8chan/8kun QResearch Posts (8)
#16416686 at 2022-06-08 23:32:14 (UTC+1)
Q Research General #20768: clowns activated 6 ways to Sunday globally, no free speech
Busted
Just before ousted Prime Minister Scott Morrison called the election, his Attorney-General Michaelia Cash stacked the Administrative Appeals Tribunal with a host of Liberal Party mates. Political appointments are out of control and the AAT needs to be killed off, writes Greg Barns SC.
The office of Attorney-General is one that has been tarnished by the Morrison government. Both Christian Porter and Michaela Cash used it to destroy the independence of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) by turning the AAT into a branch of the Liberal Party.
They also approved the disgraceful prosecution of Bernard Collaery, the man who blew the whistle on the Howard government's espionage against East Timor in the early 2000s. And, as has been the case since 9/11, both were in the thrall of the authoritarian security state bosses in ASIO, ASIS and the like and passed into law whatever odious attack on liberty was served up to them by those agencies.
https://michaelwest.com.au/shameless-mates-stacking-at-the-administrative-appeals-tribunal/
Nancy Pelosi's Husband Paul Arrested For DUI in Napa
https://www.tmz.com/2022/05/29/nancy-pelosi-husband-paul-arrested-dui-napa/
George Soros Says He Worked with Biden "Who Was Very Deeply Involved in Ukraine"
https://rumble.com/v16m4rd-george-soros-worked-with-biden-in-ukraine.html
Jacinda Ardern, PM of New Zealand, visited the headquarters of BlackRock, the "world's largest shadow bank" with $10 trillion in assets under management.
https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status
Inside Daniel Andrews' new 'Big Brother' style data agency he tried to keep secret as it watches EVERY move of Victorians from how they spend their money to personal health records
A government spokesman said Insights Victoria 'purchases anonymised data sets off private sector partners to provide insights to Government'.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10884685/Inside-Daniel-Andrews-new-Big-Brother-style-data-agency-tried-secret.html
Israeli extremist youth pepper spray an elderly Palestinian woman. Here is your Jerusalem Day. Here is your racial supremacism at work.
https://twitter.com/edokonrad/status/1530899127101542402
Volkswagen accused of 'slavery' practices under Brazil dictatorship
https://www.straitstimes.com/world/volkswagen-accused-of-slavery-practices-under-brazil-dictatorship
How can the PM sleep with 'blood on his privileged, filthy hands', asks Labour MP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2I203OKLgs
Former Acting Director of CIA Mike Morell Sought to "Covertly" Kill Russians in Syria
https://web.archive.org/web/20160913173801/https:/www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJ3fTFHQ0KA&gl=US&hl=en
Facebook Slumps After Sheryl Sandberg Steps Down As COO
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/facebook-slumps-after-sheryl-sandberg-steps-down-coo
The Majority of the 51 Intel Experts Who Claimed the Hunter Biden Laptop Was Russian Disinformation Have Connections to George Bush Sr.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2022/06/exclusive-majority-51-intel-experts-claimed-hunter-biden-laptop-russian-disinformation-connections-george-bush-sr/
Judicial Watch Uncovers Dozens of Records of Illegal Molecular Research Conducted in America in Violation of NIH Guidelines
https://www.judicialwatch.org/documents/categories/nih-lab-incident-reports-case-parts-1-2/
https://www.judicialwatch.org/documents/nih-lab-incident-reports-march-2022-prod-1-pgs-1-1184/
https://www.judicialwatch.org/documents/nih-lab-incident-reports-march-2022-prod-1-pgs-1185-2369/
Havaara Agreement, 1933: Controversial agreement to facilitate emigration of German Jews to Palestine
Haavara (Transfer) was a company established in 1935 as the the result of an agreement between the Jewish Agency (the official Jewish executive in Palestine) and the Nazi regime. The agreement was designed to facilitate Jewish emigration to Palestine. Though the Nazis had ordered Jewish emigrants to surrender most of their property before leaving Germany, the Ha'avara agreement let them retain some of their assets by transferring them to Palestine as German export goods. Approximately 50,000 Jews emigrated to Palestine under this arrangement.
https://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/2013/09/havaara-agreement-1933/
https://www.yadvashem.org/odot_pdf/Microsoft%20Word%20-%203231.pdf
#16244662 at 2022-05-10 01:15:31 (UTC+1)
Q Research General #20548: Former NYT reporter Eric Lichtblau for Sussmann defense? Edition
Scott Morrison confirms $500,000 payment was not for Alan Tudge's abuse which means it had to be for the sexual assault complaint against Josh Frydenberg
Scott Morrison and Senator Anne Ruston, who is the Coalition campaign spokesperson, have both stated the $500,000 that will be paid to Rachelle Miller is for a separate matter other than the ones that were the subject of the Thom Inquiry which means it has to be for the alleged sexual harassment / sexual assault by federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg.
On the 11th of April, Anne Rushton said on ABC radio "the payout was not related to the misconduct allegations raised by Miller but "a separate matter" and on the 17th of April, the AFR published an article titled "Rachelle Miller's taxpayer-funded payout not about Tudge: PM". Both Scott Morrison and Anne Rushton refused to answer further questions claiming they did not know what the "separate matter" the $500,000 payment was for which is not believable.
The problem for Scott Morrison, Anne Rushton and the media claiming they don't know what the "separate matter" is that it is not too hard to put all the various news reports together to tell the full story and that is what I have done below:
Quick outline of events
On the 9th of November 2020, Rachelle Miller told her story on the Four Corners programme, in an episode called Inside the Canberra Bubble, of her affair with federal MP Alan Tudge, who was her boss at the time, and her treatment after the affair finished. The government did not take any action except to attack the ABC.
On the 28th of February 2021, it was reported that "Former Liberal staffer Rachelle Miller has engaged lawyers to bring a workplace harassment suit against the now education minister, Alan Tudge, and employment minister, Michaelia Cash." (Click here to read more)
On the 2nd of December 2021, Rachelle Miller made new claims against Alan Tudge, that he was abusive, and Mr Tudge was stood aside as federal education minister and Scott Morrison announced an investigation to be carried out by the former bureaucrat Vivienne Thom. (Click here to read more)
On the 30th of January 2022, Rachelle Miller published reasons on Twitter why she would not participate in the Thom Inquiry which included but was not limited to "because she did not think it was an independent and serious investigation and would not investigate allegations that "might amount to criminal conduct"." (Click here to see Rachelle Miller's full letter in my previous article on this matter)
https://kangaroocourtofaustralia.com/2022/05/08/scott-morrison-confirms-500000-payment-was-not-for-alan-tudges-abuse-which-means-it-had-to-be-for-the-sexual-assault-complaint-against-josh-frydenberg/
#16007582 at 2022-04-04 03:02:02 (UTC+1)
Q Research General #20245: We The People Will Persevere Edition
Morrison government behind secrecy clause in payout to High Court Justice Dyson Heydon's alleged victims
Three women sexually harassed by High Court Justice Dyson Heydon secure secret payout
Three women who were sexually harassed by former High Court Justice Dyson Heydon have secured a secret six figure compensation payout.
Workplace law firm Maurice Blackburn Lawyers announced today "an historic settlement" for three women - Rachael Patterson Collins, Chelsea Tabart and Alex Eggerking - whose claims of sexual harassment were upheld by an independent investigation.
But the financial compensation will remain a secret, as a result of a confidential settlement with the Commonwealth.
It's believed it could be more than a million dollars.
Attorney-General Michaelia Cash apologised to the three women.
"We recognise Ms Tabart's, Ms Eggerking's and Ms Collins' bravery at coming forward and telling their stories to Dr Thom, the High Court and other Australians," she said.
"These women have told us about what they have been through during, and since, their times as Associates of the High Court and the serious impacts on their lives.
"We have listened to them and we apologise."
Last year, Justice Heydon issued a statement through his lawyers denying "emphatically any allegation of sexual harassment or any offence".
"In respect of the confidential inquiry and its subsequent confidential report, any allegation of predatory behaviour or breaches of the law is categorically denied by our client," the statement said.
"Our client says that if any conduct of his has caused offence, that result was inadvertent and unintended, and he apologises for any offence caused.
"The inquiry was an internal administrative inquiry and was conducted by a public servant and not by a lawyer, judge or a tribunal member. It was conducted without having statutory powers of investigation and of administering affirmations or oaths."
The High Court inquiry was prompted by two of the judge's former associates making a claim to Chief Justice Susan Kiefel in March 2019 that they had been sexually harassed by Justice Heydon.
Lawyers acting for the women have confirmed the settlement agreements with each woman include a Non-Disclosure Agreement preventing disclosure of the amounts of compensation involved.
"After their experience of working in the High Court, Rachael, Chelsea and Alex have been unable to pursue the legal careers that they aspired to. Indeed, they were so severely impacted by what happened that it took them years to come forward to pursue this matter," workplace lawyer Josh Bornstein said.
"Detailed actuarial and other evidence was prepared in aid of their claims. That actuarial material sought to effectively model the loss of a legal career for a typical High Court associate. Many former High Court associates pursue successful careers as barristers and some are then appointed as judges."
One former legal assistant, Chelsea Tabart, previously told the Sydney Morning Herald that on her first day working for Justice Heydon nearly a decade ago, he suggested they stop for a drink after an office dinner.
He took her to a private room at a prestigious club, she said, and put his hand on her thigh. She was 22.
Another former associate, Rachael Patterson Collins said Justice Heydon made repeated advances toward her - on one occasion asking if he could kiss her.
When she asked him why she said he replied, "Because you're beautiful".
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/morrison-government-behind-secrecy-clause-in-payout-to-dyson-heydon-s-alleged-victims-20220404-p5aamr.html
#15590063 at 2022-02-10 01:33:05 (UTC+1)
Q Research General #19714: FF Inbound Washington, DC Role Players with SECRET clearance Edition
Australia's anti-trolling Bill enters Parliament retaining defamation focus
The anti-trolling Bill is focused on defamation rather than reducing troll and harmful content.
The federal government has officially introduced the highly-publicised anti-trolling Bill into Parliament.
The Bill, Social Media (Anti-Trolling) Bill 2022, was first announced by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in November as a mechanism that would "unmask anonymous online trolls" and address toxic content existing on social media platforms.
The anti-trolling Bill has since been touted by the Liberal Senator and Attorney-General Michaelia Cash as one of her party's primary items that it wants to push out before the federal election.
Introduced by Communications Minister Paul Fletcher on Thursday morning, the Bill remains largely unchanged from the exposure draft version released in December.
Despite being called an anti-troll Bill, the proposed laws do not contain any sections addressing troll or harmful content. At its core, the Bill is focused on empowering people to raise lawsuits for online defamation rather than explicitly preventing cyberbullying and online abuse.
Last week, Australia's eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman outlined her concern about this, specifically on how it may be misused due to the lack of these elements addressing troll and harmful content.
"I think [the anti-trolling Bill] can lend itself to a lot of retaliation, a lot of vigilante-style justice," said Inman Grant.
The other focus of the Bill, according to its explanatory memorandum, is to overturn a recent Australian legal precedent set in the Voller case, which made individuals and organisations liable for defamatory material that exists on their social media pages.
The Bill, if passed, would result in administrators of social media pages no longer being liable to defamation for third-party material posted on those pages. That liability would shift to social media service providers instead.
Looking at the Bill's details, much like its exposure draft, it is still seeking to formally classify social media service providers as publishers of any comments made on their platforms in Australia. To avoid defamation under the Bill, social media service providers would need to have a complaints scheme in place that allows victims of defamatory comments to both make complaints and request the personal information of the maker of those comments.
Complaints scheme that satisfy the Bill's requirements would also have to ensure that an accused commenter is notified that they are the subject of a complaint within 72 hours of it being made. If the accused commenter gives consent for their personal information to be provided, social media platforms must then disclose that information to complainants and assist them in relation to potentially raising any defamation lawsuits.
This personal information would include contact details such as name, email address, phone number as well as country location data to determine if the user is in Australia. Geolocation data provided under the Bill would be limited to whether or not the material was "posted in Australia" by reference to geolocation technology deployed by the social media provider.
The disclosure mechanism can also only be enlivened where there is reason to believe that there may be a right for the complainant to obtain relief against the poster in a defamation proceeding.
As parliamentarians deliberate over the Bill, Australia's federal inquiry into the practices of major technology companies is set to provide its findings later this month. The social media probe was approved by the federal government with the intention of building on the anti-trolling Bill's initial goal of unmasking trolls.
https://www.zdnet.com/article/australias-anti-trolling-bill-enters-parliament-retaining-defamation-focus/
#15565295 at 2022-02-07 03:55:57 (UTC+1)
Q Research General #19683: Ottawa Truckers Own The Night Edition
KEK Aus Gov KEK
Federal anti-corruption commission ruled out before election as government refuses to introduce bill
A national anti-corruption commission will not be established before the next federal election.
Key points:
The Coalition say it will not introduce it for debate unless Labor supports it
Labor has previously said the government's model is not powerful or transparent enough
The government defeated an attempt to bring on debate for a commission last year on a technicality
Prime Minister Scott Morrison first announced a Commonwealth Integrity Commission (CIC) in December 2018, alongside then attorney-general Christian Porter.
Despite years of consultation and draft legislation being released, the Coalition is refusing to introduce the bill to Parliament.
The government has tried to paint it as a test for Labor, arguing it needs to support the proposed anti-corruption watchdog model before it is even debated in Parliament.
That is despite the Coalition having introduced numerous pieces of legislation over the last term of Parliament which did not have cross-party support.
A spokesman for Attorney-General Michaelia Cash, who inherited the model from Mr Porter, said there were only a number of sitting days left before Australians head to the polls.
"We're prioritising religious discrimination and online trolling legislation because these have a better chance of passing in the remaining period," he said.
"If Labor want to vote with us on our CIC legislation we could pass it before the election."
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-07/no-anti-corruption-commission-before-federal-election/100809796
#14986404 at 2021-11-13 00:26:57 (UTC+1)
Q Research General #18959: Let´s Go Bannon! Edition
Scott Morrison attempts to stitch-up whistleblower Bernard Collaery by introducing new "super-secret" evidence
Scott Morrison runs the government with an iron fist behind closed doors so you can take it for granted that on Wednesday (10/11/21) when Attorney-General Michaelia Cash declared she wanted to introduce new "super-secret" evidence against Bernard Collaery in the Timor-Leste spying case, that Scott Morrison had approved the move. It is a clear tactic to make sure that the court case is dragged out forever so the public never gets to hear the truth, especially before the federal election.
Even the judge was disturbed:
The federal government is attempting to introduce new "super-secret" evidence against Bernard Collaery in the Timor-Leste spying case, prompting fury from Collaery and warnings from a supreme court judge that it may cause a "perpetual vortex" of delay and secrecy.
Collaery, a barrister charged for his alleged role in exposing Australia's bugging of Timor-Leste, won a major victory last month, when the Australia Capital Territory's court of appeal overturned orders shrouding much of his looming trial in secrecy. The court found the risk posed to national security by hearing the case in public was minimal, while open justice was crucial in deterring "political prosecutions", among other things.
On Wednesday, however, lawyers for attorney general Michaelia Cash told the ACT supreme court that they wanted to introduce "updated" evidence about the national security risks posed by hearing aspects of the Collaery case openly. (Click here to read more)
Then on Thursday (11/10/21), the day after they are continuing their stitch -up of Bernard Collaery but just in time for the federal election due early next year, the assistant Attorney-General Amanda Stoker announced plans to protect whistleblowers:
"The federal government has outlined a detailed plan to reform Australia's whistleblowing laws and remove secrecy offences to drive "trust and accountability in the public sector", as new research shows the current scheme is failing to protect those who speak out about wrongdoing."
The assistant attorney general, Amanda Stoker, told the National Whistleblowing Symposium on Thursday that the government would move to reform the Public Interest Disclosure Act, which is designed to shield public sector whistleblowers from reprisal.
The government was warned of the failings of Australia's whistleblower laws more than four years ago, in a review by Philip Moss, but has not yet acted on his recommendations. (Click here to read more)
Scott Morrison has made it obvious over the last week or so that the government is in campaign mode for the next federal election which is due no later than May next year and when government go into election mode they try and make sure negatives are hidden. In this article the 2 negatives that Morrison is trying to hide is the truth coming out in the Bernard Collaery court case and the fact that the government hates whistleblowers.
As the above quote says the government was warned four years ago about the "failings of Australia's whistleblower laws" and they have done nothing except stitch-up whistleblowers such as Bernard Collaery.
Independent Senator Rex Patrick tweeted:
https://kangaroocourtofaustralia.com/2021/11/13/scott-morrison-attempts-to-stitch-up-whistleblower-bernard-collaery-by-introducing-new-super-secret-evidence/
#13042087 at 2021-02-25 01:57:53 (UTC+1)
Q Research General #16610: Wall Street Bets Strikes Again Edition
AFP to MPs: Failure to report crime harms investigations, risks reoffending
The nation's top cop has sent a strongly worded letter to the PM in the wake of the Brittany Higgins rape scandal over delays in reporting alleged crimes.
Australia's top police officer has sent a strongly worded letter to the PM in the wake of the Brittany Higgins rape scandal, warning politicians delays in reporting crimes can seriously damage investigations and risk the perpetrator reoffending.
The alleged rape of Brittany Higgins in parliament has brought the process for reporting crimes into sharp focus.
Australian Federal Police commissioner Reece Kershaw sent a letter to Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday, warning MPs of the risks of failing to report crimes.
"I cannot state strongly enough the importance of timely referrals of allegations of criminal conduct," he wrote.
"Failure to report alleged criminal behaviour in this manner, or choosing to communicate or disseminate allegations via other means, such as through the media or third parties, risks prejudicing and subsequent police investigation."
Former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins alleged she was raped in 2019 by a colleague in the parliamentary office of her then-boss Linda Reynolds.
Senator Reynolds said she encouraged Ms Higgins to go to the police when she learned of the alleged crime, as did Ms Higgins' subsequent boss Michaelia Cash.
Ms Higgins met with the AFP in 2019 but opted not to pursue an investigation at that time.
But the government is facing scrutiny over its internal reporting mechanisms, with revelations Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton found out about the allegation four days before the Prime Minister said he knew.
Mr Dutton joined a group including Ms Reynolds, Ms Cash, House Speaker Tony Smith, and Senate President Scott Ryan, who knew about the alleged rape before Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Former Special Minister for State Alex Hawke was also contacted over the termination of the male staffer.
Mr Morrison said on Wednesday he would have approached the situation in the same way as his ministers had he been informed earlier.
"My action would have been the same as those ministers' actions. That is to say: has the matter been drawn to the attention of the police?" he said.
"The answer to that question was, yes, it had."
Two other women have subsequently claimed they were also raped by the man, with one of the alleged attacks occurring last year.
Mr Kershaw warned failing to report crimes could embolden a perpetrator to taint evidence or even strike again.
"Any delay in reporting criminal conduct can result in the loss of key evidence, continuation of the offending and/or reoffending by the alleged perpetrator," he said.
"It also has the very real potential to compromise the rights of victims and other parties to the alleged offences.
"By not adhering to this process, there is a real risk that any alternative actions by individuals may lead to obstructing, preventing, perverting or defeating the course of justice or the administration of law."
https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/at-work/afp-to-mps-failure-to-report-crime-harms-investigations-risks-reoffending/news-story/aeff5ef7390852c434428cb283c27fa7
#10364848 at 2020-08-21 01:24:26 (UTC+1)
Q Research General #13263: Q Breads Firing Off The Line Edition
How Qantas CEO Alan Joyce and the Qantas Corporation confirmed they are complicit in acts of Child Rape and Human Sacrifice.
POSTED BY: ADMIN JUNE 2, 2018
Qantas may have never had an air crash. But they recently crashed and burned in a media appearance featuring their CEO Alan Joyce.
In a recent news bite Joyce described a recent Qantas accomplishment as comparable to "Flying to the moon".
While this comment may seem trivial and innocent it is in fact far from trivial and was by no means said as a random language expression.
We as humanity need to be conscious of all of the words that we say, especially when we are perpetuating them to an entire nation through broadcast media. The particular analogy used by Qantas CEO Alan Joyce was surely scripted. It appeared as if he was repeating lines that were fed to him and that these lines were fed to him by his higher ups. So what Joyce was essentially doing was perpetuating a Magical working that was undertaken by individuals who were sinister beyond comprehension and a working that should be well and truely dead.
So what is so sinister about perpetuating the moon landing narrative, which was clearly Qantas's intention in this case.
The so called NASA Apollo mission is not what it appears to be on the surface. The next generation on youtube are keenly aware that the moon landing was a fraud. But it goes beyond being just fraud.
It was a fraud that took billions of dollars from tax payers, was inprintinted on the consciousness of millions and deceived millions about the nature of reality.
When you study the occult works of Stanley Kubrick who was involved in the production of this fraud or any of the multitude of people who dissect his works you find the following things.
- The people who got Kubrick involved in the false moon landings were involved in Paedophilia (Child Rape).
- The Apollo moon missions entailed acts of occult pre-meditated human sacrifice.
- Kubrick himself felt that these events lead to massive blood shed in events such as the Vietnam War.
What we should seek to know is who exactly is it that Alan Joyce is reporting to that are requesting that he perpetuate works that entail acts of pedophilia and human sacrifice? Why would Qantas and Alan Joyce want to perpetuate the works of forces that think human sacrifice on earth is acceptable?
Why is it that there seems to be a connection with the aerospace industry and these monumental acts of fraud, theft and deception?
But the connections to child rape, Qantas and fraud in Australia run deeper and are very real and current. In weeks past Australian Political figure Michaelia Cash announced that the government would be contributing 47 Million dollars of Taxpayer money to the Aerospace industry under the guise of NASA a moniker that in Hebrew means deception.
That number, 47 is in itself Masonic and related to the union of the numbers 23 and 24 and represents the union of heaven and earth. Why is such masonic symbolism being used to perpetuate frauds and deceptions that have already been seen on earth before? Why are politicians at all levels not up in arms about such massive embezzlement of the peoples wealth taking place in Australia's government.
It is clear that Cult Masonic figures are targeting Australians that are easy to manipulate along the lines of vanity, ignorance and greed and then using these figures to defraud the community as a whole.
Why is the health and well being of Australian citizens being compromised by cult entities that take the peoples money and funnel it into the Aerospace industry? Is there a concentration of fraud and criminality in that particular industry that needs to be more deeply investigated?
We would encourage Australian media to dig deeper into both the Aerospace Industry and Qantas Corporation to ascertain as to why they are so complicit with acts of Fraud and deception and violence.
