December 11, 2008
POLICE have been forced to apologise for mounting an anti-terrorism exercise in which a forest campaigner hijacked an aircraft and threatened to crash it into a pulp mill in Tasmania.
Heavily armed police responded to the "hijack" at Devonport Airport, and a threat to the nearby Wesley Vale mill in the exercise on Tuesday.
It came at a time of deep community division over plans for the $2.2 billion Gunns pulp mill in the Tamar Valley, and followed a recent incident in which forest protesters' vehicles were beaten with a sledgehammer and firebombed.
Wilderness Society campaigner Vica Bayley said forest campaigners had shown absolute adherence to the concepts of peaceful community protest.
Tasmania Police acting Assistant Commissioner Steve Bonde apologised to those offended by the scenario.
"We deliberately draw up a scenario unconnected with events in history, unconnected with current events, or what police expect in the future," he said.
ANDREW DARBY
Source
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Second man held over police station firebombings
Nicolas Perpitch December 11, 2008
Article from: The Australian
POLICE arrested a second man last night after a spate of brazen firebomb attacks on Perth police stations forced Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan to suggest security officers would be engaged to protect his officers.
Ryan Thomas Jones, 27, of Heathridge in Perth's northern suburbs, was taken into custody about 9pm after detectives released a mugshot of him earlier in the day.
An alleged accomplice, Craig Meyrick, 31, also of Heathridge, was arrested hours earlier after police raided a house and seized a Toyota four-wheel-drive vehicle.
The two attacks, which took place at separate police stations over a 28-hour period, have rattled the force to a state not seen since a battle between bikies in 2001 culminated in the bombing assassination of former CIB chief Don Hancock.
Police sources last night confirmed that Mr Jones had been arrested without incident, and at the time of going to press had yet to be interviewed or charged.
Mr Meyrick has been charged with two counts of criminal damage by fire over the attack at the Joondalup police station. He will appear in Perth Magistrates Court today.
A Landcruiser seized from Mr Meyrick's Heathridge house earlier in the day was being forensically examined to see if it was involved in the bombings.
In the second attack in a little over 24 hours, two cars owned by on-duty officers at the Warwick police station were firebombed. Police believe an attacker would easily have been able to jump the fence of the station's unguarded back parking lot.
In the Joondalup attack on Monday night, a Holden Rodeo ute was carefully backed up past defensive bollards to the front entrance of the station and a 220litre fuel tank on the tray was set alight.
The explosion and subsequent fire gutted the foyer and reached the top floor of the Reid Promenade complex, as well as adjoining offices, causing an estimated $500,000 worth of damage.
None of the 12 officers inside was injured. None saw the attack because they were in another part of the building.
Mr O'Callaghan said the firebombings were attacks on his police officers and on the whole community. "It's an attack on society, it's an attack on freedom, it's an attack on democracy," he said. "And we do need to make sure our police officers are adequately protected and provided for so they can do their jobs."
Premier Colin Barnett said he hoped the firebombings were "a random event rather than something that may be more systematic or sinister".
Detectives have refused to comment on the attacks, but admitted they could have been more than a coincidence.
"At this stage, there's no link between the two offences, apart (from) they are both the same offence -- that is, damage by fire," Detective Senior Sergeant John Hutchison said. "It's possible, but at this stage it appears it is unlikely."
Police were investigating the possibility of a copycat crime, Sergeant Hutchison said. "There's no suggestion whatsoever they're targeting any individual police officer. At this stage, our information is they were just targeting the police."
He would not say whether Mr Jones had any previous involvement with the Joondalup station or police generally.
WA Police Union president Mike Dean said he had been urging WA Police for years to improve security at stations.
"I've written numerous letters about security for private vehicles," he said.
Hancock and his friend Lou Lewis were killed in a car bomb attack carried out by a bikie gang member in 2001. The feud between police and the bikies centred on the October 2000 shooting of gang member Billy Grierson, which many bikies blamed on the CIB boss, who had retired from the force and was running an outback pub.
Source
Article from: The Australian
POLICE arrested a second man last night after a spate of brazen firebomb attacks on Perth police stations forced Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan to suggest security officers would be engaged to protect his officers.
