Welcome To Q Research AUSTRALIA

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

Previous thread

>>24354649 Q Research AUSTRALIA #45

Q's Posts made on Q Research AUSTRALIA threads

Wednesday 11.20.2019

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

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

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

Tuesday 11.19.2019

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

Saturday 11.16.2019

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

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

Friday 11.15.2019

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

Thursday 03.28.2019

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

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

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

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

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

Q's Posts referencing Australia

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Q's Posts referencing Australian citizens

Malcolm Turnbull (X/AUS)

Former Prime Minister of Australia, 2015 to 2018

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

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

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

https://qanon.pub/#819

Alexander Downer

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

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

Cardinal George Pell

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

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

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

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

Julian Assange

Australian activist, founder, editor and publisher of WikiLeaks

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Virginia Roberts Giuffre

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

https://qanon.pub/#4568

https://qanon.pub/#4728

https://qanon.pub/#1054

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

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

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

https://qanon.pub/#1001

https://qanon.pub/#1861

https://qanon.pub/#3145

https://qanon.pub/#3147

https://qanon.pub/#4578

https://qanon.pub/#3432

https://qanon.pub/#3497

https://qanon.pub/#4727

https://qanon.pub/#4797

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

https://qanon.pub/#4576

https://qanon.pub/#4577

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

https://qanon.pub/#4569

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

https://qanon.pub/#4570

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

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

https://qanon.pub/#4579

https://qanon.pub/#4907

https://qanon.pub/#4911

https://qanon.pub/#4921

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Q

Nov 25 2018

https://qanon.pub/#2501

Notables

are not endorsements

#45 - Part 1

Middle East Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 1

>>24359209 Government considering request for military assistance from Gulf States attacked by Iran - Australia is considering requests from Persian Gulf states for defensive military support after Iranian drone and missile strikes targeted civilian infrastructure across the region during the second week of the Middle East war. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said several countries had sought help to protect against attacks but stressed Australia would not take part in offensive operations against Iran. Options under consideration include deploying a small Australian Defence Force detachment with NASAMS (National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System) to protect key infrastructure, according to defence analyst Malcolm Davis. Meanwhile about 11,000 Australians stranded in the region have registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs seeking assistance to return home as flights resume from Dubai following an Iranian drone strike.

>>24363854 Aussie, Aussie, Aussie’: Cheers after five Iranian players granted asylum after escape - (Video) Five Iranian women’s footballers, including captain Zahra Ghanbari, have been granted humanitarian visas to remain in Australia after escaping government minders at a Gold Coast hotel during the Women’s Asian Cup. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the players fled on Monday night following days of confidential discussions with officials and were now under the protection of the Australian Federal Police. The athletes had faced condemnation in Iran after refusing to sing the national anthem before their opening match, raising fears they could face severe punishment if forced to return. Burke said the remaining members of the team would also be offered assistance if they sought to stay. The incident drew international attention, with US President Donald Trump contacting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and urging Australia to grant the players asylum.

>>24363902 Tony Burke grants five Iranian footballers asylum as two players stay behind at team’s hotel - (Video) Five members of Iran’s women’s national football team, including captain Zahra Ghanbari, have been granted humanitarian visas after escaping team minders at a Gold Coast hotel during the Women’s Asian Cup. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the players fled on Monday night with assistance from the Australian Federal Police and are now being housed at a secure location in Brisbane. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government had been preparing for possible defections and assured remaining team members that help would be available if they sought asylum. Two additional players reportedly remained at the team’s hotel as the squad prepared to depart Australia. The dramatic escape drew international attention, with US President Donald Trump speaking with Albanese and urging Australia to ensure the players were not forced to return to Iran.

>>24363915 Australia deploys aircraft to Middle East as analyst warns ‘we’re now part of this war’ - (Video) Australia will deploy an E-7A Wedgetail surveillance aircraft, advanced air-to-air missiles and about 85 troops to the United Arab Emirates after the Gulf state requested assistance following Iranian missile and drone attacks. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the deployment would focus on defensive operations, including protecting airspace and supporting Australian citizens and facilities in the region. Defence analyst Michael Shoebridge warned the move effectively tied Australia more closely to the conflict, saying “we’re now a part of this war”. The government said the Wedgetail would provide long-range reconnaissance for an initial four-week mission. Officials also noted around 24,000 Australians remain in the UAE as the conflict disrupts flights and escalates what Foreign Minister Penny Wong has described as Australia’s worst-ever consular crisis.

>>24363919 No need for panic’: Bowen calls urgent summit as fuel fears grip regions - Energy Minister Chris Bowen has convened an urgent fuel security taskforce as panic-buying and supply concerns spread through regional Australia amid rising oil prices and conflict in the Middle East. Bowen said there was “no need for panic”, stressing that shipments of diesel, petrol and jet fuel to Australia had not been disrupted and that the country held roughly a month of fuel reserves. The taskforce, including farming groups, fuel suppliers and ministers Tim Ayres and Julie Collins, will examine supply chain pressures and reports of hoarding. Farmers warned fuel and fertiliser shortages could threaten upcoming winter crop planting, while the Coalition urged the government to intervene to guarantee distribution. Oil markets have been volatile as tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global supply, faces disruption.

#45 - Part 2

Middle East Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 2

>>24367769 Squad member granted asylum reverses decision as Iran claims players ‘kidnapped’ - (Video) One member of Iran’s women’s football team who accepted an Australian offer of asylum has reversed her decision and chosen to return to Iran, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed, after speaking with teammates who had already left the country. Burke said Australia respected the player’s right to change her mind and confirmed authorities had immediately moved other asylum seekers to a new secure location after the Iranian embassy was informed of their whereabouts. Iranian officials accused Australia of taking the players “hostage”, claims rejected by the government. Six members of the squad, including five players who earlier escaped team minders on the Gold Coast, have sought asylum in Australia. Most of the remaining team departed on Tuesday night amid emotional scenes at the hotel and airport, with supporters protesting and police maintaining a strong presence while Department of Home Affairs officials and Australian Border Force officers ensured players could privately consider asylum options.

>>24367805 Home Affairs Minister to halt entry of temporary visa holders who may seek asylum to Australia - (Video) The Albanese government has introduced legislation allowing the Home Affairs Minister to temporarily block certain visa holders from travelling to Australia if authorities believe they may seek asylum after arrival. Assistant Multicultural Affairs Minister Julian Hill said the power would allow the government to respond quickly to international crises and prevent large groups of visitors entering on temporary visas before claiming protection. The proposed law would permit travel suspensions for specific visa cohorts for up to six months without cancelling visas outright. Critics, including Greens Senator David Shoebridge and independent Zali Steggall, warned the measure could concentrate excessive ministerial power and undermine confidence in Australia’s visa system.

>>24367820 Hundreds more Australians return as Gulf repatriation effort gathers pace - More than 2600 Australians stranded in the Middle East have returned home as repatriation efforts accelerate following the conflict sparked by US and Israeli strikes on Iran. A further 160 Australians arrived in Sydney on Tuesday aboard an Emirates flight from Dubai, bringing the total number of repatriation flights to 18. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said officials had been working “around the clock” to assist Australians and urged those wishing to leave the region to take available commercial flights while they remained operating. Several more flights are expected to arrive on Wednesday. Some evacuees criticised the level of assistance provided while stranded, with travellers describing cancelled flights, drone attacks near airports and costly alternative routes through Saudi Arabia to reach flights home.

>>24367825 Mastermind jailed for antisemitic firebombings ordered by overseas group to divide communities - A Sydney man who coordinated a series of antisemitic firebombings and vandalism attacks has been jailed for five years after a court found he acted on instructions from unidentified overseas figures seeking to inflame tensions between Jewish and Arab communities. Nicholas James Alexander, 32, was sentenced in the Downing Centre Local Court after pleading guilty to organising attacks including the firebombing of a Maroubra childcare centre, swastika graffiti at the Newtown Synagogue and arson targeting the former home of Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin. Magistrate Jennifer Atkinson said Alexander was the “dominant figure” locally but had been directed by a foreign criminal group. The court heard he organised weapons, stolen vehicles and payments to accomplices while relaying instructions from overseas handlers.

>>24379374 Top Iranian diplomat defected, received asylum in secret escape - Iran’s second most senior diplomat in Australia, Mohammad Pournajaf, secretly defected and was granted asylum in Australia in 2023, a development only now revealed. Pournajaf, formerly charge d’affaires at Iran’s embassy in Canberra, applied for protection before the current Middle East conflict and was granted permanent residency, according to government sources. Members of Australia’s Iranian diaspora said he had been assisting anti-regime activists prior to seeking refuge, though others were unaware of his defection. The disclosure comes amid heightened scrutiny of Iranian officials in Australia following recent unrest and the defection of members of the Iranian women’s football team. The government last year expelled Iran’s ambassador after intelligence findings linked Tehran to attacks on Jewish targets in Australia.

#45 - Part 3

Middle East Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 3

>>24379388 Australia taps fuel stockpile in urgent bid to fill shortages and stem panic buying - (Video) The Albanese government will release about 760 million litres of fuel from national reserves in an unprecedented move to ease shortages and curb panic buying as the Middle East conflict disrupts global oil supply. Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the release, equal to about six days’ supply, aims to stabilise distribution networks strained by surging demand, particularly in regional areas. Fuel prices have risen to around $2.20 a litre, with warnings they could exceed $3 if shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked. Bowen urged motorists to avoid stockpiling, while ruling out immediate rationing or fuel excise cuts. Critics argue Australia remains vulnerable after years of underinvestment in fuel security, with heavy reliance on imports and limited domestic refining capacity.

>>24382751 3 Iranian soccer players abandon Australia asylum bid to return home - (Video) Three Iranian women’s football team members who had sought refuge in Australia have abandoned their asylum bids and left for Malaysia to rejoin the squad, amid claims a staff member helped persuade them to return. Iranian-Australian activist Tina Kordrostami said technical staffer Zahra Meshkinkar had acted as “a mouthpiece for the regime” and “was there the whole time to convince the girls to go back”. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the government had provided “multiple opportunities” and “genuine choices” but could not remove the pressure surrounding the players’ decisions. Iranian state-aligned media cast the reversal as a rejection of the West, declaring the women were returning to the “warm embrace” of home. Concerns remain that the final three players still on humanitarian visas, including captain Zahra Ghanbari, may also decide to leave Australia.

>>24382789 Three more Iranian soccer team members return home, amid fears of group infiltration - (Video) Three more members of Iran’s women’s football delegation who had sought asylum in Australia have reversed course and left to rejoin the team, shrinking the number still seeking refuge and deepening fears of regime pressure. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the women were given “repeated chances” to discuss their options, but the government could not remove the surrounding pressure. Iranian-Australian activists Tina Kordrostami and Sara Rafiee said community members feared a support staff member may have been used to influence players from within, though a government source said all asylum recipients were “thoroughly vetted” and no infiltrator claim had been established. Tasnim News Agency framed the departures as a patriotic rejection of Australia’s offer, while diaspora leaders warned threats to families may drive further reversals.

>>24382832 Obedient and stupid’: Iran blasts Australia as three soccer players reverse asylum claim - Three more members of Iran’s women’s football delegation who had sought asylum in Australia have withdrawn their claims and opted to return, as Iranian state-linked media hailed the move and lashed Australia as an “obedient and stupid” actor in Donald Trump’s orbit. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the women were given repeated chances to discuss their options, but the government could not remove the wider pressures shaping their decisions. Reports from Iran International and Australian-Iranian community groups raised fears that technical staff member Zahra Meshkinkar may have relayed regime messages from inside the safe house, though Iranian officials denied coercion and instead accused Australia of interference. Supporters said some players feared for relatives in Iran, with one message reportedly stating: “They have all of our families hostage in Iran.”

>>24386719 Everything will be fine’: Iranian player poses at Brisbane waterfront as captain flies home - (Video) Iran captain Zahra Ghanbari has abandoned her asylum claim and left Australia, while teammate Fatemeh Pasandideh posted from Brisbane that “everything will be fine”, underlining how rapidly the number of defectors has fallen. Five delegation members have now reversed decisions to stay, amid fears from Iranian-Australian activists that Tehran is pressuring players through threats against relatives and possible promises of rewards. Former Iranian player Shiva Amini said authorities had targeted Ghanbari’s family, including her mother after her father’s death. Activists Tina Kordrostami and Sara Rafiee also raised concerns that technical staffer Zahra Soltan Meshkehkar may have influenced players to return, though a government source said those granted asylum had been vetted and no infiltration had been established. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said returnees were repeatedly offered chances to discuss their options.

#45 - Part 4

Middle East Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 4

>>24386729 Dire strait: No ships for Trump’s mission from Australia’s shrinking fleet - Australia has ruled out sending a warship to the Strait of Hormuz, with Transport Minister Catherine King saying it “won’t be sending a ship” even if asked, as attention turns to the Royal Australian Navy’s shrinking surface fleet. The report says the navy will fall to nine surface combatants by year’s end, with HMAS Arunta due to be decommissioned before a replacement arrives in 2029, leaving Australia with limited capacity to support any United States-led coalition. Opposition defence spokesman James Paterson said any formal request would have to be weighed against Australia’s national interests, while reiterating that the country’s “primary focus remains the Indo-Pacific”.

>>24391111 Grace Tame sparks outrage by saying Hamas October 7 terror attack rapes were ‘debunked’ - (Video) Israel’s embassy in Australia has condemned former Australian of the Year Grace Tame after she described claims of sexual violence by Hamas during the October 7 attacks as “propaganda” that had been “debunked” in an ABC Radio Sydney interview. The embassy said Tame had “lost [her] moral compass”, while Executive Council of Australian Jewry head of legal Simone Abel said she had engaged in “the ultimate stonewalling” by denying sexual violence recognised by United Nations bodies. The National Council of Jewish Women Australia also criticised Tame’s remarks, saying claims the allegations had been “debunked” ignored extensive evidence gathered by international bodies, survivor testimony and investigations into the October 7 attacks. Tame said she did “not support any of it” and was “outraged by all of the violence”.

>>24391128 Remaining Iranian soccer players join A-League training - Iran’s women’s team has left Malaysia for Oman after days of uncertainty, while the two remaining players seeking asylum in Australia joined Brisbane Roar for training. Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh were photographed at the A-League Women session in Brisbane, with chief executive Kaz Patafta saying the club was providing a “supportive environment” as they navigated “the next stages”. The departure of the rest of the squad followed the reversal of five asylum claims in Australia and their reunion with teammates in Kuala Lumpur before flying on. Asian Football Confederation general secretary Windsor John said officials would monitor the players’ welfare with Iran’s federation and said they “didn’t look afraid”, while Assistant Immigration Minister Matt Thistlethwaite described the case as a “very complex situation”.

>>24395475 Winston Peters warns Australia and NZ made ‘serious mistakes’ on fuel security - New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters says Australia and New Zealand made “serious mistakes” on fuel security by allowing refineries to close and being “far too cocky” about global stability before the Iran war disrupted oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz. Peters said both countries should have maintained stronger contingency planning, with New Zealand holding about 52 days of fuel supply and Australia about 30. He urged Canberra and Wellington to keep “cool heads” over United States requests for support, saying they should consult closely “before we jump in and make a mistake”. Defence Minister Richard Marles meanwhile said targeting data gathered by Australia’s E-7A Wedgetail in the Gulf was being processed through the United States-led air operations centre, while reiterating Australia was “not contemplating sending a ship”.

>>24395481 PM warns Australians are stockpiling petrol causing shortages that shouldn’t exist - Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has urged motorists not to panic buy petrol, warning that stockpiling is creating shortages “that shouldn’t occur” and putting unnecessary pressure on supplies despite fuel continuing to arrive as scheduled. Albanese said Australians should “just take what you need, be sensible”, while insisting the country still had fuel security. He also warned service stations against profiteering, saying the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission would act against “inappropriate behaviour” and that penalties had been increased. The intervention came as major fuel companies and retailers were called to an emergency meeting with the regulator over price rises and supply concerns, and after Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles declined to rule out rationing if the conflict driving market disruption were to continue.

#45 - Part 5

Middle East Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 5

>>24395485 Emergency National Cabinet meeting called over fuel supply - (Video) Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called an emergency National Cabinet meeting for Thursday to coordinate Australia’s fuel response as Middle East conflict disrupts supply chains and adds pressure to regional deliveries. Albanese said leaders from every state and territory would take part virtually and would be asked to nominate a contact to work with the Commonwealth on fuel supply issues. He said the government was responding by releasing 20 per cent of the baseline Minimum Stockholding Obligation for petrol and diesel, temporarily amending fuel standards to boost local supply, and working with industry to direct fuel where it is needed most, “particularly regional communities”. Energy Minister Chris Bowen said expected deliveries were still arriving and urged Australians not to panic buy, while Opposition Leader Angus Taylor accused the government of failing to stay on top of the crisis.

>>24395498 We don’t need anyone’s help: Trump lashes out at NATO allies, Australia over Iran war - (Video) US President Donald Trump has declared the United States did “not need the help of anyone” after lashing out at NATO allies and Australia for refusing to support efforts to secure shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump said countries he believed had failed to assist should be remembered, and suggested Washington should think about its future relationship with the alliance when allies “don’t help us”. His comments followed decisions by countries including Australia and France not to join naval operations linked to the Iran war. The broadside came as Joe Kent, Trump’s appointee to lead the National Counterterrorism Centre, resigned, saying he could not “in good conscience” support the conflict. Trump dismissed Kent as “very weak on security” and said “it’s a good thing that he’s out”.

>>24395505 Andrew Hastie hits back at Trump broadside on Western allies over Strait of Hormuz - Opposition industry spokesman Andrew Hastie has criticised Donald Trump’s attack on Australia and other allies over the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a “petulant post” that showed a lack of respect for longstanding partners. Hastie said “you don’t treat allies like that” and argued the episode was a wake-up call for Australia to strengthen its own energy security and defence capabilities rather than rely too heavily on the global “rules-based order”, which he said was “dead”. He said Australia would remain close to the United States but needed to “stand on our own two feet”. The criticism followed Trump’s declaration that America did “not need the help of anyone” after allies including Australia declined to commit naval support in the Gulf.

>>24395515 Everyone’s issue: Fetterman calls out Australia on antisemitism, Strait of Hormuz - Democratic senator John Fetterman has said Australia has a responsibility to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, arguing the issue is “everyone’s issue” and questioning why a key United States ally would not assist. Fetterman also said antisemitism in Australia was “a real issue” for him and criticised large anti-Israel demonstrations he said effectively helped Hamas. His remarks came as Donald Trump’s criticism of Australia for not backing United States operations in the Gulf exposed divisions on the conservative side of politics, with Andrew Hastie calling Trump’s attack “petulant” and disrespectful while Barnaby Joyce argued it suggested frustration in Washington over Australia’s response. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese rejected Hastie’s criticism and said he would continue to engage diplomatically with Trump.

>>24400114 Iranian women's football team back in Iran, state media announces - (Video) Iran’s national women’s football team has returned to Iran after several players sought asylum in Australia following their Women’s Asian Cup exit. Iranian media showed the squad arriving via Türkiye and crossing by bus at the border, where officials greeted them. Most of the team had left Australia last week through Malaysia and Oman, after a number of players who initially sought asylum reversed their decisions and agreed to return. Two players, Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh, remain in Australia and have been training with Brisbane Roar. The team had drawn international attention earlier in the tournament when some players stayed silent during Iran’s national anthem before later singing it in subsequent matches, amid wider concern about their safety if they returned during the Iran war.

#45 - Part 6

Middle East Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 6

>>24400123 Over-prepared: PM's pledge on growing fuel crisis - (Video) Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has appointed former Australian Energy Regulator chief executive Anthea Harris to co-ordinate Australia’s fuel response as governments confront “unprecedented” supply pressures and worsening shortages in some regional areas. After a snap National Cabinet meeting, Albanese said fuel supply was “currently secure” but that he wanted Australia to be “over-prepared” for further supply-chain disruption caused by the Middle East conflict. Harris will act as a single point of contact across Commonwealth, state and territory governments and provide regular updates on fuel security and distribution. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has also launched an urgent investigation into major suppliers over diesel availability and possible anti-competitive conduct, while the government has released extra stock and eased fuel standards to boost supply.

>>24406599 Iranian deputy foreign minister labels US 'terrorists' and issues warning to Australia - (Video) Iran’s deputy foreign minister Esmaeil Baghaei has warned that Australian military assets in the Gulf could become targets, saying Tehran would not distinguish between countries acting in an “offensive” or “defensive” capacity after Canberra deployed an E-7A Wedgetail, personnel and air-to-air missiles to the United Arab Emirates. Baghaei said Australia had “decided to take sides with the aggressors” and accused the United States and Israel of “terrorist acts” over strikes that killed Iranian leaders and civilians. He also alleged members of Iran’s women’s football team had been offered asylum under false pretences in Australia, describing it as a “shameful sham posture”. Baghaei defended Iranian pressure on the Strait of Hormuz as justified retaliation, saying Iranian forces were “determined, willing, and capable” of defending the country.

>>24406727 Israel’s top diplomat in Australia lays out case for war against Iran - Israel’s ambassador to Australia, Hillel Newman, has defended the war against Iran as an “urgent act of self defence” aimed at removing what he called two “existential threats” - Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and ballistic missile program. Amid escalating strikes on oil and gas infrastructure across the Persian Gulf, Newman said the conflict was not about “territory or resources” but a struggle between “barbarism and civilisation” that could no longer be delayed. His intervention came as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the objectives of denying Iran a nuclear weapon capability and weakening its capacity to attack the region had been secured, while still urging de-escalation.

>>24406859 COMMENTARY: Evil Islamic regime posed existential threat to free world - "Three weeks ago, the United States and Israel launched a joint operation, “Roaring Lion”, also known as “Epic Fury”, against the brutal and destabilising Islamic Republic regime in Iran. This is not a war over territory or resources. It is an urgent act of self-defence for the protection of millions of innocent civilians, for regional stability, and for the values that underpin the free world. At its core, it is a struggle between barbarism and civilisation. The objectives of the current operation are to remove two existential threats: the regime’s nuclear ambitions and its ballistic missile program. Both had reached a critical and time-sensitive stage, with efforts under way to harden and conceal capabilities deep underground, placing them beyond the reach of any future intervention. The operation also targets the instruments of internal repression, including the IRGC and the Basij forces, which have brutally suppressed the Iranian people … Millions of Israelis have lived for decades under constant threat, with mere seconds to seek shelter from incoming rockets. Australians, living more than 12,000km from our region, have also experienced the threat and impact of Iranian terror. Iranian-linked activities reached Australian soil, and the government has responded with firm diplomatic and security measures, including the designation of the IRGC as a terror entity and the expulsion of the Iranian ambassador … Australia has acknowledged the threat and rightfully stood by its allies in confronting destabilising behaviour in the region. The dividing line today is not between religions or cultures, but between moderates and extremists. Israel, Australia and many countries across the Arab world stand firmly in the camp of moderation and want to see the circle of peace grow … In taking action, we are not only defending our citizens, we are helping to secure a safer and more stable future for our region and for partners such as Australia who share these values." - Hillel Newman, Israel’s new ambassador to Australia - The Australian

#45 - Part 7

Middle East Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 7

>>24406916 Prime Minister Anthony Albanese heckled, protester thrown out after commotion at Lakemba Mosque - (Video) Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke were heckled at Lakemba Mosque ahead of Eid al-Fitr celebrations, as protesters shouted “shame”, “disgrace” and “genocide supporters” during a speech to the congregation. The pair remained seated as community members tried to calm the disturbance, before security later signalled for them to leave. Police attended and escorted out a 33-year-old man after ordering him to move on. The disruption reflected continuing tensions between parts of the Muslim community and the federal government over Gaza, Islamophobia and other grievances. Lebanese Muslim Association spokesman Hajj Gamel Kheir said the decision to invite government representatives was about ensuring the community could be heard directly, while Albanese later said it was an “honour” to attend the mosque.

>>24406986 Albanese, Burke shouted at as anger erupts at Eid prayers at mosque - (Video) Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke were shouted at during Eid prayers at Lakemba Mosque, where a small number of protesters yelled “genocide supporters” and called for them to be removed as anger over Gaza and rising Islamophobia spilled into the gathering. Albanese later said more than 30,000 people attended and that the reception was “overwhelmingly” positive apart from “a couple of hecklers”, while insisting they stayed until the end of the speech. Lebanese Muslim Association secretary Gamel Kheir defended inviting the politicians, saying engagement with government was necessary to give the community’s anger and concerns a voice. The incident highlighted divisions within the Muslim community over whether politicians should attend Ramadan and Eid events at places of worship.

>>24407100 Randa Abdel-Fattah slams Muslim event organisers for inviting PM, Burke to Lakemba mosque - (Video) Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defended his appearance at Eid prayers at Lakemba Mosque after he and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke were heckled as “genocide supporters”, saying the reception from a crowd of about 30,000 was “overwhelmingly” positive apart from “a couple of hecklers”. In the aftermath, pro-Palestine academic Randa Abdel-Fattah accused the Lebanese Muslim Association of rewarding Labor “for supporting the genocide” by inviting the pair, while Stand4Palestine and Sheik Wesam Charkawi also condemned the decision. LMA secretary Gamel Kheir said the invitation was intended as a “circuit breaker” after years without political engagement, arguing the community needed direct access to government to express anger over overseas conflict and rising Islamophobia in Australia.

>>24407150 Elon Musk’s brutal two-word Albo spray - Elon Musk has reacted to footage of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese being heckled at Lakemba Mosque by describing him on X as a “simple man” after protesters shouted “genocide supporters” during Eid celebrations. Albanese and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke were seated at the front of the mosque when the disruption occurred, with one protester later identified as Stand4Palestine activist Mukhlis Mah. Albanese said the reception from about 30,000 attendees was “overwhelmingly” positive apart from “a couple of hecklers”, and said the disturbance was handled by the community. NSW Police said officers removed a 33-year-old man from the premises and issued a move-on direction. The Lebanese Muslim Association defended inviting Albanese, saying engagement with elected leaders was not a “betrayal” of community concerns over Gaza and Lebanon.

>>24407315 We always say yes to them: Trump wants Australia to participate in Iran war - (Video) US President Donald Trump has said he was surprised Australia “said no” to his request for help in Iran and urged Canberra to “get involved”, declaring “we always say yes to them”. Trump did not specify what request he was referring to, but his remarks followed earlier acknowledgments from Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles that Washington had sought Australian assistance, while Canberra instead agreed to deploy a Wedgetail surveillance aircraft to support the United Arab Emirates. Marles has said there was no United States request for an Australian warship in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump also indicated the United States was considering winding down operations in Iran and wanted other countries more dependent on Middle East oil shipments to police the strait once Tehran’s threat had been reduced.

#45 - Part 8

Middle East Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 8

>>24411207 He hasn’t asked: Albanese denies Trump’s claim he requested Australia join Iran war - (Video) Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has rejected Donald Trump’s claim that Australia refused a request to help with the war in Iran, saying Canberra had “done what we have been asked to do” and insisting the US president “hasn’t asked” for more. Albanese said Australia had agreed to the United Arab Emirates’ request for an E-7A Wedgetail deployment and personnel, but Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles again said there had been no request from Washington for assistance in unblocking the Strait of Hormuz. The dispute came as the United States temporarily lifted sanctions on about 140 million barrels of Iranian oil already at sea to ease pressure on global markets, while Trump said he was considering “winding down” military operations but still rejected a ceasefire.

>>24411547 Australia joins UK, Japan pledging ‘appropriate efforts’ in Strait of Hormuz - Australia has joined 21 other countries in backing a statement expressing readiness to “contribute to appropriate efforts” to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, widening its public support for international action after earlier ruling out sending warships. The statement, first issued by countries including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan and Canada, condemned Iran’s attacks on commercial shipping and the “de facto closure” of the strait, warning of threats to global energy supply and international security. Australia’s endorsement came after ministers said Canberra had not been asked to send a ship and was instead contributing aircraft support to the United Arab Emirates. The shift also followed Donald Trump’s criticism of allies including Australia for failing to “get involved” more directly in the crisis.

>>24411596 Bowen warns of future ‘bumps’ in oil supplies as six ships cancelled - Energy Minister Chris Bowen has warned of future “bumps” in Australia’s fuel supply after six tanker deliveries due next month were cancelled or deferred amid disruption caused by the Middle East conflict. Bowen said the government was aware of six affected shipments out of about 81 monthly deliveries, with some already replaced by alternative sources, including from Malaysia. He said Australia’s latest stocktake showed 38 days of petrol and 30 days of diesel and jet fuel, and stressed ministers were not currently considering emergency rationing powers under the Liquid Fuel Emergency Act. Bowen said supply disruptions were more likely to come in waves rather than a complete halt, with government, refiners and importers working to manage interruptions and reduce impacts, particularly in regional and remote areas.

>>24415984 Australia, Singapore to work together on fuel security after shipments cancelled - (Video) Australia and Singapore have agreed to work together to keep petrol, diesel and gas flowing after several fuel shipments scheduled for Australian ports next month were cancelled or deferred. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong said they shared deep concern about the Middle East conflict’s impact on regional energy supply chains and prices, and pledged to strengthen energy security, support open trade flows and consult each other on disruptions affecting petroleum oils and liquefied natural gas. The agreement came as the Albanese government intensified talks with Asian partners after six tankers from key suppliers including Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea were affected. Ministers also pointed to Australia’s position as a major liquefied natural gas exporter as leverage in maintaining reciprocal energy flows with regional partners.

>>24420519 Fuel supply cliff to hit at end of April as petrol prices in Australia hit record highs - (Video) Petrol prices have surged to a record national average of $2.38 a litre as Australia faces a potential fuel supply “cliff” by late April, with Asian refineries that supply about 80 per cent of imports expected to run out of crude due to the Iran war. Officials and fuel companies are scrambling to secure alternative shipments as China pauses some exports and global supply chains tighten. Ampol warned that if disruptions persist, pressure on prices and supply will intensify, while analysts flagged uncertainty over deliveries beyond mid-April. The government has eased fuel standards to boost supply flexibility and is seeking new sources globally. Despite reassurances that shipments are arriving, regional shortages have emerged, driven partly by panic buying and strained distribution networks.

#45 - Part 9

Middle East Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 9

>>24424585 Bowen replaces cancelled oil ships, says rationing is a last resort - (Video) Energy Minister Chris Bowen has confirmed six cancelled fuel shipments have been replaced with alternative imports, with three additional deliveries secured to bolster supply, as the government insists rationing remains a last resort. Bowen said all expected April shipments had been restored via spot market sourcing and extra cargoes arranged for April and May. He also announced agreements to release fuel from Australia’s strategic reserves to support regional areas facing shortages. Despite growing outages at service stations, Bowen maintained there was no national supply shortfall, attributing disruptions to demand spikes driven by panic buying and stockpiling. He ruled out measures such as purchase caps, saying rationing would only occur in an “absolute worst-case” scenario, while the opposition pressed for clearer plans to address distribution gaps.

>>24424596 Japanese ambassador signals fuel-for-LNG swap to secure Australia’s energy supply - Japan’s ambassador to Australia, Kazuhiro Suzuki, has flagged the possibility of a fuel-for-LNG swap to support Australia’s energy security, as supply pressures intensify following the Iran war. He said Japan could assist if shortages became acute, noting “maybe we could collaborate and then do something together”, while stressing any support would depend on clearer evidence of market conditions. Suzuki highlighted Japan’s significant fuel reserves but warned against new Australian taxes on LNG exports, saying “surprise… is always bad” and could deter Japanese investment. The proposal reflects growing regional interdependence, with Australia supplying liquefied natural gas to Japan while relying on imported liquid fuels. Resources Minister Madeleine King said both nations understood “we rely on liquid fuels” and must work together on energy security.

>>24424601 Shut the door: Australia to ban Iranian visa holders citing national interest - Australia has moved to restrict re-entry for certain Iranian visitor visa holders, citing national interest concerns linked to the Iran conflict following strikes involving the United States and Israel. The Albanese government will bar subclass 600 visa holders outside Australia from returning for six months, with exemptions for spouses, de facto partners, dependent children, or parents of minors already in Australia. The government said the war has increased the risk some temporary visa holders may be unable or unwilling to depart when visas expire, while allowing “flexibility in limited cases” and case-by-case assessments. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said existing visas “may not have been issued” under current conditions. Critics, including asylum advocates, said the changes “shut the door” on people seeking safety.

>>24424623 Palestinian flag to be lowered from city hall after fiery debate - A Palestinian flag flown above Darebin City Council in Melbourne’s north will be removed after councillors voted to ban international flags following a heated 90-minute debate. The new policy retains only Australian, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags, with the Preston flag to be lowered within 10 working days and marked by a “brief respectful ceremony”. Councillors said community feedback from more than 500 submissions was “quite clear” in opposing international flags, describing the policy as a “careful balance” ensuring “transparency, equity and accountability”. Opponents argued the move “den[ies] our residents a right to have a say” and called it “outrageous”. The decision follows earlier disputes, including calls to replace the flag with a “peace flag” after the Bondi attack.

>>24428984 PM calls second emergency national cabinet meeting over fuel crisis - (Video) Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will convene a second emergency national cabinet meeting as fuel shortages and surging prices disrupt industries and threaten broader economic impacts. About 470 service stations have run out of at least one fuel type, as the Iran conflict and Strait of Hormuz blockade continue to strain global supply. Albanese said “coordinating that activity is important” to ensure national consistency, with Fuel Supply Taskforce Coordinator Anthea Harris working across jurisdictions. The government maintains the issue is driven by demand rather than supply, urging Australians to avoid panic buying, while securing additional tankers and releasing emergency reserves. Business groups warned supply chains are becoming “fragile and unreliable”, calling for “every option” to be considered, including rationing and tax relief measures.

#45 - Part 10

Middle East Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 10

>>24428994 Fuel caps hit cities as supply strains spread beyond regions - Fuel purchase limits have begun appearing in metropolitan areas as supply strains spread beyond regional Australia, signalling deeper pressure on distribution despite assurances inventories remain adequate. Some service stations, including sites in Sydney, have imposed caps such as 50 litres per vehicle and banned jerry cans to “stretch available supply” and discourage stockpiling. The shift into cities suggests disruptions are no longer isolated, with limits varying by operator and delivery schedules. Authorities maintain the issue is driven by demand and urge motorists to avoid panic buying, but industry participants say restrictions reflect growing strain. The development highlights the fragility of Australia’s just-in-time fuel system, with reliance on imports and uncertainty over Iran-linked disruptions raising concerns about replenishing stockpiles and maintaining consistent supply.

>>24429008 Bowen’s big stick spurs biggest intervention since WWII to secure fuel for bush - The federal government has launched its most significant intervention in the fuel market since World War II, forcing suppliers to prioritise regional service stations amid escalating shortages. Energy Minister Chris Bowen used the threat of emergency powers to compel companies to sell fuel to independent operators, after major retailers dominated supply through long-term contracts. The government has released 20 per cent of national stockpiles, equivalent to several days’ supply, to ease pressure in the bush. Bowen said deliveries to regional areas had surged, with some suppliers increasing volumes by more than 40 per cent. The move follows panic buying and a doubling of demand after the Iran conflict, exposing vulnerabilities in Australia’s fuel supply system.

>>24433108 Albanese says he hasn’t received direct request for help after Trump takes swipe at ‘not great’ Australia - (Video) Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has downplayed criticism from United States President Donald Trump, who said Australia was “not great” for not offering more support in the Iran conflict. Albanese said no direct request for additional assistance had been made, adding that “there is no request … that has not been agreed to”. Australia has deployed a Wedgetail surveillance aircraft and personnel to the United Arab Emirates in a defensive role, supporting regional operations. Defence Minister Richard Marles said current contributions align with national interests, while leaving open the possibility of further support if requested. The exchange highlights tensions over burden-sharing, with Albanese reiterating Australia’s focus on de-escalation and measured involvement.

>>24440485 Ready for what may come: Australia to scour the globe for extra fuel - (Video) The federal government will rush emergency laws into parliament to secure additional fuel supplies, underwriting private importers to source petrol, diesel and crude oil amid escalating shortages linked to the Iran conflict. The plan will amend legislation to allow Export Finance Australia to provide insurance and financial backing, encouraging companies to purchase high-cost shipments without bearing full commercial risk. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the aim was to ensure Australia is “ready for what may come” as global oil supply tightens and prices surge. While supply remains stable in the short term, Australia’s heavy reliance on imports and dwindling refinery stocks have heightened concern about future availability, prompting a broader national response across industry and government agencies.

>>24440495 PM announces new powers to boost fuel supply amid Middle East tensions - (Video) The federal government will underwrite the purchase of additional fuel shipments to boost supply as shortages spread across Australia during the Middle East conflict. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the plan would see public funds absorb financial risks for high-cost imports, giving suppliers confidence to secure “additional and discretionary cargoes” beyond normal contracts. Hundreds of service stations are already experiencing shortages, particularly in New South Wales and Queensland. The legislation, to be introduced Monday, will amend existing laws to grant new fuel security powers. The government insists shortages are driven by demand, warning panic buying is “not sensible”, while maintaining reserves exceed one month. The opposition has signalled cautious support, calling the measures appropriate for “extraordinary times” while continuing to push for fuel excise cuts.

#45 - Part 11

Middle East Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 11

>>24440510 Andrew Hastie says Iran war a “huge miscalculation” by Donald Trump - (Video) Shadow Industry Minister Andrew Hastie has warned the Iran war is damaging United States credibility and could erode Australian confidence in the alliance, calling the conflict a “huge miscalculation”. He said Australia had not been consulted and was now exposed to economic risks, with Iran able to “hold the whole world economy to ransom” through the Strait of Hormuz. Hastie said Australians would “question the judgement” of President Donald Trump, while describing criticism of Australia’s response as “petulant”. He also signalled openness to taxing gas exporters, saying the crisis marked a “new era” and that big business had “lost their social licence”. The government continues to focus on fuel supply measures, with further national coordination expected as economic pressures intensify.

>>24443548 Fuel price cut for Easter as fears grow nation will be in recession by Christmas - (Video) The federal government will halve the fuel excise for three months from April 1, cutting petrol prices by 26 cents per litre as part of a national response to the fuel crisis linked to the Iran conflict. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said supply would remain stable into May, while urging Australians to continue travel plans and support the economy. The plan includes releasing reserves, underwriting imports and preparing further measures such as carpooling and potential rationing if shortages worsen. Economists warned surging oil prices could drive inflation higher and force multiple interest rate rises, raising the risk of recession by Christmas. Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the tax cut would deliver “targeted” relief, while opposition figures warned it could add pressure to inflation.

>>24443557 Albanese: I want “certainty” from Trump on Iran war aims - (Video) Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called for greater clarity from United States President Donald Trump on the objectives of the Iran war, urging “certainty” and de-escalation as tensions escalate. Albanese said a clearer strategy was needed as conflicting signals emerged, with Washington pursuing negotiations while increasing troop deployments and considering expanded military actions. Trump said a deal could be reached “fairly quickly” but also raised the prospect of seizing Iran’s oil, signalling potential escalation. Albanese said while Iran’s regime was “abhorrent and reprehensible”, history showed externally imposed regime change was difficult and often counterproductive. He said recent strikes had “clearly” degraded Iran’s nuclear and proxy capabilities, but broader outcomes remained uncertain, with negotiations and military activity continuing in parallel.

>>24447111 Anthony Albanese calls for “more certainty” on US objectives in Iran war - (Video) Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has urged the United States to clarify its objectives and commit to an end point in the Iran war as global fuel prices surge, telling ABC’s 7.30 program he wanted “more certainty” and a “de-escalation”. Albanese warned the conflict was causing “devastating” economic damage and prolonged impacts. He said the US had likely achieved its initial goals of curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions and degrading its military capacity, but questioned the feasibility of externally imposed regime change. While reaffirming Australia’s “constructive relationship” with President Donald Trump, Albanese called for clearer direction as the US weighs further military steps. Opposition Leader Angus Taylor also called for the Strait of Hormuz to reopen to ease fuel costs, while broader political pressure grows for an end to the conflict.

>>24451159 Rare National Address:‘The months ahead may not be easy’: PM urges Australians to save fuel, catch bus- (Video) Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has warned Australians the economic impacts of the Middle East conflict will be felt for months, urging reduced fuel use and greater reliance on public transport. In a rare national address broadcast across television and radio, he said motorists should “not take more fuel than you need” and consider alternatives to conserve supplies for critical industries. Albanese outlined government measures including fuel excise cuts, a national fuel security plan and coordination with states, while stressing that shortages are not yet widespread. He said the government could not eliminate pressures but would act to “protect Australia from the worst of it”, signalling concern about worsening conditions. Authorities are preparing contingency measures, including potential rationing and demand controls, as concerns grow about supply disruptions, panic buying and sustained economic strain in the months ahead.

#45 - Part 12

Middle East Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 12

>>24459070 Albanese calls for calm as world sits on edge of grim economic future - Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has urged Australians to remain calm and continue normal activities over Easter, while warning of a prolonged economic shock from the Iran conflict in a rare national address. The prime-time broadcast, the first of its kind since 2020, signalled rising concern within government about fuel shortages and global instability. Albanese said “the months ahead may not be easy” and flagged potential tougher conservation measures, urging motorists to limit fuel use and consider public transport. He outlined contingency planning with states under a phased national fuel strategy, including possible rationing if supply worsens. The address comes amid panic buying and mounting economic pressure, with Albanese also preparing a major economic package aimed at supporting businesses and reshaping Australia’s industrial base in response to the crisis.

>>24459075 Anthony Albanese hands out $1bn in Iran War fuel crisis loans to farmers and truckies - The federal government will provide $1 billion in interest-free loans to businesses affected by the fuel crisis linked to the Iran conflict, targeting sectors critical to supply chains including freight operators, fuel producers and fertiliser manufacturers. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the funding would act as a “shock absorber” for industries under pressure from rising costs and supply disruptions. The announcement forms part of a broader economic response that includes fuel excise cuts, underwriting fuel imports and suspending heavy vehicle charges. Albanese said the upcoming budget would be the government’s “most ambitious”, balancing long-term reform with immediate cost-of-living relief. The measures follow a rare national address warning Australians of prolonged economic strain as the global energy shock continues to impact businesses and households nationwide across coming months and into the foreseeable future.

>>24459082 Fuel prices fall as Australian servos fast-track excise cuts - (Video) Petrol prices have fallen across major Australian cities as retailers moved early to pass on the federal government’s 26¢-a-litre excise cut, with some choosing to absorb short-term losses to deliver immediate relief. In Melbourne, average unleaded dropped 16¢ to $2.43 a litre, while Sydney fell about 13¢ to $2.44, and larger declines were recorded in Brisbane, Hobart and Adelaide. The cuts follow a temporary halving of the fuel excise introduced to ease cost-of-living pressures amid disruptions to global oil supply caused by conflict in the Middle East. Some operators “immediately passed on the full 26¢ excise reduction”, with prices at many outlets falling below $2.30. However, not all stations have reduced prices yet, as some are waiting to restock cheaper fuel, meaning relief will be uneven in the short term.

>>24459089 Australia to join 34 countries - but not the US - in meeting on Strait of Hormuz - Australia will join 34 other nations in a United Kingdom-led virtual meeting to coordinate efforts to reopen and secure the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing global oil disruptions, with the United States notably absent from talks. Foreign Minister Penny Wong will represent Australia, which already has an E-7 Wedgetail aircraft and 85 personnel deployed to the United Arab Emirates. Defence Minister Richard Marles said Australia was “talking with countries like the UK and France” about potential contributions but stressed conditions were not yet suitable for further action. The meeting follows a joint statement backing coordinated action, while Australia is also exploring regional diplomacy to safeguard fuel supplies.

>>24459121 Australia joins 40 other nations to condemn Iran for 'deliberately inflicting economic pain' during meeting over Strait of Hormuz strategy - Australia has joined more than 40 countries in condemning Iran’s “weaponisation” of the Strait of Hormuz during a United Kingdom-led meeting aimed at coordinating efforts to reopen the critical waterway. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Iran was “deliberately inflicting economic pain” but confirmed no military or offensive action would be taken, with discussions focused on “diplomatic and civilian initiatives” to restore safe passage. The meeting, which excluded the United States, also addressed freeing thousands of ships and seafarers trapped by the disruption. Australia reaffirmed its support for de-escalation while maintaining a surveillance presence in the Gulf. The Strait’s near closure has sharply reduced global oil flows and driven prices higher, intensifying economic pressures worldwide.

#45 - Part 13

Middle East Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 13

>>24463084 Australia to take part in military talks to reopen Strait of Hormuz - Australian defence officials will join international military planners in United Kingdom-led talks to develop options for reopening and securing the Strait of Hormuz, as Iran’s disruption of shipping continues to drive a global energy crisis. The talks follow a 40-nation meeting condemning Iran’s actions, with Foreign Minister Penny Wong backing “diplomatic and civilian initiatives” while ruling out offensive involvement. Australia has deployed an E-7A Wedgetail aircraft and personnel to support Gulf partners, and maintains a special forces presence in the region as a precaution. Iran has moved to impose transit fees on vessels, with some ships already charged, while traffic through the strait has sharply declined. Defence Minister Richard Marles said Australia was not committing troops to the conflict, amid concerns over limited naval capability to support any future operation.

>>24469993 Australia's fuel shipments secured 'well into' May, Energy Minister Chris Bowen says - (Video) Australia has secured fuel shipments “well into” May, with the government extending supply certainty beyond earlier April forecasts as shortages ease across parts of the country. Energy Minister Chris Bowen said contracted shipments were legally locked in, with no cancellations reported and additional orders arriving from Asia, the United States and Mexico. The number of service stations without diesel has fallen from more than 400 to 274, with shortages easing nationally, though New South Wales remains more affected due to agricultural demand. Australia’s fuel reserves remain limited, covering about 39 days of petrol, 29 days of diesel and 30 days of jet fuel, unchanged since the conflict began. The government continues to pursue international supply agreements and has warned conditions remain uncertain as global disruptions persist.

>>24474340 ‘Didn’t help us’: United States President Donald Trump hits out at Australia, NATO over support in Iran conflict - (Video) United States President Donald Trump has criticised Australia and key allies, claiming they "didn’t help us" during the ongoing conflict with Iran while accusing NATO of going "out of their way not to help" US efforts. He warned of potential escalation, saying the US could strike Iranian infrastructure, including power plants and bridges, and set a deadline for Tehran to agree to terms aimed at ending the five-week war. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australia had supported international efforts focused on keeping the Strait of Hormuz open through diplomatic coordination, stressing the government was "not taking offensive action" or deploying troops. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles confirmed Australia’s participation in international talks, while Nationals leader Matt Canavan said it remained unclear what additional support the US expected from Canberra.

>>24478341 Anthony Albanese labels US President Donald Trump’s ‘whole civilisation will die’ comments inappropriate - (Video) Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has criticised United States President Donald Trump’s warning that a “whole civilisation will die” if Iran failed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, describing the remarks as "inappropriate" and "extraordinary" for a world leader. He said threats involving damage to civilian infrastructure raised concerns and stressed that all conflict must adhere to international law, including protecting civilians. Albanese reiterated Australia’s support for de-escalation following a provisional ceasefire between the US, Israel and Iran, while maintaining the alliance with Washington remained strong. Opposition Leader Angus Taylor said the comments were “not the words I would use” but emphasised the importance of reopening the Strait, while Nationals leader Matt Canavan described the remarks as beyond acceptable bounds.

>>24474347 Albanese in dash to Singapore to secure fuel as Trump deadline looms - (Video) Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will travel to Singapore to secure fuel supplies as Australia moves to shore up energy security amid threats to global oil flows during the Iran conflict. The government is seeking to ensure continued access to petrol, diesel and liquefied natural gas, with Singapore a critical refining hub supplying a significant share of Australia’s fuel imports. The trip has been brought forward as oil prices surge and concerns grow over disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz, with Albanese saying Australia’s supply position is "currently in a secure position" but efforts are under way to keep fuel flowing. Ministers are also engaging regional partners and mediators to support de-escalation, while emergency measures, including funding and fuel management strategies, have been introduced to stabilise supply and reduce shortages.

#45 - Part 14

Middle East Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 14

>>24484792 Albanese says fuel stocks looking good almost to June as he jets to Singapore - (Video) Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Australia’s fuel supplies are secured almost to June as he travels to Singapore to strengthen energy ties amid ongoing instability in the Middle East. He described the ceasefire in the Iran conflict as a "fragile peace" and urged restraint, warning of broader regional impacts including tensions involving Lebanon. The government has accelerated efforts to secure fuel imports, including emergency funding and negotiations with key suppliers, as concerns persist over disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz. Energy Minister Chris Bowen said supply is now expected to last several weeks into May, while diesel shortages remain a concern. Albanese said the visit to Singapore, a major refining hub, was critical to maintaining supply, as Australia seeks to stabilise fuel access and manage economic risks linked to the global oil crisis.

>>24484796 PM lands in Singapore on mission to cement fuel supply - (Video) Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has arrived in Singapore to secure fuel supplies, highlighting Australia’s reliance on the country which already provides more than half its petrol. The visit comes amid disruptions to global oil flows linked to instability in the Strait of Hormuz, with Albanese saying the relationship is based on "trust and mutual interest" as both nations seek to maintain reliable supply. Australia is positioning its liquefied natural gas exports as leverage in negotiations, while the government has introduced measures to guarantee fuel shipments and support domestic supply. Analysts said a deal is likely but warned broader agreements may be needed as supply tightens. Officials and experts cautioned that shipping through the Strait remains limited and recovery will take time, with uncertainty continuing to pose risks to fuel availability.

>>24488536 Singapore all but guarantees fuel supply as Albanese hails trip a ‘win-win’ - Singapore has pledged to continue supplying Australia with more than half its petrol as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese secured assurances during talks with counterpart Lawrence Wong, while warning supply depends on global crude availability. Albanese described the arrangement as a "win-win", with Australia offering liquefied natural gas exports in return for stable fuel access amid ongoing disruption to global oil markets. Both leaders committed to maintaining trade flows and strengthening energy cooperation, though no binding guarantee was reached. Wong said exports would continue as long as upstream supplies hold, highlighting risks tied to the Strait of Hormuz crisis. The agreement comes as Australia seeks to shore up energy security, with officials warning that continued instability and reduced tanker traffic could still impact supply and prices despite improved short-term outlooks.

>>24494406 Malaysia, Brunei next on Anthony Albanese’s fuel mission in Asia - (Video) Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will travel to Brunei and Malaysia as part of an expanded effort to secure fuel supplies, warning key Asian producers may prioritise domestic demand if the global oil crisis worsens. The trip follows talks in Singapore and aims to strengthen energy ties with major suppliers, with Malaysia providing a significant share of Australia’s diesel and Brunei contributing to diesel and fertiliser inputs. Albanese said the focus was on building confidence in trade rather than securing formal agreements, while highlighting Australia’s role as a reliable gas exporter. The government has confirmed fuel supplies are secured until late May but faces uncertainty beyond that, prompting a regional diplomatic push. Officials also warned disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz and potential export controls remain key risks to supply and prices.

>>24494409 Australia won't join Trump's Strait of Hormuz blockade - (Video) Australia will not participate in a United States-led blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, with the federal government warning the move risks further destabilising global trade during an already volatile conflict. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia had not been asked to assist and did not expect a request, describing the US decision as unilateral while urging a return to negotiations. Resources Minister Madeleine King said the blockade placed global trade in a "very difficult" position and warned any ongoing Iranian toll on the strait would be unsustainable. Opposition figures said any involvement would need to meet national interest and capability tests. The Strait, a key oil transit route, has become central to escalating tensions, with both the blockade and toll measures raising concerns about supply disruptions and economic impacts.

#45 - Part 15

Middle East Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 15

>>24498508 Australia joins strait-talking summit with France and UK, and without the US - Australia will participate in a European-led summit with France and the United Kingdom to coordinate a multinational effort to safeguard shipping in the Strait of Hormuz once the current conflict subsides. The initiative, involving about 40 countries, is intended to restore freedom of navigation through a “strictly defensive” mission separate from ongoing hostilities and independent of United States blockade actions. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese may attend remotely due to regional travel, with Foreign Minister Penny Wong a potential delegate. The summit comes as tensions escalate following a US naval blockade targeting Iranian-linked shipping, raising risks to global trade flows. Australian officials emphasised support for a diplomatic reopening of the strait, while international discussions continue on how to stabilise the key oil transit route.

>>24502433 Brunei pledges to strengthen fuel supply to Australia - (Video) Brunei has assured Australia it will not impose export restrictions on fuel supplies, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese secured commitments during talks with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah to maintain and expand energy trade. The leaders expressed “deep concern” over the Middle East conflict and agreed to strengthen supply chains for petrol, diesel and fertiliser, with Brunei a key supplier of diesel and urea to Australia. Albanese reiterated calls for de-escalation and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, warning ongoing disruption was affecting regional supply and global markets. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australia continued to support freedom of navigation and was working with international partners on post-conflict arrangements. The visit forms part of a broader regional effort to stabilise fuel access and reduce risks to the domestic economy.

>>24505851 Workers flee massive fireball as explosions rock Geelong refinery - (Video) A major fire at the Geelong oil refinery has damaged one of Australia’s two remaining refineries, forcing output cuts and raising pressure on fuel supplies already strained by Middle East conflict. The blaze, sparked by an equipment failure in piping just after 11pm, triggered explosions and a large fireball, with workers fleeing as flames reached up to 60 metres. About 100 personnel contained the fire within 13 hours, with no injuries, as officials said it “could have been a catastrophic fire”. The facility, supplying 50 per cent of Victoria’s fuel and 10 per cent nationally, has reduced production to “minimum rates”, though authorities said imports would offset losses. Workers described scenes like a “war zone” and “a big bloody fireball”, while residents reported homes shaking and skies glowing red as emergency warnings were issued across Geelong.

>>24505893 Cause of Geelong refinery blaze confirmed, refinery ‘still making fuel’ despite incident - (Video) Authorities have confirmed a gas leak from a mechanical component caused the fire at Viva Energy’s Geelong refinery, which remains operational despite the incident at the critical facility supplying 50 per cent of Victoria’s fuel and 10 per cent nationally. Fire Rescue Victoria said the leak ignited, triggering explosions in what was described as a “very, very dangerous” and “quite ferocious” blaze. The fire was contained and extinguished by early afternoon, with no injuries reported, and officials confirmed there is “no threat to the community”. Viva said the plant is still producing petrol, diesel and jet fuel at “pretty decent rates”, though at reduced capacity, while authorities warned it “will impact on production” particularly petrol output. The incident comes amid “huge pressure” on fuel supplies linked to the Middle East conflict, with investigations continuing into the exact cause.

>>24505908 Refinery blaze may impact Australia's petrol production 'for some time' - (Video) A fire at the Geelong oil refinery may impact Australia’s petrol supply “for some time”, Energy Minister Chris Bowen has warned, as the government manages fuel pressures linked to the Middle East conflict. The blaze, which broke out just after 11pm with explosions reported, is believed to have been an accident, with no suspicious circumstances identified. The refinery continues producing diesel and jet fuel at “reduced levels”, while petrol output is expected to be most affected. Viva Energy said damaged units converting LPG to gasoline components are offline, but other production areas remain operational and output is still running at “pretty decent rates”. Officials said any shortfall would be covered by imports, though analysts warned the disruption could “increase the risk of fuel shortages” and place pressure on the nation’s only other refinery as global supply constraints intensify.

#45 - Part 16

Middle East Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 16

>>24505912 PM confirms purchase of 100m litres of diesel in bid to boost supply amid Iran war oil crisis - (Video) The federal government has used new fuel security powers to secure 100 million litres of diesel, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed two shipments totalling 570,000 barrels from Brunei and South Korea to bolster supply during the Middle East conflict. The scheme allows companies to purchase fuel while the government underwrites financial risk for costly shipments. Albanese said the move was a “practical outcome” of regional engagement, with fuel able to be directed where needed most, “including to our farmers”. The diesel was purchased by Viva Energy, as the Geelong refinery outage adds pressure to domestic supply. Albanese said agreements with Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore aim to secure ongoing supply, as global markets face “unprecedented energy supply shocks” linked to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.

