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#43 - Part 10

Australian Politics and Society - Part 3

>>23542517 Police reviewing 'remarkable' amount of Dezi Freeman information a week after Porepunkah shooting - Victoria Police say they have received a “remarkable” volume of information as the manhunt for accused double killer Dezi Freeman enters its second week. Superintendent Brett Kahan confirmed officers believe Freeman is alive and being harboured, urging those assisting him to come forward. Freeman, 56, allegedly killed Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart at his Porepunkah property while police executed a warrant for historical sex offences, and injured a third officer. More than 450 tips have been received, with police saturating towns around Mount Buffalo National Park, expanding the search to Wangaratta, and considering a reward. Funerals for Thompson and De Waart will be held with full honours in coming days.

>>23548382 Anthony Albanese talks critical minerals in ‘warm’ chat with Trump ahead of US visit - Anthony Albanese has held his fourth call with Donald Trump since the US President’s re-election, discussing trade, economic co-operation and critical minerals. The Australian Prime Minister described the exchange as “warm and constructive” and said shared security interests were also covered. Albanese will travel to New York later this month to address the UN General Assembly, where he will recognise the State of Palestine, a policy at odds with Washington. The call fuels hopes of a first face-to-face meeting, though uncertainty lingers over AUKUS as the Pentagon reviews the submarine pact.

>>23554268 ‘Lots going on’: Rudd weighs in after Trump, Albanese speak for fourth time - Anthony Albanese and Donald Trump held their fourth call since Trump’s re-election, discussing trade, security and critical minerals ahead of a possible meeting at this month’s UN General Assembly in New York. Albanese described the exchange as “warm and constructive” but did not mention AUKUS, which remains under Pentagon review. Australia’s ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd, welcomed the call, saying the relationship was “going from strength to strength.” Critics note Albanese has yet to meet Trump in person, while US allies including Britain, Japan and India have secured face-to-face talks.

>>23555135 High Court throws out Ben Roberts-Smith’s defamation appeal bid - The High Court has rejected Ben Roberts-Smith’s final attempt to overturn his defamation loss, ending seven years of litigation costing more than $30 million. The former SAS corporal, accused of murdering four unarmed Afghan prisoners including a man with a prosthetic leg, failed to gain special leave to appeal after the Full Court upheld Justice Anthony Besanko’s findings. The court said the case raised no legal principle and had “insufficient prospects of success.” Roberts-Smith must pay Nine’s legal costs. Journalists Nick McKenzie and Chris Masters hailed the ruling, crediting SAS witnesses and remembering Afghan victims whose families are still waiting for justice.

>>23555154 Video: Australian Army called in to assist Victoria Police in hunt for alleged cop killer Dezi Freeman – Specialist Australian Defence Force units, including air surveillance assets, have been deployed to Victoria’s high country after police requested assistance in the search for 56-year-old Dezi Freeman, accused of fatally shooting Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart on August 26. Defence Minister Richard Marles said the ADF would provide planning and technical support. Superintendent Brett Kahan said some locals may be harbouring Freeman, a self-styled “sovereign citizen.” Relatives and neighbours branded him a “coward” and “hypocrite” for accepting welfare for decades while rejecting the legitimacy of government.

>>23555170 Video: ‘My superhero’: Brother’s tribute to fallen officer – Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart, 34, was farewelled at a moving funeral service at the Victoria Police Academy, remembered by his younger brother Sacha as “my Batman” and “a ray of sunshine” whose smile and kindness touched all. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Premier Jacinta Allan, Police Minister Anthony Carbines and Chief Commissioner Mike Bush joined 3000 mourners. Tributes recalled his adventurous spirit, multilingual skills and devotion to family. Medals were presented in his honour, displayed alongside a Batman statue. De Waart-Hottart and Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson were killed while executing a warrant in Porepunkah; Freeman remains at large.

#43 - Part 11

Australian Politics and Society - Part 4

>>23555183 Video: Police say $1m bounty is 'just another avenue' in the capture of Dezi Freeman – Victoria Police have offered a record $1 million reward for information leading to the arrest of alleged cop killer Desmond Freeman, accused of fatally shooting Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart on August 26. Detective Inspector Dean Thomas said the unprecedented reward recognises “the seriousness of this violent offending” and is aimed at drawing out those who may be harbouring him. More than 450 officers remain dedicated to the 12-day search across bushland and properties, with Freeman believed to be armed and dangerous. Authorities remain open to the possibility he is still on the run, but also concede he could be dead through self-harm.

>>23555214 Video: ‘Real and likely risk of serious injury or death’ if neo-Nazi released, police say – Neo-Nazi leader Thomas Sewell has been charged with more than 20 offences, including assault and violent disorder, after allegedly directing National Socialist Network followers to attack people at Camp Sovereignty in Melbourne’s Kings Domain. Police told court the attack left a woman needing staples for a head wound, with others injured, and warned Sewell was almost certain to reoffend if granted bail. Prosecutors cited further violent incidents, including clashes in Bourke Street Mall and at anti-immigration rallies, while Sewell was already on bail for intimidating a police officer. Magistrate Donna Bakos will decide on bail on Friday.

>>23555239 Video: ‘Endanger safety’: neo-Nazi will remain behind bars after alleged assault at Camp Sovereignty – Neo-Nazi leader Thomas Sewell has been denied bail after Melbourne Magistrates Court ruled his release posed a risk to public safety. Magistrate Donna Bakos said Sewell faced “serious” charges, including 21 counts of assault, violent disorder and affray, arising from an alleged unprovoked attack by 30 National Socialist Network members on Camp Sovereignty in Kings Domain. A young woman required staples for a head wound. Police told the court Sewell had “complete control” over his followers and a history of escalating violence, including an alleged assault during an August 9 march in Melbourne’s CBD.

>>23555288 Video: Jacinta Nampijinpa Price ordered to remove flag in Senate chamber – Liberal senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price was ordered to take off an Australian flag draped over her shoulders during a speech calling for flag burning to be criminalised, after Greens senator Nick McKim objected to her use of a “prop.” Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie defended her, while One Nation leader Pauline Hanson moved a motion urging parliament to outlaw desecration of the flag. Price, who also criticised the Indian community’s voting patterns during recent anti-immigration protests, said the flag symbolised gratitude, citizenship and national service, and condemned protesters for burning it in Melbourne.

>>23562518 Video: Thousands farewell police officer who tackled life to the fullest – Thousands gathered at the Victoria Police Academy to farewell Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, who was killed alongside colleague Vadim de Waart-Hottart in Porepunkah. Partner Lisa Thompson recalled their final weekend together, saying he taught her “how brilliant life is, if you have the courage to try.” Sisters Lois Kirk and Diane Thompson described their brother as the family’s protector, while friend Jason Williams said his “Steve Irwin gene” defined a life of risk and adventure. Police chief commissioner Mike Bush hailed Thompson as “highly respected” and loyal, while colleagues honoured him with a kilometre-long guard of honour. Thompson, 59, was due to retire last week and planned to travel South America before his death.

>>23562564 Trump Renames DOD to Department of War - (Video) President Donald Trump has signed an executive order allowing the Pentagon to use “Department of War” as a secondary title, authorising Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and senior officials to adopt terms such as “Secretary of War” and “Deputy Secretary of War.” The White House said the change “conveys a stronger message of readiness and resolve.” Trump argued that while the U.S. won under the original War Department, later conflicts often ended in “a sort of tie.” Hegseth backed the move, saying, “we haven’t won a major war since,” and emphasised that “words matter,” pledging that the renamed department would fight decisively rather than become trapped in endless wars.

#43 - Part 12

Australian Politics and Society - Part 5

>>23562572 Video: Donald Trump orders return to the US 'War Department - President Donald Trump has signed an executive order renaming the Pentagon as the “Department of War,” reviving the title it held until 1949. The White House said the move allows Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and senior officials to use secondary titles such as “Secretary of War.” Trump described it as “an attitude … it’s really about winning,” while Hegseth, introduced by Trump under the new title, declared, “We’re going to go on the offence, not just on defence. Maximum lethality, not tepid legality.” Supporters in Congress have introduced legislation to make the change permanent, but critics warn it is costly and a distraction.

>>23567113 Victoria becomes first Australian state to formally table treaty legislation in parliament - Victoria has introduced historic treaty legislation establishing Gellung Warl, a new authority making permanent the First Peoples’ Assembly. The bill promises to “reckon with the past” while assuring it takes nothing from the broader community. Gellung Warl will oversee decision-making on policies affecting First Peoples, continue the Yoorrook Commission’s truth-telling, and receive permanent funding. Co-chairs Ngarra Murray and Rueben Berg said it would “reshape the story” and “reset the relationship.” Premier Jacinta Allan said it puts decision-making power into Aboriginal hands. The Coalition vowed to oppose the bill, likening it to the Voice referendum, but with Greens and minor parties backing it, the legislation is expected to pass, making Victoria the first state to embed treaty in law.

>>23567129 Video: Victorian students from age four to year 10 to learn colonisation history - Victorian students from prep to year 10 will learn colonisation history through curriculum shaped by the Yoorrook Justice Commission’s Truth be Told report. The treaty bill says content will be co-designed with Gellung Warl, a new permanent authority embedding the First Peoples’ Assembly, alongside education authorities and Aboriginal organisations, with final approval by the minister. Premier Jacinta Allan said it is “about ensuring that future generations understand the history of this great state” and that “understanding history is about moving forward together.” The bill also proposes renaming places in Aboriginal languages and creates a watchdog to oversee compliance with Closing the Gap commitments.

>>23571701 Police bracing for violence in Melbourne CBD, as four protests planned for Saturday - Victoria Police are preparing a large-scale operation in Melbourne’s CBD on Saturday, with four rallies set to overlap, raising the risk of clashes between far-right and far-left activists. Events include a “Rally against racism,” “Sovereignty never ceded,” an anti-government protest, and the anti-immigration “Save Australia” rally. Superintendent Troy Papworth warned some participants “seek conflict and confrontation,” citing the violent August 31 march led by 150 National Socialist Network members. Police will deploy specialist squads, enforce weapon searches, and prioritise protecting Camp Sovereignty, which neo-Nazis attacked last month.

>>23571742 Video: Donald Trump accuses Australian author Scott Stuart’s children’s book of ‘radical gender ideology’ - US President Donald Trump has targeted My Shadow Is Pink, a children’s book by Australian author Scott Stuart, accusing it of promoting “radical gender ideology.” At a Religious Liberty Commission event, Trump introduced a 12-year-old student who said he was forced to read the book in fifth grade and bullied because of his faith. Stuart responded in a video, saying Trump was using his books for political gain and the student as a pawn. Stuart’s agent Sarah McKenzie praised the book as “groundbreaking,” stressing its core message of acceptance, equality and love.

>>23571755 MRF-D 25.3: Mid-Deployment Message - U.S. Marines with Marine Rotational Force - Darwin 25.3 give a message for the mid-point of their deployment, July 7, 2025. MRF-D is 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.

#43 - Part 13

Australian Politics and Society - Part 6

>>23578960 Activist assassinated:Labor, opposition condemn ‘political violence’ after Trump ally Charlie Kirk shot dead- (Video) The killing of American conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah has drawn bipartisan condemnation in Canberra. Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles called the shooting “an absolute tragedy,” stressing Australia’s commitment to peaceful political debate. Opposition deputy Sussan Ley said the Coalition stood “in solidarity with those who mourn,” while Liberal senator James Paterson labelled the attack “absolutely shocking” and noted an “uptick” in political violence. Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young blamed America’s “gun culture and culture of political assassination,” contrasting it with Australia. The debate follows ASIO warnings of rising radicalism and declining social cohesion at home.

>>23578901 Conservative activist Charlie Kirk criticised Australian politics for years before death - American commentator Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was shot dead during a Utah speaking event in what authorities described as a “political assassination.” The 31-year-old, long a critic of Australian policy, frequently attacked Canberra’s stance on free speech, Covid-19 restrictions, immigration, and gun control. He defended Elon Musk in a 2024 censorship row with Anthony Albanese, praised Melbourne protesters who shut down a Drag Queen Story Time, and denounced Novak Djokovic’s deportation as a “human rights abuse.” Kirk also cited research challenging Australia’s gun buyback. President Trump mourned him as “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk.”

>>23578932 Donald J. Trump Truth: We must all pray for Charlie Kirk, who has been shot. A great guy from top to bottom. GOD BLESS HIM!

>>23578932 Donald J. Trump Truth: The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!

>>23578932 Donald J. Trump Truth: In honor of Charlie Kirk, a truly Great American Patriot, I am ordering all American Flags throughout the United States lowered to Half Mast until Sunday evening at 6 P.M.

>>23578932 Donald J. Trump Truth: (Video) TO MY GREAT FELLOW AMERICANS…

>>23589750 Video: At Australian and UK vigils, Charlie Kirk supporters say death won't kill his message - Candlelit vigils in Sydney and London brought together supporters of slain US conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot dead in Utah. In Sydney, about 350 people gathered as Turning Point Australia founder Joel Jammal declared, “it’s going to take more than one bullet to silence his message,” urging followers to join weekend anti-government protests. In London, around a thousand mourners braved heavy rain outside Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s residence, many in MAGA hats and draped in US and UK flags. Kirk’s Turning Point USA had spawned international offshoots, including Turning Point Australia and Turning Point UK, which have hosted figures such as Nigel Farage and collaborated with One Nation.

>>23589794 Charlie Kirk’s influence on Joel Jammal and Australian conservative Christian politics - Joel Jammal, a Christian conservative activist, first came to prominence at University of Technology Sydney when he refused mandatory consent training before graduating. He went on to found Turning Point Australia, directly inspired by Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA, and credits Kirk’s organisation with providing the support and model needed to establish the group four years ago. Jammal said plans were underway to bring Kirk and his wife Erika to Australia on tour, calling him “a family man winning a noble fight to reconnect with politics.” After Kirk’s assassination, Jammal hosted a Sydney vigil, insisting no one could “fill Charlie’s shoes,” while acknowledging Kirk’s enduring impact on his own activism.

#43 - Part 14

Australian Politics and Society - Part 7

>>23590201 Video: Sussan Ley sacks Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price from Liberal frontbench - Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has removed Jacinta Nampijinpa Price from the shadow ministry after she refused to apologise for comments linking Indian migration to Labor’s vote and declined to back Ley’s leadership. Ley said the remarks had “caused Australians of Indian heritage significant hurt” and that confidence in the leader was essential for frontbenchers. Price, who labelled her comments “clumsy” but not apologetic, vowed to keep speaking out from the backbench. The saga has fuelled internal divisions, with Alex Hawke and Dave Sharma criticising Price’s stance, while Tony Abbott defended her as “a big loss” to the frontbench.

>>23591389 Marine Corps Ospreys to remain in Australia after annual rotation ends - U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Ospreys will stay in Australia after this year’s Marine Rotational Force-Darwin ends, the Defence Department confirmed. The tiltrotors, part of rotations since 2017, will be prepositioned at Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport to reduce transport costs, ease border burdens, and boost availability for training with Australian forces. Marines will conduct inspections before contracted support assumes maintenance. Australian army Brig. Gen. Mick Say said the move “represents the continuing development of a deeper relationship with the United States.” The plan sits alongside other U.S. posture initiatives, including future submarine rotations under AUKUS.

>>23591551 Video: Court finds Brittany Higgins made false claims in media interviews - The WA Supreme Court has ruled that Brittany Higgins’ 2021 media interviews about her alleged rape in Parliament House contained 26 “false or misleading aspects” that could not be solely explained by trauma. Justice Paul Tottle found Higgins had “demonstrated such an indifference to the truth that her account… can only be regarded as dishonest,” especially in portraying a political cover-up by then Liberal senator Linda Reynolds. He said Higgins embellished and speculated, passing off speculation as fact. Higgins has been ordered to pay Reynolds more than $340,000 in damages and interest. Justice Tottle found Reynolds an honest witness overall, though her testimony was sometimes discursive and reflected a politician’s instinct to defend her conduct.

>>23591587 Brittany Higgins could lose $2.4m payout after Linda Reynolds’ defamation win – A WA Supreme Court judgment has found Brittany Higgins made “objectively untrue and misleading” statements in media interviews and social media posts to bolster her false claim of a political cover-up, awarding Linda Reynolds more than $340,000 in damages and interest. Justice Paul Tottle said Higgins’ efforts to lend credibility to her story showed “indifference to the truth”, identifying 26 false or misleading aspects in her public accounts. The ruling threatens Higgins’ $2.4m commonwealth compensation payment, with Reynolds’ lawyers signalling they may pursue her trust assets. Reynolds declared her reputation “finally and fully vindicated”, while Higgins issued a statement expressing gratitude the matter had concluded.

>>23591612 Albanese must ‘accept responsibility for Higgins’ lies’: Reynolds – Linda Reynolds has urged the Albanese government to accept responsibility for “enabling Ms Higgins to perpetuate her lies” after Justice Paul Tottle’s ruling cleared her and ex-chief of staff Fiona Brown of any cover-up. In a statement to The Australian, Reynolds said Brittany Higgins and David Sharaz “concocted a deliberate plan” to weaponise rape allegations for political purposes, with 26 false or misleading statements identified in Higgins’ media interviews. Reynolds said the $2.4m commonwealth settlement with Higgins rested on “untrue” claims and insisted Labor’s handling of the matter compounded the damage to her reputation.

>>23591631 Brittany Higgins ordered to pay 80 per cent of Linda Reynolds’ legal costs – Brittany Higgins has been ordered to pay most of Linda Reynolds’s legal costs in their defamation battle, with the bill expected to exceed $1m. Justice Paul Tottle ruled Ms Higgins must cover 80 per cent after finding her 2022–23 social media posts defamed her former boss. Ms Reynolds was previously awarded $315,000 in damages plus $26,000 interest. A proposed settlement before trial, offering $200,000 and a joint “statement of mutual regret,” was deemed unreasonable as it failed to vindicate Ms Reynolds’s reputation. Reynolds is also pursuing separate legal action over Higgins’s $2.4m commonwealth payout.

#43 - Part 15

Australian Politics and Society - Part 8

>>23591692 Video: Trump calls Albanese 'a good man' after latest call – Donald Trump praised Anthony Albanese as “a good man” after their fourth phone call, which the prime minister described as “really warm.” The leaders have yet to meet in person, after a planned G7 sit-down was cancelled due to Middle East conflict. While ties remain respectful, tensions persist over tariffs on Australian exports, defence spending, and AUKUS submarine funding. Labor’s recognition of a Palestinian state at the UN prompted “disappointment and disgust” within the Trump administration. A Pentagon review of the submarine deal is underway, with analysts warning Washington may demand Australia boost its contribution to U.S. shipbuilding.

>>23598061 Melbourne neo-Nazi leader Thomas Sewell sentenced to community work for intimidating police officer - Neo-Nazi leader Thomas Sewell has been sentenced to 200 hours of community service after being found guilty of intimidating a police officer and the officer’s wife. On a podcast, he threatened to “dox” them, declaring “we’ve got it all downloaded, we’ve got it all saved.” Magistrate Michelle Hodgson said “words can be a potent form of intimidation and don’t require an overt threat,” rejecting his argument that the conduct was “lawful activism.” She noted his history of violence showed a disregard for safety. Sewell remains on remand over allegations he stormed Camp Sovereignty during an anti-immigration rally, with the order to be served after release.

>>23598112 Video: Scuffles break out as four competing rallies converge on Melbourne - Thousands of protesters gathered in Melbourne’s CBD for four separate rallies, with scuffles breaking out despite the majority remaining peaceful. Two anti-racism marches, including a “Rally against racism” and a “Sovereignty never ceded” protest, converged with anti-government demonstrations outside parliament. Police deployed 600 officers, using capsicum spray several times and arresting one man for criminal damage. Anti-racism organisers claimed up to 10,000 attended, though police estimated 2500. Speakers denounced neo-Nazis, chanted “Nazi scum off our streets,” while anti-government groups railed against media, vaccines and government, joined by former MP Bernie Finn.

>>23598215 Australia and Papua New Guinea to 'totally integrate' military in defence treaty, minister says - Australia and Papua New Guinea are set to sign a landmark defence treaty that will see their militaries “totally integrated,” allowing joint recruitment, shared bases, and even a pathway to Australian citizenship for Papua New Guineans who serve in the ADF. PNG Defence Minister Billy Joseph said the pact was a “mutual defence treaty” comparable to NATO’s Article Four, committing both nations to defend each other’s sovereignty. Defence Minister Richard Marles called it “a really big strategic step,” while analysts said the deal cements Canberra as PNG’s security partner of choice amid rising regional competition.

>>23603399 Australia to modernise PNG military under ‘hugely significant’ treaty - Australia will spend billions modernising Papua New Guinea’s military under a landmark treaty to be signed during PNG’s 50th independence anniversary. Defence Minister Richard Marles called the pact “hugely significant,” saying it would strengthen defence of Australia’s northern approaches and integrate the nations’ forces. The treaty will replace a 1977 agreement, include provisions for mutual defence consultations, and allow thousands of Papua New Guineans to serve in the ADF with a pathway to citizenship. Analysts said it cements Australia as PNG’s security partner of choice amid Chinese influence, but warned of potential regional entanglements and budget pressures.

>>23603406 Defence pact elevates PNG to treaty level of US and NZ - Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says a new defence treaty with Papua New Guinea elevates the relationship to the level of Australia’s pacts with the United States and New Zealand. The agreement, to be signed during PNG’s 50th independence celebrations, will integrate the nations’ forces, enable mutual defence support, and allow Papua New Guineans to serve in the ADF on equal pay with a pathway to citizenship. PNG Defence Minister Billy Joseph described it as a “mutual defence treaty” with “totally integrated forces.” Analysts said the deal signals a strategic win for Australia amid regional competition with China.

