the Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea.

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/pm-calls-national-cabinet-following-spate-of-antisemitic-attacks-20250121-p5l62h.html

https://www.9news.com.au/videos/national/antisemitic-message-left-on-childcare-walls-after-fire-in-sydney/cm65hwer400030grorrf60a1e

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f79739 (287) No.22408603>>22408607

>>22225665

>>22400411

>>22400575

National cabinet agrees to set up anti-Semitism database as AFP says foreign influence may be behind attacks

Tom Crowley - 21 January 2025

1/2

Australian Federal Police have told a meeting of national cabinet they are investigating whether overseas actors have paid local criminals to carry out anti-Semitic attacks, including by radicalising young people online.

Commissioner Reece Kershaw said in a statement police were still "building evidence" about what was behind the spate of anti-Semitic hate crimes in recent months, but pointed to "intelligence" informing investigations, including whether Australians had been paid using cryptocurrencies.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the snap meeting of national cabinet on Tuesday after anti-Semitic graffiti was sprayed and arson attempted at a childcare centre in Maroubra. The meeting saw leaders agree to improve data collection.

A joint statement from the leaders following the virtual meeting said a new national database would track anti-Semitic crimes, incidents and behaviours "to better inform and co-ordinate responses." The leaders also re-affirmed their intention to co-operate to "stamp out" anti-Semitism in Australia.

Shadow Home Affairs Minister James Paterson told the ABC it was a disappointing outcome.

"What I would have liked to see out of national cabinet yesterday is a more joined up response from state and federal police, a task force between the state and federal police, as well as serious penalties, like mandatory minimum sentences, [that] would have sent a much stronger signal," Senator Paterson said.

"Instead, the only thing we got out of national cabinet was a new database.

"I mean, I'm not sure how a new database is going to deter people from blowing up synagogues, cars and now even childcare centres, and is going to tackle the seriousness of the crisis that we have."

Mr Albanese had previously resisted calls from Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and federal anti-Semitism envoy Jillian Segal to hold a national meeting, opting instead to meet the premiers of NSW and Victoria where the attacks had been concentrated.

But he changed his position after the childcare centre attack, which he called "reprehensible."

"The idea of targeting a childcare centre. Childcare centres are places of joy," he said in a Seven News interview. Our young Australians don't see race or religion or anything else, they just engage with each other. It is beyond belief that it occurred."

The federal government pledged to pay childcare subsidies for families whose children could not attend the damaged centre, and the NSW and federal governments will jointly fund its repair.

Mr Albanese said while there were actions political leaders and police agencies could take, "it's also a matter of the community as well saying enough is enough".

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22408607

>>22408603

2/2

AFP says 15 investigations underway through anti-Semitism taskforce

The childcare centre attack is one of a series of anti-Semitic hate crimes in recent months, including an arson attack on the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne, declared a terror incident, vandalism at the former home of a Jewish community leader, and several incidents of anti-Jewish graffiti on homes and cars.

Following the Adass Israel attack, the federal government set up a dedicated anti-Semitism taskforce called Operation Avalite, bringing together counter-terrorism investigators from the AFP and ASIO. That had also been urged by Mr Dutton prior to its establishment.

In a statement released on Tuesday evening, AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw said Operation Avalite was investigating 15 serious allegations and had received 166 reports of crime, although some were duplicates and others did not meet the threshold of a crime.

"Anti-Semitism is a disease in our community, and it needs to be aggressively attacked because history shows what happens when action is not taken against those who fuel fear and terrorise others," he said.

"I know many people feel they want more action to go with words… We are building evidence, and I want to reiterate, more charges are expected soon by the AFP."

Mr Kershaw said the taskforce was considering whether overseas actors had funded attacks using cryptocurrency, targeting young people.

"Regardless, it all points to the same motivation: demonising and intimidating the Jewish community."

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb told the ABC's 7.30 she could not rule out the string of offences being related "copycat type offences."

"Whatever the motive, they're all serious matters."

She said the woman arrested over damage caused in Woollahra in November was also charged with participating in a criminal network.

"We will allege that she's participating with other people in a common purpose, in a criminal enterprise … People don't often act alone."

Coalition calls for tougher sentencing

The leaders made no mention of tougher bail and sentencing laws for anti-Semitic offences, something Ms Segal and the Executive Council of Australian Jewry had wanted considered.

The opposition said on Monday it would impose mandatory minimum six-year sentences for all federal terrorism offences and one year for displaying hate symbols.

It also proposed a new offence for urging or threatening violence towards a place of worship, a variation on a hate speech bill the Albanese government already has before the parliament.

On Tuesday, Mr Dutton said the national cabinet meeting was welcome but overdue, saying there needed to be "tangible outcomes".

"There's no sense holding a meeting for the sake of ticking a box," he said at a campaign rally in Sydney.

"If the prime minister thinks that he's going to get the Australian public off his back and that he'll have some reprieve from the media by holding this meeting, he doesn't understand the gravity of the situation.

"This is a national crisis. We are having rolling terrorist attacks in our community, and the prime minister is being dragged kicking and screaming to hold a meeting of our nation's leaders."

Mr Dutton also called the childcare centre attack a terror attack.

Formal terror designations, like the one made after the Adass Israel attack, are a matter for state police forces and unlock greater involvement from federal authorities.

Mr Albanese said he would let NSW police "speak for themselves" on the question of whether it was a terrorist incident, but added the attack was "designed to create that fear and that social division as well, which is why we can't let it succeed."

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-21/anti-semitism-national-cabinet-meeting-held/104843546

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f79739 (287) No.22408619>>22408621 >>22408655

[pop]YouTube embed. Click thumbnail to play.

>>22225665

>>22400411

>>22400575

Anti-Semitic incidents in Sydney could shape future of hate crime laws as more detectives committed

abc.net.au - 22 January 2025

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The nature of recent anti-Semitic attacks in Sydney could shape the future of hate crime laws in NSW, as police concede policing alone won’t eradicate the problem.

Investigations are ongoing after a childcare centre in Sydney's south-east was firebombed and a wall was vandalised with the phrase "F*ck the Jews" on Tuesday.

It’s the eighth suspected hate crime in Sydney during the past few months relating to anti-Semitism or anti-Israel sentiment.

In response to the attack on the Maroubra centre, NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley said police have had the number of detectives doubled from 20 to 40 to help investigate a slew of similar incidents in recent months.

Premier Chris Minns also vowed on Tuesday that "these bastards will be round up" and has previously flagged legislative reform to tackle hate crime.

Meanwhile, even local governments are taking action with the Randwick City Council, which covers the suburb of Maroubra, calling for additional CCTV cameras in Sydney's east.

Multiple police operations underway

Operation Shelter was established by NSW Police in October 2023 to gather intelligence on and monitor potential protests being planned in response to the Israel-Gaza war.

Since then, there have been a total of 181 arrests and more than 450 charges laid under that operation.

Eight people have been charged with a total of 59 offences under Strike Force Pearl, a separate operation set up by police to specifically investigate more recent cases of anti-Semitism and targeted arson attacks in Sydney.

The Australian Federal Police also have a separate taskforce, which was established in December 2024, to investigate "threats, violence and hatred towards the Australian Jewish community and parliamentarians".

As of January 9, Special Operation Avalite has investigated at least 102 reports and one person has been charged. The taskforce is investigating 15 serious allegations.

The AFP also said it was in communication with international agencies about the recent attacks.

"We are regularly talking to our Five Eyes and trusted international partners about these issues and the AFP stands ready to provide capability to our state and territory police, who I know are all taking these matters seriously," the AFP said in a statement.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese yielded to pressure to call a national meeting of state and territory leaders in response to the wave of anti-Semitic attacks in Sydney.

A joint statement from the leaders following the virtual meeting said a new national database would track anti-Semitic crimes, incidents and behaviours "to better inform and co-ordinate responses."

Victoria's Jewish community leaders welcomed the move and called for immediate action.

"One of those is speedy police investigations and quick arrests to send a deterrent," chief executive of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria Naomi Levin said.

There are a number of law reforms due to come before the Victorian state parliament in the coming weeks.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said any act of anti-Semitism was evil but an attack on a childcare centre was particularly horrific.

Ms Allan said yesterday’s national cabinet meeting was an opportunity for leaders to discuss ways to strengthen the work and cooperation of state and territory police agencies.

She said a large police investigation into the attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue of Melbourne last month continued.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22408621

>>22408619

2/2

Potential operating theory

Speaking to ABC Radio Sydney on Tuesday, NSW Assistant Police Commissioner Peter McKenna described elements of recent Sydney attacks as "sophisticated" and said detectives were investigating whether they are linked.

"When you start getting people coming in with stolen vehicles, obviously a level of sophistication with how they are targeting places," Assistant Commissioner McKenna said.

"The arson side of it tends to lead us to more of the criminal element, it doesn't mean that there's not opportunists out there, even copycats."

While Assistant Commissioner McKenna promised that more arrests would be made, he said that "we can't just arrest our way out of these things".

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb told ABC’s 7.30 dedicated detectives were examining “any similarities or any evidence that might overlap”.

"So, too early to say categorically … but we can't rule that out that some or all are linked or some are copycat type offences, but whatever the motive, they're all serious matters,” she said.

The commissioner said the arrests made were “significant”.

“The eight people before the court for the serious matters shows that we are taking these very seriously … but won’t give up until we get to the bottom of all these matters.”

Legislative reform

Premier Chris Minns has indicated that his government will seek to introduce new laws around protecting places of worship and strengthening hate speech laws when parliament resumes next month.

While the premier has not provided specific details about potential changes to hate speech laws, Tyrone Kirchengast, professor of Criminal Law at the University of Sydney, said there was room for new offences in the Crime Act that could better cover recent anti-Semitic attacks.

"There may be grounds to argue for what we call in criminal law, sort of a labelling theory that you create an offence that captures with the terminology the nature of the specific conduct that is offensive," Professor Kirchengast said.

"The other way we could go about it is to utilise the sentencing procedure act where a matter moves into sentencing that has a hate crime component, and that would be looking at the aggravating circumstance of prejudice.

"[That] would allow the prosecution to identify it as a more serious harm, and thus potentially a greater penalty would apply."

NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley has also been considering laws restricting protests outside religious institutions and places of worship that aim to "intimidate or prevent religious people from practising their faith", with a particular focus on the Great Synagogue in the CBD.

David Mejia-Canales, a lawyer from the Human Rights Law Centre, said that any change to protest laws must be carefully considered and that a distinction must be made between criminal behaviour and peaceful protest.

"The types of criminal damage incidents that we've seen at synagogues around the country and indeed, even the childcare centre … these things are acts of violence, they are not [a] protest," he said.

Mr Mejia-Canales said police already had sufficient powers to prevent or intervene in protests and urged the premier to take a considered approach to any potential reform.

"NSW Police have incredible powers, either during a protest or even in the lead up to a protest, to intervene if they believe the peace will be breached, if they believe there'll be people turning up who will be causing trouble," he said.

"Any laws that the premier proposes to restrict protests in or around places of worship --- these laws must strike a balance between protecting religious practice and safeguarding the right to peaceful assembly."

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-22/nsw-antisemitism-crackdown-hate-crime-law-policing/104843316

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcoBn4tPH48

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f79739 (287) No.22408655>>22416629

>>22225665

>>22333651

>>22408619

NSW Police charge man over anti-Semitic attack and attempted fire at Sydney's Newtown Synagogue

abc.net.au - 22 January 2025

NSW Police expect to make a second arrest over an attempt to set fire to a synagogue in Sydney's inner west earlier this month.

On Wednesday, police announced they had arrested 33-year-old Camperdown man Adam Moule after executing search warrants at two addresses on Pyrmont Bridge Road.

Warning: This story contains an image of a Nazi symbol.

Officers seized a number of items during the searches which have been taken for further examination, police said.

According to court documents, Mr Moule is accused of cultivating cannabis plants at one of the addresses, in addition to the allegations concerning the synagogue.

The court documents also outline that the charge of goods in personal custody relate to five debit cards --- with different financial institutions and in different names — which police allege "may be reasonably suspected of being stolen or otherwise unlawfully obtained".

He is the ninth person to be charged under Strike Force Pearl, which was established in December to investigate several anti-Semitic incidents in Sydney in recent months.

Several red swastikas were also graffitied along the front fence of the Newtown Synagogue on Georgina Street on January 11.

Police said at the time that officers were looking for two people in connection with the alleged anti-Semitic attack.

Police Commissioner Karen Webb on Wednesday morning said the matter was still under investigation but a second man is expected to arrested and charged "shortly".

A day after the incident, Commissioner Webb said that those responsible used a "clear liquid" to ignite a fire, which extinguished itself.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said the arrest was a "big breakthrough".

"We will leave no stone unturned in combating rampant anti-Semitism and violence in our community. It will never be tolerated," he said.

Mr Moule was taken to Surry Hills Police Station where he was charged with destroy property in company use fire, destroy/damage property in company, goods in personal custody suspected being stolen and cultivate prohibited plant.

His case was mentioned briefly before Deputy Chief Magistrate Sharon Freund on Wednesday, who adjourned the matter until Thursday.

There was no bail application and it was formally refused.

Mr Moule did not appear either in person or via audio-visual link.

Government considering making vilification a criminal offence

Mr Minns confirmed the NSW government would be actively drafting changes to hate speech laws, alongside the Victorian government.

He said it would be "better" to move the offence of vilification under criminal law.

Vilification currently sits under the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act and is heard in Civil Court.

The change would mean police can bring the charge of vilification against an individual on behalf of the government.

"The changes to protest laws to protect religious institutions should be in place when parliament resumes," he said.

Mr Minns said he wanted to have the "toughest laws" in Australia.

Public urged to be 'eyes and ears' for police

Commissioner Webb said she would be meeting with other state police commissioners to discuss anti-Semitism.

She urged the public to be the "eyes and ears" of the police force but said it was "highly unlikely" officers would be able to arrest perpetrators on the spot.

"We rely on information from our community, but will we be Johnny-on-the-spot and arrest somebody in the act? Highly unlikely," she said.

"We will track down these people, pursuing every line of inquiry, every investigative lead will be pursued so it is still important that members of the community call Crime Stoppers with information. They can call anonymously."

Mr Minns warned police were pursuing "sophisticated actors" but said he had "enormous confidence" in their ability to arrest those responsible.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-22/newtown-synagogue-fire-arrrest-anti-semitism-police-charge/104844790

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f79739 (287) No.22408692>>22408695

[pop]YouTube embed. Click thumbnail to play.

>>22225665

>>22400411

>>22400575

AFP suspects organised crime behind some anti-Semitic attacks, but no known terrorist links

Andrew Greene - 22 January 2025

1/2

Australian Federal Police (AFP) suspect organised crime groups with foreign funding are carrying out some of the anti-Semitic attacks in Melbourne and Sydney, but have not uncovered any evidence of involvement from terrorist organisations or foreign governments.

After a statement on Tuesday suggesting the recent spate of anti-Semitic hate crimes could be financed overseas using cryptocurrencies, AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw on Wednesday clarified investigations were not yet complete and he was "not ready to rule anything in or out".

But he confirmed in a prepared statement, police were investigating whether "some individuals have been paid to carry out some anti-Semitic acts in Australia".

"We believe criminals for hire may be behind some incidents, so part of our inquiries include --- who is paying those criminals, where those people are, whether they are in Australia or offshore and what their motivation is," he said.

The initial statement set off feverish speculation about who might be behind the attacks, including from the Coalition's home affairs spokesperson, James Paterson, who said it would be "one of the most serious security crises that Australia has faced in peacetime" if true, and could be an act of "state-sponsored terrorism".

Sources told the ABC Commissioner Kershaw's decision to mention overseas links had caused some frustrations among state law enforcement, intelligence agencies and the federal government.

"It is important that we share this information with the public so they understand how seriously the AFP is taking this investigation and to explain why there will be lengthy investigations," the commissioner said.

"I have always been committed to sharing information with the public when I can, and in my view, on this issue, providing information is not only a deterrent but also keeps the public informed on matters that are very personal."

Domestic intelligence agency ASIO is also assisting federal and state police with their investigations, but so far, no intelligence has been uncovered linking foreign governments or terrorist organisations to any of the recent attacks in Australia.

Investigators are also yet to establish any concrete links between any suspects arrested over recent weeks in relation to different attacks, but police and intelligence agencies say it's too early to rule out possible involvement from foreign actors.

Authorities believe the number of attacks has not yet plateaued and will increase.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22408695

>>22408692

2/2

Coalition calls for more information labelled 'naive' by government

Earlier on Wednesday, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese should be more forthright about intelligence that foreign actors may have been behind some of the anti-Semitic crimes committed over the summer, and questioned why the prime minister had not mentioned this before.

"The prime minister needs to be honest here … are these state actors, are they organised crime groups, or are they anti-Semitic groups?" he asked.

"Frankly it shines a spotlight on the fact the Commonwealth government should have deployed resources much earlier."

Senator Paterson said the allegation was so significant that the government must provide more information than it has.

"If it is true, it is a gravely serious issue," he told the ABC's Radio National Breakfast.

"This claim will strike terrible fear in the heart of the Jewish community and other Australians who feel like they're on the receiving end of this."

He said it was incumbent on the government to say what it knows, when ministers were briefed, whether the cabinet's national security subcommittee had met, and whether the Five Eyes intelligence network was "engaged" in the matter.

Mr Albanese criticised Mr Dutton for pressuring Australia's intelligence agencies to release more information.

"Peter Dutton, as someone who was responsible for some national security issues as minister for home affairs should know better," he said.

The PM confirmed on Wednesday morning that the Five Eyes network was playing a role, adding that these investigations weren't "something that began yesterday".

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said it was unhelpful for Senator Paterson to make demands of the AFP to reveal more information.

"The Australian Federal Police will have very deliberate reasons for what they put out in the public and when they do it, and they operate independently, as they should," Mr Burke said.

"I certainly would not join in what I thought was a surprising and potentially naive call from [Senator] Paterson when you are just randomly saying, 'Oh, we need more information on this.' They should put out the information that they think helps with the investigation."

After Mr Albanese convened a snap meeting of national cabinet on Tuesday, Mr Dutton also expressed his disappointment firmer commitments were not made as a consequence.

"There was nothing substantive that was delivered out of that national cabinet meeting," Mr Dutton said.

"We know the Tasmanian government pushed for mandatory sentencing of terrorist offences … there was a broader discussion but in the end the only thing the prime minister could deliver was broader record-keeping."

Foreign-sponsored attacks seen in France, US

Overnight, Israel's deputy foreign minister, Sharren Haskel, said it would be unsurprising if some of the anti-Semitic attacks in Australia had been funded by a foreign actor.

"We know that Iran is operating in different ways around the world … and we have seen cases like that also in France and the United States and in other places," she said.

In 2023, soon after the outbreak of war in Gaza, Paris prosecutors alleged anti-Semitic graffiti had been carried out at the "express demand" of an individual living abroad, and that two of the alleged perpetrators claimed to have been remunerated for it.

Prosecutors said a Russian-language conversation on their telephones appeared to back up this claim.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-22/coalition-demands-foreign-backing-anti-semitic-detail/104845248

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7siG9DIaYs4

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f79739 (287) No.22408724>>22408727

File (hide): ab3cdb09ff9cbd1⋯.jpg (188.39 KB,670x839,670:839,Rabbi_Abraham_Cooper.jpg) (h) (u)

>>22139986 (pb)

>>22225665

>>22339502

>>22379048

Rabbi pleads with Rudd in Washington to help end Melbourne’s pro-Palestinian CBD protests

Chip Le Grand - January 22, 2025

1/2

Australia’s ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd, has been asked to convey to Canberra Jewish concerns about the impact of the weekly pro-Palestinian demonstrations in central Melbourne.

At a meeting in Washington last week with Rabbi Abraham Cooper, an expert on online hate and terrorism with the Simon Wiesenthal Centre, the former prime minister agreed to make representations to the Australian government on whether the protests could be shifted away from the CBD streets.

The high-level diplomacy, held amid a series of firebomb attacks targeting Jewish communities in Melbourne and Sydney, was in response to the Simon Wiesenthal Centre’s decision last month to issue an “extreme caution” travel advisory to Jews planning to visit Australia.

It came as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese held a national cabinet meeting with state and territory leaders, at which Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw said his officers were investigating whether young people had been radicalised online and paid by malicious overseas actors to commit antisemitic crimes in Australia.

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry called for a national cabinet meeting six weeks ago, after suspected terrorists set ablaze the Adass Israel synagogue in the Melbourne suburb of Ripponlea. National cabinet was hastily convened on Tuesday after the latest attack, a firebombing and defacing of a childcare centre in the Sydney suburb of Maroubra.

The Simon Wiesenthal Centre, named after the famous Nazi hunter, is a Jewish human rights organisation dedicated to combatting antisemitism.

Cooper, who is the centre’s associate dean and director of global social action, wrote to Rudd on December 9, three days after the Adass-Israel synagogue attack, informing him of the travel advisory.

The January 14 meeting between Cooper and Rudd at the Australian embassy in Washington was confirmed by the rabbi and the embassy. Rudd did not respond to questions about his discussion with Cooper.

Speaking to this masthead from the centre’s headquarters in Los Angeles, Cooper said that while freedom of speech was sacrosanct, the regular Sunday protests in Melbourne had turned the CBD into a “no-go zone” for Jews.

“It is a tactic to bully Jews into silence and take over physical locations,” he said.

“The net result is to cede control of a specific part of the city to one group, at the exclusion of other people.”

Cooper said the antisemitic arson attacks should be investigated for potential links to global extremist groups. The fire that destroyed the Adass Israel synagogue is being investigated by Joint Counter-Terrorism Team detectives.

“If governments, federal and local, are serious about trying to curb what is going on, it is not enough to look at isolated incidents. You have to look more broadly at what is going around the world,” he said.

Cooper said Rudd agreed to pass on his concerns to the Australian government but, for now, the Simon Wiesenthal Centre would not rescind its travel advice.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22408727

>>22408724

2/2

Melbourne’s pro-Palestinian protests have been held every Sunday -- starting outside the State Library of Victoria – since October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants slaughtered 1200 people in southern Israel. That attack provoked military reprisals on Gaza that – at the time Sunday’s ceasefire came into force – were estimated by the Palestinian Health Ministry to have killed nearly 47,000 Palestinians.

While the Albanese government’s response to the war in Gaza and to rising antisemitism in Australia has emerged as a bitterly contested issue ahead of this year’s federal election, there is bipartisan support in Victorian state politics for the Melbourne protests to come to an end.

On Monday, Premier Jacinta Allan pleaded with protest organisers to lay down their placards.

“If they can find a space for a ceasefire in the Middle East, surely we can find a space for these protests to come to an end in Melbourne,” she said.

On Tuesday, State Opposition Leader Brad Battin added his voice to those of Jewish and business leaders who want the Sunday protests to either cease or shift to a less disruptive site.

“I never want to silence people and their freedom of speech, but this has now gotten to a stage where the impact on businesses and the fear it creates in another community of coming into Melbourne outweighs these people’s rights,” Battin said.

“They have got to start taking responsibility for their actions and move away from where they are. It has become a joke in Melbourne.”

Greens Victoria leader Ellen Sandell maintained her support for the Sunday protest, which the party’s MPs have regularly attended and spoken at.

Sandell said it was not up to politicians to say when and where people could protest.

“This ceasefire [in Gaza] is an important step but we hope that politicians don’t use this moment to wipe their hands of Palestine, because we actually need governments to keep up the pressure for a lasting peace,” she said.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Daniel Aghion said the Simon Wiesenthal Centre’s stance and the meeting between Rudd and Cooper showed the damage being done to Australia’s reputation as a safe place for Jews and other ethnic minorities.

“Whenever I speak with Jews abroad, anywhere in the world, they ask what is going on in Australia,” he said.

“The ongoing rallies create a perception overseas that the hate is continuing.”

Aghion said the Melbourne protesters -- some of whom last Sunday chanted “Zionism is terrorism” – were implacably opposed to Israel’s existence.

“What the [executive council] would like to see out of national cabinet is a permit system or alternatively, a designated protest area as we have in Victoria for abortion clinics,” he said.

The weekly protests are endorsed by a coalition of pro-Palestinian activists, unions, the Greens, the Socialist Alliance and other left-wing groups.

Australian Palestine Advocacy Network president Nasser Mashni has vowed that the protests will “continue unabated” despite the ceasefire in Gaza.

https://www.smh.com.au/national/rabbi-pleads-with-rudd-in-washington-to-help-end-melbourne-s-pro-palestinian-cbd-protests-20250121-p5l63m.html

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f79739 (287) No.22408749>>22408752 >>22430394 >>22430407

File (hide): 3ce2c4222b6d8c3⋯.mp4 (8.03 MB,960x540,16:9,Anthony_Albanese_calls_for….mp4) (h) (u) [play once] [loop]

>>22363017

>>22363037

>>22387524

Israel accuses Albanese of dragging feet on anti-Semitism after childcare arson

Matthew Doran - 22 January 2025

1/2

Israel has launched another broadside against the Albanese government, accusing it of sitting on its hands and letting anti-Semitism fester across Australia.

The Israeli government's latest criticism follows another anti-Semitic attack in Sydney, where a childcare centre was set alight and vandalised.

In an exclusive interview with the ABC in Jerusalem, Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel described the Albanese government's own policies as fuelling violence against Australia's Jewish community.

She said Australian authorities had been too slow and too cautious in investigating incidents across the country, allowing the problem to get worse.

"Obviously the attitude of the current Australian government towards Israel is inflaming a lot of these emotions and giving, I guess, some acceptance when you do not fight it," she said.

"Words are not enough, we've passed that long time ago, words are not enough.

"The Jewish community needs actions, and only through that, through deterrence, through investigation, prosecution --- you have to fight it.

"I mean, what are they waiting for? For someone to die? For someone to be murdered?"

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke refuted claims the government had not acted.

"The concept that we are waiting is frankly wrong," Mr Burke told ABC Radio National.

"There were no laws against Nazi symbols and the Nazi salute in Australia … we changed the law. There were no laws about doxxing … when doxxing was used as a form of anti-Semitism, we brought in laws. We have legislation in parliament now about hate crimes. There have been visa cancellations I have personally done.

"With respect to those comments that this government is somehow waiting is simply not right."

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese convened a snap meeting of National Cabinet to discuss the issue.

During the talks, the Australian Federal Police said it was investigating whether foreign funds were being funnelled into Australia to pay people to commit the attacks.

"I won't be surprised if that's the case, but I don't think all of them can be attributed just to that," Ms Haskel said.

"We know that Iran is operating in different ways around the world … and we have seen cases like that also in France and the United States and in other places.

"I think it should be investigated, but it should have started a year back."

Ms Haskel cited Australia's recent voting record at the United Nations as an example of the Albanese government's conduct giving anti-Semitism the green light.

"We didn't expect Australia to join this political game," she said.

Late last year Australia voted in support of a motion demanding Israel end its occupation of Gaza, East Jerusalem and the West Bank.

When questioned on whether she really believed violent offenders were paying close attention to the nation's votes in New York, or if they were responding to Israel's behaviour in places such as Gaza, Ms Haskel insisted the former was a factor.

"Australia has a certain record on these votes, it actually turned its votes on that specific one which every year are being brought at the United Nations," she said.

"It's a change of attitude.

"Do we care about it? Of course.

"What we've experienced here during the last year is Israel's hardest time … we expected one of our best allies, a very historical long-term friend to actually support us and they turned their back."

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22408752

>>22408749

2/2

The prime minister said attempts by the Coalition and others to link the series of anti-Semitic attacks to Australia's voting record at the UN "denied agency" of the criminals who had committed those attacks.

"The concern here is that an attempt to politicise this has another result, which is that it denies agency of the actual perpetrators, it denies agency. It is an attempt to turn away from those people engaged in these hate crimes towards it being a political issue," Mr Albanese said.

"Those perpetrators of these actions do so in order to divide our country. That is what they are trying to do. We should not succumb to that.

"I don't suggest for a second that anyone other than Hamas is responsible for the October 7 attacks, not for one second, because those people who are the perpetrators of these hateful crimes need to be held to account."

Tension simmers despite Dreyfus' diplomatic visit

Ms Haskel lived in Australia for six years, and said the scenes she was seeing from the country were not indicative of the Australia she remembered.

Her broader criticism echoes sentiments expressed by her Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, in the wake of the terror attack on the Adass Israel synagogue.

Soon after there was a heated phone call between Foreign Minister Penny Wong and her Israeli counterpart Gideon Sa'ar.

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, the highest ranking Jewish member of the Albanese government, travelled to Israel last week to meet with members of the government and spoke with Ms Haskel while in the country.

Mr Dreyfus is set to travel to Poland alongside Senator Wong to attend the 80th anniversary of the Auschwitz concentration camp, along with Australia's anti-Semitism envoy Jillian Segal.

This morning the federal government confirmed Senator Sue Lines, who years ago labelled Israel's policies "apartheid", would not be in the delegation after media reports she was set to lead it.

When asked why there had been a reported change in the delegation, Senator Wong indicated there had not been a last-minute change.

"My recollection of this is I understood Mark Dreyfus was going to attend the commemoration. I indicated late last year that, if I could attend as well, I would. We did make that decision, I think, around Christmas," Senator Wong said.

Ms Haskel suggested domestic politics had influenced the Albanese government.

"I believe this is definitely pushed by internal politics to satisfy very extreme voices in Australia who are pushing towards this attitude," she said.

"I understand, I'm a politician as well, I need to be elected as well.

"But usually the Australian government knew where to put the red line, and it doesn't feel like it really knows how to do it right now."

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-22/israel-albanese-slow-anti-semitism-child-care-arson/104844664

https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/am/israel-says-australia-letting-anti-semitism-fester/104844740

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f79739 (287) No.22408778

File (hide): 654cd8a141a6b2e⋯.jpg (316.65 KB,2048x1502,1024:751,Gh3LUbma0AA8dA3.jpg) (h) (u)

File (hide): dd9c784b29360a9⋯.jpg (271.39 KB,2048x1364,512:341,Gh3LUbkaEAEkD2U.jpg) (h) (u)

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>>22363058

>>22400178

>>22400387

Foreign Minister Penny Wong holds talks with Donald Trump’s new US Secretary of State Marc Rubio

Australia’s argument to avoid Donald Trump’s tariffs and maintain the AUKUS pact has been delivered, with Foreign Minister Penny Wong meeting US Secretary of State Marc Rubio.

Tom Minear - January 22, 2025

Australia’s argument to avoid Donald Trump’s tariffs and maintain the AUKUS pact was successfully delivered on the first full day of his administration in his top diplomat’s first foreign engagements.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong -- who was invited to the White House while moving vans were still parked outside – declared there was “a great deal of optimism and confidence” for the US-Australia alliance after her talks with new Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

She said he had recognised her pitch to spare Australia from tariffs on its imports, while also offering strong backing for the AUKUS deal to deliver US nuclear submarines down under.

The pair were also part of a meeting of the Quad foreign ministers in Washington DC, along with their counterparts from India and Japan, with Senator Wong suggesting the partnership that had already riled China could take on a tougher security role in the Indo-Pacific.

“It was important for what we discussed and important as a signal of the priority that the Trump administration places on the Indo-Pacific, and this is a good thing for Australia’s interests,” she said.

“I certainly got a sense from all of our discussion that we think more ambition in what the Quad does is a good thing. The form of that is something that will be discussed.”

A day after attending the President’s inauguration, the Foreign Minister also met with his national security adviser Mike Waltz, accompanied by Australia’s ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd.

She said his position “did not come up” in her meetings, after Mr Trump’s allies questioned whether the former prime minister could continue to serve in the role given his past sharp criticisms of the Republican and an ominous social media post from one of his top aides.

Senator Wong said her meetings were “very warm and constructive”.

“Across the span of the alliance, there’s a great deal of optimism and confidence about the opportunities ahead, and I am really privileged to have had this level of engagement so early in the new administration,” she said.

She said Mr Rubio reiterated his positive comments made in his confirmation hearing last week about the value of AUKUS as “an investment in security and stability in the region”.

“I think it’s been really clear that the Trump administration understands the strategic imperative around AUKUS,” Senator Wong said.

While the Foreign Minister acknowledged Mr Trump would “do things differently”, she expressed “confidence in our capacity as a nation to navigate those challenges”, including to avoid his threat of universal tariffs on imports to the US.

“I have focused very much on articulating why Australia’s economic relationship with the United States is of benefit to the United States as well as to Australia -- that is recognised,” she said.

“I focused on the benefit that the economic partnership brings in particular sectors to the United States, and that is recognised.”

But she refused to be drawn on whether Mr Trump’s decision to pull the US out of the Paris climate change accord would halt global momentum to reduce carbon emissions.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/world/united-states/foreign-minister-penny-wong-holds-talks-with-donald-trumps-new-us-secretary-of-state-marc-rubio/news-story/da488cf2534b8b852c4478854116ee3b

https://x.com/SenatorWong/status/1881883782686634017

https://x.com/SenatorWong/status/1881868946212811024

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f79739 (287) No.22408794

>>22345238

>>22345254

Uluru Dialogue director Geoff Scott warns politicians to keep Australia Day off their agenda

MOHAMMAD ALFARES - January 20, 2025

Director of the Uluru Dialogue Geoff Scott has warned federal politicians against using Australia Day as a means to coerce local governments to hold celebrations on January 26, saying a “one-size-fits-all” approach is not suitable for a diverse nation.

Mr Scott, who has more than 30 years of experience working in Aboriginal affairs, criticised Peter Dutton’s plan to legislate the nat­ional public holiday for January 26 if elected this year, saying councils should not be “threatened or coerced or intimidated”.

“Australia Day has become a source of division these days, which is unfortunate,” Mr Scott told The Australian. “But every Australian chooses how to celebrate Australia Day, and councils are no different.”

The former director-general of the NSW Department of Aboriginal Affairs likened the proposition to the “divisive” 2023 Indigenous voice referendum.

“I don’t think the issue of Australia Day should be a one-size-fits-all, and there shouldn’t be any coerced or forced nationalism … That’s not good for any society,” he said.

“Labor tried the opportunity to have a referendum on the voice, to have this matter put to the Australian people. People voted on it but I think the misinformation and campaigns run around it were quite divisive.”

He described the ongoing debate as emblematic of how politics had devolved into divisive and ­coercive strategies.

“It’s sad when everyone is sort of forced into doing things the way some people want it, and there are many councils who support Mr Dutton’s approach and ideas, and there are many who do not.”

His comments come as the Victorian state government along with Melbourne City Council revealed they would not deviate from existing Australia Day policies this year, despite an uptick in public support to celebrate the ­national day.

While the City of Melbourne will host nine citizenship ceremonies, it is still council’s official position to advocate for the federal government to change the date of the national holiday away from January 26.

Mr Scott said although the federal election kicked off in a “negative way”, having a sensible form of dialogue between First Nations people and government officials about would be beneficial.

“Australia Day has always been framed in this divisive manner and it’s unfortunate,” Mr Scott said. “But it’s a shame that politics has sort of reduced itself to banking on these modes of communications now.

“People shouldn’t be threatened or coerced or intimidated. Many people have different views about that. But again, people should be free to choose.

“We all know the federal election is coming up and It’s already started in a negative way, I hope we can actually get some positives and look forward to how our nation can actually grow and move forward. We aren’t quite on our pathway to tightening each other up yet.”

As it stands, local councils across the nation are given a three-day buffer either side of January 26 to hold events, but in recent months a slew of local governments have said they would revert to the Australia Day date.

The Australian Local Government Association, representing 537 councils nationwide, previously said it was important to be pragmatic and welcome the flexibility to hold these ceremonies.

ALGA president mayor Matt Burnett said extreme heat and high costs were factors taken into consideration when councils decided to host Australia Day events.

A majority of Sydney councils will welcome proud new Australians with citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day.

These include the progressive Inner West Council, who urged Mr Dutton to “chill out” after he vowed to reinstate mandatory citizenship ceremonies if elected.

“Whether it’s sledging Woolworths merchandise or punching down at councils, Peter Dutton is always so cranky this time of year,” Inner West Council Mayor Darcy Byrne said.

“For once this January Peter should try to chill out and put a smile on his dial instead.”

The Uluru Dialogue represents the cultural authority of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, a historic declaration made by First Nations leaders calling for structural reform to address the injustices faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

One of the key elements from the Uluru statement was for a commitment to the Makarrata Commission, which the Prime Minister could not confirm his government would fully implement without a constitutional voice.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/uluru-dialogue-director-geoff-scott-warns-politicians-to-keep-australia-day-off-their-agenda/news-story/665c294d128ac04aee09d94f73b4ddf9

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f79739 (287) No.22408824>>22408838

[pop]YouTube embed. Click thumbnail to play.

>>22363105

Queensland government launches review into child protection system after Ashley Paul Griffith case

Alex Brewster - 21 January 2025

The Queensland government has launched an independent review into how one of the nation's worst paedophiles was able to offend for so long, as well as the state's child protection system.

Ashley Paul Griffith was sentenced to life in prison last year, with a non-parole period of 27 years, after pleading guilty to more than 300 charges committed in childcare centres in Brisbane and Italy over almost two decades.

He was not eligible for parole until 2049 but is appealing his sentence.

The review will use Griffith as a case study to review system responses to child sexual abuse and make recommendations to improve laws and policies across early childhood education, police, and the blue card systems.

It will be led by Queensland Family and Child Commission Commissioner (QFCC) Luke Twyford and finished by the end of the year.

'System broken', says premier

Premier David Crisafulli said Griffith's crimes highlighted the need to overhaul the sector.

He said the "horrendous breach of trust" illustrates "how broken the system is".

"Nothing short of getting to the bottom of the broken system will cut it in the eyes of Queenslanders, and today we take another step in that journey," he said.

Mr Twyford said one of his first steps will be establishing a timeline of Griffith's conduct and complaints made against him.

"We will take our time to ensure this review is done properly with the utmost integrity and to ensure that it produces recommendations that will keep future Queensland children safe," he said.

He said he will be requesting information from the Australian Federal Police, Queensland Police Service and the Department of Education.

"That will enable us to produce a chronology of the offender, including the places and the employers where failings may need to be looked into," he said.

"Another key element of the review that I will lead will include the call for submissions from all impacted parties, particularly victims and their families, seeking their views on where policies, training, legislation, and government responses were insufficient, or not fast enough."

Last week Mr Crisafulli noted Griffith's appeal would add a layer of complexity to the review, and at Tuesday's announcement Mr Twyford said he would be proceeding with extreme caution.

Advocate welcomes review

Child protection advocate and Safeguarding People Australia founder Hetty Johnston said she was encouraged by the review and hoped the government would follow through.

"An inquiry is only ever as strong as the government. The government is very strong on this, and they seem to be pretty determined to get this right this time," she said.

"I hope that when the recommendations come down, they're going to actually implement them because that is what it is to govern."

She said she was worried one year would not be long enough for the review, adding a successful one would need authorities and the childcare and education industries to be open to change.

"If everybody is forthcoming and everyone is open to change and open to being transparent and honest about what happened, and we get the right information in that manner of time, well that'd be wonderful," she said.

"I'm not sure that's been my experience in the past."

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-21/queensland-government-ashley-paul-griffith-blue-card-review/104840872

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfmZvpSdYtE

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f79739 (287) No.22408838

File (hide): feaf6edb6d51230⋯.mp4 (15.21 MB,640x360,16:9,Inquiry_into_how_paedophil….mp4) (h) (u) [play once] [loop]

File (hide): 126c56c807b39f4⋯.jpg (266.42 KB,1402x1869,1402:1869,Luke_Twyford.jpg) (h) (u)

>>22363105

>>22408824

Inquiry head Luke Twyford criticises former Labor government over delay on child safety reform

LYDIA LYNCH - 21 January 2025

The head of an inquiry investi­gating system failures that let convicted pedophile Ashley Paul Griffith repeatedly abuse girls in daycare centres has lashed Queens­land’s former Labor government for ignoring more than a dozen recommendations from the state’s last child safety review.

Luke Twyford, appointed to lead the Crisafulli government’s promised child protection system review, said he would be probing whether Griffith may have been caught sooner if all 81 recom­mendations from a 2017 review into the state’s working with children checks had been ­implemented.

Griffith was in November sentenced to life in prison, with a non-parole period of 27 years, after pleading guilty to 309 ­charges committed in child care centres for almost two decades.

He is appealing his sentence.

The 46-year-old was able to keep his Blue Card to work with children in Queensland despite two reports to police that he had abused girls in two separate Brisbane daycare centres in October 2021 and April 2022.

Queensland police investigated him at the time but he was cleared after they found there was “insufficient evidence” to take ­action.

There is no evidence his electronic devices or home were searched.

Griffith’s Blue Card was suspended only after the Australian Federal Police charged him in August 2022.

A 2017 review, ordered after schoolgirl Tiahleigh Palmer was murdered by her stepfather in 2015, made 81 recommendation to the state about strengthening working with children checks.

There are still 16 recom­mendations that have not been acted on.

Mr Twyford said legislation, passed last year in the same month Griffith pleaded guilty, included the introduction of a reportable conduct scheme and a child safe standard scheme.

“If that had been implemented earlier, would there have been a different outcome? (That) is a critical question that I want to resolve,” he said.

“It’s absolutely concerning when government receives a report with recommendations that there is not an immediate response, either to accept and outline how they will be imple­mented or to reject them.”

Opposition Leader Steven Miles said clearly there needed to be more reforms.

He called on the Crisafulli government to legislate all outstanding recommen­dations.

“We were constantly updating that system, constantly taking advice about how to make it as good and as strong as it possibly can be,” he said.

Mr Twyford, who is also chair of the state’s Child Death Review Board, said the “first step” of his inquiry would be to compel con­fidential information from the AFP, Queensland Police Service and the education department about Griffith’s case.

“That will enable us to produce a chronology of the offending that has occurred, including the places and the employers where the failing may need to be looked into,” Mr Twyford said.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/inquiry-head-luke-twyford-criticises-former-labor-government-over-delay-on-child-safety-reform/news-story/1a4eec506513c9dcbdafa271386c4532

https://www.9news.com.au/national/inquiry-begins-into-how-paedophile-ashley-paul-griffith-operated-in-childcare-centres/d624f78c-f170-45b1-96ba-5538a12f72c8

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f79739 (287) No.22416549>>22416550 >>22416572

[pop]YouTube embed. Click thumbnail to play.

>>22225665

>>22400411

>>22400575

‘James Bond’ enlists local criminals in botched Sydney Jewish deli attack

LIAM MENDES and ALEXI DEMETRIADI - 23 January 2025

1/2

Two Sydney men charged by NSW Police’s anti-Semitism task force were seemingly hired by an unknown nefarious criminal referred to as “James Bond” to carry out a firebombing on a Bondi brewery they mistook for a Jewish deli with a similar name.

After realising they may have inadvertently torched a different Bondi establishment that shared a “Lewis” in its name with the deli, the attackers said: “I’m starting to think he (James Bond) has sent us to the wrong place lol”.

Political debate raged on Wednesday after the Australian Federal Police said it was exploring whether “overseas actors” had enlisted local criminals to carry out anti-Semitic attacks, something which the federal Coalition demanded more evidence, with intelligence since suggesting Australia-based organised crime gangs could have paid perpetrators behind recent attacks.

The Australian can reveal footage of Curly Lewis brewery in Bondi being set alight after the two criminals, appearing to take orders from an unknown Australia-based man via encrypted messaging platform Signal, seemingly mistook the business for the nearby kosher deli of a similar name, which was firebombed days later.

Authorities are attempting to understand who may be orchestrating and funding some of the attacks behind the scenes, with this latest revelation only furthering authorities’ belief that some perpetrators may be criminals for hire.

On October 17, Bondi’s Curly Lewis brewery was set alight, sustaining about $80,000 in damages. A few days later, on October 20, the Jewish-run kosher deli, Lewis’ Continental Kitchen, was torched a kilometre away from the brewery.

NSW Police’s Strike Force Pearl -- established to “investigate hate crimes with an anti-Semitic focus” – charged Guy Finnegan and co-accused Craig Bantoft, 37, before arresting and charging a 40-year-old and 26-year-old in January for their involvement in the incidents.

The force have linked the two fires and four men, with the brewery torched in a case of “mistaken identity”, with the deli the intended target. After the pair torched the brewery -- Finnegan and Bantoft poured petrol under its front door, before then throwing lit paper, which set it alight – they conversed on encrypted messaging chat Signal, revealing they had taken the orders from the unknown man under the alias “James Bond”.

“James Bond” had told Finnegan and Bantoft that they’d “f*cked it up”, and that the target was barely burnt.

“Use f*cked the whole thing now… If use f*cking couldn’t do it from the start then why did use even went there for f*ck me -- its not even done 2% burned f*ck me dead (sic),” Bond said.

Finnegan told Bantoft that “(James Bond) reckons there’s no damage,” suggesting they return to the scene and take pictures.

Describing the pictures James Bond had sent him of the morning after the attack, possibly of an un-torched Continental Kitchen, Finnegan told Bantoft: “People are packing out the place like nothing happened… open shop, like there was never any fire”.

“I’m copping from him messages like wtf, you’d didn’t even do it,” Finnegan told Bantoft, who asked if they had hit “the right place”.

Bantoft asked Finnegan whether “(James Bond) is paying us or nah”, who responded: “I’m starting to think he has sent us to the wrong place lol.”

Asked if he could determine by the pictures if they’d been sent to the right place, Finnegan said that he couldn’t exactly tell.

“It (being sent to the wrong place, targeting the wrong business) makes sense haha,” he said.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22416550

>>22416549

2/2

The pair were captured on CCTV and NSW Police arrested both soon after, with Finnegan and Bantoft making “full admissions” to the offending and investigators discovering a screenshot of the Signal chat with ‘James Bond’ upon seizing the former’s mobile phone.

On Tuesday, Finnegan was sentenced to an aggregate 18-month custodial sentence, backdated to October 2024, for 10 offences including an indicative 10-month sentence for destroying property.

His other offences included common assault, fraud, theft, larceny and drug possession.

NSW Premier Chris Minns slammed the 10-month indicative sentence given to Finnegan, saying the too-lenient a punishment was not a strong-enough deterrent, a court ruling police are now appealing.

“(That offence) carries a 10-year jail sentence and the individual was handed a 10-month sentence … NSW Police are appealing that sentence,” Mr Minns said, adding that the short sentence sent the “wrong message”.

“We need to send a strong and unambiguous message that you will face the full force of the law and the book will be thrown at (you).”

On Wednesday, Bantoft pleaded guilty to one charge of destroying property and a second of doing so alongside Finnegan, and will be sentenced in March.

He also pled guilty to unrelated charges of larceny and contravening an apprehended violence order.

Neither man has been charged with anti-Semitic or vilification offences, but both were investigated and slapped with charges by Strike Force Pearl, established to focus on attacks of anti-Semitic nature.

The strike force has since doubled its investigative team to 40 full-time detectives.

Bantoft allegedly committed October’s firebombing while already serving an intensive correction order, and has a litany of prior convictions, including theft, destroying property, common assaults, and choking a person, among others.

Speaking on Tuesday, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry’s legal head, Simone Abel, said that while anti-Semitism targeted the Jewish community the entire Australian society would feel its effects.