And as for Alan Joyce, aside from Australia digging deeper into who is providing him his scripts and who he is reporting to, what we should expect first and foremost is an apology for the lack of consideration in his words and actions.
https://foreignpolicy.tv/corporate/how-qantas-ceo-alan-joyce-and-the-qantas-corporation-confirmed-they-are-complicit-in-acts-of-child-rape-and-human-sacrifice/
8chan/8kun QResearch AUSTRALIA Posts (52)
#20092845 at 2023-12-18 09:59:27 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #34: UNITED AGAINST THE INVISIBLE ENEMY OF ALL HUMANITY Edition
#33 - Part 21
Brittany Higgins Rape Allegations and Bruce Lehrmann Defamation Trial - Part 2
>>20027621 Higgins, Cash and the secret tape - Brittany Higgins is set to face a gruelling interrogation as Bruce Lehrmann's lawyer pushes to play a covert recording she made of former government minister Michaelia Cash
>>20027636 Video: Brittany Higgins denies trying to 'blow-up' Bruce Lehrmann's re-trial over alleged rape as her evidence concludes in Federal Court
>>20027640 $2.3 million payout goes to the heart of Labor's role in Brittany Higgins case - It's taken a defamation trial to discover the truth, but finally we know how much the Albanese government paid to settle Brittany Higgins' untested claim that she would not be able to work for at least 40 years after allegedly being raped by Bruce Lehrmann
>>20033285 Bruce Lehrmann and Brittany Higgins getting 'quite touchy' in club on night of alleged rape, witness tells Federal Court
>>20033308 The ABC paid $150,000 to settle Bruce Lehrmann's defamation case over a National Press Club broadcast, documents tendered in his Federal Court defamation case against Network Ten reveal.
>>20038514 Brittany Higgins bombshell: $2.4m payout based entirely on her own evidence - The Albanese government paid Brittany Higgins more than $2.4 million compensation in a settlement that relied entirely upon Ms Higgins' version of events, despite contrary versions from key witnesses who were excluded from a single-day mediation of her claim
>>20038528 Higgins didn't want to be known as 'the girl raped in Parliament', ex-boyfriend Ben Dillaway tells court
>>20038554 Corruption watchdog examines Brittany Higgins compo payout - The national anti-corruption watchdog is now examining a complaint by former Liberal minister Linda Reynolds against Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus over his handling of the $2.3 million compensation payment made to Brittany Higgins, to determine if an investigation should be launched
>>20043828 Ten has win on lip-reader's report in Lehrmann defamation case - Network Ten has had a tactical win in its defamation fight with former federal Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann after a Federal Court judge allowed it to tender a lip-reader's report analysing CCTV footage of Lehrmann and Brittany Higgins in the hours before she alleges he raped her in Parliament House
>>20043857 Liberal Senator Linda Reynolds sues the ACT government and its former top prosecutor Shane Drumgold for defamation
>>20057023 Brittany Higgins a 'broken soul', mother tells Lehrmann defamation case - Brittany Higgins' mother has said her daughter's alleged sexual assault was "a mother's worst nightmare" as she gave emotional evidence in court about the changes she perceived in her personality in the months after the alleged rape
>>20062141 'Oh Britt, we didn't know': Michaelia Cash secretly recorded in call with Higgins - A telephone call Brittany Higgins secretly recorded with her then-boss, Liberal senator Michaelia Cash, has emerged as a flashpoint in Bruce Lehrmann's defamation case after it was played for the first time in the Federal Court
>>20062186 Video: Exclusive tapes revealed: Secret audio captures Higgins' lawyer giving advice to her fianc? in middle of crucial cross-examination - Brittany Higgins' high-profile lawyer gave suggestions on how she respond to a grilling on her $2.4m commonwealth payout and inconsistencies in her story under tough cross-examination during the Bruce Lehrmann defamation trial
>>20066846 Ten producer defends Higgins interview as Lisa Wilkinson's texts revealed - Angus Llewellyn, producer of Ten's The Project program has told the Federal Court that Brittany Higgins was terrified her interview with Lisa Wilkinson could be "stopped by the government" before it aired, as he defended his steps to contact Bruce Lehrmann before the broadcast
>>20072114 Wilkinson rankled by 'tabloid' suggestion during tense day in Lehrmann case - Prominent journalist Lisa Wilkinson has clashed with Bruce Lehrmann's barrister during Lehrmann's high-stakes defamation case as she defended her reporting of Brittany Higgins' rape claim and was rankled by a question that she alleged portrayed her as a "cheap tabloid journalist"
#19822138 at 2023-10-29 05:13:47 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #32: YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS FIGHT Edition
#32 - Part 64
Indigenous Voice To Parliament Referendum - Part 28
>>19706372 Liberals hit back at Anthony Albanese's Indigenous voice to parliament misinformation claims - Senior Liberal frontbenchers have hit back at Anthony Albanese's claim that misinformation was undermining the voice referendum amid dwindling support for the government's proposal. Mr Albanese has repeatedly blasted misinformation he said was being peddled by the No campaign to wreck the referendum and confuse voters. He said misinformation and disinformation were preventing voters from considering the "very simple" referendum question before them. He has pointed to misinformation, disinformation and conspiracy theories when asked why the voice was losing support, including among Labor voters. Five repeated claims by Mr Albanese include that it is "nonsense" that the voice would advise the RBA or on nuclear submarines, that the length of the Uluru Statement from the Heart was just one page, that the detail on the voice was simple, and that the voice referendum had nothing to do with treaty. Opposition legal affairs spokeswoman Michaelia Cash told The Australian there was "little in the PM's claims which is supported by the facts" and Mr Albanese was unable to rule out issues that the voice would advise on. "If anyone is dealing in misinformation, it is the Prime Minister himself," she said. "He certainly cannot rule out issues the voice will advise on and it is clear that the Uluru statement contained much more material than the single page he claims."
>>19706380 Voice holds promise of hope for our most vulnerable - "Australia faces a moment in history where the decision we make about whether to recognise Indigenous Australians in the Constitution with an advisory body to parliament and government will have profound implications for this generation and the next. The constitutional referendum proposed is both an act of recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians as the first people of this continent with respect for their 60,000 years of continuing culture and also the establishment of a mechanism to improve policy outcomes. A Yes vote gives hope, opportunity and agency to the pressing need to close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. A No vote gets us nowhere. The No camp has not put forward an agreed, coherent or compelling alternative plan to improve policy outcomes for Indigenous Australians that also fosters responsibility and accountability. It is confused and divided on questions of recognition, treaties and advisory bodies. There is a yearning deep within the Australian soul for reconciliation. There is, as Noel Pearson says, a whispering in our hearts about unfinished business. We have an opportunity, with the eyes of the world on us and our consciences telling us there is another way. These are the better angels of our nature and it is time we heed their call. In the final analysis, constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians through a voice to parliament is a sensible, logical and rational step for a mature nation. It is not radical or revolutionary. It is modest, simple and straightforward. If we vote Yes, it can make a real difference. If we vote No, nothing will change. We have two paths ahead of us. We must take the right one and vote Yes." - Troy Bramston - theaustralian.com.au - https://qresear.ch/?q=Troy+Bramston
>>19720209 Australians to reject Indigenous Voice in referendum - final YouGov poll - Australians are set to overwhelmingly say 'No' to a proposal to constitutionally recognise the country's Indigenous people in a referendum on Saturday, one of the final opinion polls ahead of the vote showed. Australians have to vote 'Yes' or 'No' to a question asking whether they agree to alter the 122-year-old constitution to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people, and create a body, called the Voice to Parliament, that can provide advice to the government. More than 4 million people have already cast their ballot after early voting began on Oct. 2. With less than two days to go before voting day on Oct. 14, those opposed to the proposal lead the 'Yes' camp by 56% to 38%, according to the final poll by YouGov published on Thursday. Some 6% of those polled were undecided. Yougov polled 1,519 voters for the survey. "Our final poll indicates a sweeping 'No' victory - with nearing six in 10 voters intending to cast a 'No' vote," said Amir Daftari, YouGov Director of Polling and Academic research. "Our detailed analysis indicates that it is very unlikely that 'Yes' will win anywhere apart from a number of inner metropolitan seats."
#19822130 at 2023-10-29 05:11:59 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #32: YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS FIGHT Edition
#32 - Part 61
Indigenous Voice To Parliament Referendum - Part 25
>>19685600 Key voice battleground South Australia is 'leaning to no', campaign volunteers say - At a South Australian shopping centre, Philip Colebatch is handing out flyers for the Indigenous voice to parliament no campaign. And as the campaign heads into its final days, he's getting a "sniff" from voters he's talking to that "it's leaning to no". "I just get the nods and the winks," he says. South Australia has become a key battleground state in the lead up to the voice referendum. On Friday - just over a week from the vote - all state and territory leaders descended on Adelaide, including the sole Liberal, Tasmania's Jeremy Rockcliff. They all support the federal voice to parliament. But polling for South Australia has dipped below a winnable level, and according to people on the ground, many people are voting no. Another no campaigner, Alistair Crooks, says the shopping centre crowds are fairly polarised - and his years on polling booths have taught him you can't always take them at their word. He, too, has heard more support for the no campaign, "but that's skewed," he says. "It's older people who've got the time to come down here. The young are still working. I don't think we can read anything too much into it."
>>19685699 Voice to Parliament: Hard No for WA as referendum vote looms - Fifty-four per cent of West Australians are now hard No voters and won't be changing their minds in the final week of polling for the referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament. Final polling for WA by Fair Australia shows a total of 59 per cent of people plan to vote No compared with 36 per cent who plan to vote Yes. Five per cent remain unsure. But significantly, the proportion of hard No and hard Yes voters stands at 54-31. Fair Australia, part of the No camp and led by senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, polled 637 people. WA Liberal senator Michaelia Cash said it was clear West Australians were "hardening" their resolve to vote No.
>>19685753 Prime Minister Anthony Albanese casts Voice vote in home electorate of Marrickville - Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has cast his vote early in the historic Voice to Parliament referendum with the company of his son from his home electorate of Marrickville. Mr Albanese was in the inner-western Sydney suburb on Saturday morning where he emphatically dropped his ballot, presumably with a 'Yes' vote, into the ballot box at the Marrickville Town Hall early polling station. He was met by a small crowd who had turned out to cast their own vote ahead of the official Voice vote day on October 14. Volunteers, both with the 'Yes' campaign and the Electoral Commission, were all smiles as the nation's leader entered the polling area, accompanied by his son Nathan. "Yes for recognition, Yes for listening, Yes for better outcomes," Mr Albanese wrote in a social media post, accompanied by a photo of he and his son voting.
>>19691563 Anthony Albanese confirms his government will walk away from the Indigenous voice to parliament altogether if No vote succeeds - Anthony Albanese says his government will walk away from the Indigenous voice to parliament altogether if the referendum is voted down next weekend, warning that trying to improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people won't be as effective without a constitutionally enshrined advisory body. The Prime Minister also questioned why the Coalition had the position of an Indigenous Australians spokesperson, held by Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, if they didn't want to listen to Aboriginal people. Mr Albanese hit out at what he said was a deliberate strategy by the No campaign to confuse voters, including "absurd debates" over whether the voice will advise the Reserve Bank of Australia on interest rates or the length of the Uluru Statement from the Heart. "That is all a conscious decision to wreck and to confuse," Mr Albanese told ABC's Insiders program.
#19822109 at 2023-10-29 05:06:09 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #32: YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS FIGHT Edition
#32 - Part 51
Indigenous Voice To Parliament Referendum - Part 15
>>19617051 Stand delivers as Liberals' opposition to Indigenous voice to parliament pays off - There has been no sadder place in the world these past few years than the Liberal Party stand at the Perth Royal Show. Perched opposite the Police Pavilion and just a few metres down from the Agriculture Hall of Fame, the pop-up tent has long been a forlorn sight at the annual show as the party suffered through humiliating state and federal election defeats. This year, however, the MPs, staffers and volunteers manning the stand have noticed a distinct change in mood. More and more people have approached the stand this week - grabbing the Liberal-branded show bags stuffed with notebooks, fridge magnets and a mini Australian flag - than have done so for years. Amid petting the farm animals, watching the woodchopping competitions and perusing overpriced show bags, punters from across the Perth metropolitan area have taken time to stop in and engage with the party. "It's fair to say that the level of engagement and the number of people voluntarily coming up and wanting to talk with us is vastly different to 12 months ago," says one Liberal staffer who has been manning the stand. The key difference, they say, is the voice. Liberal senator Michaelia Cash has been one of the opposition's loudest voices on the referendum. She told The Australian the "overwhelming feedback" from the Royal Show tent was praise for the party's stance on the referendum. "I've spent a lot of time talking directly with Western Australians about the referendum and it is clear to me that they want the best for Indigenous Australians, but many have failed to be convinced the voice is the best way to go about it," she said.
>>19623862 Video: 'Vote for best voice': Julia Gillard launches UK Yes campaign - Former Australian prime minister Julia Gillard has told a London audience of how the family stories of indigenous people are imbued with "trauma and exclusion," and accused the country of failing to listen to the voice of "those who can make the biggest difference." Launching the Yes campaign for the indigenous voice to parliament referendum in Britain's capital early this morning (AEST), Ms Gillard urged a yes vote because: "What the voice will ensure is that we always hear, that we always have, the best, best voice telling us what needs to be done by our nation next." Ms Gillard who celebrates her 62nd birthday later this week said a female indigenous counterpart born in the same year would have been at real risk of being part of the Stolen Generation, taken from her family for no reason with documents showing it was for no reason other than "being aboriginal". She said if the woman wasn't taken from her family, then she would know of people who were.
>>19623889 Video: Australian expats at world's largest AEC voting booth urged to vote Yes - Former prime minister Julia Gillard has urged a large contingent of expat Australians to make their vote count at next month's referendum, saying an Indigenous Voice to Parliament enshrined in the constitution would ensure future generations listen to those who have suffered from a century of policies imposed on them. Gillard, who made a point of mentioning her 62nd birthday this week, told a crowd of around 150 Australians gathered for the Yes23 campaign launch in London, that an Aboriginal woman born in 1961 had been largely failed by governments of all stripes and had likely suffered "generational trauma". The UK-based Gillard joined youth advocate Yasmin Poole, Irish social rights campaigner Tiernan Brady and a drag queen called Karla Bear, who sang John Farnham's anthemic hit You're The Voice in Camden ahead of early voting in the UK capital beginning next week. More than 15,000 people - both Australian citizens living in the UK and holidaymakers - are expected to vote at the High Commission in London, making the booth the largest run by the Australian Electoral Commission anywhere in the world.
#19740101 at 2023-10-15 10:09:11 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #32: YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS FIGHT Edition
>>19739995
>>19740031
Heritage laws debacle fuelled voice referendum failure in WA
PAUL GARVEY - OCTOBER 14, 2023
The Western Australian government's disastrous introduction of its Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act has been blamed for propelling the state to an emphatic rejection of the Indigenous Voice to parliament.
The defeat of the referendum had already been confirmed well over an hour before polling centres in WA closed on Saturday and before an official post-vote after party by the Yes23 campaign in Perth had opened its doors.
As results from WA finally began to filter in, it quickly became clear that WA had joined all other states and the Northern Territory in strongly rejecting the constitutional amendment. Just over 40 per cent of counted votes in WA were for Yes.
WA's new Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act came into force in July, just as debate about the Voice was heating up, and the new state-based laws immediately attracted a fierce backlash from across the community amid fears that it would significantly inhibit the rights of landowners. After less than a month, Premier Roger Cook announced that the act would be repealed.
Polling since then had consistently shown that support for the Voice was lower in WA than in any other state.
While Labor and the Yes campaign had repeatedly attempted to dismiss any links between the ACHA and the Voice, Teal independent Kate Chaney told The Australian that the controversy around the heritage laws had clearly had an impact on Voice support in the state.
"Just at the last booth I was at, a woman was talking about the Cultural Heritage Act and that being her reason for voting No," she said.
"It has had an impact, and it's very unfortunate timing."
The most senior Federal Liberal in WA, legal affairs spokeswoman Michaelia Cash, on Saturday morning said the controversy over the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act should prompt the state's Labor government to pause any plan to introduce a state-based Voice.
"The reason the Labor government had to scrap those laws is because the people of Western Australia, in particular our farmers and landowners, stood up and said, 'my land, hands off Mr Cook'," she said.
"If a No vote does get up tonight, and it gets up in Western Australia, I would say to the state Labor government here, respect the vote of the Western Australian people."
WA opposition leader Shane Love said the referendum's failure was to blame on both the proposed model and issues around the heritage act.
"The Albanese Voice was a proposed solution which failed to address a very real problem," he said.
"However, these issues have not been helped by the Cook Labor Government's decisions to reduce regional representation in State Parliament, or the botched implementation of the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act and its ongoing fallout."
WA Liberal leader Libby Mettam originally came out in support of the Voice but reversed her position in the wake of the cultural heritage debacle.
On Saturday night, she said the botched act had clearly impacted on the result.
"There is no doubt that the Cook government's shambolic Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act has had an impact on the vote or support for the voice in WA," she said.
"The chaos created by the Cook Labor government's botched rollout of this act and the lack of details provided created real doubt and mistrust about how their federal Labor colleagues would implement the voice."
In a statement on Saturday night, Mr Cook said the nation had spoken and it was the job of leaders to listen.
"I know it has been a challenging campaign for many Indigenous Western Australians. But tomorrow, we move forward," he said.
"The Government I lead will continue our important work towards reconciliation, and closing the gap with our First Nations peoples."
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/heritage-laws-debacle-fuelled-voice-referendum-failure-in-wa/news-story/26b8b2e13c15dcd4839e0fd5c796b72e
#19706372 at 2023-10-10 08:37:48 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #32: YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS FIGHT Edition
>>19699247
Liberals hit back at Anthony Albanese's Indigenous voice to parliament misinformation claims
JESS MALCOLM - and ROSIE LEWIS - OCTOBER 9, 2023
Senior Liberal frontbenchers have hit back at Anthony Albanese's claim that misinformation was undermining the voice referendum amid dwindling support for the government's proposal.
Opposition legal affairs spokeswoman Michaelia Cash said five claims the Prime Minister made during the voice debate were not supported by facts.
Mr Albanese has repeatedly blasted misinformation he said was being peddled by the No campaign to wreck the referendum and confuse voters.
He said misinformation and disinformation were preventing voters from considering the "very simple" referendum question before them. He has pointed to misinformation, disinformation and conspiracy theories when asked why the voice was losing support, including among Labor voters.
Five repeated claims by Mr Albanese include that it is "nonsense" that the voice would advise the RBA or on nuclear submarines, that the length of the Uluru Statement from the Heart was just one page, that the detail on the voice was simple, and that the voice referendum had nothing to do with treaty.
Senator Cash told The Australian there was "little in the PM's claims which is supported by the facts" and Mr Albanese was unable to rule out issues that the voice would advise on. "If anyone is dealing in misinformation, it is the Prime Minister himself," she said. "He certainly cannot rule out issues the voice will advise on and it is clear that the Uluru statement contained much more material than the single page he claims."
Deputy Liberal Leader Sussan Ley said Mr Albanese needed to stop blaming "everyone else for his failure to explain his voice proposal" and he should take responsibility for a referendum failure.
"Anthony Albanese's deliberate use of 'misinformation' as a political attack comes at the same time his government is seeking to make spreading 'misinformation' an offence under the law - it is reckless and lazy politics and unacceptable from the nation's leader," she said.
The attacks come as constitutional law expert George Williams told The Australian the voice would "absolutely" be able to provide advice on AUKUS if it impacted Aboriginal people, after Mr Albanese declared it a "nonsense" to suggest the advisory body would make recommendations on where nuclear submarines were located.
Professor Williams also suggested an established Indigenous voice to parliament might seek to provide advice to the Reserve Bank but that it would be up to the parliament to decide whether it would speak directly to the independent economic body.
"The voice can make representations on matters affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and you would think there are defence matters which impact them sometimes, such as Indigenous people in the armed forces.
"If there is a link established with a matter of the AUKUS ?program impacting Indigenous people, then it absolutely could provide advice."
Centre for Public Integrity chair Anthony Whealy said the voice might seek to make representations to the government on AUKUS in cases where Indigenous people were concerned about nuclear proliferation on their land.
However, he predicted the voice would lose its efficacy if it sought to make broad representations outside issues that directly affected Indigenous people.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/indigenous/liberals-hit-back-at-anthony-albaneses-indigenous-voice-to-parliament-misinformation-claims/news-story/34c4afc7b48b36de5f92f288405b74a4
#19685699 at 2023-10-07 14:41:49 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #32: YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS FIGHT Edition
>>19685067
Voice to Parliament: Hard No for WA as referendum vote looms
Hannah Cross and Joe Spagnolo - 6 October 2023
Fifty-four per cent of West Australians are now hard No voters and won't be changing their minds in the final week of polling for the referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.
Final polling for WA by Fair Australia shows a total of 59 per cent of people plan to vote No compared with 36 per cent who plan to vote Yes.
Five per cent remain unsure.
But significantly, the proportion of hard No and hard Yes voters stands at 54-31.
Fair Australia, part of the No camp and led by senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, polled 637 people.
WA Liberal senator Michaelia Cash said it was clear West Australians were "hardening" their resolve to vote No.
It comes with Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton today writing in The West Australian that voters with "legitimate concerns about this constitutional change" have been called "Chicken Littles, doomsayers and fearmongers".
Veteran TV presenter Ray Martin on Thursday labelled No voters "d…heads and dinosaurs" if they were being influenced by the No campaign's slogan: "If you don't know, vote no."
"You don't insult your way to victory. You don't rally people to your cause by questioning their morality," Mr Dutton writes.
"And you don't win votes by dishonestly claiming that those with whom you disagree are peddling misinformation and disinformation or pushing scare campaigns and conspiracy theories."
While Mr Dutton said he doesn't disparage Anthony Albanese's "passion in wanting to address Indigenous disadvantage", he said the Prime Minister must "bear responsibility for ingraining the division".
"We all have a burning desire to see improvements," he said.
"But Mr Albanese's conduct in this debate has been more akin to a crusading advocate than a credible leader."
Another TV identity, former ABC presenter and Wiradjuri man Stan Grant, on Friday night said the sky wouldn't fall in if Australia votes No on October 14.
"Sometimes we can read too much into moments and say: 'If this fails the sky will fall in'," Grant said.
"Aboriginal people will keep on surviving, (we) will look for new ways to bring our voice to the political debate and Australia will have to keep on doing the work of democracy - that won't change."
https://thewest.com.au/news/wa/opposition-to-voice-to-parliament-hardening-as-vote-looms–c-12126703
https://archive.vn/VSm9Z
#19685520 at 2023-10-07 14:21:49 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #32: YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS FIGHT Edition
>>19685067
Indigenous voice to parliament division was predicted by former High Court chief justice Harry Gibbs
JOE KELLY - OCTOBER 7, 2023
A three-decade old warning sounded by former high court chief justice Harry Gibbs on the dangers of enshrining special rights for ?Aboriginal people in the Constitution has been seized upon by the Coalition as evidence a successful referendum next Saturday would permanently divide the nation.
Gibbs, chief justice from 1981 to 1987, was deeply concerned about the potential for the constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians to split the nation along racial lines.
He predicted in the early 1990s that "the constitutional debate in Australia is only beginning" and warned of the need to protect the nation's founding document from any future changes based on "self-interest, political expediency, mere fashion or sentimentality".
