QResear.ch

#17417576 at 2022-08-20 04:10:33 (UTC+1)
Q Research Australia #25: My Koala Hates Spam Too Edition

>>17405885
Morrison says he feared undermining colleagues if he disclosed extra ministries

Katina Curtis and Lisa Visentin - August 17, 2022

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Former prime minister Scott Morrison says he feared alarming his cabinet colleagues and the broader public by disclosing he had assumed co-control of powers across five senior ministries, as he sought to explain why he had kept his extra appointments secret.

At an extraordinary press conference in Sydney, Morrison rejected calls to resign from parliament and defended his actions in the context of the unusual circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic.

But pressed on why he kept the matter secret, electing not to advise the Australian public or even his cabinet colleagues, Morrison said he did not want to undermine the confidence of his ministers or alarm the public.

"I think there was a great risk that in the midst of that crisis those powers could be misinterpreted and misunderstood, which would have caused unnecessary angst in the middle of a pandemic and could have impacted on the day-to-day functioning of the government," he said.

He said those fears were justified by the political discussion over the past couple of days since the matter came to light.

While serving as prime minister, Morrison took on the portfolios of then-health minister Greg Hunt, then-finance minister Mathias Cormann in March 2020, followed by then-resources minister Keith Pitt in April 2021 without publicly announcing that decision to the Australian public. It later emerged that he also took on the treasury and home affairs portfolios in May 2021, unbeknown to those ministers at the time, Josh Frydenberg and Karen Andrews, respectively.

Morrison confirmed he discussed the legal process for being appointed co-minister of the health department with then-attorney-general Christian Porter. But he didn't tell him when he later used that same authority to be appointed joint minister of the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, even though it was Porter's own department at that time.

Asked whether any members of his cabinet had been aware he had added the senior ministries of treasury and home affairs to his duties, Morrison said no but revealed there were bureaucrats and staffers in his office who knew of the appointments.

"There was people in the department and the people in my office who were directly responsible for managing these specific things," he said.

Responding to Morrison's remarks, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his predecessor was evasive in the face of demands for transparency and questioned his lack of contrition to the Australian public.

"The first rule of power grab club is don't talk about power grab club. And Scott Morrison broke that rule today. Scott Morrison was evasive, he was defensive, he was passive-aggressive and he was self-serving. So at least he was true to himself today. What we saw was all of his characters on full display," Albanese said.

"How about an apology to the Australian people? The Australian people went to an election not knowing that any of this had occurred, not knowing that there was a shadow government operating … without transparency."

Andrews is, so far, the only former minister to call on Morrison to resign, labelling his conduct unacceptable. But Morrison rejected this call on Wednesday, saying it was his intention to remain as the member for Cook.

Former employment minister Stuart Robert, a close confidante of Morrison and now shadow assistant treasurer, said there was no need for Morrison to resign, but added it had been "unwise" for him not to inform cabinet of his actions.

"My assessment is if Scott Morrison had brought this to cabinet, colleagues would have said it's not needed," he told Sky News.

(continued)

#17410333 at 2022-08-18 09:02:45 (UTC+1)
Q Research Australia #25: My Koala Hates Spam Too Edition

>>17405885
Scott Morrison breaks silence on ministerial roles

ELLEN RANSLEY - AUGUST 16, 2022

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Former prime minister Scott Morrison says he took the "unconventional" move to assume responsibility in several portfolios due to the "unprecedented times" brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.

He says he has no regrets about exercising his responsibility as prime minister because his government's decisions at the beginning of Covid-19 "saved 40,000 lives and tens of thousands of businesses".

He says he never triggered his responsibility in the portfolios of health and finance

It's a different story with the resources portfolio, which resulted in him using his powers to gazump his minister to overturn a controversial gas project.

He said ultimately he made that decision because the "buck stops with the Prime Minister".

Radio host Ben Fordhamsaid the revelations of the past few days had generated "a giant storm in a tiny teacup".

"At the end of the day, he didn't use the powers as health minister or finance minister," he said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has asked for a second briefing from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet after it was revealed Mr Morrison had been secretly sworn in to the portfolios.

Then health minister Greg Hunt and other cabinet ministers were aware of the move concerning that portfolio under the Biosecurity Act, while then finance minister Mathias Cormann was left in the dark.

Mr Morrison said that was an oversight of "offices".

"I thought it had been through offices, to be honest. That was an oversight. I've apologised to Mathias for that," he told Nine Radio.

While Mr Morrison's actions regarding finance and health came amid the Covid-19 pandemic, his decision to be sworn in to the resources portfolio came almost a year later.

Mr Morrison said he had taken that move because of the "importance" of the decision surrounding controversial offshore gas project PEP-11.

He said he had discussed the issue with then resources minister Keith Pitt.

"We'd discussed the issue, but I'd always respected Keith's role as the decision maker, and if I wished to be the decision maker, then I had to take the steps that I took," Mr Morrison said.

"I had to follow a very meticulous process in informing myself about the issue ... and then making a decision in accordance with all the legal requirements, which I did.

"The buck stops with the Prime Minister. If I hadn't personally considered that issue, then how could I look at the people of Newcastle and the Central Coast and the Northern Beaches in the eye and say, I've done everything I could."

Mr Pitt says people up in arms over Mr Morrison's actions should "take a calming breath and a cold shower".

According to news.com.au, Mr Pitt told colleagues he was kept in the dark that Mr Morrison swore himself in to his portfolio.

But on Tuesday morning Mr Pitt dodged questions about whether he knew that Mr Morrison had sworn himself in to the portfolio in 2021, only saying that it was "unusual".

Mr Morrison made the unprecedented move to take control of the resources portfolio reportedly to gazump Mr Pitt to reject the permit for the controversial PEP-11 project off the NSW coast.

Mr Pitt said it was indeed "unusual" for Mr Morrison to swear himself into the portfolio in order to dismiss an offshore gas exploration project.

But questions over whether he made that decision as prime minister or as a secret second resources minister remain unanswered.

During an ABC Radio interview on Tuesday morning, Mr Pitt said "those things in the fullness of time will come forward", citing the reason he needed to be cautious was because the PEP-11 case was before the Federal Court of Appeal.

"Over a period of time, who knew what when is bound to come out over a period of time. I think everyone just needs to take a calming breath and a cold shower to be honest," Mr Pitt told ABC Radio.

"I've got no issues with the decisions I've made.

"I'm absolutely confident we were a strong government."

(continued)

#17405928 at 2022-08-17 07:22:52 (UTC+1)
Q Research Australia #25: My Koala Hates Spam Too Edition

>>17405885
Former PM Scott Morrison was 'sedated' at night for his insomnia throughout pandemic

A new revelation about Scott Morrison has emerged amid the raging controversy about his secret moves as prime minister.

Samantha Maiden - August 16, 2022

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Scott Morrison was so worried during the Covid-19 pandemic that he suffered from insomnia and relied on drugs to sedate him into sleep.

As controversy erupts over the former prime minister's decision to secretly appoint himself to key portfolios during the pandemic, the revelations are contained in a new book Plagued that is based on extensive interviews with Mr Morrison.

The drug regimen to tackle his insomnia, as outlined in the book, was said to include a "mild sedative" that is not referenced by brand name.

"He'd often wake at 3am, wrestling with the scale of what was facing the country and his responsibilities in dealing with it," the book says.

"He'd rouse in a fitful state and look at the ceiling for hours on end, saying to himself, 'I have to sleep or I won't get through this week.'

"More than once, so he could function the following day, he would take a mild sedative.