#43 - Part 16

Australian Politics and Society - Part 9

>>23603416 ‘Sovereignty threat’ to Australia-PNG defence treaty, critics warn - A landmark defence treaty between Australia and Papua New Guinea is facing criticism from retired PNG military chief Jerry Singirok and opposition leader Douglas Tomuriesa, who warn it could undermine sovereignty and face constitutional challenge. Singirok said the pact risks dragging PNG into a future U.S.-China conflict, arguing “we are a sovereign nation since 1975.” Tomuriesa raised concerns about “constitutional authority, legal protections” and foreign recruitment of PNG citizens into the ADF. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese insisted the treaty “respects the sovereignty of PNG” and provides for mutual defence.

>>23608121 Big tech’s $49.5m deadline: The race to kick under-16s off social media – Social media giants including Meta, Snapchat, TikTok, X and YouTube must remove under-16s from their platforms by December 10 or face fines of up to $49.5 million. The laws, described as among the world’s toughest, require “reasonable steps” such as detecting and deactivating underage accounts, blocking re-registration and offering review mechanisms, but stop short of mandating blanket ID checks. Communications Minister Anika Wells said platforms now “know what their responsibilities are,” while eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant stressed a “layered” and “minimally invasive” approach. Anthony Albanese will promote the laws at the UN, urging other nations to follow Australia’s lead.

>>23613212, >>23613216 ‘You’re hurting Australia’:Donald Trump lashes ABC reporter while confirming Albanese meeting- (Video) Donald Trump confirmed he will meet Anthony Albanese next week while attacking ABC journalist John Lyons, accusing him of “hurting Australia” by asking about his family’s business dealings. Trump told Lyons he would raise the issue with Albanese, then pointed at the reporter and said “quiet.” The exchange, later promoted by the White House “Rapid Response” account on the X social media platform, came as Four Corners investigates Trump’s business links, including a $2bn UAE-backed investment in his World Liberty Financial venture. Albanese said he and Trump have already held four “warm” conversations and will meet in New York during UN leaders’ week, with trade, defence spending and AUKUS on the agenda.

>>23613224 ‘You’re hurting Australia’: Trump threatens ABC journalist in fiery clash – (Video) Donald Trump accused ABC journalist John Lyons of “hurting Australia” by questioning his business dealings, warning he would raise the matter with Anthony Albanese during their upcoming meeting. Trump promoted his family’s role in running his businesses, then pointed at Lyons and said “quiet.” The White House later shared the clip, calling Lyons a “rude foreign Fake News loser,” while Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly branded him a “nasty, anti-Trump activist.” The ABC defended Lyons as a respected journalist working on a Four Corners investigation. The clash came days before Albanese’s US visit, as Trump also filed a $US15bn lawsuit against The New York Times and, in a separate exchange, threatened Jon Karl, chief Washington correspondent for ABC News America, saying Attorney-General Pam Bondi “will probably go after people like you.”

>>23613243 Video: Donald Trump takes aim at ABC journalist as he suggests he'll meet Albanese 'very soon – Donald Trump clashed with ABC Americas editor John Lyons at the White House, accusing him of “hurting Australia” after questions on his business dealings. Trump said he would raise the matter with Anthony Albanese, adding: “Your leader is coming over to see me very soon.” When Lyons pressed further, Trump told him “quiet.” The White House later labelled Lyons a “foreign fake news loser,” while California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office criticised Trump’s remarks as intimidation. Lyons’ questions were part of a Four Corners investigation into Trump’s wealth, which Forbes recently estimated had risen to $US7.3bn.

>>23613281 Opinion: In Donald Trump's America, questions not to the president's liking are met with hostility – ''"As America enters a dark tunnel of dangerous internal divisions … one of the most dramatic battlegrounds is the US president's war on the media. … We at the ABC had a taste of this new world ourselves this week. On behalf of Four Corners, I asked Trump some questions about how much his wealth had increased since he returned to the White House in January. … Because he is so rarely challenged these days, such questions seem hostile to him. Trump responded with a personal attack — with a hint of menace that there might be reprisals against Australia. In Donald Trump's America, questions not to the liking of the president are met not with answers but hostility."'’ – John Lyons, ABC News Australia

#43 - Part 17

Australian Politics and Society - Part 10

>>23613299 PNG Australia defence treaty on the brink after ministerial no-show - A planned defence treaty between Australia and Papua New Guinea has stalled after PNG’s cabinet failed to achieve a quorum, leaving Anthony Albanese unable to confirm whether it will be signed during his visit. The “Pukpuk Treaty” would commit both nations to “act to meet the common danger” if attacked, placing it on par with Australia’s alliances with the US and New Zealand. Critics in PNG, including former defence chief Jerry Singirok and opposition leader Douglas Tomuriesa, warned it risks undermining sovereignty. The Albanese government maintains the treaty has overwhelming support.

>>23613307 Australia and PNG fail to clinch defence agreement, resorting to communique - Australia and Papua New Guinea have failed to finalise their planned defence treaty, instead signing a communique while PNG’s cabinet continues to deliberate. The “Pukpuk Treaty” would commit both nations to mutual defence, joining the US and New Zealand as Australia’s only formal military allies. Anthony Albanese said the text was agreed and the delay was “perfectly understandable” given PNG’s independence celebrations, while James Marape stressed PNG was “a democracy” and that sovereignty was respected. Marape dismissed suggestions of Chinese obstruction, declaring Australia PNG’s “security partner of choice.” Analysts cautioned the text technically remains negotiable until formal signature.

>>23613325 Video: Albanese faces high-stakes Trump talks after PNG treaty setback - Anthony Albanese has returned from Papua New Guinea without signing the planned “Pukpuk Treaty,” Australia’s first new alliance in 70 years, after PNG’s cabinet failed to reach quorum. The setback, following Vanuatu’s collapse of a security deal, was branded “a serious foreign policy embarrassment” by the opposition. Former PNG defence commander Jerry Singirok accused Canberra of trying to “ambush” PNG, warning of sovereignty risks. Kurt Campbell urged Albanese to use his “momentous” first meeting with Donald Trump to press for US leadership in the Pacific and to “salvage” the Quad — the strategic grouping of Australia, the US, Japan and India — now in doubt after Trump’s tariffs on India. Albanese said the text is agreed and signing could occur within weeks.

>>23613325 COMMENTARY: Albanese faces embarrassment over PNG deal as China prepares to swing in - “Anthony Albanese came to PNG expecting to ink a momentous ANZUS-style treaty … He left, instead, with a flimsy commitment to sign the treaty at an undisclosed date, after PNG’s cabinet failed to endorse the deal… The fact that this is the second such failure in just over a week is highly embarrassing… Marape must get cabinet agreement for the treaty text, which confirms PNG would be required to ‘act to meet the common danger’ if Australia came under attack… There’s only one potential adversary of consequence this could apply to - the People’s Republic of China… China will also swing into action to try to derail the agreement… The blame for this highly damaging failure rests with Albanese.” – Ben Packham, The Australian

>>23613390 Analysis: Albanese was chasing a big announcement. He got a reality check instead - “To misquote Oscar Wilde: to fall short on one Pacific treaty may look like misfortune, but to fall short on two looks like carelessness… Despite the government’s bullish rhetoric, something has clearly gone wrong behind the scenes on planning and communications… The effort has been there, but not the execution… An alliance agreement of this magnitude would usually take years, not months, to reach… Australians dubious about handing billions of dollars to PNG… will not be impressed… These are weighty questions that merit vigorous discussion… Either way, the diplomatic knife fight in the Pacific carries on. As necessary as they are, ambition and effort are no guarantee of triumph.” – Matthew Knott, The Age

>>23617341 ABC barred from Trump’s UK press conference after his clash with Australian journalist John Lyons - The ABC has been blocked from Donald Trump’s press conference near London after its Americas editor, John Lyons, clashed with the US President in Washington over his business dealings. Downing Street told the broadcaster its accreditation was withdrawn for “logistical reasons.” Trump accused Lyons of “hurting Australia” and warned he would raise the matter with Anthony Albanese, before telling him to “quiet.” The Trump administration later branded Lyons a “foreign fake news loser.” Australian politicians and ABC news director Justin Stevens defended Lyons, insisting “his job is to ask questions.”

#43 - Part 18

Australian Politics and Society - Part 11

>>23617395 Brittany Higgins’ last-minute appeal against Linda Reynolds defamation award - Brittany Higgins has lodged an appeal in the WA Supreme Court against the ruling that she defamed former Liberal minister Linda Reynolds, in a bid to overturn $340,000 damages and legal costs potentially reaching $2m. The filing came on the final legal day for appeal and coincided with Higgins accepting service of a bankruptcy notice from Reynolds, whose proceedings sought access to a protective trust linked to Higgins’ $2.4m government compensation payout. The appeal delays bankruptcy action. Reynolds, awarded $315,000 in damages after Justice Tottle found Higgins made “objectively untrue and misleading” statements and defamatory social media posts, is also pursuing damages from Higgins’ husband David Sharaz.

>>23622705 Albanese-Trump meeting looks shaky as PM prepares to depart – Anthony Albanese faces the prospect of returning from the US without a confirmed one-on-one meeting with Donald Trump, a scenario analysts say would be unprecedented and risky for the alliance. At best, the two leaders may only share a brief “pull-aside” during a New York reception, with no expectation of a White House meeting or joint press conference. The uncertainty follows Albanese’s setbacks in Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea, where planned security pacts fell through. Former ambassador Arthur Sinodinos stressed clarity is needed from Trump on the AUKUS submarine pact, currently under Pentagon review. Despite four phone calls, observers warn the relationship feels “thin” and requires urgent strengthening as Trump reshapes US policy in the Pacific.

>>23622838 David Sharaz to pay damages to Linda Reynolds over social media posts – Brittany Higgins’ husband, David Sharaz, has been ordered to pay Linda Reynolds $92,000 in damages plus an estimated $500,000 in legal costs after being found to have defamed the former Liberal minister in a series of social media posts. He is also jointly liable with Higgins for $135,000 already awarded against her, bringing his total liability to $242,471. Justice Paul Tottle ruled Sharaz’s posts carried “intimidatory overtones” and aggravated damages were applied. The judge found allegations of a political “cover-up” had no basis in fact and said Sharaz’s failure to apologise or settle was unreasonable.

>>23630550 ‘Gobsmackingly illogical’: Twiggy lashes Trump on climate as Aussies hit New York – Mining billionaire Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest has savaged Donald Trump’s energy policies as “gobsmackingly illogical”, accusing the president of pandering to oil and gas donors. Arriving in New York for UN leaders’ week alongside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Forrest attacked US threats of tariffs, visa bans and port levies against countries backing a global net zero shipping framework. He said America should focus on “the lowest cost, highest volume energy” instead of politicising oil and gas. Forrest’s Fortescue is backing a green shipping plan requiring low-carbon fuels, and he has launched a media blitz in New York while preparing to join Climate Week events with global leaders.

>>23631500 Kirk the name on many lips at conservative conference – The assassination of US activist Charlie Kirk loomed large at the opening of CPAC in Brisbane, where Australian conservatives paid tribute to the slain Trump ally. Jacinta Nampijinpa Price led with a roar “for Charlie and for freedom of speech”, while Bridget McKenzie and Matt Canavan also cited his influence. Former prime minister Tony Abbott apologised for his government’s failures, urged the Coalition to abandon net zero, and warned Peter Dutton’s campaign lacked nuclear and tax focus. Price called for lower migration, and CPAC leaders pressed conservatives to unite, even floating cooperation with One Nation to revive the movement’s electoral prospects.

>>23642050 Meeting between Anthony Albanese and Donald Trump unlikely ahead of UN address - The White House has confirmed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will not hold a one-on-one meeting with US President Donald Trump during the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt listed Trump’s meetings with leaders from Ukraine, Argentina, and the European Union, but omitted Australia. Trump will instead greet Albanese briefly at a reception for world leaders before delivering a speech pledging “renewal of American strength” and criticising “globalist institutions”. Leavitt said Trump believes recognition of Palestine by Australia, Canada, and the UK “rewards Hamas” and fails to advance peace.

#43 - Part 19

Australian Politics and Society - Part 12

>>23642102 Trump’s Albanese snub raises questions about Rudd’s clout – US President Donald Trump has omitted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese from his official schedule at the United Nations General Assembly, fuelling concerns over Australia’s standing in Washington and ambassador Kevin Rudd’s influence. Trump’s itinerary includes leaders from Ukraine, Argentina and the EU, but not Australia, after Albanese’s recognition of Palestinian statehood drew White House criticism as a “reward for Hamas.” Former ambassador Arthur Sinodinos said the lack of a meeting “encourages speculation,” while ex-defence official Michael Shoebridge said “Trump is just not that into us.” Critics including Senator Andrew Bragg blamed Rudd’s history of anti-Trump comments for the diplomatic freeze.

>>23642134 Ley writes to Republicans vowing to revoke Palestine recognition ahead of Albanese's UN address – Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has written to 25 US Republicans, assuring them that a future Coalition government would revoke Australia’s recognition of a Palestinian state. The letter, sent as Anthony Albanese prepared to address the United Nations, pledged to “reverse this decision” and restore bipartisan alignment with Washington. Ley told Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar she was “disappointed” by Labor’s break with precedent, as he praised her promise. The move came after Republicans warned of “punitive measures” for nations recognising Palestine. Foreign Minister Penny Wong accused Ley of going “rogue”, while Arthur Sinodinos downplayed any long-term rift in Australia-US relations.

>>23646815 ‘Pathetic’ renewables and open borders: Donald Trump unleashes on UN in blistering address – (Video) Donald Trump used his United Nations General Assembly speech to denounce the UN as weak and “globalist”, mock renewable energy as “a joke”, and call climate change “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world”. He said wind turbines were “pathetic” and blamed the green energy agenda for Europe’s decline, defending coal as “clean and beautiful”. Trump accused the UN of funding illegal migration and declared, “Your countries are going to hell.” He condemned nations recognising Palestine, calling it a “reward to Hamas”, and said climate policies “transfer wealth to polluting countries like China”.

>>23648178 ‘Your countries are going to hell’: Trump stuns UN with tirade on immigration, climate ‘con job’ – (Video) Donald Trump delivered a 55-minute UN address railing against “unchecked immigration” and the “greatest con job ever perpetrated” — climate change. He said “illegal aliens are pouring into Europe” and that multiculturalism would be “the death of Western Europe”, urging nations to “protect their communities”. Trump mocked renewables as a “green energy scam”, declared “the carbon footprint is a hoax”, and shamed Europe for buying Russian oil. He condemned nations recognising Palestine, saying it “rewards Hamas”, and ridiculed the UN itself as a symbol of globalist failure. The speech was marred by teleprompter failure and an escalator malfunction, which Trump joked were “the two things I got from the United Nations”.

>>23648197 ‘Good to chat’: Albanese’s Trump meeting is finally secured – (Video) Anthony Albanese has finally secured his first White House meeting with Donald Trump for October 20, after months of speculation over a diplomatic snub. The breakthrough followed a brief exchange at Trump’s UN reception, where the Prime Minister posted a smiling selfie captioned “Good to chat with President Donald Trump.” The meeting relieves pressure on both Albanese and ambassador Kevin Rudd, whose influence had been questioned, but comes after a 270-day delay – unusually long for allies. It also follows Trump’s UN speech attacking climate action and Palestine recognition, exposing deep policy divides with Canberra. Analysts say the meeting remains a win for Albanese, though differences on climate, migration and trade may test relations between the pragmatic Labor leader and the volatile US president.

>>23651530 Video: Albanese’s tilt for a seat on UN Security Council to take years and millions to land – Anthony Albanese has launched Australia’s bid for a 2029-30 seat on the UN Security Council, warning the body risks becoming “a final resting place for good intentions” without reform. The Coalition backed the move, calling it a chance to advocate on wars in Gaza and Ukraine and to counter Chinese and Russian interference. Albanese’s UN speech, which contrasted sharply with Donald Trump’s climate denialism, framed climate change as an “existential threat” to Pacific nations and called for renewed global diplomacy. Analysts said the campaign would take years, cost well over $25 million, and likely centre on Australia’s Pacific partnerships.

#43 - Part 20

Australian Politics and Society - Part 13

>>23651605 Kevin Rudd hugs Donald Trump’s nemesis Gavin Newsom, as Albanese locks in White House date – Anthony Albanese has confirmed his first Oval Office meeting with Donald Trump for October 20 after the pair shared a brief handshake and selfie in New York. The meeting follows months of speculation about ambassador Kevin Rudd’s access to the White House — concerns reignited when Rudd was photographed hugging California Governor Gavin Newsom, Trump’s chief Democratic rival. Rudd and Climate Minister Chris Bowen met Newsom to discuss clean-energy cooperation as Albanese brushed off Trump’s UN tirade against renewables, saying Australia would “seize the opportunities” of climate action. The upcoming meeting is expected to settle questions over AUKUS, tariffs, and defence spending.

>>23651634 ‘We are inspired’: European leaders back Australia’s under-16 social media ban – (Video) European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has praised Australia’s world-first ban on under-16s using social media as “a bold decision” and pledged to study its impact. Speaking at an event hosted by Anthony Albanese at UN headquarters, von der Leyen said Europe was “inspired by Australia’s example” and that limiting children’s online access was “plain common sense”. Leaders from Greece, Malta, Fiji and Tonga also voiced support. Albanese said the law would ease the “tug-of-war between real life and endless scrolling”. He also said Australia would consider joining postwar peacekeeping missions in Gaza or Ukraine.

>>23651662 Elon Musk’s X says social media ban will violate human rights – Elon Musk’s company X has accused the Albanese government of breaching children’s rights by restricting free speech and access to information, as it seeks a six-month delay to Australia’s under-16 social media ban. In a Senate submission, X said the policy risked “regulatory weaponisation” and violated international treaties such as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Communications Minister Anika Wells rejected the claims, saying the law protects children from “mental harms” caused by early exposure to social media. Opposition spokesperson Melissa McIntosh called the rollout “chaotic” and confusing.

>>23657234 Video: Ex-FBI chief James Comey criminally charged as Trump targets critics – Former FBI director James Comey has been charged with making false statements and obstructing a congressional investigation, in what critics call a politically motivated prosecution ordered by US President Donald Trump. The charges, which could carry up to five years in prison, mark the first grand jury indictment of a senior Trump adversary. Comey denied wrongdoing, saying, “I’m innocent. So, let’s have a trial.” The case has drawn condemnation from legal experts who warn it breaches the tradition of independence between the presidency and the Justice Department.

>>23665639 Australia may get carve out from pharma tariffs, Health Minister says – Health Minister Mark Butler says it is “not entirely clear” whether Australian blood and plasma exports will be hit by US President Donald Trump’s new 100 per cent tariff on foreign-made pharmaceuticals, suggesting an exemption is likely. Butler noted Trump’s assurance that companies investing in US facilities would be spared and said Australia’s major plasma exporter already operates and is expanding there. He conceded, however, that some medicine exporters could still be affected. The Coalition accused Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of failing to protect Australian jobs, claiming “the relationship in Washington is not strong.” Albanese downplayed the tension, calling his brief encounter with Trump “very warm.”

>>23665687 Search widens: Dezi Freeman called ‘prepper’ whose bush knowledge stretches far from original police hunt zone – Victoria Police have widened their manhunt for alleged police killer Dezi Freeman beyond the Porepunkah area to properties near Rose River, on the edge of Mount Buffalo National Park. Freeman, 56, was described by former acquaintance Thomas Moritz as a “doomsday prepper” with exceptional bush skills. Freeman once lived and worked nearby as a WWOOFer — a volunteer under the World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms scheme, exchanging labour for accommodation and food. He is accused of fatally shooting two police officers and injuring a third during an August 26 raid. Police say Freeman may have killed himself, gone off-grid, or fled with outside help.

#43 - Part 21

Australian Politics and Society - Part 14

>>23665705 Official White House photograph enshrines moment Anthony Albanese first met Donald Trump – An official White House photograph has captured Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s first in-person meeting with US President Donald Trump, both smiling broadly as Mr Trump gives a thumbs-up alongside Jodie Haydon and Melania Trump. The photo was taken three days after the pair met at the UN General Assembly Welcome Reception in New York. Mr Albanese also met UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in London ahead of his upcoming White House visit, following earlier talks with Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

>>23665727 Anthony Albanese says Aussies are 'concerned' about far right's rise abroad, ahead of Donald Trump meeting – Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has cautioned against the global rise of populism and the far right ahead of next month’s meeting with US President Donald Trump, saying governments should “not seek to divide people”. Speaking in London after talks with British PM Keir Starmer, Mr Albanese said Australians were “concerned about elements of the far right rising in various countries”. He called on parties to “come up with solutions” rather than division, reaffirming support for the AUKUS pact and joining other centre-left leaders in pledging solidarity against populist movements.

>>23665752 Video: After meeting Trump, Albanese veers left – Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has met former UK Labour leader Tony Blair and joined a major progressive summit in London with leaders including Keir Starmer, Mark Carney, Mette Frederiksen and Pedro Sanchez. The Global Progress Action Summit, featuring Trump critics and senior Democrats, aims to shape a “progressive” response to global challenges such as migration and national security. The visit follows Mr Albanese’s meeting with US President Donald Trump in New York, where he reaffirmed support for climate action, calling global warming an “existential threat” in contrast to Mr Trump’s dismissal of it as a “con job”.