“Anti-Semitism is a disease that doesn’t hit just the Jewish community but the entire of society,” she said, referring to how Maroubra’s Only About Children centre, which isn’t Jewish-linked, was firebombed and vandalised with anti-Semitic slurs.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/james-bond-enlists-local-criminals-in-botched-sydney-jewish-deli-attack/news-story/37332f87f1244c6980418ba3a0d979ae

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfaFdF87oYs

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f79739 (287) No.22416572

File (hide): cc25a0c5dfbb5f2⋯.mp4 (3.55 MB,1280x720,16:9,Watch_Firebombing_Plot_Unv….mp4) (h) (u) [play once] [loop]

>>22225665

>>22400575

>>22416549

Men accused of anti-Semitic attacks on Jewish deli won’t hand over phones

LIAM MENDES, JOANNA PANAGOPOULOS and ALEXI DEMETRIADI - 23 January 2025

Two men involved in what police say was an anti-Semitic related incident that ended in one of them setting fire to a Jewish deli in Bondi are allegedly refusing to provide passwords to allow investigators to forensically examine the contents of their mobile phones.

It follows allegations in The Australian on Thursday that two other men were initially hired to firebomb the same alleged target -- Lewis Continental Kitchen – by a man they only called ‘James Bond’.

They mistakenly hit a Bondi brewery which had a similar name on October 17, telling each other in an encrypted group chat: “I’m starting to think he (James Bond) has sent us to the wrong place lol”.

Three days later, on October 20, Wayne Ogden, aged 40, who has never held a license, allegedly stole a BMW in Arncliffe in Sydney’s inner south about 2am, drove it to Bondi Beach, and then lit Lewis Continental Kitchen on fire.

While detained on remand in Silverwater prison, Mr Ogden then allegedly “failed to comply with a digital evidence order” related to handing over his password which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

Police allege Mr Odgen’s co-accused, Juon Majok Mal Amuoi, attended the Campbell Parade deli five days earlier, on October 15, dressed in black and armed with a sledgehammer “with the intention of causing damage to the property”, before he was scared off by a security guard who alerted police. He has not been charged in relation to the October 20 firebombing.

Mr Amuoi is also allegedly refusing to hand over his phone password to police and is facing additional charges for “failing to comply with a lawful direction given under the order by an executing officer”.

It is not clear whether ‘James Bond’ is behind the other attacks and attempted attacks on the business.

Neither Mr Ogden or Mr Amuoi have entered pleas.

On Thursday, NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb confirmed police did not know the identity of ‘James Bond’.

The Australian Federal Police said it was exploring whether “overseas actors” had enlisted local criminals to carry out anti-Semitic attacks, while intelligence also suggested Australia-based organised crime gangs could have paid perpetrators behind recent attacks.

“At the moment we don’t know who that person is, and that’s why these remain active investigations to identify the principles in these matters,” Commissioner Webb told ABC Radio National.

She called the practice “AirTasker for criminals”.

Commissioner Webb said police “were keeping our mind very open to any possibility” when asked if ‘James Bond” was an individual, state actor or terrorist organisation.

“And that’s the job of the police to be open and objective about this. What we know about the offenders we’ve charged so far is they’re very local. They’re very local to Sydney. We don’t know who the principals are … (We) can’t rule out that they’re only domestic or that they might be international. We can’t rule that out.”

NSW Police’s Strike Force Pearl -- established to “investigate hate crimes with an anti-Semitic focus” – linked the firebombing of Bondi’s Curly Lewis Brewery and Lewis Continental Kitchen three days apart, and arrested four men.

Guy Finnegan and Craig Bantoft, 37, were arrested for the botched brewery job, which cost the business $80,000, before later arresting and charging Mr Ogden and Mr Amuoi for their involvement in the incidents.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/men-accused-of-antisemitic-attacks-on-jewish-deli-wont-hand-over-phones/news-story/ff0e8038b4991612499fde88dc9cdc2d

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f79739 (287) No.22416604

>>22030056 (pb)

>>22058044 (pb)

>>22400575

Son of murdered Comanchero bikie boss Mick Hawi charged in connection with anti-Semitic incident

Dylan Arvela and Clementine Cuneo - January 23, 2025

The son of a murdered Comanchero bikie boss is one of the nine people charged in connection to a wave of anti-Semitic attacks across Sydney, as police investigate the possibility of foreign actors and organised crime being responsible for the spate of incidents.

Adam Hawi, the son of the former national president of the Comanchero Mick Hawi, was charged last week regarding his alleged role ahead of an incident in Woollahra in November.

The incident which saw close to $100,000 worth of damage caused involved a ute being set alight, multiple cars being damaged and Matt Moran’s Chiswick restaurant being graffitied with anti-Israel messages.

Detectives will allege Hawi’s car was used in the attack before refusing to tell detectives who was driving it.

The 21-year-old is expected to attend Waverley Local Court in March after being charged with being the owner of a vehicle and not disclosing the identity of the driver or passenger.

Mohammed Farhat, 20, and Thomas Stojanovski, 19, faced court this week over the incident, each charged with 14 counts of destroying or damaging property, along with trespassing offences and offensive behaviour charges.

Hawi’s father, Mahmood “Mick” Hawi was assassinated as he left a Rockdale gym in 2018. Hawi senior had been convicted for murder over the notorious 2009 Sydney Airport brawl between the Comanchero and Hells Angels that killed Anthony Zervas, but successfully appealed his conviction in 2014.

The charge at Waverley comes months out from a hearing at Downing Local Court regarding allegations he subjected a young woman to “sustained abuse”.

Hawi junior pleaded not guilty to intimidation and common assault after St George Police arrested him at a hotel in the city’s south in October, last year.

On Wednesday, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw said the potential of crooks being paid in cryptocurrency for carrying out firebombings was also being pursued, as he issued a statement saying: “There is no doubt there is an escalation of anti-Semitism in Australia.”

“All lines of inquiry are open to the investigations -- including what anonymising technology, such as dedicated encrypted communication devices, have been used to commit these crimes,” the commissioner said.

“We are looking into whether overseas actors or individuals have paid local criminals in Australia to carry out some of these crimes in our suburbs.

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-nsw/son-of-murdered-comanchero-bikie-boss-mick-hawi-charged-in-connection-with-antisemitic-incident/news-story/4cf10162d0991c394a318e4b0505f518

https://www.smh.com.au/national/texts-reveal-james-bond-fury-after-botched-arson-attack-in-eastern-suburbs-20250123-p5l6mf.html

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f79739 (287) No.22416629

File (hide): 18b482f08a9ce0f⋯.mp4 (6.59 MB,960x540,16:9,Second_man_arrested_over_a….mp4) (h) (u) [play once] [loop]

File (hide): 817b45f40e43973⋯.jpg (179.75 KB,1920x1081,1920:1081,A_second_man_has_been_arre….jpg) (h) (u)

>>22225665

>>22333651

>>22408655

Second alleged Newtown synagogue vandal arrested

JAMES DOWLING - 23 January 2025

A second man has been arrested for his alleged part in the attempted arson of the Newtown synagogue, as the man police will argue was his accomplice prepares to face court.

NSW Police released a statement on Thursday afternoon saying they had arrested a 37-year-old man in connection with the anti-Semitic vandalism attack. He was found at a hotel on Pyrmont Bridge Rd at about 1pm, though charges are yet to be laid.

During his arrest, the man was tasered, with paramedics treating him at Day Street Police Station. Video provided by NSW Police shows officers from the dedicated anti-Semitism taskforce Strike Force Pearl leading the alleged vandal being escorted from the site of his arrest to a paddywagon.

Both in Pyrmont and upon his arrival at Day Street he is hunched over and shirtless, with what seem to be bruises along his lower back.

It comes after NSW Police arrested 33-year-old Pyrmont man Adam Moule on Tuesday for allegedly vandalising Newtown Synagogue in Sydney’s inner west with Nazi symbols and trying, unsuccessfully, to set it on fire. He was taken into custody at 7.40pm and charged with multiple offences, including destroying property using fire and stolen goods.

In the wake of the arrest, police seized some of his belongings for inspection. By 12.40pm on Wednesday, according to a court attendance notice, police found “five debit cards with different financial institutions and in different names which may be reasonably suspected of being stolen or otherwise unlawfully obtained”.

Mr Moule was set to appear before Deputy Chief Magistrate Sharon Freund at the Downing Centre Local Court before the discovery. His hearing was deferred until Thursday, before it was adjourned another two weeks until February 6. He made no application for bail and will remain in remand.

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw on Tuesday said “intelligence” suggested that foreign actors could be paying local criminals in cryptocurrency to commit anti-Semitic attacks.

However, NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb would not be drawn as to whether that was an active line of inquiry in regards to Moule, saying in a press conference the motive was “not yet clearly established”, refusing to clarify if any foreign interference was by individuals or states.

NSW Police previously said they were close to a second arrest over the Newtown Synagogue attack after CCTV from the scene captured two hooded men, dressed in black, spray painting Nazi symbols on the synagogue’s fence on January 11. They then appear to pour clear fluid onto the building in an alleged attempt to burn the premises.

NSW Premier Chris Minns praised the arresting officers on Thursday.

“I want to congratulate NSW Police for their dogged work investigating the Newtown Synagogue attack,” he said.

“NSW Police has now arrested 10 people under Strike Force Pearl, and investigators are not done yet.

“The NSW Police Force has deployed dozens of officers determined to catch the bastards responsible for these sickening, racist crimes.”

Nine people have now been charged under NSW Police’s Strike Force Pearl.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/second-alleged-newtown-synagogue-vandal-arrested/news-story/869b483d06bfbf945b4a6b9a88363ec2

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-23/second-man-arrested-over-newtown-synagogue-attack/104848194

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f79739 (287) No.22416640

>>22225665

>>22333651

>>22400411

Nazi symbols graffitied on Nationals candidate's country NSW billboard

Hamish Cole - 23 January 2025

Nazi symbols have been graffitied onto a politician's billboard in the New South Wales central west.

Warning: This story contains an image of a Nazi symbol.

Swastikas were on Tuesday found to have been drawn onto promotional material for federal Nationals candidate for Calare, Sam Farraway, in Orange.

In a statement posted on social media, Mr Farraway said he hoped the perpetrators "cop the full force of the law".

"Far right extremism and neo-Nazism has no place in our country," he said.

"[It is] disappointing to find it in our backyard in the central west, a region that is home to many people, races and cultures."

The symbols have since been removed from the billboards.

In a statement the New South Wales Premier Chris Minns condemned the attack.

"There is absolutely no place for racism, bigotry, or anti-Semitism anywhere in New South Wales," Mr Minns said.

"Civil society stands united in condemning this flagrant racism. We will be doing everything we can to catch these thugs."

It came after numerous anti-Semitic attacks across Sydney and Melbourne in recent months that have been criticised by the premier and prime minister.

So far nine people have been charged under Strike Force Pearl, which was launched in December to investigate anti-Semitic incidents in the city.

NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley announced earlier this week the number of detectives investigating the incidents had doubled from 20 to 40.

On Tuesday, a childcare centre in Sydney's south-east was firebombed in the eighth suspected hate crime attack in the city over the past few months relating to anti-Semitism or anti-Israel sentiment.

In a statement, New South Wales police said officers were investigating the latest "offensive" incident.

"It is important that the community and police continue to work together to make New South Wales a safer place for everyone," the spokesperson said.

"The New South Wales Police Force takes hate crimes seriously."

Mr Farraway is the Nationals candidate for Calare, with the seat currently held by former party member turned independent, Andrew Gee.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-23/nazi-symbols-graffiti-nationals-candidate-billboard-nsw/104848936

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f79739 (287) No.22416688>>22416701 >>22427841 >>22427866 >>22427961 >>22430614 >>22431836 >>22438055

>>22345238

>>22345254

>>22379048

Pro-Palestinian and Invasion Day groups join forces for Australia Day rallies

MOHAMMAD ALFARES - 23 January 2025

Pro-Palestinian activists will join forces with ‘Invasion Day’ protesters in opposition of Australia Day this weekend, as they ramp up their bid to get the public holiday scrapped with tens of thousands of people gearing up to rally for the second year in a row.

With the Australian Open men’s singles final to be played on Sunday, Tennis Australia and Melbourne businesses have been warned about potential disruptions with up to 30,000 protesters preparing to march through the city, opposing Australia Day and advocating for Palestine.

A social media post from War Collective Victoria -- the group behind 10 Invasion Day rallies in Melbourne – has urged people to “grab your mob” and “clapsticks” ahead of the demonstration which kicks off at the Parliament House.

Several pro-Palestinian groups, including Melbourne’s largest factions -- ‘Free Palestine Coalition’, and ‘Free Palestine Melbourne’ – have pinned the post to their homepage and invited supporters to join.

Separately, the Disrupt Wars group who organised numerous pro-Palestine rallies in Melbourne over the last year, including the Land Forces protest, called on people to march as an act of “solidarity with Indigenous peoples in their ongoing struggle for justice”.

“As we approach Invasion Day, it is more important than ever to learn and act with a deepened commitment to steadfast and genuine solidarity with First Nations’ leadership and revolutionary demands for decolonisation,“ the group said.

Business owners say they have been told to take steps to secure venues and staff, amid concerns more than 30,000 people could take to the streets.

The Victorian Police force have also issued a statement in anticipation, saying a separate pro-Australia Day protest was planned for outside the Australian Open tournament at Melbourne Park.

“Police have engaged with the event organisers; and they have provided information around their plans,” a police spokesperson said

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan on Thursday urged people wanting to stir trouble on Australia Day to steer clear of the tennis tournament, calling such plans “disgusting”.

“To target the Australian Open would be a disgusting act,” she said. “That would really break the patience of the public.”

Ms Allan maintained Victoria Police were equipped with the tools and resources they needed to handle large protests.

She said police would not hesitate to arrest people who become violent at protests.

“Let’s be clear, Victoria Police are operationally ready. They will be there in large numbers,” she said.

“No one should be using that right to peacefully protest and going in with the intent to cause violence.”

Victorian Opposition Leader Brad Battin slammed the Allan government and accused the Premier of turning Melbourne over to protesters.

“Australia Day should be about unity -- not division. A recent poll found increased support for celebrating Australia Day with Victoria recording the highest level of support,” he said.

“Instead of the traditional Australia Day parade, the Allan Labor government has turned our city over to protesters.

“The poor state of Victoria is now on full display to the world, while all eyes are on Melbourne during the Australian Open’s night of nights. It’s embarrassing.”

In Sydney, the annual Invasion Day rally will take place at Belmore Park in the CBD from 9:30am.

The Aboriginal Tent Embassy will host the ‘Sovereignty Day’ rally in Canberra at Garema Place during the same time.

Brisbane’s Invasion Day march will take place at Queens Gardens on George Street.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/propalestinian-and-invasion-day-groups-join-forces-for-australia-day-rallies/news-story/9251442a4c12a8d74e79fc0304d34300

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f79739 (287) No.22416701>>22416704

[pop]YouTube embed. Click thumbnail to play.

>>22345254

>>22379048

>>22416688

Melbourne CBD traders warned to brace for 30,000 strong Invasion Day protest, protesters vow to target AO men’s singles final

Australia Day protesters have been slammed for vowing to target the Australian Open men’s singles final in a move Jacinta Allan says would “break the patience of the public”.

Shannon Deery and Mitch Clarke - January 23, 2025

1/2

Jacinta Allan has hit out at protesters plotting to target the Australian Open on Sunday, calling such plans “disgusting”.

The Premier urged people wanting to stir trouble on Australia Day to steer clear of the tennis tournament.

“To target the Australian Open would be a disgusting act,” she said.

“That would really break the patience of the public.”

Police are bracing for a mass convergence of anti-Australia Day and pro-Palestinian protesters in the city on Sunday.

Police say a separate smaller pro-Australia Day protest is planned for outside the tennis.

“Police have engaged with the event organisers; and they have provided information around their plans,” a police spokeswoman said.

Ms Allan maintained Victoria Police was equipped with the tools and resources they needed to handle large protests.

She said police would not hesitate to arrest people who become violent at protests.

“Let’s be clear, Victoria Police are operationally ready. They will be there in large numbers,” she said.

“No one should be using that right to peacefully protest and going in with the intent to cause violence.”

Ms Allan said she will be attending official Australia Day events on Sunday.

But she acknowledged that it was a “difficult day” for some people.

“I think we can all find space in our hearts to respect that, to understand that,” she said.

“Respect also goes both ways. We’ve got to make sure that for those who want to acknowledge the day in their own way have the space to do that.”

City traders are bracing for a mass Australia Day protest that risks shutting down Melbourne’s CBD and disrupting the men’s singles final at the Australian Open.

Business owners say they have been told to take steps to secure venues and staff, amid concerns more than 30,000 people could take to the streets.

Police are planning for a convergence of anti-Australia Day and pro-Palestinian protesters they expect will march through the city to Melbourne Park on Sunday.

“Victoria Police is aware of a planned protest outside Melbourne Park on January 26,” a spokesman said.

“Police have engaged with the event organisers, and they have provided information around their plans. Officers will be highly visible in the area on the day.”

Opposition Leader Brad Battin slammed the “hateful protests” he said risked dividing the community.

“Australia Day should be a day where we all come together to celebrate what we have in common and the great fortune we all have to live in the greatest country in the world,” he said.

“However this Australia Day weekend, instead of unity our city will be divided and disrupted. Thousands of protesters are planning to cause mayhem in the city, businesses have been told they can’t be protected, and it’s all being led by an ­organisation funded by Premier Jacinta Allan’s own department.

“These endless hateful protests are a direct result of Labor’s weak leadership and inaction, which has allowed hate and division to fester in our once-harmonious city.”

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22416704

>>22416701

2/2

Prominent restaurateur Chris Lucas said the protest risked damaging Melbourne’s reputation as the events and sporting capital of Australia.

“While everyone is entitled to express their democratic rights, I really do feel that these activists have gone well beyond what most people would consider reasonable or acceptable,” he said.

“It’s now gotten to where our leaders must take action to bring these dangerous attacks on our democratic freedoms to an end. Otherwise our reputation as a city will be damaged irreparably.”

Tennis Australia has been working with Victoria Police ahead of the protest, which risks being broadcast internationally if it affects the event.

A spokesman for Tennis Australia and Melbourne and Olympic Park Trust said it was working with police to “ensure that planned protest activity does not impact the tournament”.

Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association chief Wes Lambert said: “This Sunday is one of the biggest trading days of the year, being the holiday weekend and the Australian Open finals. We are calling on the state government to take immediate action to stop these rallies once and for all.”

Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry acting chief, Chanelle Pearson, said now was the time to regulate protest activity.

“With the world’s attention fixed on Melbourne and Victoria for the Australian Open finals, the business community should be relishing the economic opportunity that the grand slam brings, not being cautioned about yet another disruption to their operations, trade, staff and customers,” she said.

“There are numerous other ways that protestors can express their views that allow city businesses to operate in a disruption-free environment during one of the busiest weekends of the year: there is no reason why the opinions of some groups need to -- regularly and consistently – impact the livelihoods of others, in this case city businesses.

“Our state’s business community has worked hard to help us to earn the enviable reputation as a capital for sports, a capital for food, a capital for events, a capital for creativity and a capital for fashion. That hard work is all jeopardised if our reputation becomes the capital for protests.

“The cost of policing these protests is now likely to be up around $50m, and given the debt position our state is in we can’t afford for this to continue.

“A welcome solution would be the establishment of a regulated, designated space for protest activities which doesn’t impede roads, footpaths and entrances to allow our small businesses to trade. A permanent solution is well overdue -- one that ensures voices can be heard without undermining Melbourne’s standing as world-class city.”

Lord Mayor Nick Reece said council would work closely with Victoria Police.

“Everyone has the right to protest peacefully -- and we ask them to do so respectfully,” he said.

“I acknowledge there is a lot of protest fatigue. I hear it every day from local traders and residents who live in the city. People are fed up.

“We know this is a huge weekend for Melbourne and its businesses, with hundreds of thousands of visitors flocking to the city for the Australian Open and other events.

“As always, we work closely with Victoria Police to ensure everyone is safe and able to enjoy themselves across the city.”

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/hateful-melbourne-cbd-to-be-hit-with-mass-australia-day-protest/news-story/f676ecc61ce8c69783980706fec4201c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Viwvca6Ivxg

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148b79 (1) No.22424258

File (hide): 4901bf76c32842e⋯.png (392.98 KB,611x762,611:762,ClipboardImage.png) (h) (u)

https://x.com/PaulineHansonOz/status/1882678435547672788

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f79739 (287) No.22427841>>22427866 >>22427961 >>22431744

>>22345254

>>22416688

Vandals condemned after Captain Cook statue maimed, doused in paint

JOANNA PANAGOPOULOS and JAMES DOWLING - January 24, 2025

Police are investigating after a Captain Cook statue in Sydney’s east was doused in red paint and maimed for the second year in a row ahead of Australia Day.

The statue in Randwick, which sits atop a pylon that reads “Captain James Cook … Erected by Captain Thomas Watson 27th October 1874”, had its face and hand ripped off in the attack, with splashes of red paint strewn across it.

The attack has been condemned by Randwick councillors, including Liberal councillor Andrew Hay, who labelled the vandals “low lives”.

“The Captain Cook Statue has been vandalised again,” he said in a statement.

“They’ve broken the sandstone and cut off his hand and nose.

“Low lives in Randwick know no bounds, or have any reverence for great people of history, and will vandalise him to make a political point that he’s not directly related to.”

Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker said he “condemns this vandalism of the heritage Captain Cook statue”.

“Vandalism has no place in public discussion,” the Labor Mayor said.

“Vandalism is an illegal act that does a disservice to progressing your cause, a disservice to the community and a disservice to reconciliation.

“Council will clean and restore the statue.

“The statue was cleaned and restored last year after a similar incident in February 2024.”

NSW Police said an investigation was underway into the damaged statue and asked the public for assistance.

“About 8.15am today (Friday 24 January 2025), officers attached to Eastern Beaches Police Area Command responded to reports of a statue damaged and vandalised with graffiti on Belmore Road, Randwick,” NSW Police said in a statement.

“A number of items at the location have been seized by police.

“A crime scene has been established, which will be forensically examined by specialist police.

“Police are working with Randwick Council to assist with the removal of the graffiti.”

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/vandals-condemned-after-captain-cook-statue-maimed-doused-in-paint/news-story/117c0af37dfc9c8852279bdc79619608

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/captain-cook-statue-in-randwick-vandalised-ahead-of-australia-day/news-story/7003ff5b818bdecc644f7cf1a3fbea82

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php/?story_fbid=624127426860001&id=100077882461133

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f79739 (287) No.22427866

[pop]YouTube embed. Click thumbnail to play.

>>22345254

>>22416688

>>22427841

Captain Cook vandals roundly condemned (except by Greens, of course)

JOANNA PANAGOPOULOS and JAMES DOWLING - 24 January 2025

A Sydney Greens councillor says a statue of Captain Cook is a “painful reminder of the devastating impacts of colonialism” and has urged its council to “look at other options” after it was vandalised.

Police are investigating after the Captain Cook statue in Sydney’s east was doused in red paint and disfigured for the second year in a row ahead of Australia Day.

The statue in Randwick, which sits atop a pylon that reads “Captain James Cook … Erected by Captain Thomas Watson 27th October 1874”, had its face and hand ripped off in the attack, with splashes of red paint strewn across it.

The attack has been condemned by the NSW Premier, Randwick’s Labor mayor and a number of Liberal councillors, including one who labelled the vandals “low lives”.

However Greens councillor Philipa Veitch said it was “time to look at other options”.

“The statue is a painful reminder of the devastating impacts of colonisation, which continues to this day,” she said in a statement.

“It’s time to look at other options, including its placement in a museum. I’m sure there are many local artists who could be commissioned to create a much more appropriate and inclusive work.”

NSW Premier Chris Minns said “national days are important for the state and for the country” as he condemned the attack, adding “there is no tolerance for vandalism”.

Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker also said he “condemns this vandalism of the heritage Captain Cook statue”.

“Vandalism has no place in public discussion,” the Labor Mayor said.

“Vandalism is an illegal act that does a disservice to progressing your cause, a disservice to the community and a disservice to reconciliation. Council will clean and restore the statue. The statue was cleaned and restored last year after a similar incident in February 2024.”

Councillor Andrew Hay said “Low lives in Randwick know no bounds, or have any reverence for great people of history, and will vandalise him to make a political point that he’s not directly related to.”

Councillor Bill Burst called the vandalism “disgraceful!” and vowed to restore the monument with other Liberal councillors.

NSW Police said an investigation was underway into the damaged statue and asked the public for assistance.

“About 8.15am today (Friday 24 January 2025), officers attached to Eastern Beaches Police Area Command responded to reports of a statue damaged and vandalised with graffiti on Belmore Road, Randwick,” NSW Police said in a statement.

“A number of items at the location have been seized by police.

“A crime scene has been established, which will be forensically examined by specialist police.

“Police are working with Randwick Council to assist with the removal of the graffiti.”

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/vandals-condemned-after-captain-cook-statue-maimed-doused-in-paint/news-story/117c0af37dfc9c8852279bdc79619608

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JThZDkBxU1A

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f79739 (287) No.22427961>>22427974 >>22431744

>>22345254

>>22416688

>>22427841

Prime ministers' heads severed and stolen from bronze statues in Ballarat Botanical Gardens

Kellie Lazzaro - 24 January 2025

1/2

Police are searching for the vandals who removed the heads from two statues of Australian prime ministers and damaged 18 others in Ballarat on Thursday.

Twenty of the bronze busts, which line the famed Prime Ministers Avenue, were damaged in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens on Wendouree Parade in the early hours of Thursday.

The busts of former Labor leaders Paul Keating and Kevin Rudd were severed by an angle grinder and stolen in the spree.

The nameplates of the remaining statues were covered in spray paint.

Police have released photos of four people that were allegedly in the area in a silver ute between 1am and 2am on Thursday.

Authorities said the ute was seen in the southern part of the gardens on Wendouree Parade at 1.23 am, before leaving the area 24 minutes later.

Ballarat senior sergeant Brad Hall said the total damage bill was estimated at $140,000.

"Most of the busts had red crosses painted on them, there was other commentary around 'The Commonwealth will fall" and other political rhetoric," he said.

Sergeant Hall said given the vandalism appeared to be politically motivated, there would be extra local police presence in the Ballarat Botanic Gardens in the lead-up to Australia Day.

"These heads, I am told are valued at about $50,000 a pop so when you are talking about $100,000-plus all the required funds to clean up the mess that these people have caused, that's money that the local council just don't have."

"So I would suggest return the heads to where they need to be and save us a whole lot of time."

A senseless act

Ballarat Botanical Gardens Foundation chair Mark Schultz said the senseless act of vandalism on an admired feature of the gardens was hard to comprehend.

"We hope the vandals are identified and charged and appropriately dealt with by the law for this wanton destruction of public property," Mr Schultz said.

The busts are now covered in black plastic and cordoned off by temporary fencing.

Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton condemned the attack.

"We should have great respect for our former prime ministers regardless of if they are Liberal or Labor … and we should be very respectful of those who have led our country," he said.

"The vast majority of people are peace abiding and … they would not accept this ridiculous conduct."

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22427974

>>22427961

2/2

National significance

When each new prime minister assumes office in Australia, the City of Ballarat calls for expressions of interest from public artists to create a bust of the new leader.

The bronze busts are mounted on polished granite pedestals.

"Prime Ministers Avenue has been a site of national significance since it was opened by the Governor of Victoria in 1940, and remains a unique focal point for locals and visitors," Mr Schultz said.

Ballarat Heritage Watch president Stuart Kelly said he hoped the perpetrators would be caught.

"I'm just disgusted that people can do such things," he said.

"It seems to me that there must've been a sizeable group that did such a thing."

Sculptor says damage is upsetting

Peter Nicholson contributed seven of the 29 sculptures of the prime ministers, including Keating and Rudd.

"It's very upsetting for me and also for Ballarat," he said on ABC Ballarat's Breakfast program.

"It's just such a popular walk. If you go up there you see people walking up and down them all discussing what they think of them."

Nicholson said the statues were cast in bronze more than half a centimetre thick.

"They are very solid, it takes a lot to damage them, but you can hit it with a hammer and eventually you will make an indentation," he said.

"I guess it tells us something about the kind of political nonsense that goes on in a lot of people's minds."

Mr Nicholson supplied a mould of all seven of his sculptures to Ballarat council, which can be recast at any time.

"You can actually make a fresh [bust] from those. You can even see my fingerprints on the plaster," he said.

"If you've got a mould, you can make it in a couple of days … [but] it's very difficult to get a sitting [with an ex-prime minister]."

It is not the first time ex-prime ministers have been vandalised in the gardens.

In 2020, the busts of former Liberal prime ministers John Howard and Tony Abbott were spray-painted with obscene words.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-24/prime-ministers-busts-decapitated-ballarat-australia-day/104854022

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f79739 (287) No.22428194>>22428201 >>22430614 >>22431695

>>22345254

>>22345317

>>22357770

Change the date? No, say an increasing majority of Australians

David Crowe and Olivia Ireland - January 24, 2025

1/2

Australians have strongly backed January 26 as the national day after years of argument about changing the date, lifting support to a clear majority amid calls to enshrine the date in federal law.

Support for January 26 has leapt from 47 to 61 per cent over the past two years despite objections from Indigenous Australians about celebrating the nation’s history on the anniversary of white settlement.

An exclusive survey also shows that 52 per cent of voters back the idea of passing a federal law to make January 26 the official day, a key proposal from Opposition Leader Peter Dutton before the federal election.

The findings mark a shift in sentiment across the electorate after the defeat of the Indigenous Voice at the October 2023 referendum, showing that support for January 26 increased over the period when support for the Voice declined.

While 39 per cent of voters wanted to change the date when asked in January 2023 -- a point when the federal government believed there was strong momentum for the Voice – this slipped to 33 per cent in January 2024.

The latest survey, conducted for this masthead by research company Resolve Strategic, shows 24 per cent wanted to change the date when asked over the past week.

Dutton declared this month that one of his first acts as prime minister if he won the election would be to enshrine January 26 in law so that local councils would have to hold events on the day.

“Would we reinstate the requirement for councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day? You bet,” he told reporters.

“It’ll be done in the first 100 days and it will be a sign of pride and nationalism in our country. I want us as a population to be united.”

The Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code, put in place by the current government, sets out rules for local councils to hold Australia Day citizenship events but allows them to conduct them over a period from three days before and after January 26. Dutton said the events should be on January 26.

While dozens of councils have chosen to move the ceremonies from January 26 because of concerns from Indigenous communities, some have since moved them back. In South Australia last September, the City of Unley council voted to restore the event to January 26 after polling the community.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has brushed off questions about the Coalition plan and challenged Dutton to respect January 26 by attending Australia Day events in Canberra this year, including the Australian of the Year announcement on Saturday night.

“Every year it is inspirational, and I look forward to celebrating Australia Day,” he said.

Critics of January 26 have pointed to the history of white settlement, including the racism suffered by First Australians, to argue for a change to the date. Protests on the issue date to the 1930s, when the date was called a “day of mourning” for Indigenous people.

Indigenous leader and Voice advocate Megan Davis said she was not a “change the date” person because the shift would only move rather than resolve a toxic argument.

“The roots of the discontent about Australia Day come from Aboriginal people, it comes from Aboriginal protest, it comes from the failure of the state to grapple with the original grievance, the unfinished business,” she said in an interview.

“So moving the date doesn’t change that. It just moves the same -- in my view – concerns and disgruntlement to another day.”

Davis said the Uluru Statement from the Heart, the key document that set out the case for the Voice, was about bringing people together.

“It was a statement of peace issued by our people, particularly our old people to the Australian people about moving forward together,” she said.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22428201

>>22428194

2/2

Conservative advocate John Roskam, a senior fellow at the Institute of Public Affairs, said surveys had shown that Australians wanted practical action to help Indigenous people but did not want an approach that divided the community.

Roskam said this was a factor in the failure of the Voice even though most Australians support recognition for Indigenous people in the Constitution.

“People are over the argument. The referendum and the defeat of the Voice have given permission to people to be more honest,” he said.

“None of it takes away from the fact that Australians support recognition. Australians understand the very real challenges, but it’s not going to be achieved by symbolism. And the debate about Australia Day was seen to be a debate about symbolism.”

The Resolve Political Monitor surveyed 1616 eligible voters from Wednesday to Tuesday, generating results with a margin of error of 2.4 per cent. This means the support for January 26 had a clear majority within that error range.

Resolve director Jim Reed said the change in attitude was tied to the Voice referendum and its aftermath.

“While Australians have consistently agreed with the concept of a national day as a time to come together to celebrate what makes life here special, the date and its meaning have been the subject of some debate,” he said.

“We started to see opinions shift to a stronger support for 26th January after the Voice referendum, which acted as a reset on many social issues.

“We now see Australians actively avoiding calls for change that risk division, clinging onto anything that adds to cohesion, and a greater focus on including Aboriginal perspectives and multicultural elements into the national day has done that.”

Macquarie University professor Bronwyn Carlson said there was an annual “circus” over Australia Day and this distracted from “truth-telling” about Indigenous history and white settlement.

“I think the media like to raise this issue every year to continue the circus,” said Carlson, who is a Dharawal woman from NSW.

“We have greater things to consider in this world like the rise of white supremacy -- and this endless focus on how people want to celebrate a pointless date is tiring.”

The survey found that 51 per cent of Labor voters backed January 26, while 78 per cent of Coalition said the same.

Support for January 26 was sharply different across each age group, however, with only 35 per cent of younger voters -- those aged 18 to 34 – in favour of the date. Support was 79 per cent among those aged 55 and older.

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/change-the-date-no-say-an-increasing-majority-of-australians-20250122-p5l6i8.html

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f79739 (287) No.22428278>>22428286

>>22262558

>>22345254

>>22363073

Kennard Self Storage boss Sam Kennard slams corporate ’virtue signalling’ around Australia Day

MATT BELL and CHRIS HERDE - 25 January 2025

1/2

Business leaders have warned against companies boycotting Australia Day, saying corporations are yielding too much power to political activists and their human resources departments.

Big business has increasingly moved to boycott the national holiday despite renewed interest in January 26, with the likes of Commonwealth Bank and Telstra allowing staff to work and take another day off, championing the move as a win for employees seeking greater flexibility.

Other businesses including the Australian Venue Co, which last month was forced to walk back from its controversial boycott of Australia Day, have instead promoted it as the “January long weekend”.

Kennards Self Storage chief executive Sam Kennard said businesses should be agnostic around politics and the interests of political activists, calling out Australian Venue Co as making a mistake.

“It’s virtue signalling to a small constituency,” he said.

“If a business doesn’t want to celebrate Australia Day, like a hospitality group, they’re probably missing out on revenue from people that love this country and want to celebrate. In my view that’s a huge mistake.”

Mr Kennard said the country’s bosses and corporate boards placed too much power in the hands of their corporate affairs and human resource departments that were overly fixated and sensitive around minority interests.

“Too many large corporations are run by corporate affairs or HR departments trying to be super sensitive around minority interests, and the CEOs management team and the board don’t care or are too worried about offending a small group of people that they don’t understand what the majority want,” he said. “It’s a complex problem that exists in large corporations because too much power is given to corporate affairs and human relations.”

A poll published by the Institute of Public Affairs last week showed that 69 per cent of people say Australia Day should be celebrated on January 26, up from 63 per cent 12 months ago, while a majority of all age groups now back the day.

Institute of Public Affairs director of research Morgan Begg said on Friday that mainstream Australians no longer feared the elites and were not afraid to say so.

“Australians are seeing the decline of social cohesion in their communities as a consequence of the deliberate and relentless attempts by the elites and political class to divide Australians,” he said. “A healthy society celebrates the events and symbols that unite them. Australians recognise that uniting around their national day and the national flag reinvigorates the sense of community that has been lost.”

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22428286

>>22428278

2/2

Property developer Kevin Seymour said the debate around Australia Day was ridiculous. His company, Seymour Group, will shut for the public holiday and all staff are encouraged to celebrate Australia instead.

“Every one of us comes from different backgrounds but we should be getting on with our lives. This divide and conquer has got to stop,” he said.

“We encourage all our staff to celebrate Australia’s national day and be proud Australians. We’re all Australians. We come from so many different nationalities and cultures, and we should be a united country,”

Ray White Group managing director Dan White said businesses should avoid getting involved in the debate and instead allow their workers to enjoy the country and spend time with their family.

“A lot of companies get caught up in a knot over this, but we’ve always taken a flexible approach to leave, and Australia Day is a good day to get together with their families,” he said. “If our people need other days off to celebrate their own cultural or religious days, we are a pretty flexible workplace.”

Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting will celebrate Australia Day by sponsoring Perth’s festivities in Langley Park, which include the city’s Australia Day Perth skyshow and fair. It is the event’s sole sponsor in a sign big business has largely avoided Australia Day, while Sydney’s celebrations have no corporate sponsors.

A Hancock Prospecting spokesman said the company was proud of its Australian heritage.

“Celebrating Australia Day is part of our company traditions and various activities are held across our business and subsidiaries to mark this special day to celebrate our nation and reflect on our past and future,” the company said. “On Australia Day, we hope many think of our veterans, who have sacrificed so much for our country, and those currently serving, our police, and all those who have built our country and helped make us proud of our nation.”

Mrs Rinehart will celebrate with her family, and then later at an Australian Embassy function in the US, the spokesman said.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has vowed to protect the national day should the Coalition be elected. He said Australians should not be “ashamed” of Australia Day, and that a Coalition government would overturn a Labor-era rule and force local councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on January 26.

The country’s largest pub operator, Endeavour Group, which has 350 venues in its ALH portfolio, has been promoting Australia Day celebrations.

This contrasts with Australian Venue Co which banned Australia Day celebrations at its 200 venues before making a sensational about-face and apologising for offending its customers.

The group, Australia’s second-largest pub group, had directed staff “not to specifically celebrate a day that causes hurt for some of our patrons and our team”.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/companies/kennard-self-storage-boss-sam-kennard-slams-corporate-virtue-signalling-around-australia-day/news-story/c8aefcabc3619483ce25eb040437b36c

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f79739 (287) No.22428316

>>22262558

>>22345254

>>22363073

Ignore woke and don’t go broke: businesses backing in Australia Day see customers spending big

DAVID PENBERTHY - 25 January 2025

Patriotic businesses that celebrate Australia Day are adhering to the “go woke, go broke” rule and cashing in on strong public support for our national day.

Amid a major public backlash over corporate decrees on the apparent insensitivity of January 26 as a day of celebration, other businesses are enjoying a bonanza by throwing their unabashed support behind the date in line with majority opinion.

Hotel giant Australian Venue Co sparked anger last December when it declared Australia Day would not be observed at its 234 nationwide venues -- a position it first recanted amid a public outcry but strangely reaffirmed this week, despite having previously apologised for the distress caused.

The company’s ham-fisted tactics have created an opening for other pubs which are going all out in celebration mode, with the Kent Town Hotel in Adelaide’s inner east now promoting an entire month of Australia Day Celebrations.

“The team at the Kent Town Hotel reckon one day is not enough to celebrate Australia Day,” their advertisements state, promising $7.50 Coopers pints, 1kg buckets of Port Lincoln prawns for $49 and a special “Aussie BBQ” mixed grill for $22.

Owner Tom Hannah told The Weekend Australian that patrons were “sick and tired” of being lectured to about how they should and shouldn’t behave and think.

He said the backlash against the actions of Australian Venue Co had created an opening for others who see themselves as “publicans not preachers”.

“As Napoleon Bonaparte said, never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake,” Mr Hannah told The Weekend Australian.

“Clearly, they have upset a lot of people and if they want to be preachers rather than publicans that’s fine but some of us don’t take ourselves too seriously.

“We love this country and we think people should be allowed to celebrate it.”

South Australia’s biggest hotelier Peter Hurley is also hosting major Australia Day celebrations at the Hurley Group’s 10 venues in South Australia.

In a reversal of the tactics seen by the ABC’s Triple J, which in 2017 stopped playing its annual Hottest 100 on January 26, the Hurley Group is staging an “Oz Music Day” concert at its landmark Arkaba Hotel celebrating the songs of Cold Chisel, INXS and AC/DC.

Hurley was quick to condemn the actions of Australian Venue Co last year, saying as far as he was concerned pubs should be “in the fun business, not the political correctness business”.

Supermarkets have also ­become a field in the battle for the patriotic dollar, with independently owned Drakes Super­markets again ensuring that Australia Day products -- including stubbie holders, flags and table ­settings – are given prominent ­position in their 68 stores across South Australia and Queensland.

Drakes supermarket director John-Paul Drake went to war last year with Woolworths, which he labelled “Wokeworths” in a derisive Instagram post after the supermarket giant said it had withdrawn Australia Day products from sale.

“Whether you choose to celebrate Australia Day or not is totally up to you,” Drake wrote on his viral post.

As a result of the publicity, Drakes experienced a major spike in sales in January 2024, with many customers thanking their staff for supporting Australia Day and saying they’d resolved never to shop at Woolworths again.

Mr Drake’s father, Drakes founder and owner Roger Drake, said politicians and corporate leaders were misreading the mood on Australia Day, saying he believed support for January 26 was growing as a result.

“In business I practise what I call MBWA, Management By Walking Around, and I think the pollies and some in the big end of town need to do a bit of MBWA with the public when it comes to telling them how to think and act,” he said.

“The public has had enough of all this correctness and wokeness. I don’t care if you are black, white or brindle -- we are one nation.

“This country has been made up of families who have come here from the four corners of the earth -- Indigenous people, entrepreneurs, heroes from Don Bradman to Cathy Freeman.

“We have plenty to celebrate and people want to celebrate.

“We are selling a lot of Australia Day memorabilia and we always will. We celebrate Chinese New Year and observe that in stores with a line of products so if we can’t do it for Australia Day it’s just crazy.

“The average punter has had enough of it. We saw what happened with the voice. People don’t like being lectured to and they don’t like being divided. It is a day of unity.”

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/ignore-woke-and-dont-go-broke-businesses-backing-in-australia-day-see-customers-spending-big/news-story/90a673fd6066c3b6c1fb9c0ec38ed063

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f79739 (287) No.22428559>>22428572 >>22430571 >>22444496 >>22444509

File (hide): 907307970cb3500⋯.mp4 (15.89 MB,480x270,16:9,_One_had_to_stand_up_again….mp4) (h) (u) [play once] [loop]

>>22225665

>>22333635

>>22370306

Josh Frydenberg, Deborah Conway and Alex Ryvchin: Our Australians of the Year fight hatred for all of us

Josh Frydenberg, Deborah Conway and Alex Ryvchin are The Australian’s 2024 Australians of the Year for their brave campaign against anti-Semitism in the community.

JAMIE WALKER - 25 January 2025

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None of them thought they would ever have to fight this fight in Australia. Not in our lucky country, land of opportunity and easygoing mores, where old-world prejudices and enmities were to be left where they belonged: far, far away.

But the fallout of the October 7, 2023 strike on Israel destroyed that notion for this nation’s Jewish community. Outrage at the paroxysm of murder, rape and abduction unleashed by Hamas 15 months ago soon gave way to something else -- something hateful that Jews in Australia had never experienced.

A wave of anti-Semitic attacks on their homes, synagogues and schools. The doxxing of Jewish creatives, violating their privacy and personal security, exposing them to threats of the vilest kind.

The harassment of Jewish students and academics on campuses nationwide.

And at every turn, bewilderment in Australia’s deeply patriotic, 116,000-strong Jewish community that the country they loved seemed to have abandoned them. The hate-inspired attacks represent more than a threat to social cohesion, public safety and the rule of law. They also challenge the very essence of what it is to be Australian, warns Josh Frydenberg, this masthead’s joint 2024 Australian of the Year.

“For me, this is about much more than the Jewish community and their safety,” he said. “I believe this is Australia’s fight. We are defending Australian values.”

Together with singer-songwriter Deborah Conway and Jewish leader and author Alex Ryvchin, the former federal treasurer has been recognised for calling out the anti-Semitism that surged here after Israel hit back at Hamas and launched its bloody invasion of Gaza 15 months ago.

Congratulating them, editor-in-chief Michelle Gunn said: “The conflict in the Middle East has changed Australia in a way few of us ever thought possible, with the Jewish community targeted and made to feel unsafe in their own country.

“This surge in anti-Semitism is an assault on the values that our nation, and this newspaper, hold dear. It demanded a strong, unequivocal response. Alex, Deborah and Josh were among those who bravely took a stand.”

In calling out this scourge, our Australians of the Year also stood on the shoulders of others who refused to be cowed into silence. The Australian’s groundbreaking coverage of the attacks is studded with their names: Lachlan and Sarah Murdoch, former Business Council of Australia boss Jennifer Westacott, business leaders Steven and Frank Lowy, NSW Premier Chris Minns, Liberal MP Julian Leeser, Indigenous former senator and Olympic gold medallist Nova Peris, former editor of The Age Michael Gawenda.

Many but by no means all of those who spoke up are Jewish. This is fitting, given anti-Semitism is a stain on all Australians. Mr Ryvchin, who arrived here as a child refugee, said to be recognised alongside Mr Frydenberg and Ms Conway was “both a singular honour and a validation of our place in this country”.

He continued: “The fight against those who wish to rid the country of Jews, through firebombs and blacklists, will determine far more than the fate of our community. It will determine whether Australia will remain a free and great country, guided by rationalism and basic decency.”

The fight has come at considerable cost for all three recipients, however.

A home once owned by Mr Ryvchin in Sydney’s east was hit by arsonists on January 17. NSW police and the Australian Federal Police are investigating whether it was a targeted attack, linked to his high-profile role as co-chief executive officer of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, the nation’s peak Jewish organisation.

Ms Conway has lost friends and had shows disrupted or cancelled by pro-Palestinian protesters. Promoters and event organisers have had to shoulder the financial burden of providing beefed-up private security when she performs with husband Willy Zygier, her longtime musical collaborator.

“We’ve tolerated some of the most awful, bullying behaviour -- and not just online … because that’s easy to shrug off,” she said. “We’re just two musicians who have taken a position that we’re also Jews, we’re Zionists, and we support Israel’s right as a democratic country to defend itself.

“For that we have been utterly vilified by a small but very vocal minority of the population. And I have been really shocked by how people have brushed it aside.”

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22428572>>22428598

>>22428559

2/3

Mr Frydenberg, a man seen as a future Liberal prime minister until voters in his formerly blue-ribbon Melbourne seat turned teal at the 2022 federal election, has received “serious” threats of physical harm, which have been referred to the AFP. He wouldn’t be drawn on the details.

But the 53-year-old father of two takes comfort from the belief the tide has reversed against those who fanned the hatred. “Deb, I do think there is a silent majority out there,” he said, after dropping in to Ms Conway’s book-filled home in inner Melbourne to congratulate her.

“There are a lot of great people across the country who are appalled by this wave of anti-Semitic attacks and are now finding their voice.”

“I do too,” she said.

Mr Ryvchin, 41, dialled in from wintry Poland, where he has made a poignant pilgrimage to the site of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp for the 80th anniversary of its liberation in the closing months of World War II. More than a million Jews and other prisoners were murdered there by the Nazis, a defining tenet of the Holocaust that claimed another five million Jewish lives.