As founding president of the Samuel Griffith Society, established in 1992, Gibbs wrote Australia Day messages to members and, in 1993, one year after the Mabo case, he expressed alarm that even a simple statement ?recognising Indigenous Australians in the Constitution could have far-reaching consequences.
"The most dangerous change that could be made would be to ?include in the constitution a provision giving special rights to the Aboriginal people," he said.
"One proposal seems to be to include in the constitution a provision recognising the Aboriginal people as the indigenous inhabitants of Australia, or providing for a treaty with them; but anyone who has seen how constitutional courts appear to be able to conjure great constitutional principles from thin air will know that even simple and innocuous words, intended to do no more than improve the relations between the Aboriginal people and other Australians, could be held to be the basis of substantial rights and liabilities - as perhaps some of the advocates of a change of this kind are well aware."
Gibbs warned that "nothing could do more to divide the Australian nation than a constitutional change that gave the Aboriginal people special rights and privileges based solely on race".
"The Aboriginal people, like all other peoples in Australia, are not a uniform group. Some have successfully integrated into 20th ?century society; others are successfully living a traditional mode of life, albeit a modified one; ?others unfortunately are greatly in need of help, which various governments have tried without much success to give them," he said. "Those in need should be succoured, but that does not mean that all those who are of Aboriginal race should be given special constitutional rights which would not be enjoyed by other Australians, even by those in equal need."
Gibbs, who died in 2005, said it was important to "ensure that any change that is made benefits Australia, and that arguments based on self-interest, political expediency, mere fashion or sentimentality are exposed and rejected".
The comments made when Paul Keating was prime minister have been seized upon by the ?Coalition as a prescient warning of the current polarisation caused by the voice.
Despite the warning from Gibbs about constitutional recognition, the Coalition has pledged to take the nation to a second referendum to recognise Indigenous Australians in the Constitution if the voice fails and Peter Dutton wins the next federal election.
Opposition legal affairs spokeswoman, Michaelia Cash, told The Weekend Australian that Gibbs' insights were as ?"relevant today as they were 30 years ago".
"He explicitly warned how granting constitutional rights on the basis of race would permanently divide our country," she said. "He recognised that we should aid our Indigenous brothers and sisters on the basis of need, but should reject division on the basis of race.
"His comments could not be clearer: there is nothing simple or modest about the proposal for a voice. It is precisely the type of change that is 'most dangerous' to our system of government."
Senator Cash also said it was "sad that Harry Gibbs' insights have been lost on those advocating for yes. But I have tremendous faith in the Australian people, and hope that they recognise the wisdom of his approach on referendum day."
The Yes campaign was contacted for comment.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/indigenous-voice-to-parliament-division-was-predicted-by-former-high-court-chief-justice-harry-gibbs/news-story/dcea3bde90713ef6cd0669cdf7d4e661
#19617051 at 2023-09-27 10:25:54 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #32: YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS FIGHT Edition
>>19606805
Stand delivers as Liberals' opposition to Indigenous voice to parliament pays off
PAUL GARVEY - SEPTEMBER 27, 2023
There has been no sadder place in the world these past few years than the Liberal Party stand at the Perth Royal Show.
Perched opposite the Police Pavilion and just a few metres down from the Agriculture Hall of Fame, the pop-up tent has long been a forlorn sight at the annual show as the party suffered through humiliating state and federal election defeats.
This year, however, the MPs, staffers and volunteers manning the stand have noticed a distinct change in mood. More and more people have approached the stand this week - grabbing the Liberal-branded show bags stuffed with notebooks, fridge magnets and a mini Australian flag - than have done so for years.
Amid petting the farm animals, watching the woodchopping competitions and perusing overpriced show bags, punters from across the Perth metropolitan area have taken time to stop in and engage with the party.
"It's fair to say that the level of engagement and the number of people voluntarily coming up and wanting to talk with us is vastly different to 12 months ago," says one Liberal staffer who has been manning the stand.
The key difference, they say, is the voice.
This year, in addition to the Liberal Party bunting, the stand features corflutes and posters urging punters to vote No "to the voice of division".
The Liberal Party experience in WA in recent years has been far scarier than any Ghost Train or rollercoaster over at the show's Sideshow Alley. The humiliation of being reduced to just two lower house seats in the historic 2021 state election rout was followed last year by a wipeout of its federal seats, with the party retaining only one of its seats in the Perth metropolitan area.
But numerous polls have consistently shown support for the voice in WA is among the lowest anywhere in the country, pointing towards a rare and much-needed political win for the Liberals in the west.
Liberal senator Michaelia Cash has been one of the opposition's loudest voices on the referendum. She told The Australian the "overwhelming feedback" from the Royal Show tent was praise for the party's stance on the referendum.
"I've spent a lot of time talking directly with Western Australians about the referendum and it is clear to me that they want the best for Indigenous Australians, but many have failed to be convinced the voice is the best way to go about it," she said.
"They don't trust the Prime Minister because of the lack of detail about the voice. They tell me they don't want to put something permanently in our Constitution when they are not being told the details of how it will operate."
(continued)
#19548568 at 2023-09-14 11:06:28 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #32: YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS FIGHT Edition
Peter Dutton seeks to overturn ACT legislation decriminalising hard drugs
SARAH ISON - SEPTEMBER 14, 2023
Canberra is set to become a "boom market" for drug dealers and crime gangs, according to Peter Dutton, as the federal ?Coalition proposes using commonwealth powers to override the ACT government's decision to decriminalise the possession of ice, heroin, cocaine and other illicit substances.
The ACT government's drug reforms, due to come into effect on October 28, would make Canberra the first city in Australia to decriminalise the possession of small quantities of illicit substances in a bid to divert people away from the justice system and towards treatment services.
But the Coalition announced it would move a private member's Bill in the upper house on Thursday to use commonwealth powers to reverse the laws.
The Opposition Leader said the Coalition would take a stand against the "crazy government legislation" that would result in the Labor-Greens government "rolling out the red carpet for drug use and more crime".
"These ACT drug laws beggar belief," he said. "I am totally shocked and dismayed at what the ACT government is doing.
"The ACT government is rolling out the red carpet for drug use and more crime. It is effectively welcoming more ice, heroin, cocaine, MDMA, and speed, on our streets."
As revealed by The Australian last month, ACT Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith admitted her government took the idea of decriminalising hard drugs to the election "quietly" and used a private member's Bill to "quickly" pass the laws.
This was despite warnings by ACT Police in 2021 that any step towards decriminalising drugs should be made in a slow, "staged" manner, rather than relaxing the rules for several illicit substances at the same time.
The ACT Liberals sought to stall the changes this week, moving a motion for them to be delayed until after the 2024 election, but were ultimately voted down by the Labor-Greens coalition.
Mr Dutton - a former Queensland police officer - said the legislation would give a "green light" to drug use and importation to Canberra.
"The Australian Federal Police has warned that the laws would lure recreational drug users into Canberra and spark an increase in drug-related deaths," he said.
"Police resources are already scarce. This will be a disaster as drug dealers see Canberra as a new boom market for organised crime. The proposed territory drug laws are a disgrace and the federal Coalition will be taking a stand."
The decriminalising of drugs in the ACT - which will officially take place from October 28 - has heaped pressure on other jurisdictions to consider such a policy.
NSW Premier Chris Minns has said his government had no mandate to decriminalise drugs in this term.
Opposition legal affairs spokeswoman Michaelia Cash will in the Senate table the legislation to reverse the ACT laws, with the issue expected to be debated in the next sitting fortnight.
"Our nation's capital should not be the drug capital," she said.
"But the Prime Minister is doing nothing while the ACT Labor-Greens government has opened the door to dangerous drugs in Canberra.
"Where is the PM and where is Senator Katy Gallagher on this issue? Do they agree with this proposed drug law, or are they going to back our law enforcement agencies who are deeply opposed to it?"
When asked about the ACT's policy by The Australian last week, a spokesman for Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil said "State and territory laws are a matter for those states and territories".
ACT independent senator David Pocock slammed the federal Coalition for attacking Territory rights.
"It is hugely disappointing to see interstate senators continuing to try to interfere with the ACT's democratically elected government," he said.
"If they would like to see changes in the ACT's laws, I would encourage them to run for the Legislative Assembly at next year's election."
The issue of Territory rights was brought into focus last year when the Commonwealth passed legislation allowing Canberra to make its own laws in regards to voluntary assisted dying, overturning rules put in place under the Howard government preventing such a move.
The ACT government is now considering implementing the most liberal euthanasia laws in Australia that could be accessed by children as young as 14.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/peter-dutton-seeks-to-overturn-act-legislation-decriminalising-hard-drugs/news-story/b2ce169ea7b6afdda1f728b01be255aa
#19548522 at 2023-09-14 10:52:49 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #32: YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS FIGHT Edition
>>19548520
2/2
Price refused to condemn the views of No leaders Gary Johns, who has said Indigenous people should take blood tests for welfare payments, and David Adler, who accused journalist Stan Grant of artificially darkening his skin, but instead said she and fellow No campaigner Warren Mundine had been subjected to "horrible racial vilification", and that she did not support blood tests.
Many leaders, Price argued, had been scared to apply accountability to Indigenous communities because they were fearful of being marked as prejudiced.
"We are treating Aboriginal people differently. And we treat no other group of Australians in this manner. If I've got anything to do with it, we'll actually start treating Aboriginal people like Australian citizens."
Price received a standing ovation from a crowd that included No leader Mundine, Coalition MPs David Littleproud, Michaelia Cash, Bridget McKenzie, Kerrynne Liddle and Barnaby Joyce, and conservative commentators Tom Switzer and John Roskam.
She said, to the laughter and applause of her colleagues: "That would mean that those of us whose ancestors were possessed in their own country and brought here in chains as convicts are also suffering from intergenerational trauma, so I should be doubly suffering."
Price's comments were later condemned by Linda Burney, the Minister for Indigenous Australians, as "offensive".
"It denies the experience of so many First Nations families. We only have to look at the Stolen Generations and the impacts that has had, in terms of ongoing trauma and pain. Her comments are a betrayal of so many people's stories."
Roskam, an Institute of Public Affairs senior fellow, said Price's referendum campaigning was having a profound effect on centre-right politics in Australia.
He argued Price was proving the Coalition could win the culture wars and take on big business, which largely supports the Voice.
"This is a potentially transformational moment in Australian politics," he said.
After the speech, Central Land Council chief Les Turner said grassroots NT leaders had consistently said Price did not speak for them, according to Guardian Australia.
Liberal MP Keith Wolahan on Thursday pleaded for civility on both sides of the Voice debate, after a week of heated exchanges.
He urged Voice backers to avoid invalidating the outcome of the referendum by claiming the No campaign was based on "misinformation", a term he said was overused.
"When we stoke the fires on either side of this debate, there's consequences for that," he said.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/price-says-colonialism-has-been-good-for-indigenous-australians-20230914-p5e4lz.html
#19452806 at 2023-08-29 09:43:53 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #31: MAGIC SWORD - IN THE FACE OF EVIL Edition
>>19222755
>>19297392
Anthony Albanese won't be campaigning for an Indigenous voice to parliament each day
ROSIE LEWIS and PAIGE TAYLOR - AUGUST 28, 2023
Anthony Albanese won't campaign daily for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, but instead appear at major referendum events in between running the country, declaring the proposal was "about just giving a bit of respect" to Indigenous people.
The Prime Minister attempted to play down the reach of the Voice by comparing it to business groups and stakeholders that provide advice to government.
Peter Dutton predicted a tight vote across the country - including in his home state of Queensland - and said Australians would be bullied into voting Yes.
A small number of cabinet ministers will join Mr Albanese at a "significant community rally" in the northern suburbs of Adelaide on Wednesday to announce the referendum date, which is expected to be October 14.
Attempting to defy No campaign accusations Labor was too focused on the Voice, government sources said Mr Albanese would be "working hard" on governing and delivering for Australians ?during the official campaign but would attend some major campaign events.
Ministers who hold portfolios where the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians is starkest - such as Health Minister Mark Butler and Education Minister Jason Clare - will campaign alongside Yes23 to ?demonstrate "practical solutions the Voice poses".
With federal cabinet in Perth on Monday, Foreign Minister Penny Wong was joined by former Liberal deputy leader Julie Bishop for a street walk.
The Yes campaign told The Australian that in some of the city's suburbs 50 per cent of households were unaware of the Voice or that a referendum would take place later this year. There were also pockets of undecided voters above 40 per cent, giving Yes23 hope Western Australia, which consistently polls as a staunch No state, was still in play.
Mr Albanese said the state's scrapped cultural heritage laws had nothing to do with the Voice and the Indigenous advisory body would not make decisions about people's land, after opposition legal affairs spokeswoman Michaelia Cash led a campaign likening the Voice to the unpopular laws.
"All the Voice is is an advisory group, like business have groups and a lot of people give advice to government. What it will be is a structured advice group," Mr Albanese told Perth's Nova 97.3FM. "It will then be up to government to decide whether they agree with it or not on any issue. None of that will change."
Earlier he told Mix 94.5FM: "Remember with the apology to the Stolen Generations? It was like 'no, we can't apologise because there'll be all these consequences'. There weren't. Marriage equality, 'we couldn't have marriage equality because it would ruin straight marriages and it will change everyone's lives'. It didn't.
"This is about just giving a bit of respect to what is 3 per cent of the population. So, an upside for them with no downside for anyone else."
The Opposition Leader accused Mr Albanese of trying to deceive voters after The Australian revealed Yes23 was providing volunteers cheat sheets on how to redirect voters who ask why the Voice was needed now, raise concerns over the lack of detail and who believed the Voice was about "more than just recognition".
Yes23 campaigners have been given examples on how to "affirm, answer and redirect" under a plan to engage the base, persuade the maybes and ignore the opposition.
Mr Dutton conceded many Australians were still undecided though said those people were inclined to vote No "because the Prime Minister won't give them detail". "There's going to be a tight vote across the country," he said.
"The Yes campaign has $100m to spend between now and the 14th of October ... People will be bombarded with ads. People will be bullied into voting Yes. If I thought it was in our country's best interests, I'd sign up to it in a heartbeat - but it is not."
The government and Yes campaign have fiercely disputed the No camp's claim that Yes23 will spend $100m on the referendum.
Former foreign minister Ms Bishop said a successful referendum would give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people their rightful place in the Constitution, but also the "right, and the risk and the responsibility to come up with policies that will address the ?problems, as they see them, and get better outcomes".
Asked how a No vote would be perceived overseas, she said: "I know that Australia's international reputation can be affected by a No vote. I have no doubt that it would be sending a very negative message about the openness, and the empathy, and the respect and responsibility that the Australian people have for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders."
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/anthony-albanese-wont-be-campaigning-for-an-indigenous-voice-to-parliament-each-day/news-story/b878553fa5a6ab7460a9c84cff3604dc
#19446079 at 2023-08-28 09:14:14 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #31: MAGIC SWORD - IN THE FACE OF EVIL Edition
>>19222755
>>19297392
Voice No vote will damage Australia's standing: Bishop
Tom Rabe and Tom McIlroy - Aug 28, 2023
Former foreign minister Julie Bishop says Australia's international reputation will be damaged if the country votes No in the looming Voice to parliament referendum.
Ms Bishop joined Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Perth on Monday for a street walk organised to build support for the Yes campaign in Western Australia, considered safe territory for the No side.
Ms Bishop, who served as foreign minister under Liberal leaders Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull, echoed comments from Labor figures including Anthony Albanese that if voters rejected the Voice it risked sending a negative message about Australia's "openness and empathy".
She is popular with voters in Western Australia, but her support for the Voice puts her at odds with Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and senior WA Liberals including frontbenchers Michaelia Cash and Andrew Hastie.
"I know that Australia's international reputation can be affected by a No vote," Ms Bishop said.
"I have no doubt that it will be sending a very negative message about the openness and the empathy and the respect and responsibility that the Australian people have for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
"It's probably more difficult for Penny to say this because she's out there on the international stage having to promote Australia's current position, but I would be most concerned at the message this would send the rest of the world if we can't find it in our hearts to say yes."
Asked whether she agreed with Ms Bishop's assessment, Senator Wong said: "Julie, as always, is very eloquent and I'm going to leave it at that.
"This referendum is about recognition, it's about listening and it's about better outcomes, and as Julie very eloquently spoke about, this is something after 20 years in politics, you look at and think 'this is a way of trying to make sure we actually do better and listen to what Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander people have said to us'."
Ms Bishop is the Australian National University chancellor. She said the university believed the Uluru Statement from the Heart was an opportunity to address Indigenous disadvantage.
"I'm looking for a respectful, sensible debate across the nation," she said after the event with Yes23 campaign director Dean Parkin.
"I believe that this is an opportunity first to give Aboriginal Torres Strait Islanders their rightful place in the Constitution, but secondly, to give them the right and the risk and the responsibility to come up with policies that will address the problems as they see them and get better outcomes, and I truly believe that this is our opportunity."
The comments come as company directors supporting the Voice say advocates need a sharper message for voters about its benefits, and prepare to spend a $130,000 war chest.
Undecided voters
Organised by Ming Long, a director of Telstra and IFM Investors, and Nora Scheinkestel, who sits on the Westpac and Origin Energy boards, the group placed full-page advertisements advocating a Yes vote in national newspapers on Monday.
But Yes campaign spokesman Thomas Mayo said many voters wanted questions answered, and were yet to decide their position. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to announce a date for the referendum this week.
"What I've found over the years is that when you give people the explanation on what this vote is really about, it's basically just yes or no," he said.
"There's around 30 to 40 per cent of Australians that haven't made up their minds yet. And those are the people that we're going to be focusing on.
"We've been working furiously on being ready for this final run to the polls."
Campaigning in Queensland, Mr Dutton said he expected a tight result, but warned against a major advertising campaign by Voice supporters.
"People will be bombarded with ads. People will be bullied into voting Yes," he said.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/voice-no-vote-will-damage-australia-s-standing-bishop-20230828-p5e00j
#19427643 at 2023-08-25 13:50:06 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #31: MAGIC SWORD - IN THE FACE OF EVIL Edition
>>19222755
>>19417576
>>19417591
AEC ticks off Peter Dutton over 'factually incorrect' complaint
James Massola - August 25, 2023
1/2
The Australian Electoral Commission has rebuked Peter Dutton for making a "factually incorrect" complaint after the federal opposition leader complained that a tick on a Voice referendum ballot paper counting as a vote but a cross not counting would advantage the Yes camp.
On Thursday, Dutton called on the AEC to rethink counting ticks as a Yes vote but not counting crosses as a No vote on a referendum ballot paper - even though doing this has been standard practice for the commission in referendums for 30 years under so-called 'savings provisions'.
As Prime Minister Anthony Albanese prepares to announce the referendum date on Wednesday - with October 14 widely expected to be named as polling day - AEC commissioner Tom Rogers this week warned that the level of mis- and disinformation online had reached new highs.
Voters will be clearly instructed to write either Yes or No on their referendum ballot papers but when they do not, the 'savings provisions' allow the commission to count a vote when a voter's intention is clear.
Despite this, Dutton said that the AEC's ruling gave the Yes campaign a clear advantage and called for the ruling to be re-thought or overturned, even suggesting that he would support legislation to make the change.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Friday, the AEC said Australians were rightly proud of their electoral system and while there was a high level of scrutiny and commentary on the looming referendum, "sometimes this commentary is immediate and based on emotion rather than the reality of the law which the AEC must administer".
"There has been intense commentary online and in mainstream media regarding what will and will not be a formal vote for the 2023 referendum; specifically around whether or not a 'tick' or a 'cross' will be able to be counted," the commission said.
"Much of that commentary is factually incorrect and ignores the law surrounding 'savings provisions'; the longstanding legal advice regarding the use of ticks and crosses, and the decades-long and multi-referendum history of the application of that law and advice.
"The AEC completely and utterly rejects the suggestions by some that by transparently following the established, public and known legislative requirements we are undermining the impartiality and fairness of the referendum."
The opposition's legal affairs spokeswoman Michaelia Cash, however, hit back at the AEC statement and said allowing people to put a cross to denote a No vote was a "basic question of fairness".
"If a tick counts for Yes, a cross should count for No. To do otherwise gives the Yes case an unfair advantage. The decision to treat ticks as 'yes' but crosses as ambiguous is a decision the AEC has made," she said.
"Saying that there's a savings provision is misleading. There is no savings provision that deals with ticks and crosses. The AEC says this approach is based on legal advice from the 1980s. But the Australian people have never seen that advice - and just because you've done something for a long time doesn't mean it's right."
"The sensible thing would be to make a clear rule so that ticks and crosses are treated equally, and neither side gets an advantage."
The AEC was asked for a copy of the legal advice.
(continued)
#19397646 at 2023-08-21 09:58:20 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #31: MAGIC SWORD - IN THE FACE OF EVIL Edition
>>19222755
>>19297392
Penny Wong and Noel Pearson hit the churches and the temples to preach for the voice
PAIGE TAYLOR - AUGUST 21, 2023
1/2
After a weekend of preaching to the converted at Labor's national conference, the ALP and the Yes campaign are hitting the temples and the churches to convert ?undecided voters to the voice.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong and voice co-architect Noel Pearson were invited to a Sikh temple in Adelaide's Allenby Gardens on Sunday to speak to worshippers about constitutional change that would guarantee an Indigenous advisory body and, proponents argue, close the gap where previous attempts have failed. At the revered langar - the community kitchen of the temple - they served food to the worshippers, following the ancient Sikh tradition of feeding anyone who is hungry and in need.
Mr Pearson, who has taken a leading role in promoting the Yes case throughout the country in recent weeks, told The Australian religious leaders would play a ?pivotal role in the campaign.
"Faith traditions and people of faith share values of social justice, reconciliation, human equality, and peace. We share these aspirations and seek this through this recognition," he said on Sunday.
"More than 50 per cent of ?Australians identify as people of faith, and faith leaders have the opportunity to present the critical facts to their communities about recognition through voice so they can make an informed decision based on facts, not fear."
But in Perth, 2700km west of the City of Churches, the No campaign's most faithful supporters were out in force.
More than 1000 people - many of them queuing for hours for the best seats - were eager to hear the voice gospel according to opposition Indigenous Australians spokeswoman Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, South Australian senator Kerrynne Liddle and No case leader Nyunggai Warren Mundine. The Liberals for No campaign launch was a loud and strident ?critique of Anthony ?Albanese and a proposal that Senator Price said would divide the nation on race lines.
"I understand love and acceptance and tolerance ... instead of gaslighting and emotional blackmail, which is what we're seeing on a national scale being driven by our Prime Minister," Senator Price said.
In Western Australia, senator Michaelia Cash has driven a ?potent campaign against the voice by linking it to the Cook Labor government's unpopular Aboriginal heritage laws. When the Cook government abandoned the laws last week, Senator Cash was able to use it as a demonstration of the permanency of constitutional change.
She said: "They were bad laws and the fact that they were able to dump them says this: You can scrap a bad law, but guess what? If you change the Constitution, you cannot alter it. It is already changed."
Yes campaign insiders claim the referendum is still up for grabs, despite polls suggesting ?opposition is starting to look baked in. This is partly because of polling it believes shows about 40 per cent of voters are either "soft no" or undecided.