"He took half a sleeping pill to make sure he was fresh for the next day."

'What on earth is going on?'

However, it is the former prime minister's secret arrangements regarding cabinet jobs that could now spark a full-blown inquiry.

The revelations that Mr Morrison swore himself in as health minister and finance minister are outlined in the new book.

It states this was the idea of former attorney-general Christian Porter.

However, Mr Porter has told colleagues he remembers the arrangements relating to then-health minister Greg Hunt but does not recall any discussions involving then-finance minister Mathias Cormann.

Constitutional law expert Anne Twomey said the secret arrangements were "bizarre" and "utterly inappropriate".

"What on earth was going on, I don't know, but the secrecy involved in this is just simply bizarre," she told the ABC.

"I mean, you know, you just wonder what is wrong with these people that they have to do everything in secret and they can't 'fess up to what they're doing.

"Because if they had done it and made it public, [it] probably would have been seen [as] pretty reasonable. But hiding it? That's the weird thing."

If Mr Morrison did swear himself into the finance minister position, he also never told Mr Cormann.

Former resources minister Keith Pitt and industry minister Angus Taylor were also unaware the then-prime minister had control of their portfolios.

While Mr Taylor stayed in the dark, at some point in 2021, Mr Pitt discovered the arrangement.

"There is no doubt it was unusual,'' Mr Pitt told Sky News. "I am not going to throw him under a bus, I am just not. It's clearly something I was concerned about."

Peter Dutton did learn at some point about the health portfolio arrangements, apparently put in place in case Mr Hunt got sick and couldn't exercise the extraordinary pandemic powers he held to make decisions without parliamentary approval.

(continued)

#17405885 at 2022-08-17 07:01:33 (UTC+1)
Q Research Australia #25: My Koala Hates Spam Too Edition

Bill Shorten slams Scott Morrison's 'sick government' as he compares former PM to Donald Trump amid Cabinet scandal

Bill Shorten has extraordinarily compared Scott Morrison to Donald Trump accusing the former prime minister of trying to ensure "all power resided in him".

Tyrone Clarke - August 15, 2022

NDIS and Government Services Minister Bill Shorten has unleashed on Scott Morrison and said the embattled former prime minister attempted to centralise all government power to his office.

The list of parliamentarians coming out against Mr Morrison continues to grow following revelations he swore himself in as the minister for three major departments.

The former prime minister seized control of the health and finance ministries along with the massive industry, science, energy and resources portfolio during the last term of government.

He also made an astonishing comparison with former US president Donald Trump and accused Mr Morrison of attempting to take control of the entire government process.

"Scott Morrison was taking us down a very Trumpian path where all power resided in him," Mr Shorten told Sky News Australia's Kieran Gilbert.

"Clearly the fact that he didn't even trust his Cabinet ministers just shows you how dysfunctional and broken the 2019 and 2022 Coalition government was."

Sky News Australia revealed on Monday that then-finance minister Mathias Cormann was kept in the dark about Mr Morrison's move to swear himself into the role.

Mr Cormann was joined by ex-resources minister Keith Pitt who was only notified of the extraordinary measure when the former prime minister intervened in the controversial PEP-11 gas project in 2021.

Former energy minister and now shadow treasurer Angus Taylor also revealed to Sky News Australia that he only learnt that Mr Morrison had taken control of his portfolio when the story was broken on Sunday.

Mr Shorten said the most "amazing" factor of the scandal was that Mr Morrison failed to alert his Cabinet ministers.

He went on to say Mr Morrison's unprecedented decision had destroyed Parliamentary conventions dating back to the Westminster system.

"This is a trashing of Parliamentary norms," the NDIS Minister said.

"When you have a prime minister not telling his Cabinet ministers that he's secretly sworn himself in to do their job that's amazing, it's sneaky.

"This was a sign of a sick government with a pathology of no accountability."

Sky News Australia Chief Anchor Kieran Gilbert contacted the former prime minister to offer him a right of reply to Mr Albanese's scathing rebuke.

"No, I haven't seen what he has said. Since leaving the job, I haven't engaged in any day-to-day politics," Mr Morrison said.

https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/politics/bill-shorten-slams-scott-morrisons-sick-government-as-he-compares-former-pm-to-donald-trump-amid-cabinet-scandal/news-story/72c422353a20450be9b2f3ead0d93166

#16481864 at 2022-06-21 10:40:54 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #23: HOUSE OF CARDS Edition

>>16481860

2/2

Albanese's visit to Europe is to participate in a heads of government NATO summit in Madrid at the end of the month. NATO meetings come and go, but this one will be important after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and Finland's and Sweden's requests to join the alliance. NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg has said the Madrid meeting will agree "a major strengthening of our posture (requiring) more robust and combat-ready forward presence, even higher readiness, and more prepositioned equipment and supplies".

During the Afghanistan conflict the Rudd and Gillard governments pressed to have a seat at the NATO table as one of the most consequential non-NATO coalition members. Australia has since provided Defence secondees into NATO headquarters in Brussels working on China and Indo-Pacific security.

Albanese's presence at the NATO meeting creates an opportunity for Australia to recast its relationship with the alliance and, indeed, to restart a flagging set of European relationships since Mathias Cormann left the previous cabinet. This would be a departure for Labor, where the policy tendency has been to show Australia's commitment to the Indo-Pacific by underplaying European connections.

The world has changed. On Monday The Australian's Commentary page had an article from Britain's First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Ben Key, writing on Britain's Indo-Pacific tilt, while Germany, France, The Netherlands and other European countries have developed Indo-Pacific strategies.

We have no reason to expect practical European interest in our security concerns unless we are prepared to engage with their key issues. This is a point Tokyo understands because Russia presents a continuing danger to Japan's northern islands.

The key message for Australia is that, facing the emerging authoritarian threat, the security of the world's true democracies is indivisible. We should remember Benjamin Franklin's comment at the signing of the US Declaration of Independence: "We must indeed all hang together, or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately."

At Madrid, Albanese should press for a formalised special relationship between NATO and Australia, lifting us beyond the superficial "partners across the globe" relationships that NATO maintains with many countries.

Australia's previous role with NATO in Afghanistan, our support for Ukraine and our shared interests with European countries in resisting Moscow and Beijing mean that our ties to this key alliance are more consequential than either side recognises.

Just as previous Labor governments did, Albanese has a chance to press for a senior seat at the NATO table, not least to have a voice on Ukrainian developments and to engage NATO planners on Beijing.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/anthony-albaneses-nato-trip-must-include-a-visit-to-ukraine/news-story/31b413acad6f74dab21f312115e11f54

#15640432 at 2022-02-16 09:27:16 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #21: MIL-CIV ALLIANCE Edition

>>15640390
Australia looks to landlocked Czech Republic to win European support for contentious AUKUS submarine plan

Andrew Greene and Stephen Dziedzic - 16 February 2022

Stunning gothic architecture, a medieval Old Town square and the historic Charles Bridge typically draw millions of tourists to Prague each year and, for the first time in almost 20 years, an Australian foreign minister will soon get a chance to experience the picturesque city on an official visit.

The ABC can reveal that Foreign Minister Marise Payne will fly to the Czech capital next week for a visit, where discussions will focus on shared concerns, such as cyber security and the growing fear of war in Ukraine.

Diplomatic sources say they are hopeful the landlocked, former Cold War foe could help Australia's efforts in Europe to fight back against Beijing's efforts to stymie the controversial AUKUS nuclear submarine plan.