“It kind of brings home how relevant all of this is,” he said ahead of Sunday’s commemoration. “When I look at the Holocaust and the millions of stories of torture and abuse, trauma, humiliation and death that were brought upon completely innocent people, obviously nothing that is happening in Australia today can be compared to that.

“But … you know, there is still a common pathology. There’s this kind of sadistic relish to inflict suffering, whether it’s through arson or by the people who were involved in the doxxing of Jewish creatives, they just seemed to take this great pleasure from what they were doing.

“And it kind of reminds me of the sadistic joy that a lot of the Nazis and their collaborators took in their work. Good people might abhor what’s going on, they might be rattled or don’t feel they have a voice or the confidence to speak out, but their silence enables evil.”

Throwing himself into the campaign, Mr Frydenberg worked his contacts on both sides of the political aisle to put together a powerful documentary for Sky News Australia, Never Again: The Fight Against Anti-Semitism. Anthony Albanese, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and former prime ministers Julia Gillard and John Howard appeared in the program, helping elevate the issue.

“We must reclaim what has been lost,” Mr Frydenberg explained. “We have such a proud record as a multicultural, tolerant nation, but our social cohesion has been undermined by the events of the last 15 months, with anti-Semitism normalised. This is totally unacceptable in this day and age.”

Having attracted more than 500 reader nominations, one of the keenest responses in the 53-year history of our Australian of the Year award, Ms Conway called it vindication of their combined advocacy. As an edgy young woman, she burst on the scene in the 1980s fronting arthouse band Do-Re-Mi, belting out songs laced with references to pubic hair and penis envy; at age 65, the mother of three is still telling it like it is to anyone who will listen.

“I can’t believe it picked up that much momentum,” she said of the anti-Semitism campaign.

“It’s a powerful endorsement of the idea that people are not interested in bringing a foreign war, and all of the trouble and grief of a foreign war, to Australian shores.

“I really believe that’s, in essence, what we’re talking about here. Because it’s one thing to have strong opinions, but it’s another thing to vilify individuals, to start attacking institutions, to graffiti and firebomb and try to destroy people’s livelihoods and all of the other stuff that we have seen going on in the past 15 months, which has been so incredibly disturbing.

“I just couldn’t stand by and watch it happen. I couldn’t.”

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22428598

File (hide): 682b365b11ab06e⋯.mp4 (10.13 MB,360x640,9:16,Threats_abuse_as_Deborah_C….mp4) (h) (u) [play once] [loop]

>>22428572

3/3

Let’s rewind, then, back to that black Shabbat Saturday of October 7, 2023. Like so many of us, our joint Australians of the Year watched the television coverage in horror and disbelief as the Hamas gunmen poured into southern Israel from Gaza, saturating social media with footage of the atrocities. More than 1200 Israelis were killed, two-thirds of them civilians, and thousands injured before the surviving militants retreated with 251 hostages. “There was just this horrible feeling of the community being utterly helpless,” Mr Ryvchin recalled.

The shock was compounded when, barely two days later, hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators descended on the Sydney Opera House, lit blue and white in solidarity with Israel, to denounce the Jewish state. Mr Frydenberg couldn’t believe that police stood by while people in the heaving crowd lit celebratory flares and chanted “f..k the Jews”.

Ms Conway felt like the bottom had dropped out of her world. “I was just reeling … wondering, what kind of country have we turned into? Is our moral compass so broken that the only person arrested on the steps of the Opera House was the one carrying an Israeli flag. I mean, how do you account for that?”

Worse was to come.

The ECAJ logged more than 1800 anti-Semitic incidents over the next 11 months as the war in Gaza ground on, a staggering 324 per cent increase on the same period the year before. And those were only the reported cases; the true figure is unquestionably higher. The attacks on Jewish places of worship sank to a grim new low with the firebombing of the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne’s southeast in the dead of night last December 6, injuring one person and gutting the structure. Prime Minister Albanese, under pressure to crack down on the lawlessness, conceded it was an act of terrorism.

On January 11, the Newtown synagogue in Sydney’s inner west was vandalised with Nazi symbols during an alleged arson attempt. Two men have since been arrested.

The miscreants who went after Mr Ryvchin’s former house in Dover Heights torched two cars, damaged two others, and splashed its white facade with red paint. This week, a daycare centre near a Jewish school and synagogue in beachside Maroubra was set alight, causing extensive damage. Thankfully, no one was hurt.

Did it make Mr Ryvchin rethink what he was doing? After all, he and wife Vicki have three girls at home. “No,” he said emphatically. “I’m not going to live in fear. It’s not who I am as a person and it’s not what I believe this country to be.”

What about Ms Conway? “If I’d known what was going to happen before I opened my big mouth I would have done it anyway,” she laughed.

Mr Frydenberg said the threats he had received would not silence him. Quite the contrary. “It steeled my resolve and is a reminder to us all why it is so important that we all use our voice,” he insisted.

“We need to take the message to the country that what is happening cannot be tolerated. We are better than this.

“We need stronger leadership from our political representatives but also from our civil institutions and law enforcement. With this wave of anti-Semitic attacks, our laws are being broken on a daily basis without sanction. There needs to be serious consequences for people who carry out these attacks.”

Watch this space. Mr Frydenberg has a new project in the works that could make an even bigger difference.

“Our work here is not done,” he said.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/josh-frydenberg-deborah-conway-and-alex-ryvchin-our-australians-of-the-year-fight-hatred-for-all-of-us/news-story/ab13f78d677500acb8296392d4b0f3d9

Threats, abuse, as Deborah Conway targeted by pro-Palestine protest at gig - May 28, 2024

https://archive.vn/dXRAE#20926898

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f79739 (287) No.22430394>>22430407

File (hide): 0bbde436c767ecb⋯.jpg (918.17 KB,2048x2731,2048:2731,Israel_s_Deputy_Foreign_Mi….jpg) (h) (u)

File (hide): ff27c020665211f⋯.jpg (129.89 KB,2047x1152,2047:1152,Foreign_Minister_Penny_Won….jpg) (h) (u)

>>22387524

>>22408749

Australia playing into Iran’s hands on Palestine, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister says

RHIANNON DOWN - 24 January 2025

Israel has accused Labor of playing into the hands of Iran and called on it to back the only democracy in the Middle East, as Anthony Albanese defends sending Foreign Minister and critic of Israeli foreign policy Penny Wong to the year’s most important Holocaust memorial.

Benjamin Netanyahu’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel has criticised Labor for failing to support a democracy and tackle anti-Semitism.

Ms Haskel on Saturday called on Australia as one of the “world’s great democracies and multicultural nations” to back the Jewish state as it battles forces that represent the “antithesis of Australian values”.

“Israel is fighting for its survival against the murderous proxies of Iran who embody the very antithesis of Australian values -- it’s high time the Australian government recognised this fact and acted accordingly and supported the one true democracy in the Middle East, Israel,” Ms Haskel writes in The Weekend Australian.

Her call came as Mr Albanese fended off criticism over sending Senator Wong as Australia’s representative to the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp, alongside Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, arguing that she understood racism and believed in the “dignity of every human being”.

Peter Dutton on Friday said Senator Wong should not go to Poland after her policy moves on Israel, and a petition arguing that Senator Wong was not the “right person to represent us” at the event had attracted almost 13,000 signatures late on Friday.

“She has stood up against anti-Semitism at each and every opportunity and will always continue to do so,” Mr Albanese told the National Press Club on Friday.

“She’s someone for whom a core belief in the dignity of every human being is just a part of her character, as much as any person I have met in my entire life.”

But Ms Haskel has criticised Labor’s record of responding to a spate of anti-Semitic arson and graffiti attacks on a childcare centre, synagogues and private homes across Australia, saying she expects the government to “find its voice in stamping out the scourge of anti-Semitism domestically”.

“I note however that the Australia Prime Minister and other Australian ministers are refusing to accept any responsibility for the shocking recent surge in anti-Semitic terror in Australia,” she writes. “There is no doubt the rise in anti-Semitism in Australia has been caused in part by the Australian government’s ongoing campaign against Israel.”

Ms Haskel cited Australia’s support for anti-Israel motions at the UN that were a “reward for Hamas’s terrorism”, refusal to grant a visa to Israeli former minister Ayelet Shaked, and calls for a ceasefire that were not a “precondition of a return of all Jewish hostages first”.

She also said she had expressed her “disappointment with the shift in the Australian government’s attitude towards Israel” to Mr Dreyfus on his recent visit.

As the Middle East conflict continues to strain social cohesion in Australia, former Defence Department Deputy Secretary for Strategy Peter Jennings said Australia should place more emphasis on supporting other democracies in its foreign policy.

“Australian foreign policy on Israel under Penny Wong is being driven by a very ideological view about the position of the Palestinians, and it’s not really connected in any sort of empirical way with what’s happening in the Middle East, what’s happening in Gaza, Iran’s support for Hamas and other terror groups,” he said.

Strategic Analysis Australia director Michael Shoebridge said the Albanese government’s Israel policy has been “overtaken by events”, arguing that changes in the security environment in the Middle East meant there was now the possibility of positive change.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/australia-playing-into-irans-hands-on-palestine-israeli-deputy-foreign-minister-says/news-story/d5af7128230c7c59ea66ac660f007cb7

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f79739 (287) No.22430407>>22430415

>>22387524

>>22408749

>>22430394

ALP’s woeful actions are encouraging anti-Semitic attacks

SHARREN HASKEL - 24 January 2025

1/2

A synagogue in Melbourne has been firebombed, there has been an attempted arson attack at another synagogue in Sydney. Jewish Australians have been attacked in the streets, and now cars, houses and a childcare centre have been vandalised, firebombed or destroyed.

Enough is enough.

Since October 7, 2023, the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, Jew-hate has exploded in Australia.

Anti-Semitic incidents have risen in Australia by 738 per cent since October 7. This is a disgrace.

The Australian Jewish community is rightly scared and as Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister I am duty bound to call out these terror attacks aimed at fellow Jews.

It’s extraordinary that in 2025 there have been 13 major anti-Semitic attacks in NSW alone in January, including the firebombing of a childcare centre at Maroubra. This attack happened just around the corner from where I used to live.

I welcome the announcements of arrests by NSW Premier Chris Minns for those alleged to have committed recent anti-Semitic attacks in Sydney. I note, however, that the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, and other Australian ministers are refusing to accept any responsibility for the shocking recent surge in anti-Semitic terror in Australia. There is no doubt the rise in anti-Semitism in Australia has been caused in part by the Australian government’s ongoing campaign against Israel.

From the moment an anti-Semitic, pro-Hamas mob chanted outside the Sydney Opera House on October 9, 2023, “Gas the Jews”, “F*ck the Jews” and “Where’s the Jews?” -- with no criminal consequences – anti-Semitism has grown out of control in Australia. As former senior Australian Federal Police officer David Craig said this week: “For a start, we should have drawn a line in the sand of that disgusting protest of our national icon, the Opera House, by Palestinian people chanting racist hate speech right there on our icon.”

Have any of these people been arrested for the anti-Semitic hate speech and intimidation towards Jews from the shocking scenes in front of the Opera House? No.

I spent almost seven wonderful years of my life living in Australia.

I moved to Australia in 2007 after serving in the Israel Defence Forces during the Second Intifada. I worked as a veterinary nurse in Bondi and made my home at Maroubra. I found Maroubra to be a beautiful and peaceful neighbourhood with a Jewish school, a French school and a Greek school where people from many communities travel from far away to educate their children.

Sydney is truly one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Like so many immigrants to your country, I found Australia overwhelmingly welcoming, open, tolerant and free.

What has happened to the loving, welcoming Australia that made me so happy all those years ago?

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22430415

File (hide): d93ffc7a1523018⋯.jpg (228.28 KB,2047x1152,2047:1152,Pro_Palestinian_protesters….jpg) (h) (u)

>>22430407

2/2

Last week I met with Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus in Jerusalem. I expressed to Mark my disappointment with the shift in the Australian government’s attitude towards Israel.

I emphasised the state of Israel’s deep concern regarding the shocking rise in anti-Semitism and the obviously ineffectual response from all levels of government.

The Australian government is now constantly supporting anti-Israel motions at the UN; a reward for Hamas’s terrorism.

The Australian government recently refused a visa for Ayelet Shaked, Israel’s former justice minister, as well as refusing a visa for an Israeli member of parliament and civilians, too.

The Australian government has constantly called for a ceasefire without the precondition of a return of all Jewish hostages first.

Australian ministers are happy to visit Israel but won’t say if the Prime Minister of Israel would be arrested under the baseless, ridiculous and overtly political International Criminal Court warrant if he set foot on Australian soil.

How is it that in the state of Victoria those responsible for a firebombing terror attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne haven’t been brought to justice? Late last month people dressed in black staged a protest on the steps of the Victorian parliament with a banner declaring “Jews hate freedom”. What on earth were the police doing?

Jewish students don’t feel safe on university campuses around Australia any more, and a Jewish academic had his office invaded.

“From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” isn’t just a chant, it’s calling for the destruction of the state of Israel and the slaughter of Jews. Why can’t university officials understand this and stop the hate directed towards Jewish students?

There have been several other shocking incidents where Jewish Australians have been pelted with rocks, shoes and eggs. Some have been spat at, one had a can of drink thrown at him, and many have been abused in the street.

Years ago, Australia was one of the first nations to vote to support the state of Israel at the UN. We hope we can rely on Australia’s support again soon.

Australia is one of the world’s great democracies and multicultural nations. I expect the Australian government to find its voice in stamping out the scourge of anti-Semitism domestically, and to support democracies wherever they are threatened, like Israel.

Israel is fighting for its survival against the murderous proxies of Iran that embody the antithesis of Australian values.

It’s high time the Australian government recognised this fact and acted accordingly and supported the one true democracy in the Middle East -- Israel.

Sharren Haskel is the Deputy Foreign Minister of Israel.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/alps-woeful-actions-are-encouraging-attacks/news-story/c5a4a7ff90046269b46aa97276a4bdf6

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f79739 (287) No.22430571>>22430583 >>22444477 >>22444496 >>22444509 >>22450985 >>22451006

>>22225665

>>22387524

>>22428559

Peter Dutton says Penny Wong should not represent Australia at the Auschwitz commemoration

The Opposition Leader has taken aim at the decision for Foreign Minister Penny Wong to lead Australia’s delegation to the commemoration of Auschwitz.

Nathan Schmidt - January 24, 2025

1/2

Peter Dutton says Penny Wong is “the most inappropriate person” to be representing Australia at the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz because she has “trashed” the relationship with Israel.

The Foreign Minister and Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus will attend the commemorations in Poland next week.

“Penny Wong has real issues in relation to this issue. The relationship with Israel has been trashed,” Mr Dutton told reporters in Adelaide.

“Penny Wong can’t go to Israel and Mark Dreyfus was there under sufferance and frankly was shown some courtesy but I suspect having been to Israel recently myself, I don’t think he would have been receiving the warmest of welcomes.”

Mr Dutton said the rise of anti-Semitism in Australia since the Hamas attack against Israel.

“I think she is the most inappropriate person to go and represent our country,” Mr Dutton said.

“I think the Prime Minister should show leadership and say that he recognises the sensitivities and the concerns.

“This is a very significant occasion and the sensitivities are still very real.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defended Senator Wong against Mr Dutton’s attack while appearing at the National Press Club in Canberra.

“Foreign Minister Penny Wong is someone who understands racism and discrimination,” the Prime Minister said.

“Anyone who knows Penny Wong and her life story understands that.”

Mr Albanese said it was “appropriate” that the Foreign Minister attend the event alongside Mr Dreyfus and Australia’s anti-Semitism envoy, Jillian Segal AO.

“They will be Australia’s representatives for the 80th anniversary,” of the liberation of Auschwitz, Mr Albanese said.

He also rebuffed earlier criticism that Labor’s Senate President Sue Lines, a previous critic of Israel, was going to attend.

"For the 75th anniversary, the President of the Senate was the person who went and represented Australia. That was the choice of the former government," Mr Albanese said.

Senator Lines was quietly dropped from the delegation in December.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22430583

>>22430571

2/2

The Auschwitz commemoration will mark the 80th of the liberation of the Nazi concentration and extermination camp that was the site of some of the most horrific scenes of the Holocaust.

More than 1.1 million people were murdered, many in gas chambers. Of the prisoners who died at the camp, which included prisoners of war and political prisoners, about one million were Jews.

Earlier this week, Senator Wong said she was “very honoured” too attend, saying it was important to “never forget” the events of the Holocaust.

“It is a reminder what occurred during WWII, the hatred, prejudice, dehumanisation and the murder of over a million people and a million Jews was something that humanity should never forget because it tells us something about where hatred leads.”

In response to Mr Dutton’s comments on Friday, a spokesperson for Senator Wong said “commemorating the liberation of Auschwitz reminds the world of the horrors of the Holocaust and the long history of Jewish persecution”.

“It comes in the context of the rise of anti-Semitism in Australia and around the world,” the spokesperson said.

“Senator Wong believes it is important that all people, of all backgrounds and perspectives, join in marking this anniversary -- to reject antisemitism in all its forms and maintain the determination that the atrocities of the Holocaust are never repeated.

“Throughout her life, Senator Wong has been an advocate for acceptance, tolerance and respect for all people, regardless of race, religion, gender or sexuality.

“That will never change.”

Mr Dutton’s criticism comes amid what the Opposition has described as a worsening in relations between Australia and Israel since the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas.

Israeli Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Sharren Haskel this week accused the Albanese government of fuelling alleged anti-Semitic violence.

“The attitude of the current government towards Israel is inflaming a lot of these emotions and giving … some acceptance when you do not fight it,” she told the ABC.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke rejected Ms Haskel’s criticism, stating that the government was it was “simply not right” to say the “government is somehow waiting”.

AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw revealed this week officers were investigating “whether some individuals have been paid to carry out some anti-Semitic acts in Australia”.

“We believe criminals for hire may be behind some incidents,” he said.

“So part of our inquiries include: who is paying those criminals, where those people are -- whether they are in Australia or offshore – and what their motivation is.

State police are at the same time grappling with an increase in alleged anti-Semitic attacks, including an alleged attack on a synagogue in Newtown in Sydney.

Two people have since been charged over the alleged incident, with NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb allocating 20 additional officers this week to strike force pearl.

The specialist command was set up to investigate and prosecute alleged anti-Semitic attacks and has so far resulted in the arrests of eight men and a single woman.

https://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/peter-dutton-says-penny-wong-should-not-represent-at-the-auschwitz-commemoration/news-story/fa2993179c8489a63f2c873462bfd651

https://www.auschwitz.org/en/home-page-80/

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f79739 (287) No.22430614>>22430624

File (hide): 98fe91ba022561f⋯.mp4 (4.67 MB,1024x768,4:3,The_creation_of_a_nation_a….mp4) (h) (u) [play once] [loop]

>>22345254

>>22416688

>>22428194

Australia wasn’t utopia before British arrival, but it has gone close since

GEOFFREY BLAINEY - 25 January 2025

1/3

We should celebrate Australia Day. By various definitions this has been one of the most successful nations in the world. During the past two centuries our nation has had far more successes than failures, though the failures can’t be overlooked: they offer lessons.

Most Australians have pride in the nation, present and past. Today, in contrast, the most vocal opponents of Australia Day offer a gloomy version of our history and many even believe Aboriginal people were, in a variety of ways, better off before 1788 than they are today. Especially in Victoria, they are officially rewriting history and adding a strong racial emphasis. A view is widespread -- even though still a minority view – that Australia will lack legitimacy until it makes continuing reparations to Aboriginal people for the land and way of life taken away from them.

It is also argued that our nation will be redeemed only if Aboriginal people are permanently and undemocratically given more political power than other Australians. The nation has recorded a strong No to that argument in the 2023 voice referendum.

Many who dislike or resent Australia Day glamorise Australia’s first people. They see the hunter’s and gatherer’s life as a utopia: they think war was a rarity, that the male elders were praiseworthy without exception, that the old people belonged to a caring society and that most tribes or mini-nations continuously held their own land for 50,000 or more unbroken years. It is fair to suggest that these are all dubious claims.

Ancient Australia had its strong merits as well as its myths. We have to admire facets of its way of life. So long as the population was relatively low and droughts were short-lived, then the people’s supply of food was plentiful. They also inherited or developed a religion that intrigued scholars, who grappled with its mysteries. Its early inhabitants must have carried out marvellous feats, for they gradually explored the whole continent when it was much larger. The huge continent then embraced -- before the mighty rising of the seas – what is now the main island of Papua New Guinea and its snow-capped alps as well as the present continent of Australia.

People in what is now PNG, compared with the people in what is now Australia, remained in touch with the outside world. One of their triumphs is little known. About 7000 years ago, in high and fertile terrain, they domesticated sugar cane and an early form of the banana. The outside world was ultimately the gainer, and still is.

Unfortunately, even in some official circles, a layer of make-believe now masks our early history. Australia is mischievously claimed to have been, 80,000 years ago, the world’s first democracy and a haven of peace. Incredibly a vast desert in the interior is now proclaimed to have been, in the long Aboriginal epoch, a fertile and rich agricultural province. These and other theories -- now fed to schools by the author of the Dark Emu books – were publicly endorsed in parliament by his friend and admirer Anthony Albanese.

In essence, the invasion by the British was claimed to have destroyed a paradise and compensation must be paid. It is believed, however, by some observers that the Prime Minister would gain prestige if he withdrew his endorsement of this make-believe history of his land. Universities also would gain if they questioned, for the first time, some of the myths embedded in the eloquent Uluru Statement from the Heart.

Australia is usually condemned for its White Australia Policy, in force even before 1901. The policy was sometimes expressed in extreme language that is now embarrassing. Perspective, however, is missing. Today, China and many Asian nations, as is their right, simply refuse to admit foreigners and grant them citizenship.

Likewise in the years when Australians are depicted as racist, tens of thousands gave money to other nations in distress. They helped victims of the Irish famine in the 1840s, Lancashire mill workers impoverished by the American civil war in 1861, and victims of two Indian and two Chinese famines in the period from 1876 to 1901. For one disaster in which millions of Indians died, donations came from sources such as a Carlton-Melbourne football match crowd. Cash and food even came from several prisoners in Pentridge jail.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22430624>>22430628

>>22430614

2/3

Other episodes of generosity were displayed by hundreds of thousands of Australians who in churches and Sunday schools gave staggering sums to build churches, schools and hospitals in New Guinea, New Britain, New Ireland, Fiji, Tonga, the Solomons, Vanuatu, New Zealand, Nauru and, sometimes, China and coastal India.

Many Australian missionaries, male and female, also made personal sacrifices to spread, after early failures, their message to remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander townships. There, according to recent censuses, can be found a higher percentage of Christians than inhabit a typical suburb in our capital cities. And yet we forget that the more typical Aboriginal households now live in cities and big towns where so many own or are paying off their own homes.

In addition, Australia Day should deliver a powerful secular or economic message. The outside world gained enormously when the long isolation of this land and its Aboriginal people came to an end. Australian sheep of a superior breed eventually were yielding the wool that in most years helped sustain the million Europeans enduring a very cold winter. Similarly, a host of people in poor countries gained the chance to be born and remain alive, such were the fleets of grain ships arriving from Australia. In a favourable year, Australia now grows enough for its own 27 million people and enough for how many times that number inhabiting foreign lands?

It was only two years ago that China, suffering from drought in its drier north, was receiving more wheat and other grains from Australia than from any other nation. Most school students apparently are not taught that Australian foods, minerals, building materials, energy and other products are annually provided in vast quantities to the outside world. In contrast, for thousands of years ancient Australia provided virtually nothing.

There is another reason for celebrating a national day. Tributes can be paid to those who placed the life of their friends and neighbours above their own. While Anzac Day on April 25 honours heroes in past wars, it does not honour a large -- even a remarkable – number of Australians who show bravery in time of peace.

In reports of the sensational bushfires in Los Angeles, one item seems to be missing -- the brave actions of numerous volunteers who tried to fight the fires. Across the past 200 years a host of Australian volunteers, participating in acts of courage, died or suffered serious injuries while fighting bushfires.

Australia Day can pay tribute to folk heroes. The worst civilian disaster in our history happened in August 1845 when a sailing ship from Liverpool crashed on to a reef off King Island, at the entrance to Bass Strait. More than 400 immigrants, including mothers and newborn babies, were drowned after the Cataraqui crashed on to the reef, the torn sails flapping on a mast. As only one passenger and eight sailors survived, no female voice was left to recall the acts of courage that must have taken place.

We can’t overlook the lads who, at Gundagai in June 1852, rescued people from the surging Murrumbidgee River. Survivors clung to trees, some for a day and longer, and at least 80 people were drowned in this, the deadliest flood so far in our history. In a bark canoe and a rowing boat, two of the local Aboriginal people rescued 69 of their fellow Australians.

Many individualists -- generous in spirit – spent their working life in easing hardships of others. Caroline Chisholm, an ardent Catholic, helped thousands of female immigrants in the period from 1838 to 1866. Another of her projects was to erect roadside shelters in which heavily laden people walking to the goldfields in the 1850s could spend the night.

Australia is one of the oldest continuing democracies. That is worth remembering. Admittedly, ancient Athens was a path-finding democracy, but few of its people had the right to participate in vital state decisions and even then they had to be present in person at the place of debate. Naturally, its slaves had no say. In modern history the US was a wonder, emerging as a brave new democracy before the First Fleet reached Sydney. Yet later it still possessed a minority of slave states when most Australian colonies were displaying democratic innovations.

In 1856 South Australia and Victoria were the first places in the world to use the secret ballot on election day. When seven years later Abraham Lincoln, on the battlefield at Gettysburg, made his eloquent affirmation that democracy was “government of the people, by the people, for the people”, he must have known a favourable version of government was already in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. Slavery in the US was not abolished until two years after Lincoln’s oration.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22430628

File (hide): 7d8a89989e2f3f2⋯.jpg (512.18 KB,1946x1459,1946:1459,GEOFFREY_BLAINEY_Australia….jpg) (h) (u)

>>22430624

3/3

Aboriginal people took part in these electoral reforms. Alas, they were deprived initially of certain elementary rights and freedoms, and it is still a grievance, understandably. In the three most populous Australian colonies, however, many Aboriginal men had the right to vote when few white men had that right in Britain.

There is yet another surprise. Most Aboriginal women living in the main districts of what is now South Australia exercised the right to vote in 1896. That was before any women, black or white, had that right in New York, Chicago or London.

The new Commonwealth of Australia, formed in 1901, soon led the world in granting certain political rights to women. Though New Zealand is rightly acclaimed as the first country to grant women the vote, Australia went a step further in the federal election of 1903. It became the first country to grant women the rights to vote and to stand for parliament.

In the world today, democracies are in a minority. The typical member nation of the UN is not a real democracy and shows no signs of becoming one. The Economist Intelligence Unit compiles a democracy index that lists 167 nations and assigns to each a definite place on a ladder of democracies. Only 8 per cent of the world’s population live in true democracies and Australians share that privilege. The public is not aware of that legitimate source of pride.

Melbourne is abandoning its street march this Australia Day. Here is a city, the nation’s first federal capital, spectacularly ignorant of its own history.

Do politicians know how important Australia is in the history of democracy? Our welcome to country was perhaps a useful experiment but can be challenged. Those authoritarian personages, the Indigenous elders who presided during tens of thousands of years, are paraded before us as being virtually free from faults. A ceremony so undemocratic should be rewritten or abandoned.

This could be the first Australia Day since 1917 -- the wartime year of the tense conscription debate – when religion is an explosive topic. In recent months, more attacks – by graffiti or explosives or incendiary devices – have been made on Australia’s synagogues and other Jewish possessions than in any previous year. Yet in proportion to population, the Jews have contributed to Australian scholarship, politics, the law and big business more than has any other ethnic group or religion.

Within certain circles a contempt for Jews probably far exceeds the peaks of Catholic-Protestant hostilities during any one decade in the period 1840 to 1970. The burning or bombing of churches -- so far as I know – was not an episode in that rivalry.

One lesson of our history, to be remembered on Australia Day, is that social cohesion should normally be prized.

Professor Walter Murdoch was a West Australian who in old age offered us many words of wisdom. On March 7, 1964, he wrote in the afternoon Melbourne Herald: “Quickly the night wind sweeps us away, and the traces of us. We serve the purposes of the day, and if we have served that purpose faithfully, we must be content to be forgotten tomorrow.”

Clearly he understood that a nation should remember those -- the low and the high – who learned from its failures as well as those who brought it success. The creation of a nation and its generations of worthwhile people should not be forgotten. That is another major reason in favour of celebrating Australia Day.

Geoffrey Blainey has written 40 books including A Short History of the World and The Story of Australia’s People.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/inquirer/australia-wasnt-utopia-before-british-arrival-but-it-has-gone-close-since/news-story/af5894f6b67012d2bc4b328ab759b3c9

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f79739 (287) No.22431685>>22431695 >>22482221

>>22339443

Coalition frontbench reshuffle unveiled ahead of election

NOAH YIM - 25 January 2025

Peter Dutton has unveiled his new-look frontbench in the lead up to the federal election, elevating opposition communications spokesman David Coleman to the foreign affairs portfolio and expanding the role of Indigenous Australians spokeswoman Jacinta Nampijinpa Price to take on ‘government efficiency’.

Speculation about a Coalition reshuffle began in December but the Opposition Leader waited until the Australia Day long weekend to announce the changes.

Mr Coleman’s promotion comes as something of a surprise given figures such as deputy leader Sussan Ley, former frontbencher Julian Leeser, and immigration spokesman Dan Tehan had been rumoured to be in consideration for the foreign affairs role.

The move also saw two strong performers from the conservative faction of the party -- home affairs spokesman James Paterson and housing spokesman Michael Sukkar – enter the Coalition leadership group.

The reshuffle sees three new figures enter the shadow ministry, two more into the outer shadow ministry, and a raft of new portfolios.

Melissa McIntosh has been promoted to the shadow cabinet and will take on the communications portfolio. She will keep her western Sydney portfolio, which has been elevated to a shadow ministry position “which highlights the importance of this region to the economic wellbeing of our nation”, Mr Dutton said.

Senator Price will take on a new role as opposition “government efficiency” spokeswoman -- evoking Elon Musk’s role leading the government efficiency commission under the US Trump administration – in addition to her current role.

“With Australians sick of the wasteful spending that is out of control under the Albanese government -- be it the 36,000 additional Canberra public servants employed under this government, or the flagrant waste of $450 million on the divisive voice referendum – in this new role, Jacinta will be looking closely at how we can achieve a more efficient use of taxpayers’ money, where possible, at a time when a major cause of homegrown inflation is rapid and unrestrained government spending,” Mr Dutton said.

“Jacinta’s outstanding contribution to the Coalition message will stand her in good stead for this new position.”

Tasmanian senator Claire Chandler has been elevated to shadow cabinet as opposition government services, digital economy spokeswoman as well as the science and arts portfolios.

Assistant infrastructure and transport spokesman Tony Pasin has been elevated to the shadow ministry as spokesman for roads and safety.

The Coalition reshuffle comes just a week after the Albanese government also unveiled its new frontbench, as both sides of the political aisle gear up for the election.

Julian Leeser -- who quit from his role as opposition legal affairs spokesman and Indigenous affairs spokesman because of his support for the voice to parliament referendum – will get into the outer shadow ministry as assistant foreign affairs spokesman.

Matt O’Sullivan has also been elevated from the backbench to be assistant education spokesman.

Opposition child protection and prevention of family violence spokeswoman Kerrynne Liddle will also take on the Indigenous health services portfolio.

Opposition energy spokesman Ted O’Brien will also take on a role as opposition energy affordability and reliability spokesman.

Michael Sukkar will replace outgoing MP Paul Fletcher as manager of opposition business in the House of Representatives.

This puts Mr Sukkar into the Coalition Leadership Group. Opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson will also join the group.

“(Senator Paterson’s) outstanding portfolio work, and his leadership and influence in delivering the Coalition’s message will be critical as we head to the next election,” Mr Dutton said.

Outgoing foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham said opposition workplace relations spokeswoman Michaelia Cash would become the Senate leader and opposition health spokeswoman Anne Ruston would be the deputy leader.

In a statement announcing the changes, Mr Dutton blasted Anthony Albanese’s National Press Club address on Friday, saying it showed he was “failing all the tests of leadership that Australians expect of their Prime Minister”.

“All of his priorities are wrong.

“The Coalition, on the other hand, will continue to deliver the positive plans and policies for the future of our great country.

“A Dutton Coalition government will get our country back on track, and the appointments I announce today further strengthen our Coalition team as we approach the forthcoming election.”

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/coalition-frontbench-reshuffle-unveiled-ahead-of-election/news-story/1abf394b51d80b626db172f4b62f82fe

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f79739 (287) No.22431695>>22431699

>>22345254

>>22428194

>>22431685

COMMENTARY: A nation united under one flag is worth celebrating

JACINTA NAMPIJINPA PRICE - 25 January 2025

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While Australia Day comes around every year with its debates about meaning and whether we can utter its name or not, this year feels different.

Last year, the divisive voice referendum and abhorrent attack in Israel on October 7, 2023 were events still fresh in our minds.

But this Australia Day, we have the lived experience of almost 15 months since those events. That passage of time has shown us many things, one of them being how rapidly we are capable of devolving into entrenched separatism.

Those 15 months are cause for careful reflection this Australia Day.

They demand a serious response from each of us as to what kind of nation we want to be. Because if we’re not content with the ever-deepening schisms that are emerging, we will have to be incredibly intentional about their reversal. One thing that doesn’t help that cause is changing the date of Australia Day.

Changing the date may engender temporary feelings of victory for a small group of people, but again, it fosters a national mindset of tribalism -- one group against another. Quite frankly the past 15 months have given us enough of that, its time in our backyard is up.

But further, changing the date simply will not improve the lives of our most marginalised. Not once have I heard a plausible explanation about how it would improve the 20 per cent of the 3 per cent of Indigenous Australians who experience the most disadvantage and vulnerability in this country.

Encouraging tribalism and doing nothing to better our marginalised? Not a cause I will get behind, especially not on a day that should remind us of who we are, and the unity that has been such a significant part of our history.

Our mateship and loyalty to each other is woven into our historical identity. Australians of all ancestry, including Indigenous Australians, fought proudly under one flag to defend and maintain our nation.

Personally, that’s a country I want to see once more.

I want a country that is ready, willing and able to defend itself in the event, God forbid, that we are invaded or attacked by a foreign power.

A country that doesn’t see standing under one flag as a threat to the core of who we are; a country that advocates for and celebrates all its citizens regardless of their racial heritage.

And I make the point about foreign invasion because that eventuality would require unity more than any other. But it would be foolish to think that we would somehow be able to rally as a united collective in defence of our country simply because danger arrives at our door.

It will be too late then. The work of unity happens now.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22431699

>>22431695

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I used to think that being a united nation like that was something most of us could agree was a noble pursuit. But with the hindsight of the past 15 months, I’m no longer so sure.

The past 15 months have shown that many people are now being guided by emotion above everything else.

In deference to emotions of bitterness and resentment, I fear some would actually prefer to see our nation’s destruction than to be counted equally, shoulder to shoulder with every other citizen.

Perhaps I am wrong about that; I hope I am.

But in the event I am not, I implore us all this Australia Day to act according to something higher than pure emotion. The privilege of belonging to a collective sometimes demands us to put aside the dictates of emotion in favour of the greater good.

I’m not saying we must neglect our emotions, simply that they don’t always point true north and that, ultimately, we must be guided by that which does.

Our success as a prosperous Western democracy is one of those true guiding realities.

For our small contribution to the global population, our success and contributions are remarkable. Let our nation’s success until now, guide us forward before our emotion and reactions take over.

Remember those who united under one flag and fought for the nation we are so privileged to live in today; reflect on the contributions both historical and current of Australians to the world; and practise gratitude -- for all those things and more, like our magnificent natural backyard, our way of life and liberal democratic values.

Because restoring our national pride and rebuilding our unity depends on each of us. What we do, say and think as individuals matters to the cause. Not just for you or just for me, but for the good of our neighbours and of our friends, for the good of Australia and the world, to its ends.

Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price is opposition Indigenous affairs spokeswoman.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/a-nation-united-under-one-flag-is-worth-celebrating/news-story/cd5483dc48f1bef10b361c0057962823

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f79739 (287) No.22431744>>22431751

>>22345254

>>22427841

>>22427961

Monument to ‘Melbourne founder’ toppled, Anzac memorial defaced on eve of Australia Day

Cassandra Morgan and Hannah Hammoud - January 25, 2025

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A monument memorialising Melbourne’s controversial founder, John Batman, has been toppled, an Anzac memorial covered in blood-red paint and a citizenship ceremony stage vandalised on the eve of January 26.

Vandals targeted the bluestone Batman monument, next to the Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne’s CBD, ahead of Australia Day on Sunday.

Police were called to reports it had been damaged about 2.20am on Saturday.

The monument was severed in half, its top spilling out onto concrete and dirt beside it.

North of the market, locals woke on Saturday morning to find the Parkville War Memorial on Royal Parade covered in red paint, with the words “land back” and “the colony will fall” written on it.

Parkville residents were shocked at the attack on a war memorial that had nothing to do with Australia Day.

A stage intended for an Australia Day citizenship ceremony at Ringwood was also vandalised about 2am on Saturday, and two ceremonial flags were stolen.

Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece confirmed the council was aware of the Batman and Parkville incidents and had ramped up security -- including installing temporary CCTV – around “high-risk targets”.

“Defacing and damaging city assets will not be tolerated in Melbourne,” Reece said.

“We are actively working with Victoria Police to track down these offenders, and we have shared CCTV footage to assist in investigations.”

A Victoria Police spokeswoman confirmed they were investigating the attack on the Batman monument.

Erected in 1881, it is notable for deliberately writing Aboriginal people out of Melbourne’s history. Its original inscription refers to the city in the mid-1830s as “land then unoccupied”, according to the City of Melbourne.

A plaque was added to the monument in 1992 acknowledging Aboriginal people as the traditional occupiers of the land, and then replaced with another, more strongly worded plaque recognising First Nations people in 2004.

More than two dozen locations around Melbourne are named after Batman, including parks, streets, avenues, a hill and a railway station.

But many people have begun to look less than kindly on Batman’s role as colonist, including his involvement in the murder of Aboriginal people in Tasmania in the early 1800s.

Long-time resident Bev Noonan, 85, was on a morning walk about 9am and discovered the attack on the Parkville War Memorial on Royal Parade.

After calling Parkville Association president Robert Moore to report the vandalism, “she was in tears”, he told this masthead.

“It was very shocking because we use that memorial for our local Anzac Day ceremony, and have done so for many years.”

A council cleaning crew turned up within 45 minutes, and Moore reported the matter to a local police officer, who was himself a veteran.

“His reaction was the same as anybody else I spoke to this morning, this kind of sheer shock and amazement that they would select this monument because it’s a monument for the dead who looked after people in the First World War,” Moore said.

The vandals’ message was about colonisation, and they clearly did not understand the memorial and history, he said.

“That seriously is the sad thing … some of the people walking past were furious. It doesn’t help what should be a very good cause.”

An RSL spokesperson said: “While we understand there is a community debate around Australia Day, Anzac monuments have nothing to do with it. We condemn all of these attacks.”

Noonan said she was horrified to see the vandalised memorial and condemned the act as “just so wrong”.

“It’s got nothing to do with Australia Day,” Noonan said.

“People gave their lives to fight in the war, and this is a memorial to the people who gave their lives. It doesn’t make sense to me at all.”

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22431751

>>22431744

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Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan expressed frustration over the latest acts of vandalism against statues.

“It’s disgraceful. I condemn it.”

She committed to working with local councils to have the damaged statues reinstated.

Victoria Police is also investigating the vandalism of a stage intended for an Australia Day citizenship ceremony at Ringwood.

Paint reading “the colony will fall”, “you are on stolen land”, “abolish Australia”, and “f*ck the colony” coated the walls of marquees, where dozens of chairs were set up.

Federal member for Deakin Michael Sukkar said he was “disgusted and disappointed” by the vandalism, which Maroondah City Council staff were cleaning ahead of Sunday’s ceremony.

State upper house MP Nick McGowan, who represents the North-Eastern Metropolitan Region, condemned the “senseless and criminal acts” of vandalism.

“I am sickened by what I see here at Ringwood Lake. A place of ceremony and celebration, welcoming 80 new immigrants who have chosen Australia to call home, has been turned into a crime scene,” he said.

“Victorians have had a gutful of these acts of vandalism and terror.”

The vandalism attacks came after police launched an investigation into the beheading of the statues of two former prime ministers, Paul Keating and Kevin Rudd, at the Ballarat Botanical Gardens in the early hours of Thursday.

The name plates of another 18 former Australian prime ministers’ bronze busts were damaged, with police still hunting for the culprits as of Friday.

Police estimated the damage to be more than $140,000, with each of the stolen heads valued about $50,000.

Port Phillip Council has invested about $15,000 in security measures to protect its oft-defaced Captain Cook statue at Catani Gardens in St Kilda.

The statue, which was sawn off at the ankles on January 25 last year, is under 24/7 guard ahead of Australia Day and the council’s mobile CCTV trailer is stationed nearby, streaming to St Kilda police station.

Police urged anyone with information about any of the vandalism to contact Crime Stoppers.

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/monument-to-controversial-founder-of-melbourne-john-batman-toppled-on-eve-of-australia-day-20250125-p5l75x.html

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/vandals-strike-pioneer-war-statues-on-australia-day-weekend/news-story/8da26c332e284d884b6054dd7c9944ec

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-victoria/john-batman-statue-cut-in-half-destroyed-by-vandals-on-queen-st-near-queen-victoria-market/news-story/972e881af6e764001caaaf2588e62acf

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14323897/anzac-memorial-red-paint-statue-australia-day.html

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f79739 (287) No.22431836>>22431841 >>22431862 >>22444653

>>22140000 (pb)

>>22345254

>>22416688

Grace Tame wears anti-Murdoch shirt to PM’s morning tea in snipe at ‘morbidly wealthy oligarchs’

Advocate and 2021 Australian of the Year previously went viral for interaction with former PM Scott Morrison at 2022 event

Daisy Dumas - 25 Jan 2025

Former Australian of the Year Grace Tame has used a morning tea with the prime minister to take aim at Rupert Murdoch -- but says her message goes well beyond the billionaire media mogul.

The 2021 winner wore a T-shirt that read “Fuck Murdoch” when she was greeted by Anthony Albanese and his fiancee, Jodie Haydon, at the event for recipients of the 2025 awards held at the Lodge in Canberra on Saturday.

“[The T-shirt is] clearly not just about Murdoch, it’s the obscene greed, inhumanity and disconnection that he symbolises, which are destroying our planet,” Tame told Guardian Australia.

“For far too long this world and its resources have been undemocratically controlled by a small number of morbidly wealthy oligarchs,” she said after the event.

“If we want to dismantle this corrupt system, if we want legitimate climate action, equity, truth, justice, democracy, peace, land back, etc, then resisting forces like Murdoch is a good starting point.”

She said she “never” had reservations about wearing the shirt to the event.

“Speaking truth to power starts at the grassroots level with simple, effective messages. It’s one of my favourite shirts.”

The PM and Haydon smiled and greeted Tame, but there was no visible reaction to the statement on her shirt.

In 2022, the advocate for survivors of sexual assault also stirred controversy when she attended the same event as the outgoing Australian of the Year.

When Tame and her fiance, Max Heerey, arrived, they were greeted by the then prime minister, Scott Morrison, and his wife, Jenny, who congratulated them on their recent engagement.

But Tame remained sombre as they posed for photographs, which famously captured her giving Morrison a stony “side-eye” expression.

She later addressed that moment on Twitter, now X, commenting that the survival of abuse culture “is dependent on submissive smiles, self-defeating surrenders and hypocrisy”.

“What I did wasn’t an act of martyrdom in the gender culture war,” she wrote.

“It’s true that many women are sick of being told to smile, often by men, for the benefit of men. But it’s not just women who are conditioned to smile and conform to the visibly rotting status-quo. It’s all of us.”

Tame had been highly critical of Morrison and his government’s response to allegations of sexual assault and toxic workplace culture in federal parliament.

The winners of the 2025 Australian of the Year awards will be announced at a ceremony in Canberra on Saturday.

More than 30 finalists are in the running to be named Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year and Australia’s Local Hero.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jan/25/grace-tame-wears-anti-murdoch-shirt-to-prime-minister-anthony-albanese-australian-of-the-year-morning-tea-ntwnfb

https://chaser.com.au/general-news/grace-tame-stuns-the-pm-at-morning-tea/

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f79739 (287) No.22431841>>22444653

>>22140000 (pb)

>>22345254

>>22431836

Grace Tame makes statement at PM’s Australian of the Year function with ‘F*ck Murdoch’ T-shirt

Millie Muroi - January 25, 2025

Activist and former Australian of the Year Grace Tame has slammed Rupert Murdoch and his media empire, wearing a shirt emblazoned with the words “F*ck Murdoch” to an event at the prime minister’s residence in Canberra.

Outside The Lodge on Saturday, where Anthony Albanese hosted a morning tea ahead of the Australian of the Year awards, Tame told this masthead that the event was a great platform to make change.

“It’s a great shirt and says it all, doesn’t it?” Tame said of her attire.

“If we want to dismantle the concentration of morbid wealth that undemocratically rules the world, and really makes the major political decisions that affect the everyday person; if we want climate action and if we want justice, if we want truth, I think it’s probably a good place to start.

“If you want to get a few birds with one giant, ugly stone, this is it.”

It is not the first time Tame has used the annual function to make a statement. In 2022, pictures of a stony-faced Tame -- who was outgoing Australian of the Year – standing next to then-prime minister Scott Morrison made headlines.

Tame had criticised Morrison throughout her time in the role for not doing enough to stamp out sexual harassment in Parliament House after a series of sexual assault claims.

At the time, Tame did not meet Morrison’s gaze as she shook his hand, posing for pictures with the former prime minister and his wife, Jenny, without smiling.

Tame is an activist and advocate for survivors of sexual assault and was named 2021 Australian of the Year.

Asked on Saturday what her message would be to Murdoch, she said: “You’ve ruined the planet.”

In December, Albanese called out the influence of News Corp’s alleged bias, warning colleagues during a cabinet meeting that Murdoch’s media empire was openly working to back Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.

In that meeting, Albanese said News Corp’s newspapers -- which include The Australian and city tabloids – and the Coalition were increasingly “working together” on similar lines of Labor criticism months out from the federal election, according to four cabinet sources.

“He said News Corp and the opposition were now working hand in glove and that this was an embedded part of the political dynamic that we all needed to deal with,” one source said.

The prime minister made the criticisms days after having a “long chat” with Murdoch at a Christmas party in Sydney hosted by Rupert’s son, Lachlan, an event Dutton also attended.

News Corp Australasia executive chairman Michael Miller later rejected Albanese’s claim that the company’s mastheads were working with the opposition to bring down the government.