Ryan Thomas Jones, 27, of Heathridge in Perth's northern suburbs, was taken into custody about 9pm after detectives released a mugshot of him earlier in the day.
An alleged accomplice, Craig Meyrick, 31, also of Heathridge, was arrested hours earlier after police raided a house and seized a Toyota four-wheel-drive vehicle.
The two attacks, which took place at separate police stations over a 28-hour period, have rattled the force to a state not seen since a battle between bikies in 2001 culminated in the bombing assassination of former CIB chief Don Hancock.
Police sources last night confirmed that Mr Jones had been arrested without incident, and at the time of going to press had yet to be interviewed or charged.
Mr Meyrick has been charged with two counts of criminal damage by fire over the attack at the Joondalup police station. He will appear in Perth Magistrates Court today.
A Landcruiser seized from Mr Meyrick's Heathridge house earlier in the day was being forensically examined to see if it was involved in the bombings.
In the second attack in a little over 24 hours, two cars owned by on-duty officers at the Warwick police station were firebombed. Police believe an attacker would easily have been able to jump the fence of the station's unguarded back parking lot.
In the Joondalup attack on Monday night, a Holden Rodeo ute was carefully backed up past defensive bollards to the front entrance of the station and a 220litre fuel tank on the tray was set alight.
The explosion and subsequent fire gutted the foyer and reached the top floor of the Reid Promenade complex, as well as adjoining offices, causing an estimated $500,000 worth of damage.
None of the 12 officers inside was injured. None saw the attack because they were in another part of the building.
Mr O'Callaghan said the firebombings were attacks on his police officers and on the whole community. "It's an attack on society, it's an attack on freedom, it's an attack on democracy," he said. "And we do need to make sure our police officers are adequately protected and provided for so they can do their jobs."
Premier Colin Barnett said he hoped the firebombings were "a random event rather than something that may be more systematic or sinister".
Detectives have refused to comment on the attacks, but admitted they could have been more than a coincidence.
"At this stage, there's no link between the two offences, apart (from) they are both the same offence -- that is, damage by fire," Detective Senior Sergeant John Hutchison said. "It's possible, but at this stage it appears it is unlikely."
Police were investigating the possibility of a copycat crime, Sergeant Hutchison said. "There's no suggestion whatsoever they're targeting any individual police officer. At this stage, our information is they were just targeting the police."
He would not say whether Mr Jones had any previous involvement with the Joondalup station or police generally.
WA Police Union president Mike Dean said he had been urging WA Police for years to improve security at stations.
"I've written numerous letters about security for private vehicles," he said.
Hancock and his friend Lou Lewis were killed in a car bomb attack carried out by a bikie gang member in 2001. The feud between police and the bikies centred on the October 2000 shooting of gang member Billy Grierson, which many bikies blamed on the CIB boss, who had retired from the force and was running an outback pub.
Source
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Father raped daughters for 25 years
November 26, 2008 - 6:30AM
A man who fathered nine children after raping his daughters has been jailed for life in England.
The 56-year-old Sheffield man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted raping his two daughters over 25 years.
His terrified daughters fell pregnant 19 times and gave birth to nine children, seven of whom survived.
The case has disturbing parallels with that of Austria's Josef Fritzl, who fathered seven children with the daughter he locked in a dungeon for 24 years.
While Fritzl is still awaiting trial, the Sheffield man was on Tuesday ordered to serve 25 life sentences behind bars in England.
His daughters, whose identities remain secret, expressed relief that their harrowing ordeal was now over.
"His detention in prison brings us only the knowledge that he cannot physically touch us again," they said in a statement.
"The suffering he has caused will continue for many years and we must now concentrate our thoughts on finding the strength to rebuild our lives."
Sheffield Crown Court judge Alan Goldsack said the case was "the worst I have come across" in nearly 40 years.
"I have little doubt that many members of the public hearing the facts of this case will consider either you should never be released from prison or only when you are old and infirm," he said as he handed down his sentence to the man, who had refused to leave his prison cell to attend the hearing.
"I agree with that view."