Last week the ABC revealed that Australia is bulking-up specialised diplomatic teams in both Canberra and Vienna to win international acceptance for the AUKUS initiative as it braces for a massive "disinformation" campaign from China as well as Russia.

A public announcement of Senator Payne's Prague stopover is yet to be made, as diplomats work to confirm meetings with key figures in the new Czech government led by its Prime Minister, Petr Fiala.

Closer cooperation on cyber security is expected to be discussed by Senator Payne, as well as concerns over Chinese and Russian foreign interference operations, and the growing military ties between those two military powers.

Czech officials have privately claimed credit for helping convince some European nations to back a campaign to have former finance minister Mathias Cormann elected as the new head of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Last month, the Czech ambassador to Canberra lodged a diplomatic protest with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade after tennis player Renata Vor?cov? was deported, ahead of the Australian Open.

Concerns over Russia and China front of mind during European visit

Alexander Downer was the last Australian foreign minister to visit the Czech Republic in 2005, when questions about the Iraq War dominated.

However, in 2022, concerns over a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine are top of mind.

Since the Velvet Revolution, Czech lawmakers have remained wary of Moscow's continued efforts to interfere in the small NATO member's affairs, but in recent years there has been growing alarm about Chinese Communist Party's influence.

Last year the Czech Republic expelled dozens of Russian diplomats and their families after accusing Moscow of deploying intelligence agencies to carry out two explosions at a military arms depot in 2014.

Tensions between the Czech Republic and China also flared last year when the Taiwanese Foreign Minister, Joseph Wu, was welcomed by legislators to the central European nation's parliament.

Senator Payne will also travel to Germany to attend the high-profile Munich Security Conference, which brings together political leaders and top officials from around the region.

While the conference will focus on a broader array of security challenges, this year's event is likely to be consumed by discussions about whether Russia is on the brink of invading Ukraine and how NATO can deter Moscow.

Ahead of her arrival in Prague, the Foreign Minister will visit Paris, where the government is still smarting at Australia's decision last year to scrap the $90 billion French submarine project, in favour of a yet-to-be-chosen nuclear powered fleet.

During her brief stopover in Paris, Senator Payne will attend a meeting of Indo-Pacific foreign ministers organised by the French government.

The trip may also offer Senator Payne a chance to begin patching-up ties with France, although it is not yet clear if she has secured any bilateral meetings with her French counterparts.

The Foreign Minister was expected to visit Thailand on her way home, but she told Senate Estimates that leg of the trip was no longer occurring.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-16/foreign-minister-to-visit-czech-republic-over-ukraine-submarines/100832342

#13929833 at 2021-06-18 10:33:53 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #16 - INFILTRATION NOT INVASION Edition

>>13929830

2/2

Asked by The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age whether a turning point had arrived in how countries view China, Morrison raised his eyebrows and said: "I think there is a growing awareness of the Indo-Pacific, full stop".

"It is so much more a factor in both the considerations and assessments of governments - not just strategically but economically as well, but also of the business community."

Morrison was also buoyed by a public show of support from Johnson, who during a Downing Street meeting promised to "stand shoulder to shoulder with our friends". But the British Prime Minister offered a note of caution by stressing nobody wanted to descend into a Cold War with China.

Johnson had earlier grappled with other G7 leaders over how hard to criticise Beijing in the summit communique for its human rights abuses and treatment of Australia. We only know this because Draghi, the Italian Prime Minister, told Morrison so at the start of their bilateral meeting. The only difference in views on China, Draghi explained in a recording of what was probably intended as a private exchange, was the "intensity" of the message to send.

Italy stunned fellow G7 members when it signed up to Beijing's controversial Belt and Road Initiative in 2019 but the newly installed Draghi is clearing the way for a policy shift. He has been cool on the partnership for several weeks now but emerged from the G7 session so alarmed he pledged to review Italy's deal.

"It's an autocracy that does not adhere to multilateral rules and does not share the same vision of the world that the democracies have," he said.

In the end, the G7 rebuked Beijing for human rights abuses, its assault on Hong Kong and "non-market practices which undermine the fair and transparent operation of the global economy". It also included a reference to Taiwan for the first time, calling for peace across the Strait that separates China from its threatened island neighbour.

China accused the bloc of rich countries of attempting to dictate world affairs and said that the era of international diplomacy "was over". It called the United States, its superpower rival, "sick, very sick" for leading a coalition that had interfered in its internal affairs.

The statement was probably less than Morrison and an increasingly assertive Biden had hoped for but was a big step up from just two years ago in the French city of Biarritz when the rising superpower wasn't even mentioned by name in the G7 communique.

Backed up by his razor-sharp national security advisor Michelle Chan, Morrison deployed a simple strategy to explain to Europe the problems in the Indo-Pacific: China may not be an immediate security threat to remote nations but its pattern of behaviour presents a real risk to the health of all economies.

He hammered this home during a speech at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris - the final engagement of his trip. After being welcomed by former finance minister Mathias Cormann, Morrison told ambassadors that anti-market behaviour was a threat to their financial prosperity.

"The global trading system and rules-based order is under serious strain and threat," he said. "Meeting these challenges will require a degree of active cooperation not seen for many decades."

This week was just the start. But not a bad one.

https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/the-china-files-how-morrison-persuaded-europe-to-talk-tough-20210617-p5820c.html

#13907739 at 2021-06-15 09:31:37 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #16 - INFILTRATION NOT INVASION Edition

>>13907733

2/2

Centre for European Reform trade expert Sam Lowe said he was surprised the UK agreed to eventually eliminate agricultural tariffs.

"When it comes to tariffs, we have a constituency-based electoral system which sees farmers heavily concentrated in Conservative backyards. The fact we are discussing duty free and quota-free trade is something that will have shocked everyone."

Australian agricultural exports are worth $50 billion annually but only $700 million goes to the UK.

Britain is already Australia's fifth largest trading partner, with two-way goods and services valued at $36.6 billion, while Britain is Australia's second largest investment partner.

As part of the deal, the federal government will scraps tariffs on a range of British goods including whisky, which current has a tariff of 5 per cent. Tariffs will also be dramatically slashed on pharmaceuticals, cars, machinery and tractors. Britain will also gain greater access to Australian markets for services.

Federal Trade Minister Dan Tehan told Federal Parliament that when Britain had turned its attention to the common European market decades ago, Australia felt that a special bond was broken.

"Half a century on, Australia stands ready again to be a willing partner with the UK," he said.

"We want to help the UK achieve their aim of global Britain, like we want them to make sure that they work with us to promote trade liberalisation. To be advocates for free trade right across the globe."

As it stands Australia's beef exports are limited to a post-Brexit UK import quota of just 3761 tonnes, while sheep meat is limited to an annual UK import quota of just 13,335 tonnes.

Dairy producers are limited to an import quota of just 44 grams of cheese per person every year, when the average Briton consumes 125 grams of cheese per week.

The sensitivities in Britain over Australian agricultural imports point to difficult negotiations ahead with America, one of the world's largest food producers.

Protectionist forces within the Conservative Party have claimed an open-slather deal with Australia would set a precedent for future negotiations with Washington.

"This deal is a crushing defeat for the self-serving protectionist lobbyists and a resounding victory for the Australian and British people," said Matthew Lesh, head of research at the London-based free-market Adam Smith Institute.

The full potential of the deal will only be realised after Australia opens its border to vaccinated travellers.

A trade deal with Australia could lift UK GDP by 0.02 per cent, or £500 million ($914 million), while British forecasts suggest GDP in Australia could grow by up to £700 million ($1.3 billion).