>>23665776 Video: PM lines up royal visit as he meets King Charles in Scotland – Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has invited the Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children to visit Australia after a 90-minute meeting with King Charles at Balmoral Castle. Mr Albanese, a declared republican, ruled out holding a referendum on the monarchy, calling Australia’s relationship with the Crown “very respectful”. The King, still receiving cancer treatment, discussed royal visit plans and global issues including AUKUS and Ukraine. Mr Albanese will next address the UK Labour conference in Liverpool before heading to the United Arab Emirates for trade talks, ahead of his White House meeting with President Donald Trump on October 20.

>>23670115 Video: Keir Starmer hails Anthony Albanese as his ally against ‘divisive’ right at conference – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has hailed Anthony Albanese as an “inspiration to the left” and a “key partner in standing up to the divisive politics of the right” at the UK Labour conference in Liverpool. Mr Albanese, the event’s sole international speaker, told delegates that “the low politics of fear and resentment are easy – but they only divide the country, they don’t advance it.” To a standing ovation, he pledged to work with Sir Keir to “defend democracy itself” and said “unity of labour is the hope of the world.”

>>23670135 COMMENTARY: Too close to Starmer? Why Albanese intervened in UK politics – “At the British Labour conference in Liverpool on Sunday, it was Anthony Albanese being held aloft as an exemplar: a Tory-slaying, centre-left leader from the Antipodes who managed to come from behind to achieve a resounding re-election victory… For Albanese, the inevitability that he would be attacked at home as self-indulgent, hubristic and overly partisan for appearing at such an event was a risk worth taking… Building rapport and trust with fellow world leaders is essential, but there is a line between diplomacy and politicking. Scott Morrison was accused of going too far by appearing with Trump at a campaign-style rally during a 2019 trip to Ohio… [Albanese’s] Liverpool expedition falls in the same contestable category.” – Matthew Knott, The Age

#43 - Part 22

Australian Politics and Society - Part 15

>>23670160 OPINION: Albanese’s Liverpool kiss is up there with Morrison’s MAGA rally – “Anthony Albanese made no attempt to hide the overt political nature of his keynote appearance at the UK Labour Conference… Introduced by his ‘mate’ Keir Starmer as an ‘inspiration to all of us on the left’ and a ‘key partner in standing up to the divisive politics of the right’, the Australian PM issued a full-throated call to arms for the labour movement globally… It was all rather unorthodox, given that… six years ago, he ripped into then-prime minister Scott Morrison for attending a Trump rally in Ohio… [Albanese] contended his Liverpool appearance was different because he was invited by Starmer (the White House had invited Morrison) and that he would be chatting to ministers afterwards. As a fig leaf, while in London, he also met briefly with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch - but there’s no suggestion he’ll be addressing the next UK Tory conference.” - Phillip Coorey, Australian Financial Review

>>23675023 ‘Standing up unequivocally’: Australian film sector snaps back at Trump tariffs – Arts Minister Tony Burke has vowed to “stand up unequivocally for the rights of the Australian screen industry” after US President Donald Trump renewed his threat of a 100 per cent tariff on all foreign-made films. The proposed measure, aimed at “rejuvenating Hollywood,” has drawn criticism from filmmakers and academics who warn it would damage the global industry. Actor Bryan Brown urged Australians to “get on with our stories,” while analyst Ben Eltham called the move a “TACO - Trump Always Chickens Out - situation.” The policy’s implementation remains unclear, but observers say it could reshape international film production.

>>23680217 Anthony Albanese says security ties with US as strong as ever ahead of Donald Trump meeting – Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Australia’s alliance with the United States is “as strong as it’s ever been” as he prepares for a White House meeting with President Donald Trump on October 20. Speaking to The Australian after his 11-day overseas tour, Mr Albanese said the $368 billion AUKUS submarine deal was progressing despite a Pentagon review. He cited Talisman Sabre 2025 and new defence investments as proof of deepening ties, calling his first in-person meeting with Mr Trump “warm and good”. Mr Albanese said the US “has a critical role to play in global security” and engagement in the Indo-Pacific.

>>23680280 Donald Day Jr, US conspiracy theorist connected to Wieambilla killers, agrees to watered-down plea deal – Arizona-based conspiracy theorist Donald Day Jr, who praised the 2022 Wieambilla police killers, has reached a plea deal to admit possessing firearms as a convicted felon, while prosecutors drop three other charges including threats against US police. Day, known online as “Geronimo’s Bones,” had called Gareth and Stacey Train his “brave brother and sister” after they murdered Queensland officers Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow and neighbour Alan Dare. Court filings list 34 weapons — including rifles, pistols, a revolver, and large quantities of ammunition — stored in a mobile home “gun room.” The plea limits punishment to the low end of sentencing ranges, pending court approval.

>>23684608 Papua New Guinea's cabinet approves 'Pukpuk' defence treaty with Australia – Papua New Guinea’s cabinet has approved the landmark “Pukpuk” defence treaty with Australia, which Prime Minister James Marape says will lift the nations’ security partnership to “its highest level in history.” The treaty — Australia’s first new alliance in more than 70 years — commits both countries to defend each other in the event of a military attack and could see up to 10,000 Papua New Guineans serve with the Australian Defence Force. Anthony Albanese welcomed the approval, calling it a “formal alliance.” Critics, including former PNG defence chief Jerry Singirok, warned it could compromise PNG’s independence and constitutional integrity.

>>23684632 New $5bn helicopters to work with drones on battlefield – Australia’s first two AH-64E Apache attack helicopters have arrived in Townsville under a $5bn deal with the United States for 29 aircraft, despite expert warnings that manned helicopters are increasingly vulnerable to drones and missiles. Defence is also funding a $306m maintenance contract with Boeing Defence Australia, creating 240 jobs, and a $700m RAAF Base upgrade. Deputy PM Richard Marles said the Apaches mark a “critical step change” in Army capability, while Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said they’ll support “littoral manoeuvre and long-range strike.” The Apaches will integrate with drones for reconnaissance and fire support.

#43 - Part 23

Australian Politics and Society - Part 16

>>23692093 James Marape’s cabinet green lights PNG-Australia defence treaty in big win for Albanese – Papua New Guinea’s cabinet has approved the landmark “Pukpuk” defence treaty, paving the way for Prime Minister James Marape and Anthony Albanese to sign the deal in Sydney on Monday. The treaty commits both nations to act if either is attacked and allows up to 10,000 Papua New Guineans to serve with the Australian Defence Force. Marape called it the “highest level in history” of bilateral trust, while Albanese said it would “elevate our relationship to a formal alliance.” China had warned PNG against an “exclusive” deal, and some PNG figures, including retired Major General Jerry Singirok, have raised sovereignty concerns.

>>23692127 10,000 troops and special forces: How the PNG military treaty works – The new Pukpuk treaty between Australia and Papua New Guinea will allow up to 10,000 Papua New Guineans to serve in the Australian Defence Force and create PNG special forces and air force units. The mutual defence pact commits both nations to “act to meet the common danger” if either is attacked and bars security deals with third parties, effectively excluding China. Australia will invest billions to expand PNG’s defence force from 4000 to 7000 personnel and establish a 3000-strong reserve. PNG Prime Minister James Marape said the agreement will ensure his country is “safe, secure, and prepared to protect its people and borders.”

>>23692244 Andrew Hastie quits Sussan Ley’s frontbench – Shadow Home Affairs Minister Andrew Hastie has resigned from Sussan Ley’s frontbench, saying he could no longer remain silent on immigration policy after being sidelined from developing the Coalition’s stance. On Instagram, Hastie said, “The leader has made it clear that the shadow home affairs minister won’t lead the Coalition’s response to immigration matters… I am resigning from the frontbench.” Ley rejected his version, saying Hastie quit after refusing to comply with shadow cabinet solidarity rules. His departure deepens instability for Ley, who faces disunity on net zero and migration and has recently lost Jacinta Nampijinpa Price from her frontbench.

>>23693846 ‘It’s pretty simple’: Hastie says resignation not about leadership push – (Video) Andrew Hastie has denied any plan to challenge Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, saying his resignation from the frontbench was “pretty simple” — he could not lead the Coalition’s immigration policy as shadow home affairs minister. “There’s no challenge to Sussan. I support Sussan,” he told reporters in Perth, adding that he wanted freedom to speak “with conviction and integrity” on key issues. Ley said Hastie quit after refusing to observe shadow cabinet solidarity rules. Senator James Paterson, now acting home affairs spokesperson, called the move “honourable,” while Nationals leader David Littleproud praised Hastie’s “principled stand.”

>>23694411 Police ramp up search for Dezi Freeman near Mount Buffalo as manhunt enters 37th day – Nearly 100 additional officers and cadaver dogs have joined the search for alleged police killer Dezi Freeman in dense bushland near Mount Buffalo, Victoria. Freeman was last seen after the August 26 shootings of Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart and Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson at Porepunkah. Police have sealed off parts of Mount Buffalo National Park amid difficult weather and terrain, following false leads in Goomalibee and Undera. Local businesses continue to suffer from the prolonged operation, with some yet to receive promised state support. Freeman remains at large despite one of Victoria’s largest manhunts.

>>23699103 Libs inch towards net zero deal as Hastie leak stirs discontent – The Coalition is edging toward a compromise on climate policy after Andrew Hastie’s resignation, as leaks revealed Peter Dutton accused him of “going on strike” and poor policy work. Senior Liberals urged unity, with James Paterson saying consensus on a “national interest first” net zero plan was near. The deal would retain a 2050 target but remove it from law and exempt farmers and heavy industry. Nationals leader David Littleproud called for calm, while Nick Minchin confirmed Dutton discussed defence policy in the election review. Ted O’Brien and Scott Morrison backed Sussan Ley’s leadership and urged focus on economic discipline.

#43 - Part 24

Australian Politics and Society - Part 17

>>23699110 Australia and Papua New Guinea sign landmark alliance vowing to defend each other in conflict - (Video) Australia and Papua New Guinea have signed the historic “Pukpuk” defence treaty, agreeing to “act together to meet the common danger” if either faces an armed attack. Prime Ministers Anthony Albanese and James Marape signed the pact in Canberra, formally elevating ties to an alliance comparable to ANZUS. Mr Albanese called it “Australia’s first new alliance in more than 70 years”, while Mr Marape said it stemmed from “geography, history and the enduring reality of our shared neighbourhood”. The agreement commits both nations not to undertake activities with third parties that could “compromise” the treaty — a clause seen as limiting Chinese defence involvement. Up to 10,000 Papua New Guineans may eventually serve in the Australian Defence Force.

>>23699118 Video: Neighbours Albanese and Marape build a fence - but not to keep China out – Australia and Papua New Guinea have signed the “Pukpuk” defence treaty, committing to mutual defence and deeper military cooperation. Prime Ministers Anthony Albanese and James Marape said the pact strengthens regional stability rather than targeting China. Mr Marape described it as “one bigger fence that secures two houses”, stressing it was based on “geography, history and shared neighbourhood”, not geopolitics. The agreement, Australia’s first formal alliance since ANZUS, prevents either nation from entering deals that would “compromise” the treaty and allows cross-recruitment between their defence forces. Mr Albanese said the pact “lifts our relationship to the next level”, while opposition frontbencher James Paterson welcomed the signing.

>>23703822 Video: Anthony Albanese reveals he received 'lovely' letter from White House ahead of Donald Trump meeting – Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he is “not at all” nervous about his upcoming October 20 meeting with US President Donald Trump, citing a “quite lovely letter” of invitation from the White House. Albanese said his discussions with Trump had been “really warm” and that he expected positive news on AUKUS after a Pentagon review. He also highlighted Australia’s new defence alliance with Papua New Guinea as proof of regional leadership and said the US enjoyed a trade surplus with Australia, calling it “an important economic relationship.”

>>23706846 Linda Reynolds launches bankruptcy bid against David Sharaz – Former senator Linda Reynolds has initiated bankruptcy proceedings against David Sharaz in the Federal Court, seeking to recover hundreds of thousands in damages and legal costs from her successful defamation case. Reynolds confirmed she was forced to apply for substituted service after Sharaz “refused to accept” a bankruptcy notice. The WA Supreme Court last month ordered Sharaz to pay $92,000 in damages plus up to $500,000 in costs. Reynolds said Sharaz and Brittany Higgins had adopted a “strategy of driving up my legal costs.” A bankruptcy ruling could allow her to claim part of Sharaz’s future earnings. Higgins is appealing her own $340,000 defamation loss.

>>23708582 Gaza tensions, Nazis and nefarious foreign actors spark police overhaul – New Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett has warned extremists and foreign states that they are now “on our radar” as she launches a sweeping overhaul to defend democracy from hate-fuelled unrest. Barrett said the Hamas attacks and Israel’s response — labelled genocide by the UN — had driven a surge in ideological crimes and antisemitic threats. Her new national security squads will target Nazi groups, radicals and foreign influence operations linked to Iran. The AFP will also coordinate state prosecutions under new hate-crime laws and expand protection of landmarks and politicians. Barrett said “states are using criminal proxies to destabilise adversaries,” while China remained the main cyber threat.

>>23708623 Video: High Court backs use of encrypted app to monitor crime figures after challenge by bikies – The High Court has upheld laws allowing police to use evidence from the AN0M encrypted app, a key tool in Operation Ironside that exposed major criminal networks. Two South Australian Comanchero gang members challenged the laws, arguing they breached the constitution, but the court ruled unanimously that the provisions “do no more than reflect the law.” The decision clears the way for hundreds of prosecutions based on AN0M material, including 115 in South Australia. The app, secretly developed by the Australian Federal Police and FBI, captured 28 million criminal messages between 2018 and 2021, with police monitoring them in real time.

#43 - Part 25

Australian Politics and Society - Part 18

>>23713306 US Marines bid farewell to ‘unprecedented’ time in Darwin but taking NT toughness with them – About 2,500 US Marines have departed the Northern Territory after what Commander Colonel Jason Armas called an “unprecedented” six-month deployment. Speaking at RAAF Base Darwin, Armas said the rotation included record levels of training with Australian forces, from Talisman Sabre 2025 to joint exercises across the Indo-Pacific. He said the experience strengthened “stability” and “interoperability” while teaching “grit, resilience and toughness.” Marines also completed 3,000 hours of community service. ADF Group Captain Melissa Neilson said the program “epitomises the strong relationship” between Australia and the US and that friendships forged in Darwin will “set us up for success into the future.”

>>23722812 Video: Anthony Scaramucci warns Albanese to ‘co-produce’ meeting with Trump – Former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci has urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to “be very careful” when meeting US President Donald Trump, warning him to “co-produce” the encounter and avoid being “set up” for spectacle. Scaramucci said Albanese should seek advice from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who “deals with him better than any other Western leader.” The financier-turned-political commentator, sacked by Trump after 10 days in 2017, said foreign leaders risk humiliation if unprepared. His comments come ahead of Albanese’s October 20 White House visit, where Trump is expected to push hard on trade and defence priorities.

>>23722890 Defence bans cookbook reprints, focuses on $20bn missile industry – Defence has stopped further print runs of the Taste of Harmony cookbook, created by the Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) group, after criticism it distracted from Australia’s $20 billion domestic missile program. Air Marshal Leon Phillips defended the project as part of Defence’s “cultural blueprint,” saying such initiatives help staff “bring their authentic self to work.” He said the $1800 cookbook cost was minor compared to progress on missile manufacturing, citing contracts with Kongsberg and Lockheed Martin. Phillips confirmed the cookbook would not return, adding the focus is now on expanding production of naval and ground-based weapons systems.

>>23722906 4chan unlikely to face under-16s social media ban, says eSafety chief – eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant has indicated 4chan will not be blocked under Australia’s upcoming ban on social media use by under-16s, despite calling it “one of the darker sites on the web.” In Senate estimates, Inman Grant said the 10 December ban would focus on “mainstream” platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, X and Snapchat. She said 4chan would instead face regulation under new codes covering violent and adult content, requiring age assurance and carrying fines of up to $49.5 million. The commissioner confirmed some major platforms had accepted her classification, while others were resisting.

>>23722976 David Sharaz served bankruptcy papers by Linda Reynolds after defamation win – Former senator Linda Reynolds has served bankruptcy papers on Brittany Higgins’s husband, David Sharaz, as she seeks to recover damages from a Perth defamation case. Mr Sharaz, who did not defend the action, was ordered to pay $85,000 and is jointly liable with Ms Higgins for more than $1 million in legal costs. Ms Reynolds said Mr Sharaz had “agreed to accept service” after forcing her to incur further costs applying for substituted service orders. He now has 21 days to pay or face formal bankruptcy proceedings. The defamation case followed social media posts Ms Reynolds said had “trashed her reputation” and caused severe distress.

>>23735915 Australia, US progress missile deal ahead of Albanese’s meeting with Trump – Australia and the United States have advanced a joint missile production partnership, with guided weapons expected to be manufactured in Australia by year’s end under a new agreement with the US Department of War and Lockheed Martin. Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said the deal, signed in Washington, would allow co-production of Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) and precision strike missiles for export through a “US-led global supply chain.” The move comes ahead of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s first formal meeting with President Donald Trump, where the AUKUS submarine pact will be central. Conroy said the project demonstrated the strength of the alliance and mutual security priorities.

#43 - Part 26

Australian Politics and Society - Part 19

>>23735938 Video: Government launches $14m ad blitz ahead of under-16s social media ban – The federal government has unveiled a $14 million advertising campaign ahead of the December 10 law banning children under 16 from social media platforms. The ad, airing Sunday, shows teens glued to their phones as a voiceover says the new rules are “for the good of the kids.” Communications Minister Anika Wells said the measure would bring “significant and meaningful difference” and promote cultural change, noting seven in ten teens have seen harmful content online. Platforms including TikTok, X and Facebook must verify users’ ages or face fines up to $49.5 million. Wells said she was confident tech giants “understand their obligations under Australian law.”

>>23735954 Dezi Freeman still at large as Mount Buffalo National Park reopens – Mount Buffalo National Park has reopened nearly two months after closing for the massive police manhunt to capture fugitive Dezi Freeman, wanted over the alleged murders of two police officers. Victoria Police said some areas would remain restricted and patrols would continue as the investigation remains active. More than 800 people have been interviewed, hundreds of properties searched, and 1600 intelligence reports reviewed. Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said detectives were considering “three likely scenarios” — that Freeman is dead, alive in the area, or being sheltered elsewhere. A $1 million reward remains for information leading to his capture.

>>23735963 Linda Reynolds launches bankruptcy action on Brittany Higgins – Former senator Linda Reynolds has filed Federal Court proceedings to bankrupt Brittany Higgins, after the ex-staffer failed to comply with a creditor’s notice over more than $1 million owed in defamation damages and legal costs. Justice Paul Tottle previously found Ms Higgins defamed Ms Reynolds in social media posts, awarding $340,000 in damages plus about $1.5 million in costs. The move follows similar bankruptcy action against Ms Higgins’s husband, David Sharaz. Higgins, who received a $2.4 million Commonwealth payout in 2022, has since spent most of it on legal fees, taxes and living expenses. Bankruptcy could allow Reynolds to claim part of the couple’s future earnings.

>>23742278 High Court backs Tony Burke in Candace Owens visa dispute – The High Court of Australia has upheld Immigration Minister Tony Burke’s decision to deny a visa to US commentator Candace Owens, ruling unanimously that Section 501 of the Migration Act does not breach the Constitution’s implied freedom of political communication. Owens had claimed the refusal was biased and infringed free speech, but the court found Burke acted within his powers to block entry on the grounds her views could “incite discord.” The minister cited her history of inflammatory comments, including claims that Muslims “started slavery” and remarks appearing to downplay the Holocaust. Burke said Owens’ rhetoric risked inflaming racial and religious tensions. The decision reaffirms ministerial discretion to bar foreigners who threaten social cohesion.

>>23742293 Australia to stare down Trump’s threats over new global carbon tax – Australia is set to back a global carbon pricing scheme for international shipping despite threats from the Trump administration to sanction nations supporting the plan. The International Maritime Organisation will vote Thursday on the “net zero framework,” a cap-and-trade system aimed at cutting shipping emissions. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned of tariffs, visa bans and port levies on allies that back what Washington calls a “European-led neocolonial export of global climate regulations.” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government, seeking to maintain credibility on clean-energy policy before next week’s Trump meeting, is expected to press ahead alongside Japan, China and the EU. The move risks escalating tensions ahead of the AUKUS and trade discussions.

>>23742320 Video: Treasurer lays groundwork for ‘golden’ US minerals deal – Treasurer Jim Chalmers has hailed a potential Australia–US critical minerals agreement as a “golden opportunity” ahead of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s meeting with President Donald Trump. Speaking in Washington, Chalmers said the deal could secure tariff relief for Australian exports, which currently face a 10 per cent US duty, and boost joint supply chains amid China’s mineral restrictions. He met senior US officials, including National Economic Council chair Kevin Hassett, to advance the plan, stressing that “Australia’s interests are best served by more trade, not more trade barriers.” The talks also covered AUKUS, with Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy reporting strong bipartisan support in Washington for the pact’s continuation.

#43 - Part 27

Australian Politics and Society - Part 20

>>23742340 Australian miners would link with Department of War in Albanese–Trump deal – Australia and the United States are preparing a critical minerals agreement under which the US Department of War would directly invest in Australian rare earth projects to secure materials for fighter jets and green technologies. The deal, expected to be unveiled during Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s October 20 meeting with President Donald Trump, follows Trump’s $US100 billion funding law for minerals supply diversification. Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said the long-awaited AUKUS review could be “imminent,” while Treasurer Jim Chalmers emphasised Australia’s role in balancing trade ties with China and the US. Beijing, defending its export curbs, denied weaponising minerals. Albanese will depart for Washington on Sunday.