The man, a self-employed businessman who liked to call himself the "gaffer", was arrested after social workers learned in June about the decades of abuse his daughters suffered.
He admitted 25 rapes and four indecent assaults during a hearing last month.
The court heard the abuse began when the man's daughters were aged eight and 10 and that he "took pleasure" in the harm he knew he was doing to them.
The eldest sister fell pregnant seven times, the youngest 12.
Of their 19 pregnancies, 10 babies were lost because of miscarriage or abortion, while two died on the day they were born.
Prosecutor Nicholas Campbell QC said when either of the sisters tried to end the abuse, their father threatened to kill them and their children.
They tried offering him 100 pounds ($233) a month from their child benefits to stop the abuse and tried to give him as much whisky as they could in the hope he would drink himself to death.
To ensure the abuse remained secret, the man repeatedly moved house with his family, including his wife and son. His wife left in the early 1990s.
"All the family were frightened of him," Campbell said.
"His younger daughter told of the frightening habit her father had of putting her head next to the flames of their gas fire and that when she struggled to get away on certain occasions she burnt her eyes."
In 1998 one of the sisters called a helpline run by the charity Childline and asked for a guarantee that she could keep her children if she came forward about the abuse.
But no guarantee was granted and the sisters' suffering went unreported.
Police and social services have launched an independent review into the case and why the abuse was not detected sooner.
Ian Keates, for the Crown Prosecution Service in South Yorkshire, described the abuse the sisters had been subjected to as "beyond comprehension".
"In his treatment of his victims the defendant sank to the most profound depths of depravity," he said.
AAP
Source
A man who fathered nine children after raping his daughters has been jailed for life in England.
The 56-year-old Sheffield man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted raping his two daughters over 25 years.
His terrified daughters fell pregnant 19 times and gave birth to nine children, seven of whom survived.
The case has disturbing parallels with that of Austria's Josef Fritzl, who fathered seven children with the daughter he locked in a dungeon for 24 years.
While Fritzl is still awaiting trial, the Sheffield man was on Tuesday ordered to serve 25 life sentences behind bars in England.
His daughters, whose identities remain secret, expressed relief that their harrowing ordeal was now over.
"His detention in prison brings us only the knowledge that he cannot physically touch us again," they said in a statement.
"The suffering he has caused will continue for many years and we must now concentrate our thoughts on finding the strength to rebuild our lives."
Sheffield Crown Court judge Alan Goldsack said the case was "the worst I have come across" in nearly 40 years.
"I have little doubt that many members of the public hearing the facts of this case will consider either you should never be released from prison or only when you are old and infirm," he said as he handed down his sentence to the man, who had refused to leave his prison cell to attend the hearing.
"I agree with that view."
The man, a self-employed businessman who liked to call himself the "gaffer", was arrested after social workers learned in June about the decades of abuse his daughters suffered.
He admitted 25 rapes and four indecent assaults during a hearing last month.
The court heard the abuse began when the man's daughters were aged eight and 10 and that he "took pleasure" in the harm he knew he was doing to them.
The eldest sister fell pregnant seven times, the youngest 12.
Of their 19 pregnancies, 10 babies were lost because of miscarriage or abortion, while two died on the day they were born.
Prosecutor Nicholas Campbell QC said when either of the sisters tried to end the abuse, their father threatened to kill them and their children.
They tried offering him 100 pounds ($233) a month from their child benefits to stop the abuse and tried to give him as much whisky as they could in the hope he would drink himself to death.
To ensure the abuse remained secret, the man repeatedly moved house with his family, including his wife and son. His wife left in the early 1990s.
"All the family were frightened of him," Campbell said.
"His younger daughter told of the frightening habit her father had of putting her head next to the flames of their gas fire and that when she struggled to get away on certain occasions she burnt her eyes."
In 1998 one of the sisters called a helpline run by the charity Childline and asked for a guarantee that she could keep her children if she came forward about the abuse.
But no guarantee was granted and the sisters' suffering went unreported.
Police and social services have launched an independent review into the case and why the abuse was not detected sooner.