>>24505937 Richard Marles nails colours to the mast: ‘it’s the time for allies and order’ - Defence Minister Richard Marles has signalled Australia could play a post-war role in securing the Strait of Hormuz while defending the US alliance and the rules-based international order amid Middle East tensions. Marles said a ceasefire offered a “critical opportunity to move back from the brink” and restore global fuel supply chains, adding Australia would do “all within its power” to support peace. He reaffirmed the alliance, stating there is “no effective balance of power in the Indo-Pacific” without the United States, and argued the rules-based order still gives middle powers “agency”. Australia has deployed a Wedgetail surveillance aircraft to the United Arab Emirates, with the navy “ready” to assist US-led operations if required. Opposition Leader Angus Taylor described the rules-based order as “wishful thinking” in arguing it reflected a bygone era and calling for closer defence and supply chain cooperation among middle powers.

>>24512142 Viva Energy denies delayed maintenance caused major Corio refinery fire - Viva Energy has denied that delayed maintenance contributed to the Geelong refinery fire, as authorities point to a likely “mechanical or engineering failure” and investigations continue into the cause of the explosions. Fire Rescue Victoria said early assessments indicated an equipment fault, while the company attributed the incident to a gas leak in a transfer section of the plant. General manager Bill Patterson said there was “no delayed maintenance” linked to the affected unit, despite acknowledging some works had been postponed amid Middle East instability. He stressed there was “no link” identified so far, though a full investigation would examine both the release of flammable material and ignition source. The ageing 70-year-old facility has reduced some output, but Viva said supply impacts would be limited, as officials warned the incident could increase pressure on national fuel security settings.

>>24512222 Fuel farce inflamed as Chris Bowen declares no crisis of petrol supplies - Energy Minister Chris Bowen has said the Geelong refinery fire will not trigger an immediate escalation of the national fuel security plan or cause higher petrol prices, despite warnings it will reduce domestic supply. Bowen said the disruption was “not a good development” but insisted it would not move Australia beyond stage two, as Viva Energy could replace lost petrol production with imports. Experts warned the outage could cut petrol output for months, increase reliance on overseas fuel and raise the risk of rationing during the Middle East conflict. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the fire would “clearly” have consequences, while analysts argued the government may need to act sooner to secure supply. Bowen also signalled support for new domestic oil projects if they meet environmental and economic criteria.

>>24512388 Trump again lashes Australia over war but says peace coming soon - (Video) US President Donald Trump has criticised Australia for not supporting efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while claiming a deal to end the Iran war could come “fairly soon” as negotiations progress. Trump said he was “not happy with Australia” and other allies for failing to assist, as the US expanded naval operations to block Iran and prevent resupply. The conflict has disrupted global energy markets, with the strait effectively closed and fuel supplies strained. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia had engaged “constructively” with Washington, while Treasurer Jim Chalmers said he was unaware of any formal request for assistance. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth warned combat operations could resume “at the push of a button” if talks fail, as diplomatic efforts continue alongside military pressure.

#45 - Part 17

Middle East Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 17

>>24512394 Donald Trump repeats he is 'not happy with Australia' as Strait of Hormuz crisis continues - (Video) US President Donald Trump has again criticised Australia for not supporting efforts in the Strait of Hormuz, saying he was “not happy with Australia” for failing to assist when asked, though he did not specify what action he wanted. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said there had been “no new requests” from the United States, while Defence Minister Richard Marles confirmed no “specific request” had been received despite ongoing discussions with US officials. The disagreement comes as Iran’s closure of the strait and a US naval blockade disrupt global energy supplies, with American forces expanding operations to intercept vessels linked to Tehran. Opposition figures have urged clarification of the conflicting claims, while Australia continues to secure fuel imports and participate in international talks on safeguarding shipping routes.

>>24512401 Anthony Albanese rejects Donald Trump swipe at Australian involvement in Strait of Hormuz - (Video) Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has rejected criticism from US President Donald Trump over Australia’s role in the Strait of Hormuz, insisting there has been “no new requests” from Washington despite repeated claims from the White House. Albanese said the US had indicated it “has got this”, while Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed Australia was providing “defensive capability” at the request of the United Arab Emirates and was “not taking offensive action against Iran”. Defence Minister Richard Marles said no “specific request” had been received, as Treasurer Jim Chalmers also said he was unaware of any “formal request”. The dispute highlights a growing divergence in public messaging between the allies, with opposition figures warning the difference in understanding is “not a good thing” for the security relationship as tensions persist.

>>24512402 Slammed by Trump in the morning, Albanese dials into call with Macron, Starmer on reopening the strait - (Video) Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will join a call with European leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss restoring navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, amid renewed criticism from US President Donald Trump. Trump again said he was “not happy with Australia” for failing to assist, though he did not specify what was requested. Australian officials maintain there has been no request to join combat operations, noting Australia has contributed “defensive capacity” supporting the United Arab Emirates. Albanese reiterated there had been “no new requests”, while Defence Minister Richard Marles said none had been “specific”. The planned talks are expected to outline a potential “strictly defensive mission”, as Western allies weigh post-conflict measures to secure the vital shipping route.

>>24512409 Australia joins UK-France military mission to police Strait of Hormuz - Australia has signalled it is prepared to support a UK and France-led “strictly defensive” mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese warned the global energy crisis is already impacting domestic supply chains. Albanese said Australia was “working around the clock” and remained prepared to assist, with further talks to determine contributions following a 49-nation summit led by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron. Australia has already deployed a Wedgetail E-7A aircraft to support defensive operations in the region. Leaders agreed reopening the strait was a “global necessity”, with plans for a mission focused on protecting shipping and mine clearance. US President Donald Trump criticised NATO allies on Truth Social, saying they were “useless when needed” and telling them to “stay away” unless they “just want to load up their ships with oil”, while confirming the US naval blockade would remain in force until a deal with Iran was complete.

#45 - Part 18

Middle East Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 18

>>24512447 Albanese and Anwar find common ground in defending the Pope against Trump - Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim have united in defending Pope Leo amid criticism from US President Donald Trump, while navigating tensions over the Iran war and its economic fallout. Speaking in Kuala Lumpur, Albanese described the Pope as a “thoughtful, dignified, and extraordinary person”, in remarks widely seen as an implicit rebuke of Trump, who had denounced the pontiff on social media as “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy” and posted a since-deleted AI image depicting himself as a Jesus-like figure. Anwar said both leaders shared the Pope’s “desire for peace, for justice, and for an end to atrocities”. The talks focused on fuel and food security as the Strait of Hormuz crisis disrupts global supply chains, with Malaysia offering Australia priority access to excess fuel supplies. However, Anwar also defended ties with Iran and Russia, highlighting differing geopolitical positions as both nations seek stability.

>>24518282 Australia’s plea to Iran and US as Strait of Hormuz closes again - Australia has urged Iran and the United States to intensify negotiations after the Strait of Hormuz was closed again, with Iranian forces firing on vessels just a day after reopening the key shipping route. Defence Minister Richard Marles described the escalation as a “disappointing development” and called for diplomatic efforts to turn a fragile ceasefire into a permanent resolution to restore global fuel supply chains. The closure has heightened risks to global energy markets, with ships turning back after coming under fire. US President Donald Trump accused Iran of breaching the ceasefire and warned the US could target infrastructure if a deal is not reached. Australia is preparing to assist international efforts to secure the strait while launching a $1 billion emergency loan program to support businesses affected by the fuel crisis.

>>24518286 Australia ‘hostage’ to US-Iran war with potentially ‘severe’ consequences, warns Jim Chalmers - Treasurer Jim Chalmers has warned Australia’s economy is effectively “hostage” to decisions made by the United States and Iran, with the Middle East war expected to drive higher inflation, rising unemployment and slower growth. Chalmers said the outlook depended on how quickly the Strait of Hormuz could be reopened and global conditions stabilised, noting Treasury was modelling downside scenarios including more severe economic disruptions. He described recent developments as a “wild ride”, with progress towards a ceasefire quickly reversing, adding the consequences were already “serious” and could become “severe”. The warning comes ahead of the May budget, where Chalmers confirmed curbing growth in the National Disability Insurance Scheme would form the “most important” savings measure, amid concerns the program’s rapid expansion is becoming unsustainable.

>>24518289 Fire-ravaged Geelong oil refinery charts path back to 90% output - Viva Energy expects its Geelong refinery to return to more than 90 per cent of output within weeks after a fire damaged a key processing unit, easing concerns about domestic fuel supply during the global energy crisis. The company said the blaze was confined to the alkylation unit, with other major systems unaffected, allowing production to recover to around 60 per cent for petrol and 80 per cent for diesel and jet fuel. Chief executive Scott Wyatt said imports could bridge any shortfall, with the refinery supplying up to half of Victoria’s fuel and about 10 per cent nationally. Petrol prices have begun easing, though diesel remains elevated, as the government considers extending fuel excise cuts. Officials said supply would remain stable in the short term despite ongoing global uncertainty.

>>24556580 Iran’s embassy in Canberra recruiting Australians for ‘martyrdom’ - Iran’s embassy in Canberra has removed social media posts promoting a “Janfada” or “martyrdom” campaign that encouraged supporters in Australia to register through an Iranian government portal and contribute funds to causes linked to Tehran. The Australian Federal Police said it was aware of the material, which reportedly described participation as a “sacred” act connected to self-sacrifice and loyalty to the Iranian regime. The posts appeared amid heightened tensions following Australia’s expulsion of Iran’s ambassador and senior diplomats over intelligence findings linking Tehran to antisemitic attacks in Australia. Opposition home affairs spokesman Jonno Duniam said the campaign crossed “a clear red line”, while Iranian-Australian community figures urged an investigation into whether the embassy was operating beyond its diplomatic mandate through ideologically charged messaging and fundraising activity.

#45 - Part 19

Middle East Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 19

>>24556590 Penny Wong to press Asian countries for fuel guarantees during regional tour - Foreign Minister Penny Wong is pressing major Asian trading partners for assurances on fuel supplies as Australia confronts ongoing shortages linked to disruption in the Strait of Hormuz during the Iran war. During talks in Tokyo, Wong argued Australia could only continue supplying key exports such as liquified natural gas, coal and food to the region if it maintained reliable access to diesel, jet fuel, petrol and fertiliser. She said Australia wanted to remain a “reliable supplier” but needed fuel-exporting nations to “continue to be reliable” in return. Wong is also travelling to China and South Korea to discuss fuel security, trade and broader strategic issues. The visit comes as Japan reportedly raised concerns over possible Australian taxes on gas exporters and their impact on investment certainty and economic relations.

>>24556607 Chinese firms to engage Australian businesses on jet fuel sales - Chinese state-owned oil companies have begun direct discussions with Australian businesses over jet fuel sales following diplomatic negotiations led by Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Beijing. Wong described the development as an encouraging sign of co-operation after talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, as Australia seeks to avoid worsening fuel shortages linked to the Strait of Hormuz crisis. State-owned energy giant Sinopec is reportedly co-ordinating the negotiations, while China has also approved increased fuel exports for May. Wong argued Australia’s ability to continue supplying coal, liquified natural gas, iron ore and food to regional markets depended on maintaining reliable access to jet fuel and diesel. The diplomatic mission was briefly overshadowed when a Chinese official reportedly obstructed an Australian government photographer during a meeting with Vice President Han Zheng.

>>24572987 Sydney mayor bans 'globalise the intifada' forum from being held at council building - Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore has directed the City of Sydney chief executive to stop a “Globalise the Intifada” forum from being held at a council-owned venue, citing concerns about social cohesion during the opening hearings of the royal commission into antisemitism. The event, organised by Stop The War On Palestine, was scheduled for Tuesday night and will proceed at another location. Ms Moore said freedom of speech and protest rights must be balanced against “public safety and respect for all members of our community”. Organisers rejected claims the event promoted violence or antisemitism, while the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies welcomed the decision and described the slogan as a recognised “call to violence against Jewish Australians”.

>>24573004 Controversial ‘globalise the intifada’ event moves to park after council revokes booking - Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore has revoked a City of Sydney venue booking for a forum defending the phrase “globalise the intifada”, forcing organisers to relocate the event to a public park in Redfern. NSW Premier Chris Minns said the slogan was “antithetical” to the kind of community NSW wanted and described calls to “globalise the intifada” as support for a “violent uprising”. Organisers from Stop The War On Palestine condemned the cancellation and confirmed the event would proceed, with Cumberland councillor Ahmed Ouf among scheduled speakers. Ms Moore said the decision reflected concerns about “hostility and fear” during the opening week of the royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion. NSW Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane welcomed the cancellation and called for guarantees similar events would not be hosted again.

>>24578172 Identities of Islamic State-linked families revealed ahead of return and arrest in Australia - (Video) Australian Federal Police are preparing to arrest several women linked to Islamic State when a group of four women and nine children arrives in Australia from Syria this week. The families are expected to land in Sydney and Melbourne after travelling via Doha, ending years spent in detention camps in north-east Syria following the collapse of Islamic State. Authorities said some adults would face terrorism-related charges while others remained under investigation. Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said agencies had been preparing for the return of Australians linked to Syria since 2014. ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess said security agencies would continue monitoring the families after arrival. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the government was not assisting the return but warned anyone who committed offences could expect “the full force of the law”.

#45 - Part 20

Middle East Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 20

>>24578245 What is known about the Islamic State-linked families about to arrive in Australia - Four women and nine children linked to Islamic State fighters are expected to return to Australia from Syria this week, with authorities preparing arrests, investigations and monitoring arrangements upon arrival. The group includes Janai Safar, who travelled to Islamic State-controlled Syria in 2015, and members of the Ahmed family from Melbourne, whose male relatives allegedly joined the terrorist organisation. The families have spent years in detention camps in north-east Syria following the collapse of Islamic State. Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett confirmed some adults would be arrested after landing, while other investigations remained ongoing. The children will enter community integration and counter-extremism programs. ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess said security agencies would continue monitoring the group and warned authorities would act if any individuals displayed signs of extremist behaviour after returning to Australia.

>>24578252 More than $10 billion slated to boost fuel supplies and emergency stockpiles - The Albanese government will spend more than $10 billion to strengthen Australia’s fuel security and emergency reserves amid global supply disruptions linked to the Iran conflict and effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The package, to be detailed in next week’s budget, includes $7.5 billion in financial support enabling fuel companies to acquire and store additional stock, plus $3.7 billion to establish a government-owned reserve holding one billion litres of diesel and aviation fuel. Australia’s mandatory fuel stockholding requirements will also increase, lifting reserves of petrol, diesel and jet fuel. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the measures would improve “energy sovereignty” and resilience during future crises. Opposition Leader Angus Taylor welcomed expanded reserves but argued Australia should move further by increasing emergency fuel stockpiles to 60 days.

>>24579116 ISIS brides returning to Australia from Syria may face historic slavery-related charges - (Video) Two Islamic State-linked Melbourne women returning from Syria are expected to face possible crimes against humanity charges connected to allegations involving the enslavement of Yazidi women during the Syrian conflict. Kawsar Abbas and one of her adult daughters are reportedly under investigation over claims made by Yazidi women who allege they were held captive by the family while Islamic State controlled territory in Syria. Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said investigators had gathered evidence relating to terrorism offences and alleged slave trading crimes. Another returning woman, Janai Safar, may face charges linked to entering or remaining in a declared terrorist area. Legal experts said any prosecution could become the first Australian case involving crimes against humanity charges connected to alleged Islamic State atrocities committed overseas.

>>24583922 Crimes against humanity: Three returning ISIS brides charged over slave and terror offences - (Video) Three Australian women linked to Islamic State have been charged after returning from Syria, including two Melbourne women accused of crimes against humanity involving the alleged enslavement of Yazidi women. Kawsar Abbas and her daughter Zeinab were arrested at Melbourne Airport and charged with offences including enslavement, possessing a slave and engaging in slave trading, carrying penalties of up to 25 years’ imprisonment. Sydney woman Janai Safar was separately charged with entering or remaining in a declared terrorist area and allegedly joining Islamic State. Authorities allege the offences occurred while the women lived under the Islamic State caliphate in Syria after travelling there in 2014 and 2015. Legal experts said the prosecutions were historically significant because Australian crimes against humanity laws had never previously been tested in domestic courts.

#45 - Part 21

Middle East Conflict - The Australian Perspective - Part 21

>>24584029 Albanese declares ‘zero sympathy’ for ISIS brides as Yazidi community lives in fear - (Video) Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he has “zero sympathy” for Australians who travelled to join Islamic State, after three women returning from Syria were charged with terrorism and slavery-related offences. Members of Australia’s Yazidi community said the arrivals had retraumatised survivors of Islamic State atrocities and renewed fears of encountering former captors in Australia. Melbourne women Kawsar Abbas and Zeinab Ahmad were charged with crimes against humanity offences linked to the alleged enslavement of Yazidi women, while Sydney woman Janai Safar was charged with entering a declared terrorist area and joining Islamic State. Albanese defended Australia’s decision to allow the women to return under the rule of law, while stressing sympathy for the children involved. Legal experts described the slavery-related prosecutions as unprecedented in Australian legal history.

>>24586892 ‘I want them to be punished’: Alleged Yazidi slave on ISIS brides - (Video) A Yazidi woman who alleges she was enslaved by an Australian Islamic State-linked family in Syria says she wants those responsible “to be punished” after Melbourne women Kawsar Abbas and Zeinab Ahmad were charged with slavery-related crimes against humanity offences. The woman, identified under a pseudonym, alleged she was bought and held by the family for 18 months while living under the Islamic State caliphate, where she claims she was forced into domestic servitude and repeatedly raped by family patriarch Mohammad Ahmad. Ahmad has denied the allegations. The charges are believed to form part of Australia’s first domestic prosecution involving crimes against humanity linked to Islamic State atrocities against the Yazidi minority. Both alleged victims have reportedly told Australian Federal Police they are willing to testify in court proceedings.

>>24592971 ISIS widows drop bid for freedom over alleged Yazidi slave trading - Former Islamic State-linked women Kawsar Abbas and Zeinab Ahmad will remain in custody after shelving plans for an immediate bail application over allegations they enslaved Yazidi women while living under the Islamic State caliphate in Syria. The mother and daughter were arrested after arriving at Melbourne Airport last week following their repatriation from the al-Roj detention camp. Prosecutors allege Abbas helped purchase a Yazidi woman for $US10,000 and knowingly kept her as a slave, while Ahmad is accused of enslavement and using a slave. The offences are classified as crimes against humanity and carry maximum penalties of 25 years’ imprisonment. Ahmad is scheduled to apply for bail in June, followed later by her mother. Another daughter, Zahra Ahmad, was released without charges after returning to Australia.

>>24592977 ISIS-linked mother and daughter Kawsar Ahmad and Zeinab Ahmad reveal new bail effort on slavery charges - (Video) Islamic State-linked mother and daughter Kawsar Ahmad and Zeinab Ahmad have abandoned plans for an immediate bail application after being charged with slavery-related crimes against humanity offences following their return to Australia from Syria. Prosecutors allege the pair exercised control over a Yazidi woman held in conditions akin to slavery between 2017 and 2018 while living under the Islamic State caliphate in Syria’s Deir ez-Zur province. Kawsar Ahmad is charged with enslavement, possessing a slave, using a slave and engaging in slave trading, while Zeinab Ahmad faces enslavement and using a slave charges. Both women will remain in custody until separate bail hearings next month. The court has also imposed interim suppression orders protecting the identity of alleged victims and a proposed prosecution witness.

>>24592865 Victoria Police abandon claims ‘all Zionists are terrorists’ chant by activist Hash Tayeh are antisemitic - Victoria Police has narrowed its prosecution case against pro-Palestinian activist Hash Tayeh, conceding it will no longer argue chants of “all Zionists are terrorists” were antisemitic. Mr Tayeh faces multiple offensive language charges linked to pro-Palestinian protests in Melbourne during 2024 and 2025, alongside co-accused Jad Awwad Abu Alsendyan. Prosecutors told the Melbourne Magistrates Court the case would instead focus solely on whether the chant constituted “insulting words” under the Summary Offences Act and whether the accused intended the words to be insulting. Police also opposed defence attempts to introduce expert evidence about Zionism’s history and distinctions between Judaism and Zionism. Earlier this year, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal separately ruled the chant breached racial and religious vilification laws by inciting hatred against Jewish people.

#45 - Part 22

Bondi Beach Massacre Aftermath - Part 1

>>24354950 Commissioner assures Bondi families she will probe Hanukkah security, police delays - Royal commission head Virginia Bell has assured survivors and families of the Bondi Beach massacre that the inquiry will examine the police response to the attack and security arrangements at the Hanukkah celebration where 15 people were killed. During a private meeting with about 80 survivors, witnesses and relatives at Bondi, Bell said the commission would investigate “how long it took police to respond” and why only two officers were present at the Chanukah by the Sea event. She also explained the inquiry could not hear eyewitness accounts that might prejudice the criminal trial of alleged gunmen Naveed and Sajid Akram. The Albanese government said it would introduce legislation granting legal immunity for intelligence and operational information provided to the commission.

>>24359696 Trump officials ‘asked why Australian Jews aren’t carrying guns’ - Trump administration officials have questioned whether Australia’s Jewish community should be armed following the Bondi Beach terrorist attack, highlighting Washington’s close scrutiny of antisemitism and security responses in Australia. Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said US officials, including President Donald Trump’s antisemitism envoy Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun, asked why Australian Jews were not carrying firearms after the December massacre in which 15 people were killed. Ryvchin said he replied that widespread gun ownership “is just not part of our culture”, reflecting Australia’s strict firearms laws and different security mindset. The NSW government is examining whether the Community Security Group, which protects Jewish institutions, should be allowed to carry additional arms at public events. The Albanese government has launched a royal commission and security reviews following the attack.

>>24360122 Accused Bondi gunman Naveed Akram wants a gag order to protect his family - Alleged Bondi Beach terrorist Naveed Akram has sought a suppression order to prevent publication of identifying details about his mother, brother and sister, arguing publicity surrounding the case could endanger their safety. Barrister Richard Wilson SC told a Sydney court the application aimed to shield the family’s identities, home address and associated school or workplace details from public reporting as the case draws international attention. Magistrate Greg Grogin granted interim orders and scheduled a priority hearing, noting there appeared to be “no reason” relatives should be drawn into the “arena” of the trial, but questioned whether privacy protections could still be effective given extensive existing reporting. Akram faces 15 murder charges over the Hanukkah attack, alongside attempted murder and terrorism-related offences.

>>24371525 ‘I was surplus to requirements’: PM’s top security expert Dennis Richardson quits antisemitism royal commission - (Video) Former ASIO director-general Dennis Richardson has resigned from the antisemitism royal commission, saying he concluded he was “surplus to requirements” after his independent review into intelligence and law enforcement was folded into the inquiry’s legal framework. Richardson said the structure limited his ability to deliver the type of timely, security-focused recommendations he believed were necessary following the Bondi massacre. He described his role as effectively that of a “research officer” despite being paid $5500 a day, raising concerns about value and purpose. The resignation has sparked criticism from the Coalition, which warned the move undermines the credibility of the inquiry. The government said the commission remains independent, while commissioner Virginia Bell maintained work on an interim report into security agency responses was well advanced.

>>24371534 Intelligence agencies say they’ll struggle to give full evidence to Bondi royal commission; Dennis Richardson ‘felt like the fifth wheel’ - (Video) Australian intelligence and law enforcement agencies have warned they may be unable to provide full evidence to the antisemitism royal commission due to legal and secrecy constraints, as former ASIO chief Dennis Richardson said he resigned after feeling like a “fifth wheel”. AUSTRAC said its chief retains final authority over disclosures due to international obligations, while the Australian Federal Police confirmed it had redacted material and faced legislative barriers in sharing telecommunications data. The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and ASIO also flagged limits on disclosure. Richardson said the inquiry’s legal structure reduced his role to that of a “research officer”, raising concerns about the commission’s effectiveness.

#45 - Part 23

Bondi Beach Massacre Aftermath - Part 2

>>24371545 Clash over security report led to sudden resignation from royal commission - A dispute over the timing and scope of security recommendations following the Bondi massacre has led to the resignation of former ASIO chief Dennis Richardson from the antisemitism royal commission. Richardson had been preparing detailed findings on intelligence and policing failures for the interim report, but commissioner Virginia Bell opted to defer substantive recommendations until the final report due in December. Sources said Richardson believed delaying urgent security advice risked missing an opportunity to act, while Bell prioritised meeting deadlines and further evidence gathering. Richardson said his role had been reduced to that of a “highly paid researcher” and that his “value-add” was limited. The disagreement has raised concerns about the commission’s direction and its ability to deliver timely national security outcomes.

>>24386759 Error of judgment: Swans admit to script change before pre-game Bondi tribute - Sydney Swans chief executive Matthew Pavlich has admitted the club changed a pre-game Bondi tribute script to remove specific reference to the Jewish community, calling it an “error of judgment” made internally in an effort to use “inclusive language”. The club said the Australian Football League was not involved in the decision, after earlier questions about whether the omission had been directed externally. Pavlich said he took “full responsibility” for the wording used before the March 5 season-opener against Carlton, and the Swans apologised again for failing to specifically name the Jewish community. Liberal senator James Paterson said the admission raised concerns about “deeply ingrained cultural problems” in sporting institutions, while Rabbi Mendy Litzman said the Swans had made affected families and community representatives feel “very loved and welcomed”.

>>24386771 AFL referred to Royal Commission over removal of Jewish community references from Bondi tribute - The Sydney Swans have admitted they removed references to the “Jewish community” from a pre-match Bondi tribute script and said the change was made internally without any direction from the Australian Football League. The omission prompted Victorian Liberal senator James Paterson to refer the league to the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, urging commissioner Virginia Bell to request that the AFL preserve documents and communications so witnesses can be examined about “who ordered the removal” and why. The Swans said the wording was changed in an attempt to use “inclusive language” focused on the “whole community”, but acknowledged this was an “error of judgement” and apologised again. Paterson said “erasing” the victims’ Jewish identity was “a travesty and an insult” to their families.

>>24391086 Bondi terrorist hangs head as vigilante threats against family revealed - Accused Bondi attacker Naveed Akram has appeared in court as his lawyer said his mother and siblings were “under siege” and “living in fear” after receiving vigilante threats and harassment following the alleged December attack. Defence barrister Richard Wilson sought final suppression orders to force the removal of identifying details about Akram’s mother, brother, sister and home, arguing they were not accused of any wrongdoing and had faced threats including calls to “torch the house”, abuse, suspected intimidation and damage. Barrister Matt Lewis, SC, for media organisations opposing the bid, said it was “futile” because the family’s identities were already widely known and argued open justice was vital as the public sought confidence the case would be handled transparently. A decision is due on April 2.

>>24429028 Bondi hero Ahmed Al Ahmed awarded symbolic key to the city and recognised for bravery during terror attack - Bondi attack survivor Ahmed Al Ahmed has been honoured with a key to the city and lifetime beach parking pass for his actions during the December 14 terror attack. The 43-year-old was filmed confronting a gunman and disarming him before being shot, in an incident that left 15 people dead at a Hanukkah event. New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said his actions “showed … what true Australian courage looks like”, while Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh described his response as “unflinching resolve”. Governor Margaret Beazley called it “courage beyond courage”. Ahmed said his “heart cries” for the victims but urged unity, saying Australians must “stand with each other” in the face of violence.

#45 - Part 24

Bondi Beach Massacre Aftermath - Part 3

>>24459136 Alleged Bondi shooter Naveed Akram’s bid to hide family’s identity denied by judge - (Video) A New South Wales judge has rejected alleged Bondi attacker Naveed Akram’s request for a 40-year suppression order to protect his family’s identities, ruling the order would be ineffective and not justified under open justice principles. The court heard the family had faced threats and harassment, including claims of vandalism and intimidation, but Judge Hugh Donnelly said such orders apply only in “exceptional circumstances” and this case did not meet that threshold. He noted “no one has been assaulted” and that claims of psychological harm lacked expert evidence. The judge also found the order would be “ineffective, futile and not enforceable”, particularly as identifying details were already known and some had entered the public domain. The court emphasised the need for the case to be “fairly reported”.

>>24502427 Military protection of Jewish sites urged in submission to antisemitism royal commission - A submission to the antisemitism royal commission has called for permanent security, including potential military protection, at Jewish schools, synagogues and community sites, citing ongoing safety concerns. Advocacy group StandWithUs Australia argued current arrangements are insufficient, urging a government-backed model similar to European systems where armed personnel guard institutions. Executive director Michael Gencher said security had become part of “day-to-day operational planning” and warned delays risk missing opportunities for immediate reform. Sydney Great Synagogue chief rabbi Benjamin Elton said military deployment “should definitely be on the table”, pointing to overseas examples. The proposal would require significant legal changes to allow routine domestic deployment of defence forces, as the commission continues to examine responses to rising antisemitism and broader community safety concerns.

>>24502430 Bondi royal commission to run through first half of May - The Antisemitism and Social Cohesion Royal Commission will hold its first public hearings from May 4 to 15, focusing on defining antisemitism, its historical and contemporary forms, and the lived experiences of Jewish Australians. The hearings will follow an interim report examining national security agencies and potential intelligence failures linked to the Bondi attack. Commissioner Virginia Bell said testimony from affected individuals would be central to the inquiry, while community leaders said the process would highlight incidents including attacks on synagogues and harassment. Local and national figures have framed the hearings as a key step in addressing rising antisemitism and strengthening social cohesion, with further policy discussions expected as the commission continues its work.

>>24505952 NSW’s post-Bondi protest laws struck down by court - (Video) Criminal charges against 26 protesters are in doubt after the NSW Court of Appeal struck down sweeping anti-protest laws introduced after the Bondi terror attack, ruling they unlawfully restricted political communication. Chief Justice Andrew Bell said the laws “impermissibly burden” the implied freedom of political communication, adding democratic systems accept “disharmony, incivility and disruption” as part of public debate. The legislation had allowed police to ban moving protests for up to 90 days after a terrorist event and was used during demonstrations against Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit. Palestine Action Group organiser Josh Lees hailed the ruling as “a big win” for protest rights and civil liberties, while legal representatives said prosecutions were likely to fail. Premier Chris Minns said he was “obviously disappointed”, defending the laws as necessary in response to the attack.

>>24515519 Protesters arrested at Brisbane pro-Palestine rally featuring banned phrase - (Video) Police have arrested 20 people at a pro-Palestine rally in Brisbane after protesters chanted and displayed phrases banned under Queensland’s new hate speech laws. Hundreds gathered near the Supreme Court to oppose the legislation, with arrests made after a banner reading “from the river to the sea” was unveiled and later removed by officers. Authorities laid 14 charges for displaying a prohibited expression and seven for reciting one, with the laws outlawing certain phrases when used to menace or offend. Premier David Crisafulli said people were free to protest but not to call for others to be “erased, eradicated, exterminated”. The arrests follow earlier charges under the laws, including one against a protester outside Parliament House last month.

#45 - Part 25

Bondi Beach Massacre Aftermath - Part 4

>>24531154 Islamic State urges followers to copy Bondi shooters in new propaganda - Islamic State has urged supporters to replicate the Bondi attack in Sydney, praising the perpetrators and presenting the killings as a model for further violence in its Voice of Khurasan newsletter, according to new propaganda material. The Afghanistan-based Islamic State Khorasan branch promoted the December attack in its English-language publication, encouraging followers to carry out similar acts and framing the violence as part of a broader ideological campaign. Australian security experts warn the material reflects patterns seen in previous waves of extremist activity, with propaganda acting as a trigger for lone-actor attacks. Analysts say the messaging highlights ongoing risks from radicalisation both online and in-person, prompting calls for stronger measures to restrict extremist preachers and limit the spread of violent ideology within Australia’s national security framework.

>>24531161 Resplendent heroism': Bondi Beach massacre glorified by ISIS in seven-page propaganda spread - Islamic State has glorified the Bondi Beach attack as “resplendent heroism” in a seven-page feature in its Voice of Khurasan newsletter, urging supporters to follow the example and framing the killings as a model for further violence. The Islamic State Khorasan branch publication praised the attackers and described the incident as a demonstration of tactics for broader ideological objectives, while criticising Muslims who condemned the attack. Security analysts warn such propaganda mirrors material linked to past extremist activity, reinforcing concerns about its role in inspiring lone-actor attacks. The development comes amid heightened domestic concern about antisemitism and ongoing national security risks, with Australia’s terrorism threat level set at “probable”, indicating authorities assess a continued likelihood of attack planning or activity.

>>24544663 Jews should not be required to pay ‘safety tax’: Royal commission swamped with submissions - Australia’s royal commission into antisemitism has received more than 3500 submissions detailing experiences across education, health, employment, media, sport, the arts and online platforms following the Bondi terrorist attack. The commission’s interim report, due next week, will examine security agency responses and potential intelligence failures linked to the mass shooting at a Hanukkah event in December, in which 15 mostly Jewish people were killed. Commissioner Virginia Bell said the inquiry would avoid prejudicing criminal proceedings against alleged gunman Naveed Akram. Some submissions have called for stronger government-funded protections for Jewish communities and institutions. King David School principal Marc Light argued Jewish Australians should not face a “safety tax”, while advocacy group StandWithUs proposed permanent protective security at Jewish sites and schools.

>>24544690 Authorities suspect Gaza war drove Bondi shooter to terror - Australian authorities suspect anger over Israel’s war in Gaza helped drive Bondi attacker Sajid Akram towards violent Islamic extremism, with investigators alleging he played a major role in planning the December massacre that killed 15 people at a Hanukkah event. Security and police sources said Sajid’s Islamic State-influenced ideology intensified during the Gaza conflict and that he allegedly directed efforts to avoid electronic communication and law enforcement detection. Separate classified reviews reportedly found no major intelligence failure by the Australian Federal Police or the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation in their earlier assessments of Naveed Akram. However, officials and former ASIO director-general Dennis Richardson are said to have raised concerns about whether Australia’s counter-terrorism settings, intelligence scrutiny and resourcing were sufficiently strengthened after the national terror threat level was raised in 2024.

#45 - Part 26

Bondi Beach Massacre Aftermath - Part 5

>>24544697 Scepticism after federal agencies clear themselves over Bondi attack - Reviews clearing the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation of failures before the Bondi terror attack have been met with scepticism by stakeholders preparing for the antisemitism royal commission. Separate inquiries reportedly concluded the AFP properly handled intelligence before the December massacre and that ASIO’s 2019 assessment of Naveed Akram as not adhering to violent extremism was reasonable at the time. However, critics and national security figures said those findings should be closely examined by the royal commission led by former High Court justice Virginia Bell. Former Home Affairs secretary Michael Pezzullo said broader questions remained about whether counter-terrorism resources and intelligence scrutiny were sufficiently increased after the Gaza conflict and the raising of Australia’s terror threat level in 2024. The commission has received more than 3500 submissions.

>>24556735 Age legend Michael Gawenda to air left-wing media’s failure on antisemitism at royal commission - Former The Age editor Michael Gawenda is expected to tell the antisemitism royal commission that major Australian media organisations failed to adequately report on rising antisemitism following the October 7 attacks on Israel. Gawenda plans to criticise “the left liberal media”, including The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, ABC and Guardian, arguing they minimised the impact of antisemitism on Jewish Australians and elevated fringe voices over mainstream Jewish opinion. He also said he had lost friendships and publishing opportunities because of his support for Israel. The royal commission’s interim report, focused on intelligence and security matters linked to the Bondi attack, is expected to contain heavy redactions for national security reasons. Public hearings beginning next month will examine lived experiences of antisemitism across education, media, health, employment and other sectors.

>>24556912 REVEALED: Bondi terror attack Royal Commission delivers 14 interim recommendations, with five withheld and confidential - (Video) The Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion has delivered 14 interim recommendations following the Bondi Beach terror attack, warning Australia’s counter-terrorism system may have faced resourcing pressures while the national threat level remained “probable”. Nine recommendations were publicly released, while five remain classified for national security reasons. The report called for increased police protection at high-risk Jewish events, annual counter-terrorism briefings to National Cabinet, updated crisis-management procedures and nationally consistent gun reforms, including a proposed buyback scheme. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the National Security Committee had accepted all Commonwealth recommendations and would work with states on implementation. Public hearings beginning next week will examine antisemitism, lived experiences within the Jewish community and the prevalence of antisemitic incidents across Australian institutions and society.

>>24556922 Terror training for PM, national cabinet among 14 recommendations in Bell report - (Video) Royal commissioner Virginia Bell has recommended major reviews of Australia’s counter-terrorism systems following the Bondi massacre, including terrorism response exercises for the Prime Minister and National Cabinet ministers. The interim report into the Bondi attack found counter-terrorism capabilities at federal and state levels “could be improved”, despite concluding no agency had identified urgent failures that would have prevented the attack. Public recommendations included stronger protection for Jewish community events, a review of Joint Counter-Terrorism Teams, improved intelligence sharing and nationally consistent gun reforms. Justice Bell also highlighted concerns around police resourcing and risk assessments linked to the Chanukah by the Sea event targeted in December. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government would implement all Commonwealth recommendations and respond to classified findings through further security and policy measures.

#45 - Part 27

Bondi Beach Massacre Aftermath - Part 6

>>24556937 NSW Police did no risk assessment before Chanukah attack, says Commission - The antisemitism royal commission has found NSW Police provided no written risk assessment for the Chanukah by the Sea event targeted in the Bondi terrorist attack, despite warnings from Jewish security groups that the threat level facing the community was “high”. Commissioner Virginia Bell’s interim report said police resource decisions were informed by a “risk assessment process”, but no formal document had been supplied to the inquiry. NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon insisted an assessment had been undertaken using intelligence from the Jewish Community Security Group, which had requested police support for the event. The report also revealed differences between police and community organisers over expected security arrangements. Potential failures involving intelligence handling and police resourcing before the attack will be examined during upcoming public hearings of the royal commission.

>>24556944 ‘Incubated in hatred’: Warnings, risks laid bare as Bondi royal commission zeroes in on security flaws - The Bondi royal commission will examine whether intelligence agencies and police adequately responded to repeated warnings about a likely antisemitic terror attack before the December massacre that killed 15 people at a Hanukkah event. Commissioner Virginia Bell’s interim report revealed NSW Police were advised by the Jewish Community Security Group that the threat level facing the Jewish community was “HIGH”, but officers assigned to the event were reportedly told there was “no need to stay the entire duration”. NSW Premier Chris Minns described the findings as “sobering” and said the attack had been “incubated in hatred”. The report also raised concerns about declining counter-terrorism investment despite Australia’s terror threat level being raised to “probable” in 2024, with further scrutiny of intelligence agencies and police planned during upcoming public hearings.

>>24569462 Justice for the dead, freedom from the ‘worst of us’: Alex Ryvchin takes royal commission stand - (Video) Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin is set to urge the royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion to confront what he describes as a “flaccid mindset” that has allowed extremism and antisemitism to spread in Australia. Mr Ryvchin will be the first major community leader to give evidence at the inquiry led by former High Court justice Virginia Bell, which begins public hearings this week. The hearings will examine the rise in antisemitic incidents following the October 7 attacks in Israel and the December 2025 Bondi terror attack. Mr Ryvchin said the commission was about securing “justice for the dead” and ensuring hatred and violence were not inflicted on other Australians. Other witnesses include Bondi victim Reuven Morrison’s daughter Sheina Gutnick, rabbis, community leaders and victims of antisemitism.

>>24569474 Hearings begin: Royal commission into antisemitism told of 'real-world consequences of hatred - (Video) A Holocaust survivor and relatives of Bondi terror victims have told the royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion that rising hatred has left many Jewish Australians fearful for their safety and identity. Peter Halasz OAM said he never expected to again feel afraid wearing his Star of David in public after surviving Nazi persecution in Hungary during World War II. Witnesses described online abuse, threats against children, anti-Semitic incidents in schools and hostility near synagogues following the October 7 attacks in Israel and the December 2025 Bondi massacre. Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said extremists “go exactly as far as they're permitted to go”, while commissioner Virginia Bell said the sharp rise in antisemitism mirrored trends across other Western countries during the commission's opening hearings.

#45 - Part 28

Bondi Beach Massacre Aftermath - Part 7

>>24572941 Jewish Council wins role to challenge antisemitism definition at royal commission - The Jewish Council of Australia has secured limited standing at the royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion, allowing it to challenge expert evidence relating to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. Former High Court justice Virginia Bell granted the pro-Palestine Jewish organisation leave to appear specifically on issues involving the IHRA definition and survey evidence concerning antisemitic attitudes in Australia. The IHRA definition, adopted by the federal government, has drawn criticism from some groups who argue it risks conflating anti-Zionism with antisemitism. Commissioner Bell said some criticisms reflected a “misconception”, noting alleged antisemitic conduct must always be assessed “in its overall context”. The commission’s first hearings are examining lived experiences of antisemitism, with later sessions to focus on the Bondi terror attack, social media, tertiary education and deradicalisation processes.

>>24572962 Royal Commission told anti-Semitism ‘interlaced’ with actions of Israel - Australia’s royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion has heard evidence that anti-Semitic incidents in Australia are increasingly linked to perceptions about Israel and the war in Gaza, despite Jewish Australians having “no agency” over Israeli government actions. Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Peter Wertheim said many Jewish Australians were shocked by the response to the October 7 Hamas attacks, including anti-Semitic slurs heard during a pro-Palestinian rally outside the Sydney Opera House. SBS director Vic Alhadeff said anti-Semitism was often “interlaced” with events in the Middle East, while stressing Jewish Australians should not be blamed for decisions made by Israel. Melbourne school principal Jeremy Stowe-Lindner told the inquiry his students had experienced an “avalanche” of anti-Semitic incidents since late 2023, including graffiti, verbal abuse and spitting attacks.

>>24576344 Social media giant fails to act as Jewish community fears ‘next Bondi’ - Witnesses at the royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion have described growing fear within Australia’s Jewish community, including concerns about further violence following the December 2025 Bondi terror attack. Academic Tali Pinsky told the inquiry Meta failed to remove Facebook posts glorifying Adolf Hitler and spreading antisemitic conspiracy theories after complaints were lodged, with responses stating the content did not breach “community standards”. SBS director and former NSW Jewish Board of Deputies chief executive Vic Alhadeff said many Jewish Australians feared “the next Bondi”. Other witnesses described school bullying, online abuse, heightened security around Jewish schools and community events, and children being exposed to antisemitic slurs linked to the October 7 Hamas attacks and the war in Gaza. Meta said it remained committed to removing hateful content and improving enforcement systems.

>>24576398 Antisemites ‘blur the lines’ to attack Jewish identity, royal commission told - Arnold Bloch Leibler partner Jeremy Leibler has told the royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion that antisemites deliberately “blur the lines” between criticism of Israel and attacks on Jewish identity, leaving many Jewish Australians feeling excluded from workplaces, universities and cultural institutions after the October 7 Hamas attacks. Mr Leibler said Jewish Australians discovered acceptance in some sectors was “conditional” on rejecting Zionism and support for a Jewish homeland. Other witnesses described antisemitic abuse in schools, including Nazi salutes, “dirty Jew” slurs and students being targeted during excursions. A 13-year-old girl who attended a bat mitzvah at Bondi Pavilion during the December 2025 terror attack told the commission she remained traumatised after seeing crowds fleeing in panic. Witnesses also criticised institutions for allegedly failing to properly respond to complaints of antisemitic behaviour.

#45 - Part 29

Bondi Beach Massacre Aftermath - Part 8

>>24576463 Man arrested after wearing Nazi swastika T-shirt outside antisemitism royal commission - (Video) A man has been arrested after allegedly wearing a T-shirt displaying a Nazi swastika and anti-Semitic slogan outside the antisemitism royal commission hearings in Sydney. NSW Police said officers attached to Operation Shelter initially issued the man with a move-on direction outside the Clarence Street venue before later arresting him at Manly Police Station. The man, who identified himself to media as Ian Minus, questioned why he was being confronted and linked his actions to opposition to Israel’s conduct in Gaza. The royal commission said it was “appalled” by the incident and stressed witness safety remained paramount during hearings. Under NSW law, publicly displaying Nazi symbols without reasonable excuse is a criminal offence, along with behaving offensively near a public place or school.

>>24577960 Alleged Bondi shooter Naveed Akram is set to be hit with 19 new charges, including attempted murder - Alleged Bondi Beach gunman Naveed Akram is expected to face 19 additional charges, including attempted murder offences, over the December 2025 antisemitic terror attack. Akram already faces 59 charges, including terrorism, 15 counts of murder and 40 counts of attempted murder. Court records show the additional allegations include shooting with intent to murder, wounding with intent to murder and firearm offences linked to resisting arrest, although police have not yet formally served the new charges. Akram has not entered pleas to any charges. During a brief court mention in Sydney, prosecutors successfully sought an extension of interim suppression orders protecting the identities of some victims, including children, while consultations continue over possible long-term non-publication orders. Akram’s next court appearance is scheduled for June.

>>24577984 ‘Critical gap’: The 2020 warning to police before Bondi terrorist bought guns - NSW Police were warned in 2020 about a “critical gap” in Australia’s firearms licensing system that could allow extremists to legally obtain weapons before alleged Bondi attacker Sajid Akram acquired guns used in the December 2025 massacre. Psychologist and gun club official Daniel Gregg told police that gun clubs needed clearer systems for identifying and reporting concerning behaviour among members, arguing “static checks” alone could not detect evolving extremist risks. His briefing referenced the Christchurch terrorist attack and warned lone-actor extremists often displayed warning signs before acting. The revelations come after the royal commission into the Bondi attack urged governments to strengthen gun laws and improve information-sharing between agencies. Police insiders also said firearms licensing divisions across Australia remained under-resourced and overwhelmed by growing workloads.

>>24592829 ‘If I wanted to succeed, would I have to again hide part of myself’: antisemitism royal commission hears of lost livelihoods - Jewish Australians told the antisemitism royal commission they lost careers, friendships and workplace security following the October 7 Hamas attacks and the subsequent Gaza conflict. Witnesses including unionists, journalists, health workers and business owners described discrimination, social exclusion and fear linked to their Jewish identity or support for Israel. One anonymous witness said her employer encouraged her to adopt a less “Jewish-sounding” name to avoid problems with clients, while former Age editor Michael Gawenda warned Jewish journalists with “complicated and nuanced” views could struggle to advance professionally. Lewis’ Continental Kitchen owners Judith and Karyn Lewis described the emotional impact of their restaurant being firebombed during Sydney’s “summer of terror”. Several witnesses also criticised institutions including universities, media organisations and NSW Health for failing to adequately respond to antisemitism concerns.

>>24592837 Mother charged over alleged antisemitic incident at netball game in Sydney's east - (Video) A 42-year-old woman has been charged after allegedly directing antisemitic abuse at a junior netball match in Sydney’s east, prompting intervention from Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin. Police allege the woman made offensive remarks during an under-12s game between Saints and Maccabi netball clubs at Heffron courts in Maroubra. She was charged with using offensive language in a public place and is due to appear before Waverley Local Court in June. NSW Netball has banned her from attending or participating in matches. Mr Ryvchin said Jewish families should be able to attend children’s sport “with pride and pleasure” rather than fear. Saints Netball Club condemned the alleged remarks and apologised to the Jewish community and those affected.

#45 - Part 30

Bondi Beach Massacre Aftermath - Part 9

>>24592848 Jewish leader Alex Ryvchin told to ‘just deal with’ alleged antisemitic abuse at netball game - (Video) New footage has emerged showing Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin arguing with a bystander after an alleged antisemitic incident at a junior netball match in Sydney’s east. The confrontation followed claims a woman shouted antisemitic remarks, including “you should have been eradicated”, during an under-12s game between Saints and Maccabi clubs at Heffron Park in Maroubra. In the video, the unidentified man tells Mr Ryvchin to “just deal with it” and accuses him of escalating the situation. The exchange intensified when the man attempted to knock away a phone being used to record the interaction. The 42-year-old woman accused of making the remarks has been charged with offensive language and banned by NSW Netball from attending matches.

>>24592858 Jewish teen subjected to antisemitic slurs on Minecraft, royal commission told - A Perth teenager told the antisemitism royal commission he was subjected to antisemitic abuse by fellow students while playing Minecraft, including messages stating “I hate Jews” and describing him as a “filthy penny sniffer”. The 15-year-old said the online abuse left him isolated and distressed, prompting his parents to report the incident to his public school, which later facilitated apologies from the students involved. The commission also heard evidence from Rabbi Menachem Dadon, whose daughter was injured in the Bondi terror attack, and from Executive Council of Australian Jewry research director Julie Nathan regarding rising antisemitic incidents nationwide. Melbourne musician Joshua Moshe described losing work opportunities, online harassment and vandalism after raising concerns about antisemitism within creative industry circles following the October 7 Hamas attacks and subsequent Gaza conflict.

>>24596591 ‘Is this 2023 Australia, or 1933 Berlin?’ Deborah Conway stunned by pro-Palestinian protesters - (Video) Singer-songwriter Deborah Conway told the antisemitism royal commission she lost performance opportunities and faced hostile protests because of her support for Israel following the October 7 Hamas attacks. Conway described being shouted at during concerts and writers’ festivals, while recalling shock at pro-Palestinian demonstrations outside the Sydney Opera House in October 2023. Jewish musician Joshua Moshe also described online harassment, threats and vandalism after a WhatsApp group for Jewish creatives was leaked publicly. The commission heard further evidence from Jewish Australians describing antisemitic abuse in schools, workplaces and public life. Rabbi Daniel Rabin said some members of Melbourne’s Jewish community had begun questioning whether they should leave Australia, while Rabbi Menachem Dadon recounted his daughter asking why Jews were “hated so much” after surviving the Bondi terror attack.

>>24596665 Jewish singer-songwriter Deborah Conway names Offspring actress Alicia Gardiner as the author of a vicious letter-writing, boycott campaign against her - (Video) Singer-songwriter Deborah Conway has told the antisemitism royal commission that actress Alicia Gardiner led a campaign urging venues to boycott her performances over Conway’s public support for Israel. Conway alleged letters sent to venues described her as a “supporter of genocide”, resulting in several cancelled shows. She also described protests outside venues, including masked demonstrators carrying “globalise the intifada” signs and pounding on windows during appearances. Conway said two of her daughters were also targeted, including one who allegedly lost industry friendships and another who faced abuse while selling food at markets. The commission additionally heard evidence from Jewish musician Joshua Moshe about threats made against his family after he was doxxed online, while Rabbi Daniel Rabin and Rabbi Menachem Dadon described growing fear within Jewish communities following the October 7 Hamas attacks and subsequent tensions in Australia.

#45 - Part 31

Australian Politics and Society - Part 1

>>24360128 Australians reach for VPNs, find porn sites blocked as online age-restrictions take effect - Australians have begun downloading virtual private networks (VPNs) in large numbers as new online age-verification laws restricting minors’ access to adult content take effect nationwide. App store data showed three of the 15 most downloaded free smartphone apps were VPN services, with VPN – Super Unlimited Proxy ranking ahead of any social media platform. The measures require pornography websites to verify users are over 18 and compel AI-powered chatbot services to block harmful content from minors or face fines of up to A$49.5 million. Canada-based company Aylo responded by blocking Australian access to RedTube and YouPorn and limiting Pornhub to a version without explicit content. eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said the changes aim to bring the same protections for children online as those expected offline.

>>24363939 ‘I’m buggered and I’ve had enough’: David Littleproud quits as federal Nationals leader - (Video) Nationals leader David Littleproud has announced he will step down, saying he is “buggered” after months of internal conflict and political pressure within the party and the Coalition. Littleproud said he would remain the member for Maranoa but had lost the energy to continue leading after intense criticism and factional disputes. A leadership contest will be held with Matt Canavan, Kevin Hogan and Bridget McKenzie declaring their intention to run, while former deputy prime minister Michael McCormack is also considering a bid. Littleproud said he was proud of his record shaping Coalition policy, including opposition to the Indigenous Voice and net-zero emissions targets. His departure follows party divisions and several high-profile defections that have fuelled concerns about the Nationals’ electoral prospects.

>>24367830 Matthew Canavan elected new Nationals leader after David Littleproud’s resignation - (Video) Queensland senator Matt Canavan has been elected leader of the Nationals following David Littleproud’s resignation, defeating NSW MP Kevin Hogan and Victorian senator Bridget McKenzie in a partyroom ballot. Canavan said his leadership would focus on rebuilding Australian industry, supporting coal-fired power and promoting what he called a “hyper-Australian” vision centred on national self-sufficiency. He argued coal remained the cheapest source of baseload energy and said proposals for new coal-fired power stations should be eligible for government underwriting. Canavan also suggested stronger trade measures could be needed to protect Australian manufacturing from subsidised Chinese imports. Victorian MP Darren Chester was elected deputy leader as the party prepares for what MPs described as a “mighty battle” with Labor, the teals and One Nation ahead of the next federal election.

>>24367838 Linda Reynolds ‘delighted’ as commonwealth ordered into mediation over Brittany Higgins settlement - Former Liberal senator Linda Reynolds has welcomed a court order requiring the Commonwealth to enter mediation over her lawsuit challenging the handling of Brittany Higgins’ $2.4 million settlement. Reynolds is suing the government and law firm HWL Ebsworth, alleging she was excluded from mediation discussions that led to the payout and that officials failed to properly defend allegations against her. Federal Court Justice Craig Colvin ordered the parties to undertake mediation before the case returns to court in June. Reynolds said the Commonwealth’s legal defence suggested it believed parliamentary regulations allowed it to settle claims without regard to her wishes or reputation. The dispute follows Reynolds’ defamation victories against Brittany Higgins and her husband David Sharaz over claims Reynolds mishandled the rape complaint.

>>24367856 Mining billionaire Clive Palmer re-enters politics with tilt at Queensland seat of Fadden - Mining billionaire Clive Palmer has announced a return to politics, declaring he will contest the Liberal-held Gold Coast seat of Fadden and revive the United Australia Party ahead of the next federal election. Palmer said he was motivated by what he described as a “national crisis” in Australian politics and insisted his campaign would focus on policy solutions rather than traditional left–right divisions. The 71-year-old had previously said he was too old for politics but told reporters improved health after losing weight had restored his energy. Palmer also pledged $10,000 to each member of the Iranian women’s football team who sought asylum in Australia following the Women’s Asian Cup controversy. His re-entry follows heavy spending on previous election campaigns that failed to secure lower-house representation.

#45 - Part 32

Australian Politics and Society - Part 2

>>24379408 Australia to turn WWII site on ‘valuable’ Indonesian island into training base - Australia and Indonesia have agreed to redevelop a World War II-era site on Morotai island into a joint military training base, deepening defence ties as regional tensions rise. Defence Minister Richard Marles said the facility would support land and sea exercises and strengthen interoperability between the two nations, with Indonesia also set to embed a senior officer within Australia’s 1st Brigade in Darwin. The strategically located island sits near the Philippines and key maritime routes, and the base may be opened to partners including Singapore and the Philippines. The move follows a new bilateral security treaty and reflects efforts by both countries to enhance regional cooperation amid China’s rise and uncertainty around US leadership.

>>24395459 Australia and European Union poised to sign trade deal - Australia and the European Union are nearing a long-delayed free trade agreement, with negotiations said to be in the “final stretch” and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expected in Australia as soon as next week to help seal the accord. Talks that collapsed in 2023 over access for Australian beef, sheep meat, dairy and sugar have regained momentum amid escalating global trade tensions and United States tariff action. Trade Minister Don Farrell said he was “confident we can do a deal”, while outstanding disputes over red meat access may be resolved at leader level between Anthony Albanese and von der Leyen. The package is also expected to cover issues including mobility arrangements for skilled professionals and possible changes to Australia’s luxury car tax, which European manufacturers say prices their vehicles out of the Australian market in favour of cheaper Chinese electric vehicles.