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/grace-tame-makes-statement-at-pm-s-australian-of-the-year-function-with-f-murdoch-t-shirt-20250125-p5l765.html

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f79739 (287) No.22431862>>22431868

>>22345254

>>22431836

AFL legend and MND campaigner Neale Daniher named 2025 Australian of the Year

Millie Muroi - January 25, 2025

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An AFL legend fighting motor neurone disease, who has raised more than $100 million towards finding a cure for the degenerative condition, has been named the 2025 Australian of the Year.

Former Essendon champion and Melbourne coach Neale Daniher, AO, has been battling the effects of MND -- a condition which progressively damages nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord responsible for controlling muscles – for more than a decade.

At a ceremony in Canberra on Saturday night, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he was “delighted” to declare Daniher the 2025 Australian of the Year.

Daniher said he hoped that the underlying cause of MND could be found in his lifetime and asked the crowd to imagine a world where families didn’t lose their loved ones to “this cruel disease”.

“I hope to leave a legacy that says this: no matter the odds, no matter the diagnosis, we all have the power to choose to fight, to choose our attitude, to choose to smile and to choose to do something because the mark of a person isn’t what they say, it’s what they do,” Daniher said in a pre-recorded message played during the ceremony. He has lost his ability to speak due to the disease.

“The journey began for me in 2013 when I was diagnosed with motor neurone disease, a beast of a disease. It doesn’t discriminate. It robs you of your ability to move, speak, swallow and eventually breathe. But it did something else, too. It lit a fire within me, a determination to fight for those who are currently affected, and those who will face it after me.

“This recognition isn’t just for me. It belongs to the entire MND community of families, the carers, the researchers, the volunteers … it also belongs to my family … who have been with me every step of the way on this challenging journey.”

Following his diagnosis in 2013, Daniher co-founded FightMND, a charity that has raised and invested more than $100 million for medical research to find a cure for the disease.

“When I was diagnosed, there was a small but dedicated research community, but we needed to build our capacity if we were serious about taking the fight to MND,” he said.

“So a highlight for me is how we have steadily built that capacity. Without a dedicated and robust research community, we won’t get the breakthroughs we are after.”

The 63-year-old Victorian has long defied the average life expectancy of 27 months following diagnosis, and continues to campaign for a cure and raise awareness about MND, even in the advanced stages of the disease.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22431868

>>22431862

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Speaking ahead of the awards ceremony on Saturday, Daniher, who was born in regional NSW, said he would have to pinch himself if he was named Australian of the Year.

“The boy from outback Australia, from a small town called Ungarie, named Australian of the Year, who would have thought?” he said.

“It’s a great honour which allows a terrific platform to thank everyone across Australia that has supported our cause because without them, I would never have been nominated.”

Daniher was Essendon’s youngest captain at the age of 20, senior coach of Melbourne from 1998 to 2007, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame at both clubs.

Brother Thomas Oliver Pickett, AM, co-founder of Wheelchairs For Kids -- a charity providing adjustable wheelchairs and occupational therapy expertise for children, free of charge – was named Senior Australian of the Year. Pickett, from Western Australia, dedicated the award to all the charity’s volunteers.

Dr Katrina Wruck, a Mabuigilaig and Goemulgal woman from Queensland who has long advocated for First Nations knowledge, was awarded Young Australian of the Year for her research and work on breaking down dangerous “forever chemicals” into benign ones.

Wruck said she was proud to defy the odds, succeeding as a neurodiverse Indigenous woman.

“Early in my journey, I worked to prove others wrong,” said Wruck.

“But along the way, I realised I wasn’t doing it for them. I was doing it for myself, for my family and for the communities I represent.”

Vanessa Brettell and Hannah Costell, from the ACT, were awarded Australia’s Local Heroes of the Year for their business, Cafe Stepping Stone, which operates as a social enterprise employing women mostly from migrant and refugee backgrounds and others who experience significant barriers to employment.

Brettell said the organisation had employed dozens of women from migrant and refugee backgrounds, who had collectively earned more than $2 million and developed their workplace skills, English capabilities and confidence.

“At [the age of] 21 I was inspired by the quote ‘Be the change you want to see in the world’ and this was the driving force to start our work,” said Brettell.

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/afl-legend-and-mnd-campaigner-neale-daniher-named-2025-australian-of-the-year-20250124-p5l73t.html

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f79739 (287) No.22438055>>22438058 >>22438069 >>22438098 >>22438150 >>22438184 >>22438288 >>22444438 >>22482380

>>22345254

>>22416688

Bigger, better, bolder: Australians reclaim our national day

JAMIE WALKER - 26 January 2025

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Australia Day is back, friends. Our national day of celebration has been reclaimed by the not-so-silent majority who partied on the beaches, in backyards and long into the night, from one end of this great land to the other.

The sense of renewal was palpable. Citizenship ceremonies were packed as that most affirming of Australia Day traditions -- welcoming newcomers to our midst – evoked tenderness and joy, scenes that never grow old.

Other organised events attracted big, happy crowds.

As the sun rose over Sydney, early risers were able to take in a Dawn Reflection of supersized Aboriginal artwork projected on to the sails of the Opera House. Hundreds took to the harbour for the ninth Sydney Splash, a distance swim across 1km, 2.5km and 5km courses. At Lake Burrendong in NSW’s central west, Leah Job’s extended family was making the most of the last days of school holidays. Cousins, all 11 of them, aged 2-14, splashed and shrieked in the cool water, a picture of happiness.

This is what Australia was all about, Ms Job said. Coming together. And what better day to do it than January 26? “We do have to acknowledge some things that need to be acknowledged about Australia Day,” the 33-year-old beauty therapist from Dubbo said.

“But unity is what stands out to me. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you might be from. We’re all Australian.”

More than 20,000 people lapped up the sunshine on Bondi Beach in Sydney’s east, a drawcard for international visitors and ­locals. The vibe was laid back; police said sunburn was the biggest concern.

Federation Square in Melbourne was turned over to a family festival.

In Brisbane, leafy New Farm Park was a colourful sea of picnicking families and couples.

“The weather was too nice to stay home,” said Michelle Laundry, 28, of Kelvin Grove, enjoying a glass of wine with partner Jonathan, 31. “We just thought ‘Hey, let’s go somewhere nice and make a day of it’.”

Indigenous protests against Invasion Day -- the arrival of the First Fleet of British convicts and colonists in 1788 – lacked the bite of past years. An 8000-strong march that wound its way to Sydney’s Victoria Park was half the size of previous rallies and peaceful, NSW police said.

A protest in Brisbane’s Queens Gardens was noticeably smaller than last year.

Palestinian flags flew alongside the red, gold and black Indigenous signifier when a throng of more than 20,000 snaked through Melbourne’s CBD to the steps of state parliament.

In nearby Olympic Park Oval, opposite the site of the Australian Open tennis tournament, police kept careful tabs on a gathering of 70 so-called counter-protesters, including a number of professed white supremacists.

Again, there was no trouble.

Addressing the national citizenship ceremony in Canberra, Anthony Albanese said Australia had been enriched by embracing citizens of every faith, background and tradition.

“Today, in our big cities and country towns, at beaches and backyard barbecues, and in over 280 ceremonies like this one, we celebrate everything that brings Australia together and everything that sets our nation apart from the world,” the Prime Minister said. “We look back on all that we have built together and all that we have learned from each other.

“And we look to the future with the optimism and determination that the Australian people bring to the life of our nation, each and every day.”

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22438058

>>22438055

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Peter Dutton, speaking at an induction ceremony in his outer Brisbane electorate of Dickson, said to be Australian “is to win the lottery of life”.

“As we celebrate the best country in the world, we do so respectfully about our Indigenous culture, but also our British heritage and also the great migrant story,” the Opposition Leader said.

“In our country, we don’t talk enough about people who have made a tough decision in many cases to leave family and loved ones behind, to leave children behind in some circumstances, to start a new life.”

Brisbane publican Jason Hirt said the surge in support for Australia Day was partly a reaction to efforts to discredit or sideline the celebration.

“We saw Coles and Woolworths take down their Australian flags,” he said, referring to a merchandise ban the retailers tried to implement last year but backed away from in the face of public outrage.

“And I think things like that had an effect.”

Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association boss Wes Lambert said people were “voting with their stomachs” to keep Australia Day on January 26.

“It certainly is encouraging that the togetherness we are feeling on this Australia Day is translating into bums on seats in restaurants and cafes,” he said.

Relaxing at Regatta Point on Canberra’s Lake Burley Griffin, the Whitfield family was making the most of a lazy long weekend. Dad Josh, wife Mary and kids Amelia and Declan said Australia Day was important to them.

“It means as much as it always had,” Mr Whitfield said.

“It’s just a time to celebrate being Aussie.”

“And to enjoy life,” Amelia chimed in.

Indian migrant Ankit and his family said they were grateful to call themselves Australian.

“We feel very proud to be in Australia because it adopted us, it’s multicultural,” he said.

“We are from India, we have also Republic Day in India -- today there is Australia Day, so it’s similar.”

British expatriate Tom Morris, 33, said January 26 was a reminder of how good this country had been to him since he emigrated eight years ago.

“I’m an immigrant here, but my wife’s not and my daughter’s Australian. (Australia) is just so good to me, I’m appreciative of what the day means,” he said, enjoying the scene on the Circular Quay foreshore in Sydney. “Plus it’s good to get together with family and have a good time.”

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/bigger-better-bolder-australians-reclaim-their-national-day/news-story/666c00fb57d1773d39915feb85e1e719

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f79739 (287) No.22438069

>>22345254

>>22438055

Thousands gather for Australia Day celebrations and citizenship ceremonies

LIAM MENDES - 26 January 2025

Thousands have flocked to citizenship ceremonies across the country to pledge their commitment to Australia, as Anthony Albanese slammed Peter Dutton for snubbing the national Australia Day ceremony in Canberra.

The Prime Minister on Sunday morning attended the National Citizenship and Flag Raising Ceremony at Lake Burley Griffin, one of almost 400 events held across the country welcoming more than 20,000 new citizens.

Mr Albanese said he was “disappointed” after the Opposition Leader opted out of the national ceremony in Canberra, and instead spent the day in his home state of Queensland.

“I think the national Australia Day event should be attended by both sides of the parliament,” he said.

Mr Dutton has long criticised the Albanese government for not showing the national day enough respect and called for federal mandates forcing local councils to hold Australia Day citizenship ceremonies and other events on January 26.

New citizens from over 150 different countries pledged their patriotism to Australia, including Ash Phatak and his eight-year-old twin daughters Sharveyi and Anwesha who made it their first mission -- after being sworn in as citizens – to go to the beach on Australia Day.

The software engineer said he was looking forward to contributing to Australian society after a challenging journey to citizenship -- and getting the rest of his family to Australia – after arriving in 2020, just before Covid-19 travel bans were put in place.

“It feels great to become an Australian citizen. It is like an official recognition to all the hard work that we have done,” said Mr Phatak, who works for an Australian-owned-and-operated fintech company.

“It’s going to be a new chapter in my life, and I’m looking forward to contributing to the Australian society in a more progressive way, bringing a lot of rich Indian culture and heritage to make the society more diverse, more vibrant, more colourful.

“The plan was to get my family here in Australia within a couple of months, but because of the travel ban and all the circumstances, it turned out to be 11 months, so that was a big challenge.”

At dawn in Sydney, locals arrived to the harbour foreshore to watch as the Opera House was projected with ‘The Dawn Reflection’, the work of Wiradjuri-Biripi artist James P. Simon whose piece “River Life” explores the profound connection between Aboriginal people and water.

The artwork is intended to reflect “the deep spiritual and cultural significance of waterways to Indigenous communities, emphasising how water is not merely a resource but a living entity that provides food, medicine, kinship, and healing while connecting people to their ancestors and traditions”.

Organisers said the dawn ceremony, which is known as “Barabiyanga” in the Eora language -- the dialect of coastal Aboriginal clans around Sydney – served as a moment for all Australians to reflect on unity, inclusion, and shared commitment to the country’s future, while acknowledging the continuing cultural heritage of First Nations peoples.

At a Sunday mass in Albury, Sussan Ley, federal member for Farrer, compared the arrival of the First Fleet to Elon Musk’s SpaceX program seeking to reach Mars.

The deputy leader of the opposition said the First Fleet’s arrival to Australia was like a “new experiment and a new society”.

“In what could be compared to Elon Musk’s SpaceX’s efforts to build a new colony on Mars, men in boats arrived on the edge of the known world to embark on that new experiment,” Ms Ley said.

“A new experiment and a new society. And just like astronauts arriving on Mars those first settlers would be confronted with a different and strange world, full of danger, adventure and potential,” she said.

From Canberra, Mr Albanese travelled to Sydney to attend the Australia Day Live evening concert at the Sydney Opera House.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/thousands-gather-for-australia-day-celebrations-and-citizenship-ceremonies/news-story/0f7637821460cac72291ab2cdf98adf9

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f79739 (287) No.22438098>>22438103 >>22444438

[pop]YouTube embed. Click thumbnail to play.

>>22345254

>>22438055

Numbers drop off at ‘Invasion Day’ rallies in Sydney, Brisbane

ELLIE DUDLEY and MOHAMMAD ALFARES - 26 January 2025

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Australia Day advocates have celebrated a massive drop off in attendance at annual rallies organised by Aboriginal activist groups protesting against the holiday, claiming Australians have finally been granted permission “to be proud of the Australia they know and love”.

Tens of thousands of protesters gathered across the nation on Sunday morning to unite against the “genocide” of Aboriginal people after colonisation, and demand that Australian land be “returned” to its traditional owners.

But while the yearly rallies shut down busy streets in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide, early estimates indicated some protests had seen about half the numbers of previous years.

One police officer at the Sydney rally told The Australian about 8000 people marched from Belmore Park to Victoria Park in Camperdown, compared to upwards of 15,000 in previous years.

In Melbourne, about 25,000 people attended the protest - which began at Parliament House and concluded on Flinders Street - down from 35,000 last year.

The ‘Survival Day’ rally in Brisbane also saw a marked drop off in attendees, with the rally confined to Queens Gardens when it had previously drawn tens of thousands of protesters.

“What’s happening is that Australians want to be proud of Australia,” Australia Day advocate Warren Mundine said. “This is why the crowds are getting smaller, because people are suddenly realising they like this country. It is a great country.”

Mr Mundine said there was a “global blowback” where people had become “sick and tired” of being “bullied”. “What is happening is typical of the left - they go one step too far,” he said.

Opposition Indigenous Affairs spokesperson Jacinta Nampijinpa Price said Australians “have so much to be proud of and we must not take it for granted”.

“It is incredibly heartening to see the decrease in attendance at anti-Australia Day rallies and the increase in support for celebrating our national day on January 26 shown by recent polls,” she told The Australian.

“It is clear that Australians are beginning to understand they have permission to say what they think, and to be proud of the Australia they know and love.”

Palestinian and Aboriginal activists united at this year’s ‘Invasion Day’ events, waving both flags and yelling anti-police and anti-government chants.

In Sydney, one sign hoisted in the air labelled Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “child killer”. “Genocide here, genocide there,” the group chanted while marching. “Albanese doesn’t care.”

Activist Paul Silva, addressing the crowd in Sydney, demanded the government be abolished and the land “returned” to Aboriginal Australians, claiming leaders are trying to “extinct” Indigenous people.

“They are trying to extinct us, but guess what? We are here baby and we’re are not f*cking going nowhere,” he said, to cheers from the audience. “They could f*cking chuck an atomic bomb over here and we’d still f*cking rise up.”

He called for Australians to “abolish the government, abolish the system, return the land back to Aboriginal people”.

Other speakers told the audience that “sovereignty was never ceded” and labelled Senator Price a “sellout”.

“We don’t claim you, and you are not our spokesperson,” one young woman said.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22438103

[pop]YouTube embed. Click thumbnail to play.

>>22438098

2/2

In Melbourne, Palestinian rally organiser Tasnim Sammak told the crowd the first prisoner exchange deal in the Middle East was forced upon Israel because it couldn’t defeat “the Palestinian resistance”.

“The Zionist regime insisted on freeing their hostages through a military attack against all international law and it is only now, 15 months later, that they have bowed to the will of the Palestinians,” she said.

“They have bowed down to the Palestinian resistance.”

Ms Sammak urged the crown not to vote for Opposition Leader Peter Dutton at the upcoming federal election.

It comes as large groups of alleged neo-Nazis crashed the protests in Adelaide and Melbourne.

A group of about 70 neo-Nazis also gathered at Melbourne Park, opposite the entrance of the Australian Open, to host a counter protest to ‘Invasion Day’.

The group reportedly included Jacob Hersant, who became the first person in Victoria to be charged with performing a Nazi salute -- six days after the gesture was outlawed.

The Australian has approached Victoria Police for comment.

A ‘Survival Day’ protest at the North Terrace in Adelaide’s CBD was also infiltrated by alleged neo-Nazis on Sunday morning, with a number of arrests being made by police.

Footage from the scene showed a group alleged National Socialist Network (NSN) members dressed in black being arrested by police at the park.

“The individuals are in the process of being charged and more details will be provided when known,” an SA Police spokesperson said.

SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens warned police would take a “very strong position” in relation to right-wing extremist protests.

“The issue with protest activity associated with right-wing extremism … we’ll be taking a very strong position in relation to that, there are special powers that permit us to take action for anyone who displays, publishes or brandishes a Nazi symbol or displays the Nazi salute and we will take … action should we identify any behaviour of that type,” Commissioner Stevens said.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/numbers-drop-off-at-invasion-day-rallies-in-sydney-brisbane/news-story/877f81fc05e73056a57e5d06af713595

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghykFw2h-xw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NRl-1TILI0

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f79739 (287) No.22438150

File (hide): 8f2fcc0672af0ba⋯.jpg (334.87 KB,840x735,8:7,PD_27.jpg) (h) (u)

File (hide): 66dee1c15809ef4⋯.mp4 (4.7 MB,640x360,16:9,2xdhPHPLLSRWyivh.mp4) (h) (u) [play once] [loop]

>>22345254

>>22438055

PM ‘disappointed’ by Dutton’s national Australia Day ceremony snub

JOSEPH OLBRYCHT-PALMER - 26 January 2025

Anthony Albanese says he is “disappointed” after Peter Dutton snubbed the national Australia Day ceremony in Canberra.

The Opposition Leader has been accusing the Albanese government of not showing the national day enough respect and called for federal mandates forcing local councils to hold Australia Day citizenship ceremonies and other events on January 26.

Currently, they can be held three days before or after January 26.

But Mr Dutton did not attend the most prestigious ceremony in the country’s capital.

The Prime Minister said on Sunday the “national Australia Day events should be attended by both sides of the parliament”.

“They should be bipartisan, and I attended every year as opposition leader here at the Australia Day events, and I attended the Australian of the Year Awards as well when I was invited,” Mr Albanese told reporters after the national ceremony.

“This is an inspirational day, here on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin, and last night -- it is one of the best events that anyone could ever go to.”

He went on to ask: “Why wouldn’t you participate in national events if you want to be a national leader?”

NewsWire understands Mr Dutton marked Australia Day in his electorate, which he has done so for 20 years.

He posted a video on X calling on Australians not to be “afraid of celebrating” the national day.

“Australia Day is a celebration of the greatest country in the world, and we shouldn’t be afraid of celebrating it,” Mr Dutton said.

“To be an Australian is to have won the lottery of life.

“We have every reason to be patriotic and proud.”

‘Invasion Day’ protests were held nationally on Sunday.

Though, with polls showing the vast majority of Australians oppose changing the date of Australia Day, there is little indication Australians are “afraid” to celebrate on January 26.

Mr Dutton’s Australia Day claims against Labor stem from changes introduced a little over two years ago.

A growing number of councils have opted to drop ceremonies on January 26 since the Albanese government loosened rules around when they can be held around the national day.

To do so, Labor overturned a former Coalition government’s directive stripping councils of their right to hold citizenship ceremonies at all if they would not hold one on Australia Day.

Announcing the changes in December 2022, the Albanese government said the decision removed red tape.

Councils have welcomed the flexibility as they juggle the practicality of extreme heat and higher costs associated with public holiday rates for staff.

But some councils have been vocal about their opposition to marking Australia Day on January 26.

The date marks the date the First Fleet established a settlement at Sydney Cove, marking the beginning of Britain’s colonisation of Australia, and is seen by many Indigenous Australians as a day of mourning.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/breaking-news/pm-disappointed-by-duttons-national-australia-day-ceremony-snub/news-story/0013e1147c20cc6a61480d1339b0a740

https://x.com/PeterDutton_MP/status/1883312447664374238

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f79739 (287) No.22438184

>>22345254

>>22438055

>>22370640

Largest Australian flag to be flown at Sydney mosque for Australia Day

A Sydney mosque is celebrating the national holiday with an impressive feat -- surpassing even that of Parliament House.

Alexandra Feiam - January 26, 2025

The largest Australian flag was hoisted on Australia Day at a mosque in Sydney, surpassing the flag currently flying on top of the Australian Parliament House.

Celebrating the national holiday at the Masjid Baitul Huda in Sydney’s Marsden Park, the Ahmadiyya Muslim community are commemorating the day with a formal ceremonial event.

“We, the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, always pray for the progress and development of our homeland, Australia,” Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Australia national president and Imam I.H. Kause said.

“In keeping with our traditions, we will celebrate Australia Day at all mosques across the country.

“We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our nation, government, and fellow citizens because our religion teaches us that love for one’s country of residence is a part of faith.”

All Ahmadiyya Muslim mosques across the country will host formal ceremonial events by hoisting the Australian flag, singing the national anthem, hosting a barbecue and inviting dignitaries to offer speeches and reflect on the “significance of being Australian”.

As part of the national holiday celebrations, the largest Australian flag will be hoisted up at the Sydney mosque, measuring an epic 16m x 8m and surpassing the flag currently flying at Parliament House, which is 12.6m x 6.4m.

“True loyalty requires a relationship built on sincerity and integrity …” Worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the Fifth Caliph, His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said.

“It is essential for a citizen of any country to establish a relationship of genuine loyalty and faithfulness to their nation.

“This applies equally, whether one is a born citizen or has gained citizenship later in life.”

Children were seen singing and holding up Australian flags during the ceremonies, and were later found running around.

https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/news/largest-australian-flag-to-be-flown-at-sydney-mosque-for-australia-day/news-story/3850a48df2198d430856e540b65104bf

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f79739 (287) No.22438288>>22438295

>>22345254

>>22345280

>>22438055

COMMENTARY: Gloomsters, listen up -- the people are speaking out on Australia Day

ALEXANDER DOWNER - 26 January 2025

1/2

A true national leader would use Australia Day to inspire a sense of proud patriotism throughout our country.

Robert Menzies established citizenship conventions on Australia Day where new migrants took out Australian citizenship. He thought combining citizenship ceremonies with the national day would help with the process of integrating migrants into the mainstream of our society. When Bob Hawke was prime minister, there was an explosion of national joy in 1988 for the bicentennial of Arthur Phillip’s arrival in Australia. John Howard always made a rousing speech about the great Australian success story.

It’s a tragedy that in recent years the gloomsters have taken over the national zeitgeist. They’ve been driven by the pseudo-intellectual bourgeois left in US universities who have promoted shame of history, salami-sliced society into racial groups, set gender against gender, and obsessed about people‘s private sexual preferences.

This year, the Australian people like their American counterparts, have just had enough of the gloomsters. The change in the national mood is almost palpable. Australians are proud of their country, proud of how it has evolved into one of the world’s most prosperous, fair and free societies. That’s something mighty to celebrate. Even our Prime Minister until very recently the leading campaigner for the gloomsters, has switched tack and decided to celebrate Australia Day. He should because, after all, he has to face an election in the next few months and the last thing the country wants is another three years of gloom about our past, division between us on the basis of race, and obsessions about LGBTQ+ people.

Australia hasn’t achieved so much without hard work. And wise decision-making. Last year, the Nobel prize for economics was awarded to economists Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson and James Robinson. They have produced fascinating work on why some countries have succeeded and others failed. Why has Australia been such a success while countries like Argentina, Brazil, South Africa and India have done less well?

Our friends from the pseudo-intellectual bourgeois left claim the reason some countries are rich is because they were colonial exploiters. That’s not the conclusion of the Nobel prize winners. Nor does that hypothesis measure up against practical observations of the success and failure of countries.

Johnson, Robinson and Acemoglu argue that success is born out of accountable democratic institutions. Countries ruled by autocrats who are less accountable to the mainstream of society inevitably fall short. The leaders run an extractive economy that benefits them and pays only superficial lip service to the wishes of their citizens. After all, they don’t have to worry about their citizens if they don’t have to worry about elections.

There’s more to national success than just holding elections, of course. The Nobel laureates argue there has to be a system of tradeable individual property rights. Those property rights have to be protected by the rule of law, and the rule of law has to be as impartial as humanly possible. It has to be possible for an investor to purchase assets and to generate a return on the capital invested. That positive return is only possible if the investor produces goods or services consumers -- that is, the mainstream of society – actually want, at a price they can afford. That explains why Australia is so much more successful than, say, Argentina.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22438295

>>22438288

2/2

Underlying all this is a cultural assumption that the individual rather than the collective lies at the very heart of a successful country. When I used to make representations to the Chinese leadership about human rights, they would smile wanly and say to me “in your country individuals are very important whereas in our country it is the collective which counts”.

It’s true. Respect for the individual lies at the very heart of our national ethos. Our economy operates when it puts individual consumers ahead of the pleading and special interests of the producers. Our political system bows to the preferences of individuals on election day. We believe passionately in an individual’s right to say what she or he thinks. We allow individuals to work out their lifestyles and fulfil their own individual life ambitions, rather than some autocrat telling them what to do.

For generations, we’ve taken all this for granted. Where individuals haven’t been sufficiently free or respected we’ve made changes. In particular we have placed great emphasis on eliminating discrimination believing it is a moral principle that all individuals are of equal worth. We have operated on the assumption it is wrong to discriminate against people on the basis of their innate characteristics such as race, gender and, most recently, sexual preference.

Our friends from the bourgeois left have tried to change all that. They have promoted new forms of discrimination. This passion for neo-discrimination has infected our public services and the corporate world. They have embraced DEI policies with gusto. It’s even infected the Australian Securities Exchange, which is demanding companies discriminate against employing white men on their boards or as executives.

Gone are the days when boards and executives were required to maximise returns for shareholders. Now they’re supposed to become social laboratories. The latest proposed ASX governance guidelines say boards should instead focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, unions and environmental groups. The ASX claims companies with “diverse” boards and management perform better than those that select their boards and executives on the basis of merit. Recent studies show the gender and race of corporate management make no difference. And why would it? Discrimination against people on the basis of their innate characteristics only creates resentment. It’s little wonder companies are increasingly deserting the ASX.

The Australia Day weekend is a time to reflect on why it is that Australia has done so well. We have our faults but there isn’t a country or a society without them. Remember, even indigenous societies had their faults. There’s a rising tide of resentment and anger towards those who are trying to change our successful national formula and replace it with a system that has failed the world.

Alexander Downer is a former foreign minister and former high commissioner to the UK

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/when-it-comes-to-australia-day-the-pm-needs-to-listen-up/news-story/c6d4f4158d09227c35430f5e6857459c

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/how-sydney-celebrated-australia-day-2025-picture-special/news-story/ec4af1777f961f6b36d324a531554aba

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f79739 (287) No.22444396>>22444404 >>22460297

>>22225435

>>22357731

Russia could exploit Oscar Jenkins’ disappearance, warns Ukraine’s envoy

Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer - January 26, 2025

1/2

Ukraine’s ambassador says Australia should be wary of rumours put out by pro-Russian propagandists about the disappearance of Oscar Jenkins, warning it is “50-50” if the Melbourne-born man is dead or alive.

Mr Jenkins, a 32-year-old teacher, was serving in Ukraine’s armed forces when he was captured by Russian forces last year.

Video of Russian forces interrogating Mr Jenkins after his capture surfaced just before Christmas.

Since then, Australian officials, media and online sleuths have scrambled to piece together what has happened to him and how he ended up on the front lines in eastern Ukraine.

Speculation intensified earlier this month as reports emerged Mr Jenkins had been killed -- reports that several Ukrainian security and government sources told NewsWire at the time were unfounded.

In an exclusive interview with NewsWire, Ukrainian ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko said his government had no reason to believe Mr Jenkins was dead or alive and that it was “like 50/50”

Mr Myroshnychenko assumed the role of Ukraine’s envoy to Australia in April 2022, a little more than a month after Russia’s blitzkrieg-style invasion of his country.

Before that, he was an adviser to former Ukrainian defence minister Oleksii Reznikov.

Mr Myroshnychenko, who maintains close contact with the Ukrainian defence ministry, said there was “no confirmation” about Mr Jenkins.

“A rumour has become kind of news, and it has now a life of its own,” he said.

“I mean, he could be alive, he could have been killed, but there is no confirmation until Ukraine sees the body and has a hold of the body.

“This way we can confirm it, and we don’t have it.”

Warning ahead of Australian election

With an election looming, the uncertainty around Mr Jenkins’ fate has come at an awkward time for Anthony Albanese.

The Prime Minister has vowed to take the “strongest possible action” if any harm has come to Mr Jenkins.

But he is under pressure to get answers from Moscow, and, if Mr Jenkins is alive, any premature action could open his government up to ridicule from the Russian government and its small, but effective, network of social media pundits in Australia.

Mr Myroshnychenko said Russian authorities may not be deliberately concealing Mr Jenkins’ status, but said the ambiguity was convenient for the Kremlin.

“Everyone wants to see a strong reaction to that,” he said.

“We have two, three months from the elections, and this is where Russians see the weaknesses.

“They want to get in, manipulate and get involved, have an influence.”

He said it “would be pretty logical, rational for them to go and find him and prove to the Australian government that he’s alive, if they want to do it”.

But he also said that if Mr Jenkins was dead, the Russian military would never own up to it.

“In the case that he was executed, they’d probably like to conceal it, and nobody’s going to find out the truth,” Mr Myroshnychenko said.

“Because you can really get rid of the body, nobody’s going to find it.”

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22444404

File (hide): 5c49f4d1bd8b270⋯.jpg (717.16 KB,840x1158,140:193,VM_9.jpg) (h) (u)

File (hide): a66167b59ef612f⋯.jpg (236.91 KB,1024x1024,1:1,GiKsC1nbUAADigG.jpg) (h) (u)

>>22444396

2/2

Russia has a long history meddling in Western elections.

Dating back to Soviet times, the Kremlin’s modus operandi has been to muddy the information environment and sow chaos rather than pushing a particular narrative.

More recently, Russian state media overtly spread false and conspiratorial claims about the failed Voice Referendum in 2023.

Canberra has given Kyiv north of $1.5bn-worth of aid to fight back against Russia, earning Australia a spot on Vladimir Putin’s list of unfriendly countries.

The Albanese government last month also announced it was reopening the Australian embassy in Ukraine.

At least 11,400 Ukrainians have found safe haven in Australia since the start of the full-scale invasion.

The mystery of Oscar Jenkins’ disappearance

NewsWire understands Mr Jenkins’ unit commander declared he was missing on December 16 after skirmishes near Makiivka, a tiny village on the Zherebets River in Luhansk Oblast.

The area has seen fierce fighting for months as Russian forces inch forward at an enormous human cost.

Mr Myroshnychenko said it was “not a walk in the park” to find a body there.

“It’s not like you go there to the place and just find the body, and ‘here is the confirmation for you’,” he said.

“It’s a place where people get killed in hundreds at the moment.”

The infamous video of Mr Jenkins’ interrogation appeared on pro-Kremlin social media channels on December 22.

Early uploaders claimed he was captured near Kramatorsk.

The Ukrainian stronghold is some 80km southwest of Makiivka in neighbouring Donetsk Oblast.

Russia has been trying to take the city since the start of the full-scale invasion, regularly bombarding it with deadly missile strikes in civilian areas.

Oftentimes pro-Russian accounts online spread false claims and misrepresent footage from the battlefield to make it seem like Moscow’s forces are doing better than they actually are.

The same accounts that first started spreading Mr Jenkins’ interrogation video have recently begun sharing another clip showing dead soldiers stacked in the back of a truck.

A voiceover says in Russian: “That’s what’s going to happen to you. F*cking mercenaries. Australian f*cking mercenaries. We’ll f*cking kill you all. You’re all f*cking lying here. F*cking legion. You f*cking mercenaries. You’re all going to f*cking die here.”

Using reverse image search, NewsWire confirmed the video is actually four years old and shows soldiers killed in the 2021 flare up between Armenia and Azerbaijan in disputed Nagorno-Karabakh.

But the voiceover is new and notably aligned with Kremlin rhetoric that members of Ukraine’s International Legion are mercenaries and therefore not protected by conventions on the treatment of prisoners of war.

At least 20,000 people from all over the world have joined up anyway.

Many of them are former soldiers from Kyiv’s Western allies.

It remains unclear how Mr Jenkins went from being a college lecturer in China to serving in the 402nd Rifle Battalion of the 66th Mechanised Brigade.

Though, his brothers-in-arms have hailed him as a good soldier with a sincere belief in the Ukrainian cause.

https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/russia-could-use-oscar-jenkins-to-manipulate-federal-election-ukraines-envoy-says/news-story/bfbdc3b2f95ad41493b301c420557f39

https://x.com/AmbVasyl/status/1883256770497511506

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f79739 (287) No.22444438

>>22438055

>>22438098

‘Coward’ arrested after Sydney police memorial defaced with ‘disgusting’ vandalism

ALEXI DEMETRIADI - 27 January 2025

NSW Police have arrested a 43-year-old man for allegedly damaging a Sydney police memorial, defacing it with vandalism that referred to fallen offices as “dogs” and the force as “evil”.

Over the Australia Day weekend, several markings were scratched into the NSW Police Wall of Remembrance in The Domain, which commemorates officers who lost their lives in the line of duty, including the word “dogs” above the rows of deceased officers and “evil” above the NSW Police emblem.

On Monday afternoon, NSW Police arrested the 43-year-old man at Glebe Light Rail station and before he was taken into custody at Day Street police station, where he is expected to be charged.

It comes after Premier Chris Minns on Monday morning said the monument had been “significantly vandalised”, slamming the perpetrators.

“This is disgusting behaviour,” he said.

“Police put themselves in danger everyday in the service of our state. To deface a memorial that commemorates police officers who have served the state, and those who have lost their lives while on duty, is lower than low.”

NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley said the graffiti was “disgusting” and the vandals “cowards”.

“This is a sacred site which honours officers killed in the line of duty -- for it to be defaced is the lowest of acts,” she said.

“Our police officers sacrifice their personal safety every day for our state -- for that they should be celebrated, not subjected to vile attacks.

“Police are investigating and will leave no stone unturned in order to identify and arrest the cowards responsible.”

A NSW Police statement earlier on Monday said officers deployed as part of Sunday’s Australia Day celebrations noticed the vandalism on Sunday and began an investigation.

The force is encouraging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers and is working with the City of Sydney council to assist with remedial works to repair the damage.

It follows “Invasion Day” rallies across state capitals on Sunday, including in Sydney, where almost 10,000 people marched from Belmore Park at Central to Victoria Park in Camperdown.

Palestinian and Aboriginal activists united at this year’s events, waving both flags and yelling anti-police and anti-government chants.

In Sydney, one sign hoisted in the air labelled Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “child killer”.

“Genocide here, genocide there,” the group chanted while marching. “Albanese doesn’t care.”

Activist Paul Silva, addressing the crowd in Sydney, demanded the government be abolished and the land “returned” to Aboriginal Australians, claiming leaders are trying to “extinct” Indigenous people.

“They are trying to extinct us, but guess what? We are here baby and we’re not f*cking going nowhere,” he said, to cheers from the audience.

“They could f*cking chuck an atomic bomb over here and we’d still f*cking rise up.”

He called for Australians to “abolish the government, abolish the system, return the land back to Aboriginal people”.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/cowards-damage-sydney-police-memorial-with-disgusting-vandalism/news-story/5c167a672220ba40052927941d203870

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f79739 (287) No.22444477

>>22225665

>>22387524

>>22430571

Auschwitz-Birkenau 80th commemoration: Mark Dreyfus slams opposition over politicising Holocaust, anti-Semitism

JACQUELIN MAGNAY - 27 January 2025

Australia’s Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus has labelled opposition criticism about Australia’s representatives attending the 80th commemoration of the liberation of the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau as “grotesque” and said “we need to get politics out” of combating anti-Semitism.

Mr Dreyfus stood alongside Foreign Minister Penny Wong -- who has been heavily criticised for coming to Poland for such a significant anniversary – demanding a bipartisan approach to tackling the scourge of anti-Semitism that has risen across Australia.

His comments came after the two politicians conducted a tour of the Jewish Community Centre in Krakow on Sunday, meeting Holocaust survivor Zofia Radzikowska and where Mr Dreyfus remembered his great-grandmother Ida Ransenberg who died at Auschwitz-Birkenau.

Ida’s husband Albert Ransenberg died in another Nazi death camp Theresienstadt. Mr Dreyfus’ other great grandmother Paula Dreyfus took poison on the eve of being deported to Theresienstadt.

While there has been no criticism of Mr Dreyfus’s attendance here in Poland for Monday’s commemoration, the inclusion of Senator Wong in the official delegation has angered Australian Jews upset at Australia’s changing relationship with Israel following the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023 and subsequent war in Gaza.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton said Senator Wong had trashed Australia’s relationship with Israel and has questioned why Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had sent her as Australia’s representative.

But Mr Dreyfus said: “it is an appropriate place to actually reject attempts to politicise the Holocaust or to politicise anti-Semitism. Combating anti-Semitism, remembering the Holocaust does not belong to the left or the right.

He added: “It does not belong to the progressive side of Australian politics or the conservative side of Australian politics. It is the solemn duty of everybody, of all of humanity to remember the Holocaust, to say never again. And it’s been grotesque. I use that word again to see the rise in anti-Semitism since October the 7th, but it has been equally grotesque to see attempts being made to politicise either the commemoration of the Holocaust or combating anti-Semitism.

“We need to get politics out of this. It’s a joint effort for the whole of humanity to remember the Holocaust, to remember the six million murdered Jews, and to say never again.”

Senator Wong said she hadn’t engaged with Australian Governor-General Sam Mostyn when asked why a “neutral person” wasn’t considered to be the official Australian representative at the commemoration.

She said: “I haven’t engaged with the Governor-General about that. Mark and I and the Deputy Prime Minister and I spoke about this, and we believe this was his delegation.’’

Senator Wong said “this is not the time for politics. This is a time to be above politics, because this is such a solemn and sad occasion, but also a time to recommit ourselves to learning the lessons of the Holocaust, the murder of 6 million Jews, and to say never again.”

She said the anti-Semitic attacks in Australia weren’t just attacks on the Jewish community, “but actually an attack on who we are as Australians”.

“People came to came to our country because of who we are: a country that welcomes people of all faiths, people from all over the world, and we treat each other with respect, we treat each other with tolerance, we are accepting and we ensure that we provide a safe community for all our people. That is part of what it is to be Australian and what we must hold on to,’ Senator Wong added.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/auschwitzbirkenau-80th-commemoration-mark-dreyfus-slams-opposition-over-politicising-holocaust-antisemitism/news-story/9db6c504f3e8984c48650ea696f95bf2

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f79739 (287) No.22444496>>22444509 >>22450985 >>22451006

>>22225665

>>22428559

>>22430571

Learn Holocaust lessons and act on anti-Semitic hatred, says Jewish leader Alex Ryvchin

JACQUELIN MAGNAY - 26 January 2025

As leaders come together at Auschwitz-Birkenau to commemorate 80 years since the liberation of the Nazi camp where 1.1 million people, mainly Jews, were murdered, The Australian’s co-Australian of the Year Alex Ryvchin called on the community to remember how the Holocaust began.

He said Australia’s unique value of mateship had become an empty slogan and urged people to speak in support of Australia’s Jewish community to rid the country of anti-Semitism.

“If we become a nation that is passive in the face of hatred, then our national characteristic, that mateship, just simply washes away,’’ he said, adding that the 80th commemoration reminds people of the lesson of history.

“When we talk about collaborators, when we talk about bystanders, when we talk about those who maybe had it in their power to do something to prevent the charge of racial hatred and extremism (in World War II)”, it is a significant reminder that the majority of people can’t stand apathetic, ambivalent and silent.

“We learned from the Holocaust that that’s all that’s needed for horrors to be perpetrated,’’ Mr Ryvchin said. “The circumstances now are entirely different: we’re not living in a time of fascism in Australia, people can stand up, they can speak to the Jewish community, they can defend us and support us. And sadly, it’s not ­really happening.”

Mr Ryvchin, co-chief executive officer of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, is in Auschwitz-Birkenau to attend the commemor­ation alongside Special Envoy to Combat Anti-Semitism in Australia Jillian Segal. Holocaust survivor and founder of Westfield Frank Lowy will attend alongside other dignitaries such as King Charles.

Sir Frank had sourced and donated the authentic German train wagon used to transport Hungarian Jews to the camp to honour his father, Hugo, who was murdered by the SS at Birkenau. The wagon is central to the commemorations.

Some in the Australian Jewish community are furious that Anthony Albanese has decided not to attend, nor Governor-General Sam Mostyn. Instead, Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who has been instrumental in calling for Israeli restraint against Hamas and accused by some of “trashing” Australia’s relationship with Israel, will take part alongside Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus.

Senator Wong said in a statement: “What happened at Auschwitz and during the Holocaust is a reminder of the dangers of hatred, bigotry, racism and prejudice and the need to remain vigilant against a repetition of the atrocities perpetrated there.

“The 80th anniversary of the liberation is also an opportunity to acknowledge the remarkable contributions and enduring resilience of the approximately 27,000 Holocaust survivors and their families who made Australia their home after World War II.”

She said Australia was a proud member of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, and was committed to Holocaust remembrance, education and research, and ongoing efforts to counter the spread of Holocaust denial and anti-­Semitism.

Australian-Israeli philanthropist Eitan Neishlos, an ambassador of the Holocaust education group March of The Living, has helped raise funds to conserve the 8000 shoes of Jewish children murdered in Auschwitz-Birkenau, which had begun to deteriorate.

He told The Australian: “As we mark the 80th commemoration of the liberation of Auschwitz, the campaign to restore the shoes belonging to Jewish children who perished in the Holocaust stands as a powerful testament of our history. Each shoe carries the untold story of a child, a family and a ­future lost to hatred and racism.

“In an era where anti-Semitism is resurging at an alarming rate globally, preserving these last remnants of innocence is not just a Jewish responsibility, it is a universal call to humanity.

“We must walk in their shoes and ensure that no one can deny or distort the unspeakable horrors endured by the Jewish people.

“Regardless of religion or culture, we must stand together, preserving evidence and trans­form­ing it into a lasting commitment to fight hate in all its forms.”

The commemoration events of the liberation of Auschwitz-­Birkenau will begin with the laying of wreaths and lighting of candles by survivors at the Wall of Death near Block 11 at 7pm on Monday (AEDT).

The main commemoration will start at 2am on Tuesday (AEDT) with speeches by Auschwitz survivors and a tribute to victims by survivors and heads of state ­delegations.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/world/learn-holocaust-lessons-and-act-on-antisemitic-hatred-says-jewish-leader-alex-ryvchin/news-story/285b5ad4a0d8b9d4900cfa5b4058ed50

https://www.auschwitz.org/en/home-page-80/

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f79739 (287) No.22444509>>22450985 >>22451006

[pop]YouTube embed. Click thumbnail to play.

>>22428559

>>22430571

>>22444496

LIVE | 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz

Auschwitz Memorial / Miejsce Pamięci Auschwitz

Jan 27, 2025

On 27 January 2025, we will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the German Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz.

LIVE ON JANUARY 27 at 4:00 pm CET | PRODUCER: POLISH TELEVISION

Until the liberation of some 7,5 thousand prisoners remaining at the site of the camp by soldiers of the Red Army, approx. 1.1 million people were murdered in Auschwitz, mostly Jews, but also Poles, the Roma and Sinti, Soviet prisoners of war, and people of other nationalities.

"Nothing will be easy about returning to Auschwitz, 80 years after I was liberated.

This commemoration will be the last of its kind. We will be there. Will you stand with us?"

Michael Bornstein, Auschwitz Survivor

The broadcast is available to all, providing an opportunity for joint commemoration and global reflection on the significance of the events of the past. All institutions and organisations around the world are encouraged to join the commemoration by organising a space in their locations where the broadcast from the Memorial can be watched together.

Such a form of commemorating the anniversary in different parts of the world is both a mark of respect for history and a call to take moral responsibility for the future, a key component of which is the memory of the Auschwitz tragedy. Planning and announcing a joint viewing of the broadcast in Your institutions can be an important element in uniting Your community around the memory.

Join us on January 27.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=180tHqgUW00

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f79739 (287) No.22444552>>22444555

>>22400178

>>22400387

COMMENTARY: Donald Trump highlights why Anthony Albanese’s ‘keep calm and carry on’ will not work

NICK CATER - 27 January 2025

1/2

The World Economic Forum was at its obsequious best as it gathered for an address by the newly inaugurated US President on Thursday. Donald Trump joined the global elite for the best part of an hour to deliver scripted remarks and respond to questions from a panel led by WEF president Borge Brende.

“We know that you called President Xi Jinping,” remarked Brende. “He called me,” Trump corrected him. “I think that we’re going to have a very good relationship.”

There can be little doubt who called whom to arrange the video link between the White House and the WEF forum. Trump’s uncompromising performance at the festival of corporate virtue-signalling showed the level of authority he commands.

In January 2021, the month Joe Biden became president, the theme of the annual Davos forum was the Great Reset, a blueprint for a system more diverse, equitable and inclusive than the privileged, predatory and patriarchal system under which the assembled delegates became rich.

This year, a wave of collective amnesia swept through the Swiss mountain resort, rendering delegates unable to recall the nonsense they’d been talking for the past four years.

Peer-level exchanges between DEI officers, partnerships to dismantle systemic racism, ensuring the full participation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer individuals in socio-economic life and other worthless schemes appeared to have vanished from delegates’ memory banks as they greeted the US President with unctuous applause.

“My administration has taken action to abolish all discriminatory, diversity, equity and inclusion nonsense,” Trump said. “America will once again become a merit-based country.

“There are only two genders: male and female. We will have no men participating in women’s sports. Transgender operations, which became the rage, will occur very rarely.

“I terminated the ridiculous and incredibly wasteful Green New Deal. I call it the green new scam. I withdrew from the one-sided Paris climate accord and ended the insane and costly electric vehicle mandate. I declared a national energy emergency to unlock the liquid gold under our feet. I’m also taking swift action to stop the invasion at our southern border

“No longer will our government label the speech of our own citizens as misinformation or disinformation, which are the favourite words of those who wish to stop the free exchange of ideas and, frankly, progress.”

If there was a murmur of disapproval from the audience, it was inaudible on the official recording. The overwhelming sentiment from his corporate audience appeared to be relief. No more endless meetings with bloated HR departments, no more protection money to the corrupt and subversive Black Lives Matter movement, and no more tedious board papers on triple bottom lines.

The President had given them the authority to do what business does best: create wealth and expand prosperity. Millions of pages of mumbo-jumbo could be committed to the shredder. Capital could be allocated on the advice of the capital markets rather than responding to government diktat. Liberation day had arrived.