Ian Keates, for the Crown Prosecution Service in South Yorkshire, described the abuse the sisters had been subjected to as "beyond comprehension".
"In his treatment of his victims the defendant sank to the most profound depths of depravity," he said.
AAP
Source
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Creationism v science: school on report
Anna Patty Education Editor
November 25, 2008
THE state school registration and curriculum authority has investigated the teaching of creation theory in science classes at a Christian school.
The Board of Studies responded to a complaint about Pacific Hills Christian School in Dural and will hand down its findings early next month.
The general manager of the board, John Bennett, told a budget estimates committee last week that the school was under investigation for "teaching creationism in science classes".
A spokeswoman for the board said it had acted on a complaint that the school had not properly followed its requirements for teaching the science syllabus.
The board referred the complaint to Christian Schools Australia, asking it to investigate.
The board also accepted the school's invitation to inspect its teaching and learning activities.
The board spokeswoman said its curriculum director was given a user name and password for the school's intranet, which allowed him to review the curriculum. He also attended several science classes and observed student work on evolution.
"Our inspector reviewed the school's educational programs for science, including student work samples and the assessment tasks set for years 7-10 science and year 11 biology classes," the board spokeswoman said. "The Christian Schools Australia investigation and report have been received and the board's own processes are close to completion.
"The matter will be finalised and the outcome communicated to the school and the complainant within the next two weeks."
The head of Christian Schools Australia, Stephen O'Doherty, said his organisation had found no reason for Pacific Christian School to lose its registration. "The whole thing is a complete furphy," he said. The school did not teach intelligent design or "creationism" - creation as scientific theory. He said the school had met the Board of Studies syllabus requirements in teaching evolution theory as science.
"It doesn't breach Darwinian theory to ask who set up the world to work in this way or even to say who was there before the big bang," he said. "We are not arguing for the ability to replace science with some other theory."
Chris Bonnor, the former head of the NSW Secondary Schools Principals Council, made the original complaint about Pacific Hills after viewing a television clip that briefly showed how a science class was taught.
He said he did not believe the school had implemented the Board of Studies science syllabus in its teaching of evolution.
"The science lesson in the school was not balanced," Mr Bonnor said. "It is fine to teach God behind evolution, but not in a science class.
"Notwithstanding the integrity of the organisation, I would question whether Christian Schools Australia is the appropriate body to investigate a complaint of this nature for the body that frames the syllabus."
Mr O'Doherty said Mr Bonnor was "whistling in the wind".
"The school does not teach creation as science or intelligent design," he said. "When they talk about faith-based perspectives on creation they tell students that it is not part of syllabus.
"We invited Mr Bonnor to look at the teacher programs and to look at the documentation and he declined."
A state Greens MP, John Kaye, said no private school in NSW had been disciplined for "pushing creationist propaganda in science classes".
"That's not surprising given that the board handed over its only investigation to Christian Schools Australia," he said. "The fox has been put in charge of the hen house."
Source
November 25, 2008
THE state school registration and curriculum authority has investigated the teaching of creation theory in science classes at a Christian school.
The Board of Studies responded to a complaint about Pacific Hills Christian School in Dural and will hand down its findings early next month.
The general manager of the board, John Bennett, told a budget estimates committee last week that the school was under investigation for "teaching creationism in science classes".
A spokeswoman for the board said it had acted on a complaint that the school had not properly followed its requirements for teaching the science syllabus.
The board referred the complaint to Christian Schools Australia, asking it to investigate.
The board also accepted the school's invitation to inspect its teaching and learning activities.
The board spokeswoman said its curriculum director was given a user name and password for the school's intranet, which allowed him to review the curriculum. He also attended several science classes and observed student work on evolution.
"Our inspector reviewed the school's educational programs for science, including student work samples and the assessment tasks set for years 7-10 science and year 11 biology classes," the board spokeswoman said. "The Christian Schools Australia investigation and report have been received and the board's own processes are close to completion.
"The matter will be finalised and the outcome communicated to the school and the complainant within the next two weeks."