The campaign sees South Australia as ?potentially the deciding state. Faith groups are also seen as ?important partly because they allow one-on-one conversations between Yes campaigners and people who may not have made up their minds.
(continued)
#19382262 at 2023-08-18 14:52:53 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #31: MAGIC SWORD - IN THE FACE OF EVIL Edition
>>19222755
>>19297392
Anthony Albanese presses go to super-charge Indigenous voice to parliament campaign
GEOFF CHAMBERS - AUGUST 18, 2023
Anthony Albanese, senior cabinet ministers and state premiers are preparing a nationwide blitz of battleground states and electorates, as the ALP and union campaign machines swing behind the Yes23 grassroots movement ahead of the voice referendum.
The Prime Minister and Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney on Saturday will use speeches on the final day of the ALP national conference in Brisbane to springboard Labor's Yes campaign ahead of an expected October 14 referendum.
Local Yes supporter groups, now established in every federal electorate and embedded with pro-Yes Labor and Liberal MPs, will be bolstered by more than 20,000 volunteers who will lead doorknocking, letterboxing and phone canvassing operations in coming weeks.
The Weekend Australian understands Ms Burney will use her conference address to energise the labour movement to join the Yes campaign and lead conversations in local communities to win the referendum.
Mr Albanese, along with senior colleagues and popular premiers including Peter Malinauskas, Daniel Andrews and Chris Minns, will step up efforts targeting soft voters when the prime minister fires the starting gun on the referendum campaign.
Government sources confirmed September 10 is the cut-off to call an October 14 referendum.
Pro-voice operatives said the interaction between political and grassroots campaigns would seek to avoid MPs leading the daily debate or taking control of the Yes23 strategy. While the Yes23 campaign will outspend No's Fair Australia campaign across mass media markets in the final five to six weeks of the campaign, pro-voice backers are ramping up on-the-ground operations targeting train stations in peak periods, shopping centres and weekend markets.
The ALP's campaign machine will unleash an election-style digital media advertising blitz aimed at reaching millions of Australians.
A campaign source said direct voter contact and face-to-face conversations explaining what the voice proposal entails were key to flipping soft voters.
Outside the capital cities, the Uluru Dialogue is leading the campaign push in the regions.
Liberals for Yes is also planning events led by former opposition Indigenous Australians spokesman Julian Leeser, Bass MP Brid?get Archer and Kate Carnell.
The Yes campaign is seeking to amplify the cross-party alliance in support of the voice, including Labor, Liberals, Greens and independents Helen Haines, Andrew Wilkie, Allegra Spender and David Pocock.
Prominent Yes campaigner Noel Pearson joined South Australian Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young in Adelaide on Friday, and Yes23 campaign director Dean Parkin held events with NSW Liberal MPs Matt Kean, James Griffin and Felicity Wilson last week.
Amid expectations that Queensland and Western Australia will oppose the voice, the No side will push hard to win South Australia or Tasmania.
Prominent No campaigners Warren Mundine and opposition Indigenous Australians spokeswoman Jacinta Price launched the WA Liberals for No campaign in Perth on Friday alongside Liberal senators Michaelia Cash and Kerrynne Liddle.
Ahead of national conference endorsing the voice, Mr Albanese said his Labor caucus and party were "united" on the referendum.
"This isn't a matter of ?convenience. This is a matter of conviction.
"This is about recognising our First Nations people in our Constitution after 122 years, and then it's simply about listening in order to get better results," Mr Albanese said.
"We can't continue to just do more of the same, And constitutional change isn't easy. We know eight out of 48 referendums have passed, and only one that's been put forward by the Labor Party has passed."
Mr Albanese repeated his claim that if the referendum failed, "it will be a setback for reconciliation, and it will be a lost opportunity".
"What we know from the Republic referendum that was held at the end of the last century, the last time we had a referendum, is not only has it not returned in the quarter of a century almost since, it's not on the horizon in the next couple of years either," he said.
"This is in the hands of the Australian people.
"I will do my best to promote a Yes vote. I was fully aware, when I said that we would hold a referendum, there were people who said that's a risk.
"Of course, it's a risk. Change is hard. But this is necessary."
Mr Albanese said the referendum would be in October or November and the government was working with the AEC.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/pm-presses-go-on-alp-voice-campaign/news-story/8e925b701bd7800fde99a0c6c5097487
#19326721 at 2023-08-09 11:48:11 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #31: MAGIC SWORD - IN THE FACE OF EVIL Edition
>>19289705
>>19308125
>>19289887
Linda Reynolds blasts 'social crusader' ACT DPP Shane Drumgold
JANET ALBRECHTSEN and STEPHEN RICE - AUGUST 8, 2023
Former defence minister Linda Reynolds has criticised outgoing ACT chief prosecutor Shane Drumgold for his treatment of her in the witness box during the rape trial of Bruce Lehrmann, and for comments he made as he resigned from the position, saying when she first read them, she "thought it was a joke".
"If there was ever any doubt of the need for the Sofronoff inquiry, the DPP's own statement justified it," Senator Reynolds told The Australian. "It was clearly the voice of a social crusader, not a DPP, and it was clear to me that it was in his mind, the ends justified the means."
Senator Reynolds gave evidence at the rape trial of Mr Lehrmann after Brittany Higgins claimed she had told her then boss she had been raped. Senator Reynolds testified that Ms Higgins had never made that claim.
During the trial, Mr Drumgold told the jury "political forces" explained the delay in Ms Higgins' complaint to the police, and that "it is abundantly clear from the evidence and actions of Senator Reynolds during this trial that those political forces were still a factor".
Mr Drumgold alleged strong political forces on numerous occasions during the trial.
However, Mr Sofronoff found "there was not a single piece of evidence that anyone had applied pressure upon Ms Higgins that could legitimately be described as 'strong political forces'".
During the inquiry Mr Drumgold admitted he was wrong to believe there had been any kind of political interference in the case.
Senator Reynolds said: "It sounds like the plot of a great political thriller, that these forces were at play in Parliament House, but anybody who knows anything knows there is no way that as a minister, either Michaelia Cash or I could have influenced the conduct of an investigation by the Australian Federal Police.
"It's just such a serious allegation, it's saying that we perverted the course of justice. Well, I think this has shown that he's the one - by being an activist - who's perverted the course of justice."
In his resignation statement Mr Drumgold said he had complained about the way police handled the case because it was "reflective of the chronic problem in Australia with the way our legal institutions deal with allegations of sexual violence".
He highlighted several statistics he said showed low numbers of sexual assault cases reported and prosecuted, especially in the ACT.
"He's admitted that's how he handled the case - because the numbers were low," Senator Reynolds said. "But each case in our judicial system has to be conducted on its merits in accordance with the rules.
"You can't just turn this into a quota to say, 'well, my numbers are low so therefore I'm going to do everything I can to get this conviction regardless of the truth', and treat witnesses like myself and others in a way that's most likely to result in a conviction.
"Justice has to be blind and he lost sight of that. As Mr Sofronoff found, he was not truthful, he lied. It's untenable for our justice system because everybody, whether you are a defendant or a complainant, you need to have confidence that the justice system is going to be objective and focused on the truth."
Senator Reynolds said it was no excuse for Mr Drumgold to say he had come from an underprivileged background, or grown up on a Housing Commission estate.
"There can be no excuse for a DPP to lie to the judge. Statistics, background, nothing, no excuses. They're not fit to be a DPP, because it doesn't matter what your background is, you have to be fair and equal to everybody."
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/linda-reynolds-blasts-social-crusader-act-dpp-shane-drumgold/news-story/d99e072639b05186d922150da62f5dab
#19303148 at 2023-08-05 15:00:41 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #31: MAGIC SWORD - IN THE FACE OF EVIL Edition
>>19222755
>>19256826
>>19297392
Yes campaign relieved as WA set to scrap controversial heritage laws
Lisa Visentin - August 5, 2023
1/2
Gulkula, Northern Territory: An obstacle appears to have been cleared from the path of the Yes campaign with the Western Australian government expected to scrap controversial Aboriginal heritage laws that had become a flashpoint in the Voice referendum.
Reports of the move to ditch the laws were welcomed by the Yes campaign and Voice advocates at the Garma Festival in north-east Arnhem Land yesterday, after the federal Coalition sought to link the two issues and suggested the WA measures were a precursor to broader national changes that could infringe on property owners' rights.
Yes 23 campaign director Dean Parkin said it gave his side clear air to sell the Voice as it ramps up its efforts to win over Australians ahead of an anticipated referendum date in October.
"It absolutely gives us a clear pathway … to be able to focus very closely on that very simple question on recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first people to this country through a voice.
"Unfortunately some of those issues have been caught up a little bit with that debate about cultural heritage in WA," he said. Published polls show WA is likely to vote No in the referendum, but the fierce backlash to the heritage laws had threatened to spill into the broader national campaign.
Shadow attorney-general Michaelia Cash, a WA senator, said abandoning the laws would be a humiliating backdown and suggested it had been made because the controversy was turning Australians off the Voice.
"The chaos that was caused in Western Australia is an indication of what could happen if a Voice to parliament is enshrined in our Constitution," Cash said.
The WA laws - introduced to heighten protection of cultural sites following the destruction of the ancient Juukan Gorge by Rio Tinto in 2020 - required landowners with properties larger than 1100 square metres to apply for permits or create management plans for work on their land that may impact an Aboriginal cultural heritage site, and have generated confusion over compliance.
The laws, which took effect in July, faced a fierce backlash from farmers, while the federal opposition pushed the Albanese government to rule out replicating the laws federally.
Speaking at the Garma festival, Rio Tinto Australia chief executive Kellie Parker said she would be seeking further details from the WA government, as she rejected criticism from the opposition about corporates supporting the Yes campaign.
"We tragically made massive mistakes at Juukan Gorge and have learned really, really deep lessons," she said. "One of those is that if you listen, and you can co-manage country, you get a much better outcome … That's what I think the Voice is. You're listening to what Indigenous people want."
Aboriginal land council leaders also sought to assuage public concerns about the Voice in light of the controversy around the WA laws.
Kimberley Land Council chief executive Tyronne Garstone condemned the rollout of the laws as "appalling", saying the legislation had never been supported by Aboriginal people.
"We've always thought this is clearly two different issues that we're dealing with. The act itself, the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act, is something else. But the Voice is the hope for the future for all of us."
Peter Lansen from the Northern Land Council said: "We're not here to steal your backyard. We are here to work with you. We are here to share our culture fully with you."
(continued)
#19188897 at 2023-07-16 09:34:31 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #31: MAGIC SWORD - IN THE FACE OF EVIL Edition
#30 - Part 42
Indigenous Voice To Parliament Referendum - Part 2
>>18939811 Indigenous voice to parliament proposal is 'modest' no more, says Anthony Albanese - "Anthony Albanese's lack of a detailed argument supporting the Yes case for an Indigenous voice to parliament and executive government and his propensity to emotionally adjust to the audience he is addressing is leading him into inconsistency. For months the Prime Minister has argued that the voice referendum proposal is "modest and gracious". But, under emotional influence - genuine and sincere - Albanese has declared to a highly sympathetic audience that the proposal is "modest" no more. "So let us not content ourselves with modest change," he said in the culmination and conclusion of the Lowitja O'Donaghue oration in Adelaide. "Let us not fill our hearts with the empty warmth of the merely symbolic," he said." - Dennis Shanahan - theaustralian.com.au
>>18939831 A 'modest' Indigenous voice to parliament? Take a look out west to consider it's far reaching consequences - "Anthony Albanese's pitch to Australians for months has been that they should vote for his voice because it will be an important "but modest change". Only the cat is now out of the bag with his comments in a speech to Indigenous leaders this week declaring "let this be no modest change". In the clearest sign yet of what will come, all Australians need to look at the enormous Aboriginal heritage changes about to roll out across Western Australia from July 1. What's more, these changes will create a whole new land-use approvals regime that circumvents elected officials and subjects the rights of private property owners to Aboriginal heritage assessment." - Peta Credlin - theaustralian.com.au
>>18939852 Don't let No scare tactics get in the way of the Indigenous voice to parliament - "Some have claimed the voice's representations would derail government decisions on everything from nuclear-powered submarines to lighthouses. Michaelia Cash even said the voice would interfere with parking tickets. Others have claimed the voice will stymie Australia's national security and could even prevent Australia going to war. These suggestions demonstrate the tenor of the No case. The Yes case cannot resort to lies. The case for change must deal in truth. Advocates for this change must fight fear with facts, as Leeser has done in his latest speech. And we must answer hate with love. If we do that, the Yes vote will succeed." - Shireen Morris, constitutional lawyer and director of the Radical Centre Reform Lab at Macquarie University law school - theaustralian.com.au
>>18939907 Video: Voice to Parliament draws mixed opinions in Indigenous community of Woorabinda - Like many in his community, Douglas Graham wants to see the town of Woorabinda - and the lives of the people in it - improve, but he is unsure if or how the Indigenous Voice to Parliament would help. Mr Graham, the librarian at Woorabinda's Indigenous Knowledge Centre in central Queensland, has been following the public debate on the proposed Voice to Parliament. But the Gooreng Gooreng/Lamalama man says what it will mean for his people on the ground is still unclear. "We've had a voice ... and they still haven't listened to us [since colonisation]," he said.
>>18939935 Queensland LNP leader David Crisafulli to vote No on Indigenous voice to parliament - Queensland's Liberal National Party leader David Crisafulli has revealed he will vote No in the Indigenous voice to parliament referendum later this year. Mr Crisafulli, who had for months refused to reveal his position, on Wednesday said he planned to vote No but would not actively campaign against the voice. Mr Crisafulli said he was concerned about "risks" of enshrining the voice in the constitution, including the potential it could undermine parliament's power. "I don't feel a voice that is legislated wouldn't be able to achieve exactly the same thing as one that's enshrined in the constitution, (but) without that level of risk," he said.
>>18945729 Father Brennan tells Albanese and Dutton to find common ground on Voice - One of the Catholic Church's leading proponents of the Indigenous Voice to parliament fears the referendum will leave Australians divided - no matter the result - and he lays the blame on both sides of politics for not striving harder to find common ground. Father Frank Brennan, a Jesuit priest and human rights lawyer, will use a lecture in Rome to urge Australians to recommit themselves to a "deep inner listening" towards each other and the land. He will remind Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton that they bear responsibility for the tone of the debate.
#19188884 at 2023-07-16 09:30:56 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #31: MAGIC SWORD - IN THE FACE OF EVIL Edition
#30 - Part 30
Brittany Higgins Rape Trial and Sofronoff Inquiry into ACT Criminal Justice System - Part 6
>>18982587 Video: Katy Gallagher admits she knew of Brittany Higgins' rape claim, insists she didn't 'weaponise' information - Under-fire Finance Minister Katy Gallagher has conceded she became aware of some details of Brittany Higgins' rape allegations before they were made public, but insists she did not do anything with the information. Facing the media for the first time since text messages surfaced showing Ms Higgins' boyfriend, David Sharaz, claiming to have corresponded with the senator in the days leading up to the story breaking, Senator Gallagher said she had not misled the parliament. "I was responding to an assertion that was being made by the minister Reynolds at the time that we had known about this for weeks and had made a decision to weaponise it," she said. "That is not true. It was never true. I explained that to Senator Reynolds that night and she accepted that explanation."
>>18982744 EXCLUSIVE: Mystery as Grace Tame quietly removes gushing Brittany Higgins birthday tribute where she declared her 'a national hero' on Instagram - Grace Tame has deleted an Instagram post in which she declared Brittany Higgins was 'a national hero' and that the former political staffer was a 'warrior' and 'my friend'. The sexual abuse survivor made national headlines when she wrote the post on Brittany Higgins' birthday last year, but it has now mysteriously disappeared from her social media page. The rousing post, which was an emotional tribute to the former Liberal staffer, decried what Ms Tame called an 'insidious nationwide character assassination campaign' against Ms Higgins, saying her 'friend' had faced 'layered injustice' and 'relentless criticism'. Ms Tame's December 7, 2022 post, which has now vanished from all stories about it linked to her Instagram page, was supporting Ms Higgins as she spent her 28th birthday in a Queensland mental health clinic.
>>18987561 Cash demands answers as new Wilkinson recording surfaces - Michaelia Cash has demanded Network 10 release the full five-hour recording of a pre-interview with Brittany Higgins in which The Project journalist Lisa Wilkinson discusses with her covertly recording the Liberal senator, who was then her boss. It previously came to light Ms Higgins secretly recorded a phone call with Senator Cash - the then-employment minister and now opposition legal affairs spokeswoman - shortly after her resignation from Parliament House. "That a senior journalist in Lisa Wilkinson, and the producer of The Project, would actively have encouraged a young woman in a distressed situation to basically commit what is considered to be an illegal offence by recording a conversation with another person. Personally, I think Channel 10, The Project and Lisa Wilkinson have some very, very serious questions to answer."
>>18987606 Minister under siege digs in for a fight - Federal Finance Minister Katy Gallagher was defiant and all but silent as she flew into a Canberra firestorm over her knowledge of Brittany Higgins' rape allegations, as Anthony Albanese's ministers prepare to "back her to the hilt" against a Coalition onslaught in parliament this week. After a rapturous reception from Labor's female activists at a Perth conference and the firm backing of the Prime Minister over the weekend, Senator Gallagher -- wearing a "Women's Spirit Network" hoodie - had no patience for questions as she landed back in the national capital. "I've got nothing to say," she said repeatedly after touching down in the ACT.
>>18998319 Video: 'Those are the facts': Katy Gallagher denies misleading parliament over Brittany Higgins' allegations - Katy Gallagher has once again denied misleading parliament over her knowledge of Brittany Higgins' rape allegations, while the Australian Federal Police is assesing a complaint over the leaking of text messages in the matter. In a statement to the Senate, the federal finance minister repeated her assertion that, while she knew about Higgins' rape allegations before they became public, she had not misled parliament by telling an estimates committee three years ago that "no one had any knowledge" of the matter.
#19188883 at 2023-07-16 09:30:38 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #31: MAGIC SWORD - IN THE FACE OF EVIL Edition
#30 - Part 29
Brittany Higgins Rape Trial and Sofronoff Inquiry into ACT Criminal Justice System - Part 5
>>18977134 Labor sought to gain - it's found political pain over Brittany Higgins saga - "The vexing domestic realities of being prime minister have landed squarely at Anthony Albanese's feet this week after his return from overseas. Facing a war with inflation, battles with business, the spectre of recession and flagging support for the voice to parliament, Albanese now also faces a potential political scandal involving senior members of his government. Having had an easy ride for the first 12 months in office, Albanese is now under pressure, with the road ahead riddled with potential political potholes. The key to the Brittany Higgins text revelations is who among Albanese's cabinet colleagues knew what and when. There are unresolved questions about what level of involvement members of the then Labor opposition had." - Simon Benson - theaustralian.com.au
>>18977148 David Sharaz is a 'puppet master' set on destroying the Liberals: Bruce Lehrmann - Bruce Lehrmann has claimed Brittany Higgins' partner David Sharaz is a "puppet master" who orchestrated the release of the rape allegations against him, and says he has exploited Ms Higgins' "fame" to engineer a campaign to support Labor and topple the ?Liberals. Mr Lehrmann's scathing opinion of Mr Sharaz comes as leaked text messages reveal Mr Sharaz had used his connections with a former Labor media adviser to line up a job for Ms Higgins, following her resignation from the office of former attorney-general Michaelia Cash.
>>18977167 What we know about Brittany Higgins' fiance David Sharaz - From support act to central player, the links of David Sharaz to Canberra and key figures in the Labor Party appear deeply personal. After a week of explosive revelations, the fiance of Brittany Higgins, David Sharaz has gone from support act to central figure in the saga involving her alleged rape at Parliament House. Who is David Sharaz and where did he work? Why did he meet with Lisa Wilkinson? Why is he under fire?
>>18977231 Video: Lisa Wilkinson caught mocking Liberals in secret tape - Ex-Project star Lisa Wilkinson has been caught on tape struggling to pronounce Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price's name and mocking Liberals with Ten colleagues. The explosive audio was recorded by Project producer Angus Llewllyn on his mobile phone during a pre-interview discussion at a Sydney hotel on January 27, 2021. It includes Ms Wilkinson, Brittany Higgins, her partner David Sharaz and Llewllyn, an executive producer, drinking gin and tonics and mimosas and giving their 'unplugged' views on political leaders.
>>18977278 Wilkinson, Network 10 apologise to Jacinta Nampijinpa Price over leaked recording - Lisa Wilkinson and Network 10 have apologised to Opposition Indigenous Australians spokeswoman Jacinta Nampijinpa Price after leaked audio revealed Wilkinson struggling to pronounce the senator's name in a manner she claimed was racist. But Ms Wilkinson also defended the "tenor" of the conversation, which Senator Price claimed was "derogatory", as about how many female Liberal pre-selections "were in unwinnable positions". "I sincerely apologise to Senator Price for any offence I may have caused. The conversation was private and not intended to appear as it has out of context and in the public arena," she said in a statement released by Network 10.
>>18982556 Brittany Higgins: Gallagher, Wong 'knew of rape claim' - Former defence minister Linda Reynolds claims now-Finance Minister Katy Gallagher and now-Foreign Minister Penny Wong conceded to her that they knew about Brittany Higgins' rape allegations before they were made public, hours after Senator Gallagher told the Senate she had no prior knowledge of the ex-staffer's story. The Coalition will use parliament next week to ramp up pressure on Senator Gallagher over her knowledge of the rape allegation, as Anthony Albanese emphatically denies his minister misled the Senate.
#18380403 at 2023-02-20 08:13:22 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #27: THEY ARE IN FULL BLOWN PANIC MODE Edition
>>18380402
3/3
In another, Senator Reynolds says: "I have reflected often on your warning to me in Feb on what Penny was about to unleash and your genuine concern - I must confess it is impossible to reconcile with your approach since."
Kitching responds: "I had to ask those questions because they were assigned to me. I am the shadow Assistant minister in your area. They were not written by me at all. I'm very happy to discuss this in person. And I would like to."
Senator Reynolds now says Labor kept up the attacks after she became minister for the NDIS ?because they were disappointed Scott Morrison had kept her in the ministry.
"Because it was a sort of scalp ... and I think they were just really pissy - they hadn't quite killed me off," she said.
Senator Reynolds said Australians need to think about the ?implications of the Department of Finance compensation process that led to the large settlement with Ms Higgins.
Neither Senator Reynolds nor Liberal Party frontbencher Michaelia Cash, on whose staff Ms Higgins later served, was asked for evidence that contested Ms Higgins' claims.
"Any other Australian has to lodge a claim and it takes time and the claim is tested," Senator Reynolds said.
"I think there are legitimate questions here - it doesn't appear that a formal claim was required to be lodged.
"I was surprised and incredibly disappointed that I was barred from defending myself against any allegations and surprised that it didn't appear any such allegations were tested."
A spokesperson for Senator Gallagher said Senator Reynolds' claims were untrue but declined to answer detailed questions from The Australian about her association and conversations with Mr Sharaz and Ms Higgins, including any conversations about any ?potential or actual civil claim by Ms Higgins against the federal government.