>>24411237 Exercise Kakadu 2026: Sydney Harbour hosts 31 international warships for navy anniversary - (Video) Sydney Harbour has hosted the largest gathering of international warships in more than a decade as the Royal Australian Navy marked its 125th anniversary with an Exercise Kakadu fleet review involving 31 ships from 19 countries. The ceremonial display began with ships entering the harbour early on Saturday and was set to include a formal review led by Governor-General Sam Mostyn, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, Defence Force chief Admiral David Johnston and Navy chief Vice Admiral Mark Hammond. Hammond said the event highlighted the depth of Australia’s regional partnerships and the importance of working together to maintain a secure maritime domain. The program also included an aerial display, a ceremonial gun salute and a historical flotilla procession later in the day.

>>24411247 Exercise Kakadu 2026 (KA26) - (Video) Exercise Kakadu is the Royal Australian Navy’s premier multinational maritime engagement exercise, conducted biennially to strengthen maritime security cooperation, enhance interoperability, and build partnerships across the Indo-Pacific. Exercise Kakadu 2026 (KA26), held 2-31 March, will involve more than 6,000 personnel from Australia and 18 partner nations, with activities conducted across northern and eastern Australia. Through multinational training, professional exchange and complex maritime scenarios, KA26 strengthens collective readiness and enhances the ability of maritime forces to operate together in demanding environments, supporting a region that is safe, secure and prosperous.

>>24411609 Labor’s Malinauskas secures second term in landslide despite significant One Nation surge - (Video) Peter Malinauskas has won a commanding second term in South Australia, with Labor on track to secure at least 32 of the 47 lower house seats despite a modest swing against the government’s primary vote. The result delivered one of Labor’s strongest mandates in the state’s history, while also exposing a fractured opposition as the Liberals collapsed and One Nation surged across regional and working-class areas, winning Hammond and strengthening its upper house presence. In his victory speech, Malinauskas urged a more generous and inclusive politics, saying diversity remained a source of strength and warning Labor not to mistake the result for “adulation”. Liberal leader Ashton Hurn conceded a “tough night”, while One Nation’s Cory Bernardi declared an “earthquake” had hit the major parties.

#45 - Part 33

Australian Politics and Society - Part 3

>>24411636 Coalition plans assault on One Nation’s credibility to avoid South Australia-style wipeout - Opposition Leader Angus Taylor is preparing a campaign to undermine One Nation’s credibility after the party’s surge in South Australia exposed the risk of a broader conservative collapse. Coalition figures have agreed they must directly challenge Pauline Hanson rather than pursue any right-wing alliance, with plans to highlight the economic damage of her zero-immigration policy and question the idea that One Nation could credibly govern. The move comes after South Australia’s election, where One Nation outpolled the Liberals on the primary vote, and ahead of the Farrer byelection, where the Coalition is expected to sharpen its anti-migration message while distinguishing itself from Hanson. Senior Liberals also want to pair attacks on One Nation with a clearer economic agenda, arguing voters still do not know what the Coalition stands for.

>>24411657 Albanese urges 'vigilance' against those seeking to 'turn back the clock' on Australia - (Video) Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has urged Australians to be “vigilant” against politicians seeking to “turn back the clock” on multiculturalism after One Nation overtook the Liberals in South Australia on a strongly anti-migration platform. Speaking at an event recognising Vietnamese Australians, Albanese said modern Australia had been enriched by migrants who had become integral to the nation’s workforce and community life, and warned against nostalgia for a less inclusive era. His intervention came as Barnaby Joyce defended One Nation’s demand for assimilation and argued cultural division risked social conflict. The debate has intensified amid broader tensions over migration, social cohesion and the war in Gaza, with Labor presenting multiculturalism as a national strength while critics argue migration levels have outpaced infrastructure and services.

>>24415993 EU leader touches down as PM hopes to land trade deal - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has arrived in Australia for a three-day visit expected to culminate in the signing of a long-delayed free trade agreement, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pushes to secure expanded access for Australian exporters to the European market. Von der Leyen met Governor-General Sam Mostyn in Sydney after landing on Monday, while Trade Minister Don Farrell and his European counterpart Maros Sefcovic continued talks on unresolved issues. Agriculture remains the main sticking point, with Australia seeking greater access for meat exports and Europe still protective of its farmers, while disputes over geographic names such as feta, parmesan and prosecco are also expected to be settled through compromise. Albanese said a deal would deepen a relationship already worth about $109 billion in two-way trade.

>>24420499 EU chief warns Australia of China threat as $10bn trade deal signed - (Video) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has warned Australia against over-reliance on China, declaring it a strategic imperative to “get China right” as she and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese finalised a $10 billion trade deal and new security partnership. Addressing federal parliament, von der Leyen said both Europe and Australia faced a “dangerous moment” shaped by global conflicts and economic shocks, including rising fuel costs linked to the Iran war. She cautioned that dependence on single suppliers could be weaponised, noting Europe’s experience with Russian energy and trade deficits with China. The agreement includes closer co-operation on critical minerals and defence industry capabilities, with von der Leyen saying “our security is your security” as both sides seek to strengthen resilience and diversify supply chains.

>>24420502 EU leader urges democracies to band together in 'upside down' world - (Video) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has warned democracies must unite in a “brutal, harsh and unforgiving” world that has been “turned upside down”, as she addressed Australia’s federal parliament. She said global instability, including conflicts and shifting alliances, meant nations like Australia and those in Europe could no longer rely on distance or old certainties. “The comfort blanket of yesterday is ripped away,” she said, urging a more independent and resilient strategic posture. Von der Leyen highlighted growing co-operation among authoritarian states and said democracies must respond in kind, declaring “when we stand side-by-side we are stronger”. She stressed the need to “get China right”, reduce economic dependencies, and deepen defence, energy and critical minerals co-operation under the new Australia-EU partnership.

#45 - Part 34

Australian Politics and Society - Part 4

>>24420508 Australian farmers slam ‘subpar’ EU trade deal for failing to deliver - (Video) Australian farmers have criticised the newly signed Australia-European Union free trade agreement as “extremely disappointing”, arguing it fails to deliver meaningful gains for agriculture despite years of negotiations. National Farmers’ Federation president Hamish McIntyre said the $10 billion deal lacked “commercially meaningful access” for key exports such as beef, dairy and sugar, warning producers would “pay the price… for decades to come”. Industry groups said modest quota increases still fell short of previous market access levels, while the EU continued to protect its own farmers through subsidies. Critics also warned the deal could undermine local industries, including forestry, due to increased competition from imports. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defended the agreement as a “very good deal”, highlighting expanded export quotas and broader economic benefits for Australian producers and consumers.

>>24443520 Dezi Freeman killed by police in Victoria's north-east after seven-month hunt - (Video) A man believed to be fugitive gunman Dezi Freeman has been shot dead by police following a three-hour stand-off in Victoria’s north-east, ending a months-long manhunt. Police surrounded a remote property near the Murray River early Monday before Freeman emerged and allegedly pointed a firearm, after which he was fatally shot. Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said officers gave “every opportunity” for a peaceful resolution and acted appropriately. Freeman had been on the run since the fatal shooting of two police officers in August, prompting one of the state’s largest search operations involving thousands of leads and extensive regional searches. Authorities said the outcome brings “closure” to a “tragic and terrible event”, though formal identification is still underway and investigations into the shooting will continue, including oversight by professional standards. Police said no officers were injured, the suspect was believed to be alone, and the investigation had examined more than 2,000 leads across difficult terrain over the past months.

>>24443533 Firearm found near Dezi Freeman’s shipping-container hideout - A firearm has been recovered near the site where police fatally shot suspected double cop killer Dezi Freeman, with images showing a discarded pistol beside his remote hideout in Victoria’s north-east. Police confirmed video captured Freeman emerging from a shipping-container structure and pointing a weapon at officers, prompting the fatal shooting after a prolonged stand-off. Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said the action removed any chance of a peaceful resolution, with officers given “every opportunity” to surrender. Investigators are examining whether the weapon belonged to one of the officers killed in August. Authorities believe Freeman was alone at the property, while the state coroner will oversee an independent investigation into the shooting as part of standard procedure.

>>24443543 How Dezi evaded cops and secretly moved 200km during seven-month manhunt, as police reveal “strong theory” - (Video) Police believe fugitive gunman Dezi Freeman likely received assistance to travel nearly 200 kilometres during a seven-month manhunt, as investigators examine how he evaded capture after allegedly killing two officers. Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said it would have been “very difficult” for Freeman to reach the remote property alone, with inquiries continuing into whether others harboured or supported him. Freeman was located in a container-style structure near Walwa before a fatal stand-off with police. Authorities had previously considered he may be dead, citing no confirmed sightings, but maintained multiple possibilities including survival in remote bushland. Experts said his ability to evade detection reflected “rat-like cunning”, while police continue investigating movements, support networks and the circumstances of his final location.

#45 - Part 35

Australian Politics and Society - Part 5

>>24429017 Broken Bay bishop Anthony Randazzo plucked by Pope Leo to become the Vatican’s top Aussie - Broken Bay Bishop Anthony Randazzo has been appointed by Pope Leo as Prefect of the Dicastery for Legislative Texts, elevating him to Archbishop and making him the most senior Australian resident in the Vatican. The surprise appointment places him at the centre of interpreting and applying canon law across the global Catholic Church. Randazzo, who studied canon law in Rome and previously served in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, will relocate within three months after a personal meeting with the Pope. He said he was “profoundly grateful” for the trust placed in him. The move signals a focus on rigorous legal interpretation within the Church and marks the highest-ranking Australian Vatican posting since Cardinal George Pell.

>>24447120 Five social media platforms investigated over compliance with under-16 ban - Five major social media platforms are under investigation for potential breaches of Australia’s under-16 ban, with authorities shifting toward enforcement after identifying compliance failures. Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube were flagged for “potential noncompliance”, including allowing repeated attempts to bypass age checks and failing to prevent banned users from creating new accounts. Communications Minister Anika Wells said “big tech needs to do better”, warning companies face significant penalties if they fail to meet legal obligations. eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said enforcement action would depend on evidence of systemic failures. A survey found many underage users remain active despite the ban, raising concerns about the effectiveness of safeguards as regulators prepare potential legal action.

>>24447126 Police vow to track down the people who helped Dezi Freeman - Police have pledged to pursue anyone who assisted fugitive gunman Dezi Freeman during his seven months on the run, following his fatal shooting in Victoria’s north-east. Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said it would have been “very difficult” for Freeman to travel nearly 200 kilometres without help, confirming investigators will examine who may have harboured or supported him. Authorities will question all individuals connected to the rural property where Freeman was found, seeking to determine how long he had been there and who provided assistance. Police warned anyone found complicit could face serious criminal charges, with potential penalties of up to 20 years’ imprisonment. The investigation continues alongside efforts to establish the full circumstances of Freeman’s movements and support network.

>>24447136 Eight snipers and a fatal choice: The high-stakes tactic that cornered Dezi Freeman - Police deployed specialist tactical units including at least eight snipers to end a three-hour stand-off with fugitive gunman Dezi Freeman at a remote property in Victoria’s north-east. Officers from the Special Operations Group surrounded the container-style hideout, using armoured vehicles and planning for multiple contingencies before attempting to negotiate a peaceful surrender. Police used non-lethal distraction devices to force Freeman from the structure after he refused repeated calls to surrender. Authorities said Freeman emerged armed and fired towards police, prompting snipers to open fire and fatally shoot him. The operation followed a seven-month manhunt after Freeman allegedly killed two police officers, with investigators now examining how he evaded capture and whether others assisted him.

>>24451108 US slams Australia’s streaming quotas, PBS in new list of trade grievances - The United States has escalated trade concerns with Australia, criticising local content rules for streaming services and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme in its latest annual trade report. The Trump administration said Australia’s requirement for streaming platforms to invest in local content could “distort” investment decisions, while raising objections to drug pricing policies that it claims undervalue American innovation. The report also highlighted declining US trade surpluses with Australia and flagged ongoing scrutiny of policies affecting technology and media companies. The Albanese government has acknowledged the concerns but indicated it will defend key policies, including the PBS, while continuing trade discussions with Washington. The formal inclusion of these issues signals continued pressure from the US in bilateral negotiations.

#45 - Part 36

Australian Politics and Society - Part 6

>>24451132 Secret IBAC probe into Dan Andrews and UFU nears release - Victoria’s anti-corruption watchdog is preparing to release findings from its long-running Operation Richmond investigation into dealings between former premier Dan Andrews and the United Firefighters Union. IBAC Commissioner Victoria Elliott said the report would be tabled by June 30, following a probe launched in 2019 into 2016 enterprise bargaining negotiations with the union. The investigation has examined allegations of corrupt conduct and the role of senior figures in securing a favourable agreement. Elliott acknowledged the inquiry had taken “too long” due to complex factors including court matters and the pandemic, with the report now in its natural justice phase. The release is expected to draw political attention ahead of the state election, as IBAC continues calls for expanded investigative powers.

>>24451143 Dezi Freeman’s final days and the clues that could lead police to his helpers - Police believe fugitive gunman Dezi Freeman relied on external support in his final days, as investigators examine evidence from his remote hideout in Victoria’s north-east following his death. Authorities found a makeshift camp with shipping containers, supplies and modifications suggesting multiple people may have assisted him. Freeman is believed to have moved to the site only weeks before being located, after months evading capture by living off the grid. Police used surveillance and tactical planning to confirm he was alone before initiating the final operation. Items recovered at the scene, including phones and equipment, are being analysed to identify potential accomplices. Investigators are focusing on how Freeman travelled, who supported him, and how he sustained himself during the seven-month manhunt.

>>24459142 Liam Alexander Hall may enter insanity plea over alleged terrorism act at Perth Invasion Day rally - A man accused of throwing a homemade explosive into a crowd at a Perth Invasion Day rally may argue he was not criminally responsible due to insanity, his lawyer has told a court. Liam Alexander Hall, 32, allegedly tossed a device filled with ball bearings and screws into a gathering of about 2,500 people in Forrest Place, in what was described as a “potential mass casualty event”, though it failed to detonate. His lawyer said a psychiatric report would be obtained ahead of a possible Section 27 defence, which applies where a mental condition prevents understanding of wrongdoing. Hall is the first person charged with a terrorist act in Western Australia and remains in custody, facing multiple serious offences linked to the incident.

>>24459199 Jayson Joseph Michaels: Alleged Perth terror plotter denied bail over ‘chilling’ mass casualty diary - (Video) A Western Australian court has denied bail to Jayson Joseph Michaels, accused of planning a “mass casualty” terrorist attack targeting a Perth mosque and other sites, citing the seriousness of the allegations and detailed material found in his possession. Magistrate Belinda Coleman said Michaels had not shown the “exceptional circumstances” required for release, describing a 19-page diary outlining a “day of justice” as “chilling” and indicative of intent. Prosecutors argued the writings detailed target selection, weapons research, logistics and escape planning, including disguising a vehicle as an ambulance, while also referencing other attacks. Defence counsel argued the material reflected “bigoted daydreams” and the “fantasy life” of a depressed and isolated young man, rather than a genuine plan. Michaels faces multiple terrorism-related and weapons charges.

>>24459234 Donald Trump slaps 100% tariff on pharmaceuticals, hitting Australian industry hard - (Video) The United States has imposed a 100 per cent tariff on imported pharmaceuticals, a move expected to disrupt Australian exports and strain trade relations despite assurances domestic medicine prices will remain unchanged. US President Donald Trump introduced the levy under national security powers, targeting patented medicines and linking it to broader efforts to pressure global drug pricing. Australia exported more than $US1.3 billion in pharmaceuticals to the US in 2025, with companies now facing uncertainty. Health Minister Mark Butler said the policy was “deeply disappointing” and “not the act of a friend”, but stressed the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme would shield Australian consumers from price increases. Industry groups warned the tariffs could impact exporters, while some firms with US manufacturing operations may secure exemptions or reduced levies under the new regime.

#45 - Part 37

Australian Politics and Society - Part 7

>>24459261 Butler ‘confident’ of CSL exemption as Australian drugs incur 100pc tariff - (Video) Australia’s pharmaceutical sector is facing disruption after the United States imposed a 100 per cent tariff on branded medicines, though the federal government says major exporter CSL is likely to secure an exemption. Health Minister Mark Butler said he was “confident” CSL would be largely shielded due to its US manufacturing footprint and the exemption of plasma-based therapies, while reiterating the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme would not be altered. The tariffs, introduced under US national security powers, apply at the highest rate to Australia despite lower deals struck with other countries. Industry groups warned of uncertainty for exporters and renewed calls for PBS reform, citing delays to new medicines. Butler described the move as “not the act of a friend” and said the government was pressing for the decision to be reversed.

>>24463097 Dezi Freeman associates arrested then released without charge - (Video) Two associates of Dezi Freeman have been arrested and released without charge as police continue investigating how the gunman evaded capture during a months-long manhunt. The man and woman were detained at separate properties in north-east Victoria before being freed pending further inquiries, with police confirming they were not family members. Authorities are seeking to identify who may have assisted Freeman while he was on the run for 216 days after killing two officers serving a warrant. Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said it was “very important” to determine who was “complicit in getting him here” and supporting him. Investigators are examining evidence including burner phones recovered from Freeman’s remote hideout, as potential charges for assisting an offender could carry significant prison terms.

>>24463109 Japan PM Takaichi plans Australia visit to discuss rare earths - Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is planning an official visit to Australia later this month to strengthen cooperation on critical minerals supply chains and regional security, including safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The trip, marking the first by a Japanese leader since 2022, coincides with the 50th anniversary of bilateral ties and reflects efforts to reduce reliance on China for rare earths. Australia’s capacity to supply key minerals is expected to be central to discussions, alongside defence cooperation such as joint training and naval capability, including Canberra’s planned adoption of Mogami-class frigates. Leaders are also set to advance the “free and open Indo-Pacific” framework, with broader regional diplomacy potentially extending to Southeast Asia as Japan deepens strategic partnerships.

>>24466566 Australia given fuel supply assurances as plans in works for visit by Japan's prime minister - Australia has secured assurances from Japan that fuel supplies will continue uninterrupted, as the government moves to shore up energy security amid disruption linked to the Strait of Hormuz crisis. Assistant Trade and Foreign Affairs Minister Matt Thistlethwaite said Japan had confirmed “normal supply will continue” following recent talks, alongside similar commitments from South Korea and Singapore. The development comes as Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi considers a visit to Australia to discuss fuel security, rare earths and regional conditions, though Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has not confirmed the trip. Australia remains heavily reliant on imported fuel, with reserves covering only limited weeks of demand — about 39 days of petrol, 29 days of diesel and 30 days of jet fuel — underscoring vulnerability as more than 50 shipments remain en route and diversification efforts continue.

>>24490964 Police hunt for Dezi Freeman’s network using fingerprints from killer’s hideout - (Video) Detectives investigating the death of alleged police killer Dezi Freeman are pursuing possible collaborators, using fingerprinting and DNA testing to identify individuals connected to his hideout near the Victorian-NSW border. Police have contacted associates and people linked to the site, seeking forensic samples to both identify suspects and exclude innocent parties, with evidence collected from the container where Freeman had been staying. Investigators are examining items including swimming gear, paddles and other equipment as they explore how Freeman may have moved through the area after the fatal shooting of two officers. Authorities have also been analysing the crime scene for signs of external assistance, while continuing surveillance and intelligence operations focused on Freeman’s network. The investigation remains ongoing as police work to determine whether others were involved in supporting him.

#45 - Part 38

Australian Politics and Society - Part 8

>>24494419 Anthony Albanese appoints Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, as new defence chief - (Video) Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has appointed Vice Admiral Mark Hammond as Chief of the Defence Force, alongside naming Lieutenant General Susan Coyle as the new Chief of Army, marking the first time a woman has led the service. Rear Admiral Matthew Buckley will become Chief of Navy, as part of a broader leadership reshuffle ahead of the release of a new defence strategy. The appointments come amid heightened regional tensions and ongoing global instability, with Hammond confirming the navy is capable of deploying assets to support international operations if requested. Albanese said the changes would strengthen Australia’s defence capability and leadership, while Defence Minister Richard Marles praised outgoing leaders for overseeing major reforms and strategic initiatives, including AUKUS and expanded international defence cooperation.

>>24494424 First woman to lead the army, navy chief now new head of defence force - (Video) Vice Admiral Mark Hammond will become Chief of the Defence Force in July following a senior leadership reshuffle, while Lieutenant General Susan Coyle has been appointed as Australia’s first female army chief. Hammond said the navy was “absolutely” capable of deploying a warship to the Strait of Hormuz if requested, highlighting current operational readiness, though no request has been made. Coyle’s appointment was described as a historic milestone, reflecting her extensive experience across operational and strategic roles. Defence Minister Richard Marles said the changes marked an important moment for the Australian Defence Force, while analysts noted Hammond’s close involvement in the AUKUS submarine program. Critics, however, warned the appointment could reinforce a continued focus on naval capability at the expense of broader reform priorities within defence planning.

>>24494445 OPINION: I served with the new army chief. I can confirm she has the right stuff - "With wars in Europe and the Middle East, and Chinese naval task groups operating closer to Australia, the familiar line that this is our most challenging strategic environment since World War II is starting to feel dated. We are certainly in a more dangerous period. That is the backdrop to today’s leadership announcements: Vice Admiral Mark Hammond as the next Chief of the Defence Force, Rear Admiral Matt Buckley as Chief of Navy, and Lieutenant General Susan Coyle as Chief of Army will lead the ADF through this. Coyle’s appointment stands out. Not just because she is the first woman to lead a service, but because she is the first Chief of Joint Capabilities to step into the role, bringing experience in cyber, space and the enabling elements of how the ADF fights. Coyle’s appointment is not about gender. But it is significant that she is the first woman to lead one of Australia’s armed services. It reflects not only her leadership, but the contribution of those who came before her … Lieutenant General Coyle’s experience as commander of information warfare and chief of joint capabilities also points to where the army is heading. As the first service chief to come from joint capabilities command, she brings a clear focus on integration, not just across the joint force, but with emerging technologies, particularly space and cyber. Today is a significant moment. Three officers have been appointed at a time when the world is becoming more dangerous, to lead the ADF and prepare Australia for what lies ahead. That task will not be easy, and they deserve our support." - Jennifer Parker, adjunct professor with the University of Western Australia Defence and Security Institute and non-resident fellow at the Lowy Institute. She served for more than 20 years as a warfare officer in the Royal Australian Navy - The Age

>>24498482 ALP learns war lessons: extra billions for drones - The Albanese government will boost defence spending on drones and counter-drone systems by an additional $2bn-$5bn as part of a new 10-year weapons investment plan shaped by lessons from conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. The strategy will increase total drone funding to between $12bn and $15bn, covering aerial, maritime and land-based unmanned systems, alongside investments in missile defence, guided weapons and domestic manufacturing. Defence Minister Richard Marles said recent conflicts had shown the importance of drones in delivering “significant asymmetric advantage” against more expensive platforms. The plan comes amid concerns the Australian Defence Force lacks sufficient capability for modern warfare, particularly in low-cost drone and missile systems. Critics have warned delays in delivering new capabilities risk leaving Australia exposed in the near term despite long-term investment commitments.

#45 - Part 39

Australian Politics and Society - Part 9

>>24498525 Angus Taylor targets non-violent migrants who quietly hate our freedoms - (Video) Opposition Leader Angus Taylor will unveil a tougher immigration policy targeting migrants who reject “Australian values”, proposing stricter visa rules, deportations and expanded screening powers. The plan includes prioritising housing and social security access for citizens, restoring temporary protection visas, and increasing scrutiny of visa applicants’ backgrounds, including social media checks. Taylor argues some migrants from non-liberal societies may be less likely to integrate, raising concerns about parallel legal systems and rejection of democratic principles. The policy also targets visa overstayers and proposes stronger enforcement across security agencies. The Coalition says the measures are needed to restore integrity to the migration system and reduce pressure on housing and infrastructure, while critics are expected to challenge the assumptions underpinning the approach.

>>24498549 Roblox reveals sweeping changes amid Australian crackdown - (Video) Gaming platform Roblox will introduce new age-based account systems and facial age-estimation technology to restrict children’s access to inappropriate content following regulatory pressure in Australia. The changes include “Roblox Kids” and “Roblox Select” tiers, limiting younger users to curated games and restricting chat functions, while older users gain broader access based on estimated age. The overhaul follows scrutiny from eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant over concerns about grooming and harmful content, with potential penalties flagged for non-compliance. Roblox said the measures are part of a long-term safety strategy, though regulators are continuing their investigation. The company will also introduce formal age classifications and stricter developer requirements, as authorities assess whether the new safeguards adequately protect young users on the platform.

>>24505940 Australia-Papua New Guinea Pukpuk treaty faces challenges, PNG soldiers confined to barracks amid unrest - Papua New Guinea has confined military personnel to barracks for a month after unrest linked to nepotism and fraud allegations forced Defence Minister Billy Joseph to step aside, as Australia prepares to ratify the Pukpuk treaty. PNG Defence Force chief Philip Polewara ordered bases closed and access to weapons restricted after soldiers set up roadblocks in Port Moresby and others in Lae defied orders demanding Joseph’s arrest. Prime Minister James Marape, now overseeing defence, warned misconduct would not be tolerated, stressing “discipline is the foundation” of the force. The crisis follows claims of recruitment “irregularities” involving fake documents, which Joseph denies. Australia will support an inquiry and deepen defence ties under the treaty, though analysts warn standards have declined, while supporters argue the partnership is vital as PNG faces internal instability.

>>24512128 Angus Taylor hits back after Paul Keating accuses him of embracing ‘racism’ over migration policy - Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has rejected claims by former prime minister Paul Keating that his immigration policy reflects “racism”, saying the criticism shows Keating is “out of touch with Australians”. Keating accused Taylor of echoing the “dumb bigotry” of One Nation and abandoning the Liberal Party’s “best instincts”, while also criticising former prime minister John Howard’s past migration stance. Taylor responded that prioritising “Australian values” was not racist, arguing “immigration numbers are too high” and standards “too low”. The Coalition policy includes deporting migrants who fail to meet national values, tracking 65,000 expired visa holders and expanding social media screening. Keating warned the approach was “at primary odds with an immigrant nation” and likened it to “Trump ICE-style policies”, as political tensions escalate over migration settings.

>>24512238 Australia banks on Ghost Bat and Ghost Shark in drone warfare shift - (Video) Australia will invest $12–15 billion in drone and counter-drone technologies over the next decade, as Defence Minister Richard Marles says modern conflicts show autonomous systems are “central to how war happens”. The strategy centres on the MQ-28A Ghost Bat, an Australian-built uncrewed aircraft designed to operate alongside fighter jets, and the Ghost Shark, an extra-large autonomous underwater vehicle capable of surveillance and strike operations. Officials say the systems provide a “force multiplier” and extend reach without risking personnel, though experts note the Ghost Bat remains relatively costly compared to cheaper drones used in Ukraine and the Middle East. Analysts welcomed the shift but cautioned that greater investment in smaller, mass-produced drones may be needed.

#45 - Part 40

Australian Politics and Society - Part 10

>>24515545 Australia and Japan seal $10 billion warship deal with 3 Mogami frigates ordered first - (Video) Australia and Japan have signed a $10 billion deal for a new fleet of Mogami-class frigates, with the first three to be built in Japan and delivered within three years as part of a major naval upgrade. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will construct the initial vessels, while a further eight are planned to be built in Western Australia. Defence Minister Richard Marles said the acquisition would deliver a “larger and more lethal surface combat fleet” at the fastest pace ever for the Royal Australian Navy, with the first ship due in 2029. The vessels will replace ageing ANZAC-class frigates and feature advanced missile systems and reduced crew requirements. Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said the agreement marked a “major step” in defence cooperation, strengthening ties as both nations deepen strategic alignment.

>>24523341 Fiji drug kingpin Jone Vakarisi ‘beaten to death’ on Aussie-linked military base - A death in custody at Fiji’s main military barracks has become a murder investigation after alleged drug kingpin Jone Vakarisi was found to have suffered fatal blunt force injuries, contradicting initial claims of a “medical emergency”. Authorities said the 36-year-old died during questioning at Queen Elizabeth Barracks in Suva, where Australian Defence Force personnel are also stationed, though none are believed to have been involved. The incident has raised concerns about the conduct of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, with family members alleging Vakarisi was taken from his home and beaten. The case comes amid deepening defence ties between Australia and Fiji and growing scrutiny over drug trafficking networks in the Pacific, as calls mount for an independent investigation into the circumstances of his death.

>>24523351 Australia pledges up to $7bn for counter-drone defences - The federal government will invest up to $7 billion over the next decade in counter-drone capabilities, as it seeks to address a key weakness in the Australian Defence Force exposed by modern conflicts. Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said drones and counter-drones had become the “modern face of warfare”, prompting a shift in spending priorities after lessons from Ukraine and the Middle East. The plan effectively doubles previous funding, with an initial $30 million allocated to Australian firms to develop interceptor drones and laser systems. Officials say the aim is to counter low-cost drones more efficiently, reducing reliance on expensive missile systems. Analysts welcomed the move but said Australia had been slow to respond and questioned transparency around funding, warning the balance between drone and counter-drone investment may still be inadequate.

>>24526195 Gaming giants Roblox and Fortnite put on notice over extremist fears - (Video) Major gaming platforms including Roblox, Minecraft, Fortnite and Steam have been issued legally enforceable notices by Australia’s eSafety Commissioner over concerns they are being used to groom children and spread extremist content. Julie Inman Grant warned “predatory adults” were targeting platforms with a “critical mass” of young users, citing evidence of grooming, cyberbullying and games glorifying terrorism, Nazi imagery and mass violence. Companies must now explain how they are mitigating risks such as child sexual exploitation, radicalisation and online abuse, with penalties for non-compliance. Authorities said millions of children use these platforms, making them attractive targets for offenders, while also raising concerns about linked messaging services used to contact minors. The move aims to force stronger safeguards and transparency across the gaming sector.

>>24526238 Fiji military in about-face as gangster’s death at Aussie-linked base becomes murder probe - Fiji’s military has reversed its initial account of drug figure Jone Vakarisi’s death, as police launch a murder investigation into allegations he was beaten while in custody at a Suva barracks shared with Australian personnel. Republic of Fiji Military Forces commander Ro Jone Kalouniwai had described the death as a “medical emergency”, but a post-mortem found severe blunt force injuries to the head and chest, prompting authorities to reclassify the case. The incident has sparked a political and security scandal, raising concerns in Canberra given close defence ties, though no Australian personnel are believed to be involved. Family members dispute claims Vakarisi attended voluntarily, alleging he was forcibly taken, as officials pledge a “thorough” investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

#45 - Part 41

Australian Politics and Society - Part 11

>>24533754 From Gallipoli to today: How Australia and New Zealand remember Anzac Day in 2026 - (Video) Australians and New Zealanders will gather at dawn on April 25 to mark Anzac Day, continuing a century-old tradition of remembrance while reflecting evolving perspectives on service and national history. Commemorations will include Dawn Services, marches, gunfire breakfasts and community rituals, alongside growing recognition of previously under-represented groups, including Indigenous service members and female veterans. The day also reflects the shared history of the two nations, forged during the Gallipoli campaign and reinforced through subsequent conflicts. Attention this year includes Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith, who is expected to attend while on bail, describing Anzac Day as “sacred”. Veterans such as Shirley Harris, now 100, reflect on service and loss, saying the day remains focused on those who “didn’t come back” and the enduring meaning of sacrifice.

>>24533785 French town where war dead are not forgotten - The northern French town of Villers-Bretonneux continues to honour thousands of Australian soldiers killed in the First World War, with annual Anzac Day ceremonies reinforcing a lasting connection between the two nations. The Australian National Memorial commemorates more than 10,000 Australians with no known grave, while meticulously maintained cemeteries reflect the scale of loss among a generation that “never came back”. Each year, visitors gather at dawn as names are read and wreaths laid, before the site returns to quiet stillness. Local residents help preserve the memory, with the town embracing the fallen as its own and affirming “N’oublions jamais l’Australie” - “let us never forget Australia”. The commemorations highlight both the enduring bond and the human cost of war across generations.

>>24533803 ADF | Chief of the Defence Force ANZAC Day Address 2026 - (Video) "On Anzac Day, we mark the landings at Gallipoli of Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) soldiers in 1915 and commemorate all Australian personnel who served and died in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations. We reflect on their courage, discipline and self-sacrifice. The Anzac spirit lives on in the hearts and minds of all Australians as we acknowledge the courage and sacrifice of those who contributed so much to shaping the identity of our nation. Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel across Australia and serving around the world will commemorate Anzac Day through dawn services and commemorative services. In Australia, ADF personnel will support the Australian War Memorial services as well as services in each capital city and in dozens of smaller cities and towns. Overseas, ADF personnel will also support services at Gallipoli in Türkiye, Villers-Bretonneux in France, as well as services across the Indo-Pacific." - Defence Australia

>>24533816 ADF | Anzac Day message from deployed personnel - (Video) Anzac Day is a time to remember, reflect, and honour those who have served, past and present. From Gallipoli to today's operations overseas, the Anzac spirit endures. ''Lest we forget.'' - Defence Australia

#45 - Part 42

Australian Politics and Society - Part 12

>>24533827 Anzac Day 2026 LIVE: National Dawn Service - Official Broadcast - Join us as we go LIVE from around Australia for Anzac Day 2026, including the National Commemorative Service in Canberra. This stream will include the following services: Sydney Dawn Service (4:19am to 5:30am AEST), Canberra Dawn Service (5:30am to 6am AEST), Melbourne Dawn Service (6am to 6:30am AEST), Adelaide Dawn Service (6:30am to 7:30am AEST). - ABC Australia

>>24533833 Anzac Day 2026 LIVE: Gallipoli & Villers-Bretonneux Services - Official Broadcast - Join us as we go LIVE from the Gallipoli and Villers-Bretonneux dawn services on Anzac Day 2026. - ABC Australia

>>24533845 ANZAC Day 2026 Melbourne Dawn Service - Watch the 2026 Melbourne Dawn Service at the Shrine of Remembrance. The Service will commence at 5.30am. In solemn tradition, we gather to commemorate those who served and died in defence of Australia. The service is held at dawn to coincide with the time of the Gallipoli landing in 1915 - the first major military action by Australian and New Zealand forces (ANZACs) during the First World War. The event includes recitations, hymns, wreath-laying and an address by the Governor of Victoria. - ShrineMelbourne

>>24533854 Anzac Day 2026 March & Commemoration Service - Watch the live stream of the Anzac Day March and Commemoration Service. Honour and recognise those who have served and who currently serve in defence of Australia and its interests. The march commences in Swanston Street (near Federation Square) along St Kilda Road to the Shrine of Remembrance. The march is normally complete by midday, and is followed by a commemoration service at the Shrine of Remembrance. - ShrineMelbourne

>>24533861 Video: The Last Post - Anzac Day 2026 - "They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them." Lest We Forget.

#45 - Part 43

Australian Politics and Society - Part 13

>>24536189 Two women charged with allegedly vandalising RSL on Anzac Day - (Video) Two women have been charged after allegedly defacing a Melbourne RSL ahead of Anzac Day dawn services, as police investigate a series of vandalism incidents targeting war memorials and veterans’ venues across the city. Police allege the pair spray-painted the Heidelberg RSL before being arrested nearby, while other sites including Reservoir, Fawkner and Port Melbourne were also targeted with anti-military graffiti and red paint. Messages included “kill the troops”, “death to ADF” and “death to Australia”. Veterans’ groups and political leaders condemned the incidents as “disgraceful” and “cowardly”, while ceremonies proceeded with strong attendance despite the damage. Investigations are continuing into multiple incidents, including vandalism of memorials in Port Melbourne and Moonee Ponds in the lead-up to Anzac Day.

>>24536218 Marco Rubio pays tribute to Anzac Day in a message of unity - (Video) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has paid tribute to the Anzacs in a message of unity. The US Secretary of State called the valour demonstrated in Gallipoli an “inspiration for generations”. Mr Rubio also expressed gratitude for all who have served. - Sky News Australia

>>24536218 PRESS STATEMENT: Anzac Day - "On behalf of the United States of America, I am honored to join the people of Australia and New Zealand in commemorating Anzac Day on April 25. As we mark the 111th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings, we pay tribute to the Anzac forces who answered the call of duty. The valor demonstrated at Gallipoli has been an inspiration for generations and exemplifies the courage and selflessness of those who served and continue to serve. As we reflect on this solemn day, we honor the memory of the fallen, express gratitude for all who have served, and reaffirm our shared commitment to the values and partnerships that unite us." - MARCO RUBIO, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE - APRIL 24, 2026

>>24536239 Prime Minister joins thousands gathered at Australian War Memorial to commemorate Anzac Day - (Video) Tens of thousands gathered before dawn at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra to mark the 111th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese among those attending the national Anzac Day service. The ceremony featured a didgeridoo performance by Wiradjuri man and Flight Lieutenant James Evans before wreaths were laid by Australian and New Zealand representatives. Royal Australian Air Force Flying Officer Kbora Ali delivered the commemorative address, reflecting on her family’s escape from Afghanistan and her later decision to join the military. She linked the sacrifices of modern service personnel to the “legacy and sacrifices” of the Anzacs. The day’s commemorations also included an Indigenous service, smoking ceremony and veterans’ march through Canberra.

>>24536485 Boos mar Melbourne’s Anzac Day dawn service - (Video) Booing during a Welcome to Country and anti-Anzac graffiti at several Melbourne RSLs disrupted Anzac Day commemorations in Victoria, prompting condemnation from political leaders, veterans’ groups and attendees. About 55,000 people gathered at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance, where Bunurong elder Mark Brown’s Welcome to Country was repeatedly jeered by a small group linked to former members and associates of the disbanded neo-Nazi National Socialist Network. Many in the crowd applauded in response to drown out the disruption. Overnight vandalism targeting RSLs in Reservoir, Heidelberg and Fawkner included slogans such as “kill the troops” and “f*ck Anzacs”, with two women charged over alleged graffiti offences. Despite the incidents, ceremonies proceeded with large crowds and messages of remembrance, unity and respect for veterans and their families.

#45 - Part 44

Australian Politics and Society - Part 14

>>24536548 Booing during Welcome to Country at Melbourne, Sydney and Perth Anzac Day services draws condemnation - (Video) Booing and heckling during Welcome to Country ceremonies at Anzac Day services in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth have drawn widespread condemnation from political leaders, veterans and attendees. Disruptions occurred during addresses by Indigenous elders at dawn services, with some crowd members jeering while others applauded to drown out the noise. Defence Minister Richard Marles described the behaviour as “deeply disgraceful”, while Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan called it “bastardry”. RSL leaders said the incidents disrespected veterans and overshadowed a day intended for remembrance and reflection. Police investigated disturbances at several events, including one arrest in Sydney and move-on notices issued in Perth. Attendees said the crowd response in support of speakers reflected the broader spirit of respect and unity that characterised the commemorations.

>>24536578 Standing and applauding:Incredible scenes at Collingwood and Essendon clash after Anzac Dawn Services around Australia marred- (Video) Tens of thousands of AFL fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground applauded and cheered throughout a Welcome to Country before the Anzac Day clash between Collingwood and Essendon, contrasting with booing that disrupted dawn services in several Australian cities earlier in the day. Wurundjeri elder Uncle Colin Hunter Jr received a standing ovation from the crowd of almost 100,000 before delivering his address and paying tribute to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and military personnel who served Australia. Supporters online described the moment as “moving” and praised the atmosphere of “mutual respect”. The response followed disruptions during Welcome to Country ceremonies at Anzac Day services in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth, where Indigenous speakers were heckled by sections of the crowd during commemorations.

>>24536645 ‘War never solves anything’: Veterans honoured across Australia on Anzac Day - Thousands gathered across Australia for Anzac Day commemorations marking the 111th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings, with veterans, political leaders and families attending dawn services, marches and memorial events. Second World War veteran Roy Pearson, 99, reflected that “war never solves anything”, while other veterans spoke of remembrance, sacrifice and military service. Ceremonies in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth were disrupted by booing during Indigenous acknowledgments and Welcome to Country addresses, drawing condemnation from political leaders and veterans’ organisations. In Sydney, a 24-year-old man was arrested over an alleged disturbance at the Martin Place service. Despite the disruptions, large crowds attended commemorations nationwide, with attendees describing the ceremonies as “moving” and focused on honouring Australians who served and those who never returned from war.

>>24536678 How a tin of bully beef sparked a truce between enemies at Gallipoli - A brief truce between Australian and Turkish soldiers at Gallipoli was sparked by a tin of bully beef thrown across enemy lines, according to the family of Major Leslie George Fussell. Stationed at Quinn’s Post in 1915 amid constant bomb attacks, Major Fussell reportedly tossed the food tin towards Turkish trenches before receiving tobacco and a note in return reading: “Thank you for the meat.” Shortly afterwards, a Turkish soldier reportedly called out “we are not your enemy”, allowing Australian troops to recover the bodies of dead comrades from the parapet before fighting resumed. Major Fussell later served on the Western Front and received the Military Cross for bravery at Pozieres. His son Douglas said the story remained deeply significant to his family and reflected the enduring meaning of Anzac Day.

>>24540678 Trump shooting: Suspect ‘armed with guns and knives’ charged after shots fired at presidential dinner - (Video) US President Donald Trump was rushed from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington after an armed man allegedly charged towards the ballroom and shots were fired near a security checkpoint. Authorities said the suspect, identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of California, was carrying firearms and knives before being taken into custody. No attendees were injured, although a Secret Service agent was struck in a bulletproof vest and later released from hospital. Guests at the event, including journalists and political figures, took cover as security agents evacuated Trump, Vice President JD Vance and First Lady Melania Trump from the venue. Trump later said he believed he had been the intended target and vowed the annual dinner would continue despite the incident.

#45 - Part 45

Australian Politics and Society - Part 15

>>24540744 Donald Trump evacuated from Washington dinner as ‘shooter’ arrested - (Video) US President Donald Trump was evacuated from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington after a man allegedly armed with firearms and knives stormed a security checkpoint and opened fire near the ballroom. Authorities identified the suspect as 31-year-old Cole Thomas Allen of California, who was taken into custody and is expected to face multiple charges. A Secret Service officer was struck in a bulletproof vest but was not seriously injured. Guests, including senior US officials and journalists, took cover under tables as security agents rushed Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and Vice President JD Vance from the event. Trump later praised Secret Service officers for acting “quickly and bravely” and said the annual dinner would be rescheduled despite the incident.

>>24540768 Trump shooting: Anthony Albanese speaks out following Donald Trump’s attempted shooting in Washington - Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and other world leaders have expressed relief after US President Donald Trump was safely evacuated following a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington. Albanese praised the “swift action” of the US Secret Service and law enforcement agencies after an armed man allegedly stormed a security checkpoint near the event attended by about 2500 guests. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said “political violence has no place in any democracy”, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was “shocked” by the attempted assassination. British ambassador Christian Turner also commended the “professional response” of security personnel. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were unharmed, while a Secret Service officer injured during the incident was later released from hospital.

>>24544711 ‘Sitting ducks’: Hastie says overreliance on US has weakened Australia - (Video) Opposition industry and sovereign capability spokesman Andrew Hastie says Australia has become overly dependent on the United States for defence and must rebuild its own military and industrial capacity to strengthen the ANZUS alliance. In a speech at the Robert Menzies Institute, the former SAS soldier argued Australia had “outsourced” its security to the US over decades, weakening sovereign defence capabilities and strategic independence. Hastie warned the navy had not kept pace with missile and drone technology and said Australian forces could become “sitting ducks” without close US support in a major conflict. He also pointed to the US-Israeli war on Iran and global fuel instability as evidence Australia needed stronger domestic energy security, including expanded oil drilling and refining capability.

>>24544728 Australia’s long wait for a US ambassador just took a new turn - Australia’s prolonged wait for a permanent United States ambassador is set to continue, with acting embassy chief Erika Olson expected to leave Canberra in coming months without a replacement yet announced by President Donald Trump. Olson, who has served as Charge d’Affaires since former ambassador Caroline Kennedy departed after Trump’s election victory in late 2024, is reportedly moving to another diplomatic posting. The continued vacancy has fuelled concerns about strains in the Australia-US alliance amid disputes over tariffs, Iran and defence expectations, although analysts say long ambassadorial delays are common under the Trump administration. A White House official said a nomination was expected “soon”, while Republican congressman Michael McCaul has been discussed as a possible candidate. More than 100 US ambassadorial positions worldwide reportedly remain vacant.

>>24548222 Donald Trump taps Tea Party conservative David Brat as US ambassador to Australia - (Video) US President Donald Trump has nominated former Republican congressman David Brat as the next United States ambassador to Australia, ending a 15-month vacancy in the diplomatic role. Brat, a conservative economist and former Tea Party figure, rose to prominence after defeating senior Republican Eric Cantor in a shock 2014 primary upset widely seen as an early sign of the political movement that later fuelled Trump’s rise. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia would work constructively with “whoever is determined to be the ambassador”, while Foreign Minister Penny Wong welcomed the nomination and reaffirmed the importance of the alliance. Brat previously backed Trump’s agenda in Congress and campaigned strongly on border security, fiscal conservatism and opposition to “crony capitalism”. His appointment remains subject to US Senate confirmation.

#45 - Part 46

Australian Politics and Society - Part 16

>>24555726 Man accused of booing at Anzac Day dawn service Welcome to Country in Sydney identified - (Video) A 24-year-old man accused of booing during the Welcome to Country at Sydney’s Anzac Day dawn service has defended his actions after being identified by media three days after the event. Police allege Eli Toby was involved in disruptions during the Martin Place ceremony that prompted widespread condemnation from political leaders, veterans and attendees. Speaking outside his parents’ home near Penrith, Toby said he was “not sorry for it” and argued he “should be able to say what I like”. The report also noted he had attended a neo-Nazi rally outside Parliament House last year. Witnesses at the dawn service described the disruption as “appalling” and distressing, while the incident has intensified broader public debate over Welcome to Country ceremonies and acknowledgments at national commemorative events.

>>24555802 Eli Toby: Man accused of booing Welcome to Country at the Anzac Day dawn service - A 24-year-old man accused of booing during the Welcome to Country at Sydney’s Anzac Day dawn service has been publicly identified after being confronted by a television reporter outside his family home near Penrith. Police allege Eli Toby was part of a group that disrupted the Martin Place ceremony during an address by Indigenous elder Uncle Ray Minniecon. Toby defended his actions, claiming the Welcome to Country was “not right” and saying he was “not sorry for it”. The incident drew widespread condemnation from political leaders, veterans and attendees, with Opposition Leader Angus Taylor describing the behaviour as “inappropriate and un-Australian”. NSW Police said Toby was charged with committing a nuisance at a war memorial and is due to appear in court in June.

>>24556563 Australia to sell fleet of Bushmasters to Netherlands, locks in commitment to build 268 more for itself - (Video) Australia will supply Bushmaster armoured vehicles to the Netherlands while committing $1.2 billion to build 268 additional Bushmasters for the Australian Army, alongside upgrades to Hawkei vehicles and military trucks. Defence Minister Richard Marles said the Australian-made Bushmaster and Hawkei were regarded as “world-leading protected mobility vehicles” and confirmed most new production would remain with the Australian Defence Force. The investment will sustain production at Thales’ Bendigo facility until 2033 and support hundreds of defence industry jobs. Some Bushmasters will also be adapted for the StrikeMaster project, which mounts Naval Strike Missiles capable of targeting enemy ships and land positions at long range. Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said future variants could include laser-based systems designed to destroy drones.

>>24556743 eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant stares down abuse, death threats - Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant says regulators facing intense online abuse may require security protections similar to those provided to politicians, after enduring widespread threats linked to the government’s social media restrictions for children. Inman Grant said billionaire Elon Musk publicly labelled her a “censorship commissar” following the announcement of Australia’s social media age limits, triggering tens of thousands of hostile posts, including alleged death threats, doxxing and deepfakes targeting her and her family. Speaking with former prime minister Julia Gillard, she said much of the abuse was “gendered” and designed to intimidate women in leadership roles. Despite the attacks, Inman Grant said the experience had strengthened her resolve, arguing that attempts to silence regulators only made her “dig in” further on online safety reforms.

>>24556785 Multinational Forces Validate Defensive Readiness During Exercise Balikatan 2026 - More than 500 military personnel from the United States, Philippines, Australia and New Zealand have conducted a large-scale counter-landing live-fire exercise during Exercise Balikatan 2026, simulating the defence of a beachhead against an amphibious assault. Forces coordinated missile systems, fighter aircraft, mortars, machine guns and anti-armour weapons through a combined multinational command structure designed to integrate intelligence, surveillance and real-time targeting. Australian troops from the 5th/7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, joined Philippine, US and New Zealand forces in what organisers described as the first four-nation counter-landing live-fire event held during Balikatan. Philippine military spokesman Colonel Dennis Hernandez said the exercise strengthened “precision, speed and overwhelming coordination”, while Australian commander Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Woolmer said the training reinforced “shoulder-to-shoulder” co-operation between allied forces.

#45 - Part 47

Australian Politics and Society - Part 17

>>24556959 Hegseth notes Australia’s defence spending hike, says there’s more to do - US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has welcomed Australia’s planned increase in military spending but signalled Washington expects further commitments before Canberra is regarded as a leading Indo-Pacific ally. In testimony to Congress, Hegseth praised Australia’s latest National Defence Strategy and support for AUKUS while emphasising the Trump administration’s focus on “burden sharing” among allies. He pointed to South Korea and Japan as examples of nations sharply increasing defence investment, while Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby said the United States wanted “partners - not dependencies”. Australia recently announced plans to raise defence spending to 3 per cent of gross domestic product by 2033, although the Trump administration has previously pushed for a higher 3.5 per cent target. Hegseth also revealed the US campaign in Iran had cost at least $US25 billion.

>>24556964 Japan’s first female Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to visit Australia as fuel security talks intensify - Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will visit Australia next week for talks with Anthony Albanese as both nations confront mounting fuel security concerns linked to the Iran conflict and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. The visit, Takaichi’s first to Australia since taking office, coincides with Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s regional diplomacy campaign aimed at securing reliable fuel and fertiliser supplies from key Asian partners. Albanese said Australia and Japan shared “strong strategic alignment” and highlighted the importance of maintaining stable trade and investment ties. Australia exports significant quantities of liquefied natural gas, coal and iron ore to Japan, while Japan supplies large volumes of diesel to Australia. Wong is expected to stress the need for uninterrupted two-way trade and energy flows during discussions across the region.

>>24561233 Australia in talks over latest US proposal to open Strait of Hormuz, but PM says 'no determination' made - (Video) Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Australia is discussing a United States-led proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but “no determination” has been made on military support. The Trump administration is seeking allied participation in a “Maritime Freedom Construct” to restore commercial shipping and freedom of navigation after conflict disrupted the key waterway. Mr Albanese said Australia was engaging privately with the United States and partners including the United Kingdom and France, while stressing the government wanted “de-escalation” and “peace in the region”. Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed Australia had been briefed on the proposal and was considering options after already providing “defensive and diplomatic support”. United States Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth also renewed calls for greater allied defence contributions and stronger co-operation through the Australia-United Kingdom-United States (AUKUS) partnership.

>>24566300 Fiji considers state of emergency over drugs and gangs as police and military crackdown ramps up - Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says the country could enter a state of emergency as police and military forces expand a nationwide crackdown on drug gangs and organised crime networks. Joint checkpoints have been established across Fiji amid growing concern the country is becoming a gateway for cartels targeting Australian and New Zealand markets. The proposal has triggered unease because former prime minister Frank Bainimarama previously used emergency powers during military rule. The crackdown follows the suspected murder of alleged underworld figure Jone Vakarisi during military interrogation, with Fiji police now treating the death as homicide after reports of traumatic injuries contradicted the military’s original account. Human rights groups and some commentators have questioned the military’s role in policing operations and warned against possible overreach and restrictions on civil liberties.

#45 - Part 48

Australian Politics and Society - Part 18

>>24566687 Saved by the bell: How the King charmed Trump and elevated Australia - King Charles III’s visit to Washington has been hailed by foreign policy analysts as a diplomatic success after he used a White House state dinner to reinforce support for the Australia-United Kingdom-United States (AUKUS) partnership and strengthen ties with President Donald Trump. During the visit, the King presented Mr Trump with the bell from HMS Trump, a British-made submarine later attached to an Australian squadron, describing it as an “AUKUS predecessor”. The symbolic gesture drew praise from supporters of the trilateral security pact in Washington. The visit also coincided with the Trump administration nominating former Republican congressman David Brat as United States ambassador to Australia, while continuing pressure on Canberra over defence spending targets, technology regulation and tariffs affecting American companies operating in Australia and broader bilateral strategic co-operation efforts.

>>24569442 Alleged Anzac Day hecklers face court over 2025 Shrine of Remembrance booing - Four men accused of disrupting Melbourne’s 2025 Anzac Day Dawn Service have faced court, with witnesses describing the alleged booing and heckling as “disgusting” and deeply disrespectful. Jacob Hersant, Nathan Bull, Michael Nelson and Ballarat dentist Ian Lomax are contesting charges including offensive behaviour and breaches of the Shrine of Remembrance Regulations Act. Prosecutors told the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court the disruptions began during a Welcome to Country delivered by elder Mark Brown, with yelling and booing allegedly audible across the crowd. Witnesses said attendees repeatedly urged the men to “show respect” during the ceremony. Mr Hersant, Mr Bull and Mr Nelson, identified in court as white supremacists, are representing themselves and plan to argue the case involves “political communication”. Prosecutors are expected to call up to 12 witnesses during the five-day hearing.

>>24569445 Jacob Hersant, Nathan Bull, Michael Nelson, Ian Lomax: Quartet accused of offensive behaviour at 2025 Anzac Day Dawn Service - Retiree Nigel Meinrath has told a Melbourne court he was “disgusted” by alleged disruptions during the 2025 Anzac Day Dawn Service at the Shrine of Remembrance, where four men are accused of offensive behaviour and breaching shrine regulations. Jacob Hersant, Nathan Bull, Michael Nelson and Ian Lomax allegedly booed and yelled slogans during a Welcome to Country delivered by elder Mark Brown and later during remarks by Victorian Governor Margaret Gardner. Prosecutors said some statements referenced “white Australians” and opposition to the ceremony. Witnesses told the court attendees repeatedly asked the men to “show respect” during the service. Mr Hersant, Mr Bull and Mr Nelson are representing themselves and intend to argue their conduct involved protected “political communication”, while Mr Lomax denies engaging in conduct amounting to the alleged offences.

>>24569450 Sanae Takaichi visit: Japan's PM arrives in Australia to discuss China and energy security - (Video) Former senior defence official Richard Gray says Australia should consider leasing submarines from Japan as a fallback option if the Australia-United Kingdom-United States (AUKUS) nuclear submarine program encounters major delays or capability gaps. The proposal comes as Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrives in Canberra for talks with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese focused on energy security, critical minerals and China’s regional influence. Mr Gray said Japan’s modern diesel-electric submarine fleet could provide Australia with an interim sovereign capability if problems emerge with the Collins-class extension program or planned United States Virginia-class acquisitions. Former Japanese ambassador Shingo Yamagami urged Australia and Japan to “speak with one voice” in the Indo-Pacific amid concerns the Trump administration’s focus on Iran could create a regional “power vacuum” that China may seek to exploit.