The head of Christian Schools Australia, Stephen O'Doherty, said his organisation had found no reason for Pacific Christian School to lose its registration. "The whole thing is a complete furphy," he said. The school did not teach intelligent design or "creationism" - creation as scientific theory. He said the school had met the Board of Studies syllabus requirements in teaching evolution theory as science.
"It doesn't breach Darwinian theory to ask who set up the world to work in this way or even to say who was there before the big bang," he said. "We are not arguing for the ability to replace science with some other theory."
Chris Bonnor, the former head of the NSW Secondary Schools Principals Council, made the original complaint about Pacific Hills after viewing a television clip that briefly showed how a science class was taught.
He said he did not believe the school had implemented the Board of Studies science syllabus in its teaching of evolution.
"The science lesson in the school was not balanced," Mr Bonnor said. "It is fine to teach God behind evolution, but not in a science class.
"Notwithstanding the integrity of the organisation, I would question whether Christian Schools Australia is the appropriate body to investigate a complaint of this nature for the body that frames the syllabus."
Mr O'Doherty said Mr Bonnor was "whistling in the wind".
"The school does not teach creation as science or intelligent design," he said. "When they talk about faith-based perspectives on creation they tell students that it is not part of syllabus.
"We invited Mr Bonnor to look at the teacher programs and to look at the documentation and he declined."
A state Greens MP, John Kaye, said no private school in NSW had been disciplined for "pushing creationist propaganda in science classes".
"That's not surprising given that the board handed over its only investigation to Christian Schools Australia," he said. "The fox has been put in charge of the hen house."
Source
Kidnap victim still lives in fear
Ruth Pollard
November 25, 2008
IT WAS 6.30am when her husband and his brother came to her unit and smashed through her two security doors with an axe.
Screaming for help, Klaudine Fajloun was dragged down the stairs of her apartment block by her hair, a hand over her mouth to try to keep her quiet.
She tried to get away but the men were too strong for her - they shoved her in the back seat of a car and her husband held her head in his hands and banged it repeatedly against the car door.
He said: "I want to kill you and take you somewhere where nobody will know."
His brother said: "I can do anything to you and nobody will stop me and nobody will know."
Klaudine thought she was going to die.
They took her to an empty house, where her husband slapped her, bashed her with a metal rod and kicked her repeatedly. Nearly nine hours later her husband fell asleep. Klaudine crept outside and alerted a neighbour, who called the police.
Suffering broken ribs and other injuries, she was treated at Westmead Hospital, then moved to a hotel for her safety.
"After that I go to a refuge, I go to many refuges, and my kids tell my husband where I am and straight away he comes and I have to leave the refuge again."
Tired of running, she appealed to the police for help, and in late February 2006, three months after the attack, she went to Lebanon to escape, returning two months later to attend court.
Soon after, police helped her move to the United States, where they thought she would be safer. She returned to Australia last year for further court proceedings against her husband.
Raad Fajloun was found guilty of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault occasioning actual bodily harm and break and enter. He is in jail awaiting sentencing. His brother Michael was convicted of aggravated kidnapping and break and enter - he is on bail awaiting sentencing.
Even with the convictions, Klaudine is terrified of her former husband and his family and lives as a virtual prisoner in her home, cut off from three of her four children and suffering severe post-traumatic stress disorder.
"I cannot sleep and I dream about the kidnapping and the assault," she said.
"I am always looking over my shoulder fearing Raad and his family might be following me. I have lost contact with my three boys due to the violence I have experienced, and as a mother, that is heartbreaking to me."
Before her kidnapping ordeal, Klaudine had sent her daughter to live in the US, after her husband indicated he wanted the girl to marry his cousin in Lebanon. "My daughter, she does not want this marriage. That is why I send her to America to stay with my brother - my husband was very upset."
Both Klaudine's brother in the US and father in Lebanon had witnessed her husband's aggressive behaviour and urged her to leave him. "How can you live with this man?" her father asked.
It was just days after she told her husband she wanted a divorce and that she would take out an apprehended violence order that he kidnapped her.
In an act of great bravery, Klaudine wants people to know of her experience and has chosen to be identified for this story.