While Britain has struck economic deals with other countries since the Brexit referendum, for example with Japan and Canada, these have been carry-over deals securing for Britain the same trading arrangements it enjoyed when in the European Union.

Former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott, one of 12 advisers on the new-look UK Board of Trade, cautioned protectionists against trading in "fear, not hope".

"It baffles me a little that so many people in Britain are always running the country down," he told GB News.

"Britain can cope. And a trade deal with one of Britain's friends…that's no threat to the people of Britain, this is going to help the people of Britain."

Morrison will now travel to Paris to meet French President Emmanuel Macron and former Australian finance minister Mathias Cormann, the new secretary-general of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, before returning to Canberra.

https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/a-new-dawn-australia-and-britain-agree-on-historic-trade-deal-20210615-p5817c.html

#13341722 at 2021-04-01 06:49:00 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #15 - NEVER RETREAT FROM THE BATTLEFIELD Edition

Notables
are not endorsements

#14 - Part 1
Australian Politics and Society - Part 1
>>13165211, >>13165218 Philippines Foreign Minister Teddy Locsin calls on Myanmar junta to release Aussie Sean Turnell
>>13165331 'It's our turn': Inside the Christian Right conference plotting a political takeover - "Church and State"
>>13165352 Video: The Australian #ChurchAndState Summit 2021 is just for you - Church And State
>>13165358 Video: Cardinal George Pell is a keynote speaker at the Australian #ChurchAndState Summit in 2021 - Church And State
>>13168992 Hopping mad: US campaign to ban kangaroo product imports gains bipartisan support
>>13169146 Video: How extreme right-wing groups have 'weaponised the internet' in Australia
>>13169267 Foreign Minister Marise Payne suspends military aid to Myanmar
>>13173275 Video: Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews suffers broken ribs, spine damage after "nasty fall" on "wet and slippery stairs"
>>13173322 Video: Three women go public with allegations against MP Craig Kelly's senior aide, Frank Zumbo - ABC News In-depth
>>13173867 Video: Australian Sean Turnell 'tried to flee Myanmar with secret state financial information', junta leader Min Aung Hlaing says
>>13174865 Video: Anzac Day marches will be held in every capital city after Prime Minister Scott Morrison's intervention - "If people can party and if people can protest, then we can remember as a nation, and honour our veterans on Anzac Day"

>>13177387 Video: Daniel Andrews' recovery could take 'months', decision looms on surgery
>>13177438 Rocco Galati Tweet: Australian Health Minister hospitalized, "in serious condition", day after receiving Covid, Astra-Zeneca, Vaccine
>>13183865 Greg Hunt has been hospitalised with cellulitis. So what is it? And how serious is it?
>>13183855 Scott Morrison says he will act as health minister but Greg Hunt will return to work next week
>>13183787 Video: Scott Morrison to join 'historic' Quad talks with Joe Biden, Yoshihide Suga and Narendra Modi
>>13184102 Former Hong Kong lawmaker and pro-democracy activist Ted Hui moves to Australia
>>13184141 Australian Federal Police push for sweeping online surveillance powers lashed as 'dangerous overreach' by human rights groups
>>13184169 Video: Australia's top spy, ASIO director-general Mike Burgess 'knows' culprit behind ANU cyber attack, but won't say
>>13195850 Australia pulls off stunning diplomatic coup - Mathias Cormann set to be announced as secretary-general of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
>>13195985 Video: Scott Morrison Facebook Post: A huge honour and recognition for Australia. Well done to Mathias Cormann on being elected as the next Secretary-General of the OECD
>>13196051 Scott Morrison Facebook Post: An historic meeting for India, the United States, Japan and Australia - the first ever leaders' meeting of the Quad

>>13196059 Video: First ever Quad Leaders' Meeting - Scott Morrison: My opening remarks to the historic first Quad Meeting involving the leaders of India, the United States, Japan and Australia
>>13196223 President Joe Biden Tweet: This morning, I met virtually with the Quad in the first multilateral summit I've hosted as president
>>13196242 Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga Tweet: I think this meeting was a meeting that was able to take the four countries of Japan, the United States, Australia and India to a new stage. We also agreed to hold a face-to-face summit meeting within the year
>>13196255 Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tweet: Our discussions today on vaccines, climate change, and emerging technologies make the Quad a positive force for global good and for peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific
>>13196427 U.S. Department of State Tweet: Video - The United States, Japan, India, and Australia are united in our vision for a free and open, inclusive and healthy Indo-Pacific region
>>13200420 Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews moved from ICU - expecting a "very long journey" to recover from a fractured vertebra and several broken ribs
>>13200498 Video: Australia joins US, India and Japan in 'unprecedented' deal for coronavirus vaccines after historic Quad meeting
>>13228570 Our four nations are committed to a free, open, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region - Opinion by Joe Biden, Narendra Modi, Scott Morrison and Yoshihide Suga - washingtonpost.com
>>13241716 Scott Morrison's soft-power diplomacy triumphs - Mathias Cormann becomes OECD Secretary-General and the Quad holds its first leadership meeting
>>13247553 ASIO boss Mike Burgess says agency is ditching 'Islamic' and 'right-wing' tags, will now refer to 'religious' or 'ideological' violence
>>13247553 Transcript - ASIO Director-General's Annual Threat Assessment - Wednesday, 17 March 2021
>>13247553 ASIO cracks 'Nest of Spies' seeking access to Australia's Defence secrets - "the country behind the foreign spy ring was not China"

#13341656 at 2021-04-01 06:29:26 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #14 - THE ART OF WAR Edition

Notables
are not endorsements

#14 - Part 1
Australian Politics and Society - Part 1
>>13165211, >>13165218 Philippines Foreign Minister Teddy Locsin calls on Myanmar junta to release Aussie Sean Turnell
>>13165331 'It's our turn': Inside the Christian Right conference plotting a political takeover - "Church and State"
>>13165352 Video: The Australian #ChurchAndState Summit 2021 is just for you - Church And State
>>13165358 Video: Cardinal George Pell is a keynote speaker at the Australian #ChurchAndState Summit in 2021 - Church And State
>>13168992 Hopping mad: US campaign to ban kangaroo product imports gains bipartisan support
>>13169146 Video: How extreme right-wing groups have 'weaponised the internet' in Australia
>>13169267 Foreign Minister Marise Payne suspends military aid to Myanmar
>>13173275 Video: Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews suffers broken ribs, spine damage after "nasty fall" on "wet and slippery stairs"
>>13173322 Video: Three women go public with allegations against MP Craig Kelly's senior aide, Frank Zumbo - ABC News In-depth
>>13173867 Video: Australian Sean Turnell 'tried to flee Myanmar with secret state financial information', junta leader Min Aung Hlaing says
>>13174865 Video: Anzac Day marches will be held in every capital city after Prime Minister Scott Morrison's intervention - "If people can party and if people can protest, then we can remember as a nation, and honour our veterans on Anzac Day"