>>23742443 Barnaby Joyce won’t run for New England, mulls One Nation move after talks with Pauline Hanson – Former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce has announced he will not recontest his New England seat, citing a relationship with party leadership that has “irreparably broken down”. Pauline Hanson, who opened a new One Nation branch in Tamworth, invited him to “come across to One Nation”, saying he was “more aligned” with her party than the Nationals. Mr Joyce, recently treated for prostate cancer, said net zero policies had “hurt” his electorate and made remaining in the Nationals “untenable”. He is now weighing his political future after discussions with Senator Hanson amid ongoing Coalition fractures.

>>23742454 PNG troops face going hungry amid unpaid catering bill, in challenge for Pukpuk ally Australia – Papua New Guinea’s Defence Force faces a shutdown in food services for its 3500 troops after failing to pay a $6.2m catering bill dating back to March, underscoring the fragility of its military under the new Pukpuk (Crocodile) Treaty with Australia. Contractor iPi Catering has warned it will halt operations, while NKW Holdings — previously accused of inflating Manus Island invoices — assumes part of the contract. PNG Defence Minister Billy Joseph and Australian counterpart Richard Marles declined comment. Analysts warn PNG’s Defence Force is in a “woeful state,” battling debt, disrepair, and missing weapons, posing a challenge for Australia’s regional security commitments.

>>23742478 Ex-Trump national security adviser Bolton charged over handling of classified material – Former US national security adviser John Bolton has been charged with 18 counts under the Espionage Act for allegedly retaining and sharing top-secret records, including diary-like notes about his time in government. Prosecutors say Bolton shared over 1000 pages of classified information with relatives and failed to disclose that Iranian-linked hackers accessed his emails. He denies wrongdoing, calling the case an “intensive effort” by Donald Trump to “intimidate his opponents.” The charges carry potential sentences of up to 10 years per count and follow similar indictments against other Trump critics, deepening concern over politicisation of the Justice Department.

>>23745272 Anthony Albanese has fingers crossed for ‘constructive’ meeting with Donald Trump – Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will meet US President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday for talks focused on the $368bn AUKUS deal and expanding US investment in Australia’s critical minerals sector. Albanese said he was “looking forward to a positive and constructive meeting” and called it an opportunity to “consolidate and strengthen” the alliance. The visit comes amid calls from Washington for higher Australian defence spending and concerns about China’s dominance in rare earth supply chains. Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said Australia’s 2.8 per cent defence spend was already higher than most Indo-Pacific allies. Albanese’s short Washington trip precedes visits to Malaysia, South Korea and Japan for upcoming ASEAN and APEC summits.

>>23745283 The key card Albanese can play to keep Trump on side in Oval Office – Anthony Albanese enters his White House meeting with Donald Trump determined to avoid the “Zelensky moment” or humiliation of other leaders. With AUKUS under review, he carries a package of critical minerals, defence spending and superannuation investment to win over Trump’s transactional instincts. Former ambassador Kim Beazley said Australia must “practise statecraft” and present its resources as strategic assets. Analysts warn Trump “abhors weakness” but respects firmness, making confidence essential. AUKUS’s value as a bulwark against China and its support for US submarine production form the backbone of Albanese’s pitch, while Canberra stresses shared economic, security and industrial benefits.

#43 - Part 28

Australian Politics and Society - Part 21

>>23745354 ‘Melbourne has had a gutful’: Two officers hospitalised, flags burnt and missiles thrown at police as opposing protesters converge in CBD – (Video) Violent clashes erupted in Melbourne’s CBD as anti-immigration and counter-protest groups hurled rocks, bottles and debris at police, leaving two officers hospitalised. Commander Wayne Cheesman condemned the violence, saying “Melbourne has had a gutful” and that the attacks “could kill someone.” Police accused left-wing counter-protesters of fuelling unrest, while organisers claimed officers used excessive force. Premier Jacinta Allan and Opposition Leader Brad Battin condemned the violence, calling for accountability. The far-right March for Australia rally, linked to neo-Nazi figures, drew around 1000 participants, as counter-protesters chanted “no Nazis ever again.” Police used flash bangs and rubber bullets to separate the groups in what Cheesman called “a bad day for Melbourne.”

>>23745404 Video: Police hospitalised, pepper spray used in violent Melbourne protests – Two police officers have been hospitalised and several injured after violent clashes between anti-immigration demonstrators and left-wing “anti-racism” activists in Melbourne’s CBD. Police deployed pepper spray, tear gas and rubber bullets to regain control as officers were pelted with rocks, glass and burning debris. Commander Wayne Cheesman said “Melbourne has had a gutful,” accusing “issue-motivated groups on the left” of trying to attack police, while Premier Jacinta Allan condemned the violence, vowing offenders would face “serious consequences.” Hundreds of officers were deployed as fights broke out near Spring Street and Exhibition Street. The clashes marked the second major confrontation involving March for Australia this year. Similar rallies occurred in other capitals but Melbourne saw the worst unrest.

>>23748303 Video: Victoria to ban masks and chaining at protests as Jacinta Allan insists Melbourne CBD is safe – Victoria will introduce new laws banning protesters from wearing masks or chaining themselves to structures, with Premier Jacinta Allan saying such tactics are being used to conceal identities and endanger others. The crackdown follows violent clashes in Melbourne’s CBD that left two police officers hospitalised. Ms Allan said the legislation would expand police powers while protecting the right to peaceful protest. Opposition Leader Brad Battin accused the government of ignoring public safety, while Ms Allan insisted Melbourne “remains safe,” blaming a “small number” of agitators for recent unrest. The laws are expected to be introduced to parliament within weeks.

>>23748324 Google starts legal fight to overturn social media ban for under-16s – Google is preparing to challenge the Albanese government’s under-16 social media ban, arguing YouTube should not be classified as a social platform and that the law breaches Australia’s implied right to political freedom. The ban, effective December 10, will block access for under-16s to YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Threads and X. Google has hired senior barristers and may be joined by other tech firms in the case. Communications Minister Anika Wells warned platforms of hefty fines for non-compliance, while the issue is expected to surface during Anthony Albanese’s meeting with US President Donald Trump. Google has declined to comment publicly.

>>23748356 Video: Anthony Albanese lands in Washington DC for White House face-to-face with Donald Trump – Anthony Albanese has arrived in Washington ahead of his first in-person meeting with Donald Trump, as the White House praised their “great relationship.” The two leaders will meet in the Oval Office on Tuesday (AEDT) to discuss AUKUS, defence ties, trade and critical minerals. Albanese said the visit would “create benefits for Australians back home.” Kevin Rudd will join the delegation, with White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly confirming the talks will focus on strengthening defence and economic co-operation. Albanese will also meet the Friends of Australia Caucus, a bipartisan group of US legislators that promotes the alliance and supports closer economic and security collaboration, before hosting a BHP 140th anniversary lunch at the Australian embassy.

>>23751998 Donald J. Trump Truth – (Video) President Trump Welcomes Australian Prime Minister to the White House - https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115408070700605463

>>23752000 Margo Martin, Special Assistant to the President Tweet: (Video) President @realDonaldTrump welcomes the Prime Minister of Australia to the White House - https://x.com/MargoMartin47/status/1980293950113202259

>>23752005 The White House Tweet - President Donald J. Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. - https://x.com/WhiteHouse/status/1980325056015397187

#43 - Part 29

Australian Politics and Society - Part 22

>>23752011 Video: President Trump welcomes the Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, to the White House. - The White House, Oct 21, 2025

>>23752017 Video: President Trump Greets the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia - The White House, Oct 21, 2025

>>23752034 Video: FULL MEETING - President Trump Participates in a Bilateral Lunch with the Prime Minister of Australia - The White House, Oct 21, 2025

>>23752081 Trump praises Australia and takes swipe at Rudd during White House meeting with Albanese – (Video) Donald Trump has hailed Australia as “a fantastic place” and Anthony Albanese as “highly respected” during their first White House meeting, while delivering a blunt rebuke to ambassador Kevin Rudd, telling him, “I don’t like you either, and I probably never will.” The summit produced an $8.5 billion minerals deal aimed at countering China’s dominance and a renewed US commitment to AUKUS, with Trump confirming Australia would receive its Virginia-class submarines. US Navy Secretary John Phelan said the pact would be “improved for all three parties.” Albanese also invited Trump to visit Australia, an offer the president said he would “give serious consideration.”

>>23752098 Video: Trump tells Rudd ‘I don’t like you’, reportedly offers forgiveness off-camera – Donald Trump publicly told Australia’s ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd, “I don’t like you, and I probably never will” during a White House meeting with Anthony Albanese. The remark came as journalists watched, prompting laughter from the Australian delegation but calls from the opposition for Rudd’s resignation. After the meeting, Rudd apologised again and Trump reportedly accepted. The exchange followed resurfaced comments Rudd had made years earlier calling Trump “destructive” and a “traitor to the West.” Penny Wong said the exchange was “tongue in cheek,” crediting Rudd’s role in securing AUKUS and the minerals deal, while opposition leader Sussan Ley said it showed the ambassador’s position was “untenable.”

>>23752128 Video: Kevin Rudd apologises to Donald Trump for ‘most destructive president’ post – Donald Trump has accepted an apology from Kevin Rudd after the Australian ambassador withdrew past comments calling him “the most destructive president” and “a traitor to the West.” During Anthony Albanese’s White House meeting, Trump joked that Rudd might “like to apologise,” then told him, “I don’t like you either. And I probably never will,” prompting laughter from both delegations. Rudd later apologised privately, and Trump said all was forgiven. Former ambassador Dennis Richardson praised Rudd’s work on the $8.5bn critical minerals deal and AUKUS, while Penny Wong called Trump’s remark “tongue-in-cheek.” Opposition leader Sussan Ley argued Rudd’s position was “untenable,” though Arthur Sinodinos said his dismissal was unlikely.

>>23752188 Video: Kevin Rudd set to remain in Washington for long haul despite Trump spat – Kevin Rudd is expected to remain as Australia’s ambassador to Washington until at least March 2027, despite Donald Trump telling him “I don’t like you either, and probably never will” during Anthony Albanese’s White House meeting. The Albanese government dismissed opposition calls for Rudd’s dismissal, saying the exchange was humorous and “all’s forgiven”. Defence Minister Richard Marles praised Rudd’s “fantastic job” securing the $8.5 billion critical minerals deal and strengthening AUKUS ties. Foreign Minister Penny Wong and former ambassadors Dennis Richardson, Kim Beazley and Arthur Sinodinos all backed Rudd’s performance. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley and trade spokesman Kevin Hogan said his position was “untenable”, arguing the ambassador’s past comments about Trump undermined relations. Albanese remains firm in his support, with Rudd “in Washington for the long haul.”

>>23755139 Albanese channels Trump’s ‘Art of the Deal’ and ticks off list of agreements – Anthony Albanese has adopted Donald Trump’s transactional style, finalising a suite of deals at the White House across critical minerals, defence, and technology. A US–Australia critical minerals framework will see each nation invest US$1 billion in projects countering China’s control of rare earths, with early funding for Alcoa’s gallium refinery in Western Australia and the Arafura mine in the Northern Territory. Defence ties were reinforced through AUKUS, Apache helicopters, and Ghost Shark undersea drones. A new “Technology Prosperity Deal” expands cooperation in AI, quantum, and space industries, while the US hailed an expected $1.4 trillion inflow from Australian superannuation funds by 2035 as a “historic” investment in the American economy.

#43 - Part 30

Australian Politics and Society - Part 23

>>23755149 From flowers to golf, no missteps in Albanese’s visit – Anthony Albanese’s visit to Washington unfolded as a diplomatic success, marked by warmth and smooth protocol. Donald Trump hosted the Prime Minister at Blair House, the official U.S. presidential guest residence situated opposite the White House, traditionally reserved for visiting heads of state. The gesture, accompanied by flowers from Trump and Melania, signalled goodwill before the two leaders met in the Cabinet Room alongside JD Vance, Marco Rubio and Pete Hegseth. Albanese’s team included Kevin Rudd, who drew laughter after a brief, humorous exchange with Trump over past remarks. Over a three-course lunch of roast chicken and pavlova, Trump expressed interest in becoming the first US President to visit Australia since Barack Obama, hinting at attending the 2028 Presidents Cup in Melbourne. Later, Albanese met Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and dined with Rubio.

>>23755163 Analysis: Inside Albanese’s extremely successful Trump meeting (where I was called a nasty guy) – "There is no way to describe Anthony Albanese’s first proper meeting with Donald Trump as anything other than a raging success. With one glaring exception, Albanese achieved everything he came to Washington to do: he inked a landmark critical minerals deal, secured the US president’s emphatic support for the AUKUS defence pact, and shared an apparently genuine camaraderie with Trump – who called Australia 'an amazing ally'. 'There’s never been any games,' Trump enthused. 'There are some games with other countries, but there haven’t been games with Australia.' Even the awkward exchange with Kevin Rudd – when Trump said, 'I don’t like you either, and I probably never will' – seemed to clear the air. And Rudd wasn’t the only one to cop it. Trump called this reporter a 'nasty guy' when I tried to ask a second question, while he told another Australian journalist, The Nightly’s Latika Bourke, that she didn’t know anything about the Russia-Ukraine war, and then told her to be 'quiet'. Escaping the White House unscathed is a tough task. But Albanese has done it, even if others have a few scars." – Michael Koziol, The Age

>>23755187 The White House Tweet: - (Video) "It's great to have the Prime Minister of Australia, a lot of friends over there… we work together very much on rare earths, critical minerals, and lots of other things." - President Donald J. Trump - https://x.com/WhiteHouse/status/1980645712099528908

>>23755200 OPINION: I’ve sat with Trump in the Oval Office, and I give Albanese a 10/10 – "Anthony Albanese and his team, including ambassador Kevin Rudd, should be very pleased with their meeting with President Donald Trump. They achieved the main objective, which was to get in and out without mishap. Trump lavished the prime minister with praise and Albanese lavished back without appearing sycophantic. It was definitely a 10/10 in diplomatic and political terms. The agreement on rare earths development and processing is a very good step forward … but it is easier to announce deals in the White House than it is to actually make them happen. So there is much work to do. Of course, Trump loves AUKUS — he is hyper-transactional and loves a good deal. Bullshit and backslapping are fine, but delivering the goods is what matters. So far, so good." – Malcolm Turnbull, The Age

>>23755204 Video: Kevin Rudd should not be sacked after Donald Trump’s rebuke, Malcolm Turnbull insists – Malcolm Turnbull has defended Kevin Rudd’s role as Australia’s ambassador to the US, dismissing Coalition calls for his removal after Donald Trump told him, “I don’t like you, and I probably never will.” Turnbull described the exchange as “tongue-in-cheek” and said sacking Rudd would project weakness, praising Anthony Albanese’s “10 out of 10” White House performance for balancing warmth and dignity. He said Trump’s comments on China showed the US president “is not a warmonger” and wants peace, but warned that “warm words don’t build submarines,” noting America’s production shortfalls still jeopardise Australia’s AUKUS timeline. Turnbull said the meeting’s outcomes hadn’t changed the practical challenges facing the submarine deal, which requires US output to more than double before Australia can receive any vessels.

#43 - Part 31

Australian Politics and Society - Part 24

>>23755216 Video: Anthony Albanese defends Kevin Rudd after criticism from Donald Trump – Anthony Albanese has reaffirmed his support for Kevin Rudd, calling him a “fantastic” ambassador after Donald Trump told Rudd, “I don’t like you either, and I probably never will.” The prime minister said the exchange ended with Mr Trump’s words, “all is forgiven,” and praised Rudd’s work in Washington, noting “every single person on The Hill” had endorsed him. Speaking at a Friends of Australia breakfast, Albanese thanked Rudd for “working his guts out” on AUKUS and US relations. Veteran Republican Michael McCaul also backed Rudd, saying he had been “there every step of the way” on the submarine pact. Albanese hailed the trip’s success, including an $8.5 billion critical minerals partnership and renewed AUKUS commitments aimed at a “more secure and peaceful Indo-Pacific region.”

>>23755221 ‘Kevin works his guts out’: PM endorses Rudd’s contributions – (Video) Anthony Albanese has confirmed Kevin Rudd will remain Australia’s ambassador to Washington through the 2026 US midterms, praising him as an “outstanding” and “extraordinarily hard-working” representative. At a Friends of Australia caucus and a BHP anniversary event, Albanese said Rudd “works his guts out” and credited him for the visit’s success. Senior sources said Rudd helped secure Julian Assange’s release, progress AUKUS legislation and deliver the $8.5 billion critical minerals deal with the Trump administration. Republican co-chair Michael McCaul said “Kevin was there every step of the way” on AUKUS, while joking about his exchange with Mr Trump. Albanese described his own rapport with the US president as “warm” and “constructive”, reflecting the alliance’s strength.

>>23755234 ‘I’m alive’: Rudd bounces back from Trump spray – After Donald Trump’s public rebuke in the White House Cabinet Room, Kevin Rudd quickly reasserted his diplomatic footing on day two of Anthony Albanese’s Washington visit. At a Friends of Australia breakfast at Blair House — attended by bipartisan US lawmakers including Michael McCaul and Tim Kaine — Rudd joked “I’m alive” and received applause for his role advancing AUKUS and critical minerals cooperation. McCaul praised that “Kevin was there every step of the way.” Later, at BHP’s 140th anniversary embassy lunch, Rudd earned plaudits from Albanese and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum for his tireless advocacy and bipartisan outreach. Albanese called him “an outstanding Australian representative” whose “hard work” underpinned the visit’s success.

>>23759587 Brittany Higgins abandons Linda Reynolds defamation appeal – Brittany Higgins has withdrawn her appeal against a judgment that she defamed former Liberal minister Linda Reynolds, leaving in place a $340,000 damages order and legal costs that could exceed $2 million. The decision ends her bid to delay bankruptcy proceedings launched by Ms Reynolds, who is seeking access to Ms Higgins’ compensation trust. Justice Paul Tottle found Ms Higgins made “objectively untrue and misleading” statements about a political cover-up of her alleged rape and ordered her to pay 80 per cent of Ms Reynolds’ legal costs. Ms Higgins’ partner, David Sharaz, has also been pursued for bankruptcy after separate damages and cost orders in Ms Reynolds’ favour.

>>23759596 Forced adoption redress scheme to offer compensation for impacted Tasmanians – Tasmania will establish a redress scheme for women subjected to historical forced adoptions, becoming the second jurisdiction after Victoria to do so. Premier Jeremy Rockliff apologised for the “significant pain and suffering” caused by the practice, promising compensation and counselling support to affected mothers. Survivors, including 75-year-old Robyn Cohen, welcomed the move but warned consultation delays could see victims die before receiving justice. Lawyer Angela Sdrinis said the government must “move very swiftly” and that Victoria’s $30,000 payment was “woefully inadequate.” The scheme, limited to mothers, is expected to begin next year with transitional payments available sooner.

#43 - Part 32

Australian Politics and Society - Part 25

>>23759609 Video: US conspiracy theorist linked to Wieambilla shootings pleads guilty to watered-down charge – Arizona-based conspiracy theorist Donald Day Jr, known online as “Geronimo’s Bones”, has pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing firearms and ammunition after police found nine high-powered weapons, hundreds of rounds, and a sniper hide at his rural property. The plea deal dropped charges of threatening FBI agents and public figures. Prosecutors said Day had exchanged messages with Queensland extremists Gareth, Stacey, and Nathaniel Train, who murdered police constables Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow, and neighbour Alan Dare during the 2022 Wieambilla ambush. Despite a violent criminal history banning him from owning firearms, Day admitted using and teaching others to use them. He has served two years in custody and faces up to 15 years in prison, though prosecutors have agreed to recommend a sentence at the lower end of the scale.

>>23763863 Video: Servicewomen launch legal action against Defence Force over sexual assault, discrimination – Australian servicewomen have launched a landmark class action against the Commonwealth, alleging decades of systemic sexual violence, rape, harassment and discrimination within the Australian Defence Force. Filed in the Federal Court by law firm JGA Saddler, the suit could involve up to 20,000 women. Lawyer Josh Aylward said many faced retaliation for reporting assaults. Former RAAF member “Gemma” said she was forced to keep working alongside her alleged attacker, leaving her with severe trauma and suicidal thoughts. The 2024 Defence Suicides Royal Commission found 800 sexual assault allegations in five years. Defence said it was developing a new sexual misconduct prevention strategy under Respect@Work reforms.

>>23763913 Video: Police Taskforce Summit to take over ongoing search for fugitive Dezi Freeman – Victoria Police has launched Taskforce Summit to lead the ongoing hunt for fugitive Dezi Freeman, accused of murdering two police officers in Porepunkah, 300km northeast of Melbourne, on August 26. The taskforce, led by a detective inspector from the State Anti-Gangs Division, includes detectives from Crime Command, the Fugitive Squad, Armed Crime Squad, VIPER Taskforce, Special Operations Group and Search and Rescue. Mount Buffalo National Park, long central to the search, has now fully reopened after extensive but fruitless sweeps. Assistant Commissioner Martin O’Brien urged public assistance, saying the $1 million reward for Freeman’s arrest remains in place. Police believe a tip-off will ultimately end the manhunt.

>>23771419 Anthony Albanese heads to Malaysia and South Korea for major summits – Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has departed for Malaysia and South Korea to attend high-level summits with dozens of world leaders, including US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Calling the meetings “a critical time” for the Indo-Pacific, he said one in four Australian jobs rely on trade and that he would prioritise expanding economic and security partnerships. The ASEAN and APEC gatherings will centre on regional stability, trade growth, and global cooperation, with the Xi–Trump meeting expected to address China’s stated aim to “reunify” Taiwan by 2027. Mr Albanese said stronger global collaboration “reduces trade barriers” and “enlivens competition.”