"I want to tell everybody, especially the Lebanese, what happened to me," she says. "My daughter said to me, 'Don't be scared … Say what happened to you, because you know you did not do anything wrong.' "
Source
November 25, 2008
IT WAS 6.30am when her husband and his brother came to her unit and smashed through her two security doors with an axe.
Screaming for help, Klaudine Fajloun was dragged down the stairs of her apartment block by her hair, a hand over her mouth to try to keep her quiet.
She tried to get away but the men were too strong for her - they shoved her in the back seat of a car and her husband held her head in his hands and banged it repeatedly against the car door.
He said: "I want to kill you and take you somewhere where nobody will know."
His brother said: "I can do anything to you and nobody will stop me and nobody will know."
Klaudine thought she was going to die.
They took her to an empty house, where her husband slapped her, bashed her with a metal rod and kicked her repeatedly. Nearly nine hours later her husband fell asleep. Klaudine crept outside and alerted a neighbour, who called the police.
Suffering broken ribs and other injuries, she was treated at Westmead Hospital, then moved to a hotel for her safety.
"After that I go to a refuge, I go to many refuges, and my kids tell my husband where I am and straight away he comes and I have to leave the refuge again."
Tired of running, she appealed to the police for help, and in late February 2006, three months after the attack, she went to Lebanon to escape, returning two months later to attend court.
Soon after, police helped her move to the United States, where they thought she would be safer. She returned to Australia last year for further court proceedings against her husband.
Raad Fajloun was found guilty of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault occasioning actual bodily harm and break and enter. He is in jail awaiting sentencing. His brother Michael was convicted of aggravated kidnapping and break and enter - he is on bail awaiting sentencing.
Even with the convictions, Klaudine is terrified of her former husband and his family and lives as a virtual prisoner in her home, cut off from three of her four children and suffering severe post-traumatic stress disorder.
"I cannot sleep and I dream about the kidnapping and the assault," she said.
"I am always looking over my shoulder fearing Raad and his family might be following me. I have lost contact with my three boys due to the violence I have experienced, and as a mother, that is heartbreaking to me."
Before her kidnapping ordeal, Klaudine had sent her daughter to live in the US, after her husband indicated he wanted the girl to marry his cousin in Lebanon. "My daughter, she does not want this marriage. That is why I send her to America to stay with my brother - my husband was very upset."
Both Klaudine's brother in the US and father in Lebanon had witnessed her husband's aggressive behaviour and urged her to leave him. "How can you live with this man?" her father asked.
It was just days after she told her husband she wanted a divorce and that she would take out an apprehended violence order that he kidnapped her.
In an act of great bravery, Klaudine wants people to know of her experience and has chosen to be identified for this story.
"I want to tell everybody, especially the Lebanese, what happened to me," she says. "My daughter said to me, 'Don't be scared … Say what happened to you, because you know you did not do anything wrong.' "
Source
ATM bandits strike
Peter Hawkins
November 25, 2008 - 6:15AM
Masked men have blown up three ATMs across Sydney early this morning, exploding machines in Clovelly, Chester Hill and Guildford, police said.
The first ATM hit was the Bendigo Bank on Clovelly Road at Clovelly in the city's eastern suburbs.
About 1.45am four men exploded the street-front ATM at the intersection of Mount Street using gas cylinders, sending glass and debris flying as far as the other side of the road.
The ATM and front of the bank were destroyed.
In the explosion, the thieves' dark grey Audi getaway car parked out the front of the bank was also damaged, forcing them to abandon it, police said.
Police established a perimeter around the bank and told nearby neighbours to evacuate their homes until the gas cylinders in the boot of the car are deemed safe.
Police closed Clovelly Road as well as several surrounding streets and conducted Polair and dog squad searches throughout the early hours of this morning.
About the same time another group of three masked men exploded an ATM at a bank on Waldron Street at Chester Hill in Sydney's west.
Police said the ATM and front section of the bank was significantly damaged and the area has been cordoned off while officers investigate.
The three men, also using an Audi, but this time silver, as a getaway car, then managed to escape, police said.
The third attack in the space of half an hour happened about 2.15am, with men this time targeting an ATM at the front of a physiotherapist shop on Guildford Road at Guildford in Sydney north west, police said.