>>13177387 Video: Daniel Andrews' recovery could take 'months', decision looms on surgery
>>13177438 Rocco Galati Tweet: Australian Health Minister hospitalized, "in serious condition", day after receiving Covid, Astra-Zeneca, Vaccine
>>13183865 Greg Hunt has been hospitalised with cellulitis. So what is it? And how serious is it?
>>13183855 Scott Morrison says he will act as health minister but Greg Hunt will return to work next week
>>13183787 Video: Scott Morrison to join 'historic' Quad talks with Joe Biden, Yoshihide Suga and Narendra Modi
>>13184102 Former Hong Kong lawmaker and pro-democracy activist Ted Hui moves to Australia
>>13184141 Australian Federal Police push for sweeping online surveillance powers lashed as 'dangerous overreach' by human rights groups
>>13184169 Video: Australia's top spy, ASIO director-general Mike Burgess 'knows' culprit behind ANU cyber attack, but won't say
>>13195850 Australia pulls off stunning diplomatic coup - Mathias Cormann set to be announced as secretary-general of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
>>13195985 Video: Scott Morrison Facebook Post: A huge honour and recognition for Australia. Well done to Mathias Cormann on being elected as the next Secretary-General of the OECD
>>13196051 Scott Morrison Facebook Post: An historic meeting for India, the United States, Japan and Australia - the first ever leaders' meeting of the Quad

>>13196059 Video: First ever Quad Leaders' Meeting - Scott Morrison: My opening remarks to the historic first Quad Meeting involving the leaders of India, the United States, Japan and Australia
>>13196223 President Joe Biden Tweet: This morning, I met virtually with the Quad in the first multilateral summit I've hosted as president
>>13196242 Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga Tweet: I think this meeting was a meeting that was able to take the four countries of Japan, the United States, Australia and India to a new stage. We also agreed to hold a face-to-face summit meeting within the year
>>13196255 Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tweet: Our discussions today on vaccines, climate change, and emerging technologies make the Quad a positive force for global good and for peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific
>>13196427 U.S. Department of State Tweet: Video - The United States, Japan, India, and Australia are united in our vision for a free and open, inclusive and healthy Indo-Pacific region
>>13200420 Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews moved from ICU - expecting a "very long journey" to recover from a fractured vertebra and several broken ribs
>>13200498 Video: Australia joins US, India and Japan in 'unprecedented' deal for coronavirus vaccines after historic Quad meeting
>>13228570 Our four nations are committed to a free, open, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region - Opinion by Joe Biden, Narendra Modi, Scott Morrison and Yoshihide Suga - washingtonpost.com
>>13241716 Scott Morrison's soft-power diplomacy triumphs - Mathias Cormann becomes OECD Secretary-General and the Quad holds its first leadership meeting
>>13247553 ASIO boss Mike Burgess says agency is ditching 'Islamic' and 'right-wing' tags, will now refer to 'religious' or 'ideological' violence
>>13247553 Transcript - ASIO Director-General's Annual Threat Assessment - Wednesday, 17 March 2021
>>13247553 ASIO cracks 'Nest of Spies' seeking access to Australia's Defence secrets - "the country behind the foreign spy ring was not China"

#13241716 at 2021-03-17 07:51:15 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #14 - THE ART OF WAR Edition

>>13183787
>>13195850
Scott Morrison's soft-power diplomacy triumphs

PAUL KELLY - MARCH 17, 2021

1/2

In recent days Australia's head of government diplomacy has been on vivid display - former finance minister Mathias Cormann becomes the next OECD Secretary-General and the Quad, the new Indo-Pacific leaders forum, long advocated by Australia, held its first meeting.

Both are significant diplomatic triumphs for Australia and Scott Morrison in a complex global environment where rapid shifts in geo-strategy, technology, economics, climate change and COVID politics are driving new alignments in a post-Trump era.

These are wins for Australian agency and activism. They shoot down progressive media mythology that Australia was becoming an isolated, almost pariah nation, over climate change. They contradict the progressive dogmatism about Morrison as a limited marketing man, an inexperienced amateur and out of his depth in foreign policy. And they expose the obsession at elite levels that our Asian diplomacy had fallen into second-best disrepair.

The reality is far different. Morrison has his own foreign policy style geared to building personal ties at the leaders level, always transactional and focused on results. He has waged a relentless soft-power diplomacy for much of the past year, building upon Australia's success in managing the pandemic and the sharp economic recovery from recession.

For Morrison, the OECD win and the Quad leaders meeting highlights a series of common themes - a brand of intense Australian diplomatic activism, an elevated profile for Australia as a liberal democracy working in tandem with other like-minded nations to check the lure of autocratic regimes spearheaded by China's performances and what Morrison calls the "Australian way" - an Australian record of success in meeting contemporary challenges from the pandemic to economic recovery to managing big tech.

These events tell you how myopic is much of our public debate. For many opinion makers the idea Australia could secure leadership of a prestigious multilateral institution, located in the heart of Europe, was simply inconceivable. A different theme was prominent in elite debate about the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue - involving the US, Japan, Australia and India - notably that the construct was too artificial, too devoid of common purpose and unlikely to gain critical momentum.

On both counts Morrison disagreed and was proved right. He threw the resources of his government behind the Cormann bid to head the 38-nation Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). He worked systematically with the Trump administration, notably former secretary of state Mike Pompeo, to elevate the Quad and continued that effort from his first discussion with new President Joe Biden.

Morrison believed Donald Trump would have committed to the Quad as a leaders forum. But having Biden seal the deal means the new administration will bring a sense of personal ownership and Biden consistency to the task.

Over the past year, with most heads of government confined to home and office and not travelling, Morrison engaged in what is one of the most intense rounds of head-of-government dialogue in Australian history from bilateral to multilateral dimensions, a process that began when leaders were anxious to compare notes on the COVID crisis.

From start to finish Morrison lobbied for Cormann's candidature in discussions involving 55 heads of government. But the key to his tight win was his credibility as an experienced finance minister versed in the OECD agenda, fluent in European languages, focused on COVID lessons, promoting inclusive growth and market-based policies, meeting digital economy challenges including the search for a global consensus on digital tax, achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and gearing the OECD more to the Asia-Pacific.

(continued)

#13195985 at 2021-03-13 06:10:37 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #14 - THE ART OF WAR Edition

>>13195850
Prime Minister Scott Morrison Facebook Post

Great honour for Australia

A huge honour and recognition for Australia. Well done to Mathias Cormann on being elected as the next Secretary-General of the OECD, one of the world's most important international economic organisations.

This is the most senior appointment of an Australian candidate to an international body for decades.

Mathias will make an outstanding contribution as leader of the OECD and I thank all the member nations of the OECD for their support.

https://www.facebook.com/scottmorrison4cook/videos/449513359699025/

#13195858 at 2021-03-13 05:33:17 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #14 - THE ART OF WAR Edition

>>13195850

2/2

The Prime Minister, who provided government support to ­assist Mr Cormann's candidacy during the COVID-19 pandemic, on Friday confirmed the OECD selection process had "gone into extra time". "It's into golden point. And while Mathias Cormann may not have been an NRL fan but an AFL fan, I'm sure he is getting all the support that is necessary," Mr Morrison said.

"And I really want to thank him and the whole team and all of those around the world that I've engaged with over these many months.

"The OECD brings together like-minded countries from all around the world, like minded-liberal democracies from the Americas, from Asia-Pacific, from Europe and the United Kingdom."

Mr Morrison said Australia had been an OECD member since its foundation and "we're very pleased for the first time to be putting ourselves forward for such a unique international role".

In November, Mr Morrison defended the use of a taxpayer-funded RAAF jet to support Mr Cormann's campaign, warning there was an "extremely high" risk he could have contracted COVID-19 if he had flown on commercial flights.

Climate and environmental groups had written to the OECD voicing their concerns about Mr Cormann's candidacy in a March 4 letter arguing "the public record of Mathias Cormann should preclude him from being selected".