Trump’s inauguration marked much more than the transfer of power from one administration to the next. It was the start of the counter-revolution predicted by Christopher F. Rufo in 2023 in his book, America’s Cultural Revolution: How the Radical Left Conquered Everything. Rufo has Trump’s ear and was part of the transition team at Mar-a-Lago. His influence in Trump’s inaugural address is unmistakable: Trump follows his prescription for counter-revolution against the left’s cultural revolution.

Trump failed in his first-term goal of draining the swamp. In his second term, his goal is to dismantle the anti-democratic DEI departments, capture bureaucracies and turn them to dust. He intends to split the nexus between the cultural revolutionaries and the deep state, restoring the power assumed by judges, bureaucrats and social engineers, and returning authority to the people.

Rufo traces the links between today’s militant culture warriors and America’s cultural revolution that began in 1968 with student uprisings, urban riots and revolutionary violence. It became the template for everything that followed. The intellectual foundation was laid with the critical theories of Herbert Marcuse, Angela Davis, Paolo Freire and Derek Bell, from which the strategy of the long march through the institutions emerged

Race replaced class as the new proletariat. The precondition for revolution was the complete disintegration of the existing culture, economy and society.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22444555

>>22444552

2/2

It would require introducing what Marcuse termed “liberating tolerance”, which manifests as intolerance of conservatives.

The new regime would enforce strict censorship on universities, corporations, media outlets, educational institutions, political parties and the state itself.

The radical left’s stranglehold of universities, cultural institutions, the public service and the corporate world has tightened considerably since the outbreak of the Covid pandemic, giving the new woke establishment the appearance of invulnerability.

Yet Rufo maintains that the new regime harbours critical weaknesses and that its gains could be reversed.

He writes: “Ultimately, critical theory will be put to a simple test: Are conditions improving or not improving? Are cities safer or less safe? Are students learning to read or not learning to read? The new regime can only suppress the answers for so long.”

With hindsight, it was Trump’s good fortune to sit out the past four years and allow the Biden administration to be the crash-test dummy for critical theory pushed to extremes.

Biden reaped the ugly legacy of defunded police, diversity-hire firefighters, hundreds of billions lavished on lunatic green boondoggles, and self-inflicted pain from rising gas prices.

Trump, meanwhile, made political incorrectness his hallmark, violating every woke stricture with impunity and evident delight. Like the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe, the rebellious instinct is infectious, and the end will come quickly.

The dominoes are falling across the English-speaking world as the gap widens between woke’s utopian abstractions and concrete failures.

Jacinda Ardern’s foolish excesses paved the way for conservative government in NZ while the Trudeau experiment is drawing to a dismal end in Canada. The reckoning will come for Keir Starmer’s accidental Labour government once the Conservatives can get their act together.

Anthony Albanese should have executed a handbrake turn 15 months ago when the world’s first referendum on identity politics came down decisively on the side of common sense. Yet he lacks the courage or intelligence to confront the nutbags in his own party or the destabilising and divisive policies of the Greens.

Albanese will be judged by his record. He has been unable to solve everyday problems such as soaring energy prices and inflation even on his own terms. Family structures have eroded, and his pro-immigration, pro-Palestinian indulgences have damaged the social fabric. The ever-expanding state has usurped Australia’s culture of self-reliance, and the industrious middle class is discouraged and despondent.

Trump’s storming start to his presidency has further highlighted Albanese’s impotency. His attempt to keep calm and carry on will ultimately prove as futile as Kamala Harris’s vacuous and valueless presidential campaign.

Nick Cater is senior fellow at Menzies Research Centre.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/donald-trump-highlights-why-anthony-albaneses-keep-calm-and-carry-on-will-not-work/news-story/688f2b1e9bc7443432f73162d18548f1

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f79739 (287) No.22444595>>22444601

File (hide): 6aaeb37ee02b656⋯.jpg (420.53 KB,750x1316,375:658,EM_23.jpg) (h) (u)

>>22254943

I was at the centre of an Elon storm - and survived

David Swan - JANUARY 27, 2025

1/2

When you wake up to hundreds of Twitter notifications, it’s generally not for something good.

It’s happened to me only once before, about five years ago. Atlassian CEO Mike Cannon-Brookes didn’t like a story that had my name on it, and a late-night tweet from the billionaire criticising the story took off, racking up dozens of tweets of support.

This time, it was nuclear. And it came from the world’s richest and most thin-skinned man, Elon Musk.

I was working from my parents’ beach house, during a sunny day on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula. It was a Sunday -- already typically a relatively quiet day for news – and it was the week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, which is even quieter.

I spent the day writing a piece I’d been marinating on for a while: my tech predictions for 2025. It was pitched as a fun and relatively lighthearted, but still ultimately sincere and informative run-down of what was to come over the next 12 months.

Each prediction was by no means guaranteed, but certainly possible and could be justified with evidence: cryptocurrencies continuing their rampant upswing, AI going through a difficult period, Trump’s tariffs wreaking havoc on electronics prices.

I was nearing the end of writing the piece when I thought to myself: what will Musk be up to?

Surely, any technology prediction piece worth its salt will need to address whatever the world’s wealthiest -- and arguably most influential – man does next year.

One answer seemed obvious. The incessant tweeting, the controversies and constant outrages, the demanding role in Donald Trump’s incoming administration, and a decline in vehicle sales will all collectively catch up to Musk, whose workload already was unsustainable. He’ll be forced to resign from Tesla -- a company he didn’t found despite what many think – and hand the reins over to a steadier hand.

I wrote as much, and filed the story, which was published online a couple of hours later.

From there it was business as usual. Watching the rest of the day’s cricket on TV, eating fish and chips for dinner, bathing our son and putting him to bed. I didn’t hear anything until the next morning, when I woke up at 6am to the avalanche of notifications.

“Oh my god,” I remember saying to my still-asleep wife. “Elon’s tweeted it.”

He sure had.

“I predict that the Sydney Morning Herald will continue to lose readership in 2025 for relentlessly lying to their audience and boring them to death,” Musk wrote, in response to a screenshot of my article posted by one of his followers.

Musk’s tweet had been “liked” more than 2000 times. It had about 300 retweets and more than 200 replies, most of whom were in fierce agreement with the hypersensitive executive.

Musk’s army variously described me as a moron, a liar, insane, a bullshit artist, and fake news trash.

Thankfully, having endured a social media storm before, I was prepared.

I instantly turned off X notifications and didn’t spend too much more time scrolling through what Musk’s followers were saying. Social media notifications drive surges of dopamine, designed to keep us coming back to check Facebook and X every few minutes, but having hundreds of constant notifications didn’t equate to an avalanche of dopamine. It was just noise -- a lot of noise – and I found it relatively easy to just switch off.

Colleagues and friends began texting to check if I was OK. I was -- I wasn’t taking it personally. I hadn’t gotten anything wrong, for example – going viral for making a mistake would be bad – and I still stand by every word that I wrote.

To be honest, I found it exhilarating.

My family was bemused but slightly stressed that Musk’s followers might “dox” us -- collect and reveal our private information like where we live – given how militant and terminally online Elon stans can often be. It was a valid concern.

For me, things got more stressful -- and surreal – when my friends began texting screenshots of my face on rival news outlets. I was the Daily Mail’s top story for about an hour. “Elon Musk launches savage attack on Aussie newspaper”, their headline read. News.com.au, The Daily Telegraph and The Nightly quickly followed suit, as did others.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22444601

>>22444595

2/2

I started mulling what I should say if a news outlet came to me for comment, and though it was my day off, I checked in with colleagues to make sure no editors were upset at my becoming a news story. They weren’t. The piece had already become one of my most well-read in weeks, gaining a significant bump in global readership thanks to Musk.

The outrage cycle -- if that’s what you would call it – lasted about 24 hours. Musk, his followers, and the local press moved on to the next thing, as I’d assumed they would. A few radio stations and podcasts were interested in talking about it, but I declined. I’m generally uneasy being the story – our jobs are to document the news, not become it.

I think there are a few lessons and observations from what I now dub my own Elongate.

Firstly, there’s a loud and visceral reaction to every post and utterance that comes out of the man. Musk has more than 200 million followers -- about 2.5 per cent of the global population – and the daily news cycle, particularly the technology news cycle, is dominated by whatever he says on any given day.

To me, and I’m sure to many, that’s exhausting, and we would be well served to tone down Musk and surface other voices, as difficult as that can be. Musk has achieved a lot and I respect much of what he’s done, but his descent into right-wing provocateur has been tiring. I’m getting a bit over him and his shtick, to be honest, despite what you might assume by my penning this piece.

Secondly, being in the middle of an outrage can feel long, even never-ending, in the moment. But they do end, and often quickly. In this 24-hour news and social media cycle, not to mention our collective short attention span, there’s always something next.

People move on, and that’s something to tell yourself if you ever find yourself making headlines. The saga was also a healthy reminder of what we do as journalists to other people every day, positive or negative: putting their names and faces online and in the newspaper for millions to see.

Third, Musk has a point. Well, not exactly. Our subscriber base is growing, not declining: in August Nine revealed the total number of subscribers for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Brisbane Times and The Australian Financial Review grew 8 per cent in the previous financial year to more than half a million. Further, neither I nor this masthead will be boring readers to death in 2025, or relentlessly lying to them. But what Musk tapped into is a deep disdain for mainstream media among a certain subset of the population; that’s something that I and the rest of my colleagues globally need to grapple with.

We’re not perfect, to be sure, but I’d argue the animosity that comes our way these days is unwarranted. Bashing journalists can be a bit of a sport, like bashing lawyers, politicians or parking inspectors. If journalists and publishers are to remain relevant, we need to find a way to remain connected with all segments of society, including Musk fanatics.

It was fun, and in a way validating, to find myself at the centre of an Elon storm. I won’t be trying to make a habit of it. I also won’t be shying away from making bold predictions, tackling important issues or picking fights with billionaires when necessary. Musk might have one of the world’s most fragile egos, but I certainly don’t, and we’re going to need more people standing up to him if we don’t want to blindly follow his every whim.

https://www.smh.com.au/national/i-was-at-the-centre-of-an-elon-storm-and-survived-20250113-p5l3rt.html

https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1873410294359421048

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f79739 (287) No.22444638>>22444640

File (hide): ffa25dcf1f96a32⋯.jpg (951.35 KB,3305x2203,3305:2203,Chinese_Australian_writer_….jpg) (h) (u)

>>22014905 (pb)

Australian forced to choose between food and clothes in Beijing jail

Matthew Knott - January 23, 2025

1/2

Beijing prison officials slashed jailed Chinese-Australian writer Yang Hengjun’s access to food and hygiene products late last year in a move that triggered official complaints from Australia’s top diplomat in China.

Yang was detained by Chinese authorities six years ago this week and was handed a suspended death sentence last February after being found guilty of mysterious espionage offences.

Yang’s supporters, who say he has been subjected to torture-like conditions since his arrest, are calling on the federal government to forcefully speak out about his treatment even if it offends the Chinese government.

Sources familiar with Yang’s prison conditions said his monthly spending allowance was cut from 200 Chinese yuan ($44) to 100 yuan ($22) in November for three months because eyesight problems meant he could not carry out his assigned chores.

Yang told Australia’s ambassador to China, Scott Dewar, during a monthly consular visit on November 15 that he was facing “hard and harsh” conditions in prison.

Describing his reduced spending allowance as “unbearable”, Yang said he had been forced to choose between buying food, hygiene products and clothes.

Yang, who was suffering from the flu at the time, said he had not eaten fruit for several months and that he felt humiliated to have to ask fellow prisoners for basic food products such as soup.

The revelations about Yang’s conditions, which alarmed Dewar and fellow Australian diplomats, provide the most detailed view of his life inside Beijing’s Municipal No.2 prison, where he has been held since last June.

Yang reported that, despite Beijing’s frigid winter temperatures, he did not have a jumper because he did not have sufficient funds. During a subsequent consular visit, he said he had worn socks on his hands because gloves were not available.

Yang also reported that he could not afford to buy toothpaste despite suffering serious dental issues.

The Chinese-born pro-democracy blogger and academic worked for China’s Ministry of State Security before becoming an Australian citizen in 2002. His case was heard in secret in May 2021, with the details of the espionage charges never disclosed to the public.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese raised Yang’s case with Chinese President Xi Jinping in a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rio De Janiero, held three days after Dewar’s November consular visit.

Like other prisoners, the 58-year-old has worked for eight hours a day sweeping and cleaning.

Sources familiar with Yang’s consular visits said that Dewar complained about Yang’s conditions to Beijing prison officials, telling them that the Australian should not have to choose between clothing, food and hygiene products.

The Chinese officials countered that Yang was receiving three meals a day as well as milk and an egg which should be enough to meet his dietary needs.

Dewar insisted that Yang’s basic nutrition and hygiene needs were not being met and that he needed access to soap, shampoo, shaving foam and toothpaste.

Dewar later told Yang that Australian officials had made representations to Chinese authorities in Canberra and Beijing about the halving of his spending allowance and its impacts on his health and nutrition.

Yang said he feared he would die as a political prisoner in China in 2023 after being told he had a 10-centimetre cyst on one of his kidneys.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22444640

>>22444638

2/2

A spokeswoman for Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the government had made clear it was “appalled at Dr Yang’s suspended death sentence”.

“The government advocates for Dr Yang at every opportunity, at the highest levels, and we will continue to do so,” the spokesperson said.

“This includes advocacy in support of Dr Yang’s interests and wellbeing, including access to appropriate medical care.

“Dr Yang has demonstrated remarkable strength during this difficult period. Our thoughts remain with him and his loved ones.”

Yang’s spending allowance was still reduced in December, but he reported feeling in better spirits than the previous month. His conditions in prison were better than when he was held in a detention centre run by the Ministry of State Security, he said.

While there he was confined with no sunlight, artificial lights on all night and a communal open toilet.

A spokesman from the Chinese embassy in Canberra said he was not in a position to comment about Yang’s treatment in prison.

Justin Bassi, executive director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said he believed that Yang had been subjected to “regular acts of state-sanctioned mistreatment, which have frequently crossed the line over to torture”.

“The mistreatment of an Australian citizen cannot be glossed over as part of a compromise to help stabilise trade and cultural ties,” said Bassi, who served as chief of staff to Coalition foreign minister Marise Payne.

Bassi said he was concerned that the government no longer labelled Yang a victim of “arbitrary detention”, as the Morrison government did in 2021. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials last year informed a parliamentary committee there were no cases of Australians that it would describe as arbitrary detention.

Sophie Richardson, co-chief executive of Chinese Human Rights Defenders, said she understood that Yang had suffered “appalling” conditions since being arrested.

“Beijing made its disregard for the health of wrongfully detained peaceful critics lethally clear in Liu Xiaobo’s death,” she said, referring to the Nobel-Prize winning author and human rights activist who died in 2017 after a long bout with liver cancer in a Chinese jail.

“Canberra has to grapple with that spectre as it fights for Yang’s health and release”.

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/australian-forced-to-choose-between-food-and-clothes-in-beijing-jail-20250123-p5l6m4.html

https://qresear.ch/?q=Yang+Hengjun

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f79739 (287) No.22444653

>>22140000 (pb)

>>22431836

>>22431841

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese slams Grace Tame’s ‘F*ck Murdoch’ shirt as ‘disrespectful’

Jessica Page - 27 January 2025

Anthony Albanese has slammed the T-shirt worn by former Australian of the Year Grace Tame at a morning tea with the prime minister as “disrespectful”, saying it was “clearly designed to get attention”.

Speaking in Perth, Mr Albanese said he did not notice the provocative message - F*ck Murdoch - emblazoned on the shirt before shaking hands and posing for a photo with the controversial abuse survivor turned advocate.

“It was clearly designed to get attention,” he said on Monday.

“I don’t intend to add to that attention because I do think that it takes away from what the day should be about, which is the amazing people who are nominated as the Australians of the Year.”

Ms Tame said Saturday’s morning tea at the Prime Minister’s Canberra residence ahead of the Australian of the Year announcement was a platform to make change and said she wore the shirt to “speak truth to power”.

Mr Albanese defended posing for a photo with her, but said he “clearly” disagreed with the message.

“Well, I clearly disagree. I want the debate to be respectful. And that’s a choice that she made,” he said.

“We do have in this country, people are allowed to express themselves, but I thought it was disrespectful of the event and of the people for who the event was primarily for.

“There was a queue of more than, how many people in the queue, at least 60.

“There was all the Australia Day nominees, there was all of the past Australians of the year, there was the Australia Day Council. People were just there, one by one, going through, being welcomed.”

Earlier, asked why she was not “kicked out” of the venue, Mr Albanese said: “Look, I held a function, it is something that, in my view, took away from the people who were there, and my focus was simply on that,” he told ABC Radio.

https://thewest.com.au/politics/federal-politics/prime-minister-anthony-albanese-slams-grace-tames-f-murdoch-shirt-as-disrespectful-c-17520663

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f79739 (287) No.22450985>>22451001

[pop]YouTube embed. Click thumbnail to play.

>>22430571

>>22444496

>>22444509

Australian shares Auschwitz survival story as world marks 80th anniversary

Mazoe Ford - 28 January 2025

1/2

When Yvonne Engelman was 14 years old, she made a promise that would shape every day of her life after that.

"My father told me, 'I don't know where we are going but I want you to promise me one thing, that you will survive'," she said.

"I found it a very strange request, but I positively said, 'Of course, I will survive'."

It was 1944, and the teenager, her mother and her father had just arrived at the Auschwitz concentration camp and extermination centre in German-occupied Poland, after being rounded up with other Jews in Czechoslovakia.

A German SS officer with a baton in his hand then gestured for the family of three to separate.

"They went to the left and I went to the right, and that was the last time I saw my parents," she said.

Now 97 and living in Sydney, Mrs Engelman can still recall what happened next in devastating detail.

"We had to strip off our clothing, shave our heads, and many of us were ushered into a room which had a lot of showers, but no water and we were locked up there all day and all night … but the gas didn't work," she said.

The teenage girl had survived mass murder and day one at Auschwitz because of a malfunctioning gas chamber.

She was then put to work searching garments that the prisoners had been forced to discard, in case valuable items were sewn into them by their owners.

Every day was punishing --- prisoners were starving, lice-infected, had scurvy, freezing for much of the year, and living with an unshakeable dread.

"We worked 10 hours daily with a great fear that maybe we would be the next [gas chamber] victims," Mrs Engelman said.

"The cruelty and the hatred that I have experienced, and the hunger, I have never forgotten."

However, with the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz by Soviet troops, she told the ABC she wanted people to know one very important thing about her: it never broke her.

"The Germans never, ever succeeded to break my spirit," she said.

"I had a promise to fulfil, and I was determined to do it."

Of the 6 million Jews who were systematically killed by the Nazis in German-occupied Europe during the Holocaust, more than 1.1 million were murdered at Auschwitz.

Mrs Engelman travelled to Poland for the 75th anniversary events, but was not able to make it this time.

For the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi German death camp by Soviet troops, survivors were joined by world leaders and dignitaries for a special event, in a tent built over the gate to the former Auschwitz II-Birkenau camp.

Some of the relatives of Israelis held hostage by Hamas also attended Auschwitz for the commemoration.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus represented Australia.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron, Polish President Andrzej Duda and King Charles were among the leaders in attendance.

It was the first time a British monarch visited Auschwitz.

On a visit to the Jewish Community Centre in the city of Krakow ahead of the commemoration the king said, "the act of remembering the evils of the past remains a vital task".

"There is much work still to be done if we are not just to remember the past but to use it to inspire us to build a kinder and more compassionate world for future generations," he said.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22451001

>>22450985

2/2

None of the heads of state gave speeches during the almost two-hour service --- instead the main speeches were delivered, powerfully, by four of the survivors.

With the world's leaders listening to every word, the survivors gave often-graphic accounts of the horrors and history of Auschwitz.

Tova Friedman, 86, who was six and a half years old when the camp was liberated, told the audience she was speaking "to represent the children".

"Very few of us are left … so I am here to talk about those who aren't here, and I am very honoured to speak to this kind of audience who has come from all over the world to mourn and honour the memory of our people who were so brutally murdered by the Nazis," Ms Friedman said.

Ms Friedman, like several of the survivors, also spoke about the rise of antisemitism that exists in the world today.

"The rampant antisemitism that is spreading among the nations is shocking, it is shocking to all of us to our children and our grandchildren," she said.

The oldest survivor, Leon Weintrub, 99, also spoke of his fear of the return of far-right politics.

"The commemoration of the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz serves as a reminder of the inhuman treatment of individuals, but also a warning against the increasingly vocal movement of radical and anti-democratic right," Mr Weintrub said.

The commemoration included the Jewish mourners' prayer, Kaddish, recited by Poland's chief rabbi, Michael Joseph Schudrich.

At the end of the ceremony survivors and world leaders lit candles at the empty wooden train car, which sits on the tracks at Auschwitz --- a car that carried people to the camps and to their deaths.

It was restored thanks to funding from Australian-Israeli businessman Sir Frank Lowy, whose father Hugo was killed in the camp.

When Mr Zelenskyy, whose country is currently at war, put down his candle, the crowd applauded.

Martin Winstone from the Holocaust Educational Trust in the UK said this 80th anniversary was an important one to mark.

"This anniversary, to be frank, is probably the last landmark anniversary at which there are still significant numbers of survivors who are alive," Mr Winstone told the ABC.

"It's obviously deeply sad, and it's a challenge to all of us as to how we maintain that memory when the witnesses are no longer with us.

"The feeling this time around is almost, this is a celebration of the survivors of their courage and perseverance, not just for what they went through, but for many of them who've subsequently chosen to share their stories."

Every week for the past 32 years, survivor Yvonne Engelman has been sharing her story when she volunteers at the Sydney Jewish Museum.

As the allies came closer, Mrs Engelman said she was sent on a death march to Germany, then forced to work in an ammunition factory, where she remained until the end of the war.

"When we were liberated … there were many countries which were sponsoring orphans, like Australia, England, America and Sweden," Mrs Engelman said.

"I had a look at the map, I wanted to get away as far as I possibly can from Europe, so I chose Australia."

She went on to marry another survivor, John Engleman, and said she would remain forever grateful for the life and family they built in Sydney.

"Every Tuesday I speak to school children from all different religions and tell them what I have endured and what I have achieved," she said.

"The most important thing, they ask me, what can I tell them? First of all, the most important thing is never, ever to hate, because [with] hatred, you hurt nobody, only yourself.

"Treat your fellow human beings the way you would like to be treated, and honour your parents because they are your best friends --- that is my message."

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-28/auschwitz-anniversary-australian-80th/104865456

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yR5Zpd_ZK9w

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f79739 (287) No.22451006>>22451009

>>22430571

>>22444496

>>22444509

At Auschwitz, a solemn 80th anniversary ceremony is held amid global rise in antisemitism

Rob Harris - January 28, 2025

1/2

Oswiecim, Poland: Survivors of a notorious Nazi death camp have warned that a global rise in antisemitism is laying fertile ground for another Holocaust, as world leaders gathered to mark 80 years since Auschwitz-Birkenau was liberated by the Soviet Army.

Marian Turski, who was 14 when he was forced to the Lodz Ghetto and then deported to Auschwitz, where his brother and father were murdered, used his speech to condemn a “huge rise in antisemitism” around the world since the outbreak of war in the Middle East 15 months ago.

The focus of the milestone commemoration in Poland was on the survivors, most in their late 80s or 90s, who spoke movingly of their own tales of endurance and hope, of the despair of losing loved ones, as well as a sense of incredulity at the efficiency of the Nazi state-sanctioned killing machine.

Turski, 98, said: “Today and now we see a huge rise in antisemitism, and that is the precise antisemitism which led to the Holocaust.”

“Let us oppose the conspiracy theories saying all the evil of this world results from a plot started by some indefinite social groups, and Jews are often mentioned as one such group,” he said.

Survivors wrapped in winter coats, some wearing blue-and-white striped scarves that recalled their prison uniforms, nodded and applauded. Some sat with their eyes closed; others held their heads in their hands.

A Polish historian and journalist, Turski called for dialogue in front of gathered monarchs, presidents and prime ministers, saying: “Let us not be afraid to convince ourselves that we cannot solve problems between neighbours.”

“All the hatred and hate speech led to armed conflicts between those neighbouring peoples and ethnic groups. That always ended in bloodshed.”

He said thoughts should go to those “millions of victims who will never tell us what they experienced or felt”.

Tova Friedman, an 86-year-old survivor, recalled the horror of watching girls being taken to the gas chambers, “crying and shivering” as they walked barefoot in the snow.

“We were victims in a moral vacuum, but today we have an obligation, not only to remember, which is very important, but also to warn and to teach that hatred only begets hatred, killing more killing,” she said.

“We must all reawaken our collective conscience to transform this hatred that has so powerfully ripped our society.”

A day of solemn ceremony, shadowed by a resurgence of nationalism from several European countries and a global rise in antisemitism, began near a former gas chamber and crematory in the Polish town of Oswiecim, 44 kilometres from where more than 1.1 million people, mostly Jews, were murdered.

Some of the 56 elderly camp survivors present walked together to the Death Wall, lighting candles, in a courtyard between two red-brick former barracks.

The wall, flanked on one side by a building in which SS physicians conducted gruesome and often fatal experiments on female inmates, is where prisoners and Polish resistance fighters were executed by the Nazis. Bullet holes are still visible.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22451009

>>22451006

2/2

Polish President Andrzej Duda, whose nation lost 6 million citizens during the war, spoke poignantly about the importance of protecting the memory of those who were murdered at the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp.

“We Poles, on whose land occupied by Nazis Germans at that time they built this extermination industry and this concentration camp, are today the guardians of memory,” Duda told reporters.

The camp was created by the Nazis in 1940 on the site of a former Polish army barracks in Oswiecim, in German-occupied southern Poland. Its name was Germanised into Auschwitz by the Nazis.

The Soviet Red Army troops arrived here on January 27, 1945, helping uncover one of the greatest atrocities ever committed by and against mankind. That date was formally designated Holocaust Memorial Day by a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly of the United Nations in 2005.

Speaking at the Jewish Community Centre in Krakow before the memorial, King Charles warned of the risks of allowing evil to flourish.

On the eve of the war, 56,000 Jews lived in Krakow, but when Nazi Germany was defeated, only about 4000 Jews remained in the city. The community centre now has 1000 Jewish members, including 58 Holocaust survivors, and is the heart of the city’s growing Jewish community.

“It is a moment when we recall the depths to which humanity can sink when evil is allowed to flourish, ignored for too long by the world,” the King said.

Representatives from Moscow have been banished from anniversary events since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which the Kremlin justified on the false pretext that Ukraine, whose president is Jewish, was run by Nazis.

Russian Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, criticised organisers, telling them that “your lives, jobs, entertainment, and the very existence of your people, your children have been paid for with the blood of Soviet soldiers who defeated the Third Reich”.

https://www.theage.com.au/world/europe/at-auschwitz-a-solemn-80th-anniversary-ceremony-is-held-amid-global-rise-in-antisemitism-20250127-p5l7lf.html

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f79739 (287) No.22451021>>22451029 >>22460329 >>22490539 >>22490564 >>22490631 >>22490661 >>22490679 >>22494569 >>22494654

[pop]YouTube embed. Click thumbnail to play.

>>22225621

>>22333802

Queensland government halts hormone treatment for new trans patients under 18

Jack McKay - 28 January 2025

1/2

The Queensland government has put an immediate pause on new trans patients under the age of 18 from accessing hormone therapies in the state's public health system.

Health Minister Tim Nicholls unveiled the pause on Tuesday as he also announced a review into the evidence for stage one and two hormone therapies for children with gender dysphoria.

Mr Nicholls said the probe would be led by an independent external reviewer, with the terms of reference to be determined in consultation with the reviewer.

"The review will encourage the participation of clinicians and professionals with relevant expertise, as well as young people with lived experience and their families," he said.

"A final written report is to be provided to government within 10 months of the reviewer being appointed."

Mr Nicholls said there had been an "apparently unauthorised provision of paediatric gender services" within the Cairns Sexual Health Service.

He said this had resulted in 17 children receiving hormone therapy that "may not align with the accepted Australian treatment guidelines".

The minister announced two separate investigations into the Cairns Sexual Health Service --- one that will look at the governance framework and one that will look at the services delivered.

Pause to remain until government considers review outcomes

Mr Nicholls said that while the broader review was underway, the government would immediately pause new patients under the age of 18 from receiving hormone therapy in the state's health system.

"A binding health service directive will immediately pause the prescription of stage one and stage two hormone therapies to new patients in Queensland Health facilities," he said.

"Patients who are already on a treatment plan with the Queensland Children's Gender Service will be exempt. I'm advised that medically that is the appropriate procedure to follow.

"The pause will remain in effect until such time as the government considers and acts on the outcomes of the broader review."

Mr Nicholls said the Queensland Children's Gender Service would continue to offer all other clinical support to adolescents experiencing gender dysphoria.

"That includes psychiatric and psychological treatment, counselling, and other clinically recommended medical interventions," he said.

"We want people to know that they will be supported.

"We owe it to children to ensure that care is grounded on solid evidence and that we act in this contested area and this developing area with caution."

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22451029

File (hide): e45b07667a590db⋯.mp4 (11.14 MB,960x540,16:9,Tim_Nicholls_unveiled_the_….mp4) (h) (u) [play once] [loop]

>>22451021

2/2

'Detrimental' to trans children

Greens MP Michael Berkman accused the LNP of being fixated on "culture war crap".

"This is essential treatment for people born intersex and for young people experiencing gender dysphoria," he said.

"Hormone therapy and puberty blockers save lives.

"Last year's evaluation of the state's gender services found that these services provide safe, evidence-based care."

A Labor opposition spokesperson said today's change impacted some of the most vulnerable.

"Ultimately it should be a medical discussion and decision between an individual and their doctors --- not one made by politicians," they said.

Eloise Brook, CEO of the Australian Professional Association for Trans Health (AusPath), said that for the small number of children who needed access to puberty blockers and hormones in Australia, treatment was essential and "frequently life-saving".

"The Queensland government's decision to stop any new public treatments will have a detrimental effect on trans children and the families that support them, and in particular, those families who might not be able to afford to pay for private treatment," Dr Brook told the ABC.

AusPath represents more than 600 healthcare professionals and researchers.

Previous review found no evidence patients were 'hurried or coerced'

An earlier independent evaluation into Queensland Children's Gender Service was finalised last year under the former Labor government.

It found no evidence that patients or their families were "hurried or coerced" into decisions about medical intervention.

Mr Nicholls said the scope of the prior evaluation did not examine the "evidence-base" for stage one and stage two hormone therapy.

"The evaluation that was undertaken was in the nature of how is the service delivered, not whether that service ought to be delivered," he said.

The evaluation noted there had been a significant increase in recent years in the number of children and adolescents with "diverse gender experiences" seeking care and assessment.

The report noted that 547 children and adolescents were receiving care from Queensland Children's Gender Service as of June last year, while another 491 patients were waiting for care.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-28/government-halts-gender-hormone-treatment-new-trans-patients-18/104867244

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PcwLxuzTY8

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f79739 (287) No.22451103>>22451119 >>22451150

>>21881260 (pb)

>>22134154 (pb)

Ryan Meuleman’s dad Peter Meuleman says it’s time for Daniel and Catherine Andrews to ‘finally tell the truth’

Daniel and Catherine Andrews have been given 28 days to apologise and pay compensation after being hit with new legal action over a near-fatal car crash with a teenage cyclist in Blairgowrie.

Michael Warner - January 28, 2025

1/2

Daniel and Catherine Andrews are facing a Federal Court defamation action over their statements on a near-fatal car crash with a teenage cyclist.

In an escalation of the long-running bike boy dispute, lawyers for Ryan Meuleman last week served concerns notices on the former Victorian premier and his wife, giving them 28 days to apologise and compensate him.

“No more lies,” Ryan’s father Peter Meuleman said. “Daniel and Catherine Andrews can ­either finally tell the truth now, and apologise to Ryan, or we can let a Federal Court judge decide.”

Ryan was 15 when he was struck by the Andrews’ family SUV in Blairgowrie in January 2013, suffering serious internal injuries.

The defamation claim is separate to a Supreme Court case already being run by the Meuleman family against leading law firm Slater & Gordon, which acted for Ryan in the ­aftermath of the crash.

It is the first time Mr and Mrs Andrews have faced personal legal action over the incident.

It centres on comments they made last September after the release of a damning review of the crash conducted by the state’s former Assistant Commissioner for Traffic and Operations Raymond Shuey.

The Shuey review found that the Andrews’ SUV was “travelling at speed” -- on the wrong side of the road – and that Victoria Police had engaged in “an overt cover-up to avoid implicating a political figure in a life-threatening” incident.

It concluded that the police investigation, which supported the Andrews’ version of events, was “deeply flawed”, “unfounded” and “contrary to the available evidence”.

In a joint statement issued after the release of Dr Shuey’s review, the Andrews said: “This so-called report was commissioned by lawyers on behalf of their clients who are seeking money through the courts by suing their former lawyers. We did nothing wrong.

“This matter has already been comprehensively and independently investigated and closed by Victoria Police and integrity agencies. We will not dignify these appalling conspiracy theories by commenting further at this time.”

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22451119

File (hide): 90282c0fc06714c⋯.mp4 (15.45 MB,480x270,16:9,BBL_KvfSPabkJvwV_2.mp4) (h) (u) [play once] [loop]

>>22451103

2/2

The couple spoke out against the Meulemans a second time last November after audio of the former premier’s triple-0 call from the scene of the crash was released, in which he tells an emergency services operator “we’ve hit him”.

Mr and Mrs Andrews said of the audio: “The recording confirms the previous statements we’ve made on this matter. The cyclist came flying through from the bike path at Ridley St and T-boned our car at speed.

“This matter has been comprehensively investigated over many years by Victoria Police Professional Standards Command and IBAC.

“Furthermore, the cyclist’s current legal proceedings have nothing to do with us. We are not a party to them. While we are sorry that the cyclist was ­injured in the accident, we did nothing wrong.”

But Mr Meuleman said the evidence would show claims about proper investigations being conducted by Victoria Police Professional Standards Command or IBAC were false.

“Ryan has suffered terribly because of what Daniel and Catherine Andrews did to him that day and because of the lies they’ve told since,” Mr Meuleman said. “He didn’t die that day, thank God … but a part of him did. The crash was so traumatic for him and the ongoing lies have been just as bad.”

Mr and Mrs Andrews are ­expected to be called to give evidence about the circumstances of the crash if the case proceeds to trial.

Catherine Andrews has always maintained she was behind the wheel at the time of the crash, but was not breath-tested. There are also questions over how police investigated the incident and why Mr Andrews drove the damaged SUV away from the scene.

Ryan has always insisted the car was “speeding” and “seemed to come out of nowhere” when he was struck 17m from the Melbourne Rd-Ridley St intersection, contradicting the ­Andrews’ claims they came to a “complete stop” and “turned right from a stationary ­position”, ­“moments” before the collision.

Police photographs uncovered by the Herald Sun in November 2022 show extensive damage to the front of the Andrews’ car and its windscreen. A buried Ambulance Victoria report also detailed how the Andrews’ car “struck” Ryan while “travelling at 40 to 60km/h”.

The Andrews have engaged high-profile lawyer Leon Zwier to represent them in the dispute. Mr Zwier, of top law firm Arnold Bloch Leibler, helped the Andrews government scrap the East West Link contract at a cost of more than $1bn to taxpayers, as well as the 2026 Commonwealth Games, leading to a compensation payout of $380m.

The Meuleman case against Slater & Gordon is scheduled to go to trial in May.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-victoria/ryan-meulemans-dad-peter-meuleman-says-its-time-for-daniel-and-catherine-andrews-to-finally-tell-the-truth/news-story/9d2c713c2aaac1833652e3d95e2ac976

https://bikeboy.com.au/

https://x.com/BikeBoyScandal/status/1852285559395557880

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f79739 (287) No.22451150

[pop]YouTube embed. Click thumbnail to play.

>>22451103

Daniel and Andrews and Catherine Kesik- SUED for Defamation

The Bike Boy Scandal (Dan Andrews Car Crash)

Jan 28, 2025

MAJOR DEVELOPMENT - as seen in the Herald Sun, Tues Jan 28, 2025: Ryan Meuleman and his family are suing Daniel Andrews and Catherine Kesik for defamation to expose the truth about what happened on the day of the crash---and the lies perpetuated in the years since.

This is our moment to hold Daniel Andrews and his wife, Catherine Kesik, PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE for years of lies about the near-fatal crash involving 15-year-old cyclist Ryan Meuleman.

THE LIES

For over a decade, this political couple has perpetuated the lie that Ryan caused the collision. But now, previously hidden evidence has come to light, proving that they caused the crash that almost claimed the life of an innocent child.

THE TRAUMA

The physical trauma of the crash was devastating for Ryan. But according to Ryan’s psychiatrists, the lies told by Andrews and Kesik---and how they portrayed him in the media—have caused equal, if not greater, emotional damage.

Many of us know the pain of being lied about. But who among us has been defamed by the most powerful man in Victoria and his complicit wife? Ryan grew up believing justice doesn’t exist---that the powerful always win, and people like him are crushed.

That must change NOW!

THE LAWSUIT

This case will require Daniel Andrews and his wife to take the stand under oath, and submit to cross-examination. Their now-adult children who were in the car on the day of crash can also be cross-examined. And unlike in previous public inquiries where Andrews has used lines like “I can't recall” and “I don't recall” to mislead, they can be held in contempt of court if they lie and perjure themselves.

CRIMINAL CHARGES

Critically, if evidence of crimes are revealed during this case, that evidence will be referred to police who will be pressured to finally lay criminal charges over the crash and the subsequent cover-up.

PEOPLE POWER

The money raised through this GoFundMe campaign will fund this historic court case.

Australia is home to more than 27 million people. If everyone who believes in honesty and justice donates just a dollar or two to THE PEOPLE’S FUND TO SUE DANIEL ANDREWS AND CATHERINE KESIK, Ryan can win this case and prove once and for all that truth matters.

We must do this---not just for Ryan, but to show that truth and justice still have a place in Victoria. Please donate now, SHARE the fundraiser and be part of this historic moment.

GoFundMe Link:

https://gofund.me/0014e086

(* TIP: Slide the tip slider all the way to the left to ensure your full donation goes to the fund)

With gratitude, the Meuleman Family

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTC6_uOOTF8

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30f5f8 (1) No.22457952

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f79739 (287) No.22460297>>22460301 >>22465854 >>22482626

File (hide): 4db1720cc476aa3⋯.jpg (205.69 KB,750x689,750:689,VM_10.jpg) (h) (u)

>>22225435

>>22357731

>>22444396

Australian soldier Oscar Jenkins is alive, Penny Wong confirms

JOANNA PANAGOPOULOS and JAMES DOWLING - 29 January 2025

1/2

Australian soldier Oscar Jenkins, who was captured in eastern Ukraine, has been confirmed alive and in custody, and not dead as was previously feared.

Yet, Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia has called Russia a “murderous misinformation machine” and asked for “definitive video proof of Oscar being alive”.

Mr Jenkins, a 32-year-old Melbourne teacher, was serving in Ukraine’s armed forces when he was captured by Russian forces last year.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed reports on Wednesday, but threatened an “unequivocal” response against Russia should Mr Jenkins face harm, citing “serious concerns” for his wellbeing.

“The Australian government has received confirmation from Russia that Oscar Jenkins is alive and in custody,” Senator Wong said.

“We still hold serious concerns for Mr Jenkins as a prisoner of war.

“The government calls on Russia to release Mr Jenkins. If Russia does not provide Mr Jenkins the protections he is entitled to under international humanitarian law, our response will be unequivocal. (The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) continues to provide consular support to the family.

“We have made clear to Russia in Canberra and in Moscow that Mr Jenkins is a prisoner of war and Russia is obligated to treat him in accordance with international humanitarian law, including humane treatment.

“I have also spoken directly with the Ukrainian Foreign Minister and the President of the ICRC and am grateful for their ongoing advocacy for Mr Jenkins.”

Video of Russian forces interrogating Mr Jenkins after his capture surfaced just before Christmas.

Earlier this month, reports emerged Mr Jenkins had been killed -- reports that several Ukrainian security and government sources told media at the time were unfounded.

Ukrainian ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko told The Australian he was “very happy” to hear Oscar Jenkins was alive.

“This must be fantastic news for his family and relatives who were in limbo knowing what had happened. Imagine not knowing this news, (thinking that) he could have been killed.”

In a formal statement to the media, Mr Myroshnychenko had strong words for Russia.

“That Oscar Jenkins is alive is good news for Australians. However, that the Russian Federation refused to confirm his status for more than a month - and thereby put his family, friends and fellow Australians through anguish - is typical of that barbarous regime,” he said.

“We should strongly note that Russia is documented as killing and maltreating prisoners of war, as well as constantly lying on an industrial scale. It is a murderous misinformation machine that cannot be taken at its word alone.

“In line with international norms, Russia must therefore provide definitive video proof of Oscar being alive and, then more importantly, it should release him rather than use him as a human bargaining chip for its authoritarian aims.”

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22460301

>>22460297

2/2

Anthony Albanese appeared on the ABC earlier this afternoon, and, while he was still seeking confirmation of reports Mr Jenkins was alive, he said: “that has been the statement made by Russian authorities through to our Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials as well.”

“So if that is the case it certainly would be welcome,” he added.

“It is something that we have demanded information on and we are demanding more information so that we can be certain that what has been suggested is in fact the case.

“One of the things we have been keen on doing is making sure that Mr Jenkins’ family get information before it is spoken about publicly as well. But at this stage we are seeking further confirmation and details. We will continue to do so.”

Senator Wong is currently en route to Australia from Poland.

Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations co-chair Kateryna Argryou said Vladimir Putin “bears responsibility” for the “sense of powerlessness” Mr Jenkins’ family endured.

“The Ukrainian community is simply overjoyed by reports that Oscar is alive. What a relief this news must be to his family and friends, who have had a shocking time filled with uncertainty, grief and a sense of powerlessness, particularly over Christmas when Oscar’s capture was first reported,” Ms Argryou said.

“Putin bears responsibility for their pain. It should never have taken so long to confirm Oscar was alive. We hope that the Russian authorities are treating him humanely and in accordance with international law, something they have not afforded to more than the vast majority of Ukrainian POWs.

“This wonderful news about Oscar, which we hope and pray is correct, must not blind us to Russia’s shocking history of abuses and crimes against humanity. Putin is responsible for Russia’s barbaric war in Ukraine, which will enter its fourth year next month.

“We must never forget that he has caused so much pain and suffering, so much death and destruction, and he must one day be held accountable. The goal now must certainly be on bringing Oscar home and the Ukrainian community in Australia offers our full support to the government in this effort.”

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/defence/australian-soldier-oscar-jenkins-believed-to-be-alive/news-story/393d96d95a497ae75af9fb4ecfe36440

https://x.com/AmbVasyl/status/1884487550779416853

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f79739 (287) No.22460306>>22460311

[pop]YouTube embed. Click thumbnail to play.

>>22008537 (pb)

Caroline Kennedy warns senators of ‘predator’ RFK Jr. in searing letter

The former ambassador urged senators to reject Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination, questioning his ethics and views on vaccines.

Jacqueline Alemany, Dan Diamond and Liz Goodwin - 29 January 2025

1/2

Caroline Kennedy warned senators Tuesday about Robert F. Kennedy Jr., calling her cousin --- now President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services — a “predator” whose victims have ranged from family members to the parents of sick children.

In a copy of a letter obtained by The Washington Post and sent to lawmakers ahead of Kennedy’s confirmation hearings to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, the former ambassador to Australia and Japan alleges that her cousin, “addicted to attention and power,” has given hypocritical advice by discouraging parents from vaccinating their children while vaccinating his own children. She alleged that his “crusade against vaccination” has also served to enrich him.

“I have known Bobby my whole life; we grew up together,” Caroline Kennedy wrote. “It’s no surprise that he keeps birds of prey as pets because he himself is a predator.”

A spokeswoman for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Kennedy is scheduled to face the Senate’s Finance Committee on Wednesday and its Health Committee on Thursday.

Caroline Kennedy goes on to claim in her letter that through “the strength of his personality,” other family members followed Kennedy “down the path of drug addiction.”

“His basement, his garage, his dorm room were the centers of the action where drugs were available, and he enjoyed showing off how he put baby chickens and mice in the blender to feed his hawks. It was often a perverse scene of despair and violence.”

She commended Kennedy for “pulling himself out of illness and disease” but lamented that “siblings and cousins who Bobby encouraged down the path of substance abuse suffered addiction, illness, and death while Bobby has gone on to misrepresent, lie, and cheat his way through life.”

Caroline Kennedy has been hesitant to publicly comment on her cousin’s politics, and she told senators Tuesday that she only reluctantly is speaking up now.

“I have never wanted to speak publicly about my family members and their challenges,” she wrote.

She did not criticize him during the presidential campaign, but at an event in November at the National Press Club in Canberra, the capital of Australia, she dismissed her cousin’s views on vaccines as “dangerous” and said they did not reflect the views of “most Americans” and the rest of the Kennedy family.

“I would say that our family is united in terms of our support for the public health sector and infrastructure and has the greatest admiration for the medical profession in our country, and Bobby Kennedy has got a different set of views,” Caroline Kennedy said at the time.

In Tuesday’s letter, she cited a New York Times report that her cousin would keep his financial stake in litigation against a manufacturer of a vaccine that protects against the human papillomavirus, or HPV. The vaccine, which is administered to adolescents, can prevent cervical cancer.

“In other words, he is willing to enrich himself by denying access to a vaccine that can prevent almost all forms of cervical cancer and which has been safely administered to millions of boys and girls,” Caroline Kennedy wrote. She also referenced her work in Australia working on the QUAD Cancer Moonshot, where she learned that cervical cancer is a top form of cancer among women in a majority of countries.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22460311

>>22460306

2/2

Kennedy is among Trump’s most vulnerable Cabinet nominees. Former vice president Mike Pence and his conservative advocacy group have raised concerns about his past support for abortion. Several Republican senators, including Bill Cassidy (Louisiana), who chairs the Senate’s Health Committee, have said that he has wrongly questioned the safety of vaccines. Sen Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), a polio survivor, does not appear to have granted a meeting with Kennedy, raising questions about whether he will vote to confirm him, and other Republican senators have also not said where they stand on the nomination.

To win confirmation, Kennedy can lose only three Republican votes if all Democrats vote against him.

While Caroline Kennedy’s testimonial may not sway Republicans, it could shore up Democrats’ opposition to her cousin’s nomination. Many Democrats have said they will approach Kennedy’s confirmation with an open mind and are refusing to rule out voting for him, though they have cited deep concerns about his views on vaccines. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania) and some other senators have signaled that they are open to supporting Trump’s nominees and have agreed with some of Kennedy’s views on the health-care industry.

He has spent more than a month meeting with dozens of senators, seeking to sway them, although it is not clear whether those efforts secured additional votes or further antagonized his skeptics.

Sen. Patty Murray (D-Washington), a prominent Kennedy critic, told The Washington Post that it was the most troubling meeting that she has had with a Cabinet nominee in her entire career.