Guilford Road between Cross Street and Station Street have been cordoned off.
Police said it is not yet known if the Guildford and Chester Hill explosions are linked or if any of the men escaped with cash.
This mornings three ATM explosions make it seven robberies or attempted robberies using gas cylinders in the last week.
Detectives from Strike Force Piccadilly, who are investigating a spate of ATM explosions using gas cylinders across Sydney since July, have been notified.
Source
November 25, 2008 - 6:15AM
Masked men have blown up three ATMs across Sydney early this morning, exploding machines in Clovelly, Chester Hill and Guildford, police said.
The first ATM hit was the Bendigo Bank on Clovelly Road at Clovelly in the city's eastern suburbs.
About 1.45am four men exploded the street-front ATM at the intersection of Mount Street using gas cylinders, sending glass and debris flying as far as the other side of the road.
The ATM and front of the bank were destroyed.
In the explosion, the thieves' dark grey Audi getaway car parked out the front of the bank was also damaged, forcing them to abandon it, police said.
Police established a perimeter around the bank and told nearby neighbours to evacuate their homes until the gas cylinders in the boot of the car are deemed safe.
Police closed Clovelly Road as well as several surrounding streets and conducted Polair and dog squad searches throughout the early hours of this morning.
About the same time another group of three masked men exploded an ATM at a bank on Waldron Street at Chester Hill in Sydney's west.
Police said the ATM and front section of the bank was significantly damaged and the area has been cordoned off while officers investigate.
The three men, also using an Audi, but this time silver, as a getaway car, then managed to escape, police said.
The third attack in the space of half an hour happened about 2.15am, with men this time targeting an ATM at the front of a physiotherapist shop on Guildford Road at Guildford in Sydney north west, police said.
Guilford Road between Cross Street and Station Street have been cordoned off.
Police said it is not yet known if the Guildford and Chester Hill explosions are linked or if any of the men escaped with cash.
This mornings three ATM explosions make it seven robberies or attempted robberies using gas cylinders in the last week.
Detectives from Strike Force Piccadilly, who are investigating a spate of ATM explosions using gas cylinders across Sydney since July, have been notified.
Source
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Imam blessed polygamous marriage: report
Barney Zwartz
November 22, 2008
CIHAN, an Arab woman with three adolescent children, was given an unpleasant surprise last year. Her husband told her that four years ago he had taken a second wife, an Anglo-Australian who was now expecting their third child.
The husband and second wife wanted a polygamous arrangement, involving a close supportive relationship of the wives and children, but Cihan separated instead.
The financial settlement took into account the second family, and left her struggling.
The second marriage was performed by an imam who knew it was polygamous. He allowed it because the husband was willing to perform his marital obligations to the first wife and was thus "entitled to a little bit of comfort on the side".
Now Cihan, whose story is told in the Islamic Women's Welfare Council report, is under constant pressure from her family and community to accept her husband and second wife.
She cannot get a religious divorce because her husband does not agree.
Source
November 22, 2008
CIHAN, an Arab woman with three adolescent children, was given an unpleasant surprise last year. Her husband told her that four years ago he had taken a second wife, an Anglo-Australian who was now expecting their third child.
The husband and second wife wanted a polygamous arrangement, involving a close supportive relationship of the wives and children, but Cihan separated instead.
The financial settlement took into account the second family, and left her struggling.
The second marriage was performed by an imam who knew it was polygamous. He allowed it because the husband was willing to perform his marital obligations to the first wife and was thus "entitled to a little bit of comfort on the side".
Now Cihan, whose story is told in the Islamic Women's Welfare Council report, is under constant pressure from her family and community to accept her husband and second wife.
She cannot get a religious divorce because her husband does not agree.
Source
Cleric vows to end segregation in mosques
Barney Zwartz
November 22, 2008
Australia's most senior Muslim wants men and women to pray together.
AUSTRALIA'S most senior Muslim has said he will end segregation of men and women in mosques, in a bold response to Islamic women's anger at entrenched discrimination.
The Mufti of Australia, Sheikh Fehmi Naji el-Imam, said he would put his proposal to the next meeting of the Australian National Imams' Council and consider how women could share the room with men during prayers.