Senator Gallagher also declined to answer questions about whether it was appropriate for her as Finance Minister to sign off on the confidential settlement under these circumstances and why Senator Reynolds was instructed not to attend the mediation.
The spokesperson said the questions "should be redirected to the Attorney-General or his department as they relate to a significant matter under a legal services direction or legal processes".
In a joint statement, Senator Gallagher and Senator Wong said:
"Senator Reynolds has also previously acknowledged, on the public record, that these claims are untrue.
"People will decide for themselves why Senator Reynolds has now changed her story. Senator Wong and Senator Gallagher's long track records of integrity speak for themselves.
"Serious allegations were made and it was entirely appropriate for Senator Wong and Senator Gallagher to ask reasonable questions of the then Morrison Government about how they responded. Both senators always ensured that Ms Higgins' wellbeing was front of mind and respected when pursuing this issue."
Mr Lehrmann's trial on rape charges was aborted last October due to juror misconduct.
Mr Lehrmann pleaded not guilty and has at all times denied the allegations.
The Director of Public Prosecutions has now withdrawn the charges.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/katy-gallagher-knew-brittany-higgins-boyfriend-david-sharaz-before-payout-linda-reynolds/news-story/bb09f1e2821d5bd2c5aee334d311a0b5
#18363669 at 2023-02-17 14:23:55 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #27: THEY ARE IN FULL BLOWN PANIC MODE Edition
>>18363651
2/4
Senator Reynolds said that when she met with Ms Higgins on April 1, 2019, the young staffer was "apologetic" and "embarrassed" about the incident. Senator Reynolds is emphatic that Ms Higgins did not at any point say she had been raped or assaulted.
However, suspecting something sexual might have occurred, she and Ms Brown suggested the young woman should speak to police. Ms Brown then took Ms Higgins to see Australian Federal Police officers stationed in the parliament building.
"Brittany did that on the Monday (April 1), but she came back to me and said that, you know, it was helpful but 'I'm not gonna pursue it further'," Senator Reynolds said.
"So I said, okay, well, whatever you need."
Three days later the AFP advised that Ms Higgins had got back to them to say she would make a complaint.
Senator Reynolds believed police were following up the ?complaint, and said she offered Ms Higgins support and various ?options to continue in her job. Ms Higgins chose to campaign with the minister in Perth and was invited to remain working for her after the election.
"She declined. She thanked me for being a great boss. She gave me flowers, and then she went to Michaelia Cash's office, on a promotion," Senator Reynolds said.
In the nearly two years that ?followed, Senator Reynolds was ?unaware Ms Higgins had ?decided to delay giving a formal statement to police and was ?instead making contact with journalists to tell her story publicly.
But she became aware something was afoot two weeks before the bombshell Wilkinson interview.
A friend, late Labor senator Kimberley Kitching, had come up to her in the chamber.
Senator Reynolds said: "She said, 'Linda, I've got something to tell you. I'm so aghast. We (Labor) know about an incident that happened in your office two years ago. We've got it and it's going to be weaponised'. And that was the word she used: 'weaponised'. So she didn't use Brittany's name but obviously I knew what she was talking about.
"I said, 'What? Why would you do that to a young woman? Why would you do that?'. Kimberly agreed. She said, 'I'm so sorry'."
Senator Reynolds had been ?expecting questions in parliament on the incident. Instead, two weeks later, Ms Higgins appeared in an interview with Wilkinson on Ten's The Project "and what unfolded was the whole firestorm".
Senator Reynolds said she watched the interview with incredulity turning to horror.
"It was just like a bomb went off in my head," she said. "It was like, 'What is Lisa saying? What is this conversation about me and about Fiona?'. Because almost everything that was said did not accord with my recollection of what had happened two years previously.
"I actually couldn't believe what I was hearing and seeing. It was just such a shock. Being ?accused of covering up the rape of a young woman for political purposes. It was like a stake through my heart. I mean, it literally was like, my head had exploded."
The next day she was publicly rebuked by then prime minister Scott Morrison for not informing him of the allegations.
Senator Reynolds told The Weekend Australian that Mr Morrison expressed regret to her, in private, the following day.
"He realised that it was never my position to tell anybody about Brittany Higgins' story," she said.
Senator Reynolds insisted that throughout she simply wanted to give Ms Higgins agency over her own actions.
"The thing about agency, you know, is it's her story, it's hers to tell," she said. "It was never my story to tell. Ultimately, you can't force someone to do something. And particularly without an allegation of rape."
Senator Reynolds believes Ms Higgins was exploited by Labor for advantage in the run-up to the election; by journalists for personal gain and self-aggrandisement, and; by political activists "who in the MeToo zeitgeist had found their perfect vehicle to elevate the movement".
"This was clearly, clearly, a very well-orchestrated political hit to take down the minister of the defence of the day, and also the government," she said.
"Brittany's story was perfect for the MeToo movement and for those of my colleagues in the Senate who were trying to bring down the government."
(continued)
#18282649 at 2023-02-04 11:10:06 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #27: THEY ARE IN FULL BLOWN PANIC MODE Edition
>>18282644
2/2
The lawyers are understood to have requested a copy of the manuscript and adequate time to review it, as well as seeking details of the planned date of publication.
A letter in similar terms went to HarperCollins, publishers of Maiden's book, Open Secrets.
Senator Reynolds said she had not been given copies of the manuscripts, and the authors have not tried to clear the material they intend to publish.
"Ms Maiden has requested an interview; I have asked her to provide her questions in writing and she has not yet done so," she said.
Senator Reynolds has already filed proceedings against HarperCollins and Australian Financial Review journalist Aaron Patrick over his book, Ego: Malcolm Turnbull and the Liberal Party's Civil War, seeking aggravated damages, costs and a court order to remove the book from sale.
Last week, the former defence minister filed a writ in the WA Supreme Court claiming Ms Higgins's fiance, former journalist David Sharaz, defamed her in two tweets sent in 2022.
Senator Reynolds is seeking aggravated damages from Mr Sharaz, saying she has suffered highly distressing trolling over the past two years, and an injunction to stop the material from ever being republished.
In a statement released through her lawyers after the writ was filed, she said Mr Sharaz had been "a constant participant in the trolling".
"For the best part of the last two years, I have been the subject of harassing and highly distressing trolling on social media regarding myself and my conduct in respect of events concerning Ms Brittany Higgins, which has damaged my reputation and caused me, my family and my staff, considerable stress and anguish," Senator Reynolds said.
Ms Higgins alleged Mr Lehrmann raped her on a couch in Senator Reynolds's office in the early hours of March 23, 2019, after a night out drinking with colleagues. The high-profile trial was aborted in October 2022 due to juror misconduct.
Mr Lehrmann pleaded not guilty and has at all times denied the allegations. The DPP has now withdrawn the charges.
Ms Higgins reached a confidential settlement with the commonwealth believed to be worth up to $3m over her claims she was not supported by Senator Reynolds or Liberal Party frontbencher Michaelia Cash after the alleged sexual assault.
Senator Reynolds had been keen to defend herself against Ms Higgins's allegations but the Albanese government threatened to tear up an agreement to pay her legal fees unless she agreed not to attend the mediation. Neither Senator Reynolds nor Senator Cash was asked for evidence that contested Ms Higgins's claims.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/legal-threat-over-brittany-higgins-memoir/news-story/86083e32a2c9f5b5b0d8d366f2f3869a
#18166829 at 2023-01-18 09:00:42 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #27: THEY ARE IN FULL BLOWN PANIC MODE Edition
>>18166827
2/2
Ms Khan said that Mr Kumar's family were "very concerned about his situation and it is hoped that there will be a decision soon".
A spokesperson for the Attorney-General's Department said Mr Kumar had been arrested in response to the US's provisional arrest request on June 7, 2021.'
Former attorney-general Michaelia Cash formally accepted the US's extradition request for him on July 27, 2021.
Mr Kumar then consented to his extradition in November 2021, a matter that was noted before a magistrate at Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney.
The department said the next formal step in the process was for Mr Dreyfus to make a "surrender determination'' in relation to Mr Kumar.
That decision has not yet been made.
"It would not be appropriate to comment on the specifics of Mr Kumar's circumstances due to privacy and confidentiality obligations,'' the spokesperson said.
"However, as a matter of standard extradition practice, to comply with procedural fairness obligations, even if a person consents to their surrender, the Attorney-General's Department provides the person with an opportunity to make submissions regarding their surrender.
"It may then become necessary to seek views on those submissions from the relevant country, and if necessary, to give the person concerned a further opportunity to respond.
"This can take some time to complete.''
Mr Kumar's father, Bob, told The Australian that authorities "haven't got anything" on his son, and he was hopeful the matter would progress this year.
"It's very hard to predict what's going to happen, but the way things are, we can't do much," Bob Kumar said.
"Just because he knows people, some of them (the co-accused) were his schoolmates; they went to the same school together.
"All I can say (is) they didn't find anything.''
The FBI indictment alleges that 17 men - including seven Australians but no Americans - were "leaders, members and associates of a criminal organisation'' known as the AN0M Enterprise, whose "members were engaged in acts involving drug-trafficking, money-laundering and obstruction of justice".
The men have all been charged with 1970s-era anti-mafia RICO offences.
Mr Kumar is charged with one count of conspiracy to engage in a racketeer-influenced and corrupt organisation (RICO conspiracy), in violation of Title 18, United States Code, section 1962 (d).
He is accused of being a distributor of the AN0M devices, with the FBI alleging that "distributors co-ordinate groups of agents of the AN0M Enterprise devices, ?receive payments for ongoing subscription fees (minus personal profit) back to the parent company, and provide second-level technical support. The distributors can also remotely delete and reset devices''.
The FBI alleges that the purpose of the AN0M Enterprise was to "create, maintain, use and control a method of secure communication to facilitate the importation, exportation and distribution of illegal drugs into Australia, Asia, Europe and North America, including the United States and Canada, and to launder the proceeds of such drug-trafficking conduct''.
The indictment further alleges the AN0M Enterprise sought to obstruct law enforcement's investigations of such activities.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/usaccused-edwin-harmendra-kumar-kept-in-aussie-jail-since-2021/news-story/8d6f5dee517e1d9f5a14c0c5117a5a2c
#18046071 at 2022-12-31 08:44:34 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #27: THEY ARE IN FULL BLOWN PANIC MODE Edition
#26 - Part 7
Australian Politics and Society - Part 7
>>17783706 Australian academic Sean Turnell freed by Myanmar junta after more than 20 months in custody
>>17798811 Australia's Fair Work Commission rules that Svitzer Australia, subsidiary of Danish shipping giant A.P. Moller-Maersk, must scrap plans for lockout of harbor tug workers, threatening to cause widespread disruption at Australian ports
>>17800549 French President Emmanuel Macron launches torpedo at AUKUS pact - French President Emmanuel Macron has sought to undermine the AUKUS pact just five months after he and Anthony Albanese patched up relations between their countries, declaring Australia's nuclear submarine deal with the US and UK "will not deliver"
>>17801807 Video: Friendly Jordies's House Firebombed
>>17803991 Controversial YouTube comedian Jordan Shanks-Markovina, better known as Friendlyjordies, is taking an "indefinite hiatus" from producing videos after his home in Sydney's eastern suburbs was set on fire in what police believe was a deliberate arson attack this week
>>17804013 'Invest for tomorrow's war,' says Austin - US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin says Australia and other allies need to reallocate their resources to fight the wars of tomorrow, with investments in advanced technologies a priority for any modern military
>>17807117 Video: US Ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy says the world's transition to clean power and technology has the potential to elevate Australia as a global leader in the mining of critical minerals, lithium, rare earths and nickel
>>17807269 Islamic State kingpin Neil Prakash to be returned to Australia to face terrorism charges that could lead to him being jailed for life
>>17827645 'Hope always defeats hate': Labor's Daniel Andrews returned as premier in 2022 Victoria state election - Despite 'incredibly challenging' few years negotiating Covid, Labor cruises to victory, while the Greens and Nationals gain seats
>>17832788 Video: ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess announces Australia's terror threat level being lowered from "probable" to "possible" for first time since 2014
>>17857908 'Big deal': World leaders head to Sydney in bid to push back on China - Three of the world's most powerful leaders - US President Joe Biden, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida - will travel to Sydney next year for a historic summit with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
>>17857918 US Rear Admiral Richard Seif raises closer submarine ties under nuclear deal - The man in charge of the US Navy's submarines in Asia and the Pacific says America is willing and able to substantially expand its ties with its Australian submarine counterparts as the country prepares to enter the world of nuclear-powered subs
>>17857927 US Military Chiefs Say Australia Key to Space Rivalry With China - US Space Force's Lt. General Nina M. Armagno and US Space Command Deputy Commander Lt. General John E. Shaw say Australia is a critical asset for the US in the growing strategic competition with China over space
>>17858006 Bruce Lehrmann retrial to be dropped over Brittany Higgins health fears - medical evidence a second trial scheduled for February would pose an unacceptable risk to Ms Higgins and her mental wellbeing
>>17862843 Judge orders extradition of alleged Islamic State terrorist Neil Prakash from Darwin to Melbourne to face terrorism-related charges
>>17862857 Bruce Lehrmann retrial dropped over Brittany Higgins health fears - Charges against the man accused of raping former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins at Parliament House have been dropped and Bruce Lehrmann's retrial will no longer proceed - "It is no longer in the public interest to pursue prosecution with the risk to the complainant's life."
>>17869625 Police doubted Brittany Higgins but case was 'political' - The most senior police officer on the Brittany Higgins case believed there was insufficient evidence to prosecute Bruce Lehrmann but could not stop the ACT Director of Public Prosecutions from proceeding because "there is too much political interference"
>>17874286 Australian nuclear subs high priority for US - Delivering Australia nuclear submarines "as early as possible" was high on the US government's agenda as it braced for an intense period of competition with China, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin vowed after unveiling the next generation of US stealth bombers
>>17879013 Brittany Higgins seeking $3 million in compensation claim - Lawyers for former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins have given notice that they will sue former Liberal ministers Linda Reynolds and Michaelia Cash as well as the Commonwealth for about $3 million
#16325759 at 2022-05-23 08:01:01 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #22: THIS IS NOT ANOTHER 3-YEAR ELECTION Edition
>>16325738
McGowan launches post-election spray, attacking Peter Dutton, Liberals, Clive Palmer and press
Hamish Hastie - May 23, 2022
Western Australian Labor Premier Mark McGowan has questioned the intelligence of former defence minister Peter Dutton and launched an attack on the Liberals, Clive Palmer and the national press gallery after his party's strong election result on Saturday.
McGowan said he hoped the Albanese government would get Australia's relationship with China on a surer footing given how heavily WA relies on the superpower for trade.
Throughout the campaign, Dutton, who is in line to be the next leader of the Liberal party, warned Australia needed to prepare for war in the face of a more aggressive China.
On Monday McGowan suggested it was "absolutely crazy" to talk about conflict with a country of 1.4 billion people with nuclear weapons and accused Dutton of weaponising the China relationship for his own political gain.
He labelled Dutton an extremist and insulted his intelligence.
"He's an extremist and I don't think he fits with modern Australia at all, and he doesn't seem to listen, he's extremely conservative," he claimed.
"I actually don't think he's that smart, I've seen him present on things I don't really pick up there's much there as opposed to Scott Morrison who is a clever guy.
"I don't pick up that Peter Dutton is fit to be Prime Minister."
When campaigning in WA earlier this month Dutton said the rhetoric around China was simply his government being honest with Australians and McGowan's personal attacks said more about McGowan than him.
McGowan said the Liberal's party poor result at Saturday's election showed they were no longer appealing to mainstream Australia.
"They're out on the fringe, they're more inclined to pursue their own hobbyhorses rather than listen to what the public wants and I think that reflects in the voting," he said.
WA Liberal senator Michaelia Cash defended Dutton and said McGowan should focus on fixing the state's own health crisis and ensuring the Albanese government didn't reintroduce a mining tax.
"The arrogance and hubris of McGowan knows no bounds. If he is saying someone who is strong on defence and strong on border security is an extremist, then quite frankly, I strongly disagree and I think most Australians would too," she said.
"Mark McGowan should be smart enough to work out what's going on in the world and that this country needs to maintain a strong defence force and strong borders."
McGowan refused to take any credit for Labor's 7.6 per cent increase in its primary vote in the state despite recognition from his federal Labor colleagues and Cash that there was a McGowan factor at play that helped turn WA red.
McGowan lead his party to victory with a record 53 of 59 seats lower house seats at the 2021 state election and remains a hugely popular premier.
"I think the most important thing was Anthony Albanese, the federal team and the work they did to provide a positive alternative for the federal government," he said.
On Sunday Cash said voters at polling booths were telling her they were going to "vote for Mark McGowan" while Labor's newly elected candidate for Swan Zaneta Mascarenhas said the state Labor government had shown the WA public what a good Labor government could do.
The coalition cabinet had included four WA members and the premier said WA Labor MPs should have a stronger showing in Albanese's cabinet.
Shadow resources and trade minister Madeleine King is expected to be a shoo-in for cabinet while Burt MP and shadow defence industries minister Matt Keogh is also a good chance.
UAP 'misfits' and press gallery 'bullies'
McGowan blasted volunteers for Clive Palmer's United Australia Party who heckled him at a polling booth on Saturday.
"I'm pleased that West Australians and Australians more generally didn't elect any Palmer people," he said.
"That's a good thing for the country, I saw their actions on the polling booths, I saw how the Palmer people behave."
He said that in his view they were "misfits and losers and they scream and yell at voters, they shove things in people's faces, they're offensive and rude people and I'm glad that Australia hasn't supported them."
McGowan saved his final spray for Canberra press gallery journalists who travelled to WA during the campaign.
"The press conferences I went to [with Anthony], they were screaming and interrupting and rude and insulting, intimidating and bullying," he said.
"Sort of stuff that in the workplace, you get sacked for. They need to reflect on their behaviour, I've never seen anything like it."
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/mcgowan-launches-post-election-spray-attacking-peter-dutton-liberals-clive-palmer-and-press-20220523-p5anqo.html
#16325727 at 2022-05-23 07:34:46 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #22: THIS IS NOT ANOTHER 3-YEAR ELECTION Edition
>>16320374
Dutton 'will be leader' amid pending stoush on Liberal direction, says Alan Tudge
GREG BROWN, MAX MADDISON and PAUL GARVEY - MAY 23, 2022
Liberal MP Alan Tudge says Peter Dutton "will be leader" of the new opposition amid a push from conservative MPs to focus on winning outer suburban seats from Labor at the next election.
Mr Tudge said Mr Dutton would be an "incredibly effective" opposition leader and backed a woman to become deputy Liberal leader.
"There are people like Sussan Ley, Jane Hume, Michaelia Cash who are all very capable people able to assume that role," Mr Tudge said.
Liberal sources confirmed Mr Dutton had the numbers to become leader, with a party room ballot to be held by mid next month.
Bass MP Bridget Archer said she would consider running for deputy leader if she believed the party planned on going further to the right.
"I've seen some early commentary around that the party should move further to the right and I will certainly work hard to prevent that from occurring," she told the ABC.
Ms Ley also left the door open to running as deputy, saying the party needed to do more on both women and climate change.
"I heard the message about women, I heard the message of climate," she told Sky News on Monday morning.
"We needed to do better on both of those positions."
Liberal MPs say it is possible for the deputy leader to be in the Senate, noting former senator Fred Chaney was deputy to former leader John Hewson.
There is a widespread view among Liberal MPs that the party has an image problem with women that needs to be rectified.
With Mr Dutton unpopular in Sydney and Melbourne seats that were won by teal independents, Liberal MPs have told The Australian the pathway to victory at the next election was by winning seats from Labor in the outer suburbs.
"There is too much of an obsession with the teal seats," one MP said.
Conservative Liberal MPs say winning the outer Melbourne seat of McEwen at the next election would be easier than winning inner city Kooyong, in a strategy that would confirm the realignment of the political system.
Moderate MPs would likely be resistant to any push to abandon the affluent heartland seats in the capital cities, with the debate to set the philosophical direction for the Liberals.
Sources said there would likely be a party room meeting in Canberra in the first or second week of June.
With Labor state premiers helping Anthony Albanese's election campaign, West Australian Premier Mark McGowan was early off the blocks in slamming Mr Dutton.
"He's an extremist. I don't think he represents modern Australia at all, he doesn't seem to listen, he's extremely conservative, and I actually don't think he's that smart," Mr McGowan said.
"I've seen him present on things, I don't really pick up there's much there. As opposed to Morrison, Morrison was a clever guy. I don't think Peter Dutton is fit to be Prime Minister."
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/dutton-will-be-leader-amid-pending-stoush-on-liberal-direction/news-story/5870fd1126934b85d46d61bfe0e439f7
#16315219 at 2022-05-21 07:48:32 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #22: THIS IS NOT ANOTHER 3-YEAR ELECTION Edition
>>16047076
Federal Election 2022: live results and updates
7NEWS Australia
21 May 2022
7NEWS Political Editor Mark Riley joins Sunrise co-host Natalie Barr and 7NEWS anchor Michael Usher in leading the nation's most comprehensive and dynamic election coverage - this year featuring an Australian television-first the "Screen of Dreams" which is set to fast-track winners and decide our next government.
Adding insight from within the major parties and players, Seven's expert panel will include Labor's campaign 'pin up' Jason Clare, former ACT chief minister, Senator Katy Gallagher and Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, while former Coalition star and Morrison Government's first Defence minister, Christopher Pyne, incumbent Attorney General and Minister for Industrial Relations, Michaelia Cash and deputy Nationals leader David Littleproud will aim up for the LNP.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5eV4YI946w
#15859797 at 2022-03-14 08:06:50 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #21: MIL-CIV ALLIANCE Edition
Australia and Netherlands seek millions from Russia in global aviation tribunal over MH17 attack
GEOFF CHAMBERS - MARCH 14, 2022
1/2
Australia and the Netherlands have launched legal action against the Russian Federation seeking millions of dollars in reparations for the 2014 missile strike on Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over east Ukraine, which killed 298 people, including 38 Australians.
Joint legal proceedings were lodged with the International Civil Aviation Organisation on Monday on behalf of Australian and Dutch families who lost loved ones after a Russian Buk-TELAR surface-to-air missile system shot down MH17 on July 17, 2014.
As international pressure builds on Russian President Vladimir Putin over his bloody invasion of Ukraine, the office of international law in the Attorney-General's department will prosecute Australia's case in the ICAO, arguing that the downing of MH17 was a "breach for which Russia bears responsibility".
The action, announced by Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne, Attorney-General Michaelia Cash and their Dutch counterparts on Monday night, comes after more than seven years of evidence was "collected, examined and verified through painstaking investigations".
In a joint statement from Scott Morrison, Barnaby Joyce, Senator Payne and Senator Cash, the government said "while we cannot take away the grief of those whose loved ones died as a result of Russia's actions, (we) will pursue every available avenue to ensure Russia is held to account so that this horrific act never happens again".