Some of Kennedy’s family members spoke out against his presidential campaign and endorsement of Trump, saying that he did not represent their family’s Democratic values, but had been largely silent on his nomination to run the nation’s health department.

In a letter to the editor published Tuesday in The Washington Post, Patrick J. Kennedy, a former Democratic congressman from Rhode Island and co-author of “Profiles in Mental Health Courage,” defended Robert F. Kennedy Jr. from unnamed critics.

“To portray him as fundamentally opposed to modern medicine is misinformed and seems more calibrated to advance a political narrative than to help those struggling with addiction,” he wrote.

When it comes to addiction policy, he added, “I believe he is the leader we need to meet this moment.”

Democratic lawmakers and advocacy groups, meanwhile, have heavily contested Kennedy’s nomination, warning that the longtime anti-vaccine activist is not fit to oversee agencies responsible for the nation’s vaccine supply, would restrict abortion access and would take other steps to weaken the nation’s public health infrastructure.

Protect Our Care, a Democrat-aligned advocacy group running a “Stop RFK” war room, has commissioned advertisements highlighting Kennedy’s visit to Samoa and meetings with anti-vaccine activists before an outbreak of measles, a vaccine-preventable disease, hit the island nation. 314 Action, another liberal advocacy group, unveiled new ads Monday that also focus on Kennedy’s rhetoric and Samoa’s outbreak.

Kennedy has maintained that he is not anti-vaccine and has denied any connection with Samoa’s measles outbreak.

Kennedy is also facing pressure from some conservatives who say they do not trust the longtime liberal and scion of a famous Democratic family to pursue the GOP’s priorities.

Advancing American Freedom, a conservative group backed by Pence, has commissioned its own ads featuring video of then-candidate Donald Trump deriding Kennedy last year as “more liberal” than any Democratic candidate for president. Pence and his group have also urged conservative Republicans to scrutinize Kennedy’s stance on abortion in the upcoming hearings.

Trump allies have tried to rally support for Kennedy’s nomination. The Heritage Foundation, a conservative advocacy organization, has touted Kennedy as a would-be reformer who can take on special interests that have harmed Americans’ health.

In her letter, Caroline Kennedy contrasted health-care researchers and scientists against her cousin’s record.

“They deserve a Secretary committed to advancing cutting-edge medicine to save lives, not rejecting the advances we have already made. They deserve a stable, moral, and ethical person at the helm of this crucial agency,” she wrote. “They deserve better than Bobby Kennedy --- and so do the rest of us.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/01/28/kennedy-lettor-rfk/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-zUrs9GCfI

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f79739 (287) No.22460329>>22460338

File (hide): 11a28275eb4ec3b⋯.jpg (330.75 KB,1100x440,5:2,POTUS_41.jpg) (h) (u)

>>22225525

>>22225621

>>22451021

Trump signs order to defund gender transitions for under 19s

LGBTQ rights group GLADD says Trump’s rhetoric is ‘appallingly inaccurate, incoherent, and extreme’.

aljazeera.com - 29 Jan 2025

United States President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to halt the funding and promotion of gender transitions for LGBTQ youth.

In his order signed on Tuesday, Trump said the federal government would no longer “fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support” gender transitions -- also referred to as gender-affirming care – for those aged below 19.

Under the order, the Department of Health and Human Services must take “all appropriate actions” to halt gender-affirming care under Medicare, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, and publish a review of best practices for promoting the health of youth with gender dysphoria and “other identity-based confusion” within 90 days.

Trump’s order also directs agencies to end their reliance on guidance from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), which it accused of peddling “junk science”.

WPATH did not immediately respond to a request for comment by Al Jazeera.

“Countless children soon regret that they have been mutilated and begin to grasp the horrifying tragedy that they will never be able to conceive children of their own or nurture their children through breastfeeding,” the order says.

“Moreover, these vulnerable youths’ medical bills may rise throughout their lifetimes, as they are often trapped with lifelong medical complications, a losing war with their own bodies, and, tragically, sterilisation.”

Trump’s order covers a range of treatments and procedures for young people suffering from gender dysphoria -- which describes the distress felt by people whose biological sex does not match their gender identity – including puberty blockers, cross-sex hormone therapy and surgery.

The medical treatment of transgender youth has been a controversial and politically divisive issue in the US, where those calling for greater inclusion of LGBTQ youth have clashed with those expressing concern that minors are not mature enough to make decisions about potentially life-altering procedures.

The number of young people diagnosed with gender dysphoria in the US has surged severalfold in recent years, though only a relatively small minority of those have undergone medical interventions, according to various analyses.

An analysis by the Reuters news agency and health technology company Komodo Health found that 282 minors with a prior diagnosis of gender dysphoria underwent mastectomies in 2021.

About 4,230 minors received cross-sex hormones and less than 1,400 received puberty blockers that year, according to the analysis.

At least 26 US states have passed laws or policies limiting minors’ access to gender-affirming care.

In a Gallup poll last year, 61 percent of Americans said they opposed laws banning psychological support, hormonal treatments, and medical surgeries for minors, compared with 36 percent in favour.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22460338

File (hide): b4926f2cc210be4⋯.jpg (520.57 KB,3800x2534,1900:1267,Attendees_at_the_Drag_Marc….jpg) (h) (u)

>>22460329

2/2

GLADD, one of the biggest LGBTQ rights organisations in the US, blasted Trump’s order, describing its rhetoric as “appallingly inaccurate, incoherent, and extreme”.

“Health care for transgender people is supported by every major medical association. The Trump administration’s unhinged obsession with attacking transgender people and their health care does not reflect medical fact and does not represent the reality of trans people, youth, and their freedom to be themselves, and make their own health care decisions, without being discriminated against and lied about,” GLADD said in a statement.

“The Trump administration’s obsession comes at a high cost for every American who wants the government to address actual issues like gun violence, abortion access, and rising costs.”

Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign, described the order as a “brazen attempt to put politicians in between people and their doctors, preventing them from accessing evidence-based healthcare supported by every major medical association in the country”.

“It is deeply unfair to play politics with people’s lives and strip transgender young people, their families, and their providers of the freedom to make necessary health care decisions,” Robinson said in a statement.

Leading US medical organisations, including the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, have expressed support for gender-affirming care, though several European countries, including the United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, and France, have taken steps to roll back access to treatments such as puberty blockers.

Last year, the Cass Review, a landmark review commissioned by the UK’s National Health Service, concluded that the evidence behind medical treatments for youth with gender dysphoria was “remarkably weak” and such interventions should only be taken with “extreme caution”.

Among other findings, the Cass Review said puberty blockers were not found to relieve gender dysphoria or improve “body satisfaction”, and evidence about their effects on psychological wellbeing, cognitive development and fertility was insufficient or inconsistent.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/29/trump-signs-order-to-defund-gender-transitions-for-lgbtq-youth

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/protecting-children-from-chemical-and-surgical-mutilation/

https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113908666572035035

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f79739 (287) No.22460350

Ex-Broome bishop Christopher Saunders faces more historical sexual abuse charges

EMMA KIRK - 29 January 2025

Following the acquittal of Cardinal George Pell, Australia’s highest ranking Catholic to be prosecuted over historical sexual abuse allegations faces six additional charges for the alleged rape of a boy aged under 13.

The former bishop of Broome, Christopher Saunders, 75, was arrested by child abuse squad detectives on Sunday and charged with the sexual penetration of a child aged under 13, common assault and indecent dealings of a child aged under 13.

Police allege Mr Saunders indecently assaulted the boy between 2009 and 2010.

Mr Saunders was first charged in February last year over 26 offences involving a teenage boy that allegedly took place in Broome, Kununurra, and Kalumburu between 2008 and 2013.

He pleaded not guilty in the Broome Magistrates Court in September to multiple counts of unlawful and indecent assault, sexual penetration without consent and a person in authority indecently dealing with a child.

He was also charged in April and December with indecently assaulting young men aged in their 20s and is yet to enter any pleas.

The former bishop now faces 32 charges over historical sexual abuse allegations and seven firearm charges.

Mr Saunders was ordained as a priest in 1976 and moved to the Kimberley region before becoming a bishop in 1996.

He quit in August 2021 but has kept his title and entitlements.

A police spokesman said the investigation remained ongoing and urged anyone with information to contact police.

Bishop Tim Norton said the Catholic Diocese of Broome would continue to offer full transparency and co-operation with WA Police.

“Accordingly, no further comment will be made regarding the former bishop of Broome until such time as all legal proceedings are concluded,” Bishop Norton said.

“The protection of children and adults at risk remains our highest priority.

“We encourage anyone who has experienced abuse, or suspects abuse within the community, to come forward and report it to police.”

Mr Saunders is due to appear in the Broome Magistrates Court on February 3.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/breaking-news/exbroome-bishop-christopher-saunders-faces-more-historical-sexual-abuse-charges/news-story/46c443c3c960f0fea41a16f5702d191a

https://qresear.ch/?q=Christopher+Saunders

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f79739 (287) No.22465854>>22465857

>>22225435

>>22357731

>>22460297

Authorities want to meet Oscar Jenkins in person to prove he is alive

JAMES DOWLING and JOANNA PANAGOPOULOS - 30 January 2025

1/2

Australian diplomats are negotiating with foreign counterparts to organise an in person check on soldier Oscar Jenkins in Russia, as Anthony Albanese says he refuses to take “the Putin regime at face value”.

On Thursday, the Prime Minister called on the Kremlin to provide proof to back assurances that Australian prisoner of war Oscar Jenkins is alive. Defence Minister Richard Marles similarly questioned “the veracity” of Russia’s word, saying the government was “working well through the Ukrainian government but also through the International Red Cross, importantly, to try and verify that information”.

The Australian understands the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is trying to organise an in-person meeting with Oscar Jenkins, a process that means it must stay in the good graces of Russian diplomats like ambassador Alexey Pavlovsky.

“Embassies and diplomatic staff are critical to maintaining channels of communication between governments,” a spokesperson for Foreign Minister Penny Wong said.

“In this case, it has enabled us to speak to Russia as we work to confirm information about Mr Jenkins’ welfare and convey our clear expectations of Russia’s obligations under international humanitarian law.

“As the Foreign Minister has said, if Russia does not provide Mr Jenkins the protections he is entitled to under international humanitarian law, our response will be unequivocal. All options remain on the table.”

DFAT will now push for Ukrainian diplomats or the the International Committee of the Red Cross to meet with Mr Jenkins in person. If completed, it would be a diplomatic achievement that the US and UK were unable to replicate when handling similar prison exchange negotiations.

“We continue to request the Russian authorities to provide more information. They have provided information at this point, but we don’t take anything we hear of the Putin regime at face value,” Mr Albanese said at a press conference. “We have made it very clear that we think … Jenkins should be released.”

“(To his family), my heart goes out to you. This is a really difficult time for you.”

Kateryna Argyrou, co-chairperson at the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations, said beyond the official confirmation from Russia that he was alive, there were still “lots of questions in terms of how he is being treated”.

“Going off other prisoners of war, Ukrainian prisoners of war, like Oleksandr (Sinytskyi), his children were Ukrainian refugees here, from his account we know how prisoners of war are typically treated,” she said.

“There are wide-ranging reports by the UN and other international organisations about the systemic torture, denial of adequate care, public humiliation, forced confessions, that’s what we fear for Oscar.”

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22465857

File (hide): 50311f00786d6b9⋯.jpg (88.4 KB,1280x719,1280:719,Oscar_Jenkins.jpg) (h) (u)

>>22465854

2/2

Mr Marles refused to speculate on whether Australia would be open to a prisoner swap to bring the soldier home.

“Before we get to that point in terms of Mr Jenkins, we need to be actually ascertaining the facts here, and that’s where our focus is,” Mr Marles told ABC RN. “If what Russia is saying is true, then they have obligations in respect of Mr Jenkins, and we expect them to be upheld.”

“Firstly they should be releasing him. But secondly, as a prisoner of war, Russia has obligations under international conventions. We expect them to be met and applied to this man and we will hold Russia to account in respect of that.”

On Wednesday, Foreign Minister Penny Wong threatened an “unequivocal” response should Mr Jenkins be harmed.

Australian Strategic Policy Institute senior analyst Alex Bristow argued Russia would likely keep details on Mr Jenkins scarce to prevent diplomatic expulsions from Australia.

“They probably are quite happy with the story staying in the news. They’re probably quite happy to frustrate Australia’s level of information. Until it’s absolutely known what the situation of Oscar Jenkins is. it’s very difficult for the Australian government to put any sort of real pressure on the Russians by threatening, for example, to expel diplomats,” he said.

“We are dealing with Russia so the rules are never going to be applied quite as they’re written down.”

Simeon Boikov, the self-styled Aussie Cossack, said he was “very pleased” Mr Jenkins was alive and that it “opens up hope for an exchange”.

Mr Boikov, who has been holed up in the Russian consulate for 800 days, said the Russian side was committed to him after he was granted Russian citizenship eight months into his consulate stay by presidential decree.

A prisoner swap just required “good will” from both sides, he said.

“I think what we need is a political appetite and I think that is present. From the Russian side, I don’t think there are any problems. If the Australian government … would say hypothetically ‘yes, we are not opposed for Aussie Cossack to leave the country’,” Boikov said.

“It would be good for Albo and the establishment because I won’t be here for the election,” he said, adding that there was continuous speculation that he was involved in foreign interference -- which he denies “of course”.

He said his chances are good because “Oscar Jenkins is a niche market”.

“Russia has thousands of prisoners … There will be plenty of other exchanges, but as a political prisoner here, Oscar Jenkins is very niche.”

Opposition foreign affairs spokesperson David Coleman pushed for “strong action” in negotiations.

“We urge the Government to leave no stone unturned in taking action to ensure his proper treatment - and to secure his release,” he said.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/authorities-want-to-meet-jenkins-in-person-to-prove-he-is-alive/news-story/89d2508ddb2e90c1db2a3204f022b08b

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f79739 (287) No.22465895>>22465935

File (hide): 752ae1a56fda10c⋯.mp4 (9.96 MB,960x540,16:9,Chris_Minns_responds_to_la….mp4) (h) (u) [play once] [loop]

File (hide): 79afa193aa5169f⋯.jpg (84.08 KB,661x498,661:498,Gifh3TVbYAQbmvt.jpg) (h) (u)

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>>22225665

>>22370306

>>22400411

Jewish school, house in Maroubra vandalised with graffiti in latest antisemitic attack

abc.net.au - 30 January 2025

NSW Police are investigating after a Jewish school in Sydney's eastern suburbs was spray painted with antisemitic graffiti overnight.

The Mount Sinai College and a property next door in Maroubra were targeted.

One wall was tagged with "Jews are real terrorists".

A NSW Police spokesperson told ABC News that Eastern Beaches Police are aware of and are responding to the incident.

It is the latest in a string of antisemitic attacks that have occurred across Sydney's east since October.

The school is located around the corner from the Only About Children childcare centre, which was set alight and graffitied with antisemitic words last week.

NSW Premier Chris Minns condemned those behind the vandalism of the school.

"Another naked example of racism in our community, completely antithetical to everything that Australia represents in 2025," he told ABC News Breakfast.

"I think it's just appalling that there's evil people in our community that attack someone else, a complete stranger, on the basis of their race or religion."

The premier said the government would "throw all our resources at tracking down people responsible for malicious damage, for hate crimes".

"The vast, vast majority of Australians stand united against this appalling behaviour and condemn it completely," he said.

Later in the day, the premier said the graffiti "tells you everything you need to know about how appalling these bastards are".

"There are some terrible people in our community. I'm ashamed to say it, but that's the truth," he said.

"Bad morals, bad ethics, bad people that will commit these acts."

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said there were three acts of antisemitic vandalism across Sydney overnight including the school as well as graffiti on the side of a house on Eastlakes and the Eastgardens Shopping Centre.

The premier implored the public to come forward if they had any information about the attacks.

'Grotesque and absolutely sickening'

NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president David Ossip said the graffiti was "vile and hateful".

"Looking at the images now, it is just grotesque and absolutely sickening that school children are going to have to walk past this repellent hate speech as they make their way into school," he told ABC Radio Sydney.

"This is something we should not tolerate here in Australia."

Mr Ossip added that the incident "was not just vandalism" but was part of a "campaign of intimidation, harassment and menacing, which has targeted the Jewish community".

Co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry Peter Wertheim said authorities had no control over the rise of antisemitic attacks.

"Just this morning, yet again, we wake up to the news that a Jewish school in Maroubra was being targeted with hateful antisemitic graffiti," he said.

"That just feeds the impression that the authorities don't have this under control."

Security measures under review

Randwick City Council Mayor Dylan Parker told ABC Radio Sydney students are scheduled to return to the school tomorrow.

"Rightfully they're very shaken and feeling targeted right now," he said.

Cr Parker said police will meeting with the local synagogue and the school community this afternoon "in what was already a pre-planned meeting".

"We've engaged a security consultant alongside Waverley and Woollahra, to investigate security around local Jewish institutions," he said.

It comes hours after explosives were found in a caravan in Sydney's north west, with police saying there were threats linked to the Jewish community.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-30/nsw-maroubra-antisemitic-attack/104874742

https://x.com/AustralianJA/status/1884724431572152655

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f79739 (287) No.22465935>>22465938 >>22481988 >>22482035 >>22482080 >>22490495

File (hide): 848158e05479557⋯.jpg (557.24 KB,4054x2703,4054:2703,Prime_Minister_Anthony_Alb….jpg) (h) (u)

File (hide): 9e4d17c469a6755⋯.jpg (128.11 KB,750x421,750:421,GS_1.jpg) (h) (u)

>>22225665

>>22370306

>>22465895

Albanese says antisemitic ‘cowards’ will be ‘hunted down, locked up’

Matthew Knott - January 30, 2025

1/2

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has branded the perpetrators of antisemitic attacks “cowards” who will be “hunted down and locked up”, as Israel’s foreign minister accused Australian authorities of allowing attacks on Jews to run rampant.

While police probed the discovery of a caravan packed with explosives and containing the address of a Sydney synagogue, the federal government’s special envoy on antisemitism, Jillian Segal, declared the finding of the vehicle a chilling reminder of the hatred that led to the Holocaust.

“There’s zero tolerance in Australia for hatred and for antisemitism, and I want any perpetrators to be hunted down and locked up - it’s as simple as that,” Albanese said on Thursday as he defended his government’s handling of antisemitism.

“They have no place in this sort of engagement. It’s designed to create fear and terror in the community, and it will not succeed. Because our community is stronger than the cowards who engage in this sort of activity.”

Albanese’s comments came after Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said the caravan discovery was “intolerable” and declared that an “epidemic of antisemitism is spreading in Australia almost unchecked”.

“This joins a long list of antisemitic attacks in Australia, including setting fire to a childcare centre in Sydney, firebombing a synagogue in Melbourne, and many other antisemitic attacks,” Sa’ar said in a post on X.

“We expect the Australian government to do more to stop this disease!”

Asked about Sa’ar’s comments, Albanese defended the response to the rise in attacks targeted at the Jewish community, telling ABC radio: “People are in the clink … people are being arrested. Investigations are taking place. The police and authorities are doing their job.”

The Joint Counter-Terrorism Team, which combines state and Commonwealth agencies, has taken over the investigation and assigned more than 100 officers.

ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess said the national threat level would remain at “probable”, rather than elevated to “expected” as he noted the current level is the same as at the height of the Islamic State caliphate.

“While the caravan matter in New South Wales remains under police investigation, ASIO does not believe there is an ongoing threat to public safety,” he said.

Burgess said: “We have seen a disturbing escalation in the targeting of Jewish interests and a disturbing escalation in the severity and recklessness of the targeting, with general harassment and intimidation moving to the targeting of people and places.”

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22465938

[pop]YouTube embed. Click thumbnail to play.

>>22465935

2/2

Albanese said he agreed with suggestions that this was terrorism, saying: “It’s clearly designed to harm people, but it’s also designed to create fear in the community, and that is a very [clear] definition as it comes in.”

Segal said the incident was a “chilling reminder that the same hatred that led to the murder of millions of Jews during the Holocaust still exists today”.

“The discovery in Sydney will only heighten the fear and anxiety within the Jewish community,” she said.

“With weekly protests marked by antisemitism, along with threats to property and attacks on places of worship, today’s events are yet another escalation. This hatred must stop.”

Treasurer Jim Chalmers apologised for appearing to downplay the Jewish community’s concerns about antisemitism in television and radio interviews on Thursday in which he said their fears were “not always unfounded”.

His comments offended some members of the Jewish community, who felt he was suggesting their concerns about antisemitism had sometimes been overblown.

“I’ve had that relayed to me and I apologise,” Chalmers said.

“My intention was to share and acknowledge the very real and understandable fears and concerns in the Jewish community in light of recent events.

“I could have and should have expressed that more clearly, and I’m sorry I didn’t.”

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said Albanese had taken too long to make tackling antisemitism a national priority, saying members of the Jewish community were “completely disgusted with the prime minister’s inaction”.

“Should we act surprised that has escalated now to an attempted terrorist attack?” Dutton told reporters in Alice Springs.

“No, we shouldn’t. The prime minister needs to show national leadership here to deal with the national crisis, and so far there’s been no sign of it.

The Zionist Federation of Australia said the caravan discovery was “undoubtedly the most severe threat to the Jewish community in Australia to date”.

“The plot, if executed, would likely have resulted in the worst terrorist attack on Australian soil,” the federation said.

“For 16 months, the Jewish community has been warning that unchecked incitement, violent rhetoric, and weak leadership have created the perfect environment for extremism and terrorism to flourish.

“This foiled attack is yet another manifestation of the senseless hatred and violence that continues to target our community.”

Liberal senator Dave Sharma, a former ambassador to Israel, said the response from Australian law enforcement authorities and political leaders to the rise of antisemitism had been “manifestly inadequate”.

“The Labor government needs to address this crisis with the urgency, resources and full legal power that it requires. There can be no more soft-pedalling, equivocation or political pandering in our response,” he said.

“Otherwise, Australia will soon become unrecognisable, a nation where extremist actors are allowed to threaten the life and liberty of our many communities, and no one feels safe.”

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/stop-this-disease-israel-lashes-government-over-antisemitism-20250130-p5l88l.html

https://x.com/gidonsaar/status/1884544409422725229

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53V0_hiRSZo

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f79739 (287) No.22465975>>22465977 >>22465987

>>22400178

Greg Norman called on again to act as a go-between for Trump and Australia

Michael Koziol - January 30, 2025

1/2

Washington: Golfing great Greg Norman was once again called upon to act as a bridge between the Australian government and Donald Trump, revealing he was asked to help broker relations between Australia and the returned US president.

“There was a request put through, yeah,” Norman told this masthead. He would not reveal the details of the request, including who made it and whether it came from Canberra or the Australian embassy in Washington. But the result “was positive”, he said. “It worked … we’ll just leave it at that.”

After Trump won the 2016 election, it was Norman who passed on Trump’s phone number to then-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull so that the two could talk, following a request by then-ambassador Joe Hockey, also a friend of Norman’s. Trump, Norman and Hockey have all bonded through golf.

Norman said his latest assistance was not related to an interaction between Trump and Australian ambassador Kevin Rudd at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach before the president’s inauguration.

That interaction reportedly involved a brief chat in which Rudd passed on good wishes from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Albanese has confirmed the pair had “direct contact, and that is a good thing”.

The golfing legend revealed the request in an interview ahead of him receiving a lifetime achievement award at the Australian embassy in Washington on Wednesday night, local time, hosted by Rudd and due to be attended by several US dignitaries.

A spokesman for the Australian embassy said that Rudd had spoken with Norman “as well as many others” to ensure “Australia is engaging with the Trump administration at every level”.

“There has been senior government engagement with the Trump Administration from the very beginning,” the spokesman said.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s office was contacted for comment, as was the embassy in Washington.

But in his speech congratulating Norman on his award, Rudd said Norman had always been willing to help build connections between Australians and US political or business leaders.

“He’s done that with me, he’s done that with various ambassadors and prime ministers,” Rudd said.

Norman said that as a friend of several Democrat and Republican presidents, as well as Australian prime ministers from both sides of politics, he was happy to help “accelerate” the relationship between the two countries. But it was sometimes delicate acting as a broker.

“I have to weigh that up, too, because you become the ham in the sandwich,” Norman told this masthead. “I have to make my sure that my relationships are strong enough or intact enough where you can actually deliver it [the message] say something and move on.”

The relationship between Rudd and Trump -- and, by implication, the president’s relations with Australia – has been subject to significant speculation due to Rudd’s description of Trump as “the most destructive president in history” in now-deleted social media posts, among other comments.

In a March 2024 interview with Britain’s Nigel Farage, Trump said he had heard Rudd was “a little bit nasty” and “not the brightest bulb”.

“If he’s at all hostile, he will not be there long,” Trump said at the time.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22465977

File (hide): cf1cc705c86fff3⋯.jpg (791.13 KB,4000x2666,2000:1333,Greg_Norman_at_the_Austral….jpg) (h) (u)

>>22465975

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‘Australia is the lighthouse’

Norman said he spoke with Trump last week, though they did not talk about Australia on that occasion. But he said the president does give Australia due consideration because of its strategic role in the Asia-Pacific.

“My point of view is Australia is the lighthouse in the Southern Hemisphere, and the APAC region, for big brother, and that’s the USA,” Norman said. “We punch well above our weight.”

Those looking to understand Trump’s decision-making and dealmaking should understand the president is “very much an open book”, Norman said.

“He says what he means, and he means what he says. So you’ve got to take that at face value.

“He has more Stars and Stripes flowing through his veins than anybody else.”

Norman was among several Australians honoured at the embassy’s Australia Day Awards Gala, which also recognised “Mozart of Mathematics” Terence Tao, said to have the highest IQ in the world at 225-230, according to the event program.

US dignitaries to attend the gala dinner included senators Mark Warner and Chris Coons, and former senators Joe Manchin and Roy Blunt, along with Kevin Hassett, Trump’s appointee to run the National Economic Council.

Rudd noted the closeness between the two nations, citing a congratulatory call from Albanese to Trump the day after the 2024 election and a call between Defence Minister Richard Marles and US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth on Tuesday night.

He also noted Australia had not run a trade surplus with the US since the days of president Harry Truman after World War II. “Please pass that on to President Trump,” he said.

https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/norman-called-on-again-to-act-as-a-go-between-for-trump-and-australia-20250130-p5l886.html

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f79739 (287) No.22465987

>>22400178

>>22465975

Why Greg Norman is Australia’s bridge to Trump

Matthew Cranston - Jan 30, 2025

Washington | Golfing great Greg Norman hinted he was called upon once again to act as a bridge between the Australian government and Donald Trump, helping to arrange a meeting between the president and ambassador Kevin Rudd.

“If I can just give one little bit of information to help two people get together, then I’m so proud to be able to do that,” Norman told a dinner in Washington on Wednesday night (Thursday AEDT) to honour Australians who have long helped forge closer relations between the two nations.

Dr Rudd had an informal meeting with the returning US president earlier this month in West Beach, Florida in a bid to bolster ties, amid concerns about the pair’s relationship because of the former prime minister’s past criticism of Mr Trump.

After Mr Trump won the US election in 2016, the Great White Shark was also asked to help set up a phone call between then-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and the incoming president. Then Australian ambassador Joe Hockey made the same request to Norman, who plays golf with Mr Trump.

Norman, who lives in Florida, told The Australian Financial Review at Wednesday’s dinner hosted by the Australian embassy that Mr Trump wanted to make him a US citizen.

“We played golf just before he got elected, and he said: ‘If I get elected, I’m going to give you a citizenship’,” Norman said.

The former world No.1 golfer and ex-chief executive of LIV Golf said Australians should look beyond any dislike they might have of Mr Trump and see the value of creating a solid relationship with the leader and his administration.

“A lot of people ask me questions about how Trump is doing different relationships, and I say: ‘Take emotion out of your thoughts. Take a look at the value of what’s happening between the two countries,’” he said.

“And if you understand the true value between the two countries, then you might have a different opinion and a different understanding.”

Norman was joined at the gala dinner by Australia’s richest person Gina Rinehart. Norman and others received awards at the Australia Day event, hosted by Dr Rudd and attended by US dignitaries including Trump economic adviser Kevin Hassett.

Ms Rinehart said she supported Mr Trump’s decision to exit the Paris climate change agreement, and said Australia should do the same. The president pulled out of the global accord for the second time, immediately after his inauguration last week.

“I think President Trump has done the right thing in getting out of Paris,” Ms Rinehart told the Financial Review. “We should be doing the same because we need reliable energy for things like AI.”

While presenting the awards, Dr Rudd said the new administration should exempt Australia from any planned tariffs because of its healthy trade relationship with the United States.

“For any Americans present, we have never had a trade surplus with the United States since Harry Truman was president. Please pass that on to President Trump,” he said.

“You now have a two-to-one balance of trade surplus against us, and it’s $100 billion in trade. Over our 20-year-long free trade agreement, we Australians have never posed a single tariff against the United States, but I’ve just mentioned that in case anyone’s interested.

“Australia is a huge investor in American industry and American jobs. Australian companies employ more than 117,000 Americans in the US. There are also plenty of Australians in the United States making a real contribution to the strength of the economy here,” Dr Rudd said.

https://www.afr.com/world/north-america/why-greg-norman-is-australia-s-ace-diplomat-20250130-p5l885

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f79739 (287) No.22481988>>22481998

>>22225665

>>22370306

>>22465935

Police believe caravan plot linked to ‘orchestrated’ antisemitic attacks as ‘puppet masters’ pull strings

Clare Sibthorpe - January 30, 2025

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Police believe an apparent plot to target a Sydney synagogue with mining explosives is linked to months of “orchestrated” antisemitic attacks, as authorities scramble to make arrests amid calls to contain a growing threat to the city’s Jewish community.

Information indicating the locations of the Great Synagogue in Sydney’s CBD and the Sydney Jewish Museum in Darlinghurst was found alongside the explosives, the Herald understands.

The possible targets, which police on Thursday declined to publicly name, were first identified by Sky News’ Sharri Markson during her program, Sharri, on Thursday night.

People associated with the venues were informed about the link to the caravan discovery earlier that day. It’s still uncertain whether the explosives were ever bound for either location, or any other.

Several people “on the periphery” of the caravan plot, which was uncovered on January 19 at a Dural property in Sydney’s north-west, are in custody facing unrelated charges laid under NSW Police’s Strike Force Pearl, but have not been charged over the potential mass-casualty event.

Jewish groups said it was clear those apprehended were not the ringleaders and warned the community was unsafe until the “puppet masters” were hunted down by a state and federal counter-terror task force.

“Until we know who the puppet masters are, and what their motives are, it’s impossible to point the finger with any degree of certainty about who’s responsible,” said Peter Wertheim, co-chief executive officer of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry.

Among those detained are 34-year-old Tammie Farrugia, who was charged over an antisemitic attack in Woollahra on December 11, and her partner, Scott Marshall. Both were allegedly named in a search warrant executed at a Dural property two days after police seized the caravan and explosives. A third man was also allegedly named in the warrant. None of these three people have been charged over the explosives.

Last month, Farrugia posted an attempt to buy a caravan on TikTok and had previously sought to source jerry cans on Facebook.

NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Dave Hudson said police had not identified any “specific ideology that would cause them to commit the acts that they’ve committed, and that indicates to us that they are being orchestrated in some manner”.

“We have identified links between certain jobs, which gives us some indication there is a level of co-ordination above those perpetrating the offences,” he told reporters.

The owner of the caravan is in police custody but has not been charged in relation to the explosives. The man was already in custody in relation to other offences when police were alerted to the caravan.

“We have time because he is currently in custody to prepare other evidence against him in relation to what we’re currently investigating,” Hudson said.

Police said on Thursday they had raided several properties over the discovery of the caravan which, alongside the explosives, contained a list of possible targets including a synagogue.

Hudson, Police Commissioner Karen Webb and NSW Premier Chris Minns on Thursday again defended the decision to keep the public in the dark about the investigation, which Webb said had been “compromised” by the leaking of details to the media.

“The fact that this information is now in the public domain has compromised our investigation, and it’s been detrimental to some of the strategies we may have used,” Webb said. She claimed the threat to the public had been “mitigated very early on”.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22481998

>>22481988

2/2

Both NSW Police and the state government have come under fire over the decision not to alert the public or potential targets, with Jewish leaders unaware of the possible threat to the community until Wednesday afternoon.

“The feelings in the Jewish community are not only one of understandable concern and anxiety because of the repeated nature of these attacks, but increasingly one of anger,” Wertheim said.

“We need more action. We need firmer action. But above all, we need a change of attitude within the institutions of our society from which these hate ideologies have found a home, this witch’s brew of extremism, whether it’s at the political right or of the left or of a religious source.

“We need a change of attitude by our universities. We need a change of attitude by our writers’ festivals, our arts and culture centres, by social media platforms in fostering these hateful ideologies which result in violent actions in the name of freedom of expression.”

Hours earlier, police launched an investigation into three separate antisemitic incidents that occurred overnight on Wednesday.

Antisemitic slurs were painted on the wall of Jewish school Mount Sinai College at Maroubra, while a nearby home was targeted with similar graffiti.

“It tells you everything you need to know about how appalling these bastards are that they would rip apart a school on one of the first days of school with a racist, antisemitic attack,” Minns said, labelling the graffiti “shameful”.

Last week, federal police said they were examining whether malicious foreign actors were paying local criminals to carry out antisemitic acts in Sydney.

However, ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess said the national threat level would remain at “probable”, rather than being elevated to “expected”, noting the current level is the same as at the height of the Islamic State caliphate.

“While the caravan matter in NSW remains under police investigation, ASIO does not believe there is an ongoing threat to public safety,” he said.

“We have seen a disturbing escalation in the targeting of Jewish interests and a disturbing escalation in the severity and recklessness of the targeting, with general harassment and intimidation moving to the targeting of people and places.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese branded the perpetrators of antisemitic attacks “cowards” who would be “hunted down and locked up” as he defended his government’s handling of the matter.

“There’s zero tolerance in Australia for hatred and for antisemitism, and I want any perpetrators to be hunted down and locked up -- it’s as simple as that,” Albanese said.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said the caravan discovery was “intolerable” and declared that an “epidemic of antisemitism is spreading in Australia almost unchecked”.

“This joins a long list of antisemitic attacks in Australia, including setting fire to a childcare centre in Sydney, firebombing a synagogue in Melbourne, and many other antisemitic attacks,” Sa’ar said in a post on X.

“We expect the Australian government to do more to stop this disease!”

Albanese has faced calls from the Coalition to reveal when he was briefed on the caravan investigation, and why details of the suspected terror plot were not made public.

Liberal MP Julian Leeser -- whose electorate includes Dural – called for Minns and Albanese to provide more detail on the investigation.

“I think that the police need to allow the community to find out about these investigations at the earliest possible occasion and that’s a matter for judgment for the police and ultimately a responsibility of the premier,” he said.

https://www.theage.com.au/national/nsw/investigation-into-explosive-laden-caravan-compromised-says-police-commissioner-20250130-p5l88q.html

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f79739 (287) No.22482035>>22482040

>>22225665

>>22370306

>>22465935

‘Huge rise in antisemitism’: Top cop says thousands of officers deployed to hotspots in Melbourne suburbs

Melissa Cunningham - January 30, 2025

1/2

Thousands of police officers have been deployed to patrol Melbourne suburbs to tackle what Chief Commissioner Shane Patton describes as a “huge rise” in antisemitism across Victoria.

Patton detailed the heavy police response in an interview with The Age on Thursday, following revelations a caravan was discovered in Sydney’s north-west packed with enough explosives to cause a “mass casualty event” and a note with the address of a synagogue.

As Prime Minister Anthony Albanese branded the perpetrators of a spate of antisemitic attacks cowards, vowing they would be “hunted down and locked up”, Patton moved to reassure Victorians.

He said there was no evidence or intelligence linking the Sydney caravan to recent antisemitic attacks in Melbourne, including the December firebombing of the Adass Israel synagogue that has been deemed by police as an act of terrorism.

“There’s nothing to suggest there’s any threat here in Victoria whatsoever or that it is tied to anything down here,” Patton said on Thursday about the caravan discovery.

NSW Police believe the apparent plot to target a Sydney synagogue with mining explosives is linked to months of “orchestrated” antisemitic attacks. Several people “on the periphery” of the caravan plot are in custody facing unrelated charges, but none have been charged over the potential mass-casualty event.

Jewish groups, meanwhile, said it was clear those apprehended were not the ringleaders and warned the community was unsafe until the “puppet masters” were hunted down by a state and federal counter-terror task force.

Last week, it was revealed federal police were probing whether malicious foreign actors were paying local criminals to carry out violent antisemitic acts in Sydney and Melbourne, forcing an urgent meeting of police chiefs.

Patton said joint counter-terrorism teams in every jurisdiction in Australia met regularly to share intelligence and worked closely with Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and federal police.

He said he had spoken to his NSW counterpart -- Commissioner Karen Webb – for an update on the situation in NSW just hours before being interviewed by this masthead.

Last year, Patton warned that religious radicalism was the state’s greatest public security threat.

On Thursday, he said his key concern around hate crimes in Victoria was the “huge rise we’ve seen in antisemitism” -- describing the incidents reported to police as “abhorrent and disgusting”.

He said such reports had surged since Hamas militants killed 1200 people in the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that triggered the war in Gaza that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians.

“We’ve seen a significant rise in antisemitism,” he said. “It remains our biggest concern.”

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22482040

>>22482035

2/2

Patton said that since the October 7 attack, more than 160 antisemitic incidents had been reported in Victoria and police officers had so far made 70 arrests. This masthead was unable to verify how many of these arrests had led to charges being laid.

The reported antisemitic incidents spanned from verbal and physical abuse of people in the Jewish community, to vandalism, a neo-Nazi demonstration on the steps of parliament, and a firebombing of a Melbourne synagogue, he said.

About 20 reports of Islamophobia have been reported to police during the same period.

Victoria Police launched Operation Park, which monitors prejudice-motivated crimes, last year.

Under it, police are also meeting with community and religious leaders and ensuring police units were focused on suburbs or religious buildings where there was a threat of hate crimes or the community felt unsafe.

Patton said this operation had led to police bolstering “assurance patrols” in suburbs that had borne the brunt of antisemitic attacks, including Melbourne’s Jewish heartland of Caulfield and Ripponlea.

He estimated up to 5000 officers had been deployed to Melbourne suburbs since October 7 in 2023.

Asked for an update into the investigation of the December firebombing of the Adass Israel synagogue, Patton said finding those responsible remained “the number one priority” of Victoria Police’s Counter-Terrorism Command.

“It is an absolute priority for us,” Patton said. “I want to give assurance that we’re throwing absolutely everything we can at it, and we understand the community’s need for it to be resolved as soon as possible.”

Patton -- who on Wednesday visited the destroyed synagogue in Ripponlea for the first time – described the attack as “horrendous”.

“I thought it was important to go down and see it,” Patton said.

“They showed footage to me of what the synagogue was like before, showing this energised, amazing hub of their community, everyone engaged, from children right up to old persons and just enjoying the facility.

“Now, it’s a burnt-out shell inside.”

Members of the Adass Israel congregation were forced to flee in the early hours of December 6 as fire engulfed the synagogue after the arson attack by two masked suspects.

The blaze gutted the building, leaving charred ruins, a tangle of wiring and a collapsed roof. The fire also destroyed some holy Torah scrolls and damaged others.

About two weeks later, neo-Nazis stormed the steps of Victorian parliament, holding an antisemitic sign.

On Thursday, Albanese refused to answer questions on when he was briefed about the discovery of the Sydney caravan and the subsequent investigations into it.

NSW Premier Chris Minns earlier confirmed he had been informed about the police operation on January 20 -- though details only emerged publicly on Wednesday.

“What I do is I don’t comment on operational matters,” Albanese said.

“There are two issues that are my priority. The first is making sure that people are kept safe. The second, which is related to that, is making sure that any investigations aren’t undermined and that the police and national security agencies are able to do their work.”

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/huge-rise-in-antisemitism-top-cop-says-thousands-of-officers-deployed-to-hotspots-in-melbourne-suburbs-20250130-p5l8fj.html

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f79739 (287) No.22482080>>22482087 >>22490495 >>22490509

>>22225665

>>22370306

>>22465935

‘Alarming breakdown’: Albanese under pressure to reveal when he learnt of terror plot

Matthew Knott, Alexandra Smith and David Crowe - February 1, 2025

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Anthony Albanese is under mounting pressure to reveal whether authorities kept him in the dark about an apparent plot to target a Sydney synagogue with explosives, as a senior Jewish leader accused the prime minister of a “moral failure” for not visiting Sydney’s Jewish community after the discovery.

With the opposition demanding details about exactly when the prime minister learnt about the apparent plot, Albanese refused to answer several questions on Friday probing whether he had been briefed about the discovery of a caravan packed with explosives in north-west Sydney before news of the investigation broke.

“I do not talk about operational matters for an ongoing investigation,” Albanese told reporters in Melbourne.

“I have no intention of undermining an ongoing investigation by going into the details. What I will do is continue to prioritise two things: the first and most important is keeping Australians safe; the second is making sure that I provide support to the police and intelligence agencies for them to do their job.”

Opposition Home Affairs Minister James Paterson said he was shocked by reports that NSW Premier Chris Minns knew about the plot before it was revealed to the public, but Albanese did not.

“If true, this is an alarming breakdown of our national security architecture,” Paterson said.

“If the PM and ministers are not told about a planned terrorist attack, how can they make the necessary policy decisions to protect the community from other threats?”

NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president David Ossip said it was “deeply disappointing” that Albanese had spent Thursday and Friday in Melbourne rather than with Sydney’s Jewish community, given members’ heightened state of anxiety.

“The prime minister’s reluctance to offer comfort and reassurance in person to Sydney’s Jewish community is a moral failure and not the behaviour one would expect from the leader of our country,” he said.

“What could be a more important use of his time at a moment when the security threat against Sydney’s Jewish community is real and ongoing?”

The prime minister’s office was contacted for comment.

Albanese was criticised for taking four days to visit Melbourne’s Adass Israel Synagogue after it was firebombed in December, but was praised by Jewish leaders for visiting a childcare centre that was torched in Maroubra, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, on the day.

Alex Ryvchin, the co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, said he was concerned there appeared to have been a communications failure between state and federal police and the federal government.

“When you are talking about a foiled terror plot of such magnitude and a national crisis of antisemitism, you would expect the prime minister to be in the loop,” he said.

“I would have expected him to have been briefed.”

A spokesperson for the NSW government said state police briefed Minns and Police Minister Yasmin Catley about the matter on January 20 “in line with established protocol”.

“State premiers do not brief national cabinet on operational police matters,” the spokesperson said.

“NSW Police were liaising with federal counterparts through the Joint Counter Terrorism Taskforce.”

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22482087

>>22482080

2/2

A federal source, who declined to be named to discuss sensitive matters, said there was no concern in the government about the timing of the Australian Federal Police briefings to Albanese and others about the caravan.

While national cabinet was not told of the discovery in Dural when it met on January 21, one source said this was because the police wanted to protect the investigation.

Sources familiar with the police operation said the fact a detonator was not found in the caravan was a crucial factor in the determination there was no imminent threat.

The decision on briefing ministers was left to the Joint Counter Terrorism Team that was set up by NSW Police and the AFP to run the investigation into the caravan.

The protocol for these teams was to decide collectively who should be briefed and when, a federal source said.

Australian Strategic Policy Institute executive director Justin Bassi said authorities should have warned both Albanese and Minns about the threat.

“There is distinction between the states and the federal level on crime but terrorism and politically motivated violence is a special category in our law because it is an attack on our whole nation,” said Bassi, who advised former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull on national security.

“If these threats are not discussed at the national cabinet, then what should be discussed at national cabinet?”

Bassi said it was “extremely odd” that so few details of the terrorism threat had been released, warning: “If you leave the public with uncertainty, it risks uncertainty becoming fear.”

The Great Synagogue in Sydney’s central business district said it was distressed to learn it was one of the intended targets of the apparent plot.

“While we thank NSW Police and other agencies for their efforts and ongoing support to protect The Great Synagogue and our community, we have to ask; how is it acceptable in Australia that synagogues and Jews are now deemed regular targets for violence, vandalism and hatred?” the synagogue said in a statement.

The Great Synagogue said it remained open and police had advised there was no ongoing threat to the synagogue.

“Now is not a time for complacency, to overlook antisemitism and let things slide,” the synagogue said.

“We call on every single Australian to stand with their Jewish brothers and sisters and loudly reject the violence which has been threatened against their fellow citizens.”

Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler said he was stunned police had not informed The Great Synagogue or the community support group that provides protection for Jewish schools, temples and museums in NSW about the caravan discovery.

“How do they justify that?” he asked.

“If someone had been killed or harmed there would have been serious questions there.

“It’s important to catch the perpetrators, but more important to protect those who are at risk.”

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/alarming-breakdown-albanese-under-pressure-to-reveal-when-he-learnt-of-terror-plot-20250131-p5l8oe.html

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f79739 (287) No.22482221>>22482225 >>22482246 >>22482279 >>22482339

>>22339443

>>22400178

>>22431685

‘Straight from the Trump playbook’: Dutton flags cultural diversity jobs are in the firing line

Olivia Ireland - January 31, 2025

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Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has flagged that cultural diversity staffers would be in the firing line of a Coalition government, in a move that echoes US President Donald Trump’s decision to abolish federal diversity positions.

During an impassioned speech at the Menzies Research Centre on Friday, Dutton slammed the government over budget forecasts that show an increase of 36,000 public service jobs over three years to June 2025.

“Now positions have been advertised that include those required for cultural diversity and inclusion adviser positions, change managers and internal communication specialists, but such positions as I say, do nothing to improve the lives of everyday Australians,” he said.

“My economic team’s objectives are clear. We will cut wasteful spending, stop inflationary spending and restore prudent spending. Our government will scale back the Canberra public service in a responsible way.”

Last week, Dutton appointed Indigenous Australians spokeswoman Jacinta Nampijinpa Price to a new role of government efficiency in a bid to reduce public service spending.

“For a bureaucracy to work to the benefit of Australian taxpayers, it must be efficient. We will protect frontline positions in the defence, national security and intelligence space, but overall, we will drive greater efficiency and productivity through our plan,” Dutton said on Friday.

Dutton left after the event without taking questions from reporters.

It is unclear how a Coalition government would implement such changes as diversity and inclusion have been woven into many public service roles, including those of senior executives, as part of the Albanese government’s pledge for increased representation across the sector.

A senior Liberal source speaking on the condition of anonymity said the party did not yet have concrete plans on which public service jobs would be cut and that it was unlikely to reveal specifics before the election.

Community and Public Sector Union national secretary Melissa Donnelly condemned Dutton’s speech, saying he had failed to comprehend that a workforce that reflected the public it served was better at delivering essential services.

“Today’s comments from Peter Dutton are straight from the Trump playbook, demonstrating his lack of ideas and his lack of understanding of modern workplaces,” she said in a statement.

“Inclusion and diversity may sound like an easy target to Mr Dutton and Mr Trump, but for people who access public services, the value of having someone who speaks their language and understands their experience is immeasurable.”