>>23771442 Eddie McGuire urges Melbourne to follow Los Angeles’ path on safety revival – Eddie McGuire says Melbourne should consider a Los Angeles-style crackdown on crime to revive its struggling city centre, warning that safety fears and constant protests are deterring workers and visitors. “If you make it safer to get there… and you don’t feel like you’re going to get robbed on the train,” he said, “it makes a huge difference.” McGuire praised LA’s recent policing boost as a model for Melbourne, where weekday CBD activity has stalled at 52 per cent of pre-pandemic levels. He cautioned against blanket protest bans but said weekly stand-offs were “too much.” The Allan government has introduced bail reforms and bans on machetes amid rising crime.

>>23771455 ‘I don’t forget’: Trump casts doubt on Rudd forgiveness – (Video) US President Donald Trump has suggested he has not forgiven Australian ambassador Kevin Rudd, saying he “doesn’t forget” past criticism in which Rudd labelled him “a traitor to the West” and “the most destructive president in history.” During Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s meeting at the White House, Trump told Rudd, “I don’t like you either. And I probably never will,” though later said Rudd “seemed like a good guy.” Speaking before leaving for Asia, Trump said he would soon appoint a new US ambassador to Australia, one Albanese “will like.”

#43 - Part 33

Australian Politics and Society - Part 26

>>23771466 Video: Ambassador Kevin Rudd denies tense exchanges with Trump officials as US President says he ‘doesn’t forget’ critics – Kevin Rudd has denied reports of “testy” meetings with senior Trump officials, after US President Donald Trump said he “doesn’t forget” people who criticise him. Sources claimed Rudd clashed with Trump aides Stephen Miller and Elbridge Colby, but the ambassador called such claims “completely false.” Government sources noted Rudd hosted US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Senator Marco Rubio after the White House meeting, showing “ongoing goodwill.” During that meeting, Trump told Rudd, “I don’t like you and probably never will.” Despite tensions, the summit delivered major outcomes, including an $8.5 billion critical minerals deal and reaffirmed US commitment to AUKUS.

>>23780195 Meta, TikTok and Snap say they oppose Australia's youth social media ban but will comply with it – Meta, TikTok and Snap told parliament they will follow Australia’s new ban on users under 16, despite believing it will not protect young people. The law, taking effect December 10, requires platforms to block under-16 users or face fines of up to A$49.5 million. Meta’s Mia Garlick said 450,000 underage accounts would be contacted to delete or store their data, while TikTok and Snap said they would deactivate accounts flagged by behavioural tracking. “We don’t agree, but we accept and will abide by the law,” Snap executive Jennifer Stout said. TikTok’s Ella Woods-Joyce added, “We are on track to meet our compliance.”

>>23784992 Video: Dozens arrested in Operation Ironside sting across South Australia – Police have arrested 55 people and laid more than 800 charges in a new phase of Operation Ironside, targeting organised crime linked to the encrypted AN0M app. Deputy Police Commissioner Linda Williams called the coordinated raids “a significant blow” to criminal syndicates, with $25.8m in assets seized across 23 properties. Those arrested face drug trafficking, manufacturing, and money-laundering charges. Authorities allege the offenders include a Comanchero gang member and associates of other groups. Nearly 2.5m intercepted AN0M messages informed the operation, which followed a High Court ruling upholding the app’s use in prosecutions. Since 2021, 164 people have been arrested in South Australia under Ironside, with further arrests expected. “We will create a hostile environment for you to operate in,” Williams said.

>>23788837 ‘Blurred lines’ between state actors, organised crime, AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett warns – (Video) Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett has cautioned that the distinction between “state-sponsored” operations and organised crime is eroding, forcing law enforcement to rethink its counter-interference strategy. Citing recent Mossad claims that an Iranian Quds Force commander directed anti-Semitic attacks in Australia, Barrett said foreign powers were increasingly using underworld figures to mask their activities. She praised the AFP–ASIO task force targeting foreign interference, saying it was “very busy,” though much of its work remained classified. Barrett also endorsed Labor’s bill to list Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation and urged parents to remain vigilant despite the upcoming social-media ban for under-16s. “Radicalisation or exploitation … can happen so quickly,” she warned.

>>23788854 Video: Critical praise and a presidential pat: Anthony Albanese basks as Donald Trump talks up $13bn deal – Donald Trump publicly praised Anthony Albanese for doing a “fantastic job” on the $13bn critical minerals agreement between the US and Australia, describing their previous meeting as “great.” At a dinner in South Korea ahead of the APEC summit, Mr Trump patted Mr Albanese’s arm and said, “We’re working together on rare earths, but we’re working on a lot of things together.” The US President also announced a deal with South Korea and voiced optimism about talks with Xi Jinping. OECD chief Mathias Cormann called the minerals partnership “very important and positive,” saying it would strengthen supply chains vital to AI, defence, and energy transition.

#43 - Part 34

Australian Politics and Society - Part 27

>>23796903 You gain from Kyiv’s pain: envoy blasts Australia’s profit from Ukraine war – Ukraine’s ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko has accused Australia of profiting from Russia’s invasion through soaring commodity prices, arguing Canberra has a moral duty to return “many billions” in windfall revenue to Kyiv. In evidence to a parliamentary committee, he said Australia had imported $123 million in fuel refined from Russian “blood oil” in four months — enough, he claimed, to buy 4900 drones used to bomb Ukraine. Mr Myroshnychenko condemned the Albanese government’s “nonsensical” strategy, saying it ignored the rise of a “Russia-China-North Korea co-operative”. He urged Australia to certify fuel imports free of Russian oil and resume aid deliveries, which he said had been “zero” in 2025. Foreign Minister Penny Wong acknowledged Australia lacks the tools to track refined fuel origins but said businesses must avoid funding Russia’s war.

>>23797049 Video: Victorian treaty passes parliament as authority workforce quadruples – Victoria has become the first Australian state to pass legislation enabling a formal treaty with its Indigenous peoples, marking a historic step in recognising self-determination and dual systems of law. The Treaty Authority — established in 2023 as an independent umpire to oversee negotiations between the government and traditional owner groups — reported its workforce had grown from 10 to 38, with 37 per cent Indigenous staff and an expanded role in facilitating both statewide and local treaties. The new advisory body, Gellung Warl, will guide implementation of the framework built through nearly a decade of consultation. Traditional owner groups, including the Dja Dja Wurrung, are now beginning negotiations for local treaties designed to reflect distinct community priorities, while the statewide treaty will address shared issues such as land, governance, and truth-telling.

>>23800853 Australian man Peter Williams faces lengthy US jail term after selling trade secrets to Russian broker – Former Australian intelligence officer and cybersecurity executive Peter Joseph Williams has pleaded guilty in a US court to selling trade secrets to a Russian broker for $US1.3m in cryptocurrency. Prosecutors said the 39-year-old stole eight confidential products intended “exclusively for the US government and select allies”, affecting intelligence operations in both the US and Australia. Working under an alias, he sold the data while employed at defence subcontractor Trenchant, a supplier to the Five Eyes network, and even led an internal probe into his own thefts. Senior FBI agent Alexander Arnott said Williams “betrayed the United States and our allies,” while US Attorney-General Pam Bondi warned, “America’s national security is not for sale.” Williams faces up to 20 years’ jail and likely deportation.

>>23801047 eSafety boss hits back at Trump ally over claims Australia threatens US free speech – Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant has rejected accusations by US Republican congressman Jim Jordan that Australia is undermining free speech in the United States. Mr Jordan, a close ally of Donald Trump and chair of the House Judiciary Committee, launched an inquiry into Stanford University’s Cyber Policy Centre after it hosted Ms Inman Grant in September, alleging it “facilitated foreign censorship”. Ms Inman Grant said eSafety “has nothing to do with achieving global censorship”, insisting that all companies must obey Australian law when displaying content to Australians. The clash highlights growing tensions between the Albanese government’s tech regulation and conservative US concerns about free expression.

>>23814328 Video: ASIO chief links Hizb ut-Tahrir and neo-Nazis, warns hostile nations could assassinate dissidents – ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess has likened Hizb ut-Tahrir’s tactics to those of neo-Nazis and warned that hostile regimes may attempt assassinations of dissidents in Australia. Delivering the Lowy Lecture in Sydney, he said the Islamist group’s anti-Israel rhetoric “fuels and normalises wider anti-Semitic narratives” and mirrors “provocative behaviour” by the National Socialist Network. Burgess revealed that three foreign nations are capable of “lethal targeting” in Australia, citing Iran’s direction of anti-Semitic arson attacks. He also said Russia was “covertly stoking division”, that anarchist extremists were increasingly violent, and that artificial intelligence is accelerating radicalisation, disinformation, and the erosion of social cohesion.

#43 - Part 35

Australian Politics and Society - Part 28

>>23814342 Video: Spy boss warns of ‘realistic possibility’ of foreign-ordered killings in Australia – ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess has warned there is a “realistic possibility” that foreign governments could attempt assassinations of dissidents in Australia. Speaking at the Lowy Institute in Sydney, he said the nation faces “unprecedented” threats to social cohesion driven by Russian trolls, neo-Nazis, Islamists and extreme anti-Israel activists. Burgess said three nations were “willing and capable of conducting lethal targeting”, referencing Iran’s past arson attacks on Jewish sites. He warned that authoritarian regimes are exploiting divisions through “state-sanctioned trolls”, while artificial intelligence could “take online radicalisation and disinformation to entirely new levels”. Burgess added that Hizb ut-Tahrir’s anti-Israel rhetoric mirrors neo-Nazi tactics and risks normalising antisemitic narratives in Australia’s polarised climate.

>>23814358 ASIO reveals foreign operations remit – ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess has confirmed that Australia’s domestic spy agency is now conducting operations offshore, with officers deployed to disrupt foreign intelligence activity. Speaking at the Lowy Institute, Burgess said ASIO “routinely conducts operations offshore” and now maintains offices in multiple countries. He revealed a recent sting in which ASIO officers intercepted foreign spies attempting to recruit Australians and issued a warning “that Australians were off limits”. Burgess also identified Russia as a growing espionage threat, citing arrests of two Russian-born citizens, and linked Iran to anti-Semitic attacks. He said hostile regimes are “unpicking our social fabric” and manipulating extremist narratives across the region to inflame division.

>>23814416 ASIO Director General Mike Burgess:How the aggrieved, opportunistic and cunning are ripping our social fabric- "Our social fabric is fraying — fraying in ways we have never experienced before… Grievance is growing, intolerance is rising, inflammatory rhetoric and behaviour is being normalised… There are multiple, cascading and intersecting threats to our social cohesion, fuelled by three distinct but connected cohorts: the aggrieved; the opportunistic; and the cunning. The aggrieved are the individuals who tear at our social fabric… The opportunistic are the organised groups that take advantage, including extremist organisations skilled at harnessing grievances… The biggest neo-Nazi group strategically exploited complaints about immigration and the cost of living… Events in the Middle East triggered a troubling increase in anarchist and revolutionary extremism… The cunning are the nation states deliberately trying to set the fabric alight, operating in a security grey zone to interfere, divide and distract… Authoritarian regimes demonstrate a chilling willingness to exploit fault lines… Given the degrading trajectory of our security environment… ASIO assesses there is a realistic possibility a foreign government will attempt to assassinate a perceived dissident in Australia," – Mike Burgess, Director-General of Security of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), The Australian

>>23814477 Reddit and Kick added to child social media ban – Australia’s upcoming ban on social media accounts for children under 16 will now include Reddit and live-streaming platform Kick, the government has confirmed. Communications Minister Anika Wells said the platforms join TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, X, Facebook, Instagram and Threads as age-restricted from December 10 after eSafety ruled their primary purpose is online social interaction. Platforms must take “reasonable steps” to block under-16s or face fines up to $49.5 million. Tech firms say late guidance has made preparation difficult, but TikTok, Meta and Snap told a Senate hearing they will begin blocking underage users. Wells said there is “no excuse for failure”, adding that predatory algorithms should not “manipulate Australian children”.

>>23819492 Video: Improvised explosive devices seized in counterterrorism raid – Seven people have been charged after Queensland counterterrorism raids uncovered 20 kilograms of commercial explosives and multiple improvised explosive devices. The arrests follow Operation Whiskey Blackheart, formed in late 2024 to investigate illegal firearms and explosives trafficking. Assistant commissioner Charysse Pond said the raids showed police were “committed to keeping the community safe”, crediting the Counter-Terrorism Investigation Group. In a separate Far North Queensland operation, five people were charged after police and the Australian Border Force allegedly found unlawful firearms, flick knives, a taser, cannabis and other contraband at properties in Ravenshoe and Speewah.

#43 - Part 36

Australian Politics and Society - Part 29

>>23828037 Video: Left-wing protest group planned brick attacks on police before CBD unrest – Victoria Police are investigating evidence that extreme left-wing group Campaign Against Racism and Fascism planned violent actions weeks before clashes in Melbourne’s CBD, including explicit instructions to throw bricks at officers. Images from an October 3 University of Melbourne forum show attendees urged to “be militant,” “be aggressive,” and “make them be ashamed to walk the streets,” with one slide depicting brick-throwing. CARF denies advocating violence and blames an overseas guest speaker. On October 19, riot police were hit with rocks, glass-filled bottles, burning bins and other projectiles, with senior officers calling the assault coordinated. The university has launched a review, condemning any incitement. Politicians criticised the institution for hosting the event, while the Police Association renewed demands for a protest-permit system to help separate hostile groups.

>>23828077 Video: Police blunder allows neo-Nazi anti Jewish lobby rally outside NSW Parliament – A police-approved neo-Nazi rally outside the NSW parliament has drawn outrage from Jewish leaders and politicians, after extremist activists from the National Socialist Network staged a seven minute protest targeting the “Jewish lobby.” Footage showed members dressed in black chanting anti Jewish conspiracy lines and displaying a banner reading “Abolish the Jewish Lobby.” NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon admitted a “breakdown in communication” after officers approved a Form 1 request without briefing the government. Premier Chris Minns condemned the protesters as “pissants” and said the rally should never have occurred. Jewish community leaders warned unchecked hate risks becoming normalised, urging stronger laws and tools to combat extremism and protect social cohesion. Police are investigating potential offences.

>>23835108 Wurundjeri file native title claim over most of Greater Melbourne – The Wurundjeri people have lodged a 10,420 sq km native title claim covering most of Greater Melbourne, from Werribee River to Mount Baw Baw and including the Macedon Ranges, Yarra Valley and Port Phillip Bay. The bid, overlapping with the Boonwurrung claim, comes as Victoria prepares to sign its first statewide treaty. While freehold property rights are unaffected, the claim could expand Wurundjeri influence over parks, waterways and cultural sites, including fire-management practices in the Dandenongs and Great Dividing Range. Elders say they turned to native title after losing confidence in the state-based regime, seeking recognition of their traditional laws and an “intrinsic connection” to the Birrarung. The Tribunal will assess the claim as more Victorian groups prepare similar bids.

>>23835140 The avowed Nazi who signed protest application letter to police commissioner – NSW Police are facing scrutiny after a four-page Form 1 application for an anti-Jewish rally — signed by 28-year-old neo-Nazi Jack Eltis — was approved without escalation to senior command. Eltis, the NSW leader of the National Socialist Network and public advocate for deporting “every last non-white”, lodged the application under the “White Australia” brand, signalling its push for political registration. Despite his documented extremist rhetoric, local police cleared the “Abolish the Jewish Lobby” rally, later described by ASIO chief Mike Burgess as part of a growing threat of propaganda capable of prompting spontaneous violence. Commissioner Mal Lanyon only learned of the event after media inquiries. Officers are now reviewing whether the rally’s Hitler-linked chants and conspiratorial claims breached new laws against public incitement of racial hatred, amid broader concerns about internal communication failures.

>>23835160 Video: NSW plans urgent ban on Nazi phrases after weekend rally – NSW is preparing urgent laws to ban Nazi slogans and fascist-linked attire after police approved a White Australia neo-Nazi rally outside parliament without informing Premier Chris Minns or Commissioner Mal Lanyon. Speaker Greg Piper said he only learned of the event the night before and tried unsuccessfully to have it moved, arguing hatred “should not own that space”. Police said legal advice found the banner “Abolish the Jewish lobby” did not breach existing laws but confirmed a review into why the rally was not escalated. The Minns government wants to criminalise Nazi chants such as “blood and honour” and behaviour “consistent” with Nazi racism. Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said the proposed crackdown had merit, as MPs who criticised the rally reported receiving vile online abuse.

#43 - Part 37

Australian Politics and Society - Part 30

>>23839293 Video: Premier’s promised mask laws to fall short amid prospect of legal challenges – Victoria will water down its planned protest mask ban, with new laws allowing face coverings unless police reasonably suspect someone is committing or about to commit an offence. Exemptions will apply for health, cultural and religious reasons. The shift follows warnings a blanket ban could breach the constitution’s implied freedom of political communication and trigger court challenges, as well as internal Labor concerns. Premier Jacinta Allan had pledged a full ban after the Adass Israel Synagogue firebombing and pro-Gaza protests she said involved “extreme” behaviour. The bill will also outlaw terrorist symbols and protest devices such as glue and chains, and restrict - but not ban - protests outside places of worship. Jewish groups are expected to be disappointed, while the opposition says the changes are too weak.

>>23839301 NSW reveals new laws to stop protests outside places of worship - NSW will reintroduce protest laws allowing police to move on demonstrators who harass, block or intimidate people entering or leaving places of worship, after the previous version was struck down in a Supreme Court challenge led by Palestine Action Group organiser Josh Lees. The revised bill ties police powers directly to Crimes Act offences and is part of a broader response to a neo-Nazi rally outside parliament that Premier Chris Minns and Police Minister Yasmin Catley say they were not told about. Minns will also seek to scrap a sunset clause on hate speech laws, arguing “Nazis are not welcome in NSW”. The government is examining bans on Nazi slogans and behaviour, while the opposition proposes limits on protest frequency and cost burdens.

>>23839306 Brittany Higgins likely to be declared bankrupt over Linda Reynolds’ defamation case - Brittany Higgins is expected to be declared bankrupt after former senator Linda Reynolds filed a creditors’ petition seeking a sequestration order to place Higgins’ financial affairs under a trustee. It follows August’s defamation ruling, where Justice Paul Tottle found Higgins had made “objectively untrue and misleading statements” and ordered her to pay Reynolds $340,000 in damages plus about 80 percent of legal costs, bringing her total liability to well over $1m. The trustee will gain full access to Higgins’ financial records, including the “protective trust” holding proceeds of her $2.4m Commonwealth payout, and may require her passport if she is deemed a flight risk. Higgins, who reportedly spent more than $600,000 on her defence, is not expected to appear. Her husband, David Sharaz, faces a similar action next month.

>>23843505 ‘New era’: Australia, Indonesia strike surprise security treaty - (Video) Australia and Indonesia have unveiled a landmark security treaty committing both nations to consult one another in the event of a threat, marking what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called a “new era” in bilateral ties. Announced in Sydney with Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto, the pact represents the closest security alignment in the nations’ history, stopping short of a formal military alliance but extending well beyond previous agreements, including the Lombok Treaty. The tightly held deal will mandate regular leader-level discussions on security risks and expand co-operative activities across defence and intelligence. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said it reflects “deep trust” under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Analysts say the treaty is a major shift for Indonesia, long protective of its non-aligned posture. Albanese aims to sign the pact in Jakarta in January.

>>23843512 Video: Jacinta Allan vows life sentences possible for children as young as 14 - Premier Jacinta Allan will overhaul Victoria’s youth justice system, moving to an “adult crime, adult time” model that sends offenders aged 14 and over to adult courts for violent crimes, exposing them to significantly longer sentences, including life imprisonment. Children charged with aggravated home invasion, home invasion, aggravated carjacking and gross-violence assaults using weapons will be automatically shifted to the County Court, removing these offences from the Children’s Court. Ms Allan said youth offenders must face “serious consequences” amid rising public anger over violent home invasions and machete attacks. Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny said adult courts better reflect community expectations. Legal groups warn the changes will harm vulnerable children, but the government views youth crime as an escalating political liability heading into the 2026 election.

#43 - Part 38

Australian Politics and Society - Part 31

>>23843517 Far-right figure who visited ‘motherland’ Germany is close to forming national party - The neo-Nazi organiser of Saturday’s anti-Jewish rally, 28-year-old Jack Eltis, has travelled to Germany – which he called “the motherland” – to meet far-right groups as part of the National Socialist Network’s push to register a political party and run candidates federally and in NSW. NSW Police intelligence officers knew of the rally in advance, but Deputy Commissioner David Hudson, who oversees counter-terrorism, was not briefed, deepening scrutiny of police handling after Commissioner Mal Lanyon was also kept in the dark. About 60 NSN members gathered outside parliament chanting extremist slogans. Eltis says the party is “90 per cent” formed and aims for mass deportations. ASIO warns the NSN’s rhetoric is increasingly violent and risks “spontaneous violence”. The Minns government is now moving to tighten hate-speech and protest laws.

>>23843541 Russia loses High Court battle with Commonwealth over Canberra embassy site, but will be compensated - Russia has lost its High Court challenge to the 2023 law that revoked its lease on a prime embassy site in Canberra, with the court ruling the Albanese government acted lawfully on national security grounds. The lease, granted in 2008 for nearly $3 million, was cancelled after ASIO warned the planned embassy posed a potential security threat, prompting emergency legislation and a diplomatic row. Although the law was upheld, the court found Russia is entitled to compensation for works already completed. The National Capital Authority had earlier tried to revoke the stalled project after years of inaction, and a Russian official briefly occupied the site in protest. Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said Australia “will always stand up for our national security”. The future of the site is undecided.