The letter cited his role as ­finance minister in the Abbott government which, in July 2014, "abolished the country's carbon pricing scheme". It was signed by Kelly O'Shanassy, chief executive of the Australian Conservation Foundation; Matt Brennan, chief executive of the Wilderness Society Australia; Julie-Anne Richards, the executive director of the Climate Action Network Australia and David Ritter, the chief executive of Greenpeace Australia Pacific, among others.

The letter claimed Mr Cormann was not a "suitable candidate" and singled him out for describing Australia's emissions trading scheme as "an act of economic self-harm which does nothing to help reduce global emissions". Greens leader Adam Bandt was also opposed to Mr Cormann taking the OECD top job, writing to member nations urging them to support alternative candidates.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/oecd-top-post-and-the-winner-is-australias-Mathias-Cormann/news-story/5c2fdf4151b2686e31df4ba46780eb6b

#13195850 at 2021-03-13 05:32:07 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #14 - THE ART OF WAR Edition

OECD top post: And the winner is ... Australia's Mathias Cormann

SIMON BENSON, GEOFF CHAMBERS and JOE KELLY - MARCH 12, 2021

1/2

Australia has pulled off a stunning diplomatic coup with Mathias Cormann set to be announced as secretary-general of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, delivering the Asia-Pacific region's first head of the Paris-based body.

In a major vindication of Scott Morrison's push to win the influential economic post, sources close to the OECD process confirmed Mr Cormann's appointment, which will be announced as early as Saturday morning.

Mr Cormann, who served in federal parliament from 2007 until his retirement late last year, won the tightly contested contest following an exhaustive process pitting him against the preferred European candidate, Sweden's Cecilia Malmstrom.

Australia's longest-serving ­finance minister steps into the OECD role despite a campaign questioning his climate change credentials and a push to select the first female secretary-general.

The Weekend Australian understands the Prime Minister played a central role in Mr Cormann's successful OECD bid, calling more than 50 world leaders over the course of the last few months. Mr Cormann, regarded as one of Australia's most accomplished finance ministers, also ran a tireless international lobbying effort to secure the posting, having faced resistance from some European countries.

US support was considered critical to his success. He will replace Angel Gurria of Mexico, with his five-year term commencing on June 1.

As secretary-general, Mr Cormann will lead the OECD Secretariat and Council, which is the organisation's overarching decision-making body composed of ambassadors from 37 member countries and the European Commission.

Mr Cormann described it as "a privilege and an honour to take on the leadership of the OECD."

"It brings together like-minded countries from around the world committed to developing and delivering better policies for better lives," he said, describing himself as "ambitious" for the OECD. "It provides a great platform for international cooperation and best practice policy development, from the foundation of a shared commitment to democracy, human rights, the rule of law, market-based economic principles and a rules-based international order."

Mr Cormann won the job after the initial field of 10 candidates was narrowed to two. Nominated by Sweden, Dr Malmstrom served as European trade commissioner and European home ­affairs commissioner, as well as minister for EU affairs in the Swedish government between 2006 and 2010. She was also a member of the European parliament between 1999 and 2006.

The last European to hold the job was Jean-Claude Paye in 1996. Mr Cormann's pathway to success was understood to be contingent on winning support from Asia-Pacific and Latin American nations, with help from eastern Europe members.

The last time an Australian headed a major international economic organisation was Sydney-born Sir James Wolfensohn, who was appointed by the US as World Bank group president from 1995 to 2005.

(continued)

#13055050 at 2021-02-26 20:17:04 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #13 - THE WAR IS REAL Edition

>>13055039

2/2

Australia and Japan also co-operate in the East China Sea to prevent any ship-to-ship transfer in contravention of UN Security Council resolutions regarding nuclear weapon and missile development by North Korea. Japan is delighted that Australia participated in the Malabar maritime exercises with India, the US and Japan last year for the first time in 13 years. The situation surrounding Taiwan remains a concern because any reckless or coercive action there could affect the peace and stability of the entire Indo-Pacific region. This increases the importance of Australia and Japan working together.

The Reciprocal Access Agreement is to institutionalise the framework for activities including joint drills and training in both countries. Its long-awaited conclusion will pave the way for enhanced co-operation between the Australian Defence Force and the Japan Self-Defence Forces.

Another pillar related to security co-operation is intelligence co-operation. As the former head of the Intelligence and Analysis Service of the Japanese Foreign Ministry, I appreciate the importance of such co-operation.

Then there is the pillar of co-oper­ation in multilateral and regional forums as well as international co-operation. Australia and Japan will work together to expand the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and to ensure the successful implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership to better reflect our mutual interest in advancing a high standard of trade liberalisation and rules-making. As staunch believers in the rules-based multilateral trading system, Australia and Japan are committed to the reform of the World Trade Organisation, including its dispute resolution mechanism. Should he be elected as OECD secretary-general, Japan would be delighted to work closely with former finance minister Mathias Cormann.

We are also stepping up co-operation with Indo-Pacific countries. Australia's Pacific step-up initiative as well as its Southeast Asian development partnership program and the greater level of Australian engagement with that region are encouraging. Japan is also expanding diplomatic, economic and security engagement in Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

Tripartite co-operation with the US has led to projects such as the extension of the branch submarine line from the US-Singapore to Palau. Our co-operation on this project will be a significant step towards the realisation of our shared goal of constructing high-quality infrastructure to support a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Aussie-Japanese relations are developing at a remarkable speed in breadth and depth. Indeed, there is much Australia and Japan can accomplish together. I shall not spare any effort to advance this great partnership.

Shingo Yamagami is ambassador of Japan to Australia.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/australia-and-japan-have-a-great-partnership-built-on-strong-pillars/news-story/7ab8df2b94d492f6609d3d66ac88310b

#11762029 at 2020-11-24 05:34:28 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #11 - THE SILENT WAR CONTINUES Edition

Malcolm Turnbull says Scott Morrison will give in to international climate pressure

Perry Williams - November 24, 2020

Malcolm Turnbull has predicted Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison will cave to international pressure and sign up to a net zero emissions target by 2050 after clinging too closely to Donald Trump's rhetoric.

"I'm confident Morrison will move to that. He probably over-channeled Trump. He was clearly dazzled by Trump and went full-in with that in a number of areas.

"All the talk about being against globalism and so forth was channelling 'the Donald', including on climate," Mr Turnbull told a business summit on Tuesday.

"The reality on climate is all of our major trading partners have a net zero target and the Biden administration will return to the climate fray with a real enthusiasm," Mr Turnbull said. "He's announced John Kerry - who is a real climate action evangelist with huge global credibility - will be the climate tsar and so Australia has to get on board."

Mr Morrison says net zero carbon emissions by 2050 was achievable but Australia has not committed to a hard energy target for the mid-century.

"We will pay a heavy price for this in international trade, believe me. We are kidding ourselves to think the Europeans will not have climate in the Australia-Europe free trade agreement," Mr Turnbull said.

"We're absolutely kidding ourselves and I can see the Americans making that a condition of trade agreements right around the world. What Scott has to do now is pivot or dismount - whatever you want to call it. Whether it's done elegantly or not it doesn't really matter - as long as he does it."

The Morrison government's campaign to get Mathias Cormann elected to the top OECD job may be undermined by Australia's climate position, Mr Turnbull said.

"You can imagine the concerns, in European capitals particularly, saying 'Hang on these are the Australians who want Mathias to be secretary general of the OECD and where do they stand on climate?'".

"It's not a good look. So if we want to be taken seriously in the global community as a strong and committed and voice of conviction then we've got to be able to step up at least to the targets and commitments that all of our trading partners have done."

"The Trump era is over - at least for four years - and we don't want to be looking like a Trump-lite refuge in the southern hemisphere."