"Russia's unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine and the escalation of its aggression underscores the need to continue our enduring efforts to hold Russia to account for its blatant violation of international law and the UN Charter, including threats to Ukraine's sovereignty and airspace," the statement said.
"The Russian Federation's refusal to take responsibility for its role in the downing of Flight MH17 is unacceptable and the Australian government has always said that it will not exclude any legal options in our pursuit of justice."
The statement said the case lodged with the ICAO, a specialised UN agency falling under the International Court of Justice, was a "major step forward in both countries' fight for truth, justice and accountability for this horrific act of violence".
"Today's joint action under Article 84 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation is in addition to the Dutch national prosecution of four suspects for their individual criminal responsibility in the downing of Flight MH17," the statement added.
Senator Payne on Monday announced fresh sanctions targeting 33 Russian oligarchs, prominent business identities and immediate family members who have "facilitated, or directly benefited, from the Kremlin's illegal and indefensible actions in Ukraine since 2014".
High-profile Russian billionaires targeted by the new sanctions, which brings Australia in line with Britain and the US, include Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich, Gazprom chief executive Alexey Miller, Rossiya chair Dmitri Lebedev, Rostec chair Sergey Chemezov and Transneft chief executive Nikolay Tokarev.
(continued)
#15623609 at 2022-02-14 08:07:23 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #21: MIL-CIV ALLIANCE Edition
Women sexually harassed by former High Court judge Dyson Heydon receive historic settlement
Markus Mannheim - 14 February 2022
Three women who were sexually harassed by former High Court justice Dyson Heydon have secured a historic compensation payout.
The women's lawyer, Josh Bornstein, said he believed it was the first settlement under the Sex Discrimination Act for findings of sexual harassment against a serving federal judge.
The High Court apologised publicly to the trio - Rachel Patterson Collins, Chelsea Tabart and Alex Eggerking - as well as to three other unnamed women in 2020 after an independent investigation, led by Vivienne Thom, upheld their allegations.
Five of the women had worked as associates to Mr Heydon, while the other had worked for a different High Court justice.
After Dr Thom completed her inquiry, Chief Justice Susan Kiefel said the findings were of "extreme concern" to all of the court's justices and staff.
"We're ashamed that this could have happened at the High Court of Australia," she said in a statement.
Today, Mr Bornstein said negotiations since then had been delayed by the case's complexity and "an unfortunate delay by the Commonwealth".
"After their experience of working in the High Court, Rachael, Chelsea and Alex have been unable to pursue the legal careers that they aspired to," he said.
"Indeed, they were so severely impacted by what happened that it took them years to come forward to pursue this matter."
The terms of the settlement remain confidential.
However, Mr Bornstein said his clients were relieved and happy with the outcome.
"They have asked me to convey their strong conviction that women should not feel ashamed to pursue financial settlements in sexual harassment cases, because sexual harassment will only start to recede when there is a clear recognition that it has a substantial cost to organisations and individuals who are implicated."
Mr Heydon, now 78, has previously denied "any allegation of sexual harassment or any offence".
He was a High Court justice from 2003 to 2013, when he reached the mandatory retirement age.
Female associates have transformed court: Attorney-General
Federal Attorney-General Michaelia Cash praised the courage of the associates who had made formal complaints, saying they had instigated a transformation of the court's culture.
"We recognise Ms Tabart's, Ms Eggerking's and Ms Collins's bravery at coming forward and telling their stories to Dr Thom, the High Court and other Australians," Ms Cash said.
"These women have told us about what they have been through during, and since, their times as associates of the High Court and the serious impacts on their lives.
"We have listened to them and we apologise."
The government accepted all six of Dr Thom's recommendations and Ms Cash said it had acted on them.
"The practices of the High Court in responding to sexual harassment, and more importantly in attempting to prevent it from occurring, have been transformed."
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-14/former-high-court-judge-dyson-heydon-compensation-payment/100829210
#14731069 at 2021-10-06 05:53:43 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #18 - Talisman Sabre: MAGIC SWORD Edition
Win for Collaery derails Porter's attempt to cover up Timor-Leste bugging
In a defeat for the federal government in its pursuit of Bernard Collaery, the attempt by former attorney-general Christian Porter to keep the trial hidden has been overturned by the ACT court of appeal.
BERNARD KEANE - OCT 06, 2021
In a significant defeat for the federal government and former attorney-general Christian Porter, the Supreme Court of the ACT has overturned secrecy orders demanded by Porter in his prosecution of Bernard Collaery, which would have ensured much of the trial was conducted in complete secrecy and evidence would have been hidden not merely from the public but from Collaery and his lawyers.
Judges Murrell, Burns and Wigney overturned trial Judge David Mossop's decision to grant Porter's application to hide evidence against Collaery, and witness evidence produced by Collaery, via national security orders made by Porter under the National Security Information (Criminal and Civil Proceedings) Act 2004. The appellate court ruled that:
"public disclosure of information relating to the truth of the identified matters would involve a risk of prejudice to national security. However, the court doubted that a significant risk of prejudice to national security would materialise. On the other hand, there was a very real risk of damage to public confidence in the administration of justice if the evidence could not be publicly disclosed. The court emphasised that the open hearing of criminal trials was important because it deterred political prosecutions, allowed the public to scrutinise the actions of prosecutors, and permitted the public to properly assess the conduct of the accused person."
The ruling threatens to derail the entire trial of Collaery for conspiracy and revealing information because the government is desperate to keep embarrassing details of the actions of the Howard government, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, out of the public eye. Under John Howard and Alexander Downer, the Australian Secret Intelligence Service illegally bugged the Timor-Leste cabinet room in an effort to secure an advantage in negotiations with the fledgling state over access to resources under the Timor Sea.
Downer and the then-head of DFAT Ashton Calvert later took positions with a major beneficiary of the deal, Woodside.
If details of those events are made public, the Coalition will face embarrassment and further questions about its vexatious pursuit of Collaery and Witness K, a former ASIS officer who in June was given a three month suspended sentence for his role in the revelation of the bugging, which he did so as part of a workplace dispute with ASIS.
It is expected that current Attorney-General Michaelia Cash - who has her own links to the issue via her previous employment with major law firm Freehills, which worked with ConocoPhillips on Timor Gap matters - will appeal the ruling.
Crikey understands that there is intense resentment toward Collaery within the federal Coalition and a determination to pursue him to the fullest extent possible for his revelation of the crimes of the Howard government.
https://www.crikey.com.au/2021/10/06/win-for-collaery-derails-porters-attempt-to-cover-up-timor-leste-bugging/
https://www.courts.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/1870627/Collaery-v-The-Queen-Judgment-Summary.pdf
#14385807 at 2021-08-18 07:25:52 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #18 - Talisman Sabre: MAGIC SWORD Edition
#17 - Part 5
Australian Politics and Society - Part 5
>>14187200 Huawei hiring former Democratic super lobbyist Tony Podesta - Back in business after a Mueller-induced hiatus
>>14187418 The Mehdi Hasan Show Tweet: Do Fox and the Murdochs have blood on their hands for all the disinformation they've propagated? @TurnbullMalcolm: "They certainly have contributed to blood being shed."
>>14187427 Video: Former Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull Slams Rupert Murdoch Over Fox's Involvement in 1/6 Insurrection and Vaccine Hesitancy Push
>>14187430 Video: Rupert Murdoch's Disinformation Media Empire | The Mehdi Hasan Show - The Choice
>>14187446 Talisman Sabre Tweet: Getting to the mission - #Marines with @MrfDarwin departed Townsville in several MV-22B Osprey aircraft last night to conduct night operations during #TS21.
>>14201082 Talisman Sabre Tweet: Our nations training together - Troops from #TS21 have descended on the town of Bowen in Queensland, as part of military drills to enhance their war fighting skills in an urban environment
>>14201083 War games begin in Bowen - Private Jacob Joseph - defence.gov.au
>>14206825 Video: 3rd Brigade's Battle Group Eagle conducts a firepower demonstration of the capabilities it can provide to the joint force during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2021 - Department of Defence Australia
>>14206828 Marine Rotational Force - Darwin Tweet: Today marks 68 years since the cessation of hostilities in the Korean War. On this day, we pause to remember those Marines who served in legendary battles from the breakout at Chosin Reservoir to the amphibious landings at Inchon.
>>14206840 Pacific Marines Tweet: @USMC with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, @MrfDarwin, execute airfield assault training as part of Exercise @TalismanSabre 21 (TS21) in Bowen, Queensland, Australia
>>14206859 Talisman Sabre Tweet: Video: Check it out - @usairforce defenders are flying in! The Deployed Aircraft Ground Response Element team complete training after exiting from an MC-130J during #TS21 at #AusAirForce Base Tindal
>>14213706 Video: Trilateral activity Exercise Southern Jackaroo involved soldiers from the ADF's 1st Brigade - Darwin, Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force, and United States Marine Rotational Force - Darwin - Department of Defence Australia
>>14213739 Japanese Ambassador YAMAGAMI Shingo Tweet: Magnificent to see (Japan, Australia) and partners with shared strategic interests gathering in our region. @Japan_GSDF troops participating in Exercise @TalismanSabre had the honour of meeting with the Commander of 1st Division, MAJGEN Jake Ellwood
>>14213787 Japan Ground Self-Defense Force - Ground Component Command Tweet: [ #Talisman Saber 21 ] Photo: #Ground Component Command #Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade and Australian Army Combat Training (Urban Warfare ) Bowen City Alert
>>14213840 Video: Rosa Maria Maione, the so-called carer of Annie Smith, pleads guilty to her manslaughter in the disability neglect case that horrified Australia
>>14220773 Worldwide hacking warning issued on how businesses are being compromised during COVID-19
>>14220789 U.S., U.K., and Australia Issue Joint Cybersecurity Advisory - Australian Cyber Security Centre - July 2021
>>14220833 Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw says AFP has 'another ingenious plan' to further dismantle organised crime networks after pulling off Operation Ironside sting
>>14220859 Australian Bar Association calls for Attorney-General Michaelia Cash to reconsider controversial prosecution of Canberra lawyer Bernard Collaery
>>14220897 ADF, U.S. and Japanese joint amphibious assault - Talisman Sabre 2021 - Department of Defence Australia
#13658651 at 2021-05-14 11:57:15 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #15 - NEVER RETREAT FROM THE BATTLEFIELD Edition
'Entirely undemocratic': Bernard Collaery to challenge secrecy orders
Anthony Galloway - May 14, 2021
Lawyers acting for Bernard Collaery will next week challenge a court order requiring large parts of his trial to be held in secret as the long-running case continues into his alleged efforts to expose a secret Australian operation to bug East Timor's government.
The ACT Court of Appeal will hold a two-day hearing on Monday and Tuesday into an order made under national security laws to hold the trial largely behind closed doors.
Mr Collaery, the former lawyer for an ex-spy known as Witness K, is challenging an order made by the ACT Supreme Court last year to accept former attorney-general Christian Porter's application to invoke the National Security Information Act, which governs how courts should handle sensitive information. The NSI Act requires the court to give "greatest weight" to the Attorney-General's views about the national security implications of a case, which has resulted in large portions of the hearings being held in secret.
Mr Collaery, a barrister and former ACT attorney-general, is facing the prospect of jail for allegedly helping his client reveal information about Australia's bugging operation of East Timor's government during commercial negotiations to carve up the oil and gas resources in the Timor Sea.
Witness K, a former intelligence officer for the Australian Secret Intelligence Service, has indicated he will plead guilty to breaching secrecy laws by revealing Australia's spying on East Timor, but Mr Collaery is continuing to fight the charges against him. The Witness K case is being held up by disagreements over whether he can access his affidavit that was used by East Timor in international proceedings in the Hague, which his lawyers argue need to be before the court for his sentencing.
Mr Collaery is charged with offences relating to the alleged disclosure of information to both the East Timor government and the Australian media.
After East Timor commenced legal proceedings in the International Court of Justice and Permanent Court of Arbitration, the two nations signed a revised energy treaty in 2018 dividing the Greater Sunrise oil and gas fields.
Human Rights Law Centre senior lawyer Kieran Pender said there was no public interest in prosecuting Mr Collaery and Witness K.
"The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions has the power to discontinue a prosecution at any time. They should exercise that power," he said.
"The Attorney-General's use of secrecy in this case is entirely undemocratic: it enables the government to concede in closed court that Australia spied on Timor-Leste while continuing to refuse to admit this publicly. The NSI Act should be reformed to better safeguard the principles of openness and transparency that are at the heart of our judicial system."
Mr Pender said the cases of Mr Collaery and Witness K were part of a wider trend - alongside the prosecutions of tax office whistleblower Richard Boyle and defence whistleblower David McBride - which were part of a "dangerous chilling effect".
A spokesman for Attorney-General Michaelia Cash said the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions had applied the NSI Act to "protect national security information in the criminal proceeding".
"As this matter is currently before the courts, it would not be appropriate to comment further," the spokesman said.
"The NSI Act enables the court to make orders to protect national security information in criminal and civil proceedings. It provides a framework for the court to balance the public interests in protecting national security, maintaining the accused's right to a fair trial, and the principle of open justice."
The NSI Act is being probed by the national security legislation watchdog as part of its inquiry into the secret trial of another former spy, a man known as Witness J, who was convicted of mishandling classified information that potentially revealed the identities of agents recruited by Australian intelligence agencies. The Independent National Security Legislation Monitor last year launched an inquiry into a "unique set of circumstances" which led to Witness J being tried, sentenced and jailed in secret.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/entirely-undemocratic-bernard-collaery-to-challenge-secrecy-orders-20210514-p57rxi.html
#13320426 at 2021-03-29 07:03:52 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #14 - THE ART OF WAR Edition
Australian government backflips on secrecy push in Witness K court case
Shift surprises ABC during its attempt to stop commonwealth from automatically closing court proceedings
Christopher Knaus - 29 Mar 2021
Lawyers for the federal attorney general have flipped their position on secrecy in the Witness K case by abandoning a push to automatically close the court whenever sensitive material is raised.
The government's sudden change of position had wasted "considerable time and expense" for Australian Broadcasting Corporation lawyers who were preparing to intervene to keep the case as open as possible, the ACT magistrates court heard on Monday.
The case against former intelligence officer Witness K is continuing to slowly make its way through the Canberra court. Witness K previously indicated he would plead guilty to an allegation he unlawfully shared secret information about an Australian spy operation against its impoverished ally, Timor-Leste, during negotiations to carve up oil and gas in the Timor Sea.
Witness K is described as a whistleblower and a hero by the people of Timor-Leste for his role in exposing the 2004 operation that diverted intelligence resources for commercial gain during the heightened threat environment following the Bali bombings.
The proceedings against Witness K and his former lawyer, Bernard Collaery, have been made opaque by the National Security Information Act, legislation designed to prevent sensitive national security information from being made public.
On Monday, Witness K's case returned to the magistrates court so it could make orders on how those laws would be applied to his coming sentencing proceedings.
Lawyers for the attorney general - currently Michaelia Cash, acting in the role while Christian Porter is on leave - indicated they did not want to devise a regime that would see the court automatically closed whenever sensitive information was likely to be discussed.
The court heard the commonwealth wanted to keep proceedings as open as possible. That submission took lawyers for the ABC by surprise. The broadcaster had intervened in the case to stop the commonwealth from automatically closing the court throughout the proceedings.
ABC senior lawyer Hugh Bennett told the court the attorney general's new position was "totally at odds" with previous correspondence from the commonwealth. He said the ABC had devoted "considerable time and expense" preparing an objection to the proposed regime that would have automatically closed the court.
Bennett suggested the court specifically note that orders made under the NSI Act did not "provide for the automatic closure of the court". The magistrate, Glenn Theakston, agreed and thanked the ABC for appearing to ensure open justice occurred.
The case will return next month for mention and the sentencing hearing is currently expected to take place in June.
Collaery is fighting separate charges and is planning to take the matter to trial in the ACT supreme court.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/mar/29/federal-government-backflips-on-secrecy-push-in-witness-k-court-case
#13320406 at 2021-03-29 06:59:15 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #14 - THE ART OF WAR Edition
>>13320397
2/2
Amanda Stoker will become the assistant minister for women, while also assisting Michaelia Cash in the industrial relations and Attorney-General portfolios.
As expected, Mr Porter moves out of the Attorney-General's portfolio due to concerns about any conflicts of interest in the portfolio while he takes defamation action against the ABC over its reporting of allegations of rape, which he denies.
Mr Porter will become Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, replacing Ms Andrews. A key factor in the move was concern in the government that dropping Mr Porter from cabinet and the ministry would send a message that an accusation was enough for ministers to lose their job.
Mr Morrison also removed Linda Reynolds from the defence portfolio while she takes leave over a heart condition. When she returns from leave next week, Senator Reynolds will become Minister for Government Services, remaining in cabinet.
Senator Reynolds was admitted to hospital on February 23 after a week of intense criticism of her actions following the alleged rape of Ms Higgins in her ministerial office two years earlier.
Mr Morrison has criticised Senator Reynolds over some of her response to the alleged rape in her office, saying it was "disgraceful" she called Ms Higgins a "lying cow" over the adviser's claims she did not get enough support after the incident.
He also acknowledged that people in the government failed to give Ms Higgins enough support, even though they were trying to help.
Stuart Robert will move from government services to become Employment Minister, replacing Senator Cash.
In another key appointment, Mr Morrison restored Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price to cabinet in her existing portfolio.
The changes leave cabinet with seven women: Senator Payne, Senator Ruston, Senator Cash, Senator Reynolds, Ms Andrews, Ms Price and Environment Minister Sussan Ley.
Mr Morrison addressed calls for Andrew Laming to quit the Liberal National Party and move to the crossbench, saying Dr Laming had committed to undertake counselling, and that behavioural change is the preferred end result.
Dr Laming is facing calls to quit from within the Coalition, after allegations of online bullying and taking a photo of a woman's bottom at her workplace without permission.
Coalition senator Sarah Henderson told Channel 7's Sunrise on Monday that she was "not comfortable" being in the same party room as him.
The Queensland MP will leave politics at the next election and he will take immediate personal leave to undertake counselling after he conceded he did not understand how his actions affected other people.
Senator Payne said Mr Laming's "behaviour is clearly inappropriate and he is taking steps to address that".
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/scott-morrison-announces-cabinet-reshuffle-20210329-p57exa.html
#13320397 at 2021-03-29 06:57:25 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #14 - THE ART OF WAR Edition
Marise Payne the 'prime minister for women' as Morrison adds women's taskforce in reshuffle
David Crowe - March 29, 2021
1/2
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has launched a bid to recover from weeks of political damage over the treatment of women by naming a new cabinet team, shifting problem ministers and punishing a disgraced Liberal MP.
Mr Morrison named Peter Dutton as the country's next Defence Minister and leader of the government in the House of Representatives and Michaelia Cash as the new Attorney-General and Industrial Relations Minister in the two biggest appointments in the changes.
Industry Minister Karen Andrews will be elevated to Minister for Home Affairs, replacing Mr Dutton and taking a high-profile position as one of the cabinet's most senior women.
The Prime Minister has faced a wave of anger about the treatment of women in the six weeks since former Liberal adviser Brittany Higgins alleged she was raped in Parliament House in March 2019.
"These changes will shake up what needs shaking up," he said. "What we must do is address the government's agenda with the changes we are making."
Mr Morrison said improvements for women would come from greater collaboration and working together, not from setting people against each other.
He also announced a new cabinet taskforce on women's equality, safety, economic security, health and wellbeing. The taskforce will be co-chaired by Mr Morrison and the Minister for Women, Marise Payne, and will include all women from the ministry as well as Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Finance Minister Simon Birmingham.
Mr Morrison also named Social Services Minister Anne Ruston as one of the cabinet's leadership team, and Financial Services Minister Jane Hume will gain an additional portfolio, women's economic security.
Mr Morrison called Senator Payne "effectively the prime minister for women" in her role as co-chair of the taskforce and Minister for Women, although he revised the title after a question from a journalist about whether he was not fit to be prime minister and should be the women's prime minister.
"In relation to what I should probably call the primary minister for women, just to ensure that no one gets too carried away with the puns … what I'm trying to bring together is a team of ministers and Marise Payne as Minister for Women can bring all that together as a leader of that portfolio team," he said.
(continued)
#13293704 at 2021-03-25 05:57:45 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #14 - THE ART OF WAR Edition
>>13279431
Peta Credlin says she sacked staffer at centre of lewd video, alleges orgies in Parliament
Latika Bourke - March 25, 2021
Sky News presenter and former federal parliamentary staffer Peta Credlin has revealed that she sacked the Coalition staffer featured in a video masturbating on the desk of a federal MP at Parliament House.
During her segment on Sky News on Wednesday night, Credlin also alleged that, in a separate case, evidence was found showing that another staffer had held orgies inside Parliament, including during question time when their boss was in the chamber.
Credlin, who served as chief of staff to former prime minister Tony Abbott, said she was collecting evidence for the review being carried out by Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins into Parliament's workplace culture.
She said on Sky News that, years earlier, she had dismissed the staffer featured in the lewd video for disloyalty and leaking against his boss.
After terminating the staffer's employment, the man backgrounded journalists against her, Credlin said. She alleged that the man called her a "bitch" and said that she was "too tough".
"That bloke I demanded to be sacked years earlier for disloyalty, for lying, for leaking against his boss," she said.
"I sacked him and I said he would never be back while I worked in that building."
The staffer was rehired when Malcolm Turnbull became prime minister, she said, only to be dismissed this week following the publication of the lewd videos.
"The bloke I sacked came back and dozens more like him. Mid-career women, women of ability, lost out in roles to well-connected factional twenty-somethings with not much on their CV of note other than the ability to stack branches," Credlin said.
"Much of the current mess on the ministerial blue carpet for the Coalition is a legacy from the Turnbull years.
"These are my first comments on incidents in the past. They will not be my last."
Credlin said she would be "getting out every file note, every document, every bit of paper … I'll do my best to drive change" in relation to Ms Jenkins' review.
She sent a message to the three other men in the video, saying: "I know who you are. I see you."
Credlin added: "The former minister who it is alleged had his male prostitutes delivered to Parliament House by this spiteful gang - signed in and all kept quiet - former minister I see you too."
She said that while she had never had to deal with an allegation of rape during her time working for Mr Abbott, she would have dealt with it very differently to the way Prime Minister Scott Morrison had handled the issue.
In a separate case, Credlin said evidence was found showing that another staffer held gay orgies inside Parliament House.
She claimed that the evidence showed the orgies included Labor staffers as well as the Coalition man, and "a number of others, too".
"When the MP cleaned out the former staffer's desk, and the computer, that MP uncovered evidence that for many months, that staffer had regularly met with other men during the middle of the day - while the MP was in question time - for orgies in political offices," she said.
Quotas not the answer
Credlin also criticised Mr Morrison's change of heart on quotas to boost the number of female MPs.
She said that in the case of Brittany Higgins, three women - cabinet ministers Linda Reynolds and Michaelia Cash and Senator Reynolds' chief of staff, Fiona Brown - "mishandled" the case despite all being female.
"I'm not so sure what they could have done here to improve things," she said.
"Of course, I want to see more women in public life but I want them to advance on merit, not gender."