Teal MP Allegra Spender told ABC Afternoon Briefing Dutton’s comments lacked nuance, saying: “It is rather Trump-like, that play this afternoon, in terms of saying it is cultural diversity that is the problem here … I see through that.”

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22482225

>>22482221

2/2

The Australian Public Service workforce is projected to reach almost 210,000 by June, but many of the 36,000 extra jobs are in defence and security-related portfolios. For Dutton to hit his job-cutting target, one in four workers from the remaining 146,000 in other departments and agencies would have to be let go.

Separately, Price pledged to cut Commonwealth funding for Welcome to Country ceremonies.

Freedom of information documents obtained by the opposition’s government waste reduction spokesman, James Stevens, revealed agencies spent more than $450,000 over 2022-23 and 2023-24 on Welcome to Country ceremonies.

The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet spent more than $41,000 on 33 Welcome to Country ceremonies.

“That kind of funding could be redirected to actually improve the lives of marginalised Indigenous Australians, as opposed to being used for what is effectively a welcoming ceremony, many of which have now become quite politicised,” Price told ABC News on Friday.

Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy said the opposition needed to reveal its plan for Indigenous Australians.

“The Coalition is really focused on culture wars and it really is quite disappointing. We know that the opposition leader walked out on the [2008 parliamentary] apology [to Indigenous Australians]. He won’t stand in front of the Indigenous flag. And now he doesn’t want elders doing Welcome to Country,” she told ABC Darwin.

Price’s government efficiency role borrows from the position Trump created for tech baron Elon Musk, who will run the US administration’s Department Of Government Efficiency.

But the senator resisted the comparison with Musk and denied the Coalition was mimicking Trump’s government.

“I don’t have the same sort of bank account as Mr Musk has,” she said. “There was no sort of looking at what Trump was doing and going ‘well, how can we do that over here?’”

The political fight over the public service will fire up again when parliament returns next week, as the government plans to introduce laws requiring employers to commit to gender equality targets. The Coalition says the proposed laws are “government overreach”.

Public Service Minister Katy Gallagher in April last year introduced a plan to increase the representation of culturally and racially diverse employees in the senior leadership ranks of the Australian Public Service to 24 per cent.

Gallagher said Dutton needed to come clean on what his $347 billion in planned cuts would mean for cost-of-living relief, pensioners, Medicare and veterans seeking compensation.

“Australians would be worse off under Peter Dutton,” she said.

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/peter-dutton-says-cultural-diversity-jobs-do-nothing-to-help-australians-20250131-p5l8ke.html

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f79739 (287) No.22482246

>>22339443

>>22400178

>>22482221

Mirroring Trump, Peter Dutton takes aim at diversity and inclusion workforce

Jacob Greber - 31 January 2025

Peter Dutton has taken aim at the federal public service's "culture, diversity and inclusion" workforce, saying such "advisers" to the bureaucracy do nothing to improve the lives of everyday Australians.

In a major policy speech delivered to the Liberal Party's Menzies Research Centre in Sydney on Friday, the opposition leader vowed to "scale back" Canberra's public service, insisting the economy performs better with fewer bureaucrats.

"I have not met an Australian across the country --- I was in Alice Springs over the last couple of days — who can tell me their lives are better off because the government's employed 36,000 public servants in Canberra," Mr Dutton said.

"Positions advertised have included culture, diversity and inclusion advisers, change managers, and internal communications specialist.

"Such positions, as I say, do nothing to improve the lives of everyday Australians.

"They're certainly not frontline service delivery roles that can make a difference to people's lives."

Mr Dutton's incendiary speech --- his first major statement of the year — sets up a direct clash and contrast to Anthony Albanese who is campaigning for re-election by celebrating Labor's efforts to expand the nation's "care economy" and boost services to the elderly, families with young children, and people with disabilities.

In addition the opposition leader's promise to dismantle the role of "culture, diversity and inclusion" advisers seeks to mirror Donald Trump's successful political campaign in last year's US presidential race when he took aim at what are known in the US as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

Among his first acts as president, Mr Trump this month signed executive orders barring transgender people from enlisting in the military and removing DEI hires from across the US federal government.

Describing the federal bureaucracy's growth under Labor as a "completely unsustainable economic situation", Mr Dutton said he would deploy newly appointed shadow for government efficiency Jacinta Price to help "scale back the Canberra public service in a responsible way".

Senator Price has also vowed to review funding for Welcome to Country ceremonies.

Mr Dutton suggested the economy performs better with fewer bureaucrats, saying the federal government is drawing workers in a tight labour market away from the "most productive" parts of the economy to the least productive.

"There's a correlation between the periods of the most significant economic growth and productivity gains --- usually under Coalition governments — and an efficient public service.

"Whereas when the public service becomes bloated and inefficient --- as Labor has done in Victoria over the last decade — the economy is brought to its knees".

Mr Dutton said one of his top priorities would be to "curtail Canberra's centralised interference", claiming the National Disability Insurance Scheme as an example of where "there has been withdrawal of service and a complication in the way in which public policy is administered".

While the speech also included a heavy focus on how a future Coalition government would emphasise nuclear and gas power, spur resources projects by softening environmental regulations, Mr Dutton took aim at Mr Albanese's personal performance.

Describing the Labor government as "tired" and akin to one that has been in power for more than a decade, Mr Dutton accused the prime minister of spending the first 16 months of his term "obsessed with the Voice" and distracted from the economic decisions "needed to inoculate against obvious domestic and international inflationary pressures".

"For a man who says that he is driven by the principle of 'no-one held back, and no-one left behind,' Anthony Albanese is living on a different plant."

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-31/peter-dutton-trump-diversity-inclusion-workforce/104883248

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f79739 (287) No.22482279>>22482291

[pop]YouTube embed. Click thumbnail to play.

>>22339443

>>22400178

>>22482221

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price plans to review Welcome to Country ceremony funding if elected

Matt Garrick - 1 February 2025

1/2

Coalition frontbencher Jacinta Nampijinpa Price says she'll review federal funding for Indigenous Welcome to Country ceremonies if her party wins government at this year's federal election.

Earlier this week, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton handed the Northern Territory senator the shadow ministry for government efficiency in a cabinet reshuffle.

Senator Price, who also continues in her position as shadow minister for Indigenous Australians, has now for the first time outlined her plans for the new role if the Coalition wins government.

"Going forward, what has come out of the result of the [Voice] referendum, is that Australians want to see taxpayer dollars work more effectively for them," she said.

"Right across the board, [but] certainly for marginalised Indigenous Australians.

"Australians want to cut the waste, they want to make sure that outcomes are coming to life with the way in which taxpayer dollars are being spent by their government."

Senator Price said she would "look at an audit of the billions of dollars that are spent in the Indigenous space, so that we can understand where that can be better spent", with a focus on the funding priorities of federal bodies such as the National Indigenous Australians Agency.

She said she would also look to redirect funding currently used for Welcome to Country ceremonies.

"I don't believe that we should be spending $450,000 a [government] term on Welcome to Country, when that isn't actually improving the life of a marginalised Indigenous Australian," she said.

"That kind of funding could be redirected to actually improve the lives of marginalised Indigenous Australians, as opposed to being used for what is effectively a welcoming ceremony, many of which have now become quite politicised.

"I don't think it's necessary to have to spend so much money on something that's not really helping our most marginalised."

Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy told ABC Radio Darwin on Friday the Coalition was "focused on culture wars".

"We know that the Opposition Leader walked out on the Apology [to the Stolen Generations in 2008], he won't stand in front of the Indigenous flag, and now he doesn't want elders doing Welcome to Country," Senator McCarthy said.

"I think we have to really ask the question, where is the Indigenous plan for the future with the Coalition and Senator Price?"

At a press conference in Melbourne, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was asked about Senator Price’s plans to review Welcome to Country funding.

“I'm here talking about apprenticeships, talking about opportunities, talking about jobs, talking about support for cost of living,” he said.

“What Australians are concerned about when I travel around the country isn't looking for culture wars and looking to divide.”

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22482291

>>22482279

2/2

Price says Musk comparison 'surprising'

Senator Price dismissed "surprising" comparisons of her new portfolio to Tesla owner Elon Musk's similarly-titled role in the new Trump administration in the United States.

Mr Musk was named as the head of US President Donald Trump's new Department of Government Efficiency, following his election in November.

Mr Dutton's cabinet reshuffle came just weeks after the US announcement.

"That was surprising that people were comparing me to Elon Musk, because certainly I don't have the same sort of bank account as Mr Musk has," Senator Price said.

"There was no sort of looking at what Trump was doing and going 'well, how can we do that over here?'

"That certainly wasn't an inspiration for this particular role.

"I think it's come about because I've sought a more efficient way of spending dollars in the Indigenous portfolio, and I've said in the past that we should apply these sorts of measures across the board, to identify where waste exists in other portfolios."

Labor concerned programs will be cut

The new Coalition portfolio has garnered scepticism from Senator McCarthy, who said she feared Senator Price would use the power to cut programs in the bush.

On Thursday, Senator McCarthy told CAAMA radio that Senator Price was "going to be responsible for cutting programs".

"I'm worried. I think, is she going to cut … school holiday programs like the one at the pool, you know, the skate rink?" Senator McCarthy said.

"These holiday programs are really important."

In response, Senator Price described the comments as a "scare campaign".

"We will expect a scare campaign from Labor, this is how they conduct themselves," she said.

"She's clutching at straws to suggest to Indigenous Australians that they're the sort of programs that are going to have their funding cut.

"An audit needs to determine what programs are being effective and supporting Indigenous Australians, and those sort of programs are … supporting vulnerable Indigenous Australians."

Senator Price has been in Alice Springs this week alongside Mr Dutton, where the pair on Wednesday announced that an elected Coalition government would offer its "in-principle" support to a series of measures aimed at halting crime levels in the Red Centre town.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-31/jacinta-price-government-efficiency-welcome-to-country-funding/104876630

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_z7NnFuXyo

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f79739 (287) No.22482339>>22482345

File (hide): 14457973c80c97e⋯.jpg (486.01 KB,2048x2731,2048:2731,Elon_Musk_has_been_tasked_….jpg) (h) (u)

File (hide): 65cfefc7577327b⋯.jpg (335.64 KB,1129x1505,1129:1505,Former_British_prime_minis….jpg) (h) (u)

>>22339443

>>22400178

>>22482221

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price: Peter Dutton’s government efficiency chief to follow Margaret Thatcher’s lead more than Elon Musk’s

GREG BROWN - 31 January 2025

1/2

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price says she will follow the principles of Margaret Thatcher in helping the Coalition give “power back to the people by implementing small government”, but is talking down the prospect of sweeping public service cuts despite condemning its “exponential growth” under the Albanese government.

In an interview with The Weekend Australian, the Coalition’s new spokeswoman for government efficiency said a Dutton government “won’t be cutting” the public service workforce but would “halt” any further growth.

She later clarified in a written statement that a Dutton government would look to make “sensible reductions” to the number of federal bureaucrats, which has grown by 36,000 -- or 20 per cent -under Labor.

“We will be looking to sensibly consolidate the public service, with a focus on protecting essential services but making sensible reductions where there is duplication or excess capacity,” she said in a statement.

The Coalition’s drive to control the public service boom came as the government’s December financial statements showed the budget deficit for the financial year to December 31 was $20.7bn.

While it is a more than $6bn improvement on Jim Chalmers’ mid-year fiscal update in December, the number will likely dampen the government's remote hopes remote of a third surplus.

Government spending grew by 6.7 per cent in the past 12 months, compared to a 3.6 per cent lift in revenue, according to economist Chris Richardson.

The new budget figures were revealed amid speculation Anthony Albanese will call an election for April and avoid a budget before voters decide whether to give him a second term.

Senator Price’s approach to controlling government spending appears more restrained than Elon Musk, who is expected to purge significant parts of the public service as head of Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency.

While the US President is vowing to sack any federal bureaucrat who does not work from the office, Senator Price would only go as far as signalling a review of working-from-home arrangements for the public service.

The Australian revealed on Friday more than 20 per cent of employees in some departments work from home three days a week or more.

“I’ll be having these sorts of conversations with my colleagues around the shadow cabinet table as to the effectiveness of working at home versus working in the ­office,” she said.

“We’ve always got to keep in mind whether it’s value for money spent, and that’s something we will be considering.

“Trump will do what Trump does. We will govern Australia the best way for Australians.”

As the opposition sets up the booming public service as a key election issue, Peter Dutton on Friday also said Australians’ lives were “worse off” because of Labor’s mass hiring of bureaucrats and the ALP claim of creating 1.1 million jobs was “hollow”.

“I have not met an Australian across the country -- I was in Alice Springs over the last couple of days – who can tell me their lives are better off because the government’s employed 36,000 public servants in Canberra,” the Opposition Leader told the Menzies Research Institute in Melbourne.

“I have met people, I might say, who say their lives are worse off because of the extra bureaucratic red tape that comes with the employment of 36,000 more public servants.

“Now, positions advertised have included culture, diversity and inclusion advisers, change managers, and internal communication specialists. Such positions, as I say, do nothing to improve the lives of everyday Australians.”

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22482345

>>22482339

2/2

The leader of the successful No campaign in the voice referendum declared her admiration for Thatcher, the former British conservative prime minister who cut the size of government in favour of an expanded role for the private sector.

“I admire Margaret Thatcher, as a strong female prime minister, who was about giving power back to the people by implementing small government,” she said.

“That is certainly values that we hold as conservatives in Australia, as the Coalition, and certainly they’re the sorts of inspirations we’ll draw from.”

Senator Price’s role -- which she will hold on top of being Indigenous affairs spokeswoman – will see her make recommendations to other cabinet ministers in a Coalition government on how they can make savings in their portfolios, along with auditing spending programs aimed at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.

Showing the broad range of her remit, Senator Price criticised Labor’s proposed production tax credits for critical minerals and hydrogen producers, its $470m splurge on US-based company PsiQuantum and the more than $600,000 wage for former minister Bill Shorten’s speechwriter.

“We can identify across the board where there’s been ways where it could be better spent, not just within my (Indigenous affairs) portfolio,” she said.

“I will be working very closely with my shadow cabinet colleagues, a number of whom have already identified a few things to me.”

Senator Price said there was probably some waste in federal government diversity and inclusion programs, with the Prime Minister’s own department having bureaucrats dedicated to “enhancing the diversity of our workforce and embedding a culture of inclusion”.

“I don’t doubt that there is probably some waste across those areas but it will take further examination to understand what that level of waste looks like,” she said.

Senator Price said the Coalition would dump the role of Ambassador for First Nations People, a position created by the Albanese government.

“It’s just a ridiculous position in the first place, and we don’t know how that has actually improved the lives of any vulnerable Indigenous Australians,” she said.

The minister said the wages of top bureaucrats -- some of who earn more than the Prime Minister – would be among a “whole raft of issues we will take into ­consideration”.

Senator Price said the efficiency portfolio was a natural extension of her work in Indigenous affairs.

“I’ve looked at my own portfolio in this way for some time now,” she said.

“How can we better spend the $35-plus billion dollars annually to improve the lives of Indigenous Australians? Do away with duplication, do away with waste, and consolidate those taxpayer dollars,” she said.

“So extending that beyond the Indigenous portfolio …(is) a natural progression.”

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/jacinta-nampijinpa-price-peter-duttons-government-efficiency-chief-to-follow-margaret-thatchers-lead-more-than-elon-musks/news-story/7a4ebdd1d2917fd02f4c9a0c48ec8b4e

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f79739 (287) No.22482380>>22482385

>>22254878

>>22301142

>>22438055

Entitlement, identity politics, lack of pride blamed for slump in ADF recruitment

BEN PACKHAM - January 30, 2025

1/2

Former army chief Peter Leahy has warned a decline in national pride is at the heart of the Australian Defence Force’s personnel crisis, arguing a culture of entitlement, identity politics and victimhood is diminishing the pool of potential recruits.

Defence slashed its workforce target by more than 4700 last year as near-static military personnel numbers threaten the federal government’s $330bn push to rearm the nation.

Professor Leahy said life in the military was about service, but Australians today were less concerned about the national interest than the interests of narrowly defined groups.

“Perhaps the biggest issue about who will fight for Australia is a decline in national pride and a dilution of an Australian identity and culture,” he said in a paper for the RSL.

“In contrast, there is a sense of entitlement and self-indulgence … suggesting that the nation owes individuals something.

“There are too many identities and too many flags. Whether it harks back to place of origin or some narrow interest-motivated sentiment, too many people and groups want special treatment and consideration. It doesn’t leave much space for Australia.”

The government recently unveiled a new Defence recruitment campaign, selling life in the ADF as a “career with impact”. But Professor Leahy said the advertisements failed to tap into the pride and traditions that have characterised military service.

“Recruiting advertisements resemble lifestyle commercials and emphasise what the ADF can do for you. Not much mention of what you can do for your country,” he said.

“Military service is about purpose, values and loyalty. It is about service and sacrifice and contributing to something bigger than yourself.

“It is also about fighting and the application of lethal force on the battlefield.

“ADF recruiting commercials are muted on this nature of service in the defence force.”

The University of Canberra professor pointed to a 2023 social cohesion survey that revealed a slump in national identity, with just 33 per cent saying they took “pride in the Australian way of life and culture”, compared to 58 per cent in 2007.

The Scanlon Foundation report found Australians’ sense of belonging also fell, from 77 per cent in 2007 to just 48 per cent in 2023.

Professor Leahy said it was unsurprising that “some seek to denigrate the ADF and the notion of service” given the debate over the legitimacy of Australia Day, and he accused politicians of manipulating the debate over identity to secure electoral advantage.

“What is our sense of being Australian if it is not about being part of a team and committing to the group and contributing to something bigger than yourself?” he said.

“Our politicians talk about ­social cohesion and offer multiple paths. Unfortunately, some current perspectives on social ­cohesion focus on electoral ­prospects rather than building and strengthening ‘Brand ­Australia’ and unifying the nation.”

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22482385

File (hide): ce74bff697c0615⋯.jpg (266.08 KB,2047x1152,2047:1152,Navy_personnel_on_HMAS_Too….jpg) (h) (u)

>>22482380

2/2

Phillip Thompson, an army veteran and the LNP member for Herbert in Queensland -- whose seat includes the garrison city of Townsville – said Professor Leahy made “valid points”, and added the government was failing to ­address practical impediments to recruitment and retention.

“Australians want to join the ADF but find it extremely difficult because of the outdated rules forced upon them,” he said.

“Just last week, a young man was rejected from the army because he was diagnosed with asthma as a child. He hasn’t used any medication for more than 10 years,” Mr Thompson said.

“Another time I was contacted by a young women who told military recruitment that she spoke with a guidance counsellor at school to talk about how to handle the pressures of exams -- she also was rejected. These are just two examples of many.”

The Australian approached Defence Personnel Minister Matt Keogh for comment but he failed to respond by deadline.

The criticism comes as a new study reveals army reservists frequently face discrimination and hostility in the workplace, with one in five managers offering “low or very low” support for military training leave despite laws making it illegal to disadvantage part-time ADF personnel.

A poll of 800 managers found nearly 40 per cent said military experience had little relevance to their organisation, while interviews with 60 reservists revealed middle managers consistently sought to deny Defence leave requests.

The study by the Army Research Centre found there was a mismatch between employers’ public declarations of support for army reservists and real workplace tensions over their service.

“There is a lack of understanding among employers,” one reservist said. “They think it’s either a holiday or a hobby or just something fun to do on your days off, or a cash grab. When I try to explain to them that if something big happens in the Pacific tomorrow, I might have to go frontline, they don’t accept that.”

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/defence/entitlement-identity-politics-lack-of-pride-blamed-for-slump-in-adf-recruitment/news-story/7c0b8f62f1f7c036f983ab75a5756487

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f79739 (287) No.22482626>>22482635

>>22225435

>>22357731

>>22460297

Russian group pushes to free accused spies in exchange for Australian Oscar Jenkins

Andrew Greene - 1 February 2025

1/2

Foreign Minister Penny Wong is being urged by a Moscow-based group to support a "humanitarian" prisoner swap involving accused Russian spies Kira and Igor Korolev to help secure the "speedy" release of captured Australian fighter Oscar Jenkins.

This week Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the government had received a report from Russia that Mr Jenkins was alive following fears this month the Australian prisoner had been killed while in captivity.

Now the Russian branch of the International Committee for the Protection of Human Rights has suggested Mr Jenkins could be exchanged for the married Korolev couple from Brisbane, along with Sydney fugitive Simion Boikov, known as "Aussie Cossack".

The non-governmental organisation regularly advocates for Russian prisoners held abroad, and its public commentary appears consistently aligned with statements made by senior Kremlin officials.

In an undated letter to Senator Wong and her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, the organisation's vice-president Ivan Melnikov expresses hope a prisoner exchange can occur "despite the recurring difficulties in diplomatic relations between our countries".

"Kira and Igor Korolev have been held in an Australian pre-trial detention centre for more than six months on charges of allegedly spying for Russia. Their state of health is worrisome, and their loved ones are probably very worried about them," he said.

"Oscar Jenkins, an Australian citizen, is a former teacher who was deceived by Western services and went to Ukraine, was caught by the Russian military and is now in a Russian pre-trial detention centre on suspicion of mercenary activities. Sure his family is also very worried."

Mr Melnikov also advocates for pro-Putin activist Simeon Boikov who he claims has been "forced to stay at the Russian embassy in Australia for more than two years due to the granting of political asylum status in connection with a criminal case against him".

An outspoken critic of COVID-19 lockdowns, Mr Boikov also leads the alt-right-aligned Australian Cossack Society and has sought refuge in Sydney's Russian consulate to avoid an assault charge for which he was convicted in absentia.

"All these years, he has been unable to live a full life and work, as he cannot leave the embassy, and his relatives in Russia dream of meeting him, but given the advanced age of some, they are afraid that they will not wait," Mr Melnikov wrote to Russia's and Australia's foreign ministers.

"In my work in the field of human rights, I have witnessed the difficulties faced by people in captivity and their relatives. I do not think that under the circumstances, after returning to their countries, they will pose a danger to society.

"I ask you to take all possible measures and assistance to organise the exchange of Russian citizens Semyon [sic] Boikov and the Korolev family for Australian citizen Oscar Jenkins."

On Thursday, Mr Albanese declined to say whether Australia would contemplate a prisoner swap to secure Mr Jenkins's freedom, telling reporters the government was still seeking details about the Melbourne man's condition.

"They have provided information at this point, but we don't take anything we hear off the Putin regime at face value. We have made it very clear that we think Mr Jenkins should be released," Mr Albanese said.

"We don't think that he should have to suffer from ongoing incarceration and will continue to make representations, but we'll also continue to work as we will with Ukraine as well, on ascertaining further information."

Asked on Friday whether he was satisfied with the details of Mr Jenkins' situation provided by Russia, he answered "no… we are seeking further assurances and evidence."

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22482635

File (hide): 6f2b1d47f02e33a⋯.jpg (665.48 KB,738x1093,738:1093,EORIA_1.jpg) (h) (u)

>>22482626

2/2

When video first emerged in December of Mr Jenkins being interrogated by Russian forces after fighting for Ukraine, Mr Boikov posted a video online urging the Albanese government to include him in a possible prisoner swap deal with Moscow.

From the time Mr Jenkins was taken as a prisoner of war by Russia's military, Australian officials have privately suspected the Putin regime would try to use him as leverage to secure the release of the Korolevs.

Russian embassy accuses Australia of authorising former ADF members to fight for Ukraine

Overnight the Russian embassy in Canberra issued a statement accusing the Australian government and media of promoting an "anti-Russian narrative" over the case of Mr Jenkins.

"The Australian government and the mainstream media seem to have gotten the Oscar Jenkins story wrong. They keep issuing and airing demands directed to Russia along with threats of an 'unequivocal' response rather than reflecting on their responsibility for what has occurred to a fellow Australian," the statement read.

The embassy said politicians and media had been "misleading Aussies to believe that going to Ukraine to kill Russians was a commendable thing to do", singling out the "state-funded public broadcaster" for "eagerly educating the audience about the qualifications to join the Ukrainian Foreign Legion while emphasising that military background is optional", an apparent reference to a background explainer published by the ABC in January.

The statement, the embassy's first public comments since the 32-year-old Melbourne teacher was taken prisoner, also includes the claim Australian military veterans are being issued "foreign work authorisations" to join Ukraine's fight against Russia's invasion.

"Against this background, the official 'do not travel' advice can only be perceived as a hypocritical disclaimer to camouflage the policy of condoning, in fact, encouraging citizens to go and fight Russians."

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the government had "warned Australians not to travel to Ukraine since Russia's illegal invasion almost three years ago.

"We continue to advise Australians not to travel to Ukraine and Russia. The travel advice is clear.

We have also been clear that Russia must provide Mr Jenkins the protections he is entitled to under international humanitarian law."

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-31/russian-group-pushes-for-jenkins-korolev-prisoner-swap/104880258

https://www.facebook.com/RusEmbAu/posts/the-australian-government-and-the-mainstream-media-seem-to-have-gotten-the-oscar/945199491073954/

https://russian.rt.com/world/article/1427914-oskara-dzhenkinsa-predlozhili-obmenyat-na-rossiyan

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f79739 (287) No.22482994>>22483006 >>22483016 >>22483068 >>22483126 >>22483144

Cardinal George Pell abused two boys in Ballarat, compensation scheme decides

Louise Milligan and Charlotte King - 31 January 2025

1/2

Two men have been granted compensation by the federal government's National Redress Scheme for abuse by the late Cardinal George Pell, including one whom the scheme accepted was raped by Pell when the Cardinal was a young priest in Ballarat in the 1970s.

WARNING: Readers might find some of the details in this story distressing.

The boys were eight and nine and lived in Ballarat when the abuse they describe in their claims took place, but do not know each other and went to different schools in the Victorian goldfields town where Pell was a priest and the diocese's episcopal vicar for education.

It can be revealed for the first time that in one case, the scheme accepted the boy was groped on the genitals by Pell during a game at a swimming pool in the town. In the other, the decision-maker accepted that the boy was anally raped in a school gymnasium.

The groping victim received his offer of compensation for the abuse five weeks before George Pell died in January 2023 --- the diocese of Ballarat was informed of the decision at that time as the scheme requires the institution responsible for the perpetrator to pay the redress amount.

While criminal cases have a standard of proof of beyond reasonable doubt, the scheme's standard is that the abuse was "reasonably likely".

Bishop Paul Bird of Ballarat would not comment on the cases because he says regulations prohibit him from discussing them, but the redress decision says the diocese disputed the men's accounts.

The men spoke as part of a large investigation for The Monthly magazine, along with other complainants against George Pell who have never spoken publicly before.

'I thought he was going to whip me'

James, a retired chef, recalls he was about nine years old in Year 4 at Ballarat's St Francis Xavier Primary School, known locally as "Villa Maria", when he stole a cardigan belonging to Pell, who coached the school's football team.

In his complaint to the scheme he says Pell chased him into the school's gymnasium, which was empty, and put him on a small trampoline.

"I remember him saying 'Pull your pants down'," James wrote.

"I thought he was going to whip me with his belt. He didn't."

What he did do, the scheme's decision maker accepted, was far more disturbing.

"He put something in my ass --- I presume it was his penis," James wrote.

"It was very painful. I was bleeding from my bottom afterward."

James was too ashamed to tell his mother, Carmel, for 50 years, until he came forward in 2024 to the National Redress Scheme after having sought legal advice.

He told the Redress Scheme that he was "scared that people won't believe me".

"I am just tortured by the fact that for 50 years, he'd lived alone with that horror," Carmel, a once-staunch Catholic who has been an advocate for victims of clergy abuse in the Ballarat diocese, says, tearfully.

"And I'm just so grateful that he is who he is, because I love him dearly."

James was granted $95,000 in compensation from the scheme, which is capped at $150,000, and none of his account was disputed by the decision-maker.

The decision-maker stated that part of the reason they accepted James's account was that there were two other complainants from his school (who have never gone public) who also made accusations about Pell abusing them, which the diocese of Ballarat had also not accepted.

Behaviour 'contrary to community standards'

David, who is using a pseudonym because he is employed as a high school mathematics teacher, was in year 3 at Ballarat's St Patrick's Primary School, which is known locally as "Drummo", when the decision-maker found Pell grabbed his genitals to throw him in the air.

David's statement said Pell would lift him "with his hand at the front of my crotch --- essentially grabbing my genitals and throw me that way".

He said that "the whole manoeuvre was pretty dodgy in the extreme" and it made him feel "uncomfortable".

Notably, it is a manoeuvre that has been described by multiple other men who made complaints about Pell abusing them.

"It was (and is) preposterous to think that there was anyone that I could go to and ask is it OK for George to place his hand on my genitals," David wrote.

"I did not even have the language to pose such a question never mind a person to pose it to."

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22483006

>>22482994

2/2

David was granted $45,000 by the scheme for abuse by Pell and a Christian Brother in Ballarat, with the decision-maker saying while David's memories of something that happened 50 years ago were understandably "sketchy", he appeared "candid and not exaggerated" and he was "psychologically uncomfortable being grabbed".

The finding said "children could be thrown without touching genitals (holding under arms or feet)", it was "not incidental touching" and it was contrary to community standards of the time.

As in James' case, the decision maker referred to other claims of activity by Pell, although the decision letter redacts the details of those complaints.

'Celebration of Pell painful'

The Catholic Church supported the introduction of the National Redress Scheme, with the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference president, Brisbane's Archbishop Mark Coleridge, saying the church was "keen to participate in it".

The Bishop of Ballarat, Paul Bird, confirmed that he was one of the 275 priests who attended the pontifical mass for George Pell's funeral, which happened seven weeks after the first redress claim was granted, but would not comment on either of the decisions, although the documents say the diocese of Ballarat disputed the abuse took place.

David's wife, an academic, wrote expressing her disgust at how Pell's life had been celebrated by the Catholic church.

"It is very hard to see the church provide so much pomp and ceremony around Pell's absurd funeral," she said of the fact that the diocese of Ballarat had been notified of her husband's redress decision.

"Their celebration of Pell is painful."

Man from abandoned trial received settlement

At the time of his funeral, George Pell had been released from jail following his acquittal in the High Court.

A jury had convicted the Cardinal of abusing two teenage choirboys at Melbourne's St Patrick's Cathedral in 1996, and the Victorian Court of Appeal had upheld the conviction, but the High Court overturned the decision, saying no jury acting rationally could not have had a reasonable doubt that the abuse took place.

After the initial conviction, a second trial concerning three men who made very similar allegations to David about abuse while playing swimming games in the Ballarat diocese was abandoned because the Victorian County Court found that the men's cases could not be heard together because of technicalities around tendency evidence.

The Crown elected not to proceed with them individually and no formal finding was ever made by a jury or judge about Pell's guilt or innocence in relation to the swimmers' claims.

All three men have separately expressed their devastation about the trial not going ahead.

This investigation has discovered that one of those men from the abandoned swimmers' trial has received a financial settlement from the diocese of Ballarat for abuse by Pell and a Christian Brother at a school, St Alipius, in the town.

After Pell's acquittal in the High Court, the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse released its unredacted report finding that Pell knew about paedophile priests in the Ballarat and Melbourne dioceses, but did not act, describing parts of his evidence to the commission as "implausible", "inconceivable" or "not tenable".

At his funeral, Pell's brother David described the allegations against the late Cardinal as being part of "woke algorithm of mistruths, half-truths and outright lies".

Former prime minister Tony Abbott, who also spoke at Pell's funeral, said Pell was the greatest man he had ever known, and compared his treatment in the criminal justice system to "a modern-day crucifixion".

George Pell maintained his innocence to his death.

The National Redress Scheme is due to conclude in 2027.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-31/george-pell-ballarat-abused-boys/104863920

https://www.nationalredress.gov.au/

---

The true legacy of the rapist George Pell

Louise Milligan - February 1, 2025

As the Catholic Church finds a new legal defence against child sexual abuse charges, disgust with the late cardinal George Pell’s glorification has now led some of his own victims to come forward and detail their abuse at his hand.

https://archive.is/20250130183718/https://www.themonthly.com.au/issue/2025/february/louise-milligan/true-legacy-rapist-george-pell

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f79739 (287) No.22483016>>22483068 >>22483126 >>22483144

[pop]YouTube embed. Click thumbnail to play.

>>22482994

Cardinal George Pell abused two boys in Ballarat, compensation scheme decides

ABC News (Australia)

Jan 31, 2025

Two men have been compensated by the National Redress Scheme for abuse by the late Cardinal George Pell.

The scheme accepted they were abused as boys when Pell was a young priest in Ballarat.

Four Corners journalist Louise Milligan has been following the case.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4F2HMCMox8

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f79739 (287) No.22483068>>22483072

>>22482994

>>22483016

Victims of sexual abuse by George Pell receive compensation under redress scheme

Cameron Houston - January 31, 2025

1/2

Two men abused by the late Cardinal George Pell in the 1970s have been granted compensation by the federal government’s National Redress Scheme, despite Pell being acquitted of separate criminal charges by the High Court in 2020.

One of the men was offered a payment just five weeks before Pell died, in January 2023, after it was accepted by the scheme that he was groped on the genitals by Pell at a public swimming pool in Ballarat, according to an investigation by the ABC and The Monthly magazine.

The man, who was just eight years old when he encountered Pell -- who was archbishop of Melbourne and then Sydney, before being appointed by the pope to one of the Vatican’s most senior positions in Rome – received $45,000 from the scheme for the alleged abuse.

A National Redress Scheme report on Pell’s conduct said children could be thrown without touching their genitals, and that it was “not incidental touching”, which was contrary to community standards of the time.

The other victim received compensation after the scheme was persuaded Pell had raped the then nine-year-old student at Ballarat’s St Francis Xavier Primary School. The rape occurred in the school’s gym after the boy had stolen Pell’s cardigan, but the late cardinal was never charged over the incident.

In his complaint to the scheme, according to the ABC report, the man wrote: “I remember him saying ‘pull your pants down’ … I thought he was going to whip me with his belt. He didn’t.

“It was very painful. I was bleeding from my bottom afterward,” the victim wrote.

The man was granted $95,000 in compensation from the scheme, which is capped at $150,000, and none of his account was disputed, according to the ABC.

The Catholic Diocese of Ballarat had disputed the men’s accounts of historical abuse, but under the scheme is liable to pay the redress amount.

Arnold Thomas and Becker principal lawyer Jodie Harris told this masthead she was aware of further incidents of historical abuse involving Pell.

“We believe there are other victims who have not found the courage to come forward in relation to Pell. Anecdotally, we have heard stories from clients, some who are potential witnesses, but have not yet come forward.

“But we know from previous cases that the church will fight these claims, which could put some people off,” Harris said.

She said seeking compensation under the National Redress Scheme often resulted in poor financial outcomes for victims of abuse.

The government scheme has a lower burden of proof than the criminal justice or civil court systems, and awards compensation on the basis that abuse occurring at an institution such as the Catholic Church was “reasonably likely”.

The scheme was founded by the federal government in 2018 in response to recommendations by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and was supported by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.

The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference declined to comment on Friday on compensation payments made to victims of Pell’s historical offending.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22483072

File (hide): fedb47c6f550ab8⋯.jpg (252.48 KB,2000x1333,2000:1333,Advocate_for_victims_of_ch….jpg) (h) (u)

>>22483068

2/2

In 2017, the report by the royal commission found that a “catastrophic institutional failure” by the Ballarat Catholic Church to take action on cases of sexual abuse had led to more children being abused by its clergy.

The dismissive response within the diocese of Ballarat to abuse complaints spanning at least three decades was driven by a desire to avoid scandal and protect the church’s reputation, the report found.

Retired priest Father Kevin Dillon told this masthead there had been no meaningful change in the Catholic Church’s response to clerical abuse over the past 30 years.

“This will continue to rear its ugly head as long as the institutional church does not acknowledge the incredible damage that has been done on its watch, and in many cases, with its knowledge.

“Royal commissions and parliamentary inquiries have done what they can, but the missing link is the failure of all churches to face up to their individual and institutional responsibilities to victims and their families,” Dillon said.

Pell, who was the Vatican’s former financial controller and the most senior Catholic cleric to have ever been found guilty of child sexual abuse, had his convictions quashed by the High Court in 2020, following a two-year legal battle.

In December 2018, he was found guilty in the Supreme Court of Victoria of sexually assaulting two altar boys in the sacristy of St Patrick’s Cathedral in 1996. That decision was upheld in the Court of Appeals, before it was overturned in the High Court.

Pell, who had maintained his innocence since being charged in 2017, said in a statement after the acquittal that he “holds no ill will towards my accuser”.

“However my trial was not a referendum on the Catholic Church, nor a referendum on how church authorities in Australia dealt with the crime of paedophilia in the church. The point was whether I had committed these awful crimes, and I did not,” Pell stated.

https://www.smh.com.au/national/victims-of-sexual-abuse-by-george-pell-receive-compensation-under-redress-scheme-20250131-p5l8o3.html

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/outspoken-priest-kevin-dillon-calls-for-cardinal-george-pell-to-face-commission-20150522-gh7c68.html

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f79739 (287) No.22483126>>22483131 >>22483144

>>22482994

>>22483016

Andrew Bolt slams process surrounding awarding of compensation to two men who claimed they were abused by George Pell

Andrew Bolt has slammed the process which led to two men receiving thousands of dollars in compensation after claiming to the National Redress Scheme that they were abused by George Pell, while a legal expert has described it as "ludicrous".

Bryant Hevesi - January 31, 2025

1/2

Sky News Australia host Andrew Bolt and legal expert Chris Merritt have hit out at the process surrounding the awarding of compensation through a federal government scheme to two men who claimed they were abused by the late Cardinal George Pell when they were children.

The two men were awarded compensation under the National Redress Scheme for incidents which were alleged to have taken place in the 1970s when Cardinal Pell was a priest in Ballarat, regional Victoria.

The decision to award each individual thousands of dollars in compensation was made by an independent decision maker who, under the scheme, is brought in to assess an application for redress.

They decide if a person receives redress and how much the payment should be up to $150,000, based on information provided in an application and details "we have about the institutions".

Mr Merritt, The Australian's legal affairs contributor and vice-president of the Rule of Law Institute Australia, described the process as "a joke" which "proves nothing".

"To have this… independent decision maker, an anonymous person, not necessarily legally qualified, make a finding on the lowest possible standard of proof, well below the criminal standard, but even below the civil standard is ludicrous," he told Sky News Australia host Tom Connell on Friday.

"To then have that paraded in public as some sort of subsequent finding about the character of Cardinal Pell proves nothing. It proves the lunacy of the Diocese of Ballarat or the Catholic Church in actually signing up to this scheme.

"This is a creature of the Turnbull government and the only good thing I can say about it is that it expires in 2028. If you're going to award redress for criminal harm, it should be determined on the criminal standard of proof, beyond reasonable doubt.

"It should be contested. The other side of the argument should be heard and considered, properly considered, on the rules of evidence by someone qualified in the law, not by an anonymous person, who may be who knows, a senior public servant, an accountant… we're none the wiser."

Individuals seeking redress through the scheme are advised that it differs from the process to receive a payment through the courts as "courts need strong evidence about the abuse. Evidence is proof that what you shared happened".

Under the scheme "you need less evidence to get a payment from the scheme".

In criminal cases there is a higher standard of proof to find someone guilty - beyond reasonable doubt - while under the scheme there is lower standard of proof for decisions, that it is reasonably likely the abuse occurred.

The identity of that independent decision maker is not known in the Cardinal Pell cases, Bolt told Connell.

"This really stinks. It's given under a lower standard of proof and the biggest payment was done after George Pell's death. Worse was that there was no hearing done," Bolt said.

"The bishop that was in charge of having to answer the main queries from this body, this National Redress Scheme, says he was not invited to actually give a defence. He's shocked by this. He maintains Pell's innocence.

"The shadowy body that does this is in fact a government body and the person who made the call, the independent decision maker, no one knows who he is, apart from the body itself. The church doesn't know. I don't know. You don't know? No one knows. And then I thought, well, who could this possibly be?"

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22483131

>>22483126

2/2

Bolt said he then went searching to find out about more details about the independent decision maker appointed by the government body.

"You know was it a great legal expert who didn't need a hearing to determine this case?" Bolt said.

"They say they look for someone who has 'experience and qualifications in sectors including but not limited to social welfare, case management policy, psychology, indigenous affairs and/or legal'. So legal is optional, and it's the last thing mentioned.

"And they have to understand, 'have a strong understanding of the cultural, social, historical and political factors relevant to the scheme'. I mean, there's not much there about law, proof evidence or anything like that."

The ABC reported the two men - unknown to each other - approached the scheme over alleged incidents which happened at different Ballarat schools, when one was aged eight and the other was aged nine.

One of the men, named as James, claimed Cardinal Pell anally raped him after chasing him into a gymnasium at his Catholic school.

James claimed he was chased after stealing Cardinal Pell's cardigan. He was awarded $95,000 in compensation after approaching the scheme in 2024.

Cardinal Pell died in January 2023.

In the other alleged incident, a man, named as David, claimed that when Cardinal Pell went to throw him in the air during a swimming pool game, he grabbed his genitals.

David was awarded $45,000 in compensation five weeks before Cardinal Pell's death.

The Diocese of Ballarat disputes the men's claims.

The ABC reported part of the independent decision maker's reasoning in James' case was that two other people who had made complaints against Cardinal Pell had gone to the same school. The two other individuals have never made their claims public.

In David's case the independent decision maker reportedly noted he was "candid and not exaggerated".

"I think if a judgement like this, so serious, which you know, involves the church having to hand over money that is raised by the faithful, you need a proper legal process, you need allegation, you need to test that, you need both sides and etc," Bolt said.

"But that was not done in this case. We don't even know who made the call. I mean… don't you find that amazing?"

In 2017 Pell was charged and found guilty of historical child sex abuse, but the conviction was later overturned by the full bench of the High Court.

He had always maintained his innocence.

https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/andrew-bolt-slams-process-surrounding-awarding-of-compensation-to-two-men-who-claimed-they-were-abused-by-george-pell/news-story/a74bec1d27227f0efbc341374345b27d

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f79739 (287) No.22483144

File (hide): 5c28be7aed15129⋯.jpg (352.42 KB,852x496,213:124,Q_2590.jpg) (h) (u)

File (hide): c6ad8342828bf77⋯.jpg (186.64 KB,852x455,852:455,Q_2594.jpg) (h) (u)

File (hide): 1d68db16bbd941e⋯.jpg (545.06 KB,847x876,847:876,Q_2894.jpg) (h) (u)

>>22482994

>>22483016

>>22483126

Q Post #2590

Dec 12 2018 11:00:11 (EST)

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6487315/High-profile-figure-convicted-suppression-orders-prevent-publication-persons-identity.html

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/why-the-media-is-unable-to-report-on-a-case-that-has-generated-huge-interest-online-20181212-p50lta.html

https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/nsw/an-awful-crime-the-person-is-guilty-but-we-cant-publish-the-story-ng-4be7ee27075d4fb302aae9989c40ad34

[Cardinal Pell]

Dark to LIGHT.

Q

https://qanon.pub/#2590

https://archive.ph/20181212163320/https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6487315/High-profile-figure-convicted-suppression-orders-prevent-publication-persons-identity.html

https://archive.ph/20181212122705/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/why-the-media-is-unable-to-report-on-a-case-that-has-generated-huge-interest-online-20181212-p50lta.html

https://archive.ph/20181212193749/https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/nsw/an-awful-crime-the-person-is-guilty-but-we-cant-publish-the-story-ng-4be7ee27075d4fb302aae9989c40ad34

---

Q Post #2594

Dec 12 2018 11:29:43 (EST)

>He was the vatican treasurer I'm sure that carries some weight

#3 in the pecking order.

Define 'pecking' [animals].

Q

https://qanon.pub/#2594

---

Q Post #2894

Feb 25 2019 20:08:29 (EST)

https://edition.cnn.com/2019/02/25/australia/cardinal-george-pell-vatican-conviction-intl/index.html

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-47366113

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-australia-abuse-pell/vatican-treasurer-pell-found-guilty-of-abusing-two-choir-boys-22-years-ago-idUSKCN1QF009

Many more to come?

Dark to LIGHT.

Q

https://qanon.pub/#2894

https://archive.ph/20190301020521/https://edition.cnn.com/2019/02/25/australia/cardinal-george-pell-vatican-conviction-intl/index.html

https://archive.ph/20190301014904/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-47366113

https://archive.ph/20190301014445/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-australia-abuse-pell/vatican-treasurer-pell-found-guilty-of-abusing-two-choir-boys-22-years-ago-idUSKCN1QF009

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f79739 (287) No.22490485>>22490489

>>22208798 (pb)

>>22254943

>>22351454

Musk’s X enables Australia’s neo-Nazis, warn Coalition and online watchdog

Paul Sakkal - February 2, 2025

1/2

Australian neo-Nazis are thriving on Elon Musk’s X, the federal opposition has warned, as the nation’s online safety watchdog raises the alarm on the “perfect storm” of extremism brewing under X’s free speech abolitionist policies.

White supremacists and leaders of Australia’s National Socialist Network (NSN) were previously banned or censored on X before returning in the past year or so, spurring the case for a new duty of care the Albanese government is preparing to place on social platforms as part of an online safety review to be released in weeks.

X has cut online global moderation, removed all staff in Australia and reinstated thousands of banned accounts, according to the eSafety commissioner, ushering in a chaotic era for social media driven by a growing sense, particularly among those on the right, that content moderation stifled free expression.

Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg has announced similar moves on fact-checking at the same time as Labor has ploughed on with its wide agenda of new clamps on social media including banning teens under 16 using certain sites.

Australia’s most prominent neo-Nazis, including Thomas Sewell, Joel Davis and Blair Cottrell, have gained tens and sometimes hundreds of thousands of views on posts on X lately. Those posts have in some cases related to actions of the NSN, such as the Adelaide march on Australia Day in which 16 of its black-clad members were arrested, and in other cases contained vile remarks about the LGBTQ community and immigrants.

In a December video with 170,000 views, Davis is filmed on the steps of Victoria’s parliament in front of a “Jews hate freedom” banner, declaring: “This country should not belong to the Jews. It should belong to white Australian people that built it”.

Coalition home affairs spokesman James Paterson, whose posts on X are sometimes swamped with far-right sentiment on immigration and antisemitic comments, said new laws against inciting violence towards minorities were needed now.

“Neo-Nazis are clearly emboldened in Australia right now in real life and online. There has been a noticeable uptick in their activity, especially on X in recent months,” Paterson said.

“They might drape themselves in the Australian flags and call themselves patriots but there’s nothing patriotic about worshipping a failed foreign regime led by one of history’s greatest losers. The real patriots fought and died defeating Nazism.”

eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant said it was inevitable that a platform would become “toxic and less safe” if the company cut staff in charge of social responsibility.

“You’re really creating a perfect storm,” she said. “If you let the worst offenders back on while at the same time significantly reducing trust and safety personnel whose job it is to protect users from harm, there are clear concerns about the implications for the safety of users.”