>>23847844 Video: Neo-Nazi leader Thomas Sewell granted bail after alleged attack on Indigenous camp - Neo-Nazi Thomas Sewell has been granted Supreme Court bail on strict conditions despite facing more than 20 charges over an alleged violent August 31 attack on Camp Sovereignty in Melbourne’s Kings Domain. Prosecutors allege Sewell personally led about 30 National Socialist Network members into the Indigenous camp, shouting “let’s get them”, before multiple victims were kicked, punched, or struck with poles. Police say one woman suffered a nasal fracture, another required seven staples, and missiles were discharged. The defence argued Sewell risked spending longer on remand than any future sentence, noting all 14 co-accused were bailed. Justice James Elliott found the prosecution had not shown Sewell posed an unacceptable risk, granting bail with a $20,000 surety, curfew, reporting conditions, and bans on entering Melbourne’s CBD or Kings Domain.

#43 - Part 39

Virginia Roberts Giuffre - Life and Legacy - Part 1

>>23567180 Big changes made to Epstein accuser’s memoir after family complains - The publisher of Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir Nobody’s Girl has altered the text after her family said it presented an “unduly positive portrait” of her marriage, which ended before her death in April. Knopf worked with Virginia's brothers and their wives to “contextualize the narrative,” adding a foreword by collaborator Amy Wallace noting changes in Giuffre’s life since 2024. Publisher Jordan Pavlin said the book remains “a testament to Virginia’s dignity and fortitude.” Family members also joined Epstein survivors at a Capitol Hill press conference urging release of sex-trafficking files and rejecting Donald Trump’s claim the case is a “hoax.”

>>23567187 Q Post #4923 - https://twitter.com/VRSVirginia/status/1319071346282778624 - Dearest Virginia - We stand with you. Now and always. Find peace through prayer. Never give up the good fight. God bless you. Q - https://qanon.pub/#4923 - https://qanon.pub/#4568

>>23603441 Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre’s private battle revealed in diary entries - To the rest of the world Virginia Guiffre may have symbolised strength, taking on and bringing down the rich and powerful - the likes of Jeffery Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell and most famously Prince Andrew. But privately, she was fighting a battle of her own. If you or someone you know needs support, help is available 24/7. - Lifeline: Call 13 11 14, text 0477 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au - Beyond Blue: Call 1300 22 4636 or visit beyondblue.org.au - DV Connect: Call 1800 RESPECT or visit 1800respect.org.au - 60 Minutes Australia

>>23706825 US supreme court declines to hear Ghislaine Maxwell’s appeal of sex-trafficking conviction – The US Supreme Court has rejected Ghislaine Maxwell’s bid to overturn her sex-trafficking conviction, ending her legal avenues for appeal. Maxwell, sentenced in 2022 to 20 years for recruiting and exploiting girls for Jeffrey Epstein, can now only seek presidential clemency. Her lawyer, David Oscar Markus, said “serious legal and factual issues remain.” The ruling upholds an earlier appeals court decision finding Epstein’s Florida non-prosecution deal did not shield Maxwell. The decision comes amid renewed controversy surrounding President Donald Trump’s past ties to Epstein and allegations of White House interference in related disclosures. Victims’ advocates welcomed the ruling, saying Maxwell had caused “devastating harm.”

>>23706838 Video: Donald Trump says he would consider a pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell – US President Donald Trump said he would “take a look” at pardoning convicted sex trafficker and former associate Ghislaine Maxwell after her Supreme Court appeal was rejected. Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump appeared unaware of the ruling, saying, “I’ll take a look at it… I will speak to the DOJ.” Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence for trafficking a teenage girl. Trump also claimed Sean “Diddy” Combs had asked him for a pardon. Meanwhile, House Republicans have delayed swearing in Democrat Adelita Grijalva, blocking a vote to force the release of Epstein-related files. Democrats called the move part of an “Epstein cover-up.”

>>23730627 Prince Andrew told Epstein ‘we are in this together’ – A leaked email has revealed Prince Andrew told Jeffrey Epstein “we are in this together” the day after a photograph surfaced showing him with Virginia Giuffre, undermining his claim to have cut ties with the paedophile financier in 2010. The 2011 message, verified by UK media, shows Andrew expressing concern for Epstein and signing off as “HRH The Duke of York, KG” - a reference to his title as Knight of the Garter, Britain’s oldest and most senior order of chivalry, which he still holds today. Royal experts said the leak is “hugely damning,” describing it as “the point of no return” for Andrew. The disclosure has renewed scrutiny of his relationship with Epstein and its lasting damage to the monarchy’s reputation.

>>23745027 Release of Virginia Giuffre's memoir renews sex allegations against Prince Andrew – Extracts from Virginia Giuffre’s posthumously released memoir Nobody’s Girl have reignited scrutiny of Prince Andrew, repeating allegations she was trafficked to the royal for sex as a minor — claims he has consistently denied. The Guardian published excerpts quoting Giuffre describing the prince as “friendly enough, but still entitled — as if he believed having sex with me was his birthright.” The memoir, completed before Giuffre’s death in April with journalist Amy Wallace, will be released next week. It comes amid resurfaced media reports linking Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York, to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, both convicted of sex offences.

#43 - Part 40

Virginia Roberts Giuffre - Life and Legacy - Part 2

>>23745089 ‘Prince Andrew believed having sex with me was his birthright’:Virginia Giuffre on her abuse at the hands of Epstein, Maxwell and the king’s brother- In an extract from her posthumous memoir, Virginia Roberts Giuffre remembers the day an ‘apex predator’ recruited her from Mar-a-Lago, aged just 16; how she was trafficked to a succession of wealthy and powerful men - and how everyone knew what was going on.

"I can still remember walking on to the manicured grounds of Mar-a-Lago for the first time. It was early morning - my dad’s shift began at 7am, and I’d caught a ride to work with him. Already the air was heavy and moist, and the club’s 20 acres of carefully landscaped greens and lawns seemed to shimmer.

"Then one steaming hot day some weeks before my 17th birthday, I was walking toward the Mar-a-Lago spa, on my way to work, when a car slowed behind me. Inside was a British socialite named Ghislaine Maxwell and her driver. Alessi did as he was told, and I found out later that Maxwell got out and followed me. I didn’t know it yet, but an apex predator was closing in.

"‘Are you interested in massage?’ she asked. ‘How wonderful!’ Maxwell said she knew a wealthy man - a longtime Mar-a-Lago member, she said - who was looking for a massage therapist to travel with him. ‘Come meet him,’ she said. ‘Come tonight after work.’

"A few hours later, Dad gave me a lift to El Brillo Way. When we arrived we found ourselves in front of a sprawling two-storey, six-bedroom mansion. Maxwell answered and came outside. ‘Thank you so very much for dropping her off,’ she told Dad, all smiles.

"Walking behind her, I tried not to stare at the walls, which were crowded with photos and paintings of nude women. Maybe this was how wealthy people with sophisticated taste decorated their homes? When we reached the second-floor landing, Maxwell turned right and led me into a bedroom. We made a U-turn around a king-size bed, then entered an adjoining room with a massage table. A man lay face down on top of it, his head resting on his folded arms. I remember his bushy eyebrows and the deep lines in his face as he grinned. ‘Say hello to Mr Jeffrey Epstein,’ Maxwell instructed. ‘You can just call me Jeffrey,’ he said. He was 47 years old - nearly three times older than me.

"Palm Beach was just 16 miles from my home town, Loxahatchee, but the economic divide made it seem way farther. I needed to learn how rich people did things. Besides, while the man on the table was nude, it’s not like I was alone with him. The fact that a woman was with me made me breathe easier.

"Maxwell began to demonstrate the techniques of massage, showing me how to move my hands with what she called ‘continuity and flow’. She instructed me to keep one palm on the client’s skin at all times so as never to startle him. It all felt oddly formal, almost like a lesson, and I focused on following her directions. Every time I hesitated, she reassured me with her calm tone and steady confidence.

"Epstein asked me questions. ‘Do you have siblings?’ Two brothers, I said. ‘Where do you go to high school?’ I told him I’d quit after ninth grade, but I was only 16. ‘Do you take birth control?’ Epstein asked. Was that a weird question in a job interview? Epstein indicated this was just his way of getting to know me. After all, I might soon be travelling with him. I told him I was on the pill.

"‘You’re doing great,’ Maxwell said, as I kept my hands in sync with hers.

"Only later would I see how, step by practised step, the two of them were breaking down my defences. Every time I felt a twinge of discomfort, one glance at Maxwell told me I was overreacting. And so it went for about half an hour: a seemingly legitimate massage lesson…

"While they usually slept in separate bedrooms, and rarely kissed or held hands, it seemed to me that Maxwell and Epstein lived in complete symbiosis. Epstein, who described Maxwell as his best friend, valued her knack for connecting him to powerful people. Maxwell, in turn, appreciated that Epstein had the resources to fund the lavish life she thought she deserved. Over time, I would come to see Epstein and Maxwell less as boyfriend and girlfriend, and more as two halves of a wicked whole." - Virginia Giuffre, The Guardian - 16 October 2025

#43 - Part 41

Virginia Roberts Giuffre - Life and Legacy - Part 3

>>23745186 Prince Andrew: I am giving up my royal titles – Prince Andrew has agreed with King Charles to stop using his titles, including Duke of York, saying “continued accusations” against him had become a distraction to the monarchy. In a statement released by Buckingham Palace, Andrew said he had “always put my duty to my family and country first” and would “no longer use my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me.” The decision follows renewed scrutiny of his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and continuing fallout from Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir. Palace aides described the move as a “tipping point” after years of scandal and public pressure from the King and Prince William. Virginia Giuffre’s family hailed the announcement as “vindication”, while Epstein survivor Haley Robson said it showed “someone is finally being held accountable.”

>>23745208 Video: Virginia Giuffre's brother calls for Andrew to be stripped of prince title – Virginia Giuffre’s brother, Sky Roberts, has urged King Charles to strip Prince Andrew of the title “prince” following his decision to relinquish his other titles, including Duke of York. Roberts said his late sister would be “very proud” of the development and called for “responsibility and accountability for these survivors.” Prince Andrew, who settled a civil case with Giuffre in 2022 without admitting liability, continues to deny her allegations that he had sex with her when she was 17. Roberts described the move as “vindication” for his sister and a “joyous moment” for survivors, adding that “the truth will find its way out.” The release of Giuffre’s posthumous memoir next week is expected to renew scrutiny of Andrew’s links to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

>>23745222 Video: Prince Andrew ‘gagged’ Virginia Giuffre to avoid spoiling Queen’s jubilee, book claims – Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir alleges that Prince Andrew required her to sign a one-year gag order as part of their 2022 settlement, to avoid embarrassing Queen Elizabeth II during her Platinum Jubilee. “It ensured that his mother’s Platinum Jubilee would not be tarnished any more than it already had been,” she wrote. Giuffre said Andrew’s disastrous 2019 Newsnight interview — in which he denied meeting her and cited an inability to sweat — gave her legal team “an injection of jet fuel.” The book recounts her disbelief at seeing him with Jeffrey Epstein after his conviction and details her civil case, which ended with a reported $12m payout and a tacit acknowledgment of victims’ suffering.

>>23745422 Virginia Giuffre beaten, raped by ‘well-known prime minister’ in attack that broke Epstein spell, her memoir reveals – Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir Nobody’s Girl describes how her experiences under Jeffrey Epstein’s control ended after a violent encounter with a “well-known prime minister.” Giuffre wrote that the ordeal forced her to realise Epstein’s praise was “a manipulation to keep me subservient.” She referred to the man only as “the Prime Minister,” fearing retaliation if she revealed his name, though previous court filings had named Israel’s former leader Ehud Barak, who has repeatedly denied her claims. Giuffre said Epstein dismissed her pleas for protection and later sent her to meet the politician again. The memoir, written before her death in April, also details her decision to stop recruiting girls and plan her escape from Epstein’s circle.

>>23767648 ‘I was Epstein’s perfect victim’: the life of Virginia Giuffre in her own words – Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir Nobody’s Girl provides the most complete account yet of her life, tracing her abuse by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, her alleged encounters with Prince Andrew, and her later years in Australia. Recruited at 16 while working at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, Giuffre describes being drawn into Epstein’s circle, forced into sexual servitude and flown to meet his powerful associates. She alleges she was trafficked internationally and abused by Andrew three times, claims he continues to deny. The book also recounts her early family trauma, escape to Thailand, marriage to Australian Robert Giuffre, and her role in helping expose Epstein’s network through US lawsuits. In her final years she struggled with mental illness and domestic difficulties. Giuffre died by suicide in Perth in April 2025, aged 41, leaving instructions that her memoir be published to raise awareness of sexual exploitation and trafficking.

#43 - Part 42

Virginia Roberts Giuffre - Life and Legacy - Part 4

>>23767658 Review: Virginia Giuffre’s devastating memoir reveals a lifetime of abuse – (Video) "Her name may forever be tied to powerful men — Jeffrey Epstein, Prince Andrew, Jean-Luc Brunel — but Virginia Roberts Giuffre makes it known that she wants to stand alone now. And with Nobody’s Girl, she reclaims her identity from all of them. The posthumous memoir, which follows Giuffre’s suicide earlier this year at the age of 41, is a devastating read. With composure and candour, the abuse survivor and sex-trafficking activist recounts a short life marred by sexual violence. It started in early childhood at the hands of her father, and proved unrelenting until adulthood. Only fleeing from paedophile Epstein and his co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell put an end to it. Before she died, Giuffre insisted that she wanted her autobiography to be published, collaborating with ghostwriter Amy Wallace for four years to chronicle a tragic but fearless life. Her personal backstory had been repeatedly maligned and mischaracterised ever since she went public with her abuse. After sharing her trauma to courts and the media so many times, Nobody’s Girl was to be her final comment on Epstein." – Nathan Smith, The Age

>>23767695 Nobody’s Girl review: Should you read Virginia Giuffre’s memoir? – "I have lost count of the number of people — most of them women — who want an answer to this question. They have seen all the reporting around Nobody’s Girl … and they have mixed feelings about whether they should buy a copy. Some are thinking: oh, do I really want to read a memoir of abuse? Others may be thinking: haven’t we heard all this before? … Some, like Virginia, won’t make it. She’s dead. So, should you read it? Look, I’m going to make the case for yes, emphatically yes. Nobody’s Girl is an immensely valuable resource … Giuffre was a child growing up in the small town of Loxahatchee when she was assaulted by a grown-up. ‘When children are abused,’ she explains, ‘they start to believe that love and violation go together.’ … She names many of the people who took advantage of her, which brings me to the reference to Trump on page 222. It doesn’t fit the narrative: ‘Epstein had been shunned by at least one powerful person,’ Giuffre writes. ‘Donald Trump ended Epstein’s membership at Mar-a-Lago … after Epstein hit on the teenage daughter of another member.’" – Caroline Overington, The Australian

>>23767734 Nobody’s Girl by Virginia Roberts Giuffre review: a devastating exposé of power, corruption and abuse – "There is a strand running through Nobody’s Girl - a memoir by Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who died by suicide in April this year – in which the activist and survivor of Jeffrey Epstein grapples with something more insidious than abuse. “I know it is a lot to take in,” she writes after a gruelling early passage detailing how she was sexually abused as a child. “But please don’t stop reading.” After recounting the first time Epstein allegedly forced her to have sex with one of his billionaire friends, she writes, “I need a breather. I bet you do too.” Throughout the book, Giuffre beguiles, apologises and cheerfully breaks the fourth wall in an effort to soften the distaste she assumes her story will trigger. Make no mistake: this is a book about power, corruption, industrial-scale sex abuse and the way in which institutions sided with the perpetrator over his victims. Epstein hanged himself in prison while awaiting trial in 2019 and Ghislaine Maxwell, his co-conspirator, is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking, outcomes largely enabled by Giuffre’s testimony. But it is also a book about how a young woman becomes a hero. And yet here she is, having to charm us out of shrinking from her in horror. Giuffre was rightly proud of holding Epstein and Maxwell to account. And yet for any survivor of sexual violence, the cost of recovery - let alone of confronting her abusers in front of the world - can be impossibly steep. At the beginning of the book, Amy Wallace shares details of Giuffre’s fraught final months, including multiple health problems and alleged domestic violence at the hands of Robert Giuffre, her Australian husband … On 1 April, Giuffre wrote to Wallace: “It is my heartfelt wish that this work be published, regardless of my circumstances at the time.” Three weeks later, she was found dead on her remote Australian farm, leaving behind three children. In a lawsuit Giuffre brought against Epstein in 2009, her lawyers stated the injuries she suffered as a result of his abuse included “a loss of the capacity to enjoy life”, and were of a magnitude that made them “permanent in nature”. The same might be said for this important, courageous, tragically posthumous book." - Emma Brockes, The Guardian

#43 - Part 43

Virginia Roberts Giuffre - Life and Legacy - Part 5

>>23767761 The tragic life of Virginia Giuffre, victim of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell – "Choosing the saddest moment in Virginia Giuffre’s life is tough. Was it the father who traded her prepubescent body to a friend? The “prime minister” who raped her so violently he left her bleeding? Or the bitter end of the relationship with the only man who dedicated his life to fixing hers? Virginia Giuffre, who died by her own hand six months ago, acknowledges the abuse catalogued in her posthumous memoir, Nobody’s Girl, constitutes a “trauma reel.” Published on Tuesday, the book is an insiders account of one of the great abuse-of-power scandals of the 21st century. As one of the financier Jeffrey Epstein’s central victims, Giuffre was presented as a gift to the rich and powerful. The abuse continued after Giuffre escaped aged 19. Prince Andrew, the most prominent man accused by Giuffre of using her for sex, asked a police bodyguard to investigate the young woman, who he told a senior palace official had a criminal record in the US, the Daily Mail reported overnight. In Nobody’s Girl Giuffre describes how, as a teenager, she believed Epstein cared for the girls he shared around for sex. She changed her mind when a man described as a “well-known prime minister” choked and beat her in a room on Epstein’s private Caribbean island. Afterwards, Giuffre begged Epstein for protection. He coldly told her the abuse was part of her job … There was no happy ending. Unable to bear the weigh of her life, Giuffre took her life at the Western Australia property she bought with compensation from lawsuits against banks that helped Epstein’s business after he was accused of sexual abuse against children in 2006. Written over four years, Nobody’s Girl’s original text portrayed Giuffre’s husband as her saviour. The couple’s marriage broke down in the months before her death, though, and Robert had taken out a legal order restricting her access to their three children. Three weeks before her suicide, People magazine reported she was an alleged victim of domestic violence. The magazine reported that her brother Sky Roberts and his wife Amanda were allegedly concerned she could die at the hands of her estranged partner, who denied the allegation He was not charged, even though Giuffre made a police complaint at the time, according to People. As the book neared publication, family members became concerned the manuscript presented the marriage too positively. They convinced publisher Knopf to include a foreword that referred to the bitter end of the relationship. Powerless and pretty, the teenage Giuffre was exploited by men who had everything she didn’t. As an adult, Giuffre was no longer a victim. The strength of her story made her far more powerful, morally, than anyone who abused her." – Aaron Patrick, The Nightly

>>23767774 ‘Tell us everything you saw, Andrew, for Virginia’s sake’ – Amy Wallace, the American journalist who co-wrote Virginia Giuffre’s memoir Nobody’s Girl, has urged Prince Andrew to reveal what he knows about Jeffrey Epstein’s network, regardless of his personal involvement. Wallace said Giuffre’s “fervent wish” was that every man she was trafficked to be brought to justice. Having worked alongside Giuffre for four years, Wallace described her as brave, wary of trust after Ghislaine Maxwell’s betrayal, and determined to help other survivors. The book recounts Giuffre’s alleged encounters with Epstein, Maxwell, and Prince Andrew, whom she accused of misconduct — claims Andrew has always denied. Wallace said Andrew “has information about other things that were going on” and should step forward. She also revealed Giuffre’s admiration for Donald Trump, her disillusionment with politics, and her isolation before her death. “She built a life beyond her trauma,” Wallace said, “even though it wasn’t perfect all the time.”

>>23767778 Video: 'Nobody's Girl' shows Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre as 'a woman in full,' says co-author - Author Amy Wallace joins Morning Joe to discuss 'Nobody's Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice,' a book she co-authored with Virginia Roberts Giuffre. - MSNBC

>>23767784 Video: Co-author of Epstein survivor Virginia Giuffre's memoir details new revelations from the book - 'I think she would be very proud and it's a victory for her even after her passing': Amy Wallace, co-author of "Nobody's Girl" details what it was like to work with Epstein survivor Virginia Roberts Giuffre's to write her memoir. - CNN

#43 - Part 44

Virginia Roberts Giuffre - Life and Legacy - Part 6

>>23767791 Video: Epstein survivor Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir exposes abuse by powerful men - A new book tells the story of Virginia Roberts Giuffre, one of many victims of sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Giuffre died by suicide earlier this year. Her posthumous memoir explores her resilience while also revealing new details about the abuse she suffered at the hands of powerful figures. Amna Nawaz has that story. And a warning, this report includes accounts of sexual abuse and suicide. - PBS NewsHour

>>23767831 ‘He watched me beg for my life. Even in Australia, I couldn’t escape Epstein and my abusers’ – In this extract from her memoir, Virginia Giuffre writes that even after taking refuge in Australia, she could not escape Jeffrey Epstein and her abusers.