National Sexual Assault, Family & Domestic Violence Counselling Line: 1800 737 732. Crisis support can be found at Lifeline: (13 11 14 and lifeline.org.au)
https://www.1800respect.org.au
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/peta-credlin-says-she-sacked-staffer-at-centre-of-lewd-video-alleges-gay-orgies-in-parliament-20210324-p57dtj.html
#13183855 at 2021-03-11 04:18:06 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #14 - THE ART OF WAR Edition
Scott Morrison says he will act as health minister but Greg Hunt will return to work next week
abc.net.au - 10 March 2021
Prime Minister Scott Morrison says Health Minister Greg Hunt will be back at work when Parliament sits next week, after a brief hospital stint for a bacterial infection.
Mr Hunt was admitted to hospital yesterday with a suspected infection.
In a statement today his office said testing overnight had led to a diagnosis of Cellulitis, a bacterial infection in his leg.
It said the Minister was improving and was expected to be discharged from hospital "in the coming days".
"He'll be fine by next week, he'll be back up on his feet," Mr Morrison said.
"Minister Hunt and I have worked hand in glove over this last year and until he returns I will be personally addressing the ministerial responsibilities on health and aged care."
The Prime Minister said he had total confidence in the AstraZeneca vaccine. Mr Hunt's office said his condition "is not considered to be related to the vaccine".
He is expected to make a full recovery.
Fellow Cabinet minister Dan Tehan said he spoke to the Health Minister yesterday and that Mr Hunt was confident he would be out of hospital "sooner rather than later".
"I don't think there is a fitter or more active member than Greg," Mr Tehan said.
"So if there's anyone who can bounce back it will be Greg, but when I spoke to him yesterday he was going well."
Mr Hunt is the third senior Cabinet minister now on sick leave, with Attorney-General Christian Porter and Defence Minister Linda Reynolds also currently on leave.
Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne is acting Defence Minister and Employment Minister Michaelia Cash is filling in for Mr Porter.
The next Parliament fortnight kicks off next week.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-10/greg-hunt-sick-leave-hospital-infection-prime-minister/13233056
#13164482 at 2021-03-06 21:23:35 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #14 - THE ART OF WAR Edition
#13 - Part 4
Australian Government Sexual Assault Allegations
>>12941464 Brittany Higgins' Federal Parliament rape claim roils Australian government
>>12941507 Scott Morrison 'distressed' by Brittany Higgins' alleged rape
>>12941532 Brittany Higgins alleged rape: Parliament office steam cleaned after alleged attack
>>12996560 PDF: Ex-Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins takes rape complaint to AFP
>>13002303 Police investigating cocaine sex scandal allegations implicating Labor NT members
>>13002303 Sexism and harassment: Dirty habits of Australian politicians revealed by insider
>>13003107 New allegations: former Liberal adviser 'raped' second woman
>>13016686 Third woman alleges sex assault by staffer as Brittany Higgins to make formal statement to police
>>13020751 Video: Fourth woman makes complaint about former staffer who allegedly raped Brittany Higgins
>>13029324 'Not a nice person': Man accused of Parliament rape stood down from current job
>>13036188 Linda Reynolds admitted to hospital, cancels Press Club appearance in the wake of Parliament House rape allegation scandal
>>13036769 Video: Brittany Higgins makes formal police complaint about alleged rape at Parliament House
>>13037448 (2018) Embattled NSW Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham demands federal leader Richard Di Natale back down on calls for him to resign amid "sexual violence" allegations
>>13043731 AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw writes to Scott Morrison to warn against delays in reporting allegations of criminal conduct
>>13050373 Video: Rape scandal tensions boil over - Greens Senator Larissa Waters accuses Peter Dutton of being a 'rape apologist'
>>13050955 Scott Morrison, senators and AFP told of historical rape allegation against Cabinet Minister
>>13058821 Video: Senator Simon Birmingham says allegation in letter accusing Cabinet Minister of rape should be left to police
>>13065461 Penny Wong says she met woman who accused minister of rape
>>13065660 Rape revelations lay bare the Canberra bubble's dark heart
>>13076739 Federal Labor MP accused of rape in new email sent to Liberal senator Sarah Henderson and forwarded to Australian Federal Police
>>13076849 Former Coalition media adviser Rachelle Miller prepares workplace lawsuit against two cabinet ministers, Alan Tudge and Michaelia Cash
>>13083780 Photo emerges of alleged rape victim and minister on night of claimed incident
>>13083804 NSW Police close investigation into historical rape allegation against federal Cabinet Minister
>>13084897 NSW police rape case closure means there is clear precedent on how to behave
>>13084918 Cabinet Minister at the centre of historical rape allegation to break silence
>>13100741 Video: Attorney-General Christian Porter steps forward as Cabinet Minister accused of historical rape - 7NEWS Australia
>>13100750 Video: Attorney-General Christian Porter denies historical rape allegation (full press conference) - SBS News
>>13107252 Lawyers for Brittany Higgins serve defamation letters to Linda Reynolds after 'lying cow' comment
>>13107256 Defence Minister Linda Reynolds 'deeply sorry' for calling Brittany Higgins a 'lying cow'
>>13107413 Sex discrimination commissioner Kate Jenkins to lead independent inquiry into Parliament House culture following Brittany Higgins allegations
#13107259 at 2021-03-05 05:52:50 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #13 - THE WAR IS REAL Edition
>>13107256
2/2
Ms Higgins told The Guardian Australia on Thursday the remark by her former boss was "incredibly hurtful".
"I appreciate that it has been a stressful time but that sort of behaviour and language is never excusable," she said. "It's just further evidence of the toxic workplace culture that exists behind closed doors in parliament house".
Ms Higgins has retained lawyer Rebekah Giles, who contacted Ms Reynolds on Thursday demanding an apology.
In a letter sent to the defence minister seen by The Guardian, Ms Giles said: "We are instructed to demand that you issue an immediate and unequivocal public withdrawal of your comments and apology to our client for the hurt and distress caused."
The letter says that the "derogatory statement, in which you refer to our client as a member of the animal kingdom, and declare her to be untruthful, is highly defamatory of our client's good character and unblemished reputation. It is particularly malicious in view of the assault on our client that took place in your office".
The Australian first reported that staff expressed concerns to superiors that Ms Reynolds' comments were inappropriate.
The Defence Minister has apologised to staff for the remarks which she said had been made during "a stressful time".
Ms Reynolds released a statement on Wednesday saying she had not cast doubt on Ms Higgins' allegations which were "very serious".
"I have never questioned Ms Higgins' account of her alleged sexual assault and have always sought to respect her agency in this matter.
"I did however comment on news reports regarding surrounding circumstances that I felt had been misrepresented.
"I have consistently respected Ms Higgins' agency and privacy and said this is her story to tell and no one else's.
"Ms Higgins' allegations are very serious and that is how they must be treated to ensure her legal rights are protected. I welcome her decision to progress this matter with the Australian Federal Police," she said.
Ms Reynolds faces criticism over her handling of Ms Higgins' rape allegation as well as her failure to inform Mr Morrison of the incident for nearly two years.
Ms Higgins said the alleged offence occurred on March 23, 2019, after a night of drinking with colleagues.
Ms Reynolds' former acting chief of staff Fiona Brown initially handled the response to the allegations which saw the alleged perpetrator, a former colleague of Ms Higgins who also worked for Ms Reynolds, sacked for a "security breach" before the rape allegation had been made.
Ms Reynolds, at the time a defence industry minister, said she was aware of Ms Higgins' story "over a period of days".
She said she and Ms Brown offered the former media adviser police access if needed for an official complaint.
"We at all times followed the advice of ministerial and parliamentary services and the Department of Finance, as was appropriate," Ms Reynolds said to parliament last month.
"I have full confidence that my then chief of staff and I at all times acted in what we believed were the best interests of Brittany."
According to The Australian Ms Reynolds formally transferred her authority as Defence Minister to Foreign Minister Marise Payne, now also Acting Defence Minister.
That authority expires on March 8, along with her medical leave.
Ms Reynolds has sought hospital treatment on the advice of her cardiologist.
Last week Ms Higgins made a formal statement to the Australian Federal Police about an alleged sexual assault that occurred in the minister's office, resulting in a police investigation. Ms Higgins said she did not pursue police involvement in 2019 for fear of employment repercussions.
She resigned from her job as Employment Minister Michaelia Cash's media adviser last month after telling Senator Cash of the alleged rape.
Mr Morrison has chastised Ms Reynolds for not informing him about the rape allegation sooner, telling parliament he only found out about the rape allegation on the morning of February 15 when the story was posted on news.com.au.
The Prime Minister told parliament it was unacceptable he had not been informed immediately.
Ms Reynolds has said she is "deeply sorry" about the way she handled the situation.
It is understood Ms Reynolds and Ms Brown conducted a meeting with Ms Higgins on April 1, 2019, in the same office where the alleged rape occurred.
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/defence-minister-linda-reynolds-called-brittany-higgins-a-lying-cow/news-story/0e7d3c573569859f8310582566845818
#13076849 at 2021-03-01 05:25:31 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #13 - THE WAR IS REAL Edition
>>12941464
Workplace lawsuit against two cabinet ministers looms
James Massola - February 28, 2021
1/2
Two federal government ministers are facing legal action over the treatment of a former staff member, former senior media adviser Rachelle Miller, who has engaged a high-profile law firm to seek compensation.
The legal action is focused on the period Ms Miller worked for Alan Tudge when he was human services minister, and for Michaelia Cash when she was jobs and innovation minister.
Former Coalition staffer Brittany Higgins - who also worked for Senator Cash and who alleged earlier this month that she was raped in Parliament House in March 2019 - has thrown her support behind Ms Miller.
"No one deserves to be bullied or harassed in their workplace," Ms Higgins told The Sun-Herald and The Sunday Age.
"Rachelle Miller's case is another reason why there needs to be sweeping reforms to the MoPs [Members of Parliamentary Staff] Act and vastly improved processes in how staff in Parliament House are treated."
Ms Miller told the ABC's Four Corners program in November about a relationship she had with Mr Tudge, who is now Education Minister.
She subsequently filed a workplace bullying complaint with the Department of Finance over her treatment by Mr Tudge, and a separate formal complaint with the department about what Ms Miller alleges was a "fake redundancy" process that forced her out of Senator Cash's office.
Ms Miller alleged in her complaint to Finance that she was belittled and humiliated by Mr Tudge while working in his office. She also alleged that she was punished for her affair with Mr Tudge after she had moved to Senator Cash's office, with her career blocked from progressing.
Workplace compensation law firm Gordon Legal's senior partner, Peter Gordon, confirmed his firm was acting for Ms Miller. Gordon Legal recently won the Robodebt case that forced the government to pay a total of $1.2 billion in restitution and compensation to 400,000 people.
"Beyond confirming that we act for Rachelle Miller we have no further comment to make at this stage," Mr Gordon said.
It is understood that Ms Miller and her lawyers have decided not to participate in the Finance Department's internal inquiry because of deep concerns about its integrity and lack of independence.
A spokesman for Senator Cash said the minister "strenuously rejects claims of any adverse treatment of Ms Miller by her, or her office, and strongly disputes Ms Miller's version of events".
"At the time of her employment, between late 2017 and mid-2018, the Minister and the office understood Ms Miller's personal circumstances which is why support, leave and flexible work arrangements were offered to her. Given the matter is subject to a formal process in the Department of Finance, the Minister will not be commenting further."
Mr Tudge did not respond to requests for comment before deadline and nor did the Department of Finance.
(continued)
#13065461 at 2021-02-28 02:59:34 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #13 - THE WAR IS REAL Edition
>>12941464
Penny Wong says she met woman who accused minister of rape
FINN MCHUGH - FEBRUARY 28, 2021
Penny Wong has revealed she met the woman who has made a rape allegation against a federal minister, saying she facilitated her referral to rape crisis support.
Ms Wong also received an anonymous letter, also sent to Prime Minister Scott Morrison, which included an attachment reportedly from the woman, now dead, alleging she was raped in 1988 by a man, who is now a minister.
The woman committed suicide in June 2020, having made a report to NSW Police earlier that year.
The Labor Senate leader, from South Australia, revealed on Saturday she first became aware of the allegation in November 2019, when she "ran into" the woman in Adelaide.
"The complainant made an allegation that she had been raped many years earlier by a person who is now a senior member of the federal government. She indicated she intended to report the matter to NSW Police," she said.
"I said that making a report to the appropriate authorities was the right thing to do. I facilitated her referral to rape support services and confirmed she was being supported in reporting the matter to NSW Police,'' the senator said.
"The death of the woman who made this allegation is a tragedy, and devastating for everyone who knew and loved her,'' Senator Wong said.
"The woman, and her family and friends, have been in my thoughts throughout.
"I issue this statement in the interests of transparency, and in the hope that appropriate action is taken to examine her allegation, the circumstances of her death and what can and should be done to help keep people safe and save lives in the future."
Ms Wong confirmed she had contacted South Australia Police to offer her assistance to a coronial investigation into the woman's death.
She said she had also written to Mr Morrison and Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young, the other recipient of the letter, to "outline the steps I have taken following receipt of this anonymous letter".
Finance Minister Simon Birmingham on Saturday made the first public appearance by a government frontbencher since reports of the alleged rape were aired on Friday.
During the press conference Senator Birmingham was pressed on whether the person at the centre of the allegations should come forward.
"Everybody is entitled to natural justice and it's important to back the police to do their job ... that's the right way to handle this," he said.
In 2014, then-Labor leader Bill Shorten identified himself as the man at the centre of a different historical rape allegation which had been reported in the media.
Mr Shorten strenuously denied the claim and said he co-operated with Victoria Police, which declined to proceed with the investigation, to clear his name.
Senator Birmingham was asked whether speculation could unfairly malign other ministers in lieu of the current minister taking the same action.
"Well, I'm not sure how you think it would be resolved thereafter. I think we have to respect that we have justice systems in Australia," he replied.
But with the case possibly unprosecutable given the alleged victim died in 2020, the anonymous letter demanded the Morrison government establish an independent probe into the alleged rape.
Senator Birmingham said it was imperative for police to pursue the matter "free of any sense of political interference or direction".
The AFP confirmed on Saturday it had received a complaint relating to an alleged historical sexual assault and would liaise with the relevant state authorities.
Meanwhile, Nine Newspapers reports two cabinet ministers are facing legal action, after former Liberal staffer Rachelle Miller engaged lawyers to pursue compensation.
Ms Miller, who revealed an affair with her former boss, Education Minister Alan Tudge, on ABC's Four Corners program last year, worked for Mr Tudge before moving to Employment Minister Michaelia Cash's office.
Ms Miller told the program she was bullied and humiliated in Mr Tudge's office and her career progression stalled.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/penny-wong-says-she-met-woman-who-accused-minister-of-rape/news-story/25d1cecfd92d0e59daeb1ed04cb5b307
#13043731 at 2021-02-25 06:54:15 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #13 - THE WAR IS REAL Edition
>>12941464
AFP writes to Scott Morrison to warn against delays in reporting allegations of criminal conduct
The letter from the Australian Federal Police commissioner comes in the wake of sexual assault allegations made by former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins.
TOM STAYNER - 25 February 2021
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw has written to Prime Minister Scott Morrison, warning that allegations of criminal conduct should be reported without delay.
His letter comes in the wake of serious allegations made by former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins, who says she was raped inside Parliament House in March 2019.
The Morrison government has been sharply criticised for its handling of the allegations, including apparent failures to report the accusations to Mr Morrison.
"I cannot state strongly enough the importance of timely referrals of allegations of criminal conduct," Mr Kershaw said.
"Failure to report alleged criminal behaviour in this manner, or choosing to communicate or disseminate allegations via other means, such as through the media or third parties, risks prejudicing any subsequent police investigation.
"Any delay in reporting criminal conduct can result in the loss of key evidence, continuation of the offending and/or reoffending by the alleged perpetrator."
Ms Higgins chose not to take a complaint over the alleged incident further with police at the time over concerns this would impact her career.
Mr Kershaw said members, senators and their offices should refer any such matters referred to them "taking into account the rights and privacy of the victim".
A spokesperson for the Prime Minister says he requested the letter from the AFP commissioner so guidance could be provided to MPs and Senators.
Mr Morrison has also written to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Senate President asking for Commissioner Kershaw's advice to be circulated among politicians.
"As we all appreciate, these are serious and traumatic events for anyone to deal with," he said.
"The events of the past fortnight have demonstrated why it is so important that all Members and Senators are informed of their responsibilities in these situations, both to provide compassionate support to those who are affected and to ensure that we uphold the rule of law in dealing with these issues."
A number of federal government ministers were aware of the allegations before they were made public last week.
Ms Higgins's employer at the time of the alleged rape, Defence Minister Linda Reynolds, has since apologised over her handling of the alleged incident.
She says she encouraged Ms Higgins to go to the police when she learned of the alleged crime - as does Ms Higgins' next boss Michaelia Cash.
Mr Morrison has consistently said his office first knew of the allegation on 12 February but his staff then took almost three days to notify him.
He has expressed disappointment that cabinet ministers did not notify him about the alleged incident earlier.
Ms Higgins has since reinstated her formal police complaint over the alleged incident.
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/afp-writes-to-scott-morrison-to-warn-against-delays-in-reporting-allegations-of-criminal-conduct
#13003118 at 2021-02-19 21:33:50 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #13 - THE WAR IS REAL Edition
>>13003107
2/2
The Prime Minister's office has denied that any staff members knew about Ms Higgins' alleged rape until last week.
"If there was anything different here, I would like to know," Mr Morrison said on Friday.
"That is why I have asked the secretary of my department to actually test that advice that I received.
"I can tell you I knew about it on Monday. Frankly it shattered me, it absolutely shattered me. Of course there are many ramifications of this but, frankly, the one that shattered me the most was just the sheer humanity of what has occurred here."
A text message from a former ministerial staffer to Ms Higgins on April 3, 2019, says he had spoken to a colleague from the Prime Minister's office.
Ms Higgins alleges she was sexually assaulted in Senator Reynolds' office on March 23.
"He was mortified to hear about it and how things have been handled. He's going to discuss with (Mr Kunkel) - no one else," the text states.
The "mortified" staff member referenced in the text has vehemently denied the content of the message or that he was told anything about an alleged sexual assault.
Government sources said he was asked to help find jobs during and after the federal election campaign for Ms Higgins and the ministerial staffer who approached him.
Five days after she went public with her story, which has embroiled the Morrison government this week, Ms Higgins said she expected the AFP would handle her complaint "in a timely manner".
She demanded she be able to participate in drafting the terms of reference for an independent review in parliament's workplace culture.
"The Prime Minister has repeatedly told the parliament that I should be given 'agency' going forward," she said.
"I don't believe that agency was provided to me over the past two years but I seize it now and have advised the Prime Minister's office that I expect a voice in framing the scope and terms of reference for a new and significant review into the conditions for all ministerial and parliamentary staff.
"It is important that the reform is real and drives change beyond dealing with just what happened to me, and how the system let me down.
"I was failed repeatedly, but I now have my voice, and I am determined to use (it) to ensure that this is never allowed to happen to another member of staff again."
Federal parliament's human resources system - run by the departments of Finance and Parliamentary Services and which dealt with Ms Higgins' alleged rape - is due to be overhauled.
Fiona Brown - Senator Reynolds' chief of staff at the time of the alleged rape, who now works in Mr Morrison's office - handled the matter and instigated support for Ms Higgins but did not pass information on to the Prime Minister's office in order to protect the alleged victim.
Ms Higgins said at the time she did not want to pursue a police complaint.
Employment Minister Michaelia Cash, who employed Ms Higgins after the 2019 election, said she offered early this month to go with her to the police and to the Prime Minister's office after learning about the alleged rape but Ms Higgins did not want to.
Anthony Albanese said the April 3, 2019, text message "completely contradicts" what Mr Morrison told parliament.
"Here you have text messages clearly indicating that it was raised with the Prime Minister's office, and the response from the Prime Minister's office saying that he would raise it with the chief of staff," the Labor leader said.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/exliberal-staffer-brittany-higgins-takes-rape-complaint-to-afp/news-story/06f7ef4816f20f4a10b5bff8f0984240
#12996560 at 2021-02-19 08:16:19 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #13 - THE WAR IS REAL Edition
>>12941464
Ex-Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins takes rape complaint to AFP
ROSIE LEWIS - FEBRUARY 19, 2021
Brittany Higgins, the former Liberal staffer who was allegedly raped in a ministerial office at Parliament House, has "re-engaged" with the Australian Federal Police to proceed with a formal complaint against her alleged perpetrator.
Five days after she went public with her story, which has embroiled the Morrison government, Ms Higgins said she expected the AFP would handle her complaint "in a timely manner" and demanded she be able to participate in drafting the terms of reference for an independent review in parliament's workplace culture.
Ms Higgins alleges she was sexually assaulted in then defence industry minister Linda Reynolds' parliamentary suite on March 23, 2019, after a night out drinking.
She made a complaint to police soon after but did not pursue it, saying she felt her job with the Liberal Party would be put at risk.
"Today I have re-engaged with Australian Federal Police and will proceed with a formal complaint regarding the crime committed against me in what should be the safest building in Australia," she said.
"By publicly coming forward with my experience in Parliament House, I've sought to achieve two things. Firstly, I want a comprehensive police investigation into what happened to me on 22/23 March 2019 and for my perpetrator to face the full force of the law.
"The Australian Federal Police have made assurances to me that they will handle this matter thoroughly and transparently. I would also ask that they handle it in a timely manner as to date, I have waited a long time for justice.
"Secondly, given my experience, I am determined to drive significant reform in the way the Australian Parliament handles issues of this nature and treats ministerial and parliamentary staff more generally."
As Special Minister of State Simon Birmingham prepares to meet with Labor and the crossbench next week to begin work on establishing the independent review into parliament, Ms Higgins said she expected a "truly independent" investigation to what happened to her, including how her alleged rape was handled by her employers and by other offices and parties that had knowledge of her circumstances.
"I believe that getting to the bottom of what happened to me and how the system failed me is critical to creating a new framework for political staff that ensures genuine cultural change and restores the trust of staff," she said.
"In addition to an independent investigation into what happened to me, I demand a significant review into the conditions under which ministerial and parliamentary staff are employed and how we can do better.
"Political advisers have very few protections, resources and confidential reporting mechanisms to address any workplace issues. They are not public servants and work in an extremely high-pressure environment.
"Too often, a toxic workplace culture can emerge that enables inappropriate conduct and this is exacerbated by the disparity in the power dynamics.
"How ministerial and parliamentary staff are treated is a bipartisan issue that impacts staff from across the political spectrum and must be treated as such."
Ms Higgins said she would use the "agency" given to her this week - and which Scott Morrison said she should have - to work on the independent review of parliament's workplace culture.
"(I) have advised the Prime Minister's office that I expect a voice in framing the scope and terms of reference for a new and significant review into the conditions for all ministerial and parliamentary staff. It is important that the reform is real and drives change beyond dealing with just what happened to me, and how the system let me down," she said.