Inman Grant abandoned a case against X last year in which eSafety tried to force Musk’s platform to remove all videos of the Wakeley church stabbing, prompting Musk to label the Australian government anti-free speech “fascists”.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22490489

>>22490485

2/2

Right-wing populist sentiment has been growing on X, and its owner, Musk, has thrown his support behind US President Donald Trump and right-wing causes in the United Kingdom and Germany, raising concern about Musk’s interference in the domestic politics of sovereign nations.

Musk was chastised by the chairman of the World Holocaust Remembrance Centre this week after he told a far-right German party gathering that the country needed to “move beyond” the “guilt” of the past.

There has been unprecedented growth in Australia’s previously censored right-wing community since Musk’s takeover of X, according to former Liberal staffer John Macgowan, who follows the movement closely.

The network includes anti-immigration influencers such as Jordan Knight and a popular news service called The Noticer that often covers crimes committed by immigrants and reports on the actions of the NSN. Some of the far-right figures have been clashing with more mainstream right-wingers including Rukshan Fernando, a prominent anti-COVID lockdown influencer who has spoken out against white supremacist views.

“The reason Davis, Cottrell and Sewell are doing such big numbers is they offer young men becoming politically engaged for the first time in their lives what they’re not getting from mainstream right-wing politics: authenticity, sincerity and, importantly, action,” Macgowan said.

“Eighteen-year-old guys who’ve been engaging with content from the US these last few years don’t want to join the Liberal Party and eat scones while being regaled with tales of John Howard’s glory days.”

“The politicians, the academics and the media think these guys are bugs to be squashed but they’re actually your competition. If you don’t compete with them for the audience, in 10 years, maybe less, some of them will be in parliament, and the Australian establishment will have the same kind of meltdown the American one did over MAGA.”

Academic Josh Roose, a Deakin University associate professor who studies political violence, said there was a spike of extremist activity on X and argued much of it was illegal under federal laws banning racial discrimination and displaying hate symbols such as swastikas.

South Australia Police deleted a post about the neo-Nazi Australia Day march after it was swamped with posts praising Hitler and Nazism, and vilifying migrants, prompting the force to issue a statement defending its decision to seize on the march and criticising racist remarks on its page.

Roose said some Australian politicians on the fringe of the right had been engaging with elements of the new nationalist right online movement.

“What these actors are seeking to do is widen the Overton window, to shape political discourse through extreme acts, to normalise their presence, to attract and recruit young men,” Roose said.

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/musk-s-x-fuelling-australia-s-neo-nazis-warns-coalition-and-online-watchdog-20250129-p5l852.html

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f79739 (287) No.22490495>>22490509 >>22490520

>>22225665

>>22465935

>>22482080

‘Astounding’: Dutton turns up heat over PM’s knowledge of caravan plot

Matthew Knott and Sally Rawsthorne - February 2, 2025

Peter Dutton has declared it astounding that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese may have been kept in the dark about an apparent major antisemitic plot in Sydney, as the opposition vowed to take on key Donald Trump ally Elon Musk over the growth of neo-Nazi and other extremist content on social media.

The opposition leader’s demand for more detail on when Albanese was notified about the potential caravan explosives attack came as NSW Police said it had established crime scenes in Sydney’s eastern suburbs after antisemitic graffiti was sprayed on cars and homes in Randwick and Kingsford on Saturday night.

The head of Strike Force Pearl, a taskforce established to combat the rising wave of antisemitic attacks across the city, will address the media later on Sunday.

The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies called on Sunday morning for stronger penalties for the “despicable” graffiti, saying it was perpetrated for the “sole purpose of intimidating and terrorising the Jewish community and destabilising Sydney’s social harmony”.

The opposition is set to use the return to federal parliament this week after a lengthy summer break to grill Albanese on when he learnt that police had discovered a caravan in Sydney’s north-west packed with explosives along with the name of a Sydney synagogue, as the government seeks to burnish its credentials on the cost of living.

“I don’t think there’s been a true and honest account of what’s happened here,” Dutton told the ABC’s Insiders program on Sunday.

“If the prime minister of our country is not across what was potentially the biggest terrorist attack in our country’s history essentially until the public found out about it, I think that is an absolute abrogation of his responsibility, and we do, I think, deserve to hear the answers.”

Albanese has refused to answer questions about when he learnt about the explosives discovery, saying: “I do not talk about operational matters for an ongoing investigation.

“I have no intention of undermining an ongoing investigation by going into the details.”

Dutton said he found it “astounding that the prime minister, it seems, didn’t find out [about the caravan] for seven or eight or nine days, and after [NSW] Premier [Chris] Minns found out” even though they appeared at events together during that period.

Minns has said state police told him about the caravan discovery on January 20, but Albanese has declined to say when he first learnt about the apparent plot.

Dutton said it was “inconceivable” that the topic would not have come up in conversations between Minns and Albanese, as he floated an unproven theory that police might have been worried about the prime minister’s office leaking details of the investigation.

“Otherwise it’s inexplicable that the premier of NSW would have known about this planning, this likely terrorist attack with a 40-metre blast zone, and he’s spoken to the prime minister over nine days, but never raised it, never discussed it,” Dutton said.

“I mean, if he knew that the prime minister wasn’t aware, wouldn’t he have raised it with him?

“I just think Premier Minns and the prime minister need to give an honest account of what they knew when and why the prime minister wasn’t briefed.

“It would have been the instinct of the AFP [Australian Federal Police] commissioner to brief the minister and the prime minister, as it was when I was home affairs minister.”

On Saturday Minns defended not telling Albanese about the secret police investigation into the caravan plot, saying authorities had told him it was “strictly confidential”.

Minns said he did not believe the virtual national cabinet meeting on January 21, convened by Albanese to address the rise of antisemitic hate crimes, was the appropriate forum to raise the matter.

“I completely accept that people would be scrutinising or understanding where and how I would brief my colleagues, but I wouldn’t do it on a forum that big, with so many people from other jurisdictions,” he said.

Asked about a report in this masthead that Australian neo-Nazis are thriving on Elon Musk’s X platform, Dutton said “of course” such content should be taken down.

“I’ve had a battle for over a decade against people like Elon Musk and [Meta boss] Mark Zuckerberg and others who are making money out of our kids, and they need to do it in a responsible way,” he said.

As well as running X, formerly known as Twitter, Musk is leading Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency and has emerged as a key financial backer of the US president.

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/astounding-dutton-turns-up-heat-on-pm-s-knowledge-of-caravan-plot-20250202-p5l8wd.html

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f79739 (287) No.22490509>>22490513 >>22490520

File (hide): 993c36c653988e4⋯.jpg (263.57 KB,1200x900,4:3,GivNn8RaoAA0EdV.jpg) (h) (u)

File (hide): 6d7355ea86b26be⋯.jpg (246.93 KB,1200x900,4:3,GivNn8ea8AAfclq.jpg) (h) (u)

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>>22225665

>>22482080

>>22490495

Fresh anti-Semitic attacks in Sydney’s east prompt calls for tougher penalties

JOANNA PANAGOPOULOS - 2 February 2025

1/2

Anti-Semitic graffiti has been plastered on multiple homes and cars in Sydney’s east overnight.

Police said that about 7am on Sunday, officers from Eastern Beaches Police Area Command attended See Lane, Kingsford and King Lane, Randwick, after receiving reports that multiple vehicles, garages and properties had been spray painted.

Police have established crime scenes at both locations and investigations have commenced under Strike Force Pearl, which has been conducting investigations into other anti-Semitic attacks in NSW.

Saturday night’s incident comes as similar slurs were spray-painted on a school property and a nearby home in Maroubra on Thursday, the day after it was revealed that police had discovered a caravan laden with explosives on the side of a road on the outskirts of Sydney.

More than 100 police have been thrown into the investigation after the caravan was found packed with Powergel explosives suspected to have been stolen from a mine site and containing a note with the addresses of Jewish targets.

The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies on Sunday said penalties for anti-Semitic graffiti attacks “must be strengthened so that any would-be assailant is deterred” following the defacement of cars and homes in Randwick and Kingsford.

The statement said the hate speech was written “for the sole purpose of intimidating and terrorising the Jewish community and destabilising Sydney’s social harmony”.

“There have been more than 10 publicly reported serious incidents of anti-Semitic vandalism, arson and worse in the last three weeks alone -- a figure that doesn’t include the graffiti appearing on our streets on a daily basis or the abuse and harassment that goes unreported.”

The group said it was “incumbent upon society … not to become desensitised to this campaign of domestic terrorism”.

“To find our way back, every Australian must call out this behaviour, the terrorists perpetrating and arranging these crimes must be apprehended and penalties must be strengthened so that any would-be assailant is deterred. The Jewish community is not asking for any special treatment -- only a return to normality.”

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22490513

File (hide): 068dd3f94e5156c⋯.jpg (244.88 KB,1200x900,4:3,GivNn4OaEAAuQuV.jpg) (h) (u)

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>>22490509

2/2

Chairman of the Anti-Defamation Commission Dr Dvir Abramovich said anti-Semitic graffiti was an “instrument of fear”.

“Another morning, another day when Jewish families wake up to find hateful slurs defacing homes and cars. This is a vicious reminder that anti-Semitism is no relic of the past but an evil still spreading in our neighbourhoods. These spray-painted words are instruments of fear, calculated to shatter the sense of safety that every Australian deserves,” he said.

“The knowledge that someone, under cover of darkness, took the time to craft this message of exclusion and intimidation is enough to send a chill down the spine of any community. This is a calculated assault on belonging, an attempt to make Jewish Australians feel like outsiders in their own country.

“Every slur, every symbol of hate, chips away at the collective trust that binds us together.

“Acts like these demand more than condemnation -- they demand action, an unequivocal stand against those who seek to poison our society with bigotry. Today, the paint may dry, but the scars left behind will not fade quickly. The fight against anti-Semitism is, at its core, a fight for the soul of our nation.”

The strike force’s commander Detective Superintendent Darren Newman, will address the media on Sunday afternoon.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/cops-probe-fresh-antisemitic-attacks-in-sydneys-east/news-story/1590a77353593088fdea5eff65076218

https://x.com/AustralianJA/status/1885826986062569964

https://x.com/AustralianJA/status/1885850533854085205

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f79739 (287) No.22490520>>22490523

File (hide): 802244fbe4756c3⋯.jpg (122.65 KB,1080x821,1080:821,Giv151baUAAggVd.jpg) (h) (u)

File (hide): af6af08a26f1d75⋯.jpg (334.48 KB,2047x1152,2047:1152,Anthony_Albanese_who_was_w….jpg) (h) (u)

>>22225665

>>22490495

>>22490509

Police slam anti-Semitic graffiti in riverside Perth suburb of Dalkeith

PAIGE TAYLOR - 2 February 2025

1/2

Western Australian police are investigating anti-Semitic graffiti attacks in the riverside Perth suburb of Dalkeith, home to mining billionaires and some of the city’s most successful businesspeople.

A swastika and the phrase “F*ck Jews” was spray painted on the front wall of a residence in Viking Road, Dalkeith.

More graffiti was found spray painted on a For Sale sign outside another residence on Viking Road.

That sign had been removed on Sunday.

A resident reportedly told The West Australian it had been daubed with the words “WA Labor Nazis”.

“It is believed the damage occurred between 6.30pm on Saturday, 1 February and 7.30am on Sunday, 2 February,” police said in a media statement on Sunday.

“WA Police takes any report of racial or religiously motivated crimes extremely seriously.

“There is no place for this kind of behaviour in our community and we will not tolerate crimes that undermine our way of life in Western Australia.”

Anthony Albanese told The Australian on Sunday: “There is absolutely no place for this kind of hatred and anti-Semitism in Australia.”

“We are stronger than the cowards who did this,” the Prime Minister said.

“This is a crime and I look forward to seeing the perpetrators caught and charged.”

The Albanese government’s response to a rising tide of anti-Semitism in Australia includes the establishment of Operation Avalite with the Australian Federal Police and $100m for countering violent extremism.

Federal Labor has moved to criminalise hate speech, committed $32.5 million for security measures at Jewish schools and synagogues and in January penalties of one year in jail and a fine of up $16,5000 came into effect for the Nazi salute and hate symbols.

The government has also criminalised doxxing and is working with states and territories on a national database on anti-Semitic incidents for the purpose of co-ordinating responses.

The attack comes less than a week since Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton joined members of Perth’s Jewish community in the northern Perth suburb of Yokine to honour the six million Jewish lives lost in the Holocaust on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest of the Nazi death camps.

Senator Michaelia Cash, opposition attorney-general spokeswoman and a resident of the area where the anti-Semitic graffiti was found, said it was disgusting to see the vile expression of anti-Semitism in Perth.

“No one should be targeted in their homes or anywhere else because of their faith or ancestry,” Senator Cash said.

“The attacks we’ve seen targeting Jewish people in this country are an attack on all Australians and our way of life.

“There are many Australians living in fear, people who are of Jewish faith, who are worried about an attack on their home, their place of business or an attack online.

“This wave of anti-Semitic attacks across Australia -- including on the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne and more recently in Dover Heights and Maroubra in Sydney – has shocked Australia and the world. It underlines the rise of anti-Semitism in Australia since the horrific terrorist attack on 7 October, 2023.

“The Prime Minister has been walking both sides of the street, leaving him completely out of his depth during a period of a national crisis.”

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22490523

>>22490520

2/2

The graffiti was found in the federal seat of Curtin held by Teals community independent Kate Chaney.

Ms Chaney told The Australian: “I’m shocked by the really disturbing anti-Semitic graffiti in Dalkeith overnight.

“This has no place in our community or any community.

“I urge anyone with information to come forward to police so the perpetrators can be found.

“I’m proud to live in a cohesive and supportive community. We will not be divided by this criminal act. We will continue to insist that everyone is treated with respect, irrespective of their religion or anything else, in Curtin and beyond.”

WA Chief Rabbi Dan Lieberman told The Australian the graffiti was not a demonstration that the Cook Labor government had been weak on anti-Semitism.

He said WA Labor premier Roger Cook and his police minister Paul Papalia had been unequivocal that there would be severe consequences for hate crimes against the Jewish community.

“So far that has had a deterrent effect in this state,” Rabbi Dan said.

However, Rabbi Dan said there now appeared to be a “societal problem” on both sides of the country in which anti-Semitic behaviour was allowed.

“It is becoming a topic of conversation among Jewish people about whether Australian society wants us here anymore,” he said.

Rabbi Dan said he believed most Australians were repulsed by anti-Semitism, but the “noisy minority and silent majority” was beginning to cause problems for the nation more broadly.

He said that while in Israel a few weeks ago he spoke to a shopkeeper who was wrapping a gift for his daughter.

Rabbi Dan asked the man to wrap it tightly because he was taking it on an international flight.

“He asked where I was headed and I said ‘Australia’ and he said ‘Don’t go to Australia. They hate you there’.

“This is my home and Australians are getting a reputation now where they do not like Jewish people.

“I know that is not true of the majority, of course, but this is the reputation.”

Anyone with information, CCTV or dashcam footage of the area is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via www.crimestopperswa.com.au

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/police-slam-antisemitic-graffiti-in-riverside-perth-suburb-of-dalkeith/news-story/692dfd40119d1337568b0113beddb2ce

https://x.com/AustralianJA/status/1885871368094515513

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f79739 (287) No.22490539>>22490543

>>22225621

>>22333802

>>22451021

Queensland freezes hormone therapy, launches three-part investigation and review

MACKENZIE SCOTT - January 28, 2025

1/2

An immediate statewide freeze on hormone therapy for new patients under 18 has been ordered in Queensland after it was discovered a 12-year-old in Cairns was allegedly given puberty blockers without parental consent or appropriate medical guidance.

The extraordinary action was taken after a whistleblower made a complaint to Queensland Health in May 2024, which triggered an internal investigation into the Cairns Sexual Health Service.

It was revealed that 42 patients aged between 12 and 18 were treated outside of best practice guidelines, with 17 prescribed stage one (puberty blockers) or stage two (gender-affirming hormones) therapy.

Health Minister Tim Nicholls on Tuesday announced a three-part investigation and review into the facility and medical gender dysphoria treatments across the state.

In an Australian first, the Queensland government will ­establish an independent review into the delivery of stage one and stage two hormone therapy for patients under the age of 18 in light of emerging international ­research into the efficacy of treatments.

“As parents, as com­munities, as a state, we owe it to children to ensure that care is grounded on solid evidence and that we act in this contested area and this developing area with caution,” Mr Nicholls said

A dual clinical review and health service investigation into the Cairns Sexual Health Service will examine how and why the treatments were delivered to the 42 children, including legal issues regarding the absence of parental approval and governance of the ­facility. Quality of care will also be assessed, looking at delays in essential blood and bone mineral density tests.

Patients already receiving hormone treatment will be unaffected by the statewide freeze.

Mr Nicholls said a 2024 review by the former Miles government of the state’s gender clinics focused solely on the delivery of gender treatments rather than the efficacy of services being delivered.

Psychiatrist Jillian Spencer, who was suspended by Queensland Health for her outspoken views, said she saw the action as vindication of her stand against the ­gender-affirming care model.

“I’m absolutely thrilled that, ­finally, some members of the government have shown courage and are leading the way.” Dr Spencer said.

“It’s so well-known that this needs to change.”

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22490543

File (hide): 15deb4f77737ba2⋯.jpg (475.57 KB,2048x1152,16:9,Cairns_Hospital.jpg) (h) (u)

>>22490539

2/2

Dr Spencer was stood down following a patient complaint in 2023, and she alleges she was prevented from adopting a gender-neutral approach to patient care.

She said she believed a greater focus needed to be placed on the often complex mental health needs of a patient.

“There’s been a series of systematic reviews of the research literature that shows that both ­puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones don’t lead to any benefit in mental health for children,” she said.

“Originally, it was sold as reducing suicide risk but it’s become very clear that that’s not the case.

“We know that they have their very serious risks and harms, things like infertility and lack of sexual function and long-term physical health problems, as well as the risk of regret with distress.

“You just can’t hurt all these children in order to try to help this one in 10,000 boy or one in 30,000 girl … it’s just unethical to be hurting all these kids to try and find this one kid who would have wanted it (gender-affirming care) to have occurred.”

The use of hormone treatments for young people reporting ­gender dysphoria has been put under scrutiny in recent years following a spike in the number of teen patients requesting affirming care.

Britain’s 2024 Cass review, led by paediatrician Hillary Cass, found that the framework of the medical field designed to allow children to change gender had been “built on shaky foundations” and led to British health auth­orities banning the routine ­prescription of puberty blockers.

Governments in France, Finland, Norway, Denmark and Sweden have also in recent years tightened regu­lations around the prescription of hormone therapy to children and adolescents.

Researchers commissioned by the Cass review found that Aus­tralia’s guidelines on gender-­affirmative medicine lacked rigour and independence and had also failed to screen children for complex issues that might also influence their dysphoria, such as autism spectrum disorder, sexual orientation and body-image ­issues.

Equality Australia chief executive Anna Brown slammed Queensland’s decision to ban hormone treatments as “catastrophic” for young trans people and their families

“Governments should stay out of these deeply personal decisions and leave it to young people, their parents and the expert doctors treating them,” Ms Brown said.

“This move is at odds with the current evidence base, expert consensus, health services in all other Australian states and territories and the majority of clinical guidelines around the world.”

The clinical review will be completed by April 30.

The health service investi­gation report to follow on June 30.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/health/queensland-freezes-hormone-therapy-for-new-patients/news-story/9d68d8a243446d7e22689288bb2876ec

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f79739 (287) No.22490564>>22490570

>>22225621

>>22333802

>>22451021

A good start to reining in ‘rogue’ gender clinics

BERNARD LANE - January 28, 2025

1/2

What would a “rogue” clinic look like, if it were following the child-led “gender-affirming” treatment model?

It’s been reported that the Cairns Sexual Health Service has been running just such a fast-and-loose gender clinic, giving puberty blockers to children as young as 12 without the safeguard of multidisciplinary assessment.

The benchmark that supposedly separates rogue clinics from Rolls-Royce operations is the Australian Standards of Care and Treatment Guidelines document issued by the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne and used by major gender clinics including the Queensland Children’s Gender Service.

Well, it would be convenient for champions of the gender-affirming approach to frame the Cairns revelations in this way. In July last year, Queensland’s then health minister, Shannon Fentiman, declared the gender-affirming QCGS to be top-notch following a review commissioned by Queensland Health. The key benchmark? The RCH Melbourne treatment guidelines.

In truth, that guidelines document is an activist charter, not a safeguard. It will be news to most Australians that the RCH document was found to be of little rigour and not recommended for use following an evaluation of international treatment guidelines for gender dysphoria.

That was the conclusion of peer-reviewed research commissioned by UK pediatrician Dr Hilary Cass, who led the landmark 2020-24 inquiry into youth gender medicine.

Cass-ordered research also criticised three Australian gender clinics -- they were not named, but appear to be RCH, the QCGS and its Perth counterpart – for using an experimental fast-track to puberty blockers for very young “peri-pubertal” children. This, too, will come as a surprise to many Australians.

Over the past several years, the QCGS appears to have given more blockers per capita than England’s national Tavistock clinic.

Back to the Cairns service; it’s not at all clear what to make of the reported finding that 17 of 42 minors there were given blockers or cross-sex hormones -- potentially leading to sterilisation and other harms – in a manner at odds with the RCH treatment guidelines.

The RCH document imposes no minimum age for blockers; the advice is to start puberty suppression in early puberty, which could be two or three years younger than that Cairns patient aged 12.

It’s also reported that this patient (and others presumably) was not vetted by a laundry list of specialists; the suggestion seems to be that the RCH document requires this multidisciplinary safety net.

The RCH treatment guideline does stipulate that “a co-ordinated, multidisciplinary team approach” is “the optimal model of care”. (Australia’s health ministers have used this multidisciplinary guarantee to argue that it’s fine for us to keep doling out puberty blockers when the UK has ended their routine use for gender dysphoria.)

And yet in Victoria, RCH’s home state, there have been steady anecdotal reports of 16- and 17-year-olds being started on cross-sex hormones by lone GPs.

In November 2023, this practice was ratified, without announcement or explanation, by means of a tweak to the RCH guideline stating it was now OK for GPs “with sufficient expertise and skill” to commence these minors on hormones without specialist backup. The wording was “carefully crafted” to discourage medical insurers from denying cover to these pioneering GPs, according to a gender clinician involved in the change.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22490570

>>22490564

2/2

Whether or not the Cairns clinic was working in multi-mode or solo-style, there is a more fundamental problem.

How does specialist expertise compensate for the lack of any good-quality data on the effects of puberty blockers and hormones given to gender-dysphoric minors? The lack of such data has been confirmed by multiple, independent evaluations of the evidence base, including peer-reviewed assessments commissioned by the Cass review.

Clinicians confessed to Dr Cass that they could not distinguish between those children who would grow out of the distress of dysphoria and those who might benefit from medical treatment. Dr Cass also noted that while international treatment guidelines, including the RCH document, advised the use of multidisciplinary teams, there was no consensus on the purpose of assessment.

At the Cairns clinic, we’re told, there was a lack of documented patient and paternal consent. That presupposes the possibility of consent. How can a 12-year-old -- or parents – give informed consent to a one-way medical path derailing puberty and risking sterilisation, all without the quality data needed to understand the likely consequences?

The problem is not one of the occasional rogue clinic, but the Janus-faced nature of the gender-affirming treatment model. Looking to its masters in a taxpayer-funded health system, it emphasises diagnosis and assessment. Among the faithful, it speaks of child-led treatment and patient autonomy as touchstones; to medicalise or not becomes a question of a child’s “desire”.

American gender clinic whistleblower Jamie Reed put the dilemma this way: “Any model of care, multidisciplinary included, that follows an affirmation paradigm is destined to fail and therefore harm patients.

“Individually skilled practitioners are unmatched against the affirmation paradigm, because the paradigm has only one direction, one outcome built in.”

From Ms Reed’s former clinic at the St Louis Children’s Hospital in Missouri to the London-based Tavistock clinic, at the Careggi Hospital in Florence, Italy, and now the Cairns Sexual Health Service, we see a similar dynamic: a promise or requirement of standard medical safeguards undermined by revelations of activist medicalisation.

Queensland’s new Health Minister, Tim Nicholls, has a difficult job to do. He has to ensure his Queensland Health officials rediscover the need for evidence-based treatment and safeguarding of vulnerable young people. The suspension of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for gender-distressed minors, announced on Tuesday, is a good start.

Bernard Lane, a former journalist with The Australian, publishes Gender Clinic News.

https://www.genderclinicnews.com/

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/health/a-good-start-to-reining-in-rogue-gender-clinics/news-story/461b341954232f24fbbd91d4989b9376

https://www.9news.com.au/national/queensland-health-investigation-into-cairns-sexual-health-clinic-puberty-blockers/bad9553b-03fb-4a2a-9dd5-cfe3c1aa8db8

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f79739 (287) No.22490631>>22490637 >>22490661

>>22225621

>>22333802

>>22451021

Call for federal inquiry into kids gender therapy

MICHAEL MCKENNA and MACKENZIE SCOTT - January 29, 2025

1/2

More than 100 doctors, academics, lawyers, politicians, advocates and detransitioners are calling for the Albanese government to launch an immediate inquiry into youth gender medicine and to pause the use of puberty blockers and hormone therapies for children in Australia.

In a letter to Anthony Albanese, the group of signatories -- which includes more than 40 doctors and child psychiatrists – warned that the growing use of gender transition procedures on children was a “potential public health disaster of generational significance” that warranted an independent, public investigation.

They accused Australian politicians and the medical community of ignoring and of even undermining the findings of international reviews -- including the 2024 Cass Review in the United Kingdom – that have been critical of youth gender medicine practices and led to some countries introducing bans or restrictions.

Signatories include Charles Sturt University professor of public ethics Clive Hamilton, former prime minister Tony Abbott, suspended Queensland Health child psychiatrist Jillian Spencer, outspoken psychiatrist Andrew Amos and former Liberal candidate Katherine Deves.

“Recent developments globally have exposed serious concerns about the ‘gender-affirming’ approach to treating gender-confused youth and there is now a bipartisan consensus in many countries that major changes to practice in this area are needed,’’ the letter sent to the Prime Minister late on Wednesday reads.

“Medical interventions including puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries can cause irreversible harm, including physiological damage (bone density loss, infertility, sexual dysfunction), issues concerning brain development and social and relational difficulties.

“While lifelong impacts are yet to be fully understood, regret is real, and a growing number of detransitioners believe their gender distress masked other comorbidities, including autism, untreated sexual trauma, and discomfort with their sexuality.”

The call for a federal-led inquiry, with the co-operation of the state and territory governments, comes just days after the Queensland government ordered an immediate freeze on hormone therapy for new patients under 18.

It follows a preliminary investigation that found the Cairns Sexual Health Service treated 42 patients, aged between 12 and 18, outside of best practice guidelines.

On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to restrict gender transition procedures for people aged under 19.

“Across the country today, medical professionals are maiming and sterilising a growing number of impressionable children,” the order reads.

“This dangerous trend will be a stain on our nation’s history, and it must end.”

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22490637

>>22490631

2/2

The letter to Mr Albanese, organised by the think-tank Women’s Forum Australia in conjunction with medical and legal professionals nationally, said the inquiry should involve an expert or panel of experts who were “independent from the practice of gender medicine”.

“Such an inquiry will need to consider how this was allowed to happen, the impact on the children and their families, and make recommendations as to how to protect other children from harm,’’ the letter reads.

“What the inquiry needs to do is to consider whether, in the light of the evidence, current ‘gender-affirming’ practices should continue, and, if so, to what extent.”

Detransitioner Mel Jeffries, 33, said she felt betrayed by the medical system that encouraged her to transition from female to male as an 18-year-old. She said doctors ignored her complex mental health issues and she now felt “trapped” in her body following her gender reversal seven years ago.

“I’m trying to recover from this medical catastrophe,” Ms Jeffries said.

“The people that are meant to help me at the moment are the same people that put me in this state.”

Former prime minister Tony Abbott said the “very small” proportion of people who suffered from gender dysphoria must be fully capable of making the serious decision to transition.

“People under 18 simply lack the maturity to make a decision that would change them irreparably and that they might well come to regret,” Mr Abbott told The Australian.

“If we don’t let them drink legally, buy cigarettes, vote, or drive a car, why on earth would we allow them to decide on what could amount to chemical sterilisation or surgical mutilation?

“For far too long people who should know better have pandered to something that’s wrong, verging on crazy.”

Dr Andrew Amos, an academic psychiatrist at James Cook University, said gender treatments had rapidly surpassed what the evidence supported, and there was not enough long-term research into the effects of hormone therapy to adequately assess efficacy.

“We don’t really know what has been done with these kids and what the outcome of those treatments have been,” Dr Amos said.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/call-for-federal-inquiry-into-kids-gender-therapy/news-story/91e070c84782d3210a1cef688bde0422

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f79739 (287) No.22490661>>22490662 >>22490679 >>22494569 >>22494654

File (hide): 8e98282a9fa041f⋯.jpg (537.92 KB,2048x2731,2048:2731,Jillian_Spencer.jpg) (h) (u)

>>22225621

>>22451021

>>22490631

Gender dysphoria under the microscope in federal review of puberty blocker prescription

Labor’s plan to take nearly two years to review transgender medicine for children and teens has been condemned as ‘just a device to avoid dealing with the issue’ as the new federal probe effectively halts any attempts by states to ban puberty blockers.

SARAH ISON and JAMES DOWLING - January 31, 2025

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Labor’s plan to take nearly two years to review transgender medicine for children and teenagers has been condemned as “just a device to avoid dealing with the issue” as the new federal probe effectively halts any ­attempts by states to ban puberty blockers.

Health Minister Mark Butler’s move late on Friday to launch a review into gender therapies and delay the banning of hormone therapies in Queensland was largely welcomed by LGBTI groups and the Greens, who have been railing against growing restrictions on puberty blockers around the world.

But critics of gender-affirming medical treatment for children -- including former prime minister Tony Abbott and medical whistleblower Jillian Spencer – said the government’s decision to wait until mid-next year to deliver “interim advice” on the use of puberty blockers was not ­acceptable.

Questions are also being asked on who would sit on Labor’s gender medicine review panel, with the government saying people with lived experience would co-lead the probe and not making clear whether those known for harbouring concerns over puberty blockers would be involved. Mr Butler said it had been six years since clinical guidelines had been set for trans and gender diverse children, which he pointed out had never been approved by the National Health and Medical Research Council.

He also said that while public gender services to young people was exclusively led by states and territories, the NHMRC was the nation’s leading group for health and medical research and was “the right body to do this work”.

“Governments also have a clear responsibility to ensure Australians are receiving the best medical advice and care available,” he said. “That responsibility is especially important when it comes to the care of highly vulnerable children and adolescents.”

But Dr Spencer -- a child psychiatrist whose suspension from the Queensland Children’s Hospital over her approach to trans patients partly sparked the state LNP’s moves this week – questioned the time frame of the federal review and said she was concerned the Albanese government could impinge on its independence.

“I don’t know if I can trust the Labor government to establish an inquiry that is independent and is going to truly be based on the research literature,” she said.

“It’s had this building body of evidence showing that we don’t have enough evidence for these interventions in children, but it’s consistently been ignored. Then now we find out that they’re going to take another 18 months to look at what we already know. It should be a national approach, because the health and welfare of children with gender distress is too important to just leave to a higgledy-piggledy system of state governments, but the main thing is that it has to be truly independent and evidence based.”

Mr Abbott -- who led calls for a national inquiry into gender medicine this week – also said the report would take too long.

“Given that Butler states ‘interim advice on the use of puberty blockers will be completed in the middle 2026’ his is just a device to avoid dealing with the issue,” the ex-Liberal prime minister said. “Why should minors who can’t legally buy cigarettes or alcohol, vote or drive a car be allowed to demand irreversible chemical or surgical treatment that they might one day deeply regret?”

In a swipe at Labor’s intervention, opposition health spokeswoman Anne Ruston said it was “important to note that the operation of gender dysphoria clinics across Australia (was) a matter for state and territory governments”. “We commend the leadership shown by the Queensland LNP government and the Western Australian opposition in these matters,” she said.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22490662

>>22490661

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Following the decision from British Labour to ban puberty blockers in December and Donald Trump indicating he would restrict gender care for under 19-year-olds, the Queensland government revealed on Tuesday it would temporarily pause access to hormone therapies for new patients under the age of 18 while conducting a broad review into the matter across the state

It came after reviews launched specifically into the Cairns Sexual Health Service.

But Mr Butler said he had cautioned the Queensland government against making any moves on its own and instead leave the issue to the NHMRC.

“I’ve spoken, among others, to the Queensland Health Minister, Tim Nicholls … and I’ve indicated to Minister Nicholls that I don’t think it would be appropriate for Queensland to continue with their stated intention to undertake an evidence review in this area of care,” he said. “These issues should be nationally consistent, and in my view, should be driven by the pre-eminent authority, which is the NHMRC.”

While the dual Cairns reviews will continue, the future of the third broader review of medical evidence -- and temporary banning of puberty blockers – is uncertain. When contacted for comment on the commonwealth’s intervention, a Queensland government spokeswoman said “the safety of children had always been the focus”.

A spokesman for NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said the state’s 2024 evidence review by the Sax Institute found puberty suppression, gender-affirming hormones and psychological therapies could be beneficial for young people who are trans and gender diverse. “We welcome the development of national guidelines by the Australian Government’s primary health and medical research funding agency,” the spokesman said.

On Wednesday more than 100 prominent Australians, including doctors of the field, accused Australian politicians and the medical community of ignoring and of even undermining the findings of international reviews.

Clinical psychiatrist Ian Hickie, an eminent leader in youth mental health and gender diverse standards of care at the University of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Centre, said the “high credibility and independence” of the NHMRC could put debate to rest and extract politics from medical decisions.

“It’s a really difficult area in terms of the continuous evaluation of the international evidence worldwide, and this is why it’s been so controversial,” Professor Hickie said.

“People are having to make decisions and work with the best available evidence while at the same time continuing to collect evidence about the long-term mental health and physical health outcomes.”

He argued the occupations who would be at the coalface of future care -- namely physicians, paediatricians and psychiatrists – should be represented in the review alongside subject matter experts who could elevate Australia to a world-leader in standards of care.

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists was the first national health body to oppose the prescription of puberty blockers. It was contacted for comment, but had not responded by time of writing.

“The thing has been so politicised in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, obviously in the United States you see this further under the Trump administration, the politics of it has overtaken the clinical common sense and where the evidence is actually at,” Professor Hickie said.

“We can walk and chew gum, frankly. We can continue to provide best practice, but we can also review the evidence and set up longitudinal studies.”

The Australian Professional Association for Trans Health, whose advocacy was cited in Mr Butler’s announcement, urged a thorough and inclusive consultative process, while the Greens “cautiously welcomed” the move by Labor.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/health/gender-dysphoria-under-the-microscope-in-federal-review-of-puberty-blocker-prescription/news-story/5821720ba94ff86ea504f71271580e82

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f79739 (287) No.22490679>>22490691

>>22225621

>>22451021

>>22490661

Puberty blockers and treatments for trans youth under review

Michael Bachelard and Mike Foley - January 31, 2025

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Australia’s treatment of transgender children and adolescents will be put through the scrutiny of a thorough medical assessment after the federal government announced a landmark review on Friday.

Health Minister Mark Butler said that interim advice on the use of one part of that treatment, puberty blockers, will be completed in the middle of next year. That treatment was banned last year in the United Kingdom after a review found there was little scientific evidence to support it.

Butler has appointed Australia’s peak medical research body, the National Health and Medical Research Council, to develop new national guidelines in place of state guidelines that have seen an explosion in the number of young people transitioning gender.

The number of young people in gender care in Australia has increased approximately tenfold in a decade, in line with increases across the Western world.

The review will examine the prescription of both puberty blockers, which stop young adolescents from developing secondary sex features, and also so-called “cross-sex” hormones used to transition young people so their appearance matches their gender identity.

Much of this work has been done in specialised gender clinics based at state children’s hospitals.

The research council was not in a position on Friday to announce who would conduct the inquiry, or its timing, but would update on Monday.

The announcement of the review was initially welcomed by both sides of an often-intense debate about gender medicine. Assistant Health Minister Ged Kearney took to Twitter late on Friday and said the review was called at the request of practitioners who deliver what’s known as “gender-affirming” medicine, and it would listen carefully to them as well as people with lived experience.

“This is not a political football -- this is about ensuring the best practice of care for trans and gender diverse children and adolescents,” Kearney said.

Butler’s review follows an announcement by the Queensland government on Tuesday that they were pausing the prescription of gender transition drugs, including puberty blockers, for young people. Queensland ordered public health facilities to cease offering such interventions to new patients, the first state in Australia to do so.

Butler sought advice from the research council and the Therapeutic Goods Administration before launching the federal review and said it was imperative that “highly vulnerable children and adolescents” receive treatment based on the best available evidence.

“We want young people and their families to receive the best health care … and wrap-around support,” he said. “It is imperative there is community confidence that Australian children, adolescents and their families are receiving the most appropriate care.”

The review will scrutinise the Australian Standards of Care and Treatment Guidelines for Trans and Gender Diverse Children and Adolescents.

National approach

Butler said his review was prompted by the announcement made by Queensland Health Minister Tim Nicholls on Tuesday.

“I’ve indicated to Minister Nicholls that I don’t think it would be appropriate for Queensland to continue with their stated intention to undertake an evidence review in this area of care,” Butler said. “These issues should be nationally consistent, and in my view, should be driven by the pre-eminent authority.”

When announcing the Queensland review, Nicholls said there was “widely contested international evidence” around the use of puberty blockers for young people with gender dysphoria. Britain has banned such treatment after a landmark review by pediatrician Hilary Cass.

Butler said much of the public commentary about trans and gender-diverse treatment was damaging to the mental health of young people and their families, which is why he has turned to the research council.

Opposition health spokeswoman Anne Ruston backed Butler’s commitment to evidence-based treatment, but praised recent moves by Queensland and Western Australia, which have said they intend to bar puberty blockers.

“We have always said that decisions affecting the health and wellbeing of children and young people should be informed by empirical evidence and by our health experts,” Ruston said.

(continued)

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f79739 (287) No.22490691

>>22490679

2/2

Victoria’s gender clinic at the Royal Children’s Hospital is the largest and busiest in the country, and the state has been a major proponent of pro-affirmation care. NSW’s Westmead clinic went through a number of controversies, producing a report questioning affirming care, before the new Labor government reversed that position.

Greens LGBTIQA+ spokesperson Stephen Bates also cautiously welcomed the review and stressed the need for access to treatment for trans and gender-diverse children.

“Gender-affirming care is healthcare and every person in this country is entitled to access the healthcare they need,” Bates said.

Community reaction

LGBTI groups and transgender medicine practitioners have “cautiously welcomed” the review, but insisted it be led by experts and “remain free of political interference and not block continued care across the country”.

Nicky Bath, the chief executive of LGBTIQ+ Health Australia, said it was an opportunity to end reviews by individual states that threaten to “disrupt best practice treatments as we have seen in Queensland”.

“While it will be challenging to see this occurring, now is the time to ensure that we contribute to the process, hold it to account,” Bath said, adding that treatment should continue while the review is under way.

Professor Ashleigh Lin, the president of the Australian Professional Association for Trans Health, said the organisation acknowledged the need to update the standards of care.

Equality Australia CEO Anna Brown warned against the issue becoming “an ideological debate or a political football”.

“Politicians should not be in the business of making medical decisions for young people and families they have never met and whose experience of life are unimaginable to most of them,” Brown said.

Judith Hunter, spokesperson for Genspect, an organisation that opposes gender-affirming care, said it was “a step in the right direction”.

“I just hope they get the right people on the committee,” Hunter said.

“Unfortunately the history of this is that it’s the people who are lobbyists, who are pushing for these interventions for young people, rather than proper evidence-based analysis.”

Treatment in Australia

Treatment delivered in Australia, known as “gender-affirming care”, starts from the premise that a child’s statements about their gender identity should be taken seriously and acted upon.

Puberty blockers are often given to children at the early stages of adolescence -- when breasts and testes are developing. Gender clinics insist the effects are reversible, though that’s disputed.

The next step is cross-sex hormones -- oestrogen and testosterone. At each stage, says Family Court of Australia rulings, clinics must obtain the consent of both the child’s parents as well as clinicians. The third stage, “top surgery” to remove breasts, is very rare for adolescents, and “bottom surgery” to change genitals is only available to adults.

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/use-of-puberty-blockers-and-trans-treatment-for-children-under-review-20250131-p5l8oi.html

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f79739 (287) No.22494569

>>22225621

>>22451021

>>22490661

Health Minister Mark Butler shows the way in gender treatment guideline review

BERNARD LANE - January 31, 2025

It’s getting hard to keep track of gender clinic news. The latest is that Australia’s Health Minister, Mark Butler, has decided to seek a new national treatment guideline for the care of young people with gender distress. This is a breakthrough, potentially.

Guidelines are not technical trivia. The guideline that Mr Butler has asked the National Health and Medical Research Council to review is nothing less than the blueprint for activist “gender-affirming” medicine in Australia.

This guideline, issued by the gender clinic at the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne and used across the country, promotes the chemical disruption of normal puberty, advises high-dose testosterone drugs for teenage girls, and argues that even minors with psychosis can be good candidates for an irreversible medical transition.

The RCH guideline suggests a double mastectomy at age 16 is routine. The word “detransitioner” does not appear; nor anything from the scientific literature since 2018.

Note that Mr Butler has turned the RCH guideline into a lame-duck document. He did not rest content with subjecting it to NHMRC; he has already decided there must be new national guidelines and these are to be developed by the NHMRC in concert with an expert committee.

It’s worth reflecting on those who have used the RCH guideline as a shield to deflect questions about the safety and evidence for gender medicalisation of minors as young as 10. The culprits include politicians, bureaucrats, medical colleges, regulators, judges -- even our human rights commission.

As a Laborite Mr Butler has done away with the progressive excuse that any scrutiny of gender medicine must be opposed as a right-wing culture war. With his federal intervention, might he even enable the national co-operation necessary for a return to evidence-based medicine and the safeguarding of vulnerable young people?

In his statement, Mr Butler acknowledges health is a state responsibility but emphasises the expert national role of the NHMRC and its “statutory responsibility for developing and supporting high-quality guidelines for clinical practice”.

Mr Butler says the new national guideline will be put together using NHMRC standards and the international GRADE system for assessing the quality of evidence claimed to underpin treatment recommendations.

We already know the low-quality RCH guideline could not satisfy this test.

A precondition for the new NHMRC guideline would be a systematic review of the evidence base. And we know the likely result. Since 2019, in jurisdictions as different as Finland, the UK, Florida and Sweden, systematic reviews have found the evidence for hormonal treatment of gender-distressed minors to be very weak and uncertain.

But will the NHMRC process be insulated from the gender ideology that has distorted many of our institutions? If the gender medicine lobby has its way -- and it has a voice in government through the LGBTIQA+ health advisory group chaired by Assistant Health Minister Ged Kearney – the expert committee for guideline development will be stacked with gender-affirming dogmatists.

In the UK, pediatrician Hilary Cass was chosen as lead reviewer precisely because she was not a gender clinician who comes with a conflict of interest. Such clinicians were consulted during her review but not allowed to dictate.

The NHMRC was party to a recent statement on sex and gender in research complete with gender studies jargon and a mechanism whereby ideology can be smuggled into science as “lived experience”. The council and other federal agencies also have potential conflicts arising from multimillion-dollar research grants awarded to gender clinicians, including one of the authors of the discredited RCH guideline.

But let’s wait and see what happens. For now, Mr Butler deserves credit for showing some leadership.

Bernard Lane, a former journalist with The Australian, publishes Gender Clinic News.

https://www.genderclinicnews.com/

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/health/health-minister-mark-butler-shows-the-way-in-gender-treatment-guideline-review/news-story/83bc201f93fb075befae417767d0daf1

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f79739 (287) No.22494654

File (hide): d77ebcb9ab1eb07⋯.jpg (758.73 KB,5288x3525,5288:3525,Health_Minister_Mark_Butle….jpg) (h) (u)

>>22225621

>>22451021

>>22490661

Transgender medicine review throws an inkblot test at a culture war

Michael Bachelard - February 1, 2025

Mark Butler’s late-Friday announcement of a review of transgender medicine came apparently out of the blue. Why would a federal health minister, on the eve of a tight election, launch into an area of policy known as one of the touchiest culture-war subjects imaginable?

In an area that Butler himself described “contested and evolving”, the announcement acted like an ink-blot test. Everyone read their own views into it.

Those who have opposed the medicine of gender transition -- who say it’s a “social contagion” which has sucked thousands of young people, particularly girls, into dangerous medicalisation – hope it will upend Australia’s current practices.

Under the current national guidelines, written in 2018 in the country’s busiest gender clinic at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, it’s assumed that a child’s statements about their gender identity should be taken seriously and acted upon. It’s called “gender affirming care”.

Opponents of this have been proposing an inquiry for years. They point to the UK, where a review by pediatrician Hilary Cass found, over 300 pages, that there were big problems with the evidence base for this care. She took particular aim at puberty blockers -- the drugs given to children to stop puberty in the lead-up to being prescribed hormones to transition gender.

In the UK and a number of other European countries, transitioning has become considerably more restricted in recent years. So in Australia, opponents of trans medicine hope the review announced on Friday will be staffed by people like Cass.

Supporters of trans medicine -- including LGBTQ groups and practitioners – on the other hand also expressed optimism at Butler’s announcement.

They see proper national guidelines, enshrined by the National Health and Medical Research Council, as shoring up their approach against those state governments who, like Queensland did recently, have shown a tendency to adopt a more sceptical approach.

They are confident the scientific evidence will back their world view, and insist the council’s review be “led by the experts” -- by which they mean practitioners already working in gender medicine.

When Butler and his assistant minister, Ged Kearney, talked on Friday about people with “lived experience” being involved on the panel, it was designed as a signal to them that transgender people and proponents of “affirming care” will be part of it.

Opponents, on the other hand -- including those who’ve regretted their transitions and angry parents of young people who have been through the system – insist their lived experience must also be reflected.

In short, all sides are keenly aware that who staffs this inquiry is crucial. They are watching like hawks.

Out of all this we can say two things for certain. Firstly, that Butler’s seemingly rushed announcement (the National Health and Medical Research Council was not even ready to talk about it on Friday) was partly designed to stop Queensland’s health minister in his plans to pause the issuance of puberty blockers pending an inquiry. It’s not clear that’s been successful.

The second certainty is that Labor does not want an election culture war on this issue.

As Peter Dutton spoils for a fight against woke, we only need to look to the United States, where one of Donald Trump’s most effective election advertisements, on high rotation, was one that said: “Kamala is for they/them, President Trump is for you”. He has since banned transgender people from the military and cut federal funding for transgender medicine.

Spurred on by Queensland’s move this week, Butler’s Friday announcement now means that, to any accusation that Labor is for they/them, the whole issue is in the hands of the scientists. Labor hopes this will kick the can far enough down the road.

As for what actually comes of this review of the guidelines, well, that depends very much on who’s appointed to run it.

https://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/transgender-medicine-review-throws-an-inkblot-test-at-a-culture-war-20250201-p5l8se.html

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