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/economics/malcolm-turnbull-says-scott-morrison-will-give-in-to-international-climate-pressure/news-story/c909e612e9ed6ffc7a6890b03695663d


>"Never Interfere With an Enemy While He's in the Process of Destroying Himself."

#11356072 at 2020-10-30 08:22:26 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #10 - INFORMATION WARFARE Edition

>>11100891
Adviser to three Liberal PMs is the nation's new top spy

A close adviser to three Liberal leaders will be vaulted to the top of the nation's spy agencies in a cabinet decision that installs one of Prime Minister Scott Morrison's trusted advisers in the crucial role.

Former national security adviser Andrew Shearer will be the next director-general of the Office of National Intelligence in a key appointment to oversee the nation's wider security community.

A former diplomat and intelligence official, Mr Shearer was the national security adviser to prime ministers John Howard and Tony Abbott in a long career before he joined Mr Morrison as cabinet secretary.

Labor has taken issue with the appointment because of that background, describing Mr Shearer as a "partisan operative".

"Labor has indicated to the Prime Minister that it does not have confidence in his choice to head the Office of National Intelligence," a Labor spokeswoman said.

Labor pointed to public reports several years ago that said Mr Abbott considered sending Australian troops to protect the site of the downed Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in Ukraine and sending troops on a "unilateral mission" to fight Islamic State in Iraq, questioning Mr Shearer's part in those plans.

"He is not an appropriate choice and Mr Morrison should reconsider in the national interest," the Labor spokeswoman said. "This position requires public confidence in independent, contested and apolitical assessments of our security."

One of Mr Shearer's defenders said he talked Mr Abbott out of the Ukraine deployment, which did not go ahead.

Mr Morrison's decision installs a security chief with strong connections in the United States as well as a background in building stronger ties with Japan and other Asian neighbours over the past two decades.

The move clears the way for Chris Browne, currently the chief of staff to Finance Minister Mathias Cormann, to be named the next cabinet secretary.

The Prime Minister's office confirmed the appointment to The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age and issued a brief statement on Thursday night saying Mr Shearer would start as director-general in December with a five-year term.

"Mr Shearer has served Australia and its national interests domestically and overseas through a long and distinguished career in national security and intelligence," Mr Morrison said.

A government spokesman rejected the Labor criticism of Mr Shearer.

"There are none more qualified or more capable of dealing with the current global strategic environment," he said.

"That is an accepted position within government, the intelligence community and Labor figures who understand the world we live in and the threats to Australia."

Mr Shearer will replace Nick Warner, the first director-general of ONI, which was created in December 2017 as the peak intelligence assessment and co-ordination agency.

Mr Morrison lauded Mr Warner two weeks ago for serving Australia over four decades in defence and intelligence.

"He's a great Australian, who has done an outstanding job, spanning some four decades in areas of national security, foreign policy and so many other areas," the Prime Minister said.

Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull set up the ONI in a restructure to create a stronger peak group to co-ordinate the work of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, the Australian Secret Intelligence Service, the Australian Signals Directorate and other agencies across several departments.

At the time, Mr Turnbull said the job of the director-general was to "lead Australia's intelligence community" and co-ordinate strategy.

Mr Shearer worked in intelligence and foreign affairs before joining Mr Howard's office and becoming national security adviser on issues including the moves in 2007 to establish a "quadrilateral" dialogue between Australia, India, Japan and the US.

While the Rudd government froze the quadrilateral effort amid criticism from China at the concept, the dialogue resumed a decade later.

Mr Shearer also served in the Australian embassy in Washington DC and as director of studies at the Lowy Institute in Sydney before rejoining the government when Mr Abbott became prime minister.

He left Australia after Mr Abbott lost power and became senior adviser on Asia Pacific security at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington DC.

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/adviser-to-three-liberal-pms-is-the-nation-s-new-top-spy-20201029-p569v8.html

#11282691 at 2020-10-26 06:22:32 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #10 - INFORMATION WARFARE Edition

Resignations in the news

ASIC deputy chairman Daniel Crennan quits following expenses scandal

The corporate watchdog's deputy chairman Daniel Crennan has resigned after it emerged he claimed nearly $70,000 from taxpayers to cover rent.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has ordered a review of the housing expenses and a tax bill of almost $120,000 for Australian Securities and Investments Commission chairman James Shipton after the audit office raised concerns about the payments. Mr Shipton stood aside from his position on Friday.

Mr Crennan said in a statement on Monday that the review was likely to take some time and, in the best interests of ASIC, he would resign immediately. He had intended to retire in the middle of 2021.

Mr Frydenberg accepted the resignation.

"The government thanks Mr Crennan for his service and the important work he has undertaken during his time as deputy chair," the Treasurer said.

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann told Senate estimates Mr Crennan had not been asked to resign.

Mr Crennan said he had agreed to a request from Mr Shipton in October 2018 that he move from Melbourne to Sydney "because of the higher number of commissioners in Melbourne".

"ASIC agreed to pay me a relocation package which included a rental allowance. I was told the payment of this allowance was consistent with ASIC policy," he said.

"In September 2020 and early October 2020, I was told of external advice about, and the Australian National Audit Office's (ANAO) present position concerning, the rental allowance being paid to me. I requested that ASIC cease paying me the rental allowance.

"I also offered and agreed to repay the rental allowance ASIC had paid to me."

Mr Shipton has also agreed to repay the $118,557 he claimed for his taxation expenses.

The audit office first flagged with Mr Frydenberg on September 15 it had concerns about payments to "key management personnel".

On October 16, Mr Shipton told the Treasurer those payments related to his taxation bill and Mr Crennan's relocation package and included ASIC's draft response to the Auditor-General, which covered some details of the expenses.

He proposed ASIC would initiate an investigation of the matter.

Treasury officials told estimates they had a series of discussions with Mr Shipton, other ASIC commissioners and Mr Frydenberg's chief of staff between October 16 and 23, when the Treasurer made the matter public, about ASIC's response to the audit report and its recommendations.

Deputy secretary Meghan Quinn said her advice to Mr Frydenberg was that an independent review outside ASIC was advisable in the situation.

He subsequently appointed former inspector general of intelligence and security Vivienne Thom to lead the review.

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/asic-deputy-chair-quits-in-wake-of-expenses-scandal-20201026-p568k7.html

#11172586 at 2020-10-20 17:58:04 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #10 - INFORMATION WARFARE Edition

'Vector of influence': Labor grills officials about QAnon family friend of Scott Morrison

Katharine Murphy - 21 Oct 2020

Officials from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet have not briefed Scott Morrison on the QAnon conspiracy theory following the FBI's decision to identify the group as a potential domestic terror threat, and say they are unaware that Twitter has suspended the account of a family friend of the prime minister.

Labor asked a series of questions in Senate estimates on Tuesday after Twitter confirmed it permanently suspended a QAnon account belonging to a family friend of the prime minister's for "engaging in coordinated harmful activity".

Before the suspension, the owner of the account, Tim Stewart, shared content associated with the QAnon conspiracy theory to his tens of thousands of followers. Stewart's wife works at Kirribilli House.

Labor's Senate leader, Penny Wong, said she wanted to pursue a line of questioning because it was in the public interest to ensure there was no "vector of influence" with Morrison given the "dangerous" suppositions of the "fringe conspiracy movement", and the FBI's concerns.

"It's about transparency," Wong said.

The department's deputy secretary, Stephanie Foster, told the hearing the only association the department had with the issue Wong was prosecuting was to "assist with the employment of a staff member for Kirribilli House".