#45 - Part 49

Australian Politics and Society - Part 19

>>24569454 Japan to test more advanced weaponry in Australia as ‘quasi allies’ deepen co-operation - (Video) Japan and Australia have agreed to deepen defence co-operation, including expanded testing of advanced weapons systems in Australia, during talks between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Canberra. A joint statement identified “testing of new equipment, advanced weapons and emerging technologies” as a priority as both nations strengthen military ties amid regional security concerns linked to China. Ms Takaichi described the relationship as operating at a level comparable to “quasi-allies”, while Mr Albanese said the countries had “never been more strategically aligned”. The discussions also covered energy security, critical minerals and cybersecurity co-operation. Separately, former defence official Richard Gray urged Australia to consider leasing Japanese diesel-electric submarines if the AUKUS nuclear submarine program faces delays, although Foreign Minister Penny Wong reaffirmed Canberra remained committed to AUKUS.

>>24576525 Man charged with hate speech after neo-Nazi rally outside NSW Parliament House - Neo-Nazi Joel Davis has been charged with publicly inciting racial hatred after speaking at a National Socialist Network rally outside NSW Parliament House in November 2025. More than 60 black-clad demonstrators attended the protest, chanting “blood and honour” and displaying banners targeting the Jewish community. Police allege Davis used a megaphone to spread offensive conspiracy theories during the gathering. The charge was laid under relatively new NSW hate speech laws introduced by the Labor government. Davis, 31, was granted conditional bail and is due to appear in court next month. NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley said people had a right to protest but not to “target Jewish people, intimidate communities or incite racial hatred”. The National Socialist Network earlier claimed it had disbanded to avoid potential prohibition under federal hate group laws.

>>24589344 Dancin’ Hanson: Liberal Party left on 12pc in One Nation’s Farrer landslide - (Video) Pauline Hanson says One Nation’s shock victory in the Farrer by-election can be replicated nationally after the party captured the formerly safe Liberal seat with a swing exceeding 30 per cent. One Nation candidate David Farley defeated both the Liberals and Climate 200-backed independent Michelle Milthorpe, marking the party’s first House of Representatives win in its 29-year history. Former Liberal leader Sussan Ley said the result showed the party must “change or die”, while Liberal leader Angus Taylor conceded voters had lost trust in the Coalition and pledged reform. Former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce, who campaigned against the Liberals, hailed the result as a broader warning to major parties. One Nation campaigned strongly on immigration, regional neglect and dissatisfaction with established political parties.

#45 - Part 50

Australian Politics and Society - Part 20

>>24589378 Hanson takes victory lap in Farrer and warns major parties ‘we’re coming after other seats’ - (Video) Pauline Hanson has vowed One Nation will target more federal seats after the party won the Farrer by-election, ending 77 years of Coalition control in the regional NSW electorate. One Nation candidate David Farley secured the party’s first lower house seat, defeating Climate 200-backed independent Michelle Milthorpe while the Liberals collapsed to 12 per cent of the primary vote. Hanson said voters were no longer willing to be “forgotten people” and promised stronger action on immigration and energy policy. Liberal leader Angus Taylor admitted Coalition instability and internal divisions had damaged voter trust, while former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce described the result as a sign Australian politics had fundamentally changed. Voters cited cost-of-living pressures, regional neglect, migration and energy concerns as key issues influencing the outcome.

>>24592911 Australian-born Catherine West gives Sir Keir Starmer one day to quit or face leadership challenge - (Video) Australian-born Labour MP Catherine West has threatened to launch a leadership challenge against British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer unless Labour reshuffles its leadership within days following severe election losses across Britain. West, who was born in Mansfield, Victoria, said Sir Keir should move into an international role while Labour installed a new prime minister “with minimum fuss”. The pressure follows major local election defeats in England, Wales and Scotland, with dozens of Labour backbenchers publicly calling for Sir Keir to resign. West acknowledged she may act as a “stalking horse” candidate if broader support for a leadership spill emerges within the parliamentary party.

>>24592941 One Nation believes migrants are on their side as they target Labor - (Video) Pauline Hanson says One Nation will target migrant-heavy Labor electorates following the party’s breakthrough Farrer by-election victory, arguing many migrants do not want Australia to become “like the place they left”. Hanson identified western Sydney seats held by senior Labor ministers Chris Bowen and Tony Burke as future targets after One Nation secured its first House of Representatives seat with a swing exceeding 30 per cent. Former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce said multicultural working-class communities were increasingly receptive to One Nation’s message, pointing to strong support in Griffith and other diverse areas within Farrer. Liberal MPs acknowledged the result may force greater cooperation and preference deals with One Nation in future elections. Internal Liberal concerns have also intensified about party organisation, volunteer numbers and the ability to reconnect with conservative and regional voters.

#45 - Part 51

Virginia Roberts Giuffre - Life and Legacy

>>24466593 Giuffre’s family urges King Charles to meet Epstein survivors during US visit - The family of Virginia Giuffre has called on King Charles to meet with Epstein survivors during his upcoming United States visit, saying the trip coincides closely with the anniversary of her death and presents an opportunity for engagement. Giuffre’s relatives said they “strongly urge” the King to hear directly from survivors, while acknowledging his past decision to strip his brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, of royal duties following the allegations. Palace officials have previously maintained the monarch cannot intervene while related investigations remain ongoing. Giuffre had accused Epstein of trafficking her to Mountbatten-Windsor, who has denied the claims and settled a civil case without admission of wrongdoing. The state visit comes as Britain seeks to steady relations with US President Donald Trump after tensions over the Iran war, placing additional attention on the monarch’s program in Washington.

>>24544743 Memorial held to mark one year since the death of Virginia Giuffre - (Video) A memorial has been held marking one year since the death of Virginia Giuffre, the most high-profile victim of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. She took her own life on a farm in Western Australia last year. Ms Giuffre was known for accusing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor of sexually abusing her when she was just 17 years old. The 66-year-old former prince has denied the allegations. Ms Giuffre’s family members and other survivors of Epstein praised her courage at the event. - Sky News Australia, Apr 26, 2026

>>24544749 Epstein fallout: Virginia Giuffre remembered as ‘hero to the ages’ on first anniversary of her death - Virginia Giuffre was honoured at a memorial in Washington marking one year since her death, with survivors, advocates and US lawmakers praising her role in exposing Jeffrey Epstein’s sex-trafficking network and speaking publicly against Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Giuffre’s brother Sky Roberts said “you changed the world”, while Democratic congressman Jamie Raskin described her as “a hero to the ages”. Advocates used the event to promote “Virginia’s Law”, proposed legislation removing time limits for adult survivors pursuing civil claims over sexual abuse. Organisers also signalled plans to increase pressure for accountability during King Charles’ expected US visit. Mountbatten-Windsor has always denied Giuffre’s allegations and settled civil proceedings in 2022 without admitting wrongdoing. Giuffre died at her property north of Perth last year aged 41.

>>24544749 Q Post #4923 - https://twitter.com/VRSVirginia/status/1319071346282778624 - Dearest Virginia - We stand with you. Now and always. Find peace through prayer. Never give up the good fight. God bless you. Q - https://qanon.pub/#4923 - https://qanon.pub/#4568

>>24592963 Virginia Giuffre’s family seeks coronial inquest, says she was ‘let down’ in final months - Virginia Giuffre’s brothers have requested a public coronial inquest and police review into the circumstances surrounding her death, arguing she was “let down” by authorities in the months before she died by suicide in Western Australia. The family says Giuffre repeatedly sought police help over alleged domestic violence, coercive control and fears for her safety during divorce proceedings with her estranged husband, Robert Giuffre. They raised concerns that Giuffre may have been wrongly characterised as a perpetrator after an interim family violence restraining order was granted against her shortly after she reported an alleged assault. The family has asked WA Police to review frontline responses, risk assessments and domestic violence procedures. The WA Coroner confirmed investigations into Giuffre’s death remain ongoing, with no decision yet on a public inquest.

#45 - Part 52

Afghanistan War Crimes Allegations - Ben Roberts-Smith Murder Trial - Part 1

>>24474213 War Crime Murders:Ben Roberts-Smith arrested over alleged killings; five war crime murder charges carry life sentence- (Video) Australia’s most decorated soldier Ben Roberts-Smith has been arrested and charged with five counts of war crime murder, with authorities alleging the killings of unarmed Afghan civilians and detainees between 2009 and 2012. The former Special Air Service soldier was taken into custody at Sydney Airport after arriving on a commercial flight and has been transferred to custody ahead of a bail hearing, facing potential life imprisonment if convicted. Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said it would be alleged the victims were “detained, unarmed” and under the control of Australian Defence Force personnel when they were killed, including cases where others allegedly acted on his orders. The charges follow a five-year investigation, with officials describing the arrest as a “significant step” and confirming further charges against others remain possible as inquiries continue despite challenges accessing evidence since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021.

>>24474276 Former Australian soldier arrested over alleged war crimes - (Video) A former Australian Defence Force member has been arrested at Sydney Domestic Airport and is expected to be charged with five counts of war crime - murder following a joint investigation by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Office of the Special Investigator. The 47-year-old man faces allegations he "intentionally caused the death" of individuals or "aided, abetted, counselled or procured" killings during deployments in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012, including incidents in Kakarak, Darwan and Syahchow in Uruzgan Province. The offences carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. The investigation, launched in 2021, is examining alleged breaches of the Laws of Armed Conflict by Australian personnel between 2005 and 2016, with dozens of matters finalised and others still under active investigation.

>>24474281 AFP Commissioner opening statement following arrest of former Australian soldier - (Video) "Good afternoon. A former Australian Defence Force member has today been arrested and will be charged with five counts of War Crime – Murder after a joint investigation between the Office of the Special Investigator (OSI) and the AFP. The former soldier was arrested at Sydney’s Domestic Airport this morning and is expected to face a NSW court later today. It will be alleged the man was a member of the ADF when he was involved in the death of Afghan nationals between 2009 and 2012 in circumstances that constitute war crimes under the Commonwealth Criminal Code. The offence of War Crime - Murder carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. It will be alleged the victims were not taking part in hostilities at the time of their alleged murder in Afghanistan. It will be alleged the victims were detained, unarmed and were under the control of ADF members when they were killed. It will be alleged the victims were shot by the accused, or shot by subordinate members of the ADF, in the presence of, and acting on the orders of, the accused. Operation Emerald-Argon, began in 2021, and is a joint investigation between the Office of the Special Investigator and the AFP. It has been a complex investigation that has been undertaken thoroughly and meticulously. We understand these charges will have an impact on several communities in Australia. Whenever I give a press conference, I do not just provide the facts in front of me, but I also address those impacted the most. So, I want to now directly address the concerns and questions some may have. The alleged conduct related to these charges is confined to a very small section of our trusted and respected ADF, which helps keep this country safe. The overwhelming majority of our ADF do our country proud. Today’s charges are not reflective of the majority members who serve under our Australian flag with honour, distinction and with the values of a democratic nation. Today, is a day to rally behind the ADF, and be mindful of the families whose loved ones have died while serving our country. Those charged, or facing charges under these joint investigations, will face the justice system in Australia. This is my message to the families of victims and the Australian community who want and deserve answers. Furthermore, this investigation remains ongoing. I encourage those who have relevant information to come forward to the OSI if they have not yet done so." - Krissy Barrett, Australian Federal Police Commissioner

#45 - Part 53

Afghanistan War Crimes Allegations - Ben Roberts-Smith Murder Trial - Part 2

>>24474323 Ben Roberts-Smith charged with multiple war crimes - Australia’s most decorated living soldier has been charged with five counts of war crime - murder following his arrest at Sydney Airport after a joint Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Office of the Special Investigator investigation. It will be alleged he "intentionally caused the death" of unarmed Afghan civilians and prisoners or directed others to do so between 2009 and 2012, including incidents where victims were "not taking part in hostilities" and were "detained, unarmed and under the control" of Australian Defence Force personnel. Prosecutors will allege he executed detainees, kicked a civilian off a cliff and ordered subordinates to carry out killings, including so-called “blooding” incidents. Witnesses, including former Special Air Service soldiers, are expected to testify they saw or were directed to participate in executions of defenceless detainees. The charges carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, marking one of the most significant war crimes prosecutions in Australian history.

>>24474332 COMMENTARY: War crimes prosecutors will face challenges convicting Ben Roberts-Smith - "Ben Roberts-Smith has known for a long time that this moment would come. The former SAS soldier is to be charged with five counts of war crimes, including murders he allegedly took part in while serving in Afghanistan. If convicted, he faces the possibility of life in prison. The defamation action he brought to try to prove himself innocent ended as a spectacular own goal. To Roberts-Smith’s disbelief, former comrades-in-arms lined up to testify against him. That evidence in itself, given in a civil case, cannot be used against him in a criminal trial. But the defamation action allowed war crimes investigators from the Australian Federal Police and the Office of the Special Investigator to identify members and former members of the SAS who were willing to break the elite service’s code of silence. If the Victoria Cross recipient had left it to prosecutors to build a criminal case against him, that might never have happened - or least, not to the level that they could be confident they could achieve a conviction. They’ve taken five years just to get this far. Prosecutors aren’t allowed to go on fishing expeditions. Roberts-Smith saved them the problem by bringing his own case before they did. But proving war crimes offences to the criminal standard - that is, beyond reasonable doubt – will be much more difficult for commonwealth prosecutors than it was for Nine’s defamation defence team to prove them on the balance of probabilities. Office of Special Investigations director Ross Barnett made that clear in Tuesday’s otherwise uninformative press conference when he listed the difficulties OSI investigators had faced in gathering evidence from a country then at war and now ruled by the Taliban. The Crown prosecutor bears the burden of investigators who had little or no access to civilian witnesses, and no access to the crime scene, or even to the deceased, to conduct a post mortem. Some of the soldiers who gave evidence against Roberts-Smith in the defamation trial didn’t have to testify about their own sins on the battlefield, let alone be cross-examined on them. They may be reluctant to give evidence in a criminal case. Roberts-Smith had powerful backers in his defamation case, among them two of Australia’s richest people, billionaires Kerry Stokes and Gina Rinehart. They are unlikely to desert him as he gathers together what will be a formidable legal team to defend himself against the charges. This case has divided the nation like no other. Australia’s most decorated soldier lost his reputation in a failed defamation case. If he ultimately beats these charges, he will have won it back at a very high price." - Stephen Rice, The Australian

>>24478314 Ben Roberts-Smith to remain behind bars for more than a week after bail hearing - (Video) Former soldier Ben Roberts-Smith will remain in custody at Sydney’s Silverwater Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre until at least April 17 after his legal team did not seek immediate bail following his arrest on five counts of war crime - murder. The charges relate to alleged killings of unarmed Afghan detainees between 2009 and 2012, with prosecutors alleging victims were "not armed" and were "shot by the accused, or shot by subordinate members… acting on the orders of the accused". Former prime minister John Howard said the case would "test to the limits" public respect for the rule of law while stressing no individual is above it. Supporters, including Gina Rinehart, criticised the prosecution, as authorities confirmed further investigations remain ongoing.

#45 - Part 54

Afghanistan War Crimes Allegations - Ben Roberts-Smith Murder Trial - Part 3

>>24483958 Inside Ben Roberts-Smith’s harsh Sydney prison - (Video) Former soldier Ben Roberts-Smith has entered the Silverwater Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre as a high-profile inmate after being charged with five counts of war crime - murder, marking a sharp shift from public prominence to strict custodial conditions. He has been processed through standard intake procedures, issued prison clothing, assigned an identification number and placed under protection arrangements, allowing him to remain in a single cell while housed among other remand prisoners. Authorities say he will spend extended periods confined, with limited daily exercise, monitored communications and tightly controlled routines typical of maximum-security remand facilities. The 47-year-old is expected to remain in custody until at least April 17, when he is due to reappear in court for a bail application, with the case set to unfold over an extended period.

>>24484093 ‘An utter disgrace’: National war museum urged to act on Ben Roberts-Smith display - Senior historians and former officials have criticised the Australian War Memorial for retaining Ben Roberts-Smith’s uniform and equipment in its Hall of Valour after he was charged with five counts of war crime - murder, arguing the display undermines historical accuracy. University of New South Wales historian and former Australian War Memorial deputy director Michael McKernan described the decision as "ludicrous" and an "utter disgrace", while UNSW Canberra historian and former principal historian at the memorial Peter Stanley said the display should be relocated to reflect the consequences of the Afghanistan conflict and “tell the truth”. University of Canberra historian Frank Bongiorno also questioned the memorial’s approach, citing its role as a national institution shaping public memory. The memorial said it would review the wording of its interpretive panel while monitoring developments, maintaining that curatorial decisions remain independent. Veterans’ Affairs Minister Matt Keogh said the institution’s role was to present the full story of conflict, including controversial aspects, as debate continues over how to represent the legacy of a decorated soldier facing serious criminal charges.

>>24484331 Top lawyer joins Ben Roberts-Smith’s defence for ‘trial of the decade’ - Ben Roberts-Smith has begun assembling a legal team to fight five counts of war crime - murder, with the case expected to become one of the most significant criminal trials in Australia. High-profile criminal lawyer Karen Espiner has joined the defence, bringing experience from representing fellow accused war crimes defendant Oliver Schulz. Other senior counsel under consideration include Arthur Moses SC, known for his military law expertise, Bruce McClintock SC, who previously worked on the defamation case, and Bret Walker SC, who led appeal proceedings. Media and commercial lawyer Monica Allen has also been identified as a potential inclusion due to her detailed knowledge of the case. The defence team’s final composition may depend on financial backing from supporters such as Kerry Stokes and Gina Rinehart, with government assistance schemes expected to cover only basic legal costs.

>>24484464 From war hero to accused serial killer: The unravelling of Ben Roberts-Smith - The arrest of Ben Roberts-Smith on five counts of war crime - murder marks a dramatic escalation in a long-running saga that has reshaped his public standing from decorated soldier to accused criminal. It will be alleged he was involved in the killing of unarmed Afghan civilians and detainees between 2009 and 2012, with claims emerging from eyewitness accounts by former Special Air Service colleagues who later testified publicly. The case follows years of investigations, a failed defamation action and civil court findings that allegations of unlawful killings were proven on the balance of probabilities. Authorities have since built a criminal brief drawing on witness testimony, including accounts of detainees being killed after capture. Supporters, including prominent political and business figures, have continued to defend him, while investigators gathered evidence in Australia and overseas despite operational challenges. The matter will now be tested in court under the criminal standard of proof beyond reasonable doubt.

#45 - Part 55

Afghanistan War Crimes Allegations - Ben Roberts-Smith Murder Trial - Part 4

>>24484599 Kill boards, trophy hunting and ‘blooding’: What courts have already heard about Ben Roberts-Smith’s alleged crimes - Allegations aired in court proceedings have detailed a series of killings involving unarmed Afghan civilians and detainees that prosecutors are expected to rely on in a criminal trial against Ben Roberts-Smith. Evidence previously accepted in a civil case described victims as "not a threat" and under Australian control, with claims they were killed after capture. Testimony outlined alleged practices including “blooding” recruits by ordering them to shoot detainees, the use of “throw-down” weapons to stage scenes, and informal “kill boards” tracking deaths. Specific incidents include the alleged killing of a detainee with a prosthetic leg during the Whiskey 108 mission in Kakarak, the fatal shooting of prisoners in that operation, and the killing of a farmer in Darwan. Further allegations relate to operations in Syahchow, Chinartu and Fasil, where detainees were allegedly executed or killed after capture. While some allegations were proven to the civil standard, others were not, and the case will now be tested under the higher criminal threshold of proof beyond reasonable doubt.

>>24484743 His brother’s leg became a grisly trophy. Now, he wants justice - Families of Afghan men allegedly killed on the orders of Ben Roberts-Smith have welcomed his arrest on five counts of war crime - murder while criticising the years taken to bring charges. Relatives of victims, including Esmatullah, whose brother Ahmadullah and father Mohammad Essa were allegedly executed in 2009, said they were "very, very happy" but wanted to know what would happen next. The case also includes the alleged killing of Ali Jan in 2012. Evidence aired in prior proceedings alleged Ahmadullah’s prosthetic leg was taken after his death and later used by soldiers as a drinking vessel, a detail that became a defining symbol of alleged misconduct and breakdown of discipline. Members of the Afghan diaspora in Australia described mixed reactions, with some viewing the arrest as a step toward justice, while others questioned the focus on one soldier amid Taliban rule and ongoing suffering.

>>24484771 Hastie could testify in Roberts-Smith murder trial - Shadow defence minister and former Special Air Service captain Andrew Hastie says he may be called as a witness in the criminal trial of Ben Roberts-Smith, who has been charged with five counts of war crime - murder over alleged actions in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012. Hastie, one of multiple veterans subpoenaed in earlier defamation proceedings, said it was possible he would again give evidence, noting he had previously testified under oath. He emphasised the importance of preserving the integrity of the legal process, stating Roberts-Smith was entitled to the presumption of innocence and a fair trial free from political interference. Hastie also said Australia must acknowledge “wrongdoing” identified in past investigations while recognising that the conduct of a small number of individuals did not define the broader Australian Defence Force.

>>24490990 A cop once shot by a jailbreaker and a stickler for detail: The crime fighters who built the case against Ben Roberts-Smith - (Video) The prosecution case against Ben Roberts-Smith has been built over years by the Office of the Special Investigator and Australian Federal Police, relying heavily on eyewitness testimony from former Special Air Service soldiers who served alongside him in Afghanistan. Investigators led by operations head Ross Barnett, a former Queensland detective, and senior homicide investigator Matt Stock assembled evidence despite major obstacles, including no access to crime scenes, victims or forensic material overseas. Authorities focused on allegations supported by direct witness accounts, discarding cases that could not meet the criminal standard of proof beyond reasonable doubt. The inquiry also required separating admissible evidence from earlier investigations to avoid legal complications and ensure the case could withstand scrutiny in court. Officials say the prosecution will hinge on testimony from multiple former soldiers expected to be called as witnesses, as proceedings move toward a complex trial likely to run for years.

#45 - Part 56

Afghanistan War Crimes Allegations - Ben Roberts-Smith Murder Trial - Part 5

>>24491019 Ben Roberts-Smith could stay in jail over claims of ‘flight risk’ - Ben Roberts-Smith could remain in custody for an extended period if prosecutors oppose bail on the grounds he is a flight risk following charges of five counts of war crime - murder. Commonwealth lawyers are expected to argue the severity of potential life sentences increases the risk of him fleeing or interfering with witnesses, while the defence is likely to counter that he has previously travelled overseas and returned voluntarily. Legal sources suggest bail is still likely but could come with strict conditions, including reporting requirements and limits on contact with former colleagues. Roberts-Smith’s legal team, led by Karen Espiner with barristers Slade Howell and James Godbolt, will argue custody would hinder preparation for a complex case expected to take years to reach trial.

>>24491027 Australian War Memorial amends Ben Roberts-Smith display after former soldier charged with war crimes - (Video) The Australian War Memorial has updated its Hall of Valour display for Ben Roberts-Smith to reflect his charge with five counts of war crime - murder, with new wording noting the legal process is ongoing. The revised plaque now devotes significant space to events since 2016, replacing earlier text that stated he had not faced criminal charges. Memorial director Matt Anderson said the changes were made to ensure the display remained accurate and up to date, while emphasising the importance of the presumption of innocence and a fair trial. Roberts-Smith’s uniform, medals and equipment will remain on display, with the memorial maintaining they relate to his Victoria Cross actions in Afghanistan. The updated display is expected to remain in place as legal proceedings continue and public scrutiny persists.

>>24494451 Federal MP Luke Gosling warns colleagues against Ben Roberts-Smith commentary - Labor MP and former soldier Luke Gosling has urged federal politicians to avoid public commentary on the arrest of Ben Roberts-Smith, warning it could jeopardise a fair trial. In a message to colleagues, Gosling said the case had divided the veteran community, with some supporting the former soldier while others, including potential witnesses, were experiencing “moral injury and distress” over alleged events in Afghanistan. He cautioned that some former Special Air Service personnel may be called to testify and stressed the importance of allowing the legal process to proceed without interference. The warning follows public statements from several political figures, prompting concern about prejudicing proceedings, as Roberts-Smith remains in custody and prepares to face a bail hearing.

>>24494454 ‘There’s no fog of war’: Former SAS veteran speaks out amid Ben Roberts-Smith alleged war crimes - (Video) A former Special Air Service soldier has spoken publicly following the arrest of Ben Roberts-Smith, alleging the accused was involved in unlawful killings of non-combatants during deployments in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012. The veteran said the alleged actions occurred after combat had ended, stating “there’s no fog of war” and “no bullets flying around”, and described the conduct as “completely contrary to (the) mission”. He said “we weren’t there to kill civilians”, adding those who spoke out had been “vilified” despite showing “moral courage”. The comments come as Roberts-Smith faces five counts of war crime - murder, including alleged killings at Kakarak, Darwan and Syahchow. Former war crimes prosecutor Graeme Blewett said the trial would be complex, noting “you can never predict what a jury thinks of a case”.

>>24512269 Ben Roberts-Smith granted bail in Sydney court - Former Special Air Service corporal Ben Roberts-Smith has been granted bail after being charged with five war crimes counts over the alleged murders of unarmed detainees in Afghanistan. Judge Greg Grogin ruled there were “exceptional circumstances” justifying release after 10 days in custody, noting bail is “not punitive in nature” and Roberts-Smith is entitled to the presumption of innocence. The court heard any trial could take years, with concerns raised that secrecy provisions may “severely restrict” access to legal material if he remained in custody. Prosecutors opposed bail, citing the “gravely serious” nature of the allegations and potential risks of flight and interference with witnesses, but the judge found strict conditions could mitigate those risks. Roberts-Smith, who denies the charges, faces life imprisonment if convicted.

#45 - Part 57

Afghanistan War Crimes Allegations - Ben Roberts-Smith Murder Trial - Part 6

>>24512280 Former soldier Ben Roberts-Smith granted bail over alleged war crime of murder offences - (Video) Former Special Air Service corporal Ben Roberts-Smith has been granted bail after more than a week in custody over five alleged war crime murders in Afghanistan, with a Sydney court finding “exceptional circumstances” justified his release. Judge Greg Grogin said the case could take years and bail was “not punitive in nature”, noting concerns about access to evidence and the ability to prepare a defence from custody. Prosecutors argued the charges were “gravely serious” and pointed to risks of flight and interference with witnesses. Defence lawyers said the matter involved “uncharted legal territory” and warned prolonged pre-trial publicity could mean a fair trial was “simply not possible”, as strict conditions were imposed to mitigate risks.

>>24512317 Ben Roberts-Smith released from prison amid chaotic scenes - (Video) Former Special Air Service corporal Ben Roberts-Smith has been released on bail after 10 days in custody over five alleged war crime murders in Afghanistan, as court documents detail evidence from four soldiers who admitted killing detainees on his orders. Prosecutors allege the victims were unarmed, handcuffed and under Australian control, with evidence staged to portray the killings as lawful, including claims of planted items and fabricated combat scenarios. Witnesses granted immunity have provided accounts of acting “at the direction or with the complicity” of Roberts-Smith, who denies the allegations. Judge Greg Grogin granted bail citing “exceptional circumstances”, including expected lengthy delays and challenges accessing evidence, while warning strict conditions would apply. The case, following a five-year investigation, is expected to take years, with dozens of soldiers likely to be called as witnesses.

>>24512324 Ben Roberts-Smith leaves Silverwater prison, free on bail, ahead of war crimes trial - (Video) Former Special Air Service corporal Ben Roberts-Smith has been released from Silverwater prison on strict bail conditions after being charged with five war crime murders allegedly committed in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012. Judge Greg Grogin found “exceptional circumstances” justified bail, citing the presumption of innocence, the likelihood the case would take years to reach trial and concerns that access to sensitive national security material could “severely restrict” his ability to prepare a defence in custody. Roberts-Smith must surrender his passport, report regularly to police and avoid contact with witnesses, with a $250,000 surety imposed. Prosecutors opposed bail, arguing the charges were “amongst the most serious”, while the defence said the case involved “uncharted legal territory” and would face prolonged delays.

>>24512331 ‘Executions’ and immunity: prosecutors give soldiers deals to testify against Ben Roberts-Smith - Prosecutors have granted immunity to four Australian soldiers who admitted involvement in executing detainees, securing their testimony in the war crimes case against former Special Air Service corporal Ben Roberts-Smith. Court documents allege the soldiers acted “at the direction or with the complicity” of Roberts-Smith, with their accounts forming a central part of the prosecution’s case. The allegations include claims detainees were handcuffed and killed, with evidence staged to portray the deaths as lawful engagements through planted items and fabricated reports. The Office of the Special Investigator acknowledged the case will rely heavily on witness recollection from events up to two decades ago, with limited forensic evidence available. Roberts-Smith denies the allegations, with his defence expected to challenge the credibility of witnesses who received immunity in exchange for their evidence.

>>24512339 Ben Roberts-Smith prosecution for alleged war crimes complex, legal expert says - The prosecution of former Special Air Service corporal Ben Roberts-Smith will test Australia’s war crimes legal framework, with experts warning the case is unprecedented and highly complex. Roberts-Smith faces five charges of war crime murder over alleged killings of unarmed Afghan detainees between 2009 and 2012, which he denies. Australian National University international law professor Donald Rothwell said Australia is obligated to prosecute its own citizens under laws aligned with the International Criminal Court, making this one of the first modern cases of its kind in decades. He said the trial will rely heavily on witness testimony due to limited access to crime scenes and evidence, with each charge requiring extensive proof. Rothwell also cautioned the earlier defamation case used a lower standard, with criminal proceedings requiring proof “beyond reasonable doubt”.

#45 - Part 58

Afghanistan War Crimes Allegations - Ben Roberts-Smith Murder Trial - Part 7

>>24512378 The Ben Roberts-Smith photograph Corrective Services tried to stop - (Video) Corrective Services NSW is reviewing the handling of Ben Roberts-Smith’s release from Silverwater prison after officers escorted the accused war crimes suspect out a back exit in a coordinated effort to avoid media scrutiny. Roberts-Smith, charged with five counts of war crime murder, was driven away in a convoy after being granted bail, with officers blocking roads and attempting to prevent photographers capturing images. Footage shows an officer pushing a camera and shouting “you can’t take pictures” as media pursued the vehicle along public roads. Authorities said the measures followed a risk assessment due to “high levels of public interest”, aimed at ensuring safety for the inmate and public. Corrections Minister Anoulack Chanthivong said any breaches of protocol would be addressed, as Roberts-Smith remains subject to strict bail conditions.

>>24515570 Accused war criminal Ben Roberts-Smith ‘categorically’ denies allegations - (Video) Former Special Air Service corporal Ben Roberts-Smith has issued his first public statement since being granted bail, saying he “categorically” denies war crimes allegations and will fight to clear his name. Speaking after his release from custody, Roberts-Smith criticised what he called a “deliberately sensational arrest” at Sydney Airport and pleaded for privacy for his family, particularly his children. He faces charges over the alleged murders of unarmed Afghan detainees, with prosecutors claiming some victims were handcuffed and that evidence was staged to portray killings as lawful. Court documents also reveal testimony from soldiers granted immunity who allege they acted on his orders. Roberts-Smith said he acted within the rules of engagement and remains “extremely proud” of his service, as the case moves toward a complex and lengthy trial.

>>24515576 Ben Roberts-Smith makes first public comments since war crime charges - (Video) Former Special Air Service corporal Ben Roberts-Smith has issued his first public comments since being charged with five counts of war crime murder, saying he “categorically” denies the allegations and will fight to clear his name. Speaking from the Gold Coast after his release on bail, Roberts-Smith said he and his family had faced a decade-long “campaign” against him and described his arrest as a “deliberate, sensational” and “unnecessary spectacle”. He said he acted within his training and the rules of engagement in Afghanistan and was “extremely proud” of his service and those he served with. Roberts-Smith, who did not take questions, remains subject to strict bail conditions including regular police reporting, as he awaits a lengthy legal process over allegations he unlawfully killed unarmed Afghan civilians.

>>24515579 Ben Roberts-Smith issues first statement after his release from Sydney jail on bail - (Video) Former Special Air Service corporal Ben Roberts-Smith has publicly denied war crimes allegations, vowing to use a criminal trial to clear his name after being released on bail. Speaking on the Gold Coast, the Victoria Cross recipient described his arrest as a “sensational” and “unnecessary spectacle” and said he had been the target of a decade-long “campaign” against him. He faces five charges of war crime murder over alleged killings of unarmed Afghan nationals between 2009 and 2012, which he denies, saying he acted within the “rules of engagement”. Roberts-Smith thanked his family and supporters, while refusing to take questions. A review is underway into his prison release after officers attempted to shield him from media, as he remains subject to strict bail conditions ahead of further court proceedings.

>>24515597 Ben Roberts-Smith’s lawyers consider making a bid to stop his war crimes trial - Lawyers for former Special Air Service corporal Ben Roberts-Smith are considering a bid to permanently halt his war crimes prosecution, arguing extensive pre-trial publicity could prevent a fair trial. Roberts-Smith, who faces five counts of war crime murder over alleged killings in Afghanistan, has denied the allegations and described his arrest as a “deliberate, sensational” and “unnecessary spectacle”. His legal team is examining a permanent stay application, which would end proceedings entirely, citing the “extraordinary” level of media attention surrounding the case. Similar applications in high-profile cases have previously failed, though courts have delayed trials to address fairness concerns. Roberts-Smith remains on strict bail conditions and said he would “never give up” as the case, expected to take years, progresses toward potential trial.

#45 - Part 59

Afghanistan War Crimes Allegations - Ben Roberts-Smith Murder Trial - Part 8

>>24531139 Ben Roberts-Smith had vacated his rental and booked an international flight. Then the police arrived - Ben Roberts-Smith had vacated his Brisbane apartment, sought overseas relocation advice and booked international flights before his arrest on war crime charges, court documents show. The former SAS soldier had arranged travel to Spain via Singapore, with departure scheduled days after Australian Federal Police detained him on April 7 following a five-year investigation into alleged unlawful killings of Afghan detainees. Prosecutors argued he posed a flight risk, citing his plans to relocate abroad, past findings of witness interference during defamation proceedings, and allegations of evidence destruction. His legal team said he had long cooperated with authorities and was entitled to continue his life. He was granted bail under strict conditions, including surrendering his passport, reporting regularly to police, and avoiding contact with prosecution witnesses.

>>24531150 Ben Roberts-Smith ‘never planned’ to flee overseas - Ben Roberts-Smith’s partner Sarah Matulin has told a court the former SAS soldier never intended to flee Australia despite making plans to live and work overseas before his arrest on war crime charges. Affidavits released from his bail hearing show the couple explored business opportunities in Thailand, Myanmar and Spain, with visa processes underway, but maintained he would return if charged. His lawyer had also offered that he be arrested by arrangement if authorities indicated charges were imminent. Roberts-Smith said he had travelled internationally dozens of times while under investigation and always returned. Prosecutors allege he murdered or ordered the killing of unarmed Afghan detainees between 2009 and 2012 and staged evidence. He denies the allegations and remains on bail with strict conditions.

>>24533704 Ben Roberts-Smith vows to take part in Anzac Day commemorations - (Video) Ben Roberts-Smith has said he will attend Anzac Day commemorations despite facing war crime charges, describing the occasion as “sacred” and encouraging others to participate. The Victoria Cross recipient plans to appear at events in Queensland, with support from fellow VC holder Keith Payne, who said he would be “very, very bloody surprised” if Roberts-Smith was not welcome among veterans. The planned appearance comes as the former SAS soldier remains on bail over allegations of murdering Afghan detainees, which he denies. Some supporters have organised separate rallies, while veterans’ organisations said attendance at public commemorations remains open to all. Roberts-Smith said he was “extremely proud” of his service and maintained he acted within the “rules of engagement” during deployments in Afghanistan.

>>24536322 Ben Roberts-Smith attends Anzac Day event in Queensland - Ben Roberts-Smith has attended an Anzac Day ceremony on the Gold Coast while on bail over war crime charges, saying he “never thought about not coming” to the commemorations. Wearing his medals, the former SAS soldier said the day should focus on Australians who served and the sacrifices made by military families. Supporters gathered to shake his hand and take photographs following the Currumbin service, while a banner reading “we support BRS” was displayed overlooking the ceremony. Former Australian War Memorial director Brendan Nelson described Roberts-Smith as “a national hero” and defended his attendance, while RSL Australia said all veterans were entitled to participate in commemorations. Roberts-Smith denies allegations relating to the murder of Afghan detainees during deployments between 2009 and 2012.

>>24536347 Roberts-Smith attends Anzac Day dawn service on the Gold Coast - Ben Roberts-Smith was surrounded by supporters after attending an Anzac Day dawn service at Currumbin on the Gold Coast while on bail over war crime charges he denies. The former SAS soldier, wearing military medals and accompanied by partner Sarah Matulin, attended the beachside service alongside veterans, serving personnel and members of the public. Following the ceremony, supporters thanked him for his service, with one telling him to “keep fighting, mate”. Roberts-Smith described the public response as “overwhelming” and said Anzac Day was about commemorating Australians who served and the sacrifices endured by military families. RSL Australia said veterans were entitled to attend commemorations, while organisers of a separate Melbourne rally backing Roberts-Smith were reportedly not associated with him or his family.

#45 - Part 60

Afghanistan War Crimes Allegations - Ben Roberts-Smith Murder Trial - Part 9

>>24536418 ‘Today is bigger than me’: Ben Roberts-Smith on attending Anzac Day service - (Video) Ben Roberts-Smith has attended Anzac Day commemorations on the Gold Coast, saying the occasion was “bigger than me” as he joined thousands at the Currumbin dawn service while facing war crime charges he denies. Wearing his military medals, including the Victoria Cross, the former SAS soldier said it was important to honour Australians who had served and sacrificed for the country. Supporters and veterans gathered around Roberts-Smith following the ceremony, while former defence minister Joel Fitzgibbon said his presence would “provide a boost” to morale. Fellow Victoria Cross recipient Keith Payne has also publicly supported his attendance at commemorations. Roberts-Smith remains on bail over allegations relating to the deaths of Afghan detainees during deployments between 2009 and 2012 and has not yet entered a plea.

>>24544644 Far-right group supporting Ben Roberts-Smith marches through Melbourne amid heavy police presence - A far-right rally supporting Ben Roberts-Smith marched through central Melbourne under heavy police supervision, with officers separating demonstrators from anti-Nazi protesters nearby. About 200 people attended the protest outside Parliament House, where a banner describing the Victoria Cross recipient as a “Warrior Not Criminal” was displayed. Some participants wore masks while marching through the CBD as anti-Nazi protesters shouted “Nazi scum off our streets”. One rally attendee was briefly detained after a confrontation outside the Windsor Hotel before being released. Organisers acknowledged turnout was lower than hoped and urged supporters not to be discouraged. The rally followed Roberts-Smith’s appearance at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gold Coast while on bail over war crime charges relating to alleged killings in Afghanistan, which he denies.

>>24555875 Ben Roberts-Smith’s girlfriend calls potential criminal witness and MP Andrew Hastie a ‘traitor’ - Ben Roberts-Smith’s partner Sarah Matulin has apologised after calling Liberal MP and former SAS officer Andrew Hastie a “traitor” on social media over Anzac Day weekend. Matulin posted the comment beneath an Instagram photo of Hastie attending commemorations with his children before later deleting it. Speaking through Roberts-Smith’s lawyer Karen Espiner, she said making the comment publicly was a “mistake” and had occurred without Roberts-Smith’s knowledge. Hastie, a potential witness in Roberts-Smith’s upcoming war crimes trial, responded that people should “reflect carefully on the seriousness of these matters before commenting online”. Roberts-Smith faces five war crime murder charges relating to Afghanistan deployments, which he denies. Legal experts said contact with potential witnesses could, in some contexts, raise concerns about intimidation or interference, though there was no suggestion Matulin acted illegally.

>>24573048 One Nation makes accused war criminal Ben Roberts-Smith its poster boy for Farrer by-election - One Nation has made its public support for accused war criminal Ben Roberts-Smith a central feature of its campaign in the Farrer by-election, displaying posters featuring the former SAS soldier at pre-polling booths in Albury ahead of Saturday’s vote. The corflutes show Mr Roberts-Smith in SAS uniform alongside the slogan “He fought for us. One Nation stands with him”. Party leader Pauline Hanson, who authorised the material, said her backing reflected One Nation’s support for military veterans and criticised the treatment of Mr Roberts-Smith and his family. A party spokesman said the campaign targeted an electorate with a large veteran population. Mr Roberts-Smith, who was arrested last month on five murder charges linked to alleged war crimes, has denied wrongdoing and remains on bail.

>>24578278 One Nation defends campaign corflutes supporting Ben Roberts-Smith in Farrer by-election campaign - One Nation has defended campaign signage supporting Ben Roberts-Smith displayed outside pre-polling booths in the Farrer by-election, despite concerns about politicising military service and affecting ongoing legal proceedings. The corflutes feature the former SAS soldier alongside the slogan “He fought for us. One Nation stands with him” and were authorised by party leader Pauline Hanson. A One Nation spokesman said the campaign reflected the party’s support for military veterans. Mr Roberts-Smith faces five murder charges linked to alleged war crimes in Afghanistan, which he denies. Defence advised political parties to avoid using images of current or former Australian Defence Force personnel in campaign material. Legal experts also warned public commentary on matters before the courts could raise sub judice concerns and affect future proceedings.

#45 - Part 61

The Transgender Agenda - Australia and Worldwide - Part 1

>>24359367 TGA in the dark on use of puberty blocker drugs - Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has warned the federal government it lacks reliable data on how widely puberty blocker drugs are prescribed to gender-distressed minors because the medicines are used “off-label” and are not approved for treating gender dysphoria. Documents obtained under Freedom of Information show the regulator cannot assess the “risk-benefit profile” or calculate adverse-event rates for this use because it does not receive prescribing data for off-label indications. Health Minister Mark Butler sought urgent advice after the United Kingdom imposed an indefinite ban on routine puberty blocker prescriptions outside a proposed clinical trial following the Cass review. The TGA said it has not evaluated the drugs for gender-affirming care and relies largely on voluntary reporting of adverse events. Without comprehensive usage data, officials say regulators have limited oversight of safety, efficacy and prescribing patterns in Australian children’s hospitals treating gender-distressed minors.

>>24359409 At least 2300 children given puberty blockers as states refuse to release data - At least 2387 Australian children have been prescribed puberty blockers for gender dysphoria since 2014, according to an analysis compiled from Freedom of Information data and limited figures released by some jurisdictions, as most states and territories refuse to disclose prescribing numbers. Health departments in six jurisdictions declined to provide data, leaving regulators and researchers without a comprehensive national picture of the treatment’s scale. The lack of official statistics has drawn criticism from experts who say such gaps “would not be countenanced for any other medical condition” and prevent scrutiny of long-term outcomes. Queensland reported 491 prescriptions between 2020 and October 2025 before banning new public-sector prescriptions, while Western Australia confirmed 20 new patients in 2025. Federal Health Minister Mark Butler has commissioned the National Health and Medical Research Council to review Australia’s guidelines for treating gender-distressed youth.

>>24578951 Australian Psychological Society slammed over gender care backflip - The Australian Psychological Society has faced criticism after releasing a revised position statement supporting gender-affirming care for children and teenagers while removing references to the United Kingdom’s Cass review and other studies questioning aspects of the treatment model. Retired clinical psychologist Sandra Pertot said the changes abandoned a more evidence-based and exploratory approach contained in an earlier draft, describing the outcome as a “betrayal” of members and taskforce contributors. Emeritus professor Dianna Kenny called the final statement “a disgraceful denial of evidence-based medicine”, while child psychiatrist Jillian Spencer labelled it “dangerously out-of-date”. APS president Kelly Gough defended the document, saying it was guided by “current evidence and ethical practice” and reflected a commitment to “respectful, person-centred, evidence-informed support” for people experiencing gender distress.

>>24578972 Australian psychologists treating gender distress may be working from a flawed evidence base - Claire Lehmann, editor of online magazine Quillette, has criticised the Australian Psychological Society’s revised position statement on gender-affirming care, arguing the organisation removed references to major international reviews and evidence questioning aspects of medical transition treatment for children and adolescents experiencing gender dysphoria. Lehmann states the United Kingdom’s Cass Review found evidence supporting puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for minors was limited and methodologically weak, contributing to Britain restricting some treatments and closing the Tavistock gender clinic. Lehmann argues the APS deleted references to the review and softened earlier draft cautions about long-term outcomes, suicide risk and the importance of exploratory assessment before affirmation. Lehmann also cites clinicians including Sandra Pertot, who warned psychologists could face professional or legal risks for using exploratory therapy approaches rather than immediate affirmation under conversion therapy laws operating in several Australian states. Lehmann argues the APS should revisit its guidance and more fully incorporate emerging international evidence into future policy development.

#45 - Part 62

The Transgender Agenda - Australia and Worldwide - Part 2

>>24578982 Trans doctor Beth Upton at centre of UK dispute now working in Australia - Transgender doctor Beth Upton, who was involved in a high-profile United Kingdom legal dispute over female workplace spaces, has been registered by Australia’s medical regulator as “female” and is now working in two NSW hospitals under provisional supervision. Dr Upton previously gave evidence in a UK tribunal involving Scottish nurse Sandie Peggie, who challenged being required to share female hospital changing facilities with Dr Upton, who is biologically male and transitioned in 2022. The case prompted wider debate about sex-based rights, gender identity and workplace policies in healthcare settings. The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency confirmed Dr Upton holds provisional registration in Australia. Advocacy groups criticised the decision, while Equality Australia defended the registration and said healthcare systems routinely manage patient preferences while respecting qualified practitioners.

>>24579005 Peak medical regulator ‘compromised’ by partnership with trans lobby group - Australia’s medical regulator AHPRA has faced criticism over its partnership with advocacy organisation ACON, with doctors and psychiatrists claiming the relationship undermines confidence in the regulator’s neutrality on gender medicine. Documents obtained under freedom of information laws show AHPRA incorporated guidance from ACON-linked inclusion programs into broader regulatory and workplace strategies. Critics, including child psychiatrist Jillian Spencer and a coalition of health professionals, argued the regulator appeared aligned with gender-affirming treatment approaches while investigating clinicians who publicly questioned aspects of gender medicine for minors. AHPRA rejected suggestions its engagement with community organisations compromised impartiality, saying regulatory decisions were based on evidence and public safety considerations. ACON also denied exerting influence beyond workplace inclusion programs and defended its role in supporting equity and inclusion initiatives.

>>24579031 AHPRA accused of ‘ideological capture’ amid calls to sever links with ACON - Australia’s medical regulator AHPRA has faced renewed criticism over its relationship with advocacy organisation ACON, with women’s rights groups and parents of gender-distressed adolescents claiming the regulator has become ideologically compromised on gender medicine issues. Critics argued AHPRA’s ties to ACON and related inclusion programs undermined confidence in its impartiality, particularly following regulatory action against psychiatrists Andrew Amos and Jillian Spencer, who publicly questioned aspects of gender-affirming treatment for minors. Women’s Forum Australia chief executive Rachael Wong accused AHPRA of suppressing clinical debate and prioritising ideology over evidence-based medicine. Parents of Adolescents with Gender Distress also criticised the regulator’s handling of complaints and called for greater transparency. AHPRA has maintained its regulatory decisions are guided by public safety obligations and existing legal confidentiality requirements.

>>24579051 ‘Take my treatment as a warning’: Psychiatrist Andrew Amos suspended for opposing youth gender treatments - Queensland psychiatrist Andrew Amos has been suspended by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists following earlier restrictions imposed by AHPRA and the Medical Board of Australia over his public comments opposing gender-affirming treatment for children and teenagers. Dr Amos said the college suspended his membership without warning or procedural fairness, while the college stated the move was an interim governance measure linked to restrictions on his medical practice. The National Association of Practising Psychiatrists criticised the decision and questioned whether regulators were suppressing dissenting views on gender medicine. NAPP president Philip Morris also raised concerns about AHPRA’s relationship with advocacy organisation ACON, arguing the regulator risked appearing aligned with one side of a contested medical debate regarding puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for minors.

#45 - Part 63

The Transgender Agenda - Australia and Worldwide - Part 3

>>24579064 APS board member accused of ‘intimidation’ after questioning mother of detransitioned son - The Australian Psychological Society is reviewing correspondence from board member Andrew Chua after a mother accused him of “intimidation” during an exchange about the society’s position on gender-affirming care. The mother, whose adult son medically transitioned before later deciding he was not transgender, had written to the APS expressing concern about the organisation’s revised position statement on gender dysphoria treatment. In emails responding on behalf of the board, Mr Chua questioned whether the son had received “appropriate support”, prompting the mother to allege the exchange implied parents critical of the affirmation model could be viewed as harmful to their children. APS president Kelly Gough said the correspondence would be reviewed and stressed the organisation did not regard parents raising concerns as abusive or dangerous.

>>24579069 Parents plead for change to ‘highly irresponsible’ gender claims - Parents of Adolescents with Gender Distress has urged the Australian Human Rights Commission to revise information materials supporting gender-affirming care, arguing the resources contain “misleading and inaccurate claims” about treatment for children experiencing gender dysphoria. The group, representing more than 50 families, said the materials relied too heavily on advocacy organisations while failing to adequately address disputed evidence, possible long-term health risks and experiences of detransitioned young people. The concerns follow the commission’s Equal Identities report endorsing gender-affirming care for minors, including puberty blockers. PAGD said some children later improved after therapy addressing issues such as trauma, anxiety or autism without medical transition. The Australian Human Rights Commission defended the explainers, saying they were designed to outline legal protections and human rights obligations rather than provide clinical advice.

>>24579072 ANALYSIS: Witch hunt against Queensland psychiatrists critical of gender-affirming care rolls on as Australian institutions go all in on free speech crackdown - "In Australia today, women and doctors are being investigated, suspended and threatened with the loss of their livelihoods for daring to state what most Australians know to be true: there are only two sexes, sex is immutable, men cannot become women, and no child is ever born in the wrong body. These are not fringe views. They are the most basic facts of human biology. Yet gender ideology has flipped reality on its head. Speak these truths out loud and you risk being branded a bigot, dragged through the courts or stripped of your career. Look at two respected Queensland psychiatrists right now. Dr Jillian Spencer, a senior child and adolescent psychiatrist with more than two decades’ experience, was stood down from Queensland Children’s Hospital for raising legitimate clinical concerns about the rush to put children on puberty blockers. She now faces suspension, a termination notice under Supreme Court review, and an ongoing AHPRA investigation, simply for sharing a news article quoting her own views. Dr Andrew Amos has been suspended by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists and gagged by the Medical Board. His offence? Publicly opposing the telling of dangerous lies to distressed children and the sterilising medical pathway that sometimes follows, as well as complaints made about his social media posts on the subject … With the treatment of Drs Spencer and Amos, the medical establishment is ignoring overwhelming public sentiment and basic human instinct: we all know what a woman is and all doctors once knew too. Other countries have already woken up. Systematic reviews in the UK, Sweden, Finland and Norway found the evidence for puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones in minors dangerously weak. Yet here in Australia the institutions double down. We cannot allow our hospitals, regulators, courts and human rights bodies to be captured by an ideology that treats biological reality as bigotry. Australian citizens must not be punished for acknowledging basic reality. At the heart of this is free speech. If we cannot openly defend the most fundamental truths about human biology without fear of professional destruction, we are no longer a free society. No one is born in the wrong body. No one should lose their job, their licence or their reputation for saying so. Enough. Australia must stop punishing those who simply tell the truth." - Sall Grover, women’s rights campaigner and founder/CEO of the women-only social app Giggle - Sky News Australia

#45 - Part 64

AUKUS Security Pact and Nuclear Submarine Program - Part 1

>>24424631 US Admiral stares down AUKUS doubters over WA’s submarine deadline - The United States Navy’s operations chief has reaffirmed confidence that Virginia-class submarines will be delivered to Australia by 2032 under AUKUS, despite concerns about production capacity. Admiral Daryl Caudle said shipbuilding rates should exceed two submarines per year by the 2030s, addressing scepticism that current output of about 1.3 annually is insufficient. He said improvements in workforce, advanced manufacturing and modularisation would support a “transformational improvement” in output. Caudle visited HMAS Stirling to assess upgrades supporting a rotating US and UK submarine presence from next year. He said US personnel would have a minimal population impact but provide a “significant” economic boost, while describing Australia as a “great partner” in shared security and naval operations.

>>24424666 US Naval Operations chief Admiral Daryl Caudle confirms WA will house first nuclear-powered sub by 2034 - Western Australia is set to host its first sovereign Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarine by 2034 under AUKUS, with at least two to be based at HMAS Stirling. US Naval Operations Chief Admiral Daryl Caudle said the United States would “stick to the agreement” to rotate four submarines through Submarine Rotational Force-West from next year, forming part of a broader five-submarine rotational presence. He said construction at HMAS Stirling was progressing steadily, with facilities for maintenance, housing and operations in place and “not behind” schedule. The Australian Government’s $8 billion upgrade is expected to support thousands of jobs. Caudle said US shipbuilding rates should exceed two submarines annually by 2030, reinforcing confidence in delivery timelines and long-term defence cooperation.

>>24526266 US commander says Australia is ready for AUKUS subs, warns of 'increasingly aggressive' China - (Video) The United States Indo-Pacific commander has warned Congress that China’s rapidly expanding military poses a growing threat, while praising Australia’s readiness to host AUKUS submarines. Admiral Samuel Paparo said the US needed to “supercharge” shipbuilding and weapons production, citing shortages of submarines, destroyers and amphibious vessels as demand outpaces supply. He said upgrades to HMAS Stirling in Western Australia were progressing well and could host submarines “today”, but acknowledged concerns about delays in US submarine production that may affect delivery of Virginia-class vessels to Australia in the 2030s. Paparo also highlighted China’s increasing military output and global ambitions, warning its actions could reshape regional security dynamics, as US resources are stretched by commitments including the ongoing war in the Middle East.

>>24544719 US Navy awards first AUKUS submarine contract using Australian funds but experts warn of production strain - The US Navy has awarded its first AUKUS-related submarine contract using Australian funding, marking a significant milestone in the trilateral security partnership while raising fresh concerns about strain on American submarine production capacity. Electric Boat, the United States’ primary nuclear submarine designer and builder, received a $US196 million contract funded through Australia’s $US3 billion contribution to the US submarine industrial base. US congressman Joe Courtney described the agreement as evidence AUKUS was “tangibly moving forward”, while Admiral Samuel Paparo said preparations for a rotational submarine force in Western Australia remained on schedule. However, congressional analysts warned America’s submarine production lines were already under pressure and may struggle to meet both domestic naval requirements and commitments to deliver Virginia-class submarines to Australia under AUKUS.

#45 - Part 65

AUKUS Security Pact and Nuclear Submarine Program - Part 2

>>24548231 King Charles plays the AUKUS card to mend fractured alliance with Donald Trump - King Charles III is expected to use a historic address to the US Congress to emphasise the AUKUS security partnership and broader defence ties as part of efforts to reinforce relations between Britain and the United States during a period of tension involving President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Buckingham Palace has indicated the King will frame the relationship around “reconciliation and renewal”, highlighting NATO and AUKUS as examples of enduring strategic co-operation despite disagreements over Iran, migration and defence policy. The four-day state visit includes meetings with Trump at the White House, a formal state dinner and a congressional address marking the 250th anniversary of American independence. King Charles is also expected to reference the recent security incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner during his speech.

>>24555948 King Charles hails AUKUS pact as he calls on US to defend alliances - (Video) King Charles III has used a rare address to the US Congress to highlight the AUKUS submarine pact as a symbol of enduring strategic ties between Britain, the United States and Australia amid rising global instability. Describing AUKUS as “the most ambitious submarine program in history”, the monarch said the partnership strengthened “shared resilience” and reinforced long-term security for allied nations. The speech, delivered during celebrations marking 250 years since American independence, also stressed the importance of NATO, support for Ukraine and continued co-operation between Western allies. King Charles referenced the recent assassination attempt against President Donald Trump, declaring such violence would “never succeed”. Trump welcomed the King and Queen Camilla at the White House with full ceremonial honours and praised the “special relationship” between Britain and America.