When I picture myself during my first few days in Australia, I have to laugh. I am standing behind the stove in my in-laws’ kitchen, learning how to make coffee the Italian way, one strong cup at a time. I pour water into a tiny silver percolator, then spoon finely ground coffee into the sieve-like reservoir through which hot water will soon flow. It’s a cozy scene, except for what I’m wearing: a skimpy undershirt and Daisy Duke cut-off shorts with my thong underwear protruding from the waistband. To see me, you might think I’m trying to show off my body, but that isn’t right. While in Jeffrey Epstein’s employ, I’d been encouraged to wear clothes that made me look even younger than I was. Now, no longer Epstein’s captive, I was a wife - a grown woman. But I still felt – and dressed – like a teenage girl. I didn’t have the slightest idea how an adult version of me should look.

When I moved into Frank and Nina’s house, that was just the beginning of what I didn’t know. I had never loaded a dishwasher, for example, or scrambled an egg or separated laundry into darks and lights. I’d never opened a bank account or filed income taxes or made a good cup of coffee - the list went on and on. Sometimes the weight of my ignorance overwhelmed me. What is adulthood, I wondered, and will I ever master it? What is it to be a wife? It would take time for me to figure out the answers.

One day Robbie came home from work and found me sitting on the floor in the corner of our apartment, surrounded by blood and broken glass. I had been cutting myself - not trying to kill myself, but instead using the clarity of inflicting my own pain to quiet my raging demons. When Nina arrived, she swooped in like a bosomy angel, kicking the shards of glass away and taking me into her arms. She must’ve held me for an hour, rocking me, telling me it would be all right. Then she took me to the bathtub, stripped off my clothes, and tenderly washed me as if I were her own child. Once again Robbie’s parents were giving me what I’d been missing since I was a tiny girl.

One day I walked by the living room as my mother-in-law was watching television. There, on the screen, was an actress who’d once been one of Epstein’s victims, like me. Now there she was on Nina’s TV. “How do you know her?” Nina asked, seeing my stunned face. I didn’t know what to say, so I turned and left the room. Then, in March 2003, Vanity Fair magazine published a lengthy profile titled “The Talented Mr Epstein”. I don’t remember exactly when I first read it, but I do recall being shocked by its gushing tone: Epstein was described as “good-looking”, “charming”, “very generous”, and “like a king in his own world”; his Manhattan townhouse was like “someone’s private Xanadu”. There was a reference to Epstein’s love of women (“mostly young”) and a description of his “complicated past” - a reference to some of his questionable financial dealings. But the article said many people had commented that “there is something innocent, almost child-like about” him. “Oh, is that what you call it?” I asked out loud. “Innocent?!” Then I threw the magazine across the room.

Virginia Roberts Giuffre, The Age - October 24, 2025

>>23767886 Q Post #4923 - https://twitter.com/VRSVirginia/status/1319071346282778624 - Dearest Virginia - We stand with you. Now and always. Find peace through prayer. Never give up the good fight. God bless you. Q - https://qanon.pub/#4923 - https://qanon.pub/#4568

>>23767886 Q Post #1001 - Where do roads lead? Each prince is associated with a cardinal direction: north, south, east and west. Sacrifice. Collect. [Classified]-1 - [Classified]-2 - Tunnels. Table 29. - D-Room H - D-Room R - D-Room C - Pure EVIL. - 'Conspiracy' - Q - https://qanon.pub/#1001

#43 - Part 45

Virginia Roberts Giuffre - Life and Legacy - Part 7

>>23771501 Email reveals Epstein used Andrew as fixer to lure Australian PM’s daughter to mansion – Newly revealed emails show Jeffrey Epstein asked Prince Andrew to arrange a dinner with Katherine Keating, daughter of former Australian prime minister Paul Keating. In a February 2011 message, Epstein wrote: “Would you ask Katherine Keating if she would like to come for dinner with Woody Allen next week in New York?” to which Andrew replied, “Will do.” Ms Keating confirmed she attended the dinner at Andrew’s invitation, describing it as “a large social event” with prominent media figures present. She denied any wrongdoing or knowledge of Epstein’s crimes. The revelation comes amid renewed scrutiny of Andrew’s continued contact with Epstein after claiming to have cut ties.

>>23780205 Video: Virginia Roberts Giuffre's brothers say Jeffrey Epstein's cameras captured crimes, demand they be released – Virginia Giuffre’s brothers have called for US authorities to release evidence she said was held by the FBI, including alleged video tapes showing powerful men committing crimes inside Jeffrey Epstein’s properties. Her brother Sky Roberts told 7.30 the US Department of Justice “holds the key to this entire investigation” and that his sister had turned over “numerous documents” still unreleased. In her memoir Nobody’s Girl, Giuffre described years of sexual abuse, including by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, and alleged she was forced to have sex with a “well-known prime minister”. Her older brother Danny Wilson said she told him years ago, “I’m saving the best for last.” Giuffre’s friend Dini von Mueffling said hidden cameras were “very well known” to exist in Epstein’s homes and urged the release of any seized footage. Sky called her book a “predator’s playbook”, showing both the manipulation and “the goofiness, the quirkiness” of his sister, adding, “I think she refused to stay silent.”

>>23796662 King Charles strips Andrew of ‘prince’ title and evicts his disgraced brother from Royal Lodge - (Video) Buckingham Palace confirmed that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been stripped of his “prince” title and ordered to vacate Royal Lodge, marking the most severe royal sanction in decades. The King’s brother will relocate to the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, with his new residence privately funded by King Charles. The palace said the move was “necessary” despite Andrew’s continuing denials, adding that “Their Majesties’ thoughts and utmost sympathies remain with the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.” The decision comes days after the release of Virginia Giuffre’s memoir, in which she repeated her claims of being trafficked to Andrew by Jeffrey Epstein at age 17. Her family declared that “an ordinary American girl … brought down a British prince with her truth and extraordinary courage.” The action follows reports Andrew hosted Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell and Harvey Weinstein at Royal Lodge, and had not paid rent for two decades. His ex-wife Sarah Ferguson will make separate living arrangements.

>>23796734 Video: King Charles strips Andrew of ‘prince’ title – King Charles has formally stripped Andrew of all titles and honours and ordered him to vacate his 30-room Royal Lodge residence, in the most severe royal sanction in modern history. Buckingham Palace confirmed that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor will move to Sandringham, with accommodation privately funded by the King. The move follows years of fallout from his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and the release of Virginia Giuffre’s memoir detailing alleged abuse. Her family said their sister had “brought down a British prince with her truth and extraordinary courage.” The King’s action removes Andrew’s titles of Duke of York, Earl of Inverness and Baron Killyleagh, and cancels his honours in the Order of the Garter and the Royal Victorian Order. Despite the unprecedented decision, Andrew remains eighth in line to the throne. The British government backed the move, saying it sent “a very powerful message to the victims of grooming and sex offences.”

#43 - Part 46

Virginia Roberts Giuffre - Life and Legacy - Part 8

>>23796758 ‘She’d be so proud,’ Virginia Giuffre’s family tell BBC – (Video) The family of Virginia Giuffre have hailed the stripping of Prince Andrew’s title as an “unprecedented” victory, saying their sister had “taken down a prince.” Speaking through tears to BBC Newsnight, her brother Sky Roberts said Giuffre was “celebrating from the heavens now saying ‘I did it’,” adding that “she’d be so proud — he’s just Andrew.” He insisted the move was “not enough” and called for an investigation, saying Andrew “needs to be behind bars.” Giuffre’s sister-in-law Amanda said, “Everything she fought for was not in vain,” describing it as “a moment for her and all survivors.” Buckingham Palace announced King Charles had initiated the formal process to remove Andrew’s titles after emails from 2011 showed he remained in contact with Jeffrey Epstein. The family urged US authorities to release further Epstein files, declaring: “The UK is setting an example for what the US should be doing right now.”

>>23847758 Video: New Epstein emails allege Donald Trump 'knew about the girls - Newly released emails from Jeffrey Epstein to Ghislaine Maxwell and author Michael Wolff have intensified scrutiny of Donald Trump’s past association with the disgraced financier, though the documents do not allege wrongdoing by the US President. Democrats released more than 20,000 estate documents, including a 2011 claim that Virginia Giuffre “spent hours” at Epstein’s home with Trump and a 2019 message asserting Trump “knew about the girls”. The White House condemned the release as a partisan hit, insisting Trump expelled Epstein from Mar-a-Lago and “did nothing wrong”. The timing coincides with a bipartisan House push to force the public release of all Epstein files after a petition reached 218 signatures.

>>23847817 ‘The photo of Andrew and Giuffre was real,’ Epstein emails suggest - Newly released US House Oversight Committee emails appear to contradict Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s claim that the photograph of him with 17-year-old Virginia Giuffre may have been faked. In a 2011 message to journalist Michael Wolff, Jeffrey Epstein allegedly wrote: “Yes she was on my plane, and yes she had her picture taken with Andrew,” shortly after Giuffre’s identity became public. Other emails show Andrew privately telling Epstein “I can’t take any more of this my end” as the scandal intensified. The tranche, subpoenaed from the Epstein estate, also includes Epstein claiming Giuffre “spent several hours” with Donald Trump, prompting the White House to accuse Democrats of pushing a contrived narrative. Further exchanges show Epstein, Maxwell and Andrew coordinating media strategy, while Epstein thanks Lord Mandelson, the former UK ambassador to the US, for advice on distancing himself from the prince.

#43 - Part 47

The Transgender Agenda - Australia and Worldwide - Part 1

>>23555576 COMMENTARY: Trans lobby defends a lie that silences women – (Video) "Who could have imagined that the ordinary meaning of male and female would one day be put on trial, and that the very body created to defend women’s rights would argue that “female” is essentially meaningless? … Yet that is exactly what is happening in the Giggle v Tickle case, in which Roxanne Tickle, a transgender woman, successfully sued the women-only social media app Giggle for Girls for excluding her, with the Federal Court finding this was unlawful indirect discrimination under the Sex Discrimination Act … The case has gone to appeal and the Sex Discrimination Commissioner has intervened as a friend of the court, submitting that sex is “not a biological concept referring to whether a person at birth had male or female physical traits”… When Labor’s Susan Ryan introduced the Sex Discrimination Bill in 1983…the law was to give effect to the United Nations convention on the elimination of discrimination against women. These protections were grounded in biology and were designed to secure equality for women as a group … In 2013, the act was amended and the definitions of man and woman were quietly repealed to accommodate protections for gender identity. Where the law once spelled out that a man was a member of the male sex and a woman was a member of the female sex, the federal parliament now said those words should take their “ordinary meaning”. It was presented as a technical change, but it was nothing of the sort. It was a Trojan horse wheeled inside the walls of the law. The effect has been to light a fire that now burns the city of meaning to the ground … This has opened a door for the commissioner to argue that even the act’s pregnancy provisions - protections written precisely for biological women because of their capacity to conceive - should be read as extending to trans women … In dissolving the boundary between sex and gender, the commissioner is engaging in institutional betrayal. The office created to defend women now seeks to erase them … The commissioner seems determined to etch a dangerous precedent into law. Its staff may feel on the right side of history, but they are morally adrift. They are defending a lie - and no law or court can make it true." – Chris Uhlmann, The Australian

>>23800933 ‘Trying to silence me’: Outspoken doctor sacked amid transgender legal battle – Queensland child psychiatrist Dr Jillian Spencer has been issued a termination notice while multiple court cases over her suspension and whistleblower protection remain unresolved. Dr Spencer, who publicly criticised “trans-affirming” treatments for minors, said her dismissal came a month before an independent review into puberty blockers and hormones - chaired by Professor Ruth Vine - was due to report to Health Minister Tim Nicholls. “They are jumping the gun without waiting to establish whether the whistleblower claim is true,” she said, accusing Queensland Health of trying to silence her. Her dismissal letter cited breaches of the code of conduct for speaking publicly about her concerns. Graeme Haycroft of the Red Union Support Hub called the sacking “a miscarriage of justice.” Dr Spencer said she stood by her warnings that gender-affirming care “is harmful to children” and vowed to keep fighting in court.

>>23800947 Video: Queensland Health forced to pause Dr Jillian Spencer dismissal as she takes legal action over political discrimination – Suspended child psychiatrist Dr Jillian Spencer has won a temporary reprieve from termination as the Supreme Court of Queensland reviews whether her dismissal breached constitutional and human rights protections. Dr Spencer, who was stood down for criticising gender-affirming care for minors, argues Queensland Health ignored her freedom of political expression and obligations under the Human Rights Act when moving to fire her. Backed by the Human Rights Law Alliance, she claims she was punished for expressing medically grounded dissent, not misconduct. Dr Spencer continues to await a ruling on her separate whistleblower application, pending for 17 months. She told Sky News the stay “gives me a fighting chance,” insisting her stance against early “social transition” and puberty blockers was about child safety and evidence-based practice. “This is about medical integrity and the right to speak freely,” she said.

#43 - Part 48

The Transgender Agenda - Australia and Worldwide - Part 2

>>23800976 Dr Jillian Spencer’s Queensland Health termination frozen amid legal battle – Queensland Health has paused its bid to sack Dr Jillian Spencer, the child psychiatrist suspended for questioning “transgender activism” at the Queensland Children’s Hospital. Her lawyers at Meridian Lawyers filed for a Supreme Court judicial review, arguing acting clinical director Brendan Hoad failed to consider her freedom of political communication and Human Rights Act protections before issuing a termination notice. Dr Spencer said she was duty-bound by the Hippocratic oath to oppose unsafe treatments, claiming puberty blockers and early affirmation “don’t have evidence of benefit and have serious harms.” She maintains doctors must prioritise patients over institutional loyalty. Other psychiatrists have backed her stance, citing the UK’s Cass Review and a Family Court ruling where Judge Andrew Strum criticised Australia’s gender-affirming guidelines. “I thought I was doing everyone a favour by speaking up,” she said. The case will return to court next year alongside her pending whistleblower claim.

>>23801001 Video: Queensland Health puberty blocker, hormone treatment ban unlawful, court rules – The Queensland Supreme Court has ruled the state government’s puberty blocker ban unlawful, finding Queensland Health failed to conduct proper consultation before issuing the January 28 directive. Justice Peter Callaghan SC said the 22-minute meeting used to justify the ban “had every hallmark” of a predetermined decision. Within hours, Health Minister Tim Nicholls reissued the statewide prohibition under his own authority, citing the “public interest.” The case, brought by the mother of a transgender child, accused the government of treating minors as “political footballs.” Advocacy groups, including the LGBTI Legal Service, condemned the renewed ban, saying it lacked medical evidence and excluded expert input. Mr Nicholls said the government’s position “remains unchanged,” insisting treatment must be “grounded on solid evidence.” The directive will stand until completion of Professor Ruth Vine’s independent review into stage one and two hormone therapies, due by November 30.

>>23805280 Queensland education authority offers ‘they/them’ pronouns for kindergarten kids – Parents in Queensland have been asked to specify “they/them” pronouns for their four- and five-year-olds on kindergarten consent forms, prompting criticism from psychiatrists who warned the practice could harm children’s development. The Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority recorded 46 “they/them” nominations this year, though many parents expressed shock at the requirement. Psychiatrists Andrew Amos, Philip Morris and Jillian Spencer said the policy “damages the child” and risks “indoctrination” into ideology. Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek said the QCAA is independent and introduced the measure to “foster inclusion”, but critics argue it confuses children and pressures teachers to comply with gender ideology.

#43 - Part 49

AUKUS Security Pact and Nuclear Submarine Program - Part 1

>>23554534 Former US, Australian defence heads reunite to urge Trump to stick with AUKUS - Former US defence secretary Jim Mattis, ex-Australian defence minister Marise Payne, former UK chief of defence staff Nicholas Carter and ex-US naval chief Gary Roughead have urged the Trump administration not to abandon AUKUS. Writing in Foreign Affairs, they warned that cancelling or weakening the pact “would do the work of Washington’s adversaries,” stressing its deterrent effect on China and Russia. The essay admitted the deal’s industrial costs but argued “these costs are worth the benefits.” The Pentagon review, led by Elbridge Colby, is fuelling fears Trump may retreat from the Biden-era pact.

>>23554542 Don’t Abandon AUKUS: The Case for Recommitting to - and Revitalizing - the Alliance - Gary Roughead, Marise Payne, Nicholas Carter and James Mattis - September 2, 2025 - https://archive.is/20250902160752/https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/dont-abandon-aukus-jim-mattis - https://qalerts.app/?q=Mattis

>>23598204 Video: Government pledges $12b to nuclear submarine precinct ahead of PM’s US visit - The Albanese government will commit $12 billion to the Henderson Defence Precinct in Perth, funding new graving docks for nuclear submarine maintenance under AUKUS. The move comes as US officials, including Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, push Australia to lift defence spending from 2 per cent to 3.5 per cent of GDP. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will unveil the investment with Defence Minister Richard Marles before travelling to New York for the UN General Assembly and a long-delayed meeting with President Donald Trump. The site will support submarine docking, shipbuilding, and create more than 10,000 local jobs.

>>23598213 Rubio quietly signals U.S. won’t sink submarine deal with Australia - U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has privately assured Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles that the AUKUS nuclear submarine pact will proceed, despite a Pentagon review ordered by policy chief Elbridge Colby. The reassurance followed concerns President Donald Trump was unfamiliar with the deal, though Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth later confirmed his support. Analysts say abandoning AUKUS would damage U.S. credibility and weaken Indo-Pacific security. While timelines may be adjusted, the core commitment to supply Virginia-class submarines remains, with Australia also investing $3 billion in U.S. shipyards and pursuing Ghost Shark underwater attack drones.

>>23603388 Richard Marles claims defence spending is 2.8pc of GDP under NATO standards as Anthony Albanese pitches Donald Trump meeting - Defence Minister Richard Marles has argued Australia’s defence spending is 2.8 per cent of GDP when measured under NATO standards, which include pensions, intelligence and infrastructure, as the government faces U.S. pressure to lift funding to 3.5 per cent. The claim came as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a $12 billion expansion of Perth’s Henderson shipyards and prepared for a potential first meeting with President Donald Trump in New York. The Opposition and analysts dismissed the government figures as “semantics” and “magical thinking,” saying the increase will not materially change GDP share.

>>23617346 Video: King backs AUKUS, Ukraine in message to Trump - King Charles has urged US President Donald Trump to treat the AUKUS submarine pact as a vital alliance, directly linking it to Britain’s historic partnership with the US and Australia during two world wars. At a Windsor Castle state banquet, the King also called for stronger US support for Ukraine against Russia. His intervention comes as the Pentagon reviews AUKUS, with sceptics like US defence Under Secretary Elbridge Colby fuelling uncertainty. Trump praised the UK relationship in glowing terms but avoided concrete defence commitments. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly thanked the King for his “steadfast support.”

#43 - Part 50

AUKUS Security Pact and Nuclear Submarine Program - Part 2

>>23675053 AUKUS survives Pentagon review, with US submarine sales to proceed – Nikkei Asia reports that the Trump administration will proceed with the AUKUS defence pact, maintaining plans to sell three Virginia-class submarines to Australia from 2032. The outlet says a Pentagon review, led by Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby, found the project consistent with President Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda. Sources told Nikkei the review will conclude before Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s October 20 White House visit. The process examined industrial capacity and Australia’s potential role in a Taiwan conflict. Analysts say AUKUS remains “low-risk” for Washington, though the US may pressure Canberra to lift defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP.

>>23708599 Video: US Senate committee questions Trump's Pentagon nominee John Noh over AUKUS review – Donald Trump’s nominee for assistant secretary of defence for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, John Noh, told senators the AUKUS submarine pact may need “commonsense” adjustments to make it more “sustainable.” Noh avoided specifics, citing an ongoing Pentagon review led by Under Secretary Elbridge Colby and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, but said both nations could “strengthen pillar one” of AUKUS. Senators from both parties criticised delays and questioned the message to Australia amid tariffs and pressure to raise defence spending. Noh confirmed the review would conclude by December and must consider shipbuilding limits, with the US needing to raise production from 1.2 to 2.33 submarines per year to meet commitments.

>>23742317 Australia promises Trump defence revamp, dangles $1b AUKUS carrot – Australia is seeking to ease US pressure over military spending by pledging a major defence overhaul next year and offering a $1 billion AUKUS instalment ahead of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Washington visit. Defence Minister Richard Marles told US officials the National Defence Strategy, due in April, would sketch future spending, while Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy confirmed another AUKUS payment was imminent. The Trump administration wants allies to lift defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP; Australia currently spends just over 2 per cent of GDP and argues that using broader “NATO-style” accounting — which includes infrastructure, veterans’ costs and logistics — its real outlay already surpasses the UK’s. But analysts say Canberra is “playing for time,” while the government insists its AUKUS commitments demonstrate strategic alignment with US-led Indo-Pacific security.

>>23748341 Video: AUKUS expected to stay intact as Trump touts ‘great relationship’ with Albanese – The AUKUS submarine pact is expected to remain unchanged following the Trump administration’s review, with the White House describing a “great relationship” between Donald Trump and Anthony Albanese ahead of their Oval Office meeting. A US official said there were “no conversations” about withdrawing from AUKUS and praised Australia as a priority ally. The review, led by defence undersecretary Elbridge Colby, continues amid concerns over US submarine production rates. Albanese’s visit will also focus on securing a critical minerals deal to counter China’s dominance, with Ambassador Kevin Rudd saying AUKUS is “powering ahead.”

>>23755125 Trump ends AUKUS uncertainty with firm backing for Albanese – Donald Trump has ended speculation over the future of the $368 billion AUKUS pact, pledging the US will go “full steam ahead” with the deal during his first face-to-face meeting with Anthony Albanese. Trump confirmed Australia will receive its promised nuclear-powered submarines and dismissed concerns raised by a Pentagon review led by Elbridge Colby. US Navy Secretary John Phelan said Washington was working to “improve” and “clarify” AUKUS. Trump praised Australia’s military strength and said the partnership deters China but predicted no conflict over Taiwan. Canberra has already invested $1.6 billion in AUKUS infrastructure, with US and UK submarines to begin rotating through HMAS Stirling from 2027. The pact also expands cooperation in cyber, undersea, and advanced defence technologies.