"From the outset, I have driven by my desire to ensure that no other person would have to go through the trauma that I experienced during my time in Parliament House.
"I was failed repeatedly, but I now have my voice, and I am determined to use to ensure that this is never allowed to happen to another member of staff again."
Employment Minister Michaelia Cash, who employed Ms Higgins after the 2019 election, said she offered in early February this year to go with her to the police and to the Prime Minister's office after learning about the alleged rape but she did not want to.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/exliberal-staffer-brittany-higgins-takes-rape-complaint-to-afp/news-story/06f7ef4816f20f4a10b5bff8f0984240
https://origin.go.theaustralian.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/STATEMENT-FROM-BRITTANY-HIGGINS.pdf
#12047936 at 2020-12-16 06:45:11 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #11 - THE SILENT WAR CONTINUES Edition
>>12047897
Australia to take China to the WTO over barley tariffs
Australia has launched its first World Trade Organisation investigation in a year-long $20 billion trade fight with China, taking an increasingly bitter dispute to the multilateral level.
Trade Minister Simon Birmingham on Wednesday said Australian officials had notified Beijing and asked the WTO in Geneva to begin the investigation into tariffs that have wiped out Australia's barley trade with China.
The step is largely symbolic and could take years to resolve. The WTO has been rendered mostly inoperable by the Trump administration, which has blocked appointments it views as unsympathetic to US trade interests, leaving only one out of seven judges on the appeals court.
But it is a significant formal escalation in Australia's ongoing stoush with China, which now covers beef, barley, wine and coal among half-a-dozen industries after a diplomatic dispute over the coronavirus inquiry, human rights and national security.
Senator Birmingham did not rule out taking Beijing to the WTO over the trade hits to other sectors, including tariffs of up to 212 per cent on wine, but said barley was the logical first step.
The $600 million-a-year export to China, which is used to make beer and animal feed, was one of the first Australian exports hit after the Morrison government called for a coronavirus inquiry.
The 80.5 per cent tariff was applied by Chinese customs authorities in May over allegations that Australian producers had dumped the product in the Chinese market at a discount rate.
The Australian government and local industry have strongly denied the allegations.
"We are highly confident that based on the evidence, data and analysis, Australia has an incredibly strong case to mount in relation to defending the integrity, and proprietary of our grain growers and barley producers," Senator Birmingham said.
"WTO dispute resolution processes are not perfect, and they take longer than would be ideal, but ultimately, it is the right avenue for Australia to take at this point in time."
China's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday night said any measures it had taken were in line with its regulations and international practices.
"They are also responsible steps to safeguard the interests of domestic industries and consumers," ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said.
"We hope that the Australian side will reflect upon its own conduct, match its words with deeds, and provide favourable conditions for bilateral practical cooperation in various fields, instead of the opposite."
The dispute has been characterised by vague threats and sudden trade restrictions on different sectors since Australia called for a coronavirus inquiry in April.
In recent weeks the Morrison government, frustrated by a shutdown in ministerial communication from Beijing, has increasingly been referring to the perception of economic coercion created by China's "discriminatory actions".
Senator Birmingham on Wednesday went further and described the trade strikes as sanctions. He warned it would turn other countries off doing business with China, which remains Australia's largest trading partner, accounting for more than $150 billion in exports each year.
"The fact that China has accumulated a series of decisions that look like sanctions against Australia, obviously changes that risk proposition for Australian businesses and industries as they choose to consider doing business with China," he said.
"It also has a knock-on effect in relation to others around the world."
Senator Birmingham said Australia had no intention of changing its position on human rights, Huawei, the coronavirus inquiry, nationals security or foreign investment decisions.
"We are right to stand by our values which include the principles of supporting China's economic prosperity, which has achieved the miracle of our lifetime and lifting hundreds of millions out of poverty and improving living standards for many as a result," he said.
"Ultimately what is going to be required here from Australia, a period of calm, consistency and patience and for China, we hope, to be willing to come to the table."
The press conference is likely to be one of the last for Senator Birmingham after more than two years as trade minister ahead of a cabinet reshuffle this week. The South Australian senator will move full-time to the Finance Ministry.
Education Minister Dan Tehan and Employment Minister Michaelia Cash are the leading candidates to take on the trade portfolio.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/australia-to-take-china-to-the-wto-over-barley-tariffs-20201216-p56nzf.html
#5443933 at 2019-03-01 05:11:58 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #3 - March MADNESS Edition
Notables
are not endorsements
#2 - Part 1/4
>>4908182 The Pentecostal Prime Minister and the Jerusalem embassy stunt
>>4908260 Why is Scott Morrison protecting Hillsong Pastor Brian Houston?
>>4911890 Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion to become third minister to quit politics
>>4923058, >>4923090, >>4923108 Foreign-funded green groups could take whole swathes of Australia out of the productive economy
>>4923181 Soros n Turnbull Partnership
>>4923572 8Chan posting tips for Newfags, Test Board and archive.fo links
>>4930940 Sketchy GC Mayor Tom Tate lies - local Murdoch rag covers it up
>>4930976 No one is buying the Coalition's neoliberal message
>>4934255, >>4934681 Senator Michaelia Cash vs. Senator Doug Cameron - "rumours in this place abound"
>>4934683 Anon muses - "do the opposite of what the news tell ya"
>>4937627 NOTABLES FROM OZ BREAD #1 - https://8ch.net/qresearch/res/4520.html
>>4935957 The Clinton Foundation, Malcolm Turnbull (X/AUS) and the leaked phone call with POTUS in Q drops
>>4935964 "Blood" in Q drop #908 - reference to Australian Red Cross?
>>4936800 Abbott vs Turnbull: Republic Debate (1993)
>>4940385 Australia backs Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim president
>>4940912 Independent Australia's Bloody Idiot of the Week - ScoMo's red hot go!
>>4942474 Whitewashing occupation? Bill Shorten and the Israel Lobby
>>4942503 Palestinians accuse Australian PM of 'bribing Zionist lobby'
>>4945164 Mandatory vaccine push by Big Pharma tied to Australian Prime Minister's wife
>>4946417 Grant Goldman calls out Scott Morrison & his association to cults covering up paedophilia
>>4946437 Parents who won't vaccinate their children on 'religious grounds' will lose claim to family benefits, government says
Fiona Barnett Bun
>>4946470 Former Australian Prime Ministers named in VIP pedophile ring
>>4974745 fionabarnett.org - An Australian Experience of Ritual Abuse & Mind Control
>>4974755 Fiona Barnett Candy Girl Documentary / Satanic Ritual Abuse
>>4984025 Kim Beazley Senior: ASIO Agent and Child Trafficker
>>4985770 Fiona Barnett Press Conference - October 2015, Sydney
>>5050776 Collection Known info of Evidence against Bad Actor: Fiona Barnett
>>5357476 Fiona Barnett's response - Unnecessary Evidence
>>4946633 Clinton Foundation And Australian Government Money Laundering Scandal
>>4946964, >>4947052, >>4947072, >>4947085, >>4947109 Australia Notes - Anon's rundown on Australian politics and society
>>4947110 Melbourne's immigrant communities fight back against the rise of white supremacy in Australia
>>4947376 Cory Bernardi, conservative warrior
Webuyyourkids Bun
>>4949007 We Buy Your Kids - company that makes pedo art for corporate and government clients
>>4949012, >>4949033, >>4986642 Illuminati, pizzagate and pedovore symbolism
>>4986649, >>4986745 Ezra Haidet / Middle of Beyond - satanic symbolism
>>4962385, >>4962576 Australian Army to take terror attack lead, not local police under Malcolm Turnbull overhaul
>>4962933 Australian Rhodes Scholars and Fabians
>>4963024, >>4963031, >>4963042 Australian Parliament to pass expanded laws to call out the Military to suppress Domestic Unrest
>>4974095, >>4974243, >>4974329, >>5000911 Anons discuss - Is the ADF loyal to the people?
>>4969787 Former Sydney Scoutmaster in court over child sex assault charges
>>4982900 Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull personally linked to a second multi-million-dollar fraud of taxpayer's money
Julie Bishop Bun
>>4984385 Bill Shorten to offer Julie Bishop diplomatic post if elected
>>4986870 Welcome back to Australia Hillary Clinton tweet
>>5010347 Julie Bishop parts with iconic red shoes
>>5010984 More red shoe images
>>5298151, >>5322724 Julie Bishop announces she will quit politics at the next election
>>5372438 Julie Bishop denies any link between donation from elderly Chinese mogul and advisor's appointment
>>5322724 Downer, Hockey, Bishop, Turnbull and the 2016 Presidential election
>>4985605, >>4986646, >>4986273 Joe Hockey, his wife and We Don't Say His Name
>>4985770, >>4985778 How to embed YouTube videos on 8chan
>>4985715, >>4985725, >>4986817 John Brumby, former premier of Victoria retires from Board of Huawei unit
>>4988429 Hitler's Gestapo in the Barossa Valley
>>4988508 Australia a "safe haven" for Nazi war criminals
>>4990443, >>5218035 Conspiracy theories swirl around Australia's 'missing' gold
>>4990611, >>4990636 Frank Lowy, Zionism and 9/11
>>4994211, >>4994241 Hillary Clinton's 2018 speaking tour of Australia and New Zealand, with Julia Gillard and Jacinda Ardern
#5437284 at 2019-02-28 20:54:18 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #2
Perfect for the tail end of our Australian Bread!
Labor Senators spent last week scrutinising the Government in Senate Estimates. There was a lot of news coming out of Parliament House so here are my top seven moments from Estimates.
1. Game, set, match - Michaelia Cash in hiding from the Federal Police
For nearly 18 months now Labor has pursued Michaelia Cash over her office's leak to the media of advance notice of a police raid of the Australian Workers' Union. We now know, from evidence given under oath by Minister Cash's former staff in court, that this scandal in fact involved two of her personal staff, another person about to join her office and a staff member of then Justice Minister, Michael Keenan.
Estimates uncovered new evidence from the Australian Federal Police and the Director of Public Prosecutions, that Cash and Keenan had refused to provide witness statements in their criminal investigation, and that the only reason someone hasn't been prosecuted is a lack of evidence - including the witness statements Cash and Keenan have refused to provide
Despite this, under hours of questioning from Labor Senators, Minister Cash continued to claim she had cooperated with police. Who do you believe? Michaelia Cash? Or the Federal Police?
#5391521 at 2019-02-26 09:00:50 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #2
Collected Notables from Q Research AUSTRALIA #2, posting to test format and layout. Corrections / suggestions happily accepted. I will compile again around 700 replies, then one final time around 730-ish before stating a new thread. A HUGE thank you to those who bring us Oz-related content from Q Research General. Just look at what we're done in one short month!
Notables
are not endorsements
#2 - Part 1/3
>>4908182 The Pentecostal Prime Minister and the Jerusalem embassy stunt
>>4908260 Why is Scott Morrison protecting Hillsong Pastor Brian Houston?
>>4911890 Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion to become third minister to quit politics
>>4923058, >>4923090, >>4923108 Foreign-funded green groups could take whole swathes of Australia out of the productive economy
>>4923181 Soros n Turnbull Partnership
>>4923572 8Chan posting tips for Newfags, Test Board and archive.fo links
>>4930940 Sketchy GC Mayor Tom Tate lies - local Murdoch rag covers it up
>>4930976 No one is buying the Coalition's neoliberal message
>>4934255, >>4934681 Senator Michaelia Cash vs. Senator Doug Cameron - "rumours in this place abound"
>>4934683 Anon muses - "do the opposite of what the news tell ya"
>>4935957 The Clinton Foundation, Malcolm Turnbull (X/AUS) and the leaked phone call with POTUS in Q drops
>>4935964 "Blood" in Q drop #908 - reference to Australian Red Cross?
>>4936800 Abbott vs Turnbull: Republic Debate (1993)
>>4940385 Australia backs Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim president
>>4940912 Independent Australia's Bloody Idiot of the Week - ScoMo's red hot go!
>>4942474 Whitewashing occupation? Bill Shorten and the Israel Lobby
>>4942503 Palestinians accuse Australian PM of 'bribing Zionist lobby'
>>4945164 Mandatory vaccine push by Big Pharma tied to Australian Prime Minister's wife
>>4946417 Grant Goldman calls out Scott Morrison & his association to cults covering up paedophilia
>>4946437 Parents who won't vaccinate their children on 'religious grounds' will lose claim to family benefits, government says
Fiona Barnett Bun
>>4946470 Former Australian Prime Ministers named in VIP pedophile ring
>>4974745 fionabarnett.org - An Australian Experience of Ritual Abuse & Mind Control
>>4974755 Fiona Barnett Candy Girl Documentary / Satanic Ritual Abuse
>>4984025 Kim Beazley Senior: ASIO Agent and Child Trafficker
>>4985770 Fiona Barnett Press Conference - October 2015, Sydney
>>5050776 Collection Known info of Evidence against Bad Actor: Fiona Barnett
>>5357476 Fiona Barnett's response - Unnecessary Evidence
>>4946633 Clinton Foundation And Australian Government Money Laundering Scandal
>>4946964, >>4947052, >>4947072, >>4947085, >>4947109 Australia Notes - Anon's rundown on Australian politics and society
>>4947110 Melbourne's immigrant communities fight back against the rise of white supremacy in Australia
>>4947376 Cory Bernardi, conservative warrior
Webuyyourkids Bun
>>4949007 We Buy Your Kids - company that makes pedo art for corporate and government clients
>>4949012, >>4949033, >>4986642 Illuminati, pizzagate and pedovore symbolism
>>4986649, >>4986745 Ezra Haidet / Middle of Beyond - satanic symbolism
>>4962385, >>4962576 Australian Army to take terror attack lead, not local police under Malcolm Turnbull overhaul
>>4962933 Australian Rhodes Scholars and Fabians
>>4963024, >>4963031, >>4963042 Australian Parliament to pass expanded laws to call out the Military to suppress Domestic Unrest
>>4974095, >>4974243, >>4974329, >>5000911 Anons discuss - Is the ADF loyal to the people?
>>4969787 Former Sydney Scoutmaster in court over child sex assault charges
>>4982900 Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull personally linked to a second multi-million-dollar fraud of taxpayer's money
Julie Bishop Bun
>>4984385 Bill Shorten to offer Julie Bishop diplomatic post if elected
>>4986870 Welcome back to Australia Hillary Clinton tweet
>>5010347 Julie Bishop parts with iconic red shoes
>>5010984 More red shoe images
>>5298151, >>5322724 Julie Bishop announces she will quit politics at the next election
>>5372438 Julie Bishop denies any link between donation from elderly Chinese mogul and advisor's appointment
>>5322724 Downer, Hockey, Bishop, Turnbull and the 2016 Presidential election
>>4985605, >>4986646, >>4986273 Joe Hockey, his wife and We Don't Say His Name
>>4985770, >>4985778 How to embed YouTube videos on 8chan
>>4985715, >>4985725, >>4986817 John Brumby, former premier of Victoria retires from Board of Huawei unit
>>4988429 Hitler's Gestapo in the Barossa Valley
>>4988508 Australia a "safe haven" for Nazi war criminals
>>4990443, >>5218035 Conspiracy theories swirl around Australia's 'missing' gold
>>4990611, >>4990636 Frank Lowy, Zionism and 9/11
>>4994211, >>4994241 Hillary Clinton's 2018 speaking tour of Australia and New Zealand, with Julia Gillard and Jacinda Ardern
#4934681 at 2019-01-28 03:13:57 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #2
>>4934255
Transcript:
Michaelia Cash threatened to name young women in Bill Shorten's office "about which rumours in this place abound" in retaliation for ongoing questions about her staff and the Australian Workers' Union raids.
The extraordinary threat in Senate estimates on Wednesday suggests - after Barnaby Joyce's resignation and changes to the ministerial code of conduct to ban sex between ministers and their staff - that political staffers may be drawn into day-to-day political combat.
After first defending the remarks, Cash withdrew what Penny Wong called "outrageous slurs" under the threat of Labor raising the matter in the Senate.
Cash had returned to estimates, continuing to block questions about whether her former senior media adviser, David De Garis, was involved in a tipoff to the media about the Australian federal police raid of the AWU.
Michaelia Cash warns of 'very dangerous path' after questions about her staff - politics live
Read more
The leak is being investigated by the AFP, who confirmed in earlier estimates sessions that it has interviewed more than 10 staff in at least two political offices but has not questioned any ministers.
The Labor senator Doug Cameron asked about the movement of staff out of Cash's office after De Garis resigned and the appointment of a new chief of staff.
Cash confirmed her new chief of staff was not drawn from an agency she oversees and said he or she is "well qualified".
But when asked if he or she was drawn from another Liberal office, the jobs and innovation minister noted the general rule is not to ask questions that identify ministerial staff. She then unleashed an extraordinary tirade and threat of reprisal against Labor.
"If you want to start discussing staff matters, be very, very careful," she said.
"I am happy to name every young woman in Mr Shorten's office about which rumours in this place abound.
"If you want to go down this path today I. Will. Do it.
"Do you want [me] to start naming them? For Mr Shorten to come out and deny any of the rumours that have been circulating in this building for many many years. [It's a] dangerous path to go down, and you know it."
Michaelia Cash claims 'public interest immunity' over union raid tipoff
Read more
Cameron suggested that Cash "take a chill pill" and the employment estimates committee was suspended several times.
Liberal senators including the committee chair, Lucy Gichuhi, attempted to move the hearing on to different outcomes in the employment portfolio, while Cameron argued to continue his line of questioning after what he called a "crazy performance" by Cash.
The Labor leader in the Senate, Penny Wong, called on Cash to withdraw the "outrageous slurs", which she said were sexist and impugned the character of Shorten and his staff.
She cited the prime minister's "moralising speech" about making parliament a better workplace for women and noted Cash, a former minister for women, was representing the minister for women in Senate estimates.
Cash said she did "not agree" with Wong's summation and accused Cameron of "maligning her staff". After Wong threatened to raise the matter in the Senate, Cash said: "If anyone has been offended - I withdraw."
Cameron resumed questions about whether the former Australian Building and Construction Commission chief, Nigel Hadgkiss, was indemnified for legal costs after resigning for breaching the Fair Work Act.
The shadow minister for women, Tanya Plibersek, told the lower house Cash had launched a "disgraceful attack on the young women working in this building".
Plibersek said she was offended on behalf of "smart young women working for me" and noted that Cash's apology was conditional - "one of those mealy-mouthed, weasel apologies 'if anyone was offended'".
She called on Malcolm Turnbull to "make her offer a proper apology to all of the young women she has offended".
On Wednesday Buzzfeed reported that a journalist claims to have received a tip-off from then-justice minister Michael Keenan's office about the AWU raid, although a spokesperson for Keenan denied his office's involvement.
On Tuesday the deputy commissioner, Leanne Close, said the AFP hoped to conclude its investigation "fairly soon" but it had uncovered new witnesses to interview and "different crimes" in relation to the AWU raid leak matter.
Despite carrying a maximum two-year jail term, the AFP said the leak is not its greatest priority. Two AFP teams of about 16 people are conducting the AWU raid leak investigation.
Guardian Australia has approached Shorten's office for comment.
>>https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/feb/28/Michaelia-Cash-makes-outrageous-slurs-against-women-in-shortens-office
#4925682 at 2019-01-27 08:40:44 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #2
Michaelia Cash is a bad apple that needs plucking!
Funny, no noise from her ATM, why?
All that business swept under the rug?
8chan/8kun TheStorm Posts (1)
#8107 at 2018-01-06 21:08:56 (UTC+1)
The Storm General #10: Camp David Weekend Edition
>>8039
AUS : rumoured $88MM
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/blogs/andrew-bolt/why-have-we-donated-to-clintons-foundation/news-story/96f87b9c4999e22cd3b022d267129896?nk=122fe06763f6c78a8f5982156c8d2e6b-1515272681
SA: $25MM
phone call: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/aug/04/full-transcript-of-trumps-phone-call-with-australian-prime-minister-malcolm-turnbull
AUS LeADERS:
>Malcolm Turnbull
4th RR
Party Minister Portfolio
Liberal Malcolm Turnbull MP
Prime Minister
Leader of the Liberal Party
National Barnaby Joyce MP
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister for Infrastructure and Transport
Leader of the National Party
Liberal Julie Bishop MP
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party
Liberal Christian Porter MP
Attorney-General
Liberal Scott Morrison MP
Treasurer
Liberal Senator Mathias Cormann
Minister for Finance
Special Minister of State
Vice-President of the Executive Council
Leader of the Government in the Senate
Liberal Christopher Pyne MP
Minister for Defence Industry
Leader of the House
CLP Senator Nigel Scullion
Minister for Indigenous Affairs
Leader of the National Party in the Senate
LNP Peter Dutton MP
Minister for Home Affairs
Liberal Greg Hunt MP
Minister for Health
Liberal Senator Marise Payne
Minister for Defence
Liberal Senator Mitch Fifield
Minister for Communications
Minister for the Arts
Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate
Liberal Senator Michaelia Cash
Minister for Jobs and Innovation
Liberal Dan Tehan MP
Minister for Social Services
Liberal Senator Simon Birmingham
Minister for Education and Training
Manager of Government Business in the Senate
National Senator Bridget McKenzie
Minister for Sport
Minister for Rural Health
Minister for Regional Communications
Deputy Leader of the Nationals Party
LNP Steven Ciobo MP
Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment
LNP David Littleproud MP
Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources
Liberal Kelly O'Dwyer MP
Minister for Revenue and Financial Services
Minister for Women
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service
Liberal Josh Frydenberg MP
Minister for the Environment and Energy
LNP Senator Matthew Canavan
Minister for Resources and Northern Australia
Liberal Michael Keenan MP
Minister for Human Services
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Digital Transformation
LNP John McVeigh MP
Minister for Regional Development, Territories and Local Government
Outer Ministry[edit]
Party Minister Portfolio
Liberal Paul Fletcher MP
Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities
Liberal Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells
Minister for International Development and the Pacific
Liberal Angus Taylor MP
Minister for Law Enforcement and Cybersecurity
Liberal Alan Tudge MP
Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs
Liberal Craig Laundy MP
Minister for Small and Family Business, the Workplace and Deregulation
National Michael McCormack MP
Minister for Veterans' Affairs
Minister for Defence Personnel
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC
Deputy Leader of the House
Liberal Ken Wyatt AM, MP
Minister for Indigenous Health
Minister for Aged Care
Assistant Ministers[edit]
Party Minister Portfolio
LNP Senator James McGrath
Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister
National Damian Drum
Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister
Liberal Senator Anne Ruston
Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources
Liberal Alex Hawke MP
Assistant Minister for Home Affairs
LNP Karen Andrews MP
Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills
Liberal Senator Zed Seselja
Assistant Minister for Science, Jobs and Innovation
LNP Jane Prentice MP
Assistant Minister for Social Services and Disability Services
National Luke Hartsuyker MP
Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment
National David Gillespie MP
Assistant Minister for Children and Families
Liberal Michael Sukkar MP
Assistant Minister to the Treasurer
Liberal Melissa Price MP
Assistant Minister for the Environment
Liberal David Coleman MP
Assistant Minister for Finance
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