>>24556044 Inside Trump’s state dinner for the King, where Australia took centre stage - (Video) Australia and the AUKUS partnership featured prominently during King Charles III’s state dinner at the White House, with the monarch presenting President Donald Trump a historic submarine bell linked to wartime operations in Australia. Charles described the bell from HMS Trump, a British-built World War II submarine that later served with an Australian-based squadron, as an “AUKUS predecessor” symbolising shared military history and future co-operation. The King also elevated AUKUS alongside NATO as a key alliance helping Western nations confront an “increasingly complex and contested world”. Trump warmly received the gesture during the intimate East Room dinner attended by senior US officials, billionaires and business leaders, including Australian packaging executive Anthony Pratt. The evening also featured speeches, humour and renewed emphasis on the “special relationship” between Britain and America.

#45 - Part 66

AUKUS Security Pact and Nuclear Submarine Program - Part 3

>>24556451 UK parliament's AUKUS inquiry report questions if Britain can keep submarine promises - A British parliamentary inquiry has raised concerns about whether the United Kingdom can deliver nuclear-powered submarines promised under the AUKUS pact on schedule, warning delays or funding shortfalls could undermine the trilateral partnership with Australia and the United States. The House of Commons Defence Committee said the SSN-AUKUS program would require sustained financial commitment across multiple governments and described signs of weakness in the investment pipeline as “deeply concerning”. The report also highlighted risks linked to low submarine production rates in the United States, where Virginia-class boats are intended for sale to Australia from the early 2030s. While broadly supportive of AUKUS, the inquiry noted criticism that geopolitical changes and Donald Trump’s “America First” approach had complicated the agreement’s long-term reliability and strategic assumptions.

>>24556469 New Defence chief Meghan Quinn faces AUKUS test amid UK doubts - Meghan Quinn has been appointed Australia’s new Defence Department secretary, becoming the first woman to hold the role as the government confronts mounting concerns over delays and risks to the AUKUS submarine program. Quinn, previously the architect of Labor’s Future Made in Australia agenda, will oversee major reforms ordered by Defence Minister Richard Marles to address procurement failures and cultural problems within the department. Her appointment coincided with a British parliamentary inquiry warning “shortcomings and failings” could threaten AUKUS delivery timelines, particularly around UK shipyard upgrades and investment. Opposition defence spokesman James Paterson urged Labor to consider purchasing US B-21 stealth bombers as insurance against potential capability gaps. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese insisted the submarine pact remained “full steam ahead” despite the British concerns.

>>24592928 AUKUS champion to oversee top-secret defence committee - Labor senator Deborah O’Neill is expected to chair a new parliamentary defence committee established to oversee highly classified aspects of Australia’s expanding military build-up, including the AUKUS nuclear submarine program. The bipartisan committee, created through legislation passed in March, will receive access to sensitive defence and intelligence briefings usually withheld from public scrutiny. Membership has been restricted to Labor and Coalition parliamentarians, excluding the Greens and crossbench MPs because of the classified material involved. Senator O’Neill has been one of parliament’s strongest supporters of AUKUS, previously describing the nuclear submarine program as “transformational”. Liberal senator Dave Sharma is expected to become deputy chair. The committee will oversee a defence program projected to cost up to $368 billion, including Australia’s acquisition of Virginia-class and Australian-built nuclear-powered submarines.

#45 - Part 67

Australia / China Tensions - Part 1

>>24386734 Australian expat was Chinese spy asset, jury finds - (Video) A New South Wales District Court jury has found Australian businessman Alexander Csergo guilty of reckless foreign interference after deciding he “recklessly compiled reports” for individuals he should have suspected were Chinese spies linked to China’s Ministry of State Security. Prosecutors said Csergo, approached on LinkedIn while running a business in Shanghai, produced “fake, plagiarised reports” using open-source material on mining, politics, defence and security, and falsely claimed to have interviewed figures including former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd. The reports were handed over in person, sometimes in near-empty venues, in return for envelopes containing thousands of dollars in cash. Judge Craig Smith continued Csergo’s bail until Monday, with conditions requiring him to report to police twice a day, after prosecutors sought his immediate detention.

>>24386739 Alexander Csergo who sold reports to Chinese spies jailed after guilty verdict - (Video) Sydney businessman Alexander Csergo has been taken into custody ahead of sentencing after a judge found it was “realistically inevitable” he would receive a further jail term for reckless foreign interference. The District Court jury had earlier found Csergo guilty over reports he prepared for two people he believed were linked to China’s Ministry of State Security, with the Crown describing the case as a “very serious example” of the offence over a 16-month period. Judge Craig Smith said he did “not accept that there are exceptional circumstances”, rejecting defence arguments about Csergo’s earlier custody and strict bail conditions. Csergo, who said he supplied only open-source material, is due back in court on March 20.

>>24386745 ABF holds secret China talks as tobacco giant slams Australia’s black market failure - Australian Border Force deputy commissioner Tim Fitzgerald has held “friendly talks” in Beijing with Chinese tobacco regulators as concern grows over Australia’s illicit tobacco and vape trade. Chinese state media said Fitzgerald met officials from China’s State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, though it remains unclear whether any agreement was reached or whether the talks will affect Australia’s black market. The report says toxic Chinese-made vapes and illicit cigarette brands have flooded the country, while British American Tobacco chief corporate officer Kingsley Wheaton argued Australia is now “the blackest of the black tobacco markets in the world” and warned illicit products account for “two in every three cigarettes”. He said collapsing excise revenue and rising criminal violence showed the policy settings had “backfired spectacularly”.

>>24400095 Colonial-style arrogance: China attacks Australia, New Zealand over Iran comments - China has condemned Australia and New Zealand for “colonial-style arrogance” after the two countries issued a joint statement criticising Iran’s missile and drone attacks and raising concerns about Beijing’s conduct on issues including the South China Sea, Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong. In response, China’s embassy in New Zealand accused both governments of hypocrisy, “bias, misinformation” and double standards, and said they were ignoring the “root cause” of the Middle East war while criticising China’s internal affairs. The embassy also pointed to Australia and New Zealand’s own records on indigenous and minority issues, repeated Beijing’s positions on Taiwan and maritime disputes, and urged Wellington to take a “clear-eyed view” of the situation. The exchange reflects a renewed use of sharp diplomatic language as tensions over regional security, human rights and the Iran conflict deepen.

>>24415989 Iran may be using China’s advanced satellite system, ambassador concedes - China’s ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, has said Iran could be using Beijing’s BeiDou satellite navigation system to target United States and Israeli military assets, while insisting China is not directly involved in the conflict. In a rare interview with 60 Minutes Australia, Xiao said the system was available on a public or commercial basis and that Beijing did not discriminate over access. He also described the killing of Iran’s supreme leader in joint United States-Israeli strikes as a violation of international law and called for an immediate halt to the war and a return to negotiations. More broadly, Xiao said China’s military actions in places including the South China Sea and Tasman Sea showed it was no longer a country that could “easily be bullied”, while warning Australia to uphold its One China policy over Taiwan.

#45 - Part 68

Australia / China Tensions - Part 2

>>24505916 Accused military man Daniel Duggan loses fight to stay in Australia - (Video) Former United States Marine pilot Daniel Duggan will be extradited to the United States after the Federal Court rejected his bid to remain in Australia, where he faces allegations of aiding the Chinese military. Duggan, an Australian citizen and father of six, is accused of arms trafficking and money laundering linked to training activities in South Africa in 2012, which he denies. Justice James Stellios found no jurisdictional error in the extradition decision and ruled arguments around dual criminality were “inconsequential”. Duggan has been held in a maximum security prison since his 2022 arrest in New South Wales and faces up to 65 years’ imprisonment if convicted. His wife described the ordeal as “1,273 days of… terrible trauma”, saying he has spent 19 months in solitary confinement. Supporters argue he was solely an Australian citizen at the time, a claim central to their position that US jurisdiction should not apply to his alleged conduct.

>>24505926 Former US Marines pilot Dan Duggan loses bid to avoid extradition from Australia - (Video) Former United States Marine Corps pilot Daniel Duggan will be extradited to the United States after the Federal Court dismissed his bid to block the transfer over allegations he trained Chinese military pilots. Duggan, an Australian citizen, denies charges including arms export violations and money laundering linked to activities between 2009 and 2012, and faces up to 65 years’ imprisonment if convicted. Justice James Stellios ruled the court’s role was limited and rejected arguments that the offences must have equivalent Australian laws, focusing on legal eligibility for extradition rather than the underlying allegations. Supporters argue he “broke no Australian law” and warn against “US overreach”, while his legal team said the decision turned on a narrow legal point rather than the merits of the case. Duggan has 28 days to appeal, with final approval resting with the federal government.

>>24512470 US ex-Marine loses extradition appeal in China pilots case - (Video) Former US Marine pilot Daniel Duggan has lost an appeal in an Australian court against his extradition to the United States, where he faces charges of illegally training Chinese military pilots. Duggan, 57, has been in custody since his 2022 arrest in regional New South Wales after returning from China, and denies the allegations. The US claims he committed offences between 2009 and 2012, including breaching an arms embargo and money laundering linked to pilot training in South Africa. Federal Court Justice James Stellios rejected arguments that the conduct was not illegal under Australian law at the time. Duggan’s wife urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to intervene, while his legal team has 28 days to consider further appeal. The case has drawn attention to foreign military training links and Australia’s tightened laws in this area.

>>24512473 Ex-US Marine loses extradition appeal over Chinese pilot training allegations - (Video) Former US Marine Corps pilot Daniel Duggan has lost his appeal against extradition to the United States, where he faces allegations of illegally training Chinese military aviators more than a decade ago. Federal Court Justice James Stellios ruled there was no jurisdictional error in the 2024 decision by then attorney-general Mark Dreyfus to approve extradition. Duggan, who denies the allegations and describes them as “political posturing”, is accused of providing training in South Africa without the required licence and receiving payments and travel benefits. He has been held in maximum security custody since his 2022 arrest in New South Wales. His wife said the family was “very disappointed” and would consider further legal action, while also urging Attorney-General Michelle Rowland to intervene and reverse the extradition order.

>>24521943 Vanuatu denies China security deal as Australia monitors regional ties - Vanuatu has denied claims it is negotiating a security agreement with China, as Australia closely monitors the Pacific nation’s engagements with Beijing amid ongoing talks over a separate pact with Canberra. Officials said recent meetings, including a ministerial visit to a Hong Kong technology summit, focused on cyber security and development, with no agreements signed. Both Vanuatu and the Chinese embassy rejected suggestions of a defence arrangement, stressing cooperation centred on infrastructure and capacity building. Vanuatu also insisted discussions on the stalled Nakamal Agreement with Australia were “not at all linked to China”. The deal collapsed last year over provisions seen as limiting Beijing’s role in regional security and infrastructure, highlighting tensions as Australia seeks to maintain influence in the Pacific.

#45 - Part 69

Australia / China Tensions - Part 3

>>24515562 Japan reportedly seals largest-ever postwar defense deal with frigate sale to Australia; move exposes Tokyo’s dangerous overconfidence, risks jeopardizing regional security: experts - "Tokyo signed a contract on Saturday with Canberra to supply the first three of a planned fleet of 11 upgraded Mogami-class frigates to the Australian Navy, the largest defense export contract in Japan's postwar history, Japan Times reported, and the was described by Reuters as "Tokyo's most consequential military sale since ending a military export ban in 2014," which signals Japan's push away from postwar pacifism and a move "to counter China." The sale deal risks intensifying an arms race in the Asia-Pacific, Chinese experts said, adding that Japan, by doing so, is misjudging the situation and being overconfident on its part in its capabilities and security environment - assuming it can expand its military role at will without jeopardizing its own security, Chinese experts said. … For Japan, the ability to export offensive weapons marks a fundamental breach of the "three principles on transfer of defense equipment and technology", enabling a major step in exporting advanced arms and moving toward becoming a major arms exporter. If such vessels are deployed near the South China Sea, they could also affect China, Song Zhongping, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times. It is actually Japan's ulterior motive to exporting weapons to China's neighbors to complicate regional security reality and indirectly counter China, Song pointed out, slamming Japan's dangerous militaristic resurgence. However, Song believes by doing so, Japan is overconfident in its capabilities of managing the situation - assuming it can expand its military role without risking domestic security. Such misplaced confidence could lead to serious strategic misjudgment, Song added. … Song said that under the umbrella of the US Asia-Pacific strategy, Japan and Australia are growing closer. However, Australia needs to recognize that if it chooses to interfere in East Asian affairs, a place far away from itself, by joining hands with Japan to counter China - it would be seen as a reckless and self-damaging move." - Zhao Yusha and Xia Wenxin, Global Times

>>24566025 Chinese-owned Landbridge launches international legal action over forced sale of Port of Darwin - Chinese-owned Landbridge has launched international legal action against Australia over the federal government's plan to force the sale of Darwin Port, arguing the move is “discriminatory” and breaches obligations under the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA). Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledged during the election to return the strategically sensitive port to Australian ownership on national security grounds, with the government negotiating for an Australian buyer while considering compulsory acquisition powers. Landbridge owner Ye Cheng has now sought arbitration through the World Bank's International Centre for Settlement of Investor Disputes, marking the first such case brought against Australia at the tribunal. Transport Minister Catherine King said the government was “disappointed” by the action but intended to continue negotiations. Coalition defence spokesman James Paterson said Canberra should not “cave in” to Landbridge’s.

>>24566044 Chinese firm launches legal bid to retain Darwin Port - Chinese-owned Landbridge has launched a World Bank legal challenge against the Albanese government's plan to return Darwin Port to Australian ownership, arguing the move breaches the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA). Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledged during the election to end the company’s 99-year lease over the strategically located port, but the government has not detailed how it would reclaim the asset. Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said Canberra was “disappointed” by the action and would defend the claim while continuing “good-faith discussions” with Landbridge. The company said it acquired the port through an “open and competitive process” and noted previous Australian government reviews found “no national security concerns”. The Trump administration has continued pressing Australia over the port’s Chinese ownership because of its proximity to shared military facilities in Darwin.

#45 - Part 70

Australia / China Tensions - Part 4

>>24566278 Chinese firm reportedly sues Australian govt over Port of Darwin; case tests Canberra’s commitment to international investment obligations: analyst - "Landbridge, a Chinese-owned company that owns Darwin Port, has launched international legal action to try and stop the Australian government from acquiring the port on so-called "national security" grounds. In a statement posted on its website on Friday, the company said that it considers the Commonwealth's proposed approach to return the Port of Darwin to Australian hands to be discriminatory and inconsistent with Australia's obligations under the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement. The company said it acquired its interest in the port "through a fair, open and competitive process in full compliance with all applicable Australian laws and regulatory approvals." Multiple Australian Government reviews have confirmed there are no national security concerns … Chen Hong, director of the Australian Studies Center of East China Normal University, told the Global Times on Saturday that Chinese enterprises' proactive legal action signals that this is more than a commercial dispute over port operating rights - it fundamentally tests Australia's commitment to contractual commitments, the rule of law, and international investment obligations. "If Australia forcibly reclaims the port without a solid legal basis, it would send a highly negative message: legitimate contracts could be stigmatized as security threats and overturned simply due to political needs. Against this backdrop, the filing of the lawsuit elevates the matter from Australia's domestic political discourse to the framework of international law and investment protection," Chen said … If Australia truly values the stability and improvement of bilateral relations, it should avoid turning the Darwin Port issue into a new political flashpoint, especially amid the warming of China-Australia ties and the recovery of economic cooperation, Chen said. Chen noted that Australia must stop intervening in normal business deals under the pretext of national security and grant Chinese enterprises the same transparent, predictable treatment as other foreign investors. "Otherwise, Australia will not only bear legal and economic costs through arbitration but also damage its international reputation as an open and reliable investment destination."" - Global Times

>>24573024 Takaichi pushes ‘free and open Indo-Pacific’ with Australia to contain China, but effect will be limited: expert - "Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi started her visit to Australia on Sunday, and during a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday, she promoted a “free and open Indo-Pacific” concept and pushed for deeper energy and critical minerals cooperation between the two countries. This marked a similar approach she had taken during her visit to Vietnam from Friday to Sunday. These moves have been criticized by Chinese experts as a calculated attempt to contain China's influence and build an exclusive regional bloc. Takaichi said she hopes Japan and Australia will play a leading role in regional stability under the updated "free and open Indo-Pacific" vision during her meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday in Canberra, NHK reported Monday … Takaichi has also called for strengthening frameworks such as the Quad, and described the relationship between Japan and Australia as “quasi-allies” … When asked to comment on Takaichi's scheduled proposal of a new version of the so-called "free and open Indo-Pacific" during her visit to Vietnam, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Wednesday that state-to-state interactions should not target or harm the interests of third parties. Under the pretext of freedom and openness, Japan is in essence stoking bloc confrontation and forming exclusive cliques. Such practices run counter to the shared aspiration of regional countries and the international community for peace, development and cooperation, and are unpopular, Lin said … He further noted that countries such as Australia are unlikely to align with Japan in confronting China … Penny Wong’s recent visit and remarks clearly show that Canberra fully recognizes China as one of its most important, stable, and structurally complementary economic partners, Chen Hong, director of the Australian Studies Center at East China Normal University, told the Global Times. Chen warned that the real danger lies not in normal Japan-Australia cooperation, but in militarization of their bilateral ties. For Australia, he stressed, the wisest choice is not to follow Japan’s push for military normalization or join the US-led camp confrontation, but to safeguard regional stability and preserve its own strategic autonomy." - Hu Yuwei and Wang Zixuan, Global Times

#45 - Part 71

Australia / China Tensions - Part 5

>>24578419 Takaichi’s ‘kneeling’ tribute in Australian war memorial sparks controversy; a political calculation aimed at pleasing West, but offensive to Asian neighbors: Chinese expert - "Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, a prominent right-wing figure who has repeatedly offered tributes at the notorious Yasukuni Shrine which enshrines Class-A war criminals directly responsible for wars of aggression during the WWII, surprised many during her recent visit to Australia, during which she knelt on both knees in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier to lay flowers at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Her such act has sparked controversy online, with many criticizing it a hypocritical political performance aiming to appease the West and showing the Japanese leader's white supremacy complex. A Chinese expert commented that Takaichi's behavior is full of political calculation and is offensive to Japan's Asian neighboring countries … Despite the efforts of Japanese authorities and mainstream press to frame the event as a simple floral offering while downplaying the act of kneeling, the move indeed sparked controversy on the internet … Xiang Haoyu, a distinguished research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times on Wednesday that Takaichi's "kneeling" is a world apart from former German Chancellor Willy Brandt's act of kneeling on both knees in front of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising Memorial. "The latter represented genuine reflection and respect. In contrast, Takaichi's behavior is full of political calculation and has offended Japan's Asian neighboring countries." "This is merely a political show designed to please Western allies. It is not sincere repentance at all. If Japan truly wants to reflect and show genuine remorse, it should first properly answer and make amends to its Asian neighboring countries," Xiang noted. "The voices of supporting Takaichi to visit Yasukuni Shrine precisely reflects the spread of erroneous historical views within Japan, where right and wrong are blurred," the Chinese expert warned." - Deng Xiaoci, Global Times

>>24592868 Why Japan’s PM ‘kneeling’ in Australia should be alarming - (Video) '"Takaichi’s double standards are deafening. In Australia, she honored anti-fascist fighters. In Malaysia, she mourned invading Japanese troops. She eagerly courts the West, yet dodges history and provokes her Asian neighbors. To her, history isn’t for reflecting, it’s a bargaining chip. Her “reconciliation” in Australia? Just cover for Japan’s military ambitions." - Global Times

>>24592869 Japan urged to stop hypocritical self-glorification: China’s MND slams Takaichi’s ‘a free and open Indo-Pacific’ claim during visits to Australia, Vietnam - "A spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense (MND) on Saturday urged Japanese authorities to stop their hypocritical self-glorification and rein in their dangerous ambition of military expansion and war preparation, in responding to claims made by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during visits to Australia and Vietnam. It is reported that Takaichi recently visited Australia and Vietnam to strengthen security cooperation with the two countries. During her visits, she touted a so-called updated vision of "a free and open Indo-Pacific", and clamored that Japan's post-war constitution, drafted during US military occupation, should be periodically updated to meet the demands of the times. Asked to comment on this, Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, the MND spokesperson, said that under the pretexts of the so-called "free and open Indo-Pacific" and "security cooperation", governing authorities in Japan are instigating bloc confrontation and building "small circles." This undermines the strategic security and interests of other countries, and serves as an excuse for Japan to break free from the restrictions on its military development, which we firmly oppose, Jiang said. Post-war Japanese governments did promise to uphold the pacifist constitution and pursue the path of a peaceful nation. Later on, they started to pay lip service and take few actions to back up such promise. The Takaichi administration, however, openly pushes for amending Japan's constitution. This shows that the Japanese right-wing forces are shedding their pretense, and shifting from covert military buildup to overt war preparation, making Japan's "neo-militarism" a growing and more prominent threat to regional peace, the MND spokesperson said." - Global Times

#45 - Part 72

Australia / China Tensions - Part 6

>>24592895 Former Chinese defence ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu receive suspended death sentences - Former Chinese defence ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu have received suspended death sentences after being convicted on corruption charges by China’s military court. Wei was found guilty of accepting bribes, while Li was convicted of both accepting and offering bribes. Under China’s legal system, the two-year reprieves will likely be commuted to life imprisonment without parole if the pair demonstrate good behaviour. Both men were stripped of political rights for life and had all personal property confiscated. The punishments represent one of the harshest outcomes of President Xi Jinping’s long-running anti-corruption campaign targeting the military and defence sector. Wei and Li were both former members of the powerful Central Military Commission and disappeared from public view after being removed from office amid widening investigations into corruption within China’s armed forces and defence procurement system.

>>24592922 Solomon Islands PM toppled in no-confidence vote - Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has lost power after parliament passed a no-confidence motion by 26 votes to 22, ending months of political instability in the Pacific nation. The vote followed cabinet resignations and the withdrawal of coalition partners, which left Mr Manele’s government weakened since March. Ahead of the motion, Mr Manele criticised the courts after judges ordered parliament to convene, describing the ruling as “judicial overreach”. Former foreign minister Peter Shanel Agovaka, considered a frontrunner to replace him, accused the government of weak leadership and inadequate transparency over spending linked to the Pacific Games and regional summits. Analysts said the leadership change would be closely watched internationally because the Solomon Islands has strengthened ties with Beijing in recent years while Australia has sought to counter growing Chinese security influence in the Pacific.

#45 - Part 73

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

>>24360139 ‘Some of the worst’:Dozens charged as police bust online paedophile ring- Thirty-five men across Victoria and New South Wales have been charged with more than 1000 offences after police infiltrated and dismantled an encrypted online network allegedly sharing extreme child sexual abuse material. The year-long undercover investigation, known as Operation Jac Beau, involved Australian Federal Police and Victoria Police officers posing as members of the group to identify suspects who believed encryption would conceal their activities. Authorities examined more than 300 hours of video footage and about 65,000 unique images during the investigation and executed more than 30 search warrants across Melbourne, regional Victoria and parts of NSW. Twenty-six arrests were made in Victoria and nine in NSW. Police said the material shared in the network depicted severe sexual abuse, torture and murder of infants and young children and bestiality, and was believed to have been produced overseas. Investigators have added the material to the International Child Sexual Exploitation database to assist global efforts to identify victims and offenders.

>>24360152 More than two dozen men charged with more than 1000 child abuse material offences - (Video) Twenty-six men in Victoria have been arrested and charged with more than 1000 offences after police dismantled an encrypted online group used to share large volumes of extreme child abuse material. Investigators said the network distributed more than 65,000 images and more than 300 hours of video depicting the sexual abuse, torture and murder of infants and young children, as well as bestiality. The two-year investigation by the Australian Federal Police and Victoria Police targeted suspects who allegedly used encrypted messaging platforms to exchange material and discuss plans to sexually abuse children. Australian Federal Police Detective Superintendent Bernard Geason said the material uncovered was “among the worst of the worst” and reflected the “sad reality” that some offenders exploit children for “their own perverse desires”. Victoria Police Detective Superintendent Tim McKinney said investigators faced the distressing task of reviewing hundreds of hours of video material, along with written conversations where participants expressed their desire to find children and infants in real life. Detective Acting Inspector Scott Amjah said the “volume and depravity” of the material uncovered “will stay with all of us” and warned the public would be “absolutely horrified by the content of the material that is circulated online these days”.

>>24363966 Australian footballer Barry Cable on trial for alleged sexual abuse of girl in 1960s - Former Australian football Hall of Famer Barry Cable has gone on trial in Western Australia accused of sexually abusing a girl aged under 13 at his Perth home in the late 1960s. The woman, now in her sixties, told the District Court the alleged abuse occurred when she was between eight and 11 years old after she was taken from an orphanage to stay with Cable and his family. Prosecutor Kim Jennings said the case would reveal a “dark side” behind Cable’s celebrated football career and told the court three additional women would give evidence about alleged offending. Cable, 82, has pleaded not guilty to seven charges. Defence lawyer Tom Percy said the allegations were “completely denied” and argued records and witness evidence would show the alleged incidents could not have occurred.

>>24371560 Wife of Australian footballer Barry Cable takes stand in his child sex abuse trial - The wife of former AFL player Barry Cable has told a Perth court the alleged victim in his child sexual abuse trial never stayed at their home, rejecting key elements of the prosecution case. Cable, 82, is accused of abusing a girl under 13 in the late 1960s after she was allegedly taken from an orphanage to the family home. The complainant has testified the abuse occurred over multiple visits while Mrs Cable was asleep, but Helen Cable said she had never heard of the orphanage and “can’t imagine it ever happened”. Under cross-examination, she denied documents suggesting the girl had stayed with them. A relative of the alleged victim told the court she was informed of the abuse decades earlier. Cable denies the allegations and did not take the stand to testify in his own defence.

#45 - Part 74

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

>>24371570 ‘He’d laugh’: Disgraced football great Barry Cable accused of abusing girls in spa - A Perth court has heard new allegations that former AFL player Barry Cable abused multiple young girls, including claims he exposed himself and committed indecent acts in a backyard spa. Cable, 82, is on trial over historical child sexual abuse charges relating to a girl aged about eight in the late 1960s, with prosecutors alleging repeated abuse at his family home. Two additional witnesses told the court Cable fondled them and exposed himself during spa incidents in the 1980s, with one alleging attempted penetration. Both said the behaviour occurred in the presence of other children and that complaints were dismissed. The defence has rejected the allegations and accused witnesses of fabrication and financial motivation. Cable denies all charges as the trial continues.

>>24379483 Abuse survivor Beth Heinrich wins public apology from Anglican Church for decades of failure - Abuse survivor Beth Heinrich will receive a formal public apology from the Anglican Church after decades of campaigning over its handling of her abuse by former bishop Donald Shearman and subsequent treatment by senior figures. Brisbane Archbishop Jeremy Greaves will deliver the apology at St John’s Cathedral, acknowledging institutional failures, including those of former archbishop Peter Hollingworth, who suggested Heinrich was partly at fault. Heinrich, 86, said she hoped the moment would “be an inspiration to others” to act on their own abuse and seek accountability. Greaves, who is also a survivor, said victims often carry “shame and guilt that belongs to the perpetrators” and that an apology could help Heinrich move “one more step on her journey of healing”. The case highlights longstanding criticism of the church’s handling of abuse complaints and the enduring impact on survivors.

>>24391153 Daniel’s Law: Two charged via Queensland’s public sex offender register - (Video) Two people have become the first in Queensland to be charged after community reports generated through the state’s public sex offender register, with Acting Police Commissioner Denzil Clark saying nine offenders had so far been identified as having access to children. Clark said two were facing charges for allegedly failing to properly report to police, while investigators were examining whether the other seven had breached their obligations. The register, launched on December 31 as Daniel’s Law, has been accessed more than 205,000 times in its first 10 weeks and lets users check a public list of offenders whose whereabouts are unknown, conduct locality searches for reportable offenders in their area, and make parent or guardian inquiries about whether a person with unsupervised contact with a child is a current reportable offender. Premier David Crisafulli said the scheme was “shining a spotlight on monsters” and would not be watered down.

>>24391161 Parents flock to Daniel’s Law website in overwhelming response - Queensland’s public child sex offender registry has been accessed more than 205,000 times since launching in December, with the Daniel’s Law website attracting a new visitor about every 30 seconds as parents and carers seek information about convicted offenders. The scheme gives users access to three levels of checks: a public list of reportable offenders whose whereabouts are unknown, locality searches that allow residents to view photographs of certain offenders living in their area, and parent or guardian applications to find out whether a specific person with unsupervised contact with a child is a reportable offender. Premier David Crisafulli said the early results showed the reforms were giving “parents and police the power to act”, while Daniel Morcombe’s father Bruce Morcombe said the law was “making a difference” by helping protect Queensland children. - Daniel’s Law website: https://www.danielslaw.qld.gov.au/daniels-law/

#45 - Part 75

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

>>24411700 Zev Serebryanski avoids further jail over child sexual abuse of Manny Waks in a Melbourne synagogue almost four decades ago - (Video) Zev Serebryanski has avoided further jail after being sentenced in the County Court of Victoria over the child sexual abuse of Manny Waks at the Yeshivah Centre in St Kilda East in the late 1980s. The 62-year-old received a 22-month sentence, but 19 months were wholly suspended for three years, while three months served in a New York prison before extradition to Melbourne were counted as time served, allowing him to walk free. A jury last year found him guilty of three counts of indecently assaulting a person under 16 and one count of sexually penetrating a child aged between 10 and 16. Judge John Kelly said the abuse caused profound harm and noted “damning admissions” and a partial apology captured in covert documentary footage. Before the hearing, Waks said the sentence made “little difference” from his perspective, adding: “My battle is over. I got him convicted for his heinous crimes against me,” and: “My ongoing battle has never been about revenge or retribution - rather, it’s about justice, accountability and prevention.”

>>24411738 Velvel Serebryanski, convicted of sexually abusing Manny Waks, walks free from court - (Video) Velvel Serebryanski has walked free from the Victorian County Court after receiving a 22-month sentence, with 19 months suspended and three months already served on remand in the United States counted as time served. He was also placed on a three-year good behaviour bond and remains a registered sex offender. Manny Waks, who watched the hearing from Israel by videolink, described the outcome as a significant milestone, saying: “I feel vindicated and that justice has prevailed.” He added that although Serebryanski had “walked away today”, “for me it’s not about punishing him and making him miserable for the rest of his life”. Waks said the case “hasn’t been about revenge and retribution, it’s about justice, accountability and prevention”. Judge John Kelly said the offending was profound and involved an exploitation of trust inside “one of the most sacred sites in the Jewish community”, while rejecting Serebryanski’s attempt to minimise responsibility.

>>24416011 Anglican church apologises to sexual abuse victim Beth Heinrich - Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane Jeremy Greaves has publicly apologised to Beth Heinrich, saying the church failed her both when she was abused as a teenager and when she later sought help. Speaking at St John’s Cathedral, Greaves said senior leaders in the Brisbane diocese, including former archbishop Peter Hollingworth, had compounded her suffering by failing to respond with “compassion, and justice, and accountability”. Heinrich, now 86, was abused in the 1950s by Reverend Donald Shearman while she was a minor in his care at an Anglican-run boarding house in Forbes, New South Wales. In 1995 she asked Hollingworth to have Shearman removed from the clergy, but he refused despite overseeing mediation in which the priest admitted the abuse. After the apology, Heinrich said Archbishop Greaves was “the first that appears to believe me, that I haven’t been treated properly by previous archbishops”, and added: “When they deny you something, it’s like you’re being abused again,” while expressing hope other survivors would seek justice too.

>>24416043 Anglican Church issues formal apology to 86-year-old child sex abuse survivor Beth Heinrich - Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane Jeremy Greaves has formally apologised to Beth Heinrich at St John’s Cathedral, acknowledging that church leaders, including former archbishop Peter Hollingworth, failed her after years of abuse and mistreatment. Greaves said Heinrich had been abused by Donald Shearman in a context of “power and trust” and that when she later found the courage to speak, “her voice was dismissed”. He told her that “what happened to you was not your fault” and apologised for the Brisbane diocese failing to act with integrity and care. Heinrich, 86, said the apology marked a turning point after decades of being ignored, declaring: “This is the end for me. I’m making an example and I want to encourage others.” She urged other survivors to keep fighting, saying they should not “get dissuaded by knock-backs” because “you’ve just got to keep knocking at the door”, and said Greaves was the first church figure “that appears to believe me”.

#45 - Part 76

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

>>24502437 Childcare predator Ashley Griffith in bid to reduce life sentence - Convicted child sex offender Ashley Griffith will seek to reduce his life sentence at a Queensland Court of Appeal hearing on May 28 after pleading guilty to 307 offences, including 28 counts of rape, committed over nearly two decades in childcare centres across Queensland and New South Wales. Griffith, described by the sentencing judge as “depraved” and presenting a high risk of reoffending, was given a non-parole period of 27 years, with his legal team arguing the sentence is excessive and should be reduced to a shorter fixed term. The case involved at least 65 victims, some as young as one, with evidence he filmed nearly all assaults and mocked children during the abuse. Separate proceedings remain pending in New South Wales over a further 180 alleged offences involving 23 identified victims, with extradition expected after the appeal process concludes. Families have raised concerns about delays, saying the process has been retraumatising.

>>24512455 ‘Worst nightmare’: 137 abuse charges hit Sydney childcare worker - (Video) A Sydney childcare worker has been charged with 137 offences spanning more than a decade, as federal police prepare to contact families of suspected victims following an extensive investigation into alleged child abuse material. The man faces 68 counts of producing child abuse material, 29 counts of filming a private act without consent, 29 counts of using a child under 14 to make abuse material, including 11 aggravated counts, seven counts of sexually touching a child under 10, and other related offences, with some carrying penalties of up to 20 years’ imprisonment. Authorities analysed 2.4 million files after being alerted by the US-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, with police warning many victims may be unaware they were targeted and the number of victims remains undisclosed. Detective Superintendent Luke Needham described the case as “a parent’s worst nightmare” and said specialist teams were preparing to support affected families, as further charges remain possible and investigations near completion.

Former footballer Barry Cable found not guilty of sexually abusing child in 1960s - Former Australian Rules footballer Barry Cable has been found not guilty of child sexual abuse charges dating back to the 1960s, following a judge-only trial in the Western Australian District Court. Judge Michael Bowden said he generally accepted the complainant’s account and considered it “more probable than not” she was telling the truth, but found there was insufficient evidence to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The ruling cited the absence of independent corroboration and the impact of decades-long delay, which limited Cable’s ability to mount a defence, with incomplete records and potential witnesses now deceased. The case centred on allegations the girl stayed at the Cable home, which was disputed, including evidence the property location did not match. Cable’s wife told the court the complainant had never stayed with them. Other women gave evidence about separate allegations, though not part of the charges, as the court weighed conflicting accounts.

>>24518296 Ex-Aussie rules football legend Barry Cable cleared in historical child sex abuse case - (Video) Former Australian Rules footballer Barry Cable has been acquitted of historical child sexual abuse charges after a judge-alone trial in the Perth District Court. Judge Michael Bowden found Cable not guilty of multiple offences, including indecent dealing and unlawful carnal knowledge, despite accepting the complainant’s account as “more probable than not” true. He ruled the evidence did not meet the criminal standard of proof beyond reasonable doubt, citing the absence of corroboration and the impact of a 60-year delay, which created “significant forensic disadvantage” for the defence. The case involved allegations the girl was abused at Cable’s home, which he denied. His family welcomed the outcome, describing the case as distressing, while the court emphasised the limitations imposed by missing records and deceased witnesses.

#45 - Part 77

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

>>24518298 Barry Cable found not guilty in historical child sex abuse trial - (Video) Former Australian Rules footballer Barry Cable has been acquitted of historical child sexual abuse charges dating back to the 1960s following a judge-only trial in the Western Australian District Court. Cable, 82, had pleaded not guilty to five counts of indecent dealing and two counts of unlawful carnal knowledge involving a girl under 13, with prosecutors alleging the abuse occurred at his family home. The judge found the allegations were not proven beyond reasonable doubt and cleared him of all charges. Cable’s family said they were “pleased” and “not surprised” by the outcome, noting he had always maintained his innocence. The case follows a separate civil ruling in 2023 that found Cable liable for abuse of another girl, resulting in damages and the loss of honours, including removal from the Australian Football Hall of Fame and the stripping of his legend status.

>>24556764 Hundreds of child abuse files found on devices belonging to police killer Dezi Freeman - (Video) Police allegedly discovered hundreds of child abuse files on devices belonging to Dezi Freeman after the sovereign citizen shot dead two Victorian police officers during a raid on his property in August last year. Officers had attended Freeman’s makeshift home near Porepunkah to execute a search warrant linked to a child abuse investigation when he opened fire, killing constables Neal Thompson and Vadim de Waart-Hottart before fleeing into bushland. Freeman remained on the run for 216 days before being shot dead by police in March after an armed standoff in north-east Victoria. Authorities are also investigating alleged historical sexual offences connected to Freeman. Detectives are now focusing on identifying people who may have helped him evade capture while living as a fugitive across regional Victoria.

>>24556810 Landon Germanotta-Mills: Bail win for alleged leader of global satanic child abuse ring - (Video) Alleged child abuse network figure Landon Germanotta-Mills has been granted Supreme Court bail despite prosecutors warning the accusations against him involved some of the “most extreme” material investigators had encountered. Police allege the 27-year-old played a leading role in an international child abuse ring involving satanic imagery and material relating to babies and young children. Germanotta-Mills, who had been held on remand since November, faces multiple charges involving the alleged possession, transmission and access of child abuse material. Justice Belinda Rigg acknowledged the prosecution case appeared strong and carried a “real prospect” of imprisonment if convicted, but ruled strict bail conditions could manage community risks. He will live under home detention with his mother in regional New South Wales while awaiting further court proceedings alongside several co-accused men.

#45 - Part 78

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

>>24576260 Jasper Jones author Craig Silvey pleads guilty to distributing child exploitation material - West Australian author Craig Silvey has pleaded guilty to distributing and possessing child exploitation material after appearing in Fremantle Magistrates Court, while two other charges against him were dropped. The 43-year-old, best known for the novel Jasper Jones, was arrested in January following allegations he engaged online with other suspected child exploitation offenders over several days. Earlier court hearings were told Silvey allegedly distributed child exploitation material and expressed a sexual interest in children during online conversations. One possession charge and a charge of producing child exploitation material were withdrawn on Tuesday. Silvey remains on bail under strict conditions, including reporting to police three times a week and being banned from child-related work. His case now proceeds to the District Court for sentencing following the guilty pleas.

>>24576312 Australian author Craig Silvey's books permanently pulled from WA public schools - Western Australia has permanently removed books by author Craig Silvey from the state’s public school curriculum after he pleaded guilty to possessing and distributing child exploitation material. Education Minister Sabine Winton said there was “absolutely no place” in schools for works by someone who admitted to “serious crimes”, confirming an earlier temporary suspension would become permanent. Premier Roger Cook backed the decision as “appropriate”. Silvey, best known for Jasper Jones, pleaded guilty this week after being charged following a police raid on his Fremantle home in January. His publisher Allen & Unwin said it would review steps to end its relationship with the author, while several libraries and bookstores have already removed his books from shelves.

>>24576326 Landon Germanotta-Mills: Encrypted chats reveal horrific allegations against ‘satanic paedophile’ - Sydney man Landon Germanotta-Mills has been accused of participating in an online child abuse network uncovered during a NSW Police investigation into encrypted file-sharing platforms allegedly used to distribute exploitation material. Court documents allege the 27-year-old possessed and transmitted thousands of abuse images involving children and animals, while engaging in online conversations with other suspected offenders. Police arrested Germanotta-Mills at his Waterloo apartment in November under Strikeforce Constantine after tracing accounts linked to a New Zealand-based website. Detectives alleged he attempted to explain the material by claiming he was acting as an “investigative journalist” building a case. NSW Supreme Court Justice Belinda Rigg granted him bail last month under strict conditions including home detention, daily police reporting and bans on internet-enabled devices. Germanotta-Mills has not entered pleas and will return to court later this year.

PREVIOUSLY COLLECTED NOTABLES

Q Research AUSTRALIA #45 ———————————— https://www.fullchan.net/?c2631b9b6d802200#4a6JMWxoCb54hgfuQ2ExY8nyZisHpfpdUMjP1sxdQR5S

Q Research AUSTRALIA #44 ———————————— https://www.fullchan.net/?151988ee2c81a85b#D8iHxzhuqsDBk2QUw3icaVyKHq5UyvThwMXw2gN62hW8

Q Research AUSTRALIA #43 ———————————— https://www.fullchan.net/?8982fe5e24ea92f5#E94rVvo5d5x8eNKXFcviR8JR2ARg1rbvPU1yFXCvK5Rt

Q Research AUSTRALIA #42 ———————————— https://www.fullchan.net/?019818d661be4b9c#E6VgQa6cjDvcaNNyJkyNpAj4B76xp4WkiWLoJCpusBLD

Q Research AUSTRALIA #41 ———————————— https://www.fullchan.net/?21d970f62e5ccb01#nkAKS22kjJQwFepGu4WuottDKgxjbTN3S1kCiym7FFJ

NOTABLES ARCHIVE

Q Research AUSTRALIA #31 - #40 ——————–——– https://www.fullchan.net/?5a659d98ae03160a#BhFCvrfE7JDouz3QHXg6pQ1Ur8J8awS9u5METKcDAjLR

Q Research AUSTRALIA #21 - #30 ——————–——– https://www.fullchan.net/?4363b527973f8b50#79PDB3KkDf1Lrzpdp9FRAUeNU2ipR6w7482cJUTSHyZA

Q Research AUSTRALIA #11 - #20 ——————–——– https://www.fullchan.net/?be74180e50d86066#DEjTcJMB31fjsFGc8SEa92BZvsdEoBV6gYrf4dEyagah

Q Research AUSTRALIA #01 - #10 ——————–——– https://www.fullchan.net/?ec18eb68d2a4f858#9wdQ8iSQZtzQsCTkLdaeZtAVwiw5usWiYQmoqqCCFCum

THREAD ARCHIVES

Q Research AUSTRALIA #45 ————————————–——– https://archive.vn/DaBq4

Q Research AUSTRALIA #44 ————————————–——– https://archive.vn/4OWXq

Q Research AUSTRALIA #43 ————————————–——– https://archive.vn/ie3w5

Q Research AUSTRALIA #42 ————————————–——– https://archive.vn/vHdei

Q Research AUSTRALIA #41 ————————————–——– https://archive.vn/k6zeL

Q Research AUSTRALIA #40 ————————————–——– https://archive.vn/Ib9Dn

Q Research AUSTRALIA #39 ————————————–——– https://archive.vn/dR9km

Q Research AUSTRALIA #38 ————————————–——– https://archive.vn/lfpNB

Q Research AUSTRALIA #37 ————————————–——– https://archive.vn/xCJMa

Q Research AUSTRALIA #36 ————————————–——– https://archive.vn/dXRAE

Q Research AUSTRALIA #35 ————————————–——– https://archive.vn/5filx

Q Research AUSTRALIA #34 ————————————–——– https://archive.vn/t0xVE

Q Research AUSTRALIA #33 ————————————–——– https://archive.vn/vL7Ql

Q Research AUSTRALIA #32 ————————————–——– https://archive.vn/vxhFN

Q Research AUSTRALIA #31 ————————————–——– https://archive.vn/OnkU1

Q Research AUSTRALIA #30 ————————————–——– https://archive.vn/qhbEg

Q Research AUSTRALIA #29 ————————————–——– https://archive.vn/d8OqC

Q Research AUSTRALIA #28 ————————————–——– https://archive.vn/cXDww

Q Research AUSTRALIA #27 ————————————–——– https://archive.vn/KZ6Y0

Q Research AUSTRALIA #26 ————————————–——– https://archive.vn/dJnda

Q Research AUSTRALIA #25 ————————————–——– https://archive.vn/mWRzL

Q Research AUSTRALIA #24 ————————————–——– https://archive.vn/uytYA

Q Research AUSTRALIA #23 ————————————–——– https://archive.vn/R5AIe

Q Research AUSTRALIA #22 ————————————–——– https://archive.vn/vwtO9

Q Research AUSTRALIA #21 ————————————–——– https://archive.vn/Si585

Q Research AUSTRALIA #20 ————————————–——– https://archive.vn/Q7NNa

Q Research AUSTRALIA #19 ————————————–——– https://archive.vn/elcTK

Q Research AUSTRALIA #18 ————————————–——– https://archive.vn/oV4MT

Q Research AUSTRALIA #17 ————————————–——– https://archive.vn/NtfuF

Q Research AUSTRALIA #16 ————————————–——– https://archive.vn/PFwgE

Q Research AUSTRALIA #15 ————————————–——– https://archive.vn/5hP7I

Q Research AUSTRALIA #14 ————————————–——– https://archive.vn/A85E8

Q Research AUSTRALIA #13 ————————————–——– https://archive.vn/rdbq6

Q Research AUSTRALIA #12 ————————————–——– https://archive.vn/PahoV

Q Research AUSTRALIA #11 ————————————–——– https://archive.vn/VoY1C

Q Research AUSTRALIA #10 ————————————–——– https://archive.vn/lmbJh

Q Research AUSTRALIA #9 ————————————––——– https://archive.vn/gOsSc

Q Research AUSTRALIA #8 ————————————––——– https://archive.vn/xYtqT

Q Research AUSTRALIA #7 ————————————––——– https://archive.vn/YT76p

Q Research AUSTRALIA #6 ————————————––——– https://archive.vn/DGknZ

Q Research AUSTRALIA #5 ————————————––——– https://archive.vn/vlHWs

Q Research AUSTRALIA #4 ————————————––——– https://archive.vn/B0Z4l

Q Research AUSTRALIA #3 ————————————––——– https://archive.vn/xznbY

Q Research AUSTRALIA #2 ————————————––——– https://archive.vn/hlJ0W

Q Research AUSTRALIA #1 ————————————––——– https://archive.vn/vJ8oH

CURRENT DOUGH

https://www.fullchan.net/?e3a48d9b95862b03#9AgNEv68U5DFTmnfV4piEuhrrHynbPFoHMdemfM6hx6D

>>24589344 (pb)

Pauline Hanson calls on Angus Taylor to back One Nation if she wins more seats at the election

ROSIE LEWIS - May 11, 2026

1/2

An emboldened Pauline Hanson has extended her hand to Angus Taylor and Nationals leader Matt Canavan to create a conservative plan to get rid of Anthony Albanese, as she demanded the Coalition guarantee support for a One Nation-led government if her party wins more seats than it does at the next election.

On a high after voters for the first time elected a One Nation MP to the House of Representatives at Saturday’s Farrer by-­election, taking the party’s lower-house representation to two, the One Nation leader declared the Coalition had to realise “I’m not the enemy” as she looked to pick up more electorates than the Liberals and Nationals in one term.

The Coalition holds 41 seats in the House of Representatives.

“If they get the numbers and they require our numbers to give them government, then I will give them supply and confidence,” Senator Hanson told The Australian. “I don’t want a ministerial position because that means they will be able to shut me down, dictate to me, and I have to pass bad legislation, support them on it. I’m not going to do that.

“But I also want to know: if we get more members than what they do, and we require their numbers (to form government), will they give me the same deal? We don’t know what the future holds. The people are angry. The people have had enough.”

As Liberals face the likelihood of making more deals with the populist party to beat Labor, the Prime Minister predicted it would be unlikely the Coalition could form government without One Nation but didn’t believe Senator Hanson’s cut-through would extend into metropolitan seats.

Senator Hanson agreed with Mr Albanese’s “bold” assertion that the Coalition now needed One Nation.

Pressed on whether she would sit down with the Opposition Leader and Senator Canavan to map out a possible pathway to government at the next election, due in 2028, she said: “We can do that closer to the election. There’s not going to be an election on for another two years and hopefully we’ll be able to work together with the Coalition government in Victoria and in NSW up to the (federal) election.

“I was just disgusted with the dirty fight that the Nats and Libs brought against One Nation in the seat of Farrer instead of working with us to stop the teal from winning the seat. It tells me that they’re very concerned about the rising support of One Nation. They’ve got to realise I’m not the enemy. If they are really conservatives, are there for the right reasons to get good government for the people and oust the Labor Party, they should be working with me, not against me.”

Senator Hanson denied One Nation was at its peak, describing the Farrer win as “breaking the ceiling”. It had not solidified her desire to switch from the Senate and run in the lower house at the next election, saying that move was still under consideration.

Senator Canavan said he had no interest in creating a formal coalition with One Nation and wanted to win government without Senator Hanson’s support, adamant that no more Nationals MPs would follow Barnaby Joyce and defect to the minor party.

The Liberals gained just 12.38 per cent of the first preference vote in the Farrer by-election, representing a swing of 31 per cent against the party, compared with 39.46 per cent for One Nation’s David Farley and 28.39 per cent for independent candidate Michelle Milthorpe, who was backed by Climate 200.

The Nationals picked up 9.72 per cent of the first preference vote, the first time the party had been able to field a candidate since losing the seat to the Liberals in 2001.

“One Nation finished first (in Farrer) but the problem has been traditionally … the One Nation vote doesn’t always come back to our side of politics, that people’s preferences go all of which ways,” Senator Canavan said.

“There has to be a very clear message to the Australian people that if you want to change the government, you’ve got to put the Labor Party last. If that’s all you do, you’re going to get change. Everything else you can do, I don’t care. You can put the Greens one and they’ll get knocked out anyway.”

(continued)

>>24599739

2/2

Mr Albanese accused the Liberal and Nationals parties of “legitimising” One Nation by swapping preferences with Senator Hanson and adopting similar policies, saying it was a “big mistake” that led to thousands of Farrer voters switching their allegiance to Senator Hanson.

Farrer had been held by the Coalition since it was created in 1949.

“What is very clear now is that the chances of the Liberal Party and National Party being a part of a government just by themselves don’t look pretty, don’t look likely, to say the least,” Mr Albanese said on 4CA Cairns radio. “The fact they’re talking openly about effectively a three-party government down the track, I think people know how unstable a Liberal, National, One Nation government would be.”

The dysfunction within the Coalition since the May 2025 election – with the Nationals splitting from the Liberals twice and former Liberal leader Sussan Ley, who represented Farrer, being ousted – also had harmed the conservative parties, Mr Albanese said. But he didn’t expect One Nation’s appeal to go beyond regional electorates where the party had traditionally done best.

He believed Labor and moderate Liberal voters wouldn’t want to see One Nation become part of a government and acknowledged the protest vote on Saturday of people “under financial pressure who feel like the system isn’t working for them”.

“That’s a message for all political parties in the system,” Mr Albanese told the ABC’s RN Breakfast program.

Deputy Liberal leader Jane Hume denied her party’s policies were imitating and copying those of One Nation as she dismissed a future coalition with Senator Hanson’s party as a “massive hypothetical”.

She said the two break-ups of the Coalition since the election had resulted in a “a pretty devastating breach of trust for the Australian people”, while noting Mr Taylor had been leader of the Liberals for only 10 weeks and Senator Canavan leader of the Nationals for a shorter time

“They (voters) expect a united and strong Coalition now. That’s what is in place now, but we paid the price for that breach of trust at the Farrer by-election,” Senator Hume told ABC News Breakfast.

“We always knew that it was going to be a tough by-election with the retiring of the local member who’d been there for quarter of a century. It’s a really long time to be in parliament and to represent your community.

“The community were feeling disillusioned. We’ve heard the message loud and clear. We need to rebuild trust. We’ve lost trust in the last few years, and we need to rebuild that now, and that’s exactly what Angus Taylor and I intend to do.”

One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce, who will be joined by Mr Farley in the House of Representatives, said the right-wing minor party would not have an open door to Coalition MPs looking to jump ship, claiming the Liberals’ loss in Farrer was “almost a signal that things might be over”.

“Just because you jump doesn’t mean we catch you. It’s not an open door that anybody who wishes just walks into One Nation,” Mr Joyce said.

“The Liberal Party really do have to do some soul searching after the weekend because that was catastrophic. That is almost, that’s almost a signal that things might be over.”

Mr Joyce said the result could not be brushed off by the major political parties, claiming the limit of One Nation’s reach was up to the Australian people. “It’s as far as the Australian people want it to go, I suspect. As things evolve over time, the base broadens,” he said.

“Talking to people last night in the western suburbs of Sydney, they’re quite at home with the idea of One Nation being a dominant force in western Sydney.”

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/anthony-albanese-says-liberals-nationals-legitimised-one-nation-affected-the-farrer-byelection-vote/news-story/fab6d15634650d0fd78f66c8cd7a40f7

Australian soldier killed after two parachutes collide mid-air in training incident at Jervis Bay

Jack Nivison and Ria Pandey - May 12, 2026

1/2

An Australian special forces soldier has been killed in a “mid-air collision” during a parachute training exercise at a Defence Force base in coastal NSW.

Warrant Officer Lachlan Muddle, 50, was killed on Monday night when he collided mid-air with a parachute instructor as his paratrooper regiment was involved in routine training at the Jervis Bay Airfield.

Addressing media on Tuesday, Major General Garth Gould said the men “collided several hundred feet above the ground as they were manoeuvring towards the drop zone”.

“After the collision, both soldiers fell from height. One soldier, a sergeant from the Australian Defence Force parachute school, survived the fall with minor injuries,” General Gould said.

“A second soldier, Warrant Officer Lachlan Muddle, received fatal injuries as a result of the fall.

“Warrant Officer Muddle was provided immediate first aid on the scene by Australian Defence Force medics who were later joined by NSW Ambulance who arrived on the scene very quickly.

“Both paratroopers were highly skilled. Between the two of them, they had several thousand jumps to their credit.”

When asked by reporters if he believed the ADF parachute training safety protocols were up to scratch, General Gould said he had “a high degree of confidence”.

“I do believe they are up to scratch and fit for purpose. I’ve got a high degree in confidence in our training system,” he said.

“You’re right to bring up the tragic accident that involved Lance Corporal Jack Fitzgibbon about two years ago. That matter involved a single paratrooper. It was investigated through a number of lines of inquiry. Some of those inquiries have concluded and provided recommendations, others are close to concluding.

“I am very confident in the safety system as a whole.”

General Gould also added that all parachute exercises across the Defence Force had been halted pending an internal investigation into Warrant Officer Muddle’s death.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to Warrant Officer Muddle, stating “our hearts go out to his Army family and the broader Defence community”.

“This tragic accident is a stark reminder that there are no easy days for those who defend our nation,” the Prime Minister said in a statement.

“We are in the debt of every Australian who serves and puts themselves on the line for all of us.

“May Warrant Officer Class Two Muddle live on in every heart he touched.”

(continued)

>>24599808

2/2

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor described Warrant Officer Muddle as an “honourable man” whose loss would reverberate in the lives of those closest to him.

“His family has lost a husband. Friends have lost a mate, and the Special Air Service regiment has lost a brother in arms,” Mr Taylor said.

“We acknowledge their loss and their grief as we mourn our nation’s loss of such a fine Australian.”

The House of Representatives observed a moment of silence in honour of Warrant Officer Muddle.

Warrant Officer Muddle joined the Army in 1994, going on to serve in the elite Special Air Service Regiment in 2007.

Defence Minister Richard Marles said it was important to “let the investigation play out”.

“It does matter that we continue to train, and the skills of parachuting are fundamental to a range of occupations within the Defence Force, but for this moment we have paused parachuting within the ADF to understand as best we can what has happened here,” Mr Marles said.