#43 - Part 51

AUKUS Security Pact and Nuclear Submarine Program - Part 3

>>23759574 ‘Here for the long term’: US seeks to entrench presence in Australia under AUKUS – Senior US officials are expected to seek ongoing use of HMAS Stirling naval base in Western Australia under a Pentagon review of the AUKUS pact, deepening American military access as it prepares for potential conflict with China. The review, led by Elbridge Colby, may formalise a rotational presence of up to four US nuclear-powered submarines and 1,000 personnel from 2027, under Submarine Rotational Force–West. The base’s proximity to the Indian Ocean gives the US strategic reach beyond Hawaii. Defence expert Mike Pezzullo said the US “has long coveted the idea of an operating location like this and they are not going to want to give it up.”

>>23759580 Defence orders brutal budget cuts as AUKUS and frigate costs soar – Defence chiefs have ordered sweeping cost reductions as the soaring expense of AUKUS submarines and Hunter-class frigates strains the budget. Air Force Chief Stephen Chappell has directed reviews to “mitigate overspending,” including delaying projects, cutting maintenance, and reducing aircraft flying hours, while Chief of Defence David Johnston has capped reservist workdays at 150. The navy’s frigates now cost $5.9bn per ship, rising to $9bn with design costs, and AUKUS will consume $3.3bn this year alone. Analysts warn the austerity drive risks “sacrificing existing capabilities” to fund future ones, leaving Australia’s defence readiness dangerously stretched despite government claims of record spending.

>>23771439 Donald Trump’s AUKUS nod echoed as new sub welcomed – The USS Utah, the 28th Virginia-class submarine, has been christened in Connecticut, with senior US officials reaffirming the strength of AUKUS and the deepening of defence ties with Australia. Congressman Joe Courtney said the partnership was helping expand America’s submarine industrial base and create jobs, adding that “our closest allies — Australia and the United Kingdom — are locking arms with us as never before.” He cited Donald Trump’s recent endorsement of AUKUS as validation of billions invested in the sector. US Navy Secretary John Phelan called the Virginia-class fleet “the undersea workhorse,” essential to deterrence and maintaining open sea lanes.

>>23788879 New defence committee to cast ‘unblinking eye’ over AUKUS – Parliament is set to create a powerful new defence committee to oversee the AUKUS submarine program, ADF operations and classified strategy. The Coalition will support the bill after previously blocking it, with Opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor proposing that membership be limited to MPs who back higher defence spending and AUKUS. Former minister Andrew Hastie said the committee would cast “an unblinking eye” on the $368bn program and improve accountability beyond “surface level” scrutiny. Defence Minister Richard Marles and Assistant Minister Peter Khalil said the body, modelled on the intelligence committee, would strengthen transparency while protecting national security.

>>23809042 China’s military build-up demands response, Australia defence minister says – Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles has warned that China’s “biggest military build-up in the world today”, carried out “without strategic reassurance”, demands a response from other nations. Speaking at a navy conference in Sydney, he said Australia’s sea trade routes through the South and East China Seas are becoming “increasingly risky”. Marles outlined plans for a “more capable, lethal, long-range navy”, including acquiring frigates from Japan, developing submarine drones with US company Anduril, and expanding Indian Ocean shipyards. His remarks come after a Chinese fighter jet dropped flares near an Australian patrol aircraft, amid growing tension as Australia advances its AUKUS nuclear submarine program with the US and UK.

>>23814436 Republicans lash out at Pentagon officials over treatment of Australia – Republican frustration with the Pentagon has intensified during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, with several senators accusing defence policy leaders of undermining President Donald Trump’s agenda and mishandling Australia’s interests. Senators Roger Wicker, Tom Cotton and Dan Sullivan criticised undersecretary Elbridge Colby’s policy unit for “slow-walking” Trump-backed initiatives, including AUKUS, a brief pause in Ukraine assistance and force reductions in Romania. They said the Pentagon’s review of AUKUS created doubt for Australia despite Trump declaring the pact “full steam ahead”. Austin Dahmer, nominated for a senior strategy role, defended the review but acknowledged ongoing concerns. The exchanges underscored bipartisan congressional support for AUKUS and frustration with internal Pentagon processes.

#43 - Part 52

AUKUS Security Pact and Nuclear Submarine Program - Part 4

>>23814460 AUKUS subs to receive US combat ‘brains’ – The AUKUS partnership has advanced with a new deal to install the US-designed AN/BYG-1 combat system on future Australian and British nuclear-powered submarines. BAE Systems will sign the agreement with General Dynamics Mission Systems, Raytheon Australia and Thales, ensuring the system - already used on Collins-class and US submarines - is integrated into the SSN-AUKUS boats built in Adelaide and the UK. Officials said the software will unify weapons and sensor controls and strengthen interoperability. Navy chief Admiral Mark Hammond said Australia is “well on track” to operate nuclear submarines, with Australian crews serving on Virginia-class boats. Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy confirmed a $34m battery contract for PMB Defence and defended acquiring Israeli technology for the ADF.

>>23819495 USS Vermont arrives in WA for maintenance – USS Vermont, a US Virginia-class submarine, has arrived at HMAS Stirling for a major Submarine Maintenance Period, marking another step in Australia’s plan to operate and sustain nuclear-powered submarines. Thirteen Royal Australian Navy personnel are embedded in the 134-strong crew after extensive US training. This year’s program is larger and more complex than the 2024 effort, with Australian teams taking greater responsibility ahead of Submarine Rotational Force - West in 2027. ASC (the Australian Submarine Corporation), US shipyard staff and international trainees are supporting the work, which officials say strengthens nuclear stewardship and deepens AUKUS cooperation. Vice Admiral Jonathan Mead, Director-General of the Australian Submarine Agency, said the visit “strengthens our ability to operate and sustain nuclear-powered submarines in Australia,” underscoring rising sovereign capability.

>>23828055 Pentagon backs AUKUS amid criticism its review has upset Australia – The Pentagon says its long-running review of the AUKUS pact is in its final stages and now agrees the agreement delivers “significant benefit” for US strategy in the Indo-Pacific. Senior adviser Alexander Velez-Green told a Senate hearing the review provided new insight into submarine production capacity and confirmed the pact aligns with Donald Trump’s priorities. Republican senators again criticised the secrecy of the process, saying it had unsettled Australia and cast doubt on US commitment. Pentagon concerns had focused on how Australia would use nuclear-powered submarines in a potential conflict with China. Officials now say AUKUS remains “in our interest”, as Australia prepares another $US1 billion payment to bolster the US industrial base. Experts argue the pact is too strategically important to fail.

>>23835180 ‘Poison Pill’ AUKUS sceptics rolled inside Pentagon, says Kurt Campbell – Former US deputy secretary of state Kurt Campbell says Pentagon officials who tried to derail AUKUS have been “rolled”, with the ongoing review now expected to endorse the pact with only minor adjustments. He said Undersecretary of Defence Elbridge Colby mishandled the review and sowed uncertainty until Donald Trump forcefully reaffirmed support for AUKUS during talks with Anthony Albanese. Campbell described “strategic disarray” inside the Pentagon amid purges and resignations, but said Australian lobbying by Richard Marles and Kevin Rudd helped neutralise internal opposition. He argued Colby’s approach had “hurt him politically” and that key policy ideas – restricting Ukraine arms, cutting AUKUS – had been “snipped at the bud”. Campbell said negative media coverage overlooked “remarkable progress” on AUKUS over the past five years.

#43 - Part 53

Australia / China Tensions - Part 1

>>23542594 Fears China will try to gatecrash Pacific Islands Forum through embassy - Australian and Pacific officials fear China will use its Honiara embassy to influence next week’s Pacific Islands Forum, despite a ban on dialogue and development partners imposed by Solomon Islands to exclude Taiwan. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will attend amid tensions, with Penny Wong and others warning that sidelining longstanding partners such as the EU, UK and World Bank denies vital funding. Palau’s President Surangel Whipps Jnr said Chinese access would “undermine trust,” while Tuvalu’s Prime Minister Feleti Teo speculated Beijing drove the exclusions. The US ambassador will attend on the sidelines. Beijing pressured PIF participants to alter last year’s communique, resulting in the deletion of Taiwan’s partner status, recognised since 1992.

>>23542657 Dan Andrews, Bob Carr guests of honour in Chinese victory parade - Former premiers Dan Andrews and Bob Carr will join Xi Jinping, Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin at a Tiananmen Square parade marking 80 years since Japan’s defeat, with Beijing hailing them as “esteemed guests.” Carr defended his attendance as recognition of China’s WWII role, saying its resistance shielded Australia from Japanese assault, while critics warned both men risk serving Chinese propaganda. Chinese ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian recently invoked wartime ties to argue “Taiwan’s return to China must not be denied.” Analysts highlighted Andrews’ Belt and Road links and Carr’s advocacy for closer ties with Beijing. Former ambassador Geoff Raby said Australia must weigh recognition of China’s V-Day celebrations against Australia’s vital relationship with Japan.

>>23542705 OPINION: Beijing invited me to this special celebration. Here’s why I’m happy to go - "Australians in 1945 would have seen China’s victory over Japan as a win for humanity… worth commemorating… It’s why I accepted an invitation from the Chinese consul-general to attend the 80th celebration of their victory, travelling to Beijing at my own expense. Right-wing commentators criticise me for going because Russian President Vladimir Putin will be in attendance. This comes from the same Trump-friendly media that found acceptable Donald Trump welcoming Putin onto American soil, even as Putin intensified his warfare against Ukraine… What attracts me to this celebration… is the attendance of big delegations from nine countries in South-East Asia… another opportunity to share views about how we accommodate a reality none of us has the power to stop anyway: China’s emergence as a great power - and the need to avoid conflict between it and the US." - Bob Carr, The Age

>>23542719 Taiwan slams China military parade attended by ex-premiers Carr, Andrews - Taiwan has accused Beijing of using a military parade, attended by former Australian premiers Bob Carr and Daniel Andrews, to push “a deliberate distortion of wartime history” and undermine the island’s sovereignty. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Australia said the event was “a clear attempt to advance (China’s) contemporary territorial claims over Taiwan,” stressing the People’s Republic of China “has never governed Taiwan.” Carr defended his attendance as marking shared WWII history, while Andrews remained silent. Foreign policy experts warned both risk serving as “organs of the Chinese propaganda machine.”

>>23542738 Opinion: Why are Carr and Andrews legitimising China’s axis of authoritarianism? - "In its typically authoritarian way, China… is commemorating the 80th anniversary of World War II’s end with a big military parade… Xi is basking in the moment. Why then are former Victorian Labor Premier Daniel Andrews and former NSW Premier and federal Foreign Minister Bob Carr joining the festivities?… Legitimising the Communist view of World War II strengthens Xi Jinping’s regime internationally and with China’s own population. Domestically, it enhances Xi’s ability to stifle internal dissent… Most importantly of all, China is concentrating on projecting its future leading international role through this celebration… This century’s main threat to America and its partners is the rapidly emerging axis between China and Russia, and their associated outriders like North Korea, Iran, and Belarus… Andrews and Carr should reconsider their decisions to attend." - John Bolton, Australian Financial Review

#43 - Part 54

Australia / China Tensions - Part 2

>>23542771 Australian ambassador to China to miss Xi Jinping military parade - Australia’s ambassador to China, Scott Dewar, will deliberately skip Xi Jinping’s massive military parade in Beijing, instead speaking in Guangzhou, in what officials called a “very conscious calibration.” Canberra is downgrading its representation to defence and political staff, signalling unease with the People’s Liberation Army’s displays of power and Xi’s use of World War II history to justify global ambitions. Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong-un and Iran’s Masoud Pezeshkian will attend, alongside ex-premiers Bob Carr and Daniel Andrews, who critics warn have inserted themselves into a propaganda exercise.

>>23542782 COMMENTARY: China’s WWII victory parade is a supreme fiction - "This week the Chinese Communist Party will orchestrate a grand military parade in Tiananmen Square… Ostensibly a tribute to wartime heroism, this display is, in truth, a monumental distortion of history… At the heart of this charade lies the falsehood that the CCP was the principal fighting force against Japanese aggression during the war. This claim is a brazen lie. It was the Nationalist government, under Chiang Kai-shek, that bore the brunt of Japan’s assault… Mao focused not on liberation or resistance but on quietly building his army… Today’s CCP regime continues to weaponise historical memory… The entire upcoming parade is a political theatre, a state-forged spectacle masquerading as remembrance… To attend this spectacle is to legitimise a fraud… What will unfold on September 3 is not remembrance but propaganda — an insult draped in flags and uniforms, parading not history but deception." - Miles Yu, director of the China Centre at the Hudson Institute, The Australian

>>23542802 Extraordinary engagement:Former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews meets with Xi Jinping- (Video) Former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews has met Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of Beijing’s grand military parade marking 80 years since the end of World War II. Andrews, joined by former NSW premier Bob Carr, was among the 10,000-strong crowd in Tiananmen Square. The event, showcasing China’s newest hypersonic missiles, tanks and stealth fighters, featured Russian President Vladimir Putin, North Korea’s Kim Jong-un and other authoritarian leaders. Analyst Neil Thomas said the attendance of Carr and Andrews would likely bolster Beijing’s narrative that China was the decisive force against Japan, calling the line-up a “rogues’ gallery”.

>>23542811 Video: Dan Andrews shakes Xi's hand at Beijing parade - Former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews shook hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping and First Lady Peng Liyuan before Beijing’s vast military parade in Tiananmen Square. Andrews later appeared in an official group photograph alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. Andrews, attending in a “personal capacity,” has complicated Canberra’s diplomatic stance as the Albanese government distances itself from the event. The parade also drew Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian and Myanmar’s junta leader Min Aung Hlaing, while Australia’s ambassador Scott Dewar stayed away, signalling a deliberate diplomatic snub of Xi’s display of military power.

>>23542833 Video: Dan Andrews poses alongside Xi, Putin and Kim Jong-un - Former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews appeared in an official group photo with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong-un at Beijing’s World War II anniversary parade. While former NSW premier Bob Carr declined to attend, calling the event “Soviet-style,” Andrews was the only Australian politician present, a move condemned by Coalition MPs as making him a “pawn” of the Chinese regime. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese noted Australia had reduced its representation, with no minister or ambassador present. Critics said Andrews’ attendance bolstered Beijing’s propaganda, while Carr instead chose to address two Chinese international relations think tanks.

>>23542853 Carr skips military parade, as Andrews joins Xi on red carpet - Former NSW premier Bob Carr declined to attend Beijing’s “Soviet-style” military parade, instead choosing to address two Chinese international relations think tanks and join separate indoor commemorations. Carr said he opted for “meetings with delegations” over the parade, which featured Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong-un. His decision left former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews as the only Australian politician present, after controversially signing Victoria up to China’s Belt and Road agreement. Opposition home affairs spokesman Andrew Hastie labelled Andrews a “nice little pawn” of China’s propaganda effort.

#43 - Part 55

Australia / China Tensions - Part 3

>>23542869 Video: Xi Jinping greets former Victorian Premier at start of China military parade - Former Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has been personally greeted by China's Xi Jinping at the start of a massive military parade in China. - 9 News Australia

>>23542877 Video: Dan Andrews joins world leaders at China military parade - China stages a massive military parade in Beijing to commemorate the anniversary of the end of World War II, featuring 10,000 soldiers and modern military equipment including stealth bombers and new tanks. Former Victorian Premier Dan Andrews and ex-NSW Premier Bob Carr attend alongside world leaders including Vladimir Putin and Iran's leader, with Andrews receiving prominent treatment in the ceremony. Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a speech emphasising China's role in ending WWII and its current military strength. - 7NEWS Australia

>>23542904 Video: High-tech weaponry and China's military might on full display - China's military might was on full display at a Victory Parade hosted by Xi Jinping in Beijing. Hypersonic weapons, underwater drones, and ballistic missiles were rolled out to a crowd that included Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea's Kim Jong-Un. Former China correspondent Nicole Johnston says China is sending a clear message to the West about its position in the world and its desire to create a system of global governments that is not centred on the United States. - ABC News (Australia)

>>23542914 Donald J. Trump Truth - "The big question to be answered is whether or not President Xi of China will mention the massive amount of support and “blood” that The United States of America gave to China in order to help it to secure its FREEDOM from a very unfriendly foreign invader. Many Americans died in China’s quest for Victory and Glory. I hope that they are rightfully Honored and Remembered for their Bravery and Sacrifice! May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration. Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America. PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP"

>>23546765 Video: No security briefing before Andrews’ Beijing trip where he posed alongside Putin, Kim Jong-un - Former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews did not seek advice from the federal government or DFAT before attending Beijing’s military parade, where he shook Xi Jinping’s hand and appeared in an official photo with Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong-un and other authoritarian leaders. His attendance, condemned by former Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and labelled a propaganda coup by critics, shocked ministers in Canberra. Bob Carr skipped the “Soviet-style” parade, opting to speak at two Chinese international relations think tanks. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stressed Andrews was not representing Australia, as the government deliberately kept its diplomatic presence low, represented by the embassy’s defence attache.

>>23546788 Labor figures - but not PM - slam ‘traitor’ Dan Andrews’ China propaganda appearance - Daniel Andrews’ handshake with Xi Jinping and presence on a parade podium near Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin has ignited anger within Labor. Former federal MP Michael Danby, who once chaired parliament’s foreign affairs and defence committee, called the image of Andrews with Xi “disgusting” and “an embarrassment to all Australians,” noting that Andrews and Bob Carr had “never a word for the poor Uighur Muslim people, and never a word for the poor Tibetans.” Quoting Shakespeare, Danby declared: “Shame, shame, eternal shame.” Andrews did not consult DFAT and kept Albanese, his former flatmate, uninformed of his plans. The Prime Minister sidestepped questions, noting a Coalition minister had attended the previous anniversary 10 years ago, as critics warned Andrews’ actions embarrassed Labor and aided Chinese messaging.

#43 - Part 56

Australia / China Tensions - Part 4

>>23546804 Daniel Andrews defends China visit as deputy premier rebukes him for photo with dictators - Deputy Premier Ben Carroll rebuked former premier Daniel Andrews for appearing in a photo with Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong-un and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, saying it was “not worth it” for business interests and “not something I would have done.” Andrews defended his attendance at Beijing’s parade as an opportunity to meet regional leaders, while stressing his condemnation of Putin’s war in Ukraine and Iran’s attacks. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese distanced himself, saying no minister would have considered going. Ukrainian community leaders urged Andrews to apologise, calling his appearance an “appalling lack of judgment.”

>>23546828 Video: ‘Filling his pockets’: Resurfaced footage shows former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews praising China ahead of ‘parade of dictators’ - Newly resurfaced March 2025 footage shows Daniel Andrews praising China’s economic growth and renewable energy transition in an interview with state-run CGTN, saying Beijing did not receive the credit it deserved. Weeks later he attended Xi Jinping’s military parade, where he was photographed with Xi, Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un. Former Morrison government press secretary Andrew Carswell called Andrews’ presence a “colossal error of judgement” and claimed he would use the photo “to drive business… filling his pockets.” The parade displayed hypersonic missiles and ICBM launchers, while Prime Minister Albanese stressed Andrews was not representing Australia.

>>23546844 Video: Former premier of Victoria, Australia: China's renewable energy drive deserves greater global recognition - "Ahead of the 2025 China Development Forum, Daniel Andrews, former premier of Victoria, Australia, sat down with CGTN's Cui Yingjie in Beijing for an exclusive interview, sharing his insights on China's high-quality development and its role in the global green transition. As a reformer who spearheaded Victoria's shift away from fossil fuels, he said, "Formal Australia-China cooperation on decarbonizing heavy industries and advancing wind and solar technologies must be our next priority - this isn't just about our nations' futures, but the health of the planet." He praised China's new quality productive forces as a transformative model, stressing that China's progress in renewable energy deserves far greater global recognition. He also pointed out that while the United States remains obsessed with "erratic and nonsensical tariff games," Australia and China are forging a new path toward global sustainability through pragmatic collaboration." - CGTN

>>23554707 Access and influence: how ‘Statesman Dan’ is getting rich in China - Former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews has been praised in Chinese state accounts of business meetings for pledging to “spare no effort” in promoting ties, inviting delegations to Melbourne and calling himself an “old friend of the Chinese people.” Records show Andrews and his private business partner Marty Mei met with senior Chinese think tanks in 2024, lauding co-operation in trade, education and tourism. Since leaving politics, Andrews has established Wedgetail Partners, operating from his Mulgrave home, with a 90 per cent stake held through Glencairn Street, a company of which he is the sole director and shareholder. Labor sources say his Beijing parade appearance will strengthen his growing China-focused business.

>>23554753 ‘Deeply honoured’ Daniel Andrews spruiks Xi’s parade in People’s Daily - Former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews was quoted in China’s People’s Daily as “deeply honoured” to attend Xi Jinping’s military parade, hailing China’s WWII role as having “global significance.” He defended his trip as an opportunity to meet Xi, John Key, Helen Clark and Anwar Ibrahim, while claiming his record shows opposition to Putin and Iran. Anthony Albanese distanced himself, stressing no government representative attended, while critics in business and academia called Andrews’ actions “bizarre” and opportunistic. Sinologist Geremie Barme labelled attendees “useless idiots,” contrasting with Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, who said Andrews’ standing in China was “good for Victoria” as he expands his China-focused consultancy.