Foster said all appropriate checks were undertaken to ensure the appointment was suitable, "including the relevant police checks".

"That was our responsibility, and we felt we had executed that responsibility appropriately," she said. "I'm not sure there is a broader role the department can take with this issue."

Another departmental official said all three staff employed at the prime minister's Sydney residence had security clearances.

Wong asked Foster whether the department was aware that the Twitter account had been suspended. "I was not aware of that senator," Foster replied.

Labor's Senate leader observed this was curious, given the ban had been reported by both Guardian Australia and News Corp, and "you do a fair bit of media monitoring".

"I do find that surprising," Wong said.

Foster responded: "Were it not for the fact that, um, the gentleman's spouse was employed at Kirribilli, I'm not sure that we would have any, um, association with this issue at all."

She said officials had "tried to restrict our activities" to the employee.

The finance minister, Mathias Cormann, expressed concern about Wong's line of questioning.

He said he was unaware of Morrison's personal relationships, but told Wong it was unreasonable to reflect on the employee "because of what may or may not be the views of her husband".

"The only thing I'm aware of is the woman has been employed," Cormann said. He said the evidence from the departmental officials was she complied with all the appropriate tests.

Wong said the friendship with the prime minister was on the public record, and had not been refuted.

Lachlan Colquhoun, the first assistant secretary in PMC's national security division, said it was possible that Asio had briefed Morrison after the FBI's negative assessment, but the department had not. "We have not briefed the prime minister," he said.

Wong asked Colquhoun whether he was aware that QAnon's theories extended to the belief that there was a "cabal of Satan worshipping paedophiles whose activities extend to trafficking children through a secret labyrinth of tunnels under Melbourne and Sydney".

The official nodded in response.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/oct/21/vector-of-influence-labor-grills-officials-about-qanon-family-friend-of-scott-morrison

#10099723 at 2020-07-28 09:59:52 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #9 - Welcome to the Digital Battlefield Edition

#8 - Part 14
Australian / Regional Resignations Bun
>>9166682 Former National Insurance Brokers Association (NIBA) president David Wyner resigns from board
>>9166682 Equestrian Australia in turmoil as Ricky MacMillan quits
>>9426748 Westpac loses another top exec as Lyn Cobley retires
>>9426748 Former One Nation stalwart Jim Savage fires parting shots in resignation letter
>>9618908 Victorian Labor minister Adem Somyurek resigns following explosive branch stacking allegations
>>9618908 I sacked 'deplorable' Labor powerbroker Adem Somyurek, says Victorian premier Daniel Andrews
>>9630095 Labor MP Robin Scott quits Victorian ministry in wake of Adem Somyurek branch-stacking scandal
>>9630095 Adem Somyurek scandal: Marlene Kairouz becomes third Victorian Labor minister to quit

>>9716144 Doug Tynan resigns from VGI Partners after 12 years
>>9716144 Speaker of Northern Territory parliament Kezia Purick resigns following damning report by corruption watchdog
>>9809420 CFA boss Steve Warrington resigns ahead of controversial fire services merger
>>9809420 Wirecard ANZ boss Karl Mohan exits as Germany's Wirecard files for insolvency
>>9862070 Finance Minister Mathias Cormann to quit politics at the end of the year
>>9903272 South Australian magistrate Bob Harrap resigns following corruption charges
>>10019790 University of Adelaide vice-chancellor Peter Rathjen, subject of ICAC probe, resigns "due to ill health"
>>10019790 ME Bank CEO Jamie McPhee exits amid loan redraw furore
>>10089054 South Australian Premier Steven Marshall axes four of his frontbench

#10099667 at 2020-07-28 09:44:22 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #8 - WE ARE THE CURE Edition

#8 - Part 14
Australian / Regional Resignations Bun
>>9166682 Former National Insurance Brokers Association (NIBA) president David Wyner resigns from board
>>9166682 Equestrian Australia in turmoil as Ricky MacMillan quits
>>9426748 Westpac loses another top exec as Lyn Cobley retires
>>9426748 Former One Nation stalwart Jim Savage fires parting shots in resignation letter
>>9618908 Victorian Labor minister Adem Somyurek resigns following explosive branch stacking allegations
>>9618908 I sacked 'deplorable' Labor powerbroker Adem Somyurek, says Victorian premier Daniel Andrews
>>9630095 Labor MP Robin Scott quits Victorian ministry in wake of Adem Somyurek branch-stacking scandal
>>9630095 Adem Somyurek scandal: Marlene Kairouz becomes third Victorian Labor minister to quit

>>9716144 Doug Tynan resigns from VGI Partners after 12 years
>>9716144 Speaker of Northern Territory parliament Kezia Purick resigns following damning report by corruption watchdog
>>9809420 CFA boss Steve Warrington resigns ahead of controversial fire services merger
>>9809420 Wirecard ANZ boss Karl Mohan exits as Germany's Wirecard files for insolvency
>>9862070 Finance Minister Mathias Cormann to quit politics at the end of the year
>>9903272 South Australian magistrate Bob Harrap resigns following corruption charges
>>10019790 University of Adelaide vice-chancellor Peter Rathjen, subject of ICAC probe, resigns "due to ill health"
>>10019790 ME Bank CEO Jamie McPhee exits amid loan redraw furore
>>10089054 South Australian Premier Steven Marshall axes four of his frontbench

#9862070 at 2020-07-05 07:21:33 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #8 - WE ARE THE CURE Edition

Resignations in the news

Mathias Cormann to quit politics at the end of the year

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann has announced his resignation from politics and advised Scott Morrison that he will leave the parliament by the end of the year.

The leader of the government in the Senate has declared that serving in the upper house has been "one of the greatest privileges of my life."

"Having the opportunity to help shape the future direction of our country as part of a great team working to make our country even stronger, more prosperous and more resilient is a great honour," he said. "I love this job. Every single day I am giving it my all."

"I can honestly say that I have left nothing on the field."

Senator Cormann said there was "another six months or so of hard work" to help navigate a way out of the coronavirus pandemic and "finalise and set in train our five-year plan to maximise the strength of our economic and jobs recovery."

"We will also need to make the many necessary decisions to re-embark on the important journey of budget repair," he said.

"So between now and the end of the year I will be working with the Prime Minister, the Treasurer and all of my colleagues on finalising our July Economic Statement, our Budget in October and our half-yearly Budget update in December."

Senator Cormann - who represents the state of Western Australia - said that he would seek to secure the passage of reforming government legislation through the upper house and that the Prime Minister was leading a team that was "stronger, more focused and more united than ever."

"I would like to thank the Prime Minister for the trust and confidence he has placed in me to do this job, as I would like to thank his predecessors as Prime Minister, Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull, for the opportunities they have given me to serve," he said.

"I will be doing my very best over the next six months as a member of the Morrison Government to ensure that our country is positioned as strongly as possible for the brightest possible future."

Energy Minister Angus Taylor said that Senator Cormann had "provided this incredible continuity for us in that Finance portfolio since 2013."

Mr Taylor told Sky News that Senator Cormann had been "relentless" and "effective" as well as a "great servant" to Western Australia and the Liberal Party.

Manager of Opposition business Tony Burke said that Senator Cormann had been a "very significant figure in Australian politics" and an "honest broker" in his political negotiations in the upper house.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/Mathias-Cormann-to-quit-politics-at-the-end-of-the-year/news-story/e21f46dec50f898346ea0246b22ddc3c

#2746347 at 2018-08-26 20:11:42 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #1

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Mathias Cormann GLOBALIST