“It does appear as though the parachutes have become tangled … but the exact rate of descent, whether they landed together, are details which need to be investigated.

Mr Marles said it was important to make sure any investigation into how Warrant Officer Muddle’s death unfolded was “as thorough as possible”.

NSW Minister for Veterans affairs David Harris said he extended his “deepest condolences” to Warrant Officer Muddle’s family, loved ones and ADF colleagues.

“The loss of any service member is profoundly distressing, and this incident will be deeply felt across the Defence and veteran communities. ADF personnel undertake demanding and often hazardous training in preparation for service to our nation. That commitment reflects extraordinary professionalism, courage and dedication” Mr Harris said.

“While training is essential to operational readiness, any loss of life during these activities is devastating and warrants careful reflection.”

The death comes more than two years after former federal defence minister Joel Fitzgibbon’s son Jack was killed in a parachute incident at the Richmond RAAF base in Sydney’s northwest.

https://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/military/an-australian-soldier-killed-in-training-accident-at-jervis-bay-nsw-adf/news-story/eaab16512d923022cf18feffd93d0040

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIo6_Sa1pR0

https://x.com/AlboMP/status/2054045002930737627

>>24599808

Defence Minister hails ‘one of Australia’s finest’ Lachlan Muddle after tragic collision

MOHAMMAD ALFARES and PAIGE FRYER - May 12, 2026

1/2

One of Australia’s “finest” and “deeply experienced” SAS troopers has died after a catastrophic mid-air collision during a military drill to prepare soldiers to parachute in darkness.

Warrant Officer Second Class Lachlan Muddle, 50, an expert sniper and veteran special forces operator who served on five deployments including Afghanistan, died after colliding mid-air with another elite paratrooper during a night-time training exercise at Jervis Bay Airfield on the NSW south coast on Monday evening.

The incident that claimed Mr Muddle’s life took place during an advanced military freefall training conducted in low-light conditions using night-vision goggles, of which officers had completed four out of the planned six weeks of daring activities.

The second paratrooper involved was a sergeant from the ADF Parachute School, also an experienced military freefall parachutist. He survived the fall with minor injuries.

Between the two of them, the veterans had several thousand jumps to their credit.

The impact of the crash sent Mr Muddle spiralling towards the ground and caused him to crash into thick bushland and to suffer injuries that, despite the best efforts of his fellow soldier to perform CPR, proved fatal.

Defence Minister Richard Marles said the force had “lost one of its finest”, adding that Mr Muddle was an “expert sniper” and experienced special forces operator whose death would be felt across the SAS community.

Addressing the media on Tuesday, Army Special Operations Commander Major General Garth Gould said despite both soldiers effectively deploying their canopies, the mid-air collision caused both men to fall from height.

Warrant Officer Muddle was provided immediate first aid on the scene by ADF medics, who were quickly joined by NSW Ambulance.

The second soldier, a sergeant from the ADF Parachute School survived, sustained only minor injuries.

Major General Gould said the accident occurred about 5.40pm, roughly four weeks into a six-week advanced military freefall training block.

Several investigations into the incident are now under way with Major General Gould saying he believes training safety protocols “are up to scratch”.

“After successfully opening their parachutes, what we know about the incident is that both paratroopers collided several hundred feet above the ground whilst they were manoeuvring towards the drop zone,” he said.

“After the collision, both soldiers fell from height.”

Major General Gould said the training environment was deliberately challenging, taking place in low-light conditions as part of a high-level capability course.

He said both men were among the most experienced parachutists in the Australian Defence Force.

When asked by reporters if he believed the ADF parachute training safety protocols were up to scratch, he said he had “a high degree of confidence”.

He said Warrant Officer Muddle was “highly regarded” within their community.

He joined the Army in 1994 before moving into Special Operations Command in 2007, where he spent most of his career serving with the SAS Regiment.

“He was a skilled professional, and he’ll be remembered for his sense of humour and his genuine and deep commitment to serving the nation, serving an army, and serving in the Special Air Service regiment,” Major General Gould told reporters.

“In a tight-knit community like ours, his loss has been very deeply and immediately felt.”

Major General Gould announced the ADF immediately paused all personnel parachuting operations pending an investigation.

“Our priority at the moment is supporting Warrant Officer Muddle’s family, and also providing support to the ADF members involved in the incident last night, as well as supporting the initial investigative matters,” he said.

(continued)

>>24599829

2/2

The incident is the second parachuting fatality the ADF has suffered in more than two years.

In March 2024, 33-year-old Lance Corporal Jack Fitzgibbon, who served with the elite 2nd Commando Regiment, died from injuries sustained during a routine parachute drill at the Richmond RAAF air base in Sydney’s northwest.

Lance Corporal Fitzgibbon was the son of former federal Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon.

Major General Gould acknowledged the tragic loss of Lance Corporal Fitzgibbon, stating the previous incident involved a single paratrooper.

He said following the incident the ADF undertook “a very thorough review” of its parachuting systems and implemented an independent safety board, which has since reported to the chief of army on multiple occasions.

Despite the latest tragedy he maintained his faith in the military’s current protocols.

“I am very confident in the safety system as a whole around our parachutes,” he said.

Major General Gould detailed training accidents of this nature trigger a multi-layered investigative response.

Lance Corporal Fitzgibbon’s death sparked three different inquiries, including an internal safety probe, a Comcare investigation led by the commonwealth WHS regulator and a NSW coronial inquest.

Following the 2024 fatality, special forces personnel were temporarily barred from using the Military Javelin freefall parachute pending clearance from the ongoing inquiries.

In the wake of his son’s death, former defence minister Joel Fitzgibbon was appointed as a patron of the Commando Welfare Trust, vowing to build on Jack’s legacy.

Mr Marles said Warrant Officer Muddle “is very much remembered for his humour and his commitment to service”.

Mr Marles said the training was part of the ADF’s requirement to prepare soldiers for combat conditions, including night operations.

“It was part of a training block of advanced parachuting, which involved parachuting at night,” he said.

He confirmed parachuting operations across the ADF had been paused while investigations are conducted.

“There will now be a series of investigations both within the Defence Force and more broadly, and we are committed to those being as thorough as possible so that every necessary lesson is learned.”

Anthony Albanese also paid tribute to Warrant Officer Muddle, stating “our hearts go out to his Army family and the broader Defence community”.

“This tragic accident is a stark reminder that there are no easy days for those who defend our nation,” the Prime Minister said in a statement.

“We are in the debt of every Australian who serves and puts themselves on the line for all of us.

“May Warrant Officer Class Two Muddle live on in every heart he touched.”

The national chair of the Australian SAS Association, Bob Hunter, paid tribute to Warrant Officer Muddle as a respected SAS soldier who was killed during “critical operational training”.

Mr Hunter said parachuting remained “demanding and unforgiving” but was “fundamental to the role, preparedness, and operational reach of those who serve”.

“Every member who undertakes this training does so with professionalism, discipline, and an understanding of the risks, in service to Australia and alongside their mates,” he said.

Mr Hunter said “moments like this remind us not only of the cost of service, but of the strength of the bonds that exist within our community”, adding that the association was encouraging members to “look after one another, to check in on former and current comrades, and to make use of available support where needed”.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/defence-minister-hails-one-of-australias-finest-lachlan-muddle-after-tragic-collision/news-story/846773e65ba94a7c33642d0e98be44f3

https://x.com/ChiefAusArmy/status/2054030051729977599

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nar1ptcSV2s

>>24424631 (pb)

>>24498482 (pb)

>>24556959 (pb)

Budget 2026: Cost of subs and frigates takes heavy toll on ADF’s purse

BEN PACKHAM - 12 May 2026

Taxpayers will spend a whopping $17bn on the AUKUS submarine program over the next four years without seeing even the first nuclear nuclear-powered boat, as core defence spending remains stuck at around 2 per cent of GDP.

Despite the government’s shift to “NATO standard” reporting of defence funding last month, which includes service pensions and other expenditure, the budget ­papers contained no detail of spending levels against the new measure.

Analysis by The Australian, however, reveals the defence budget is expected to be about 2.02 per cent of GDP under the old standard in 2026-27, rising to 2.2 per cent by the end of the decade.

The budget papers show the cost of the nation’s submarine ambitions hit $5.45bn this financial year alone, after about $4bn in payments to the US and UK governments to bolster their nuclear submarine industries so they can support the AUKUS plan.

The annual AUKUS cost will ease to about $3bn in 2026-27, growing steadily to nearly $5bn by the end of the decade when the navy will still be two to three years away from receiving its first ­Virginia-class boat from the US.

At the same time, the troubled Hunter-class frigate program is set to cost north of $2.5bn in the coming financial year, with the first of the ships not due to enter service until 2034 at the earliest.

The programs – defence’s most expensive – are draining nearly 9 per cent of the annual defence budget, which is set to hit $62.6bn in 2026-27, rising to more than $77bn by the end of the decade.

Meanwhile, the nation’s major combat fleet – including the Collins-class submarines, the Hobart-class destroyers, and the Anzac frigates – are falling short of their planned availability.

The platforms, which form the backbone of the navy, managed just 84 per cent of their planned days at sea forecast in last year’s budget.

The budget highlights ongoing problems in the rollout of the $3bn MQ-4C Triton surveillance drone program, which is on track to deliver just a third of its forecast flying hours for 2025-26.

The RAAF’s F-35 fleet is also on track to fall short of its forecast 2025-26 flying hours target by about 9 per cent.

In a budget bright spot, the ­Defence Department is turning around its workforce crisis, with the uniformed force on track to reach 61,711 personnel by June 30 – more than 2300 higher than forecast in last year’s document.

The budget numbers have the force growing to more than 67,400 uniformed personnel by 2029-30, a forecast that is still short of its 69,000 end-of-decade target.

The government is also making progress in slashing the numbers of star-ranked officers, which had ballooned in recent years, making the ADF one of the most top-heavy forces in the Western world.

The budget shows the number of navy one-star and above officers reduced from 74 to 79. The army has cut star-ranks from 89 to 86, while the air force numbers remain static at 63.

Much of the defence budget detail was released last month when Defence Minister Richard Marles released an updated capability investment plan and National Defence Strategy, vowing an extra $14bn over the forward estimates and $53bn over the decade.

He said defence spending was sitting at about 2.8 per cent of GDP under NATO accounting rules, and would hit about 3 per cent of GDP by 2033.

The budget confirms about $6.8bn of the new spending is from core defence funding over the coming four years, while about $4.8bn will come from the private sector in yet-to-be announced off-budget investments.

The budget is silent on how much the government hopes to raise from its sale of surplus Defence land, branding the forecasts as “not for publication” amid a major backlash over the loss of heritage properties, including Victoria Barracks sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

The navy’s future general purpose frigates have hit the budget’s “Top 30” list of defence acquisition projects for the first time, with forecast expenditure of $655m this coming financial year.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/defence/budget-2026-cost-of-subs-and-frigates-takes-heavy-toll-on-adfs-purse/news-story/d53b690e2b48e95802b284efd4b936c2

Canberra teenager accused of plotting racist terror attack faces historic prosecution

MOHAMMAD ALFARES - 13 May 2026

A Canberra teenager has become the first person in Australia to face federal prosecution for allegedly plotting a terrorist attack in the nation’s capital, with police accusing him of preparing a “nationalist and racist extremist” attack on strangers.

The 17-year-old appeared before the ACT Children’s Court on Tuesday after being hit with additional terrorism charges by the ACT Joint Counter Terrorism Team.

It is alleges the teenager was planning an attack on people not known to him and was motivated by extremist nationalist and racist ideology.

The youth is now charged with one count of acts in preparation for, or planning, a terrorist act, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

He has also been charged with one count of transmitting violent extremist material, which carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment.

The teenager was first arrested on November 5 after investigators allegedly uncovered violent extremist material during a search warrant.

He has remained behind bars since his arrest.

Police will allege further evidence uncovered during the investigation showed the boy had shared violent extremist propaganda and was preparing to carry out a terrorist act.

AFP Assistant Commissioner Peter Crozier described the case as a disturbing example of young Australians being exposed to extremist ideology online.

“Violent extremist material is circulated by terrorist organisations to promote violence, hate and division within Australian society,” Assistant Commissioner Crozier said.

“The AFP and our law enforcement and national security partners will continue to work tirelessly to keep Australians safe.

“It is our job to defend and protect the Australian community, and we will relentlessly pursue those who seek harm to our democracy or our social cohesion.”

Mr Crozier said parents, schools, social services and technology companies all had a role to play in preventing young people from accessing extremist propaganda.

ACT Policing deputy chief police officer Richard Chin said the priority of police was to prevent access to extremist material and to educate young people in Canberra.

He said parents and teachers were often the first to notice warning signs of radicalisation among young people.

“Recognising early signs of changes in a young person’s behaviour can play a crucial role in guiding young people to safe and supportive pathways,” he said.

The matter will return to the ACT Children’s Court at a later date.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/canberra-teenager-accused-of-plotting-racist-terror-attack-faces-historic-prosecution/news-story/4f4552f1bc2a98fb350473c5caf0e97d

>>24544743 (pb)

>>24544749 (pb)

>>24544749 (pb)

Virginia Giuffre’s memoir named book of the year

Judges praise Epstein accuser’s bravery and say her book, Nobody’s Girl, could change the world

Andrea Hamblin - 12 May 2026

Virginia Roberts Giuffre’s memoir about her time being sex trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein won the top honour at the British Book Awards on Monday night.

Giuffre’s book, which also detailed allegations against Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and other high-profile men, was named book of the year at a ceremony at Grosvenor House in London.

It also won the prize for non-fiction narrative book of the year, as well as being named the joint winner of the Freedom to Publish prize alongside Careless People, a book by Meta whistleblower Sarah Wynn-Williams.

In a video played during the ceremony, Sky Roberts, Giuffre’s brother, said his family was “truly honoured” to accept the awards on behalf of his late sister.

Nobody’s Girl: A Memoir Of Surviving Abuse And Fighting For Justice was co-written with Amy Wallace and released six months after Giuffre took her own life, aged 41, at her farm north of Perth, Western Australia.

In the memoir, Giuffre detailed how she was allegedly forced by Epstein, the paedophile financier, and his co-accused Ghislaine Maxwell, to have sex with some of the world’s most powerful men.

She claimed she was paid $15,000 (about £11,000) for “servicing the man the tabloids called ‘Randy Andy’” – a reference to Prince Andrew.

Giuffre wrote that the then Prince “was friendly enough but still entitled – as if he believed having sex with me was his birthright”.

She had accused him of raping and abusing her on three separate occasions when she was 17. Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has denied the allegations and a civil claim brought in the US was settled out of court with no admission of guilt.

The judges wrote that Giuffre’s memoir was a “testament to the importance of serious non-fiction”, with one noting: “I am a better person for having read this book”.

Nobody’s Girl “will stay in my bones”, one judge said. Another predicted that it would “change the world”.

They said Doubleday, the publisher, had “set the gold standard for how to publish bravely and with integrity”.

“The team did an incredible job at honouring Giuffre’s memory, her story and her words,” the judges said, adding that the memoir “stands as the most important book of 2025 for its bravery”.

The awards ceremony also commemorated Dame Jilly Cooper with a posthumous award.

Dame Jilly died unexpectedly in October 2025, aged 88. She was best known for her raunchy 1980s romance novel Rivals, which was adapted into an award-winning television series that is now in its second season.

Philip Jones, editor of The Bookseller and chairman of the judges at the British Book Awards, said: “Our winners represent the very best of the book trade, standing up for the books and the authors when others would try to stand them down.

“The British Book Awards affirms our creatives, our entertainers and our truth-tellers, and we applaud those who did so much to bring their work to the public.

“In 2025 the importance of the book was manifest, it was a beacon to many and a heartbeat for all.”

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/05/12/virginia-giuffre-memoir-british-book-award/

‘Kevin, what the hell was that?’ Why Rudd thinks Trump will stand by Taiwan

Michael Koziol - May 12, 2026

1/2

New York: The late Hulk Hogan was warming up the crowd for Donald Trump at the 2024 Republican National Convention (RNC) – by ripping off his shirt – when China’s ambassador to the United States, Xie Feng, leant over to Kevin Rudd and asked: “Kevin, what the hell was that?”

Rudd, then Australia’s ambassador to the US, and himself lightly bemused by the spectacle, replied: “We should have a chat tomorrow.”

The two men had tea the next day at the Milwaukee Club, where Rudd explained why it would not be wise for China to try to make a move on Taiwan under a Trump presidency.

“The whole Hulk Hogan phenomenon is seeking to underline, underscore, what President Trump has seen as his essential strength for office, and that is: I am a strongman,” says Rudd.

“And if you have anything in your mind which is likely to render me [Trump] to look weak, then frankly, I’m going to double down, retaliate, in order to reassert my strength.”

Rudd recounted this story on Monday night (US time) at an event in New York City with the Asia Society, the think tank he rejoined as global president and chief executive after resigning the ambassadorship last month.

They were among his first public comments since he left the role of Australia’s chief diplomat in Washington after three years to return to China scholarship.

Rudd said he told his Chinese counterpart at the RNC that if China believed it wise to use force to change the status quo in Taiwan, “the immediate consequence would be to make President Trump look weak in the world and also in the United States”.

Trump “could and would do anything in order to reassert his strength, and therefore we’re in the business of escalation, crisis conflict and potentially war”.

“To my Chinese friends, I said, ‘Do not do this’,” Rudd recounted. “President Trump, I think, understands this intuitively, which is why I’d be very surprised if the language [on Taiwan] was to change in any way.”

The remarks from Rudd, who is considered one of the world’s leading China scholars, came on the eve of Trump’s highly anticipated trip to Beijing. He leaves Washington on Tuesday (Washington time) for the first visit to China by a sitting US president since Trump went in 2017, during his first term.

Foreign policy commentators have speculated about Trump changing US policy regarding Taiwan as part of a grand bargain with Chinese President Xi Jinping on trade and other economic matters. But the administration has played down that possibility ahead of the visit.

“Not unlike discussions on Iran, Russia and all the hotspots – or potential hotspots – there is an ongoing conversation about Taiwan,” a senior US official said on a briefing call.

“The last couple of times [Trump and Xi] have interacted it has been a point of discussion. There has been no change of US policy coming out of those, and we don’t expect to see any changes in US policy going forward.”

(continued)

>>24599898

2/2

However, Trump indicated a willingness to engage with Xi about future American arms sales to Taiwan, which China claims as its territory.

Asked on Monday (US time) whether he believed the US should keep selling weapons to Taiwan, Trump said: “Well, I’m going to have that discussion with President Xi. President Xi would like us not to, and I’ll have that discussion.”

The Trump administration in December approved the largest-ever arms sale to Taiwan, worth $US11.1 billion ($15.3 billion) – a fact that a senior US official highlighted on a briefing call with reporters.

Trump said Taiwan always came up in discussions with Xi, but he did not want to see any aggression by China akin to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“We’re very far away. We’re 9500 miles, he [Xi] is 67 miles. It’s a little bit of a difference. But there’s a lot of support for Taiwan from Japan, from countries in that area,” Trump said.

Lisa Curtis, the director of the Indo-Pacific program at the Centre for a New American Security, and a National Security Council adviser to Trump in his first term, said it was more likely Trump would make concessions on arms sales to Taiwan than change long-standing US policy on Taiwanese independence.

Taiwan and the war in Iran are expected to play a significant role in this week’s meeting, though both leaders want to focus on the trade relationship between the world’s two largest economies.

Trump wants Beijing to agree to purchase more soybeans from American farmers, as well as Boeing aircraft. It follows a thawing of economic relations during a brief meeting in Busan, South Korea, last year in which Trump agreed to lower tariffs and Xi relaxed export controls on rare earths.

The White House confirmed that a delegation of 17 high-powered American business leaders, including Elon Musk, will accompany Trump on the visit.

The Tesla and SpaceX boss will be joined by outgoing Apple chief executive Tim Cook, BlackRock’s Larry Fink, Goldman Sachs’ chairman and CEO David Solomon, and Boeing’s president and chief executive Kelly Ortberg, among others.

Two women are in the delegation: Dina Powell, the president and vice-chair of Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta, and Trump’s former deputy national security adviser, as well as Jane Fraser, the chief executive of Citigroup.

https://www.theage.com.au/world/north-america/kevin-what-the-hell-was-that-why-rudd-thinks-trump-will-stand-by-taiwan-20260512-p5zw03.html

https://qresear.ch/?q=Kevin+Rudd

>>24599898

Donald Trump must appeal to China’s self-interest on Iran, says Kevin Rudd, as Taiwan tensions loom over Beijing summit

JOE KELLY and YONI BASHAN - 12 May 2026

1/2

Donald Trump must appeal to China’s urgent economic self-interest when he meets Xi Jinping this week to discuss reopening the Strait of Hormuz, according to former prime minister Kevin Rudd, who says it would be a mistake to frame the discussion as an American request for assistance.

In his first public comments as the returning chief executive of The Asia Society, the former Australian ambassador to Washington also told an audience in New York that he didn’t expect to see a rhetorical shift on Taiwan and that Beijing’s domestic economic concerns provided Washington with unexpected leverage to resolve the Iran crisis.

“It’s important for the United States to understand that China, for its own domestic economic reasons, wants to see the straits reopened,” Dr Rudd said. “As the President arrives, he needs to have in the back of his mind the fact that whatever is said publicly … China wants to see this over.”

Dr Rudd said China’s leadership had already voiced concerns that the Iran crisis would further depress global growth – a concern that could prove decisive as the two leaders meet in Beijing for a three-day summit beginning on Wednesday evening.

China is preparing an elaborate reception for Mr Trump, closing the Temple of Heaven for two days in a spectacle echoing his 2017 Forbidden City tour. The pageantry signals Beijing’s determination to stabilise a relationship still reeling from a bruising trade war.

The two presidents last met in South Korea six months ago, agreeing to pause hostilities in which the US imposed triple-digit tariffs on Chinese goods while Beijing threatened to restrict the global supply of rare earths.

Yet despite goodwill gestures, relations remain fragile. Washington has ramped up sanctions against Chinese companies in recent days, with the Treasury Department designating three individuals and nine companies over Iranian oil sales to China conducted through front companies. Separate sanctions have targeted Chinese organisations accused of helping Iran’s military secure weapons and raw materials, as well as companies allegedly providing satellite imagery of US facilities to Tehran.

A high-powered delegation of American business leaders with significant China exposure will accompany Mr Trump, including Tesla and SpaceX chief Elon Musk, Apple’s Tim Cook, GE Aerospace’s Larry Culp and Boeing’s Kelly Ortberg.

The roster also features Meta’s Dina Powell McCormick, Blackrock’s Larry Fink, Blackstone’s Stephen Schwarzman, Micron’s Sanjay Mehrotra, Mastercard’s Michael Miebach, Qualcomm’s Cristiano Amon and Visa’s Ryan McInerney.

Notably absent is Nvidia’s chief executive Jensen Huang, whose company powers the global artificial intelligence boom. Despite developing a strong relationship with Mr Trump and expressing a willingness to attend, Mr Huang was not invited.

The US President conditionally approved exports of Nvidia’s H200 AI chips to China in December, though Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said in mid-April they had not been sold, citing difficulties with Chinese companies securing permission while being encouraged to invest in domestic technology.

Mr Ortberg is counting on the Trump administration to help unlock a long-awaited order that could include 500 737 MAX jets plus dozens of widebody aircraft to meet China’s surging domestic demand – the country’s first major Boeing order since 2017.

(continued)

>>24599907

2/2

Dr Rudd played down the prospects of any significant shift in US policy on Taiwan, revealing he had advised Chinese ambassador to the US Xie Feng in 2024 not to misread a second Trump administration’s position on the island.

The pair discussed the matter at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where wrestler Hulk Hogan ripped off his shirt while introducing Mr Trump. When Mr Xie asked Dr Rudd how to interpret the moment, the former prime minister used it to explain why military action against Taiwan could be disastrous.

“The whole Hulk Hogan phenomenon is seeking to underline what President Trump has seen as his essential strength for office, and that is: ‘I am a strong man’,” Dr Rudd said. “The immediate consequence (of military action) would be to make President Trump look weak.

“And therefore President Trump, under those circumstances, could and would do anything in order to reassert his strength. And therefore we’re in the business of escalation, crisis, conflict and potentially war.”

Chinese state media has positioned Taiwan as the unequivocal focus of the summit for Beijing. An editorial in the People’s Daily – the official newspaper of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party – dedicated substantial attention to Taiwan on Tuesday, describing it as “the first inviolable red line in China-US relations” and calling on Washington to “adhere to the one-China principle”.

China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has not ruled out military means in the pursuit of seeking unification.

Mr Trump told reporters on Monday that he intended to discuss US arms sales to Taiwan with Mr Xi, a break with the diplomatic tradition of not discussing arms sales with Beijing during bilateral meetings.

Mr Xi has already warned Mr Trump to exercise “extreme caution” following approval of an $11bn arms package in December. A further deal looms, with Taiwan’s parliament approving special funding last week to buy additional weapons.

“I’m going to have that discussion,” Mr Trump told reporters. “President Xi would like us not to. And I’ll have that discussion.”

Dr Rudd argued both presidents had compelling reasons to seek strategic stability until the end of 2027, suggesting the summit could mark a turning point in the fraught relationship between the world’s two largest economies.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/world/donald-trump-must-appeal-to-chinas-selfinterest-on-iran-says-kevin-rudd-as-taiwan-tensions-loom-over-beijing-summit/news-story/15d905c36f8f8b3c9ea9b8e8c319b06f

>>24295317 (pb)

Australia’s Trump Tower plans scrapped as developer says brand has become ‘toxic’

Lex Harvey - 13 May 2026

Plans to build Australia’s first Trump Tower have been scrapped just three months after it was announced, with the local developer saying the Trump brand has become “toxic.”

“Let’s just say that with the Iran war and everything else, the Trump brand was increasingly unpopular in Australia,” David Young, CEO of Altus Property Group, told CNN in a statement.

The 91-story Trump International Hotel & Tower Gold Coast was billed as Australia’s tallest tower, featuring a 285-room luxury hotel, high-end retail plaza, restaurants and residential apartments finished to Trump specifications, according to a February press release from Altus announcing the deal.

The project sparked backlash after it was announced by Altus and the Trump Organization, which is owned by US President Donald Trump but run by his sons Donald Jr. and Eric.

The luxury seaside property was the Trump Organization’s “first official project in Australia,” Eric Trump said at the time.

CNN has reached out to the Trump Organization for comment.

One petition aiming to stop the project garnered more than 140,000 signatures.

CK, who started the petition under an alias to avoid backlash from Trump supporters, told CNN in February she felt powerless while watching scenes of “anti-immigrant violence and the social division” in the US on social media, and looked for a way to express her opposition.

Young said the tower will still proceed — but without the Trump name.

In a LinkedIn post Tuesday, the Altus CEO called the backlash to the Trump Tower “grossly unfair” but said “the brand in this country has become toxic to Australians.”

“Trump Org is a non-political, free of the President run organization by Eric and Don Jr and run well with over 136 resorts and towers globally yet here in Australia both the media and certain orgs paint a picture of Donald Trump for pure sensationalism,” Young said.

He said there is “no acrimony between the Trump family and myself” and he has been in discussions with “many high-end luxury plans” about the tower.

Young had laid the groundwork for the tower in 2007 with a “cold call to Ivanka Trump,” according to a blog post on the Altus website.

Young recalled introducing himself to Trump’s daughter as a property developer from Australia, who was intent on building “Australia’s finest tourist property at Surfers Paradise.”

Almost 20 years later, when the deal was signed, Young said the tower “will be an Australian, not American project,” according to comments published in The Australian newspaper.

He had anticipated the building could be ready before the Brisbane Olympics in 2032.

But Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate — who once dined with Trump in Mar-a-Lago and was an enthusiastic supporter of the project — said a development application had never been submitted to City Council.

“This project was an agreement between two private parties,” Tate said in a statement to CNN, adding “we didn’t have a proposal to consider.”

Money could also have been a factor, according to Tate.

“The Trump Organization wants a lot more for their brand on the funding side of things, to operate it and the percentage of return,” Tate told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

“(Meanwhile) the developer’s going, ‘Well, I’m putting in all of my money in and you’re actually going to take quite a lot of profit’, so I think that’s why they’re parting ways.”

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/05/12/australia/australia-trump-tower-scrapped-intl-hnk

>>>>24599941

The brief rise and fall of Trump tower in Australia

Brittney Levinson - May 13, 2026

It was a deal supposedly 19 years in the making, but it took just a few months for a grand $1.5 billion scheme to build a Trump tower on the Gold Coast to fall apart.

The Queensland developer spruiking the project says the “increasingly toxic” Trump name was behind the deal’s demise, and insists the tower could still be built without the US president’s name on it. The Trump Organisation says it was the developer’s inability to meet basic financial obligations that scuttled the plan.

“In the end, they couldn’t reach a win-win situation,” Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate, who was previously an enthusiastic supporter of the plan, said on Wednesday.

In February, plans came to light for a 91-storey tower that at 335 metres could be Australia’s tallest, with 285 luxury hotel rooms and 272 residential apartments in a gold-tinted high-rise bearing the Trump name.

Late on Tuesday, the Trump Organisation revealed the project was no more. “While we were very excited about the opportunity to bring a world-class development to the Gold Coast, the project was dependent on our licensing partner meeting certain obligations. Unfortunately, those obligations were not fulfilled,” a spokeswoman said.

Altus Property Group chief executive David Young said the failure had little to do with not meeting obligations and all to do with what Australians had come to think about the US president.

“Let’s just say that with the Iran war and everything else, the Trump brand was increasingly toxic in Australia,” Young said.

Young later said on LinkedIn he found it “grossly unfair as the brand has nothing to do with the president”.

The Trump Organisation spokeswoman told The Brisbane Times Young’s attempts to blame the Iran war was “merely a ploy to distract from his own defaults and failures”. She added that Altus Property Group was unable to meet the most basic financial obligation that was due upon the execution of the agreement.

Young refused to comment further on what obligations he did not meet. However, he has still not reached settlement on the block of land and no development application was ever submitted for the project.

The project’s collapse will come as no surprise to industry figures who were sceptical from the start. In March, a leading Queensland property industry figure, speaking on the condition of anonymity, called it a “pipe dream”, while architecture experts said it was difficult to imagine it going ahead.

Luke Woollard, who owns a property management business in Victoria, wrote on LinkedIn he’d seen the project’s collapse “coming a mile away”. “Too ambitious,” he added.

Before the surprise Trump tower deal emerged, little was known about Young, who was born in the US and grew up in regional Queensland.

As he told it, Young’s story was compelling. In a blog post he described himself as a brash young pub operator in 2007 who cold-called Ivanka Trump to gauge the family’s interest in partnering on an Australian property. Nearly 20 years went by before Young and Eric Trump met at Mar-a-Lago to sign the hotel management and brand licensing agreement.

Young faced stumbling blocks almost from day one. After his big announcement, the developer was uncontactable, which was unusual for someone touting his most ambitious project yet.

Within days, Young was no longer working with the public relations firm he had engaged for the announcement and had hired an experienced crisis manager to run his communications.

By then, Young’s troubled business history had emerged, including two bankruptcies and hacking charges in the late 1990s. He was also unable to detail any large-scale properties he had developed or overseen, saying questions over whether he had experience in building high-rise towers were “not relevant”.

The latest in a series of failed plans

The Trump project is the latest failed plan for the prime piece of Surfers Paradise real estate.

The waterfront Trickett Street block has been vacant since 2013 when the Iluka resort was demolished.

In 2015, Chinese developer Forise proposed a $1.2 billion high-rise residential tower on the site, dubbed Spirit, but plans were quashed when Forise collapsed.

A company controlled by Macau casino boss Loi Keong Kuong took over the site and the luxury project in 2019, and still owns the land today.

The company has been attempting to offload the property for a number of years.

Despite the project’s collapse, Young said he would still pursue a luxury development at the Trickett Street site.

He insisted there was no acrimony between himself and the Trump family and said the project would go ahead without the Trump name attached.

“It is pure business,” Young said.

https://www.afr.com/property/commercial/the-brief-rise-and-fall-of-trump-tower-in-australia-20260513-p5zwan

God knows you’re questioning Him - He wants you to know this

https://youtu.be/yb5joUM_yLE

>>24569474 (pb)

Jewish aged care homes hire armed guards as police briefing warns of antisemitism

Annika Smethurst and Grant McArthur - May 13, 2026

1/2

Jewish aged care homes have hired armed guards to protect residents after escalating security fears over antisemitic behaviour in Victoria.

The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion has heard that incidents across three homes, which care for 400 residents, included a bomb threat, constant hate mail and a man who stood outside threatening to kill those inside.

Jewish Care Victoria chief executive Gayle Smith said the organisation was facing a $1.8 million bill for the guards and other security measures.

“For our aged care residents, obviously, that’s a very frightening experience to be advised that there’s a bomb threat occurring,” she told the commission last week.

“We have a number of direct Holocaust survivors, and then second and third-generation Holocaust survivors who are using our facilities, who are now walking past a guarded building for their aged loved ones.

“And no other aged care provider in Australia will be needing to do the same thing.

“It’s a really uncomfortable position for us to be, but the choice is not tenable … if we did not take that action and something happened, I personally would never be able to forgive myself.”

Smith said the escalating threat of antisemitism after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks and Israel’s military response included a man standing in front of a Jewish Care Victoria building telling staff, “if you are going to kill people, I am going to kill you”, and a bomb threat that forced one of their care homes into lockdown.

Smith said Jewish Care Victoria had applied for different rounds of Commonwealth funding to help cover the costs, in September and November 2023, as well as state government funding in May 2024, but was rejected each time.

Jewish Care Victoria was eventually able to gain a small amount of funding in August 2024 under a program administered through the Executive Council of Australian Jewry.

Smith also used her time before the commission to accuse Premier Jacinta Allan and senior ministers of declining to act over claims a state government-funded multicultural agency refused to work with a Jewish social services organisation due to a “misalignment” of values.

Smith said Jewish Care Victoria had sought out the specialist multicultural youth services organisation in September 2025 because it wanted help in designing a mental health program for young Jewish people.

“They had originally agreed to work with us, and that had commenced,” she said. “We then received that communication that they would no longer work with us, and were advised that the decision had been made due to a misalignment of values.

“They then advised that, and I’m paraphrasing, that they were unable to work with us because their constituents and stakeholders would not approve of them working with a Jewish organisation.

“They also added that Jewish youth didn’t need their services because they weren’t poor.”

Smith said that, in separate responses, the premier and Minister for Multicultural Affairs Ingrid Stitt had deferred responsibility to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission.

“It looks like people are acting. We get a lot of acknowledgement and sympathy, but we get very little action.

“We came to the conclusion that we had to deal with it again on our own.”

(continued)

>>24603494

2/2

Smith’s evidence comes as a Victoria Police document, released under freedom of information, shows the force outlined mounting concerns about antisemitism, extremist rhetoric and threats against synagogues to Jewish community leaders and the state government in the weeks after October 7.

The briefing included warnings that an Islamic State publication had urged supporters “to target Jewish civilians and synagogues everywhere”.

Victoria Police said it had already “tasked resources to patrol and ensure the safety of persons at Jewish schools and synagogues” and was engaging with Jewish organisations to understand what events might require “a police presence and/or patrols”.

The document detailed incidents that had already unfolded across Melbourne, including Nazi salutes on a suburban train, threats directed at Jewish residents and allegations of antisemitic harassment.

The force established Operation Park that month to investigate offences associated with the Middle East conflict.

It has since received 530 reports of antisemitism, and 60 reports of Islamophobia, leading to 313 arrests. Police have also made 15,500 visits to Jewish community sites, including schools, synagogues and community halls.

While police stressed, there was “no known intelligence for any planned violent activity” at the time the document was prepared, warnings about threats to Jewish institutions would later intensify.

On October 12, 2023, ASIO director-general Mike Burgess said the agency was concerned about “the potential for opportunistic violence with little or no warning”.

By August 2024, ASIO had raised Australia’s national terrorism threat level from “possible” to “probable”, and in February 2025, Burgess said he was concerned “attacks have not yet plateaued”.

The Adass Israel synagogue in the south-east Melbourne suburb of Ripponlea was extensively damaged in a December 2024 firebombing. Two men were charged and remain before the courts. In August 2025, the Albanese government expelled Iran’s ambassador, citing “credible intelligence” the attack had been directed by the Iranian regime through local proxies.

Allan said places of worship should be a sanctuary and her government had delivered millions in funding to boost security and support the state’s Jewish community.

“I didn’t need a police briefing to know synagogues were at risk after October 7,” she said. “We all saw Central Shule targeted with disruptive protests almost immediately.

“That’s why we funded extra security for synagogues, introduced Australia’s toughest anti-hate laws, criminalised protests outside places of worship, and implemented every recommendation of the antisemitism envoy.

“There is clearly more to do. This royal commission will tell us where governments and organisations got it wrong, and what must happen next, and I am listening.”

Asked about the briefing, Victoria Police told this masthead it had launched an operation centred on addressing antisemitism and deployed proactive patrols to prominent Jewish locations three weeks before the briefing to community leaders.

“Police resourcing is also regularly bolstered around major cultural and religious periods, including high holy days such as Hanukkah,” it said in a statement.

https://www.theage.com.au/national/jewish-aged-care-homes-hire-armed-guards-as-police-briefing-warns-of-antisemitism-20260507-p5zuks.html

>>24603494

Peak Jewish body says $600 million federal budget response to antisemitic Bondi terror attack 'modest'

Shannon Corvo - 13 May 2026

1/2

The head of Australia's peak Jewish body has welcomed a $600 million federal budget funding commitment in response to the antisemitic Bondi terror attack, but says it is a "small comfort" for those who lost loved ones.

Part of the funding would cover security enhancements, mental health resources and support for Jewish organisations.

It includes $8.1 million per year ongoing towards national initiatives such as firearms reform, changes within the education sector, and to the Australian Federal Police to strengthen national security.

As he announced the contents of this year's budget, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the government was focused on national unity following the December 14 mass shooting, where 15 people were killed.

More than $218 million over four years would go towards the immediate response to support the victims, their families and the wider community, including:

• $102 million to the Executive Council of Australian Jewry for enhanced security for the Jewish community

• $22 million over three years from 2026-27 to the Executive Council of Australian Jewry to ensure enhanced security of the Australian Jewish community, funded via the confiscated assets account

• $68.8 million to the Australian Federal Police for the National Security Investigations teams

• $42.9 million over two years for immediate mental health support for the Jewish community, the broader Bondi community, first responders and young people

• $4 million for Jewish House and JewishCare to support the victims and families

A further $46.7 million over four years would provide financial support to the wider Jewish community, including $4.4 million for a closed non-competitive grant opportunity for priority projects in the Chabad of Bondi and $3.1 million over four years for the National Jewish Memorial Centre for infrastructure improvements.

In January, some Bondi terror attack victims and their families called for increased financial support and streamlined access to it, stating what was available at the time was "not appropriate".

'Very small comfort'

Executive Council of Australian Jewry Co-CEO Peter Wertheim said they welcomed the announcement but wished it was not necessary.

"We much prefer to live in an Australia without antisemitism and without the security funding," he said.

The executive council would be responsible for divvying out the funds to about 160 Jewish organisations across the country.

"Who have had to spend vast quantities of money now on guarding costs, in some cases on security infrastructure, like blast-proof windows and fireproof doors … which they wouldn't have had to do in the past," he said.

"This is on the advice of police, counterterrorism, and other security experts who have said that, unfortunately, this sort of expenditure is necessary."

Mr Wertheim said some of the funding had already been committed, including for enhanced security, mental health support and some services.

He said the new funding was "really quite modest".

More than $130 million was earmarked to pay for the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion.

"I think it'll be very small comfort to those who have lost loved ones in the shootings of Bondi," Mr Wertheim said.

(continued)

>>24603528

2/2

Lynda Ben-Menashe, the president of the National Council of Jewish Women Australia, said while additional security was important, it needed to go beyond just physical protection.

She said Jewish groups were increasingly diverting their money to safety measures, at the expense of other community activities.

"We certainly welcome funding to build higher fences, which is necessary, but we would very much welcome much more funding to build bridges," she said.

NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey also welcomed the extra federal funding, and said it would help grieving communities recover.

When asked whether the state government would provide similar funding in its own upcoming budget, Mr Mookhey said several support measures had been announced in the immediate aftermath of last year's deadly shooting.

He hinted there could be more to come.

"We're working very closely with the Jewish Board of Deputies and others to make sure that the victims and the survivors — particularly the families of those who lost loved ones — are cared for, for the rest of their lives," he said.

Strengthening national security

More than $207 million over five years, followed by $8.1 million per year thereafter, had been allocated to combat antisemitism and respond to recommendations made in a plan developed by Australia's special envoy to tackle the issue.

This included:

• $80 million over two years to further counterterrorism threats online as well as prevent violent extremism and youth radicalisation

• $32.6 million for public awareness campaigns to strengthen Australia's national security and social cohesion

• $20 million over four years for the Department of Education to extend and expand the Together for Humanity program to address social cohesion

• $13.6 million, and $1.1 million per year ongoing, for the Department of Home Affairs to implement new visa refusal and cancellation grounds, with changes to character tests

• An undisclosed amount to support national firearms licensing reforms

Combating antisemitism in schools

The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, which began public hearings last week, heard first-hand accounts of the rise of antisemitic incidents and their impacts on children.

The federal government had allocated $10 million over two years in the budget to the Department of Education to expand teacher training, support antisemitism research and review the Australian curriculum.

Six million dollars over five years would be used to establish an online teacher resource hub to provide schools with free resources on how to strengthen social cohesion, with a focus on antisemitism.

The department was also given $5 million over two years to establish a 12-month antisemitism education taskforce.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-13/federal-budget-response-to-jewish-community-post-bondi-attack/106673140

>>24577960 (pb)

>>24544690 (pb)

>>24544697 (pb)

NSW Police were warned of Bondi terror suspect months before ASIO knew

STEPHEN RICE - 14 May 2026

1/2

A Jewish community security group warned NSW Police about Bondi terror accused Naveed Akram three months before he first came to the attention of ASIO, detailing his association with members of a street preaching group that operated as a major recruiting ground for Islamic State.

The Community Service Group (CSG) identified Akram in an email to the NSW Police Operational Assessment Centre on 10 July 2019, with information about the “key membership” of the Bankstown Dawah, to be disseminated to the NSW Terrorism Intelligence Unit and the Engagement and Intervention Unit.

That was three months earlier than Anthony Albanese stated as the first time the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation became aware of Akram, when he spoke on the day after the deadly shooting.

“The son first came to attention in October 2019,” the Prime Minister told a press conference on December 15. “He was examined on the basis of being associated with others, and the assessment was made that there was no indication of any ongoing threat or threat of him engaging in violence.”

That suggests that NSW Police may not have passed on the CSG intelligence to their federal counter-terrorism counterparts.

The timing of the CSG email also raises fresh questions about the highly unusual three year duration it took for NSW police to assess and approve an application for a gun licence by Akram’s father, Sajid, who was killed in the attack, and whether the delay was linked to suspicions about the associations of his son.

Sajid Akram applied for the licence in June 2020 but it wasn’t issued until July 2023.

An internal alert to NSW counter-terrorism police may not have reached the NSW Firearms Registry, which did not have digitised records until 2023.

The CSG email to police, which has been seen by The Australian, is headed: “Please be aware of Salafi organisation ‘Bankstown Dawah’ which maintains concerning membership and activity in Sydney.”

The email notes that the group conducts regular street preaching near the Bankstown train station, identifying Naveed Akram and seven other “closely associated individuals” including Youssef Uweinat, Radwan Dakkak and Joseph Saadieh, all later convicted of terror offences.

The email then names a further four “prominent Salafi individuals” who have attended Bankstown Dawah activities, including self-styled Islamic preacher Mohammad Junaid Thorne, jailed in 2021 on drug charges and recently refused parole because of his extensive correspondence with convicted terrorists while in prison.

(continued)

>>24603539

2/2

Links between Akram and convicted Islamic State terrorist Youssef Uweinat were first revealed by The Australian two days after the Bondi attack, with photos showing the pair together at prayer meetings and events held by the Dawah Street Movement months before Uweinat was charged with terror offences.

Uweinat, also known as Abu Musa al-Maqdisi, was jailed for nearly four years after being convicted of membership of a terrorist organisation and advocating a terrorist act.

Uweinat, who also called himself The Black Lion, posted calls for violence against non-Muslims, urging “Don’t spare none at all, kill them all, it is now time to rise, slit their throats and watch them die.”

Last year Uweinat climbed above the crowd at the August 3 pro-Palestine march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge and waved a black Shahada flag.

Video from the protest showed him standing alongside jihadist preacher Wissam Haddad, notorious for indoctrinating young people through his Al Madina Dawah Centre and his links with the Street Dawah Movement.

Radwan Dakkak was arrested a week before CSG sent the email, amid a series of counter-terrorism raids that also swept up his friend, Islamic State member Isaac El Matari

The then-23-year-old was jailed in 2020 for associating with El Matari, the self-declared commander of Islamic State in Australia, who also planned to create an ISIS stronghold in the Blue Mountains.

Just days after Dakkak’s release he began looking up material about executions, beheadings and torture and was convicted of breaching an anti-terror release order.

Joseph Saadieh was arrested in June 2021 for pledging allegiance to Islamic State and jailed in 2025.

The CSG is a Jewish community security organisation that provides on-site security, threat monitoring for schools, synagogues and community centres, emergency response and antisemitic incident reporting.

CSG NSW prepared a protection plan for the Chanukah by the Sea event and passed on its threat assessment to NSW Police on 8 December 2025, a week before the massacre, characterising its threat rating as ‘high’, and stating ‘a terrorist attack against the NSW Jewish community is likely and there is a high level of antisemitic vilification’.

The protection plan did not make provision for armed CSG guards because NSW law does not permit CSG NSW personnel to carry firearms at events in public places.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/nsw-police-were-warned-of-bondi-terror-suspect-months-before-asio-knew/news-story/64f06ddf754602c711249b04415e95ba

>>24592865 (pb)

Police barred from using ‘intifada’ chant footage in Hash Tayeh prosecution

MOHAMMAD ALFARES - 14 May 2026

1/2

A magistrate has barred Victoria Police from using footage of protesters chanting “intifada” and “from the river to the sea” in the landmark prosecution of pro-Palestinian activist Hash Tayeh, dealing a major setback to police efforts to prove his “all Zionists are terrorists” chant was criminally insulting.

The ruling came as Mr Tayeh’s legal team fight to tender a lengthy expert report by Deakin University academic Andrew Thomas tracing the history of Zionism and Palestinian resistance movements, including political violence and terrorism.

Police are seeking to have large parts of the report thrown out, arguing the case is about whether the words “all Zionists are terrorists” were insulting in public, not a “history lesson” on the Middle East.

Police had sought to rely on footage from the “Our Babies Matter” rally in Melbourne in 2025 showing protesters chanting “intifada” in the minutes before Mr Tayeh grabbed the microphone and yelled “all Zionists are terrorists”, arguing the mood of the crowd mattered when assessing whether his own words were insulting.

But Melbourne Magistrate Malcolm Thomas ruled the footage risked unfairly prejudicing the court against Mr Tayeh and would spark a “collateral trial” over the meaning of politically charged slogans not tied to the charges.

The decision strips prosecutors of key evidence they had hoped to use to demonstrate the intent behind Mr Tayeh’s remarks, narrowing the case to whether his own words alone breached Victoria’s offensive language laws.

Mr Tayeh, the former owner of the Burgertory fast-food chain, faces multiple charges under section 17(1)(c) of the Summary Offences Act over chants allegedly made during pro-Palestinian protests in Melbourne in 2024 and 2025.

His co-accused, Melbourne kunafa chef Jad Awwad Abu Alsendyan, also faces charges.

The charges relate to two separate protests: the “Our Babies Matter” rally on May 27, 2024, and the “Protest Until Ceasefire” demonstration on March 30, 2025.

Defence lawyer Sarala Fitzgerald told the court the controversial slogan, created by Mr Tayeh, was used to raise awareness of the “unlawful occupation of Palestinian lands”.

Magistrate Thomas is now weighing whether to admit the massive expert report by Dr Thomas, which details the history of Zionism and the “Nakba” or “catastrophe” of 1948.

While he has not yet ruled on the report’s admissibility, he flagged reluctance to ignore historical context, stating that the evaluation of the charges is a “difficult and delicate process” where “history cannot be divorced”.

(continued)

>>24603571

2/2

The defence argued that the expert report by Dr Thomas was critical to “translating” the “worldwide” political discourse Mr Tayeh was participating in.

Ms Fitzgerald told the court that the “historical context of both protests is critical” and must inform whether the phrase “all Zionists are terrorists” constitutes an insult or a statement of belief.

“We will argue that the phrase ‘all Zionists are terrorists’ is both a statement of political belief and a political slogan that is used by supporters of Palestine, including the accused, to raise awareness of the historical and current unlawful occupation of Palestinian lands, and to protest its continued unlawful occupation,” she said.

Ms Fitzgerald said that Zionism “does not equally acknowledge the rights of other native populations” and that Mr Tayeh was advocating for the “liberation of Palestinians”.

The court was told that the expert report explicitly states Palestinian resistance to Zionism has included “political protest, political violence, and terrorism”. Ms Fitzgerald identified her client as a member of this “political family”, arguing his rhetoric was a legitimate extension of historical struggle.

Police prosecutors, however, are fighting to keep the history out of the witness box. They argued the case is not a defamation trial and that branding an entire political movement as “terrorists” is an absolute, discriminatory slur. They contended that Australians do not require a history lesson to find the language insulting and that the report is an “excursive exercise” into Middle Eastern affairs that distracts from the law.

The hearing on the admissibility of evidence follows a major concession by Victoria Police to abandon claims that Mr Tayeh was motivated by antisemitism.

As revealed by The Australian, the prosecution has now pivoted to a narrow argument focused solely on whether his words violated the Summary Offences Act as “insulting words” in a public place. They argue that calling a group “terrorists” is inherently insulting.

Magistrate Thomas indicated he would likely reject some evidence of the expert report, such as findings by the International Court of Justice that it was “plausible” Israel was committing genocide, because those events occurred after the alleged offences.

He stated he must put those recent findings “completely and utterly to one side” when judging what was in Mr Tayeh’s mind at the time of the rallies.

If proven, the offenses carry a maximum penalty of six months in prison. Mr Tayeh and his co-accused, Kunafa chef Jad Awwad Abu Alsendyan, remain at the center of the case which tests the limits of Victoria’s 1966 offensive language laws.

The court will now wait for Friday, when Magistrate Thomas is expected to hand down his final ruling on whether the expert’s historical analysis will be allowed as a defence.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/victoria/police-barred-from-using-intifada-chant-footage-in-hash-tayeh-prosecution/news-story/2bb54514177b9ce087dbb674abceea31

>>24459199 (pb)

More charges for Perth man accused of mass terror attack plan

Aaron Bunch - May 13, 2026

A man accused of plotting a mass casualty terror attack targeting public buildings and places of worship has been hit with a slew of new charges, including possession of child abuse material.

Jayson Joseph Michaels detailed his alleged plan for a violent assault on WA police headquarters, WA Parliament House and mosques in a diary, believing it would be worse than the Bondi Beach mass shootings.

The 20-year-old initially faced five charges, including acting in preparation for a terrorist act, after police seized the diary during a raid on his parents' home in the town of Bindoon, north of Perth, in February.

But today, Stirling Magistrates Court in Perth heard he had been charged with the six new offences.

These were possession of a bulletproof vest, two counts of possession of violent extremist material on electronic devices, two counts of possession of objectionable material related to computer games, and possession of child abuse material.

Michaels, who appeared via video-link from Casuarina Prison, confirmed he understood the charges and wasn't required to enter a plea.

He was remanded in custody to reappear in the same court on July 8.

Michaels' original charges also include three firearms and ammunition charges and one count of allegedly using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence.

His diary allegedly contained entries that amounted to a list of actions he planned to undertake, including making weapons and body armour for a "day of justice," prosecutors have previously told the court.

Michaels allegedly planned to buy a 3D printer to make a gun and got a job where he could access bomb-making materials, but left empty-handed after one day.

He also compared the Bondi Beach attack to his own terror plot and wrote notes about how it might impact it, Commonwealth prosecutor Kirsten Nelson told a failed bail application hearing in April.

"What I want to do to both these groups pales in comparison to today," he allegedly wrote after the December 14 shootings that killed 15 and injured many more.

"What will they all think when my face is on TV?" he wrote.

Michaels allegedly accessed online material about extremist white supremacist ideology, some of which was described as a manifesto and instruction manual from a declared terrorist organisation.

He wrote about researching entry points and door locks at his target locations and considered using a van that looked like an ambulance to make his escape.

He also allegedly penned a note about buying a ballistic helmet, designing and building body armour or an Iron Man-style metal suit.

"I think I'm addicted to the (Watch People Die) website," he wrote in another diary entry.

The website was open on his computer when police burst into his bedroom, allegedly finding two guns, 900 rounds of ammunition and various knives.

The court has previously heard that Michaels was an isolated and depressed young man who had no intention to carry out the plan.

https://www.9news.com.au/national/jayson-joseph-michaels-court-updates-more-charges-for-man-accused-of-mass-terror-attack-plan/ad01053d-0e42-4bb5-8b6b-b3a3c72bf94a

>>24579072 (pb)

Sall Grover loses landmark appeal on women’s spaces against Roxanne Tickle

STEPHEN RICE - 15 May 2026

1/2

Giggle for Girls founder Sall Grover has lost her appeal in her case against transwoman Roxanne Tickle, with the Federal Court finding that she directly discriminated against Ms Tickle by rejecting her from the female-only networking app because she appeared to be a man.

On Friday, the Full Court of the Federal Court ordered that a decision by judge Robert Bromwich that Ms Grover indirectly discriminated against Ms Tickle be set aside and instead found ­unlawful direct discrimination on the basis of Ms Tickle’s “gender identity”.

Justices Melissa Perry, Wendy Abraham and Geoffrey Kennett awarded Ms Tickle $20,000 damages, doubling the original award, “taking into account aggravating conduct by Ms Grover”.

Ms Grover will also have to pay Ms Tickle’s legal costs up to an amount of $100,000 overall.

The landmark decision was delivered by Justice Perry and streamed live on the court’s YouTube channel.

The Full Court found that Ms Grover “excluded Ms Tickle from the Giggle app and refused to readmit her on the basis of her gender-related appearance by reference to her selfie, and this amounted to direct discrimination by reference to a characteristic that pertains to people of Ms Tickle’s gender identity, being transgender women”.

The court found that under the Sex Discrimination Act, “gender identity” broadly includes a person’s gender-related appearance and outward social markers, not just their internal sense of self.

During the proceedings, Ms Grover argued that sex is a purely biological, binary concept fixed at birth, and asserted that their app was a lawful “special measure” designed to achieve substantive equality between men and women.

The Full Court rejected this, ruling that taking a special measure to promote equality for one protected group does not provide a legal shield to expressly disadvantage another marginalised group, such as transgender women

Ms Grover has stated in the past that she would seek to appeal the case to the High Court if the Federal Court found against her.

After the appeal decision was handed down Ms Grover posted on social media that she was ­“absolutely devastated”.

“Men who claim to be women have more rights than actual women in Australia,” she said.

“It is women who are being discriminated against, not the men who claim to be us. But in a sense, nothing has changed: we will all wake up tomorrow & men will still not be women.”

(continued)

>>24610615

2/2

Delivering the appeal verdict, Justice Perry said: “While this proceeding involved issues on which there are differing views within the community, it is important to emphasise that the questions for determination by the court involved the construction and application of provisions of the Sex Discrimination Act. The court has interpreted that act in accordance with normal principles of statutory construction. The court is not empowered to give effect to its own view about the desirability or otherwise of that law,” Justice Perry said.

In his 2024 ruling, Justice Bromwich found that “sex is changeable” and non-binary, saying the “concept of sex has broadened over the 30 years since the Sex Discrimination Act”.

The case was the first time gender identity discrimination had been examined by the Federal Court following changes to the Sex Discrimination Act in 2013 that made it unlawful to discriminate against a person on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex status.

Justice Bromwich found that Ms Grover had indirectly, but not directly, discriminated against Ms Tickle when she removed her from the app because she did not look sufficiently female.

He awarded $10,000 damages against Ms Grover because she laughed in court at a satirical piece of merchandise – a scented candle – that appeared to mock Ms Tickle.

On appeal, Ms Grover’s lawyers said Justice Bromwich failed to consider the broader context of the Sex Discrimination Act, arguing the Giggle app’s female-only policy was a special measure intended to address the unique disadvan­tages faced by women in digital spaces, and thus should not be considered discriminatory.

Ms Grover said her own experience of sexual abuse and trauma recovery underscored for her the importance of female-only support environments and led ­directly to the app’s creation.

Equality Australia argued in support of Ms Tickle that “sex” is not confined to a biological concept, instead having a broader meaning that includes aspects of social recognition and personal identification.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/sall-grover-loses-landmark-appeal-on-womens-spaces-against-roxanne-tickle/news-story/0d3f3b82833a4ea66797969193428643

https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/australian-court-upholds-ruling-transgender-woman-doubles-damages-against-female-2026-05-15/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYRiDgsN-GU

https://www.fedcourt.gov.au/services/access-to-files-and-transcripts/online-files/giggle-for-girls-v-roxanne-tickle

https://www.judgments.fedcourt.gov.au/judgments/Judgments/fca/full/2026/2026fcafc0064

https://qresear.ch/?q=Sall+Grover

https://qresear.ch/?q=Roxanne+Tickle

>>24610615

Damages doubled after trans woman’s landmark discrimination win

Michaela Whitbourn - May 15, 2026

1/2

A transgender woman who won a landmark discrimination suit after she was excluded from a social media app marketed as a “women-only safe space” has had her victory increased by an appeal court and her damages doubled.

Roxanne Tickle took the company behind the app, Giggle for Girls, and its founder, Sall Grover, to the Federal Court in 2022, alleging they breached Commonwealth discrimination laws.

The court ruled in Tickle’s favour in 2024 and ordered the company and Grover to pay Tickle $10,000 in compensation plus legal costs.

Grover and the company lodged an appeal. In a cross-appeal, Tickle asked the court to find the discrimination against her was direct, rather than indirect, and to increase the damages.

In a decision on Friday, the Full Court of the Federal Court dismissed the appeal and upheld Tickle’s cross-appeal.

Justices Melissa Perry, Wendy Abraham and Geoffrey Kennett found Giggle and Grover had excluded Tickle on the basis of her gender-related appearance, and this amounted to direct discrimination on the ground of her gender identity. The court increased her damages to $20,000.

The court said some of Grover’s conduct in the case, such as repeatedly misgendering Tickle, was “gratuitous, disrespectful and unnecessary” and “aggravated the hurt suffered” by her.

“It did not advance her defence,” the court said.

In a statement after the decision, Tickle said: “I brought my case to show trans people that you can be brave and that you can stand up for yourself.

“In the process, I surprised myself at just how brave I could be. Young Roxy would be surprised but overjoyed.”

She said there was “so much hate and bile cast on trans and gender diverse people, simply because of who we are”, and it was usually “by those who refuse to meet us or engage with us”.

Grover said in a statement that she was “absolutely devastated” by the decision, and it was “women who are being discriminated against”.

Under the Sex Discrimination Act, it is unlawful for providers of goods and services to discriminate against another person on the ground of the other person’s gender identity. Some exemptions are available.

Tickle, who was assigned male at birth, had gender-affirming surgery after 2017. Her birth certificate records her sex as female.

In his 2024 decision, Federal Court Judge Robert Bromwich found Tickle was excluded from the app because Grover reviewed Tickle’s “selfie”, which had been uploaded when she registered for the app, and concluded she was male.

The judge concluded it was most likely Grover did not know Tickle was a transgender woman “and instead excluded her on the quick or reflexive decision that she appeared to Ms Grover to be a male”.

He said Giggle for Girls and Grover indirectly discriminated against Tickle by imposing a condition that she must “have the appearance of a cisgender woman”, meaning a woman whose gender corresponds to the sex registered for her at birth.

(continued)

>>24610625

2/2

But the appeal court said the discrimination in this case was direct. It found she was treated less favourably than a cisgender woman, on the basis of her gender-related appearance.

Grover confirmed during her evidence in court that she regarded transgender women as “male”.

She described her vision for the app in written evidence as “a little corner of the internet where women from all over the world could have a refuge away from men”.

“It would be a place without harassment, ‘mansplaining’, ‘dick pics’, stalking, and aggression, and other male patterned online behaviour.” The app was taken offline in 2022.

The court heard Tickle downloaded the Giggle app in early 2021. The registration process included uploading a selfie, the court heard. AI software accepted the photo, and Tickle gained access to the app.

Later that year, however, Tickle’s use of the app was restricted, and she was blocked from purchasing premium features.

Bromwich in 2024 said it was “not my role … to have regard to the evolutionary or biological definitions or features of human sex”.

“That is because … the legal definition of a woman (or man) is not so confined,” he said.

“Ms Tickle is a legal female, as reflected in her updated birth certificate. The discrimination complained of by Ms Tickle is on the basis of gender identity and not sex.”

Monash University Professor Paula Gerber, a human rights law expert, said the decision “affirms that Australia has strong legislation that protects trans people from discrimination on the basis of their gender identity” and Australia was not “at risk of following the path the UK has gone down”.

In a ruling last year, the UK’s highest court said the terms “woman” and “sex” in equality legislation referred to “biological sex”. However, the issues canvassed in that case were different to the dispute over the Giggle app.

https://www.theage.com.au/national/nsw/damages-doubled-after-trans-woman-s-landmark-discrimination-win-20260514-p5zx14.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dg2ydD1RwLY

>>24610631

>It found she was treated less favourably than a cisgender woman

"She" was treated as a M A L E.

>>24610615

Court upholds discrimination ruling on appeal after transgender woman excluded from Giggle for Girls app

Jamie McKinnell - 15 May 2026

1/2

A landmark Federal Court ruling that the exclusion of a transgender woman from a female-only app constituted gender identity discrimination has been upheld on appeal.

In August 2024, Roxanne Tickle was awarded $10,000 in compensation plus court costs in a case against the Giggle for Girls app and its chief executive officer, Sall Grover.

Ms Tickle accessed the social networking platform in 2021 after submitting a selfie which was assessed by artificial intelligence software designed to distinguish between the facial appearance of men and women.

But her account was later restricted following a manual review.

Justice Robert Bromwich previously found there was indirect gender identity discrimination due to "the imposed condition of needing to appear to be a cisgendered female", which had the effect of "disadvantaging transgender women who did not meet that condition".

A claim of direct discrimination failed because it was not established that Ms Grover was aware of Ms Tickle's gender identity when Ms Tickle was blocked.

It was the first case to claim discrimination on the basis of gender identity since changes to the Sex Discrimination Act in 2013.

During an appeal hearing last year, Ms Grover sought to overturn the ruling, while Ms Tickle launched a cross-appeal which aimed to strengthen it through a finding of direct discrimination and an increase in the damages to $40,000.

More damages awarded

The full court of the Federal Court — comprised of Justices Melissa Perry, Wendy Abraham and Geoffrey Kennett — on Friday found there were two instances of direct discrimination against Ms Tickle.

That included when Giggle and Ms Grover refused to re-admit Ms Tickle.

The court has reassessed damages and awarded $20,000 plus limited court costs.

In the full judgement, the appeal panel said the case raised issues on which there were differing views in the community.

"It is important to emphasise that the issues for determination by the court involve the construction and application of provisions of the (Sex Discrimination Act)," they said.

"The desirability or otherwise of that law is not a matter open to this court to consider."

The judgement emphasised the case concerned "one form only of discrimination covered by the SDA, and with circumstances in which it has not been argued that any of the general exemptions under that Act apply."

Ms Grover left the Federal Court without making any comment but later said on social media she was "absolutely devastated" and "it is women who are being discriminated against".

Speaking outside court, Ms Tickle said she hoped the outcome “assists trans and gender diverse people and their loved ones to heal".

"I submitted my discrimination complaint against Giggle for Girls and its CEO Ms Grover to the Australian Human Rights Commission in December 2021, seeking justice for the discrimination that has since stolen over four of my eight years since I began my gender affirmation," she said.

"I now look forward to getting on with the rest of my life in the community we all know and love. One that embraces freedom and equality for all women."

(continued)

>>24610801

2/2

Ms Tickle has lived as a woman since about mid-2017, had her birth certificate reissued with a female sex marker and has undergone gender-affirming surgery, the court previously heard.

Justice Bromwich said Ms Grover's argument that sex referred to a person's sex at birth conflicted with a "long history" of court decisions going back three decades which "establish that in its ordinary meaning, sex is changeable".

Ms Grover's lawyers had attempted to invoke a carve out of discrimination law which exempts measures designed to achieve substantive equality between men and women, but that contention failed.

The appeal judges found the primary judge was correct in his decision in relation to the special measures argument.

The court heard the Giggle app was created to be a digital refuge for women and facilitate access to peer support, advice and community.

During the appeal, Ms Grover's lawyers argued in written submissions that the reference to "cisgendered" in the imposed condition to use the app was a term not grounded in any evidence.

They argued Justice Bromwich had not identified a group which was disadvantaged by the condition, and his reasoning "impermissibly inferred group-based discrimination from an individual outcome".

Ms Tickle's lawyers said the original decision should have included a finding of direct discrimination, including through the refusal to re-admit her to the app.

They said the compensation sum was affected by legal error, in part because inadequate weight was given to the "significant, upsetting, exhausting and draining" impact of the discrimination on their client, and with regard to the prevailing community standards.

'Gratuitous, disrespectful' conduct

Ms Tickle's lawyers sought $30,000 in general damages and at least $10,000 in aggravated damages.

They said the judge made an error by only making a finding of "some limited degree of harm" from Ms Grover's conduct during the trial, after she laughed at an offensive caricature of Ms Tickle while under cross-examination.

They argued that as part of aggravated damages, the court should have recognised harm arising from comments Ms Grover has made in public forums about transgender women, her refusal to reinstate Ms Tickle's account on the app, and her encouragement of the sale of degrading merchandise to make money to defend the case.

In the appeal judgement, the judges said conducting a defence did not require Ms Grover to refer to Ms Tickle using male pronouns in court.

"Some of her conduct was gratuitous, disrespectful and unnecessary to the conduct of her case. It did not advance her defence," they said.

The court said the discrimination went to Ms Tickle's "inherent sense of self and identity" and the loss of access to the app may be "modest", but the basis for her exclusion was hurtful.

The appeal judges accepted there was aggravating conduct and said there were aspects of Ms Grover's public commentary that were "gratuitous to the proceedings", accepting that Ms Tickle suffered additional harm as a result.

The full court awarded general damages of $12,000 and aggravated damages of $8,000.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-15/nsw-tickle-v-giggle-judgement-transgender-woman/106682498

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZBPA49hZhk

>>24610615

Giggle v Tickle: Federal Court dismisses appeal in landmark 'What is a woman' case

The Federal Court has dismissed the appeal of the Giggle v Tickle "what is a woman" ruling in a landmark judgement, laying the ground for an appeal to the High Court.

Max Aldred - May 15, 2026

1/2

The Federal Court has dismissed the appeal of the Giggle v Tickle "what is a woman" ruling in a landmark judgement.

The Full Court upheld the ruling on sex and gender identity under the Sex Discrimination Act, arising from an appeal by Giggle for Girls founder Sall Grover on Friday.

Transgender woman Roxanne Tickle first sued Ms Grover after she was barred from the women-only app in 2021.

Justice Melissa Perry, Justice Wendy Abraham and Justice Geoffrey Kennett on Friday ruled Ms Grover’s appeal be dismissed, and Ms Tickle’s cross-appeal be allowed.

Shortly after the judgement was handed down, Ms Grover said she was "absolutely devastated".

“Men who claim to be women have more rights than actual women in Australia,” she said.

“It is women who are being discriminated against, not the men who claim to be us.

“But in a sense, nothing has changed: we will all wake up tomorrow & men will still not be women.”

Ms Tickle's cross-appeal centred on the Federal Court's ruling that Ms Grover and Giggle for Girls had "indirectly" discriminated against her.

It sought declaration that Ms Grover and her app had engaged instead in "direct" discrimination as well as a larger award of damages.

She was successful in that appeal on Friday, and the court awarded her $20,000 in damages “taking into account aggravating conduct” by Ms Grover.

“Gender identity is defined as meaning gender-related identity and gender-related characteristics, including appearance,” Justice Perry told the court.

“The full Court found that:

"A) Giggle and Miss Grover both excluded Miss Tickle from the Giggle app and refused to readmit her on the basis of her gender-related appearance by reference to her selfie; and

"B) this amounted to direct discrimination by reference to a characteristic that pertains to people of Ms. Tickles' gender identity being transgender women.”

The Federal Court has dismissed the appeal of the Giggle v Tickle "what is a woman" ruling in a landmark judgement.

The Full Court upheld the ruling on sex and gender identity under the Sex Discrimination Act, arising from an appeal by Giggle for Girls founder Sall Grover on Friday.

Transgender woman Roxanne Tickle first sued Ms Grover after she was barred from the women-only app in 2021.

Justice Melissa Perry, Justice Wendy Abraham and Justice Geoffrey Kennett on Friday ruled Ms Grover’s appeal be dismissed, and Ms Tickle’s cross-appeal be allowed.

Shortly after the judgement was handed down, Ms Grover said she was "absolutely devastated".

“Men who claim to be women have more rights than actual women in Australia,” she said.

“It is women who are being discriminated against, not the men who claim to be us.

“But in a sense, nothing has changed: we will all wake up tomorrow & men will still not be women.”

Ms Tickle's cross-appeal centred on the Federal Court's ruling that Ms Grover and Giggle for Girls had "indirectly" discriminated against her.

It sought declaration that Ms Grover and her app had engaged instead in "direct" discrimination as well as a larger award of damages.

She was successful in that appeal on Friday, and the court awarded her $20,000 in damages “taking into account aggravating conduct” by Ms Grover.

“Gender identity is defined as meaning gender-related identity and gender-related characteristics, including appearance,” Justice Perry told the court.

“The full Court found that:

"A) Giggle and Miss Grover both excluded Miss Tickle from the Giggle app and refused to readmit her on the basis of her gender-related appearance by reference to her selfie; and

"B) this amounted to direct discrimination by reference to a characteristic that pertains to people of Ms. Tickles' gender identity being transgender women.”

(continued)

>>24610926

2/2

The judgement now lays the groundwork for a second appeal, with Ms Grover telling Sky News on Thursday that she would take the case to the High Court.

“I would like … there to be legislators that stepped in actually did their job and fixed because they could fix this for free in a week,” she said.

“But if I have to go to the High Court, I will.”

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson said the ruling was a "sad day for upholding biological reality in Australia".

The Federal Court in 2024 found Ms Grover had indirectly and unlawfully discriminated against Ms Tickle.

It established “sex” was changeable, finding laws protecting against discrimination on the basis of gender identity were constitutionally valid.

Ms Grover subsequently filed an appeal in the Federal Court.

Friday’s judgement supported the existing understanding of “sex”, under the Sex Discrimination Act, as mutable.

“While this proceeding involved issues on which there are differing views within the community, it is important to emphasize that the questions for determination by the court involved the construction and application of provisions of the Sex Discrimination Act,” Justice Perry told the Court.

“The court has interpreted that Act in accordance with normal principles of statutory construction.

“The court is not empowered to give effect to its own view about the desirability or otherwise of that law. "

Before attempting to join Ms Grover's app, Ms Tickle had undergone sexual reassignment surgery and was issued an updated Queensland birth certificate recording her sex as female, the justices noted.

Ms Tickle had found support from the Sex Discrimination Commissioner Anna Cody over the course of the case.

Ms Grover was supported by several women’s groups and gay and lesbian groups.

In the 2024 finding, Justice Robert Bromwich found Ms Grover had indirectly discriminated against Ms Tickle by removing her from the Giggle for Girls app.

During a cross examination ahead of the 2024 judgement, Ms Grover agreed she had removed Ms Tickle from her app upon examining the applicant's photograph and deciding she was not a woman.

“Ms Grover could not recall removing Ms Tickle specifically, but stated that it was her practice to review users’ onboarding selfies and block anyone who appeared male to her,” the 2024 judgement read.

Ms Tickle also appealed parts of that decision, asking for indirect discrimination to be escalated to a finding of direct discrimination – with damages increased to $40,000.

Her lawyers also wanted Ms Grover to pay further damages for allegedly misgendering their client in the media.

Ms Grover had not changed her position on the matter over the course of the case.

She characterised her fight as “reality versus ideology”, with Sky News on Thursday.

“I went into a reality versus ideology fight with facts and reality and I think we’ve done the absolute best that we can do,” she said.

“I would be significantly more nervous if I was trying to argue that men could be women. I think that’s a hard fight to win.”

Ms Tickle had originally sought damages amounting to $200,000 claiming the “persistent misgendering” allegedly perpetrated by Ms Grover had caused her anxiety and occasional suicidal thoughts.

“Grover’s public statements about me and this case have been distressing, demoralising, embarrassing, draining and hurtful. This has led to individuals posting hateful comments towards me online and indirectly inciting others to do the same,” Ms Tickle said in an affidavit.

https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/politics/giggle-v-tickle-what-is-a-woman-judgement-set-to-be-handed-down/news-story/1896809773690c597c92df2ff640ad4d

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTX8M8gVRJs

https://x.com/salltweets/status/2055148531376377974

https://x.com/salltweets/status/2055200943009083881

>>24610615

Pauline Hanson vows to defend female-only app founder after landmark transgender discrimination appeal

Pauline Hanson has weighed in on a landmark court ruling, after an app founder once backed by JK Rowling was ordered to pay double for discriminating against a transgender user.

Kate Stephenson and Nathan Schmidt - May 16, 2026

1/2

Pauline Hanson has vowed to back a woman found by a court to have discriminated against a transgender woman when she was removed from a female-only networking app.

The Full Court of the Federal Court has ruled in favour of transgender woman Roxanne Tickle, finding female-only app founder Sall Grover directly discriminated against her twice when she chose to remove Ms Tickle from the networking app.

In August 2024, Ms Grover was ordered to pay $10,000 in damages after the Federal Court found she indirectly discriminated against Ms Tickle when she removed Ms Tickle from the app Giggles for Girls, designed to be a “safe, online space exclusively for women”.

Ms Tickle was originally given access to the app after an AI software test designed to filter out male users cleared her.

However, Ms Grover personally removed her after seeing her profile in 2021.

Despite her attempts to be readmitted to the app, Ms Tickle was denied by Ms Grover.

Taking to X, Ms Grover said she was “absolutely devastated”.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson said she was “disgusted” by the court's decision.

“I will back Sall Grover in parliament,” she wrote.

Friday’s result was disappointing for many “fighting for biological rights of women”, opposition spokesperson for women Melissa McIntosh said.

“The issue is the Sex Discrimination Act,” she said on X.

“It is time for a review of the Sex Discrimination Act. Our laws should be working for Australian women, not against them.”

Both Senator Hanson and Ms McIntosh were quick to claim their parties had attempted to amend the Act.

The Australian Human Rights Commission welcomed the court’s decision.

Sex Discrimination Commissioner Dr Anna Cody, who assisted in the appeal on an amicus basis, said the case had “prompted significant discussion about how our discrimination laws apply in practice”.

“The Sex Discrimination Act is intended to ensure all people are treated equally and can participate fully in public life. These protections extend to all women, including transgender women,” Dr Cody said.

Commission President Hugh de Krester said many people still faced discrimination.

“We welcome the Federal Court’s interpretation of this protection in its decision,” he said.

Equality Australia legal director Heather Corkhill said Friday’s decision affirmed trans Australian rights.

“This ruling affirms that all women deserve to live free from discrimination, without being judged on appearance, presentation or perceptions,” she said.

“For decades, Australian laws have recognised that a person’s legal sex is not limited to the sex they were assigned at birth – any other interpretation would deny the reality and existence of trans people.

“The judgment reinforces that anti-discrimination laws are intended to protect everyone, particularly groups such as trans women who often experience exclusion and disadvantage.”

(continued)

>>24611015

2/2

Court appeal

At the original hearing in 2024, Federal Court Justice Robert Bromwich found Ms Grover had excluded Ms Tickle for not looking “sufficiently female”, and therefore indirectly discriminated against her.

Ms Grover filed an appeal against the decision in October 2024, which was heard in August last year before justices Melissa Perry, Geoffrey Kennett and Wendy Abraham.

In her appeal Ms Grover argued sex, under the Sex Discrimination Act, was “binary and immutable”, with Ms Tickle positing sex was instead non-binary and changeable.

Ms Grover argued Justice Bromwich failed to consider the broader context of the Sex Discrimination Act, claiming the Giggle app female-only policy addressed disadvantages uniquely felt by women in the digital world and was therefore not discriminatory.

Ms Tickle also appealed parts of the 2024 ruling, seeking a finding of direct discrimination, rather than indirect discrimination, on two accounts and an increase of damages to at least $40,000.

She said Ms Grover had repeatedly misgendered her in the media, causing significant distress.

Ms Tickle’s case was supported in court by Sex Discrimination commissioner Anna Cody and endorsed by the Australian Human Rights Commission and LGBTQI+ group Equality Australia.

Ms Grover’s case was crowd-funded, with support from the Lesbian Action Group who are currently fighting for the legal right to exclude transgender women from their events.

On Friday, Justice Melissa Perry delivered the Full Court’s judgment.

Justice Perry set aside Justice Bromwich’s original decision, ruling instead that Ms Grover had directly discriminated against Ms Tickle on the basis of her “gender-related appearance” on two occasions – when Ms Grover initially removed Ms Tickle from the app, and when she refused to reinstate her upon Ms Tickle’s request.

On behalf of the court, Justice Perry said Ms Grover had treated Ms Tickle “less favourably” than a biological woman.

She said whether the app was designed with “the purpose of achieving equality between men and women” was unimportant to the decision of whether it was discriminatory to Ms Tickle.

Ms Grover and the Giggle App were ordered to pay a higher total of $20,000 in damages to Ms Tickle alongside court costs for the appeal and Ms Tickle’s cross appeal up to $50,000.

The damages were ordered to be paid within 60 days.

Ahead of the appeal in 2025, Harry Potter author JK Rowling gave support for Ms Grover.

“Good luck, Sall, may the best woman (haha) win x” the author posted on X.

Ms Rowling has been criticised for her opinions on transgender women which have been linked to the Transgender Exclusionary Radical Feminist (TERF) fringe movement.

She has zealously campaigned against transgender rights in the UK and has voiced support for anti-transgender actions in multiple countries.

In the 2024 proceedings, the court was told Ms Tickle had been presenting as a woman since 2017, undertaking gender-affirming care in the ensuing years.

Her birth certificate lists her as female, being reissued in 2020.

https://www.news.com.au/national/courts-law/femaleonly-app-founder-loses-landmark-transgender-discrimination-appeal/news-story/96c4b1e2fa1196dc45f611a945599333

https://x.com/PaulineHansonOz/status/2055140556289028233

https://x.com/PaulineHansonOz/status/2055152784492912953

https://x.com/PaulineHansonOz/status/2055186533398048897

>>24610615

Australia court doubles payout for trans woman in landmark discrimination case

Lana Lam - 15 May 2026

A Sydney court has doubled the discrimination payout for an Australian trans woman who was kicked off a female-only app.

It comes almost two years after Roxanne Tickle successfully sued Sall Grover, founder of the Giggle for Girls app, for blocking her account on the grounds of gender identity.

Grover lodged an appeal against that verdict, but on Friday, the Federal Court dismissed it and further found that Tickle was directly - rather than indirectly - discriminated against by Grover.

Tickle, a biological male who identifies as a woman, was also awarded compensation of AU$20,000 ($14,000; £11,000), double the original amount.

Giggle's legal team argued throughout the original case that sex is a biological concept. They freely conceded that Tickle was discriminated against, but on the grounds of sex, rather than gender identity.

Known as "Tickle vs Giggle", the years-long dispute is the first time a case of alleged gender identity discrimination has been heard by the Federal Court in Australia.

During the original case, the court heard that Grover had removed Tickle from the app after spotting "male facial features" on Tickle's profile photo.

Grover told the court that when she looked at Tickle's profile picture, she decided Tickle was not a woman and removed the account, saying that the process was "the same as removing all males".

"I would have seen the photo and just gone, 'male', and blocked," Grover told the court during the initial hearing.

Under the country's Sex Discrimination Act, it is illegal for providers of goods or services to discriminate against another person on the ground of a person's gender identity.

In Friday's Federal Court judgement, the full court found that Grover had engaged in unlawful direct discrimination, saying she had treated Tickle "who is a transgender woman, less favourably than a person designated female at birth seeking access to the Giggle App".

The three judges also found that the original judge had erred by not deeming Tickle's removal from the app based on Grover's "first visual review" of the profile picture as direct discrimination.

The earlier ruling found that Grover had indirectly discriminated against Tickle.

Tickle downloaded the app in 2021 and passed the registration process which included a selfie, and used the app for about half a year before being blocked.

Grover founded the Giggle for Girls app in 2020 in response to online abuse by men during her time as a screenwriter in Hollywood.

"I wanted to create a safe, women-only space in the palm of your hand," she said earlier.

Shortly after Friday's ruling, Grover said she intended to appeal the decision in the High Court.

Update: This article has been amended to make clear Roxanne Tickle is a biological male who identifies as a woman.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdjpzgppr7mo

>>24579031 (pb)

>>24610615

‘Laughing stock of the world’: Giggle v Tickle discrimination case outcome stuns Women's Forum Australia CEO

Australia has been labelled the “laughing stock of the world” by a women’s rights advocate after the Federal Court dismissed the appeal of the Giggle v Tickle ruling.

Matt Hampson - May 16, 2026

1/2

A women’s rights advocate has labelled Australia the “laughing stock of the world” after a landmark ruling on sex and gender identity was upheld.

Giggle for Girls CEO Sall Grover has lost her appeal of a 2024 Federal Court decision that found she unlawfully discriminated against transgender woman Roxanne Tickle after barring her from the women-only platform.

Federal Court judges ruled that Ms Grover’s appeal be dismissed, and that Ms Tickle’s cross-appeal be allowed.

Speaking to Sky News Australia on Friday evening, Women's Forum Australia Chief Executive Rachael Wong said she was “still in shock” following the court’s decision.

“I don't think any of us thought that it was going to go this way. It's even worse than it was in the last instance,” Ms Wong said.

She described the outcome, which found that Giggle for Girls and Ms Grover had directly discriminated against Ms Tickle, as “unbelievable”.

“Australia is the laughing stock of the world right now,” Ms Wong said.

Despite Ms Grover having indicated she will take the case to the High Court, Ms Wong said “the reality is she shouldn't have to”.

“She shouldn't have had to have been spending the last four years of her life sacrificing her business, sacrificing time with her family to fight this absolute insanity,” Ms Wong said.

“Politicians could have stepped in and fixed this on day dot and they haven't.”

(continued)

>>24611095

2/2

Ms Grover voiced her disappointment shortly after the Federal Court judgment, saying she was “absolutely devastated”.

“Men who claim to be women have more rights than actual women in Australia,” she wrote in a post on X.

“It is women who are being discriminated against, not the men who claim to be us.

“But in a sense, nothing has changed: we will all wake up tomorrow & men will still not be women.”

Meanwhile One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has said she was “disgusted” by the case outcome.

“It flies in the face of biological reality and strips rights from women,” she wrote in a statement posted to social media on Friday.

“I condemn this appalling decision and I commend Sall Grover for refusing to give up the fight on behalf of Australian women everywhere. I hope she takes this to the High Court and I wish her every success in doing so.”

It comes after the judgment from Justice Melissa Perry, Justice Wendy Abraham and Justice Geoffrey Kennett on the Giggle v Tickle case was handed down on Friday afternoon.

Ms Tickle's successful cross-appeal centred on the Federal Court's ruling that Ms Grover and Giggle for Girls had "indirectly" discriminated against her.

It sought declaration that Ms Grover and her app had engaged instead in "direct" discrimination as well as a larger award of damages.

The court awarded Ms Tickle $20,000 in damages “taking into account aggravating conduct” by Ms Grover.

“Gender identity is defined as meaning gender-related identity and gender-related characteristics, including appearance,” Justice Perry told the court.

https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/politics/laughing-stock-of-the-world-giggle-v-tickle-discrimination-case-outcome-stuns-womens-forum-australia-ceo/news-story/869fb5ff05bd3d59e0eaa5f38d72b250

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

https://x.com/salltweets/status/2055483094883570078

https://www.gbnews.com/news/world/giggle-v-tickle-appeal-australia-trans-woman-ban-girls-only-app-roxanne-tickle-sall-grover

https://qresear.ch/?q=Rachael+Wong

>>24610615

Analysis: Giggle for Girls founder Sall Grover loses case against transwoman Roxanne Tickle

Sall Grover after appeal loss: ‘You cannot take our protections to get yours’

STEPHEN RICE - 15 May 2026

Don’t let the seemingly frivolous title of this case – Giggle v Tickle – distract from the serious implications of Friday’s Federal Court decision.

The right to access a women-only app called Giggle for Girls sounds harmless enough, but the appeal court’s determination means women no longer have the right to gather in their own spaces without the presence of biological men.

The Federal Court has chosen gender ideology over biological reality.

It didn’t need to.

The Sex Discrimination Act was designed to promote equality between men and women – if necessary, by allowing “special measures” that might discriminate against men but help women.

There was always a recognition that giving rights to one person might infringe on those of another.

When parliament passed poorly drafted amendments to the act in 2013 giving protections for “gender identity”, it clearly never intended that biological boys would sleep in girls’ dormitories, or that biological men would be locked into prison cells overnight with vulnerable women.

There is nothing, even now, in the omnishambles legislation that required the Federal Court to give gender identity precedence over sex.

The judges did that all by themselves.

Sex-based protections designed to protect women can now be employed by biological men who identify as women to ride roughshod over women who refuse to comply with their demands.

Sall Grover, who has fought this case for more than four years, has actively supported trans people having their own spaces, their own clubs, their own sporting events.

“We’re not opposing other people having protections that they need, but you cannot take away our protections to get yours,” she says. “That’s not how human rights work.”

Alas, that is now how human rights law works in Australia.

We need to catch up with the rest of the world.

The UK Supreme Court ruled a year ago that sex and gender identity are not the same, and that sex-based rights must be protected.

Yet we’re now in an even more invidious position than before Grover’s appeal.

Justice Bromwich had originally found that Grover only indirectly discriminated against Roxanne Tickle, because she didn’t know she was dealing with a transgender woman – she just saw someone who looked like a man.

The appeal judges have said that doesn’t matter. You can be directly discriminating against someone because of their male appearance, according to the Full Court, because male appearance is a gender-related characteristic of transgender women.

You might have thought male appearance was, well, because someone was born male.

After this judgment, if someone who looks like a man but identifies as a transgender woman goes into a women’s toilet, it is illegal to challenge or exclude them.

Grover says the damages awarded against her are punitive. It’s hard to disagree.

The appeal court awarded aggravated damages to Tickle because of Grover’s “gratuitous” and “disrespectful” conduct in “misgendering” Tickle during the trial.

That is, Grover stated her sincerely held belief, in a court of law, that a man cannot be a woman.

It cost her $20,000.

The one-time scriptwriter has already paid a high price for taking on a battle that should have been fought by those entrusted with protecting women. Many women gave evidence in the proceedings that they needed their own spaces because of past experiences of sexual assaults and intimidation by men.

Grover was one of those women.

In the face of this evidence, the Australian Human Rights Commission and its Sex Discrimination Commissioner backed the right of a biological male who identifies as a woman to insist on being admitted to a space established for women.

Grover was 14 weeks pregnant when this saga began. Her daughter is now four. But Grover says she’s determined to do whatever it takes to ensure her daughter has the rights so many women have fought for.

“I want every woman and girl to be able to say “no” to a man, no matter how he identifies, and not be punished for it.”

It is past time for parliament to step in and deliver some basic commonsense.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/sall-grover-after-appeal-loss-you-cannot-take-our-protections-toget-yours/news-story/dc0ff15e105589e90cd956d78329e3fa

https://x.com/salltweets/status/2055427093933314399

>>24610615

>>24611015

Angus Taylor vows to change sex discrimination laws after Tickle v Giggle court ruling

The Liberal leader has pledged sweeping legal changes after a transgender woman won her discrimination case against a women-only app founder.

Kate Stephenson - May 16, 2026

Liberal leader Angus Taylor has vowed to redesign Australia’s sex discrimination laws after a female app founder lost her appeal case against a transgender woman.

On Friday, the Full Court of the Federal Court ruled in favour of transgender woman Roxanne Tickle, finding female-only app founder Sall Grover directly discriminated against her when she chose to remove Ms Tickle from the networking app Giggles for Girls.

Ms Grover had brought an appeal to the court in 2025 following a ruling in the Federal Court the year prior which found she had indirectly discriminated against Ms Tickle and ordered she pay $10,000 in damages.

The Full Court set aside the original ruling, instead finding Ms Grover had directly discriminated against Ms Tickle on two occasions and ordered she now pay double the damages, increasing her dues to $20,000.

Ms Tickle was originally given access to the app after an AI software test designed to filter out male users cleared her.

However, Ms Grover personally removed her after seeing her profile in 2021.

On Saturday morning, Mr Taylor posted a statement to Facebook, claiming it would be his “first-term priority” to change existing sex discrimination laws.

“Yesterday the Full Federal Court confirmed that Australian law does not properly protect single sex spaces for women and girls,” he wrote.

“Most Australians would find that hard to believe. A coalition government I lead will fix this.

“We will amend the Sex Discrimination Act to ensure that women and girls (and men and boys) have protections based on biological sex.

“We will define biological sex in the act. Male or female. The sex you are born. And we will protect single-sex spaces across Australian life.”

Mr Taylor claimed the promise was not targeting transgender Australians.

“This is not radical. It is common sense,” he said.

“Let me be clear about what this is not. This is not about targeting transgender Australians.

“Every protection they currently have remains. We are not removing a single protection from anyone. But we are recognising something that should never have been in doubt: biological sex is real, it matters, and women and girls deserve spaces where it is respected.

“The Prime Minister now has a simple question to answer. Does he believe women and girls deserve protections based on biological sex?”

The court ruling has drawn both praise and criticism from politicians and advocacy groups alike.

The Australian Human Rights Commission welcomed the decision, with president Hugh de Krester stating many people still faced discrimination.

“We welcome the Federal Court’s interpretation of this protection in its decision,” he said following the verdict on Friday.

Equality Australia legal director Heather Corkhill said on Friday the decision affirmed the “reality and existence” of transgender Australians.

“This ruling affirms that all women deserve to live free from discrimination, without being judged on appearance, presentation or perceptions,” she said.

One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson posted to social media on Friday, stating she was “disgusted” by the ruling and promising to “back” Ms Grover in parliament.

https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/angus-taylor-vows-to-change-sex-discrimination-laws-after-tickle-v-giggle-court-ruling/news-story/01b3f5a95b0f1773a569fcabccc6541f

https://www.facebook.com/Angustaylor4hume/posts/1502783987894991

>>24119741 (pb)

>>24354986 (pb)

>>24536485 (pb)

>>24576525 (pb)

Burke uses Bondi powers to outlaw neo-Nazi hate group

Matthew Knott - May 15, 2026

1/2

The neo-Nazi group formerly known as the National Socialist Network has been listed as a prohibited hate organisation by the Albanese government under legislation introduced after the Bondi massacre, prompting far-right activists to shut down and wipe records of their online chat groups.

It will now be a criminal offence, punishable by up to 15 years in prison, to join or provide support to the far-right group, which has gone by various names.

The group announced it would disband in January to avoid being targeted under the new laws, but authorities believed its members have still been active.

The government announced in March that Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir would be the first group to be banned under the hate group scheme, created to target groups that previously skirted the definition of a terror organisation.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said he made the decision based on advice from domestic spy agency ASIO.

“Today, the organisation that would be colloquially known as the neo-Nazis, but has gone through different names – the European Australian Movement, the National Socialist Network (NSN) and White Australia – has been listed as the second prohibited hate group under the changes that were made to the Criminal Code,” Burke told reporters in Canberra.

“This sends a clear message to those who believe in racial supremacy that their views are not welcome in Australian society.”

The group organised an inflammatory rally outside NSW parliament last November in which participants held up a banner reading: “Abolish the Jewish lobby.”

After the Bondi terror attack on December 14, which led to the deaths of 15 people at a Hanukkah celebration, the government identified Hizb ut-Tahrir and the NSN as the two groups that showed the need for new hate group laws.

They typified behaviour that Burgess had identified as “lawful but awful”, Burke said on Friday.

“None of this will stop bigoted people from having ideas, but it does prevent this group from organising, from meeting, and prevents some of the sorts of horrific, bigoted rallies that we’ve seen around our country,” he said.

Burke said the government would be able to act quickly using regulation if the NSN tried to rebrand itself under another name.

Burgess said in a speech last year that the NSN had not engaged in terrorism but added: “I remain deeply concerned by its hateful, divisive rhetoric and increasingly violent propaganda, and the growing likelihood these things will prompt spontaneous violence, particularly in response to perceived provocation.”

(continued)

>>24611309

2/2

Known neo-Nazis decried the new edict in online forums, railing against Burke, and warning “newbies” to throw out their NSN memorabilia. Some organisers of the March for Australia anti-immigration rallies, which this masthead has previously revealed work in partnership with the neo-Nazis, said they were seeking legal advice on the ruling.

A new Telegram channel set up by the NSN in recent weeks to further their propaganda efforts, called Australian Vanguard, said it would now shut down to escape the proscription laws. “We had a good run with this project,” they said, but “we’re going to have to shut it down.”

March for Australia lead organiser Bec Freedom announced that the group’s main Telegram chat would also be wiped and shut down before the midnight proscribing.

The leaders of the NSN announced in January: “To mitigate the risk of individuals being arrested and charged under these new draconian laws, we are shutting down all operations of the following organisations: the National Socialist Network; the European Australian Movement; White Australia; and the White Australia Party.”

Burke said this did not mean the group’s members no longer posed a threat.

“Effectively, what they did, for want of a better term, is phoenix,” he said, referring to a term in which insolvent companies reappear under a new guise.

Burke said while the group had “changed their name, they did not change the fact they were still an organisation and still engaged in the exact sort of behaviour that met the threshold for this legislation”.

Opposition home affairs spokesman Jonno Duniam praised the move, saying: “Australians do not want to see people avoid justice simply by tearing down a banner and re-emerging under a different name. This recommendation along with that of Hizb ut-Tahrir shows that the laws we backed in January of this year are responsible and effective.”

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Peter Wertheim applauded the decision, saying his organisation had been urging such a move since 2021.

Wertheim said the hate group listing would “send a much-needed message that these groups and their hateful, racist ideology have no place in Australia”.

“It doesn’t matter what they call themselves, or how they structure themselves, these groups use all the well-known techniques of thuggery and menace that Nazis have always used against Jewish communities and other groups they have targeted,” he said.

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/government-lists-neo-nazi-group-as-hate-organisation-20260515-p5zxde.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRUDqs_C9mY

>>24611309

Neo-Nazi group banned in Australia under hate laws

Clare Armstrong - 15 May 2026

1/2

A Neo-Nazi organisation will be listed as a hate group in Australia, making it illegal to support the group in any way.

On Friday Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced that White Australia, previously known as the National Socialist Network (NSN) and the European Australian Movement, would be designated a prohibited hate group under laws introduced after the Bondi terror attack.

Mr Burke said the listing, effective as of midnight, meant "supporting, funding, training, recruiting, joining or directing" the group would be a criminal offence punishable by up to 15 years behind bars.

"It sends a clear message to people who believe in racial supremacy that their views have no place in modern Australia," he said.

Mr Burke linked Neo-Nazis to "violent action" in Melbourne and said there had been several arrests relating to people "motivated by white supremacist ideology".

South Australian police arrested 16 alleged Neo-Nazis, including one person who was charged with displaying a Nazi symbol, after they disrupted a Survival Day rally in Adelaide last January.

Three people were also arrested after a group of alleged Neo-Nazis attacked a First Nations protest camp in Melbourne in September.

Ban will limit 'horrific, bigoted rallies

Mr Burke said the federal government could not stop "bigoted people from having horrific ideologies," but banning certain groups would have an impact.

"It does prevent this group from organising, meeting and prevent some of the sorts of horrific, bigoted rallies we have seen around the country," he said.

Asked if Australians who continued to attend rallies organised by people linked to the banned group could be in breach of hate laws, Mr Burke said they would be taking a "risk" even if they did not realise who was behind the event.

"The criminal threshold will be determined on the facts, but the simple thing would be if anyone who associated with any organisation of this nature, they're taking a risk … and they need to be aware of the potential criminal offences that they'd be dealing with."

Mr Burke said the Neo-Nazis had "gone after almost every different group you can imagine" in Australia.

"Whether people are Jewish, Muslim, whether people are of Asian heritage, whether they are First Nations, they engaged in a series of examples of bigotry, all of which fit with their white supremacist ideology," he said.

"It has been made clear today that under Australian law they are now a banned organisation."

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Peter Wertheim welcomed the group's listing.

"It doesn't matter what they call themselves, or how they structure themselves, these groups use all the well-known techniques of thuggery and menace that Nazis have always used against Jewish communities and other groups they have targeted," he said in a statement.

"This announcement is welcome and will send a much-needed message that these groups and their hateful, racist ideology has no place in Australia."

(continued)

>>24611677

2/2

Neo-Nazis can't avoid ban by changing name

When Labor first announced laws intended to capture groups described by intelligence agencies as "lawful but awful," the Neo-Nazi group known as NSN announced it would disband to avoid being listed as a hate group.

But Mr Burke said "phoenixing" — continuing the same activities under a different name — would be swiftly dealt with by the government.

"Once an organisation has been listed, then if they try to reform under a new name, effectively it's a simple regulation change [to list the new name]," he said.

Mr Burke said ASIO had initiated the listing on the basis the Neo-Nazi group was "engaged in behaviour that increase risks of violence".

The organisation also met the government's threshold of advocating for or engaging in "hate crimes".

Coalition backs listing of hate group

The opposition was briefed on the advice and has supported the listing, with Shadow Home Affairs Minister Jonno Duniam describing it as a "welcome development".

"Let's be absolutely clear, the modus operandi of these Neo-Nazis is to destroy the Australian way of life," he said.

"Our message to them is that your ideology of hate has no place in our society and that if your criminal organisation persists, it will be shut down and your members punished."

Senator Duniam said the ability to list the organisation as a hate group even if it changed names showed the hate laws backed by the Coalition in January were "responsible and effective".

The government has not been advised of any other groups that might be listed in the near future, with Mr Burke explaining the banning of any organisation was a "big step".

"We deliberately made sure we had a whole lot of checks and balances," he said.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-15/neo-nazi-group-banned-in-australia-under-hate-laws/106686260

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

>>24309785 (pb)

>>24603494

Jewish academics ‘targeted and silenced’ as universities face fines over antisemitism

NATASHA BITA - May 14, 2026

1/2

Universities face fines for failing to protect Jewish staff and ­students from hate speech and attacks, months after the Bondi massacre, a caustic review of antisemitism on campus has warned.

Jewish academics are being “targeted and silenced’’, sacked or boycotted, Emeritus Professor Greg Craven found in his government-initiated investigation of 32 universities. His damning report exposes ongoing intimidation and harassment of Jewish staff and students on campus – including academics “glorifying the leader of a proscribed terrorist organisation’’ to students.

Jewish students and staff have been verbally abused as “baby killers, defenders of genocide and fascists’’ while some student newspapers published Jewish tropes. “Though prohibited, chants such as ‘globalise the intifada’, ‘long live the intifada, ‘glory to the intifada’ and ‘from the river to the sea’ continue to be used … confronting flags are routinely flown on campus,’’ the report states.

“Jewish academics have needed to decide if they want to ‘come out’, identifying themselves as Jews, and in some cases have decided not to for fear of the consequences.

“Antisemitism is being directly used to repress the academic freedom of its victims.’’

Professor Craven – a constitutional lawyer and former vice-chancellor of the Australian Catholic University – lashed the university sector for failing to adopt clear and enforceable definitions of antisemitism – five months after 15 people were shot dead at a Jewish festival on Bondi Beach last December.

He deplored the “grave inability” of universities to stamp out antisemitism as a “sectoral failure’’, and questioned why they refused to treat hatred of Jews as seriously as discrimination on the grounds of race, gender, sexual orientation, disability or mental health. “Given the attacks at Bondi, on synagogues … as well as the direct harassment of Jewish ­people – including on university campuses – it surely is the case that antisemitism should take a detailed definitional place among other contemporary forms of harassment and vilification,’’ he said in his report on Thursday.

Criticising “arcane and almost unusable complaints and disciplinary processes’’ across higher education, Professor Craven found that university campuses had hosted aggressive protests and sit-ins featuring antisemitic slogans, offensive symbols, antisemitic guest speakers and “loud harassment of Jewish students and others seen as supporting the state of Israel or ‘Zionists’.’’

“It is implausible for universities to deny any significant level of blame here,’’ he said. “Antisemitism is a continuing and very serious problem within Australian universities. Not only is any degree of antisemitism in our universities racist, bigoted, unethical and immoral, it undermines their international viability as institutions of research and learning.

“As institutions of free debate and intellect they cannot allow themselves – or others connected with them – to be perceived as discriminating against a vulnerable and fearful minority.’’

Professor Craven said a continued failure by universities to define antisemitism and stamp it out should be referred to federal Education Minister Jason Clare.

He said consequences for individual universities might impact funding and registration through referrals to the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency, the regulatory watchdog he helped establish.

(continued)

>>24611729

2/2

Mr Clare will introduce legislation to parliament in July granting TEQSA new powers to fine universities for regulatory breaches. Universities have an August 31 deadline to implement a clear and enforceable definition of antisemitism. “We are making changes to the standards universities must meet to tackle antisemitism and other types of racism,’’ Mr Clare said on Thursday. “That includes having a definition of antisemitism and other forms of racism, and policies and complaints processes to address it.’’ The Coalition’s education spokesman, Julian Leeser, said it was “pathetic’’ that universities had failed to define and stamp out antisemitism. “How can you address a problem if you can’t even agree what it is?’’ Mr Leeser said.

“We have seen 15 of our fellow Australians murdered on Bondi Beach because of their religion – that should be a massive concern to every decent person.’’

The National Union of Students blasted the government’s intervention as “straight out of the Trump playbook’’. “Australia does not need the Americanisation of our university system, where governments threaten funding to pressure universities into ideological compliance,’’ NUS president Felix Hughes said.

He said antisemitism on campus was real and Jewish students should be safe, but insisted that “definitions of antisemitism cannot be used in ways that shut down legitimate criticism or scholarly examination of Israel’’.

However, Professor Craven said free speech was not an “absolute right’’. “Realistically, protecting against antisemitism in a university context will limit to some extent both academic freedom and freedom of speech,’’ his report states. “Writings that are overtly antisemitic, as opposed merely to being critical of the policies of the state of Israel, will be affected by such protections. Similarly, freedom of speech will be curtailed, current examples being the use of such slogans as ‘from the river to the sea’ or ‘globalise the intifada’.’’

Universities Australia announced last year that 39 institutions had agreed to a “clear definition’’ of antisemitism that included calls for the elimination of Israel, or holding Jews accountable for Israel’s actions. It stated that “substituting the word ‘Zionist’ for ‘Jew’ did not eliminate the possibility of speech being antisemitic’’.

More than a year later, Professor Craven found that 32 universities had failed to adopt a “clear, comprehensive and binding’’ definition. “A vaguely described concept of antisemitism contained in a low-level university policy that merely invites decision-makers to have regard to it as seems appropriate to them is not a definition,’’ he said.

Professor Craven, who has built a career developing and interpreting complex regulations, scorned some university definitions as “profoundly obscure, impenetrable and truly baffling’’.

He identified six universities for making the most effort: the University of Canberra, Swinburne University of Technology, Southern Cross University, the University of Southern Queensland, Charles Darwin University and Western Sydney University.

Universities Australia said on Thursday “antisemitism is abhorrent … Jewish students and staff should feel safe, respected and supported on campus, and we recognise the hurt and distress many in the community may have experienced’’. The Group of Eight sandstone universities at the centre of anti-Israel encampments in 2024 said “they are places of debate, protest and strong disagreement’’. “Any suggestion that universities are not doing enough to protect students and staff from harassment, intimidation or hate must be treated with urgency,’’ it said.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/jewish-academics-targeted-and-silenced-as-universities-face-fines-over-antisemitism/news-story/63389285dde5fd3a0069483877e38a12

>>24424631 (pb)

>>24526266 (pb)

AUKUS pact a ‘once in a lifetime’ chance for Australia, says top US admiral

America’s top naval officer has backed the AUKUS submarine pact as a “once in a lifetime” opportunity to give Australia a “no kidding” undersea force.

Vanessa Marsh - May 15, 2026

America’s highest ranking naval officer has described the trilateral AUKUS pact as a “once in a lifetime” opportunity to equip Australia with a “no kidding” submarine force that will bolster joint defence capabilities against threats in the Indo Pacific.

US Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Daryl Caudle, the principal naval adviser to President Donald Trump, told the US House Armed Services Committee that AUKUS had his “full support” and he was confident the transfer of submarines to Australia would not impact US defence capabilities.

It comes as News Corp’s Defending Australia summit is held in South Australia today where Defence Minister Richard Marles is expected to deliver a keynote address detailing progress on the $368 billion submarine project.

Asked by ranking member of the House Seapower Joe Courtney about the findings of last year’s Pentagon review that endorsed the pact, Adm Caudle said he “wholeheartedly” agreed with it.

“I was part of it, I was in bed creating it,” he said.

“I made a lot of the recommendations in it that were actually adopted and fully support AUKUS Pillar I.”

“And I look forward to standing up submarine squadron three later this year and making sure that submarine rotational force west becomes alive and getting the first Virginia-class transfer to Australia next year as we continue to build out where they eventually buy US submarines. So I fully support it, sir.”

Under the AUKUS agreement, the US would begin selling nuclear-powered submarines to Australia beginning in the early 2030s.

Adm Caudle was asked if America’s marine industrial base would be able to fulfil its AUKUS commitments while also ensuring the US Navy had access to the undersea fleet it required.

He said the fleet requirements relied on force posture with homeports where the fleet could be maintained and operated, referencing the importance of existing squadrons in Guam, Hawaii and San Diego.

“And then what we’ve done, and I think in a very thoughtful way, is, for once in a lifetime, shared technology with a close partner, Australia, to give them a no kidding submarine force that will add an entirely new dimension to the threats we face in the Indo-Pacific,” Adm Caudle said.

“And so that, under the submarine squadron, and the way we will command and control that working with the Australian Navy, who are great partners and have been for decades, will give Admiral (Samuel) Paparo access to those submarines as well.”

Adm Caudle is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and advises the White House, Pentagon and National Security Council.

He endorsed earlier support for the pact given to the same committee by Admiral Samuel Paparo, Commander of the Indo Pacific Command, who described the defence agreement as “essential”.

At the time, Adm Paparo said the AUKUS was on track and a rotational submarine squadron could be operated out of Australia as early as “tomorrow”.

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/technology/innovation/aukus-pact-a-once-in-a-lifetime-chance-for-australia-says-top-us-admiral/news-story/9ccf71f13001a3e422ed396e5a525caa

>>24355021 (pb)

>>24561233 (pb)

>>24363915 (pb)

Australia to retask E-7 Wedgetail aircraft to support multinational operations in Strait of Hormuz

Robert Dougherty - 13 MAY 2026

Australia has announced it will retask a Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft to support freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles confirmed intentions for the deployment on 13 May.

The deployment alongside allies under the multinational freedom of navigation operations follows a recent meeting of defence ministers from more than 40 countries.

“Australia stands ready to support an independent and strictly defensive multinational military mission, led by the United Kingdom and France, once it is established,” Deputy Prime Minister Marles said.

“Our intention is to contribute Australia’s world-leading E-7A Wedgetail aircraft to this defensive effort.

“While this platform is already doing work in the region, providing this capability would make a valuable contribution to the multinational mission and efforts to secure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

“The multinational military mission is designed to complement ongoing diplomatic engagement and de-escalation efforts while demonstrating a tangible commitment to the security of international trade.

“We want to see this conflict end, the Strait of Hormuz open and freedom of navigation resume. The longer this conflict goes on the more significant the impact on Australia will be. Our government is doing all we can to shield Australians from the impacts.

“We will continue to consult and work with partners to support these efforts.”

The United Kingdom has announced it will send a Daring Class air defence destroyer, HMS Dragon, to join freedom of navigation operations in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Portsmouth-based Royal Navy Type 45 destroyer will be joined by autonomous mine hunting equipment, counter-drone systems and Typhoon fighter jets to conduct air patrols for the future multinational defensive mission.

https://www.defenceconnect.com.au/air/18176-australia-to-retask-e-7-wedgetail-aircraft-to-support-multi-national-operations-in-strait-of-hormuz

>>24521943 (pb)

Vanuatu defiant on security pact as Beijing beckons

BEN PACKHAM - May 14, 2026

Vanuatu has challenged Australia to drop its demand for a veto over Chinese deals if it wants to secure a far-reaching bilateral security pact, as it pushes ahead with a “comprehensive economic co-operation agreement” with Beijing.

The Albanese government is yet to agree to a new version of the countries’ Nakamal Agreement that was approved by Vanuatu’s Council of Ministers last Thursday, amid growing concerns over China’s surging influence in the region.

Vanuatu’s updated draft says Australia is the country’s primary policing partner and its critical infrastructure will not be militarised by another power but, unlike the original version, it would deny Australia the ability to block Chinese investment in sensitive sectors.

The proposed security deal is part of a region-wide effort by Australia to deny China a security foothold that could open the door to a permanent military presence.

“The government had reservations on certain parts of the (Nakamal) agreement it felt would compromise its longstanding position as a non-aligned state. We are friends to all, enemies to none,” a source in Vanuatu told The Australian.

“When the Nakamal Agreement came up it was going to have a lot of ramifications. It was going to limit us and put a lot of projects the government already had in the pipeline in jeopardy.

“It will be really up to Canberra whether they will assent on (the new draft agreement).”

The proposed agreement comes as Vanuatu negotiates a new bilateral partnership with Beijing called the Namele Agreement. The source denied the planned China pact had a security element, as widely reported.

Two-year limbo

“The Namele Agreement is totally different from the Nakamal Agreement. Nakamal is more like a security pact. Namele is more comprehensive economic co-operation with Vanuatu.”

The Australia-Vanuatu deal has been in limbo for years after Port Vila cancelled a previous security agreement in 2022, and then failed to finalise the Nakamal Agreement in 2025 when Anthony Albanese arrived to sign it. The deal was originally worth $500m to Vanuatu in infrastructure and other support.

If the Albanese government agrees to the terms of the revised agreement, Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Jotham Napat would likely travel to Australia for a formal signing ceremony in coming weeks.

Former Australian diplomat James Batley, who served in senior roles across the Pacific, said he believed the Albanese government would agree to the revised deal “assuming it hasn’t been completely gutted”.

The ANU distinguished policy fellow said that “like politics, diplomacy is the art of the possible”.

“Assuming it is concluded I expect the agreement will still represent a major milestone in relations between Australia and Vanuatu,” Mr Batley said.

“Depending on the scope of the agreement, it may open the way for greater Australian investment in Vanuatu’s national development, which is already considerable.

“The agreement won’t shut China out of Vanuatu, but that’s not a realistic objective at this point.

“Vanuatu wants an agreement with Australia, and I would expect an agreement to cement Australia as Vanuatu’s key development and security partner.”

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has said Australia is in “a state of permanent contest” with China in the Pacific – a contest others have referred to as a “knife fight” and a never-ending game of “whack-a-mole”.

The government has signed a string of security agreements with Pacific countries including a landmark defence treaty with Papua New Guinea, and pacts with Tuvalu and Nauru. It is also working towards a major treaty with Fiji.

It requires the deals to be exclusive, and for Australia to have a right of veto over Chinese investments in critical infrastructure.

Vanuatu is one of the South Pacific nations most susceptible to Chinese influence. Beijing owns 30 per cent of the country’s debt, and has delivered an array of major projects in critical areas including the $145m Luganville Wharf, a $66m upgrade to Port Vila’s international airport, and a Huawei data centre and surveillance facility.

One of the PLA-Navy’s most advanced destroyers and an accompanying cruiser docked at the Chinese-delivered wharf in October 2024, in a major show of strength.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/vanuatu-defiant-on-security-pact-as-beijing-beckons/news-story/fd142ace69b1363dd40f695da1e45a72

Lawyer for notorious paedophile Peter Liddy says indefinite jail would be an 'abuse of process'

Jordanna Schriever - 13 May 2026

Keeping paedophile former magistrate Peter Liddy in prison at the completion of his 25-year jail term next month would be an "abuse of process", his lawyers have told South Australia's Supreme Court.

The notorious child abuser, who is now in his 80s, was jailed in 2001 for sexually offending against four children between 1983 and 1986.

He has remained in custody since, having previously been refused parole, but his prison term is due to expire in three weeks, on June 4.

Jeff Powell SC, for Liddy, asked the court to permanently stay the government's application to keep his client behind bars, suggesting his client's case was "rare and exceptional".

He said it would be "unjust to subject him to an inquiry" given a 2019 report by a forensic psychiatrist had already found Liddy was capable of controlling his sexual instincts.

"It would be an abuse of process of the court to do so," Mr Powell said.

Mr Powell said that report, by Dr Craig Raeside, had found there was "no indication that [Liddy] was incapable of controlling his sexual conduct" and that he "would not support a finding that Mr Liddy is unwilling to control his sexual behaviour".

He said Dr Raeside had further suggested that any risk Liddy may pose if released into the community "could be adequately managed with appropriate supervision".

He said a prison program had deemed Liddy to be at "average risk of sexual reoffending" which equated to a low-to-moderate risk.

Mr Powell criticised the timing of the government's application which was filed in February, just months before Liddy was due to be released.

"His circumstances have been fully known by the Crown for years, the fact of his offending hasn't changed, the unproven allegations haven't changed, the fact that there is ongoing denials is unchanged … there is nothing new here," he said.

"What has changed is that … he is now, of course, older, he is frailer and he is more unwell.

"He has an unblemished record as a prisoner for 25 years."

Mr Powell said Liddy's compliant conduct while in custody appeared to be viewed by the government as "a facade".

'Detain people until they confess'

Alison Doecke KC, for the government, said shelving the proceedings would be "inappropriate" and that the government was under "no obligation" to file its applications any earlier.

She said there were issues with Dr Raeside's 2019 report, because it was almost seven years old, did not include a current risk assessment and did not include the findings of a six-month sexual offender course Liddy had completed in prison.

She said it was also unclear how much consideration Dr Raeside had given unproven allegations against Liddy.

"Liddy has committed horrendous sexual offending which has been denied," she said.

She said those continued denials, meant a prison treatment program had been unable to assess his potential risk.

"I don't think it's the point that you detain people until they confess," she said.

"What is missing from Raeside's report … is how does this man's denial impact his current risk level?

"The reason to detain is that in the absence of accurate and reliable assessment of the risk, your Honour should not be reassured by what is an 'average risk of sexual re-offending'."

She said it was also "important to recognise" that Liddy's cognitive capacity had "fluctuated markedly over time" and that "in more recent times there is no concern about Mr Liddy's cognitive capacity".

"The court needs to have caution in closing off this application by granting a permanent stay on the basis of a report that is six-and-a-half years old for a man we know whose cognitive capacity has fluctuated over time."

The government has also sought Liddy be subject to a supervision order if released.

Ms Doecke said if granted, that order should include a six-month period of strict home detention conditions.

Liddy's lawyers, however, said any period of home detention should last only three months.

The court heard that the restrictions sought would also include limiting Liddy's access to a computer or the internet — even though he had "never used a computer and doesn't intend to".

The court heard the premises where Liddy would live were "currently being assessed", but Ms Doecke said there were "complexities" which could not be articulated in open court.

She said "practical steps" including connecting electricity were still required.

Justice Rachael Gray will deliver a decision next week.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-13/paedophile-peter-liddy-contests-indefinite-detention/106675082

https://qresear.ch/?q=Peter+Liddy

>>24599941

>>24599944

The trouble in Surfers Paradise over grand designs of Trump clan

The first family’s plan for Australia’s tallest building came spectacularly unstuck on Queensland’s beloved beachfront, to the delight of opponents

Roger Maynard - May 15 2026

1/2

For a few short months after Valentine’s Day, the Trumps setting up shop in Surfers Paradise followed a similar pattern to the Trumps setting up shop anywhere else in the world.

The president’s sons, Donald Jr and Eric, had entertained a man called Tom Tate, mayor of Australia’s Gold Coast, at Mar-a-Lago, and in February they announced that a developer would build a skyscraper, the tallest in Australia at 1,099ft, bearing the Trump name.

It was talked up with great fanfare and made headlines as the country got its first of the beautiful buildings the president likes to declare he builds. Back in February, Eric Trump proclaimed the deal reflected “our unwavering commitment to delivering world-class luxury experiences in iconic locations around the world”.

Their commitment, however, would waver before too long. The 285-room luxury hotel bearing the Trump trademark has now been axed. So too has the 92-storey residential building, beach club, Michelin-starred restaurant and shops there were due to follow by 2030, all at a cost of around a billion dollars.

The Trumps have accused David Young, who leads the property developer, Altus, of short-changing them. “After months of negotiations and empty promises, one after another, about a supposed A$1.5 billion project, Altus Property Group was unable to meet the most basic financial obligation that was due upon signing the agreement,” a Trump Organisation spokesman told Reuters.

The Trumps claimed Young had attributed the contract termination to “certain world events”, describing this as “simply a strategy to deflect attention from his own failings and failures”.

Young, meanwhile, said the Trump brand had become “toxic to Australians” in recent months, not least due to the war in Iran. He stressed, however, that he knew the Trump Organisation had “nothing to do with the president”.

That may be, but there has been a growing divide between Australia and the White House. Last month, Penny Wong, the foreign minister, ruffled feathers in Washington when she said it had been “difficult” to watch Trump behaving “very differently to how we previously envisioned America”. She added: “We know that he prizes unpredictability.”

There was a general local unease with the project and its links to the first family, too. At least 140,000 people had signed four separate petitions demanding a halt to the work, with signatories “deeply uncomfortable with the Trump brand and what it represents”.

On the Gold Coast, the notion of a Trump tower limiting access to the beach prompted anger in a nation where sand and surf are sacrosanct. Craig Hill, one of the leaders behind the anti-Trump campaign, said the project did not fit in with Australian common values. He said the campaign against the project had united locals. “All these Australians working together for a common cause was fantastic and very inspirational,” he told The Times. “The Trump brand is toxic.”

“There is no bad blood between the Trump family and me,” Young wrote on LinkedIn, claiming he had maintained a relationship of almost two decades with the Trump family. “It’s purely business.”

(continued)

>>24612038

2/2

Tate was frank about the failure of the deal, claiming it had less to do with relationships and more to do with profit margins. “It’s all about money,” he told ABC. “The Trump Organisation wants a lot more from their brand on the funding side of things, to operate it and the percentage of return.”

He added: “The developer’s going: ‘Well I’m putting in all of my money in and you’re going to take quite a lot of profit,’ so I think that’s why they’re parting ways.” It means that the prime beachfront site which was earmarked for the development will remain empty for the time being.

Hill is thankful for small mercies. Although he and his campaigners were not necessarily opposed to development of the land, he was worried about the impact of a super tower. “Real estate prices would go up, rates would go up and there’d be a thousand new cars a day going into the street — it would be absolute bloody chaos,” he said. “I don’t think the taxpayer should have to pay so some corporation can make millions of dollars.”

However, Jordan Quoc-Tien Hoai Nguyen, a Gold Coast investor who had supported the Trump project said the block would not remain empty. “At some point something has to be built,” he said.

The Trumps, meanwhile, have moved on to pastures new in their property empire with hotels, residential buildings and golf courses expanding around the world.

Their latest project is in Georgia, a nation where fears are rising that the former Soviet republic could be pulled back into the Kremlin’s orbit. If the building, planned at 70 storeys in the capital, Tbilisi, is ever finished it will be the completion of a long-standing Trump ambition. And unlike the development on Australia’s Gold Coast, this seems a personal project for the commander-in-chief.

Back in December 2009, Ivana Trump, the president’s former wife, travelled to Georgia to meet Mikheil Saakashvili, the then president, and explore investments in Black Sea tourist resorts. A year later, Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen visited, reportedly stating: ‘I’m here to walk the land and smell the dirt’. He added that Trump had been impressed by Saakashvili during a meeting in New York. “We’re looking for profit from Georgia,” he said.

Trump himself visited in 2012, travelling to the Black Sea resort of Batumi and, alongside Saakashvili, announced a deal to license his name for a $250 million, 47-storey Trump Tower to be developed by Silk Road Group. That never materialised, however.

Speaking about the latest plan, Eric Trump said: “The Trump name is synonymous with some of the most luxurious real estate developments in the world, and Trump Tower Tbilisi stands as a continuation of that legacy.

“We are proud to bring this globally recognised standard of excellence to Georgia and are especially pleased to collaborate with such respected and professional developers on this project.”

https://www.thetimes.com/us/newstoday/article/trump-australia-skyscraper-tq8w37pqc

https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/gold-coast-developer-says-trump-brand-became-toxic-as-tower-deal-collapses/news-story/6e78c77341e4dd9f1cf211085e6afffd

>>24611309

>>24611677

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese vows to defend hate group laws as neo-Nazis plan court fight

LIAM BEATTY and NATHAN SCHMIDT - May 16, 2026

Members and supporters of a now-banned hate group have rushed to delete their online footprints, warning “don’t allow yourself to become an example made by the state”.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced on Friday the National Socialist Network (NSN), and affiliated groups White Australia and the European Australian Movement, would be listed as a prohibited hate group under Australian law at midnight.

This was the second such listing after Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir.

Under the designation, Mr Burke said supporting, funding, training, recruiting, joining, or directing this group constitutes a criminal offence with a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.

“It sends a clear message to people who believe in racial supremacy that their views have no place in modern Australia,” he said on Friday.

In response to the new laws passing parliament earlier this year in the wake of the alleged Bondi terror attack, the NSN announced the group would disband.

However, Mr Burke alleged they had changed their name and continued organising.

“Effectively what they did, for want of a better term, is phoenix,” he said.

“(They) changed their name, they did not change the fact they were still an organisation and still engaged in the exact sort of behaviour that met the threshold for this legislation.

“It doesn’t matter what they call themselves, or how they structure themselves, these groups use all the well-known techniques of thuggery and menace that Nazis have always used against Jewish communities and other groups they have targeted.”

Following the announcement on Friday, former members of the NSN have wiped their public social media profiles as a message is shared among supporters of the group.

It warns supporters to “proceed with extreme caution” and not praise the group online, share posts or footage and leave group chats containing “ex-members”.

“Please take this seriously,” it reads.

“Don’t allow yourself to become an example made by the state.”

In a statement shared online by former NSN leader Thomas Sewell, he claimed the move was because the government “hates white Australians” and was a response to his attempt to create a new political party.

Mr Sewell said he had filed a High Court appeal against the laws.

Speaking on Saturday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government was “absolutely confident” the challenge would fail.

“We’ve outlawed the neo-Nazis that have gone through various name changes but the policies remain the same; the policies of hatred, the policies of antisemitism, the policies of trying to divide people against and target people who are Australians,” he said.

“They’re important laws for Australians and we will stand by them, we will defend them.”

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/latest-news/prime-minister-anthony-albanese-vows-to-defend-hate-group-laws-as-neonazis-plan-court-fight/news-story/0169bf98e3df39c86f4db74ba4c1def7

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSLS0Po76RA

>>24603494

Protesters march at Nakba Day rallies around Australia

abc.net.au - 17 May 2026

1/2

Protesters have marched in cities across Australia to mark the Nakba, a day that recognises the mass displacement of Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.

The anniversary of the Nakba, which means "catastrophe" in Arabic, falls on May 15 each year.

About 500 people attended a rally to commemorate the Nakba in Melbourne on Sunday, marching from the State Library to Flinders Street Station.

Palestinian-Australian surgeon Dr Bushra Othman addressed the crowd assembled on the steps of the library.

"Seventy-eight years ago, Palestinian people were driven from their homes carrying keys they believed they would soon use again," Dr Otham said.

"Those keys became heirlooms, those homes became memories."

Senator Lidia Thorpe told the rally Aboriginal Australians stood with the Palestinian people.

"I wish these anniversaries could be events of healing. But the Nakba is not over and continues to this very day," she said.

Greens Senator David Shoebridge accused the Australian government of "silence and complicity" in the current Middle East conflict.

"There was no one day when the Nakba started, there is no one day when the Nakba ended. It continues," he said.

Several people held Israeli flags up across the road from the pro-Palestinian rally, but the two groups were separated by police.

Police said there were "no issues" during the event.

Organisers 'encouraged' by crowds

In Brisbane, about 350 protesters gathered in the CBD to commemorate Nakba Day.

During the rally, the crowd heard from multiple Palestinian speakers who spoke of resistance and recounted stories of Nakba survivors and the generations that have come after them.

There was a recurring theme of hope amongst the speakers, and chants of "free, free Palestine" could be heard ringing out across the CBD as the crowds marched with megaphones, signs and Palestinian flags.

Among those in attendance was Nick Hanna, the lawyer representing a number of Queenslanders who are facing hate speech charges in relation to banned phrases.

In Perth, about 300 people attended the city's Nakba Day rally, which included a march through the city.

Friends of Palestine WA secretary Nick Everett said the rally was an opportunity to stand in solidarity.

The Perth rally was attended by community groups including the Palestinian Community of WA.

"This is one rally in an ongoing campaign … we're really encouraged by the numbers here today," Mr Everett said.

"For Palestinians the term Nakba means catastrophe, and each year Palestinians protest the ongoing Israeli cleansing of their lands.

"We urge people to take notice, write to their politicians and join us in our call for justice."

(continued)

>>24616870

2/2

Significance of day 'immense'

More than 200 people gathered outside parliament in Adelaide to show their support for the Palestinian community on Nakba Day.

There was a strong police presence of about a dozen officers, and the crowd chanted "free Palestine" throughout the protest.

Husam Elassaad, a member of South Australia's Palestinian community, addressed the crowd and spoke about the impact of the dispossession on his community and family.

In Hobart, more than 100 people marched through the city before gathering on the lawns outside of Parliament House.

There were multiple speeches by members of Friends of Palestine Tasmania and the Tasmanian Palestine Advocacy Network (TPAN), along with poetry readings and musical performances.

TPAN member Zainab Fadhil said the significance of the day was "immense".

"It shows the fight and the struggle that's been continuing on for hundreds of years for the Palestinian people," she said.

"Nakba demonstrates the impact that it had on the people so many years ago and people continue to show up today regardless of how long ago it was, because it's still important and significant.

"Regardless of the person, the race, the religion, the gender, we are all here to support the Palestinian people and their right of living."

In November 1947, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution partitioning Palestine into two states, one Jewish and one Arab, with Jerusalem under a UN administration.

The Arab world rejected the plan, resulting in a war in 1948 after the departure of British forces and the declaration of independence of the State of Israel.

An estimated 750,000 refugees from historic Palestine either fled or were expelled from their homes, many going to refugee camps or neighbouring countries.

In 1948, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution resolving that "refugees wishing to return to their homes … should be permitted to do so".

The "right of return" of those refugees to what is now Israel is a core demand of most Palestinian groups, and has been one of the most intractable issues in negotiations between Israel and Palestinian representatives.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-17/nakba-day-rallies-held-around-australia/106689562

>>24451132 (pb)

Secret IBAC report into Daniel Andrews’ firefighters union deal set for release

DAMON JOHNSTON - May 15, 2026

IBAC is moving to release the findings of its highly confidential investigation into dealings between Labor and Victoria’s firefighters union in little more than a week.

In a step that threatens to trigger a major integrity crisis for Premier Jacinta Allan just six months before the state election, the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission has told witnesses in the marathon probe that it plans to table the report in parliament during the week starting Monday, May 25. Wednesday, May 27, shapes as the most likely day for the release.

The anti-corruption agency has written to witnesses in the past week alerting them to the imminent release of the special report into Operation Richmond, an investigation that has dragged on for longer than World War II.

Operation Richmond has been running under tight secrecy since 2019 and while no public hearings were called, scores of witnesses – including then premier Daniel Andrews – were grilled in private by IBAC.

The investigation, sparked by a complaint from a Labor insider, has been digging into the 2016 pay-and-conditions negotiations between the Andrews government and the United Firefighters Union and its state secretary Peter Marshall.

The Australian has approached IBAC for comment.

In a newsletter released last month, IBAC Commissioner Victoria Elliott confirmed the agency was preparing to release the long-delayed findings and recommendations.

“IBAC is committed to publishing the Operation Richmond special report as soon as possible – with a view to publication before the end of the financial year,” Ms Elliott wrote in April.

In a letter to witnesses, IBAC has confirmed they won’t know if their response to IBAC’s draft findings and comments will be included in the final report until it’s tabled in parliament.

IBAC told witnesses it was not the agency’s practice to inform them if revisions had been made to a draft report, or to provide an updated draft report.

The agency said it intended to stick to this process.

The Australian has reported that in private examinations, IBAC grilled witnesses about the role played by Mr Andrews in the negotiations – which led to a favourable enterprise bargaining agreement with the UFU.

Mr Andrews and IBAC have repeatedly dodged questions about whether he was cross-­examined during closed-door Operation Richmond hearings.

The Australian believes Mr Andrews, as premier, was grilled in a private hearing over events that handed the union generous allowances and effective operational control over the volunteer Country Fire Authority.

One of the aspects that IBAC is believed to have looked at is whether the 2016 EBA deal Mr Andrews struck with the UFU was influenced by the UFU campaigning for Labor during the 2014 election.

In the April newsletter, Ms Elliott conceded Operation Richmond had dragged on for too long. “We acknowledge the Operation Richmond special report process has been complex and has taken too long,” she wrote, adding that “there were a number of factors outside of our control which have delayed publication, including the pandemic and court matters”.

“We have reviewed our processes internally and made improvements to ensure what is within our control is completed as efficiently as possible for ­future IBAC special reports.”

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/secret-ibac-report-into-daniel-andrews-firefighters-union-deal-set-for-release/news-story/16f9ea4e1de65f7d463571e9ee3e7608

>>24616963

Taxpayers face $134,000 bill for Dan Andrews statue

DAMON JOHNSTON - May 15, 2026

Dan Andrews will be immortalised in bronze, with Premier Jacinta Allan confirming work is under way on a statue to honour the controversial former Labor premier.

In a Friday afternoon announcement, Ms Allan’s office confirmed a $134,000 contract had been awarded to erect the statue, which will join sculptures of other premiers who have led Victoria for more than 3000 days.

“Daniel Andrews led Victoria through some of its toughest moments and never stopped fighting for working people,” a government spokesperson said.

Governments regularly time announcements they fear may be unpopular for Friday afternoons in what is known in politics as “taking out the trash” in a bid to minimise the coverage.

Under an honour system introduced by former Liberal premier Jeff Kennett in 1999, premiers who lead the state for more than 3000 days can be acknowledged with the permanent tribute.

Mr Kennett, while acknowledging Mr Andrews had led Victoria for 3219 days, quipped that the statue of the former premier should be melted down and sold to help repay the state’s debt, which will hit almost $200bn by 2030.

“Our children who will be saddled with paying his debt off would appreciate the help,” Mr Kennett told The Australian, before adding that the statue should feature Mr Andrews wearing a mask.

“The sculpture should definitely feature a mask,” he said, referencing the fact Mr Andrews locked down Melbourne for more than 260 days during the pandemic.

“After all, if the statue is meant to reflect a leader’s time in office, then a mask would be fitting.”

Four former premiers qualified for the honour; Albert Dunstan (3834 days, 1935-45), Henry Bolte (6288 days, 1955-72), Rupert Hamer (3209 days, 1972-81) and John Cain Jr (3047 days, 1982-90).

Their statues stand directly outside the premier’s office at No.1 Treasury Place.

Mr Kennett was closing in on being the fifth statue, but Victorians voted him out after 2571 days in office.

Until Mr Andrews’ dominance, Steve Bracks (who won elections in 1999, 2002 and 2006) was the only modern-day premier who came close to qualifying for a statue. But in 2007, just 159 days short, he retired.

The government confirmed that Meridian Sculpture was selected because “they’ve got specialist experience delivering major sculptural works, including statues of four other long-serving Victorian premiers”.

The total cost of the statue is $134,304. The government said work was under way and installation details would be announced at a later date.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/taxpayers-face-134000-bill-for-dan-andrews-statue/news-story/569d39da9411501fd7a7c28494d6e54f

>>23895384 (pb)

>>24523341 (pb)

>>24526238 (pb)

>>24566300 (pb)

AFP to take on global drug cartels with Pacific-international strike force

AMANDA HODGE - 17 May 2026

1/2

Australia will work with Mexican and Colombian law enforcers to target some of the world’s biggest drug cartels on their home turf in an aggressive new regional response with the US, New Zealand and Pacific island nations to stem a surge of illicit narcotics swamping the region.

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett will tell a landmark Pacific Transnational Crime Summit in Fiji on Wednesday, comprising Pacific police ministers and regional and international law enforcement agencies, that a bolder approach is needed to address the spiralling national security threat to Australia and its vulnerable Pacific neighbours posed by transnational drug criminals.

A new International Joint Investigations Team based in Colombia will see AFP officers work with local law enforcement, where they legally can, to stop illicit drugs at their source countries, to capitalise and build on the disruption to cartel trafficking networks caused by US strikes on suspected narco-vessels in the ­Caribbean and eastern Pacific.

AFP and New Zealand police will help fund the new strikeforce that will gather evidence on illicit shipments before they reach the Pacific region, supported by the Australian Border Force and NZ Customs.

“Coming together with trusted partners is how we will target and frustrate the cartels and other organised criminals,” Ms Barrett writes exclusively for The Aus­tralian. “We will do this with the Col­ombian Attorney-General’s Office, the National Police of Colombia, Colombian navy, Mexican authorities, US law enforcement authorities, NZ Police, Interpol and Pacific chiefs to ­target and disrupt organised criminals,” she says.

“We must do this for the collective health, security and sovereignty of like-minded countries that embrace the rules-based order and democracy,” she adds in a thinly veiled swipe at Beijing.

The Albanese government has been working hard to secure bilateral and Pacific-wide security and policing agreements, including the recently renegotiated Vuvale Agreement with Fiji, aimed in part at countering China’s persistent push for a security foothold on Australia’s doorstep.

The Pacific’s growing drug and associated public health crisis has added urgency to that mission.

Some 17 tonnes of illicit drugs, mostly cocaine, have been seized by local and international law enforcement in the Pacific so far this year, up from 4.6 tonnes for all of 2025.

Even that statistic tells only part of the story. While many more tonnes have evaded law enforcement through the so-called Pacific narco-corridor to Australia, where street drugs command the highest prices in the world, cocaine and meth by the tonne are also pouring into the Pacific to tiny communities with far less capacity to deal with it.

“The increase is partly because greedy and ruthless narco-gangs are trying to make more money by identifying new ways to traffic illicit drugs. The use of semi-­submersible vehicles to cross the Pacific is one example,” Ms Barrett writes.

At least four have been discovered in Solomon Island waters since August last year as cartels employ ever more sophisticated technology to evade capture.

(continued)

>>24617170

2/2

It is also a result of deep-pocketed Australians’ insatiable demand for illicit drugs, which Ms Barrett calls “our nation’s shame”.

“The magnitude and endless maritime trafficking of illicit drugs to and through the Pacific has become a serious national security threat for the Pacific and Australia.

“It is a threat the AFP cannot ignore … (and) it must be countered to protect our regional security and the safety of our collective communities.”

While organised criminals in Australia have long enjoyed luxury lifestyles on the proceeds of a drug trade that inflicts misery and violence on the community – all too often children – transnational drug smuggling is now “corroding (Pacific island) health systems, family structures, and their ­future”.

Pacific Island Chiefs of Police, who for years have watched the impact of illicit drugs on Australian society, are now crying out for help to address a crisis that was tearing at the essential scaffolding of Pacific society – faith, family and culture, she adds.

The AFP is already stationed in Bogota and working with local law enforcers to target and destroy remote Colombian jungle drug labs, which pump out as much as 70 per cent of the world’s cocaine.

Just this month, the AFP supported Colombian enforcement agencies in the arrest of multiple people allegedly involved in drug trafficking networks operating in narco-terrorist controlled terri­tories where many tonnes of ­cocaine are produced to send to Australia.

More than 20 tonnes of cocaine have been seized in the past few years alone as a result of AFP and Colombian police co-operation, including the October 2024 interception at sea of 5.5 tonnes inside a self-propelled, semi-submersible bound for Australia.

“It is time for us to be bolder and do more to help the Pacific, Australians and our region,” Ms Barrett says.

“Pacific Island Chiefs of Police are vocal (about) the need for a significant intervention, and this has been heard by the AFP and around the world.”

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/afp-to-take-on-global-drug-cartels-with-pacificinternational-strike-force/news-story/687eb01b61a528a9dff6ce92d8780763

>>24617170

COMMENTARY: Drug trade corrodes communities and threatens Pacific security

KRISSY BARRETT - 17 May 2026

1/2

Seventeen tonnes of illicit drugs, mostly cocaine, have been seized by local and international law enforcement in the Pacific since January. That equates to about three tonnes of illicit drugs seized every month since the start of this year. In 2025, the total seizure of illicit drugs in the Pacific region was about 4.6 tonnes.

The increase is partly because greedy, ruthless narco-gangs are trying to make more money by identifying new ways to traffic illicit drugs. The use of semi-submersible vehicles to cross the Pacific is an example. The magnitude and endless maritime trafficking of illicit drugs to, and through the Pacific, has become a serious security threat for the Pacific and Australia, one the AFP cannot ignore. This serious vulnerability must be countered to protect our regional security and the safety of our communities.

The AFP and our international partners will step up for three clear reasons: 1) most of the illicit drugs being trafficked to, and through the Pacific, are destined for Australia, so we have a moral responsibility to act and a direct responsibility to the Australian public to stop these drugs from reaching our shores; 2) our Pacific family is seeking help, and; 3) the AFP, with like-minded law enforcement agencies, is the partner of choice to help fight this problem, consistent with Pacific leaders’ agreement security must be the shared responsibility of Pacific Islands Forum members.

From the AFP’s perspective, there is no point mincing words – it is our nation’s shame that Australians consume too many illicit drugs and pay high prices for them. As police, we see every day the brutal reality of illegal drug use and serious organised criminals who direct their unlawful business here. They create misery in our communities and wreak havoc in our country. Some victims, who have endured the most shocking violence and cruelty, have suffered by perpetrators affected by illicit drugs such as methamphetamine.

Too many victims are children. While law-abiding Australians work hard for their money, organised criminals are living life large, not paying tax, and are now tasking our youth to carry out crimes so they can put a distance between them and their criminal activity. These are the reasons why the AFP invests time and resources in combating and disrupting transnational organised crime. The Pacific Island Chiefs of Police group has watched from afar the impacts of illicit drugs on Australia and now they fear the diabolical reality facing their communities.

The illicit drug threat to Pacific communities is exponentially increasing – corroding their health systems, their family structures, and their future – their next generation. The effect on such small populations is devastating. It is a complete undermining of their faith, family structure and proud culture. This is where the leadership of Fiji Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu has come to the fore. He wants the Australian public to know Pacific communities have never been more at risk from the effects of illicit drugs. He is advocating for stronger responses to address the challenges of resourcing and expertise, as well as the timely sharing of information that takes into consideration the needs of all the Pacific.

He has implored the AFP and other partners to help protect his country and the wider Pacific because Pacific regionalism is about the collective, and nothing underscores this more than the influence of Pacific Island Chiefs of Police. The chiefs are vocal for the need for a significant intervention, and this has been heard by the AFP and around the world. With narco-gangs under threat because of strong law enforcement action in North America, the AFP will use its extensive partnerships to take new action. We will do this with the Colombian Attorney-General’s Office, the National Police of Colombia, Columbian navy, Mexican authorities, US law enforcement authorities, New Zealand Police, Interpol and the Pacific chiefs to target and disrupt organised criminals. From May 18-22, the Fiji Police Force and the AFP will co-host the Pacific Transnational Crime Summit in Fiji to strengthen regional co-operation on transnational crime. The summit will be held in partnership with the Pacific Transnational Crime Network, which includes crime units in 21 Pacific Island countries.

(continued)

>>24617189

2/2

The Pacific Transnational Crime Co-ordination Centre, hosted in Samoa, co-ordinates and analyses information from crime units, and is one of the first lines of defence to protect Pacific nations and our region. The summit will bring together Pacific police ministers, senior Pacific operational law enforcement leaders and international partner agencies to share information about the strategic challenges, strengthen collaboration and find tangible solutions.

The AFP will work with local law enforcement to target criminals in their own backyard and be more aggressive at stopping illicit drugs at source countries.

Colombia produces about 70 per cent of the world’s cocaine. Drug cartels send many tonnes of cocaine and other illicit substances to Australia each year. Our AFP members in Bogota, with Colombian law enforcement, have deployed to remote parts of the Colombian jungle to deliberately destroy cocaine production laboratories. Just this month, the AFP in Bogota supported Colombian law enforcement during the arrests of people allegedly supporting drug trafficking networks operating in narco-terrorist-controlled territories where cocaine is produced to send to Australia.

In the past couple of years the AFP-Colombian co-operation has seized more than 20 tonnes of cocaine, including 5.5 tonnes located on a self-propelled semi-submersible in the Pacific Ocean bound for Australia in October 2024. But with like-minded law enforcement partners, it is time for us to be bolder and do more to help the Pacific, Australians and our region. It is a credit to law enforcement agencies in Colombia and Mexico that they are willing to help the Pacific.

The AFP and NZ Police will help fund an International Joint Investigations Team in Colombia to gather evidence about illicit drug shipments to help stop it coming to our region. It will be supported by Australian Border Force and NZ Customs. Coming together with trusted partners is how we will target and frustrate cartels and organised criminals. We must do this for the collective health, security and sovereignty of like-minded countries that embrace the rules-based order and democracy.

Krissy Barrett is AFP Commissioner.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/drug-trade-corrodes-communities-and-threatens-pacific-securit/news-story/37f60b164b6ee459746b38bf85fee568

https://au.news.yahoo.com/boats-13000km-journey-to-australia-cut-short-after-sinister-discovery-on-board-020904048.html

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/11/colombia-narco-submarine-cocaine

>>23888045 (pb)

>>24260283 (pb)

>>24272813 (pb)

Tasmania moves to close legal loophole for child abuse survivor compensation

Tasmania will introduce legislation allowing sexual abuse survivors to claim compensation from institutions after a High Court ruling blocked such claims.

Sue Bailey - May 16, 2026

A move by the state government to legislate to allow for more survivors of sexual abuse to seek compensation has been hailed as “fantastic” by a leading advocacy group.

Attorney-General Guy Barnett announced that the government would seek feedback on the legislation which has been drafted in response to the High Court decision in the case of Bird v DP.

In a landmark decision in November 2024, the High Court ruled that institutions including churches and clubs cannot be held “vicariously liable” for child sexual abuse committed by a person who is not technically their employee.

Victoria passed legislation this year to address the implications of the court decision to also allow victims to claim compensation retrospectively.

Beyond Abuse founder Steve Fisher praised the Tasmanian government to follow other states and for acting swiftly to help victim survivors.

“We only had two meetings with the government and they listened to us and they have acted very fast,” he said.

“People who have been abused by institutions can finally get the compensation that they deserve.

“It’s going to create a level playing field for survivors. They’ll finally get the justice in monetary terms that they can and we just cannot thank the Tasmanian government enough.”

Mr Fisher was unable to say how many people he expected would take advantage of the legislation.

“If this legislation helps just one person it will be worth it,” he said.

“It’s very hard to know how many people will be affected, but what I would say to them is to come forward, come forward to us, anybody in your life, and we will point you in the right direction.

“The fact it has been made retrospective is just brilliant.

“It’s done in consultation with victim survivors and victim survivor advocates because that gives you a unique insight into what abuse survivors battle with every day and what is needed to help them have a life that they were robbed of by being abused.”

Mr Barnett described the legislation as a “major law reform” that would help victim survivors.

“It flows from the High Court case in Bird v DP and it will allow victim survivors to make claims to support their claims and concerns with respect to child abuse,” he said.

Mr Barnett said the High Court decision “created an anomaly in the law”.

“So where there’s been child sexual abuse in institutions and other organisations, victim survivors were not able to make that claim based on that High Court case,” he said.

“It could be any institutions of any colour or persuasion where there has been child sexual abuse and so that’s simply the justice system will be at work and there is likely to be some claims in the future.”

https://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/tasmania-moves-to-close-legal-loophole-for-child-abuse-survivor-compensation/news-story/066cb1d29369a8ab08c608c1a775d74b

https://qresear.ch/?q=Steve+Fisher

>>24611309

>>24611677

>>24616846

‘Democracy is dead, act accordingly’: Neo-Nazis lodge High Court fight

Sherryn Groch - May 18, 2026

Neo-Nazis have lodged a constitutional challenge in the High Court against new federal laws outlawing them as a hate group, as they fight to form a political party.

The National Socialist Network disbanded on paper in January in an attempt to escape the government’s crackdown on extremism that could see its members and supporters face up to 15 years in prison.

But on Friday, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke proscribed the group anyway, noting members had continued to organise covertly, “phoenixing” under new names such as White Australia.

Within days of the NSN disbanding, its leader Thomas Sewell had fundraised a war chest of more than $150,000 for his efforts to challenge the laws in court.

Documents released by the High Court on Monday reveal the group plans to use the reinstatement of the once-banned Communist Party of Australia – its ideological enemies – in the appeal, arguing that a government banning even “an unfashionable political party” infringes on the implied right to political freedom in Australia, and gives punitive power to the government without judicial review.

The group is seeking an immediate injunction voiding the proscription of the NSN, and so any potential arrests under the new law, until the appeal is heard. The case was filed by Sewell’s long-time lawyer, Matthew Hopkins, who has himself posted antisemitic and racist views online.

Despite claiming to have disbanded, neo-Nazis of the NSN have continued to meet in person throughout this year, including under the banner of the March for Australia anti-immigration rallies they helped organise around the country.

Last week, Sewell and other senior NSN figures admitted they had also continued with their plans to form a neo-Nazi political party, submitting the paperwork to register the “White Australia” party – with Sewell as party president – to the Australian Electoral Commission on Anzac Day.

On Friday, hours before the group’s midnight designation as a hate group, Sewell posted a video, which he said he hoped was not his final address.

“If our High Court injunction fails, then the fate of liberal democracy dies with the fate of white Australia, and you will be able to say to your grandchildren you were present when honorable men tried the peaceful method of resisting a government that is hell-bent on the destruction of our people,” he said.

Elsewhere online, prominent neo-Nazis told followers to research US neo-Nazi terror group the Order, which the NSN lionises, as their political options “dried up”. “Democracy is dead,” wrote one former NSN member. “Act accordingly.”

A new Telegram channel set up by the NSN in recent weeks, called Australian Vanguard, shut down on Friday as the news of the proscribing broke. Before it went dark, the channel warned that if all legal and political avenues were exhausted, “what avenues do [the government] think realistically remain? Do they think whites will submit?”

In January, this masthead revealed the extent of the NSN’s entanglement with terrorists and extremist groups overseas, and uncovered a secret chatroom run by March for Australia organisers and the NSN where an alleged $10,000 plot to kidnap Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, along with other threats, had led to multiple police raids.

The NSN’s political push – as revealed by this masthead in April – is part of its broader efforts to rebrand as “everyday Australians” concerned about immigration in order to recruit followers and use political expression as a shield against hate speech laws.

In outlawing the group on Friday, the home affairs minister noted the NSN’s involvement in violence, including an alleged attack on women and elderly people at an Indigenous camp in Melbourne last year, over which more than a dozen members, including Sewell, now face charges.

The federal government has also designated fundamental Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir as a hate group under the new laws, again at the recommendation of spy agency ASIO.

Since the NSN formally disbanded, Sewell has increasingly appeared on far-right manfluencer podcasts online, including alongside designated terrorist James Mason.

Some right-wing associates of the neo-Nazis said they were seeking legal advice about the proscribing on Friday, and March for Australia lead organiser Bec Freedom wiped her group’s main Telegram chat.

https://www.theage.com.au/national/democracy-is-dead-act-accordingly-neo-nazis-launch-high-court-fight-20260518-p5zyex.html

>>24505916 (pb)

Pilot Daniel Duggan appeals decision to extradite him to US for allegedly training Chinese military personnel

A former US marine pilot accused of illegally training Chinese military personnel is appealing a court decision that paves the way for his extradition.

Adelaide Lang - 18 May 2026

A former US fighter pilot is appealing a decision that greenlit his extradition over claims he illegally trained Chinese military personnel.

Daniel Duggan was arrested at the behest of the US government in 2022 at a supermarket in regional NSW, where he lived with his wife Saffrine and their six children.

He has been in custody for three and a half years - nearly half in solitary confinement - over claims he breached US arms trafficking laws by training Chinese pilots in South Africa between 2010 and 2012.

Mr Duggan denies the allegations and has for years resisted attempts to return him to the US to face charges, most recently in the Federal Court.

But the former fighter pilot’s appeal against the decision to approve his extradition was struck down in April.

Saffrine Duggan announced on Monday the family had lodged a challenge against the Federal Court decision.

“(We) will be continuing in our fight for Dan’s freedom and Australia’s sovereignty,” she said on Instagram.

“This is about my family and all Australians.”

The appeal will be heard by the Full Federal Court at a later date.

Ms Duggan argued then-attorney general Mark Dreyfus approved her husband’s extradition to the US despite him being an Australian citizen who “broke no law” while working in South Africa in 2012.

Mr Duggan had no criminal record or violent history but had been locked up for years without facing any Australian charges, she said.

The former US marine pilot has been kept in a maximum security prison in central NSW, about 100km from his family since his arrest.

Ms Duggan repeated her calls for the government to intervene in her husband’s case as she prepares for the next stage in the family’s fight against extradition.

“It’s time for Dan to come home,” she said.

In a letter from prison, Mr Duggan previously wrote that he believed his activities were not illegal, and Australian and US intelligence services were aware of his work.

His years-long legal battle has taken a crippling financial toll on his family, who estimate their legal bills total about $500,000.

Mr Duggan has been refused Legal Aid, while an injunction placed on his family’s half-built house means they can neither sell it nor live in it.

“We have been stripped of our property and we have been financially devastated by our ongoing fight for justice,” Ms Duggan said.

https://thenightly.com.au/australia/pilot-daniel-duggan-appeals-decision-to-extradite-him-to-us-for-allegedly-training-chinese-military-personnel-c-22298697

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYdVXeBvJV1/

https://chuffed.org/project/109154-dan-duggan-extradition-legal-fund

>>24556451 (pb)

>>24611802

Malcolm Turnbull lashes AUKUS as ‘a huge wealth transfer’, tells UK its submarine industry is ‘in disarray’

Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has unloaded on the AUKUS agreement, telling his UK audience that their own naval shipbuilding and submarine industry is in ‘absolute disarray’.

Andrew Greene - 18 May 2026

1/2

Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has unloaded on the AUKUS agreement during a presentation in London, telling his UK audience that their own naval shipbuilding and submarine industry is in “absolute disarray”.

Appearing at the leading international affairs think tank Chatham House, Mr Turnbull has also predicted China will not launch a military invasion of Taiwan, with President Xi Jinping instead hoping to takeover the island “without fighting”.

During a wide-ranging discussion on foreign policy and Australia’s role in the world, the one-time Liberal leader who left politics in 2018 was asked about his concerns towards the AUKUS deal which was unveiled by his successor Scott Morrison in 2021.

Under AUKUS, Australia is expected to acquire at least three Virginia-class boats from the United States in the 2030s which will operate from Perth’s HMAS Stirling ahead of the arrival of a new fleet known as SSN-AUKUS being delivered with the UK in the 2040s.

To help ensure the delivery of the Virginia-class and SSN-AUKUS boats, Australian taxpayers are providing billions of dollars to the United States and United Kingdom to improve their domestic submarine building capacity.

“I worry we won’t get any submarines. It’s a submarine deal with no submarines,” Mr Turnbull told the Royal Institute of International Affairs, describing AUKUS as a “really stupid deal”.

“The UK ship building industry, particularly the submarine industry is in absolute disarray,” he warned.

“It’s a great deal for the UK. Why? Because they get lots of money from Australia so essentially, I think is a huge wealth transfer from the Australian government to the US and the UK.”

“America’s getting a base. We could argue that’s good for our security, you could argue it’s not. The UK is getting lots of lovely money. Again, what I’m saying about the problems with the UK submarine industrial base is not controversial.”

Last month British MPs warned that the UK’s contribution towards delivering the massive AUKUS nuclear submarine project was falling behind, highlighting “shortfalls or delays in funding”.

Although the Labour chaired House of Commons defence committee was broadly supportive of AUKUS, it also “laid bare the scale of the endeavour that will be required to deliver it”.

“For the UK, delivering SSN-AUKUS will be a lengthy and complex undertaking requiring a sustained financial commitment from government across several electoral cycles,” the British report warned.

(continued)

>>24621694

2/2

Mr Turnbull also predicted the US would not be able to reach the goal of producing at least two new submarines a year by the 2030s, a milestone needed before it would be prepared to transfer any of its existing Virginia-class boats to Australia. “You’re talking about a vertical take-off which of course isn’t going to happen. So, I don’t think we’ll get any Virginias. I don’t think we can complain because the Americans will say, ‘We’ve been completely upfront with you’.”

In 2021 former Prime Minister Scott Morrison unveiled the AUKUS partnership with his then British and US counterparts after cancelling a French project favoured by Mr Turnbull, to replace Australia’s ageing Collins-class submarines.

China has consistently attacked the AUKUS partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, which was designed to counter Beijing’s growing military assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific.

When asked about the prospect of conflict involving China, Mr Turnbull noted that the US had historically been “very concerned” to protect Taiwan but didn’t see any imminent threat to Australia.

“Look, I don’t see China invading Australia for a start. I’m not lying awake at night worried about you know, some sort of kinetic attack from China”.

“Ten years on, is China in a better position to forcibly take Taiwan than it was? Yeah. No, question. No one would argue with that. Is it likely to? No, I don’t think it is.”

“My view is that (Chinese President) Xi Jinping wants to reunite Taiwan with the mainland without force. He wants to win without fighting and I think that is quite feasible”.

“China’s military capabilities have been considerably enhanced, uh, you know, through their investment. They now have a navy that is bigger than that of the United States. They’ve got a ship building industry that is several hundred times bigger than the United States.”

https://thenightly.com.au/politics/malcom-turnbull-lashes-aukus-as-a-huge-wealth-transfer-tells-uk-its-submarine-industry-is-in-disarray-c-22299408

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cfJdJqZt3U

https://www.chathamhouse.org/2026/05/malcolm-turnbull-aukus-huge-wealth-transfer-australian-government-us-and-uk

https://www.chathamhouse.org/events/all/standard-event/australian-model-navigating-us-china-divide-malcolm-turnbull

>>24599846

>>24611802

Australia’s $11billion upgrade to keep subs afloat waiting for AUKUS

James Massola and Brittany Busch - May 19, 2026

Australia’s ageing Collins-class submarines will receive $11 billion worth of upgrades starting next month, as the navy extends their lifespan while waiting for the arrival of its first nuclear submarines from the United States.

The Collins-class submarines, which have had a troubled history over their lifetime, have to be upgraded because the first of the US-built Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines are not due to arrive until about 2032, and senior Trump administration and Pentagon figures have aired reservations about the pact with Australia and Britain.

Last month, a UK parliament review expressed grave reservations about whether Britain was capable of building Australia’s bespoke SSN-AUKUS class submarines by the early 2040s, noting that “cracks are already beginning to show when it comes to funding”.

Earlier this month, as Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi visited Australia, former senior defence official Richard Gray urged the federal government to consider leasing conventional diesel submarines from Japan as a plan B to avoid a capability gap.

There is also concern within government that despite US President Donald Trump’s endorsement of the submarine pact last year, there are key figures within the administration, such as Defence undersecretary Elbridge Colby, who have opposed the deal.

Defence Minister Richard Marles criticised the former Coalition government for estimating, in its 2020 force structure plan, that the cost of the life-of-type extensions to the Collins boats would be about $6 billion, rather than the more realistic $11 billion.

The need to extend the life of the Collins class has been reviewed by successive governments and predates the decision to sign the AUKUS deal with the US and Britain.

Marles announced the extension on Tuesday. It will add up to 10 years to the boats’ lifespan, and will include cutting open the vessels in dry dock to upgrade critical weapons systems.

In 2024, the government flagged that it would extend the submarines’ lives for another decade, but it will now scale back the upgrades to what it calls “a conditions-based sustainment approach”.

“These decisions reaffirm the Albanese government’s commitment to keeping the Collins class a potent and highly capable strike and deterrent capability today, and for years to come,” Marles said during a speech to the Lowy Institute think tank.

“Extending the life of all six Collins-class submarines is critical to maintaining that edge as we transition the navy from conventional to nuclear-powered submarines.”

HMAS Farncomb, which is one of the oldest of the six submarines, will be the first boat to get an overhaul.

After the speech, Marles said it was “unthinkable” that Australia could be left without long-range submarine capability, and $368 billion AUKUS deal was the solution once the Collins-class submarines expired.

“We don’t really have a choice but to do this,” he told the audience during a question and answer session.I mean, to concede that Australia would not operate that platform would be to really reduce our sovereignty. It is far and away the most significant capability that we have

“There seems to be a sort of almost an incredulity about the idea that this could really happen, but the truth of the matter is that AUKUS is now being pursued with vigor by each of the three participating nations,” he said.

Australian Strategic Policy Institute senior fellow Richard Gray, who wrote the “Hedging our Bets” report on the Japanese submarine option, said announcement “means it will like take longer, cost more and deliver a reduced submarine capability”.

“It might seem unusual that the cost goes up so much, but that increase in cost is almost certainly due to greatly increased maintenance on largely unchanged boats.”

University of Western Australia adjunct professor Jennifer Parker said the upgrade was necessary but “the Collins will have reduced capability, they already do, and it will be used to train submariners for the Virginia class. Their [the Collins] ability to operate far from Australian shores will be diminished”.

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/australia-s-11billion-upgrade-to-keep-subs-afloat-waiting-for-aukus-20260519-p5zyqp.html

https://www.defenceconnect.com.au/naval/18213-government-commits-to-collins-lote

>>24603494

Frank Lowy tells Bondi inquiry his soccer fix could help cure hate

STEPHEN RICE - 19 May 2026

1/2

Billionaire businessman and Holocaust survivor Sir Frank Lowy has previously experienced violent antisemitism in his adopted country – once when a bomb exploded at the Israeli consulate in Westfield Towers, where he had his office, and again when another exploded at the Hakoah Club in Bondi, where he was president.

But nothing prepared him for the massacre of 15 people at Bondi Beach in December.

“I couldn’t believe that is happening to Australia – I used to go to Bondi Beach every morning to run on the beach,” Sir Frank tells The Australian in an exclusive interview.

“I still can’t believe it, but I must tell you that it didn’t happen overnight, so change is not going to be overnight.”

Change can happen, the Westfield shopping centre founder insists, in a powerful submission he has just handed the antisemitism royal commission – but it will require the same kind of cultural shift that saw ethnic divisions in Australian soccer transformed into loyalty to the country.

“In soccer, we didn’t try to take people’s ethnic identity away; we worked to stop the expression of ethnic conflict in public,” Sir Frank says in the submission.

“Similarly, it is probably not possible to eradicate a dislike of Jews, but it is possible to help people understand why, in Australian society, the public outpouring of this aversion is not right.”

Sir Frank, hand-picked by prime minister John Howard in 2002 to rescue soccer, broke up the ethnically divided structures that had encouraged violence in the game and established the A-League, bringing soccer – or football, as he prefers to call it – into the national mainstream.

“When I came to this country, I recognised its decency and the privileges it accorded me,” said Sir Frank, now 95. “I also recognised the obligations of living in a tolerant democracy. “There has been a drift away from these obligations and more should be made of them when people apply to live here. They should understand the penalties (up to deportation) for failing to demonstrate the values that have served Australia so well for decades.”

Stressing that deportation should only be a last resort, Sir Frank told The Australian that education had to be the first objective for migrants.

“There is a social contract, in my opinion, that when you come to Australia as an immigrant, you’ve got to learn the language, you adopt the Australian way of life,” he said.

“They have to adopt the country that they come to. If they love the country they came from so much, why didn’t they stay there?”

Sir Frank said he saw as a boy how quickly verbal violence in Europe mutated into the physical violence that took the life of his father and the lives of his mother’s entire family, leaving her the sole survivor.

“Now in my 90s, I heard the slogans shouted at the Opera House and then I heard the bullets find their target at Bondi Beach,” he said.

Sir Frank, who now lives in Israel, recalls that when he arrived in Australia his Jewishness was irrelevant. “When I came to Australia from Europe in 1952, I was called a New Australian, and I liked the title of New Australian because suddenly I belonged somewhere.

“When I heard about ‘mateship’ and ‘a fair go’, they represented noble national aspirations.

“You adopt the Australian way of life. If you don’t like Australia, well, leave.

“I was naturalised after a few years in Australia, and it was a major event that I am now an Australian. It gave me pride and I wanted that pride to be spread to the supporters of soccer.”

(continued)

>>24621710

2/2

As a young man, Sir Frank became an office holder with Hakoah, the Jewish football club in Sydney, and says he “understood the fire that drove ethnic teams”.

“But I knew the game could not grow unless it became Australised, so to speak, because the foreign element was good, but it was destructive because the fights that occurred on the field distracted Aussies – in the real sense – from coming to the games.

“And of course, the fights of Europe were brought to Australia. And I knew that unless you make major changes to the perception of the game, the game will remain a minor game in Australia. And I’m not a minor game person.

“We adopted a constitution that brought in new names – the clubs had to be called, not Croatia or Budapest, but Perth, Sydney, or a suburb of a city, to identify the game and the club with its environment.

“To bring back Australian decency we need cultural confidence,” Sir Frank says in his submission to the royal commission. “This can only be demonstrated by powerful and inspiring leadership from government.”

Sir Frank adroitly sidesteps a question from The Australian about whether Anthony Albanese had provided that kind of leadership, observing that “the Prime Minister is the leader of the country, so I respect him”.

But he strongly backs tough federal and state legislation against antisemitism, including moves by the NSW government to ban chants of “globalise the intifada”.

When antisemitism burst on to the forecourt of Sydney’s Opera House on October 9, 2023, Sir Frank says he was astonished.

“Australians were openly celebrating a massacre. Amplified by the powerful engine of social media, a new entitlement had emerged,” he said.

“The social licence that has allowed for the open expression of anti-Jewish sentiment needs to be reworked. If this helps to curb antisemitism, it will likely be useful in curbing other forms of racism in Australia.”

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/frank-lowy-tells-bondi-inquiry-his-soccer-fix-could-help-cure-hate/news-story/4cbc117e31c70d63e86a8460f4e71af8

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/frank-lowys-powerful-antisemitism-submission-we-changed-soccer-and-we-can-also-extinguish-smouldering-racism/news-story/4a05fcdff9f42c8a476f28630f91bcf4

>>24583922 (pb)

Syrian government clears way for ISIS brides’ return to Australia

MOHAMMAD ALFARES - 19 May 2026

The remaining former ISIS brides and their children are expected to arrive in Australia as early as next week, with the Syrian government stepping in to unlock travel funds from their relatives and finalise flight arrangements needed for their departure.

The Australian has confirmed urgent negotiations are under way to extract six Australian women from northeast Syria’s al-Roj internment camp, which could see the remaining group return by next week.

Under direct pressure from the US State Department, the Syrian government and Kurdish authorities controlling the camps are understood to have come to an agreement for imminent and urgent repatriations.

It can also be revealed that Syrian officials quietly tried to pluck out the Australians this week but Kurdish authorities halted the transfer amid tensions over politically sensitive repatriations.

Sources with direct knowledge of the negotiations said the immediate focus had shifted to transferring funds set aside specifically to cover flights from Damascus to Australia, with approvals being sought to release the money and complete bookings.

The group had been expected to return to Australia as early as Tuesday night next week, coinciding with Eid al-Adha, the Islamic holiday commemorating sacrifice.

While diplomatic efforts continue, including involvement from the US, the timing remains contingent on the completion of travel arrangements.

One woman who is subject to an exclusion order imposed by the Albanese government is expected to remain in Syria. It’s not clear whether that woman has any children but 18 Australians remain trapped in the camp and all have passports.

Syrian authorities have effectively taken control of directing how and where payments linked to the travel of the Australians should be made because family members, government officials or helpers are not on the ground.

The Australian repatriation push comes after weeks of tension between Kurdish authorities controlling the camp and regional governments seeking to remove foreign nationals.

Sources described the delays as part of “hostage diplomacy”, with Kurdish authorities accused of using the transfers to extract international recognition before allowing departures to proceed.

The stalemate now appears to be easing, with recent discussions involving the US heaping pressure on Kurdish authorities to allow the Australians to leave. The return of the women and children now appears inevitable, sources have said.

It is unclear whether any of the women would face charges upon their arrival, but the AFP has previously said they would not rule out the possibility.

Three out of four brides who returned on May 7 were charged with historic crimes against ­humanity-related offences, and remain behind bars.

Melbourne grandmother Kawsar Abbas, 53, and her younger daughter Zeinab, 31, are expected to apply for bail in June after facing multiple slavery charges.

Another of Ms Abbas’s daughters, Zahra Ahmad, was released into the community and had not been charged with any offences after landing in Melbourne. It’s unclear whether she would undergo deradicalisation courses with the Victorian Board of Imams.

Sheik Mostafa Sarakibi previously told The Australian any counselling or interventions linked to countering violent extremism programs would need to be voluntary, unless a referral was made by police or the courts.

In Sydney, former nursing student and accused terrorist supporter Janai Safar was denied bail and remanded in custody despite claiming in court that separating her from her son would be “particularly traumatic” after spending years detained in Syria.

Kurdish authorities told The Australian the arrest of the three women initially sparked intense anxiety among the seven remaining brides at al-Roj, but they had been led to believe their group would fly together to Australia.

“They were told they could follow in the near future, and that the whole group would go together to Australia, not in separate groups,” camp director Hakmiyeh Ibrahim said. “The understanding was everyone would gather in Damascus first, and from Damascus the entire group would travel together to Australia.”

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/syrian-government-clears-way-for-isis-brides-return-to-australia/news-story/695a12d5b1e8b56e1bacd8aa6ac37da1