Sheikh Fehmi said segregated worship had been introduced long ago, as a cultural change, not a religious one, and he would argue to end it.
"It is good to hear the complaints of the sisters, and to try to find some solution to their concerns," he told The Age in an exclusive interview.
"My duty is to propose, to discuss and try to convince. I can't guarantee the outcome."
Sheikh Fehmi said that in the time of the Prophet Mohammed 1400 years ago, women were not segregated.
His announcement is likely to attract international attention and may spark fierce debate among highly conservative mosque communities within Australia.
In some mosques overseas, there are no physical barriers between men's and women's areas but in Australia almost every mosque separates men's and women's sections.
Sydney lecturer Jamila Hussain this week told a conference at the National Centre for Excellence in Islamic Studies that women found facilities at some mosques "insulting" and that they were treated as second-class citizens.
Last night, Ms Hussain welcomed Sheikh Fehmi's promise to try to end segregation.
"It's an excellent start. But I'm a bit hesitant about when or whether it will happen — it will be a while."
She said many men would oppose such a move and, sadly, some women too. Imams didn't necessarily have much say.
Islamic Council of Victoria vice-president Sherene Hassan said it was a fine initiative, and it was good to see imams being proactive. She said it was in line with true Islamic teaching.
Sheikh Isse Musse, imam of Werribee mosque, agreed that at the start of Islam men and women had prayed together, "but it's not allowed that a man stands to the right of a woman or to the left of a woman".
At his mosque, all pray in the same room, with men in rows at the front, then children in rows, then women. But he did not think this was palatable to many Muslims, especially as many new mosques gave better facilities to women in their own areas.
Several Muslim women spoke out about discrimination and disadvantage this week at the conference.
In particular, a report by the Islamic Women's Welfare Council of Victoria highlighted problems with imams, claiming some were condoning domestic violence, polygamy, rape in marriage, welfare fraud and exploitation of vulnerable women.
Sheikh Fehmi, who is also secretary of the Victorian Board of Imams, acknowledged there were problems.
"Imams are human beings, and every human being is fallible, so if one imam errs on a point we should not generalise and say all imams are the same."
Sheikh Fehmi also addressed many of the criticisms in the council report.
On divorce, he said the committee of the Victorian Board of Imams that dealt with applications always spoke to both parties before ruling, and required men to give women their full due, especially dowries that had not yet been fully paid.
On rape within marriage, he acknowledged this could be a problem and said the solution was to link legal divorce with Islamic divorce — something the board was working towards.
On domestic violence, he said imams taught that men should never strike their wives. "The prophet said, 'I never hit a wife in my life', and everybody should do the same."
On polygamy, he said Islam allowed a second wife only if the husband guaranteed he could treat both exactly alike, which almost amounted to a prohibition.
"Polygamy in Islam is not willy-nilly. There are a lot of restrictions, which sometimes make it impossible."
On a charge by educator Silma Ihram that Muslim women could speak out in the mainstream community but not in the Muslim community, Sheikh Fehmi said women should "tell us what they are going through. That's the only way we can rectify mistakes and wrongdoing." He said that if Muslims received unsatisfac- tory advice from an imam, they could consult another imam or the board of imams.
Ms Hussain said this week that provisions for women and children in mosques lagged far behind men's. In most mosques, men entered the prayer room through large front doors, but women usually had to enter a small door at the rear, often competing with traffic while leading small children.
Their space was always considerably inferior to the men's, and was sometimes entirely blocked off so that they could not see or hear the service.
Ms Hussain, who studied Sydney mosques, said that in some, women had to pray in the yard under a blazing sun while men enjoyed the cool interior, or to pray in a kitchen between stoves and sinks, or to pray in a tent in full view of a pub over the road.
The chairwoman of the Islamic Women's Welfare Council, Tasneem Chopra, said Sheikh Fehmi's response made her optimistic that better outcomes could be negotiated.
She said she had not received much critical feedback from the Muslim community yesterday, but a lot of questioning.
THE ISLAMIC WOMEN'S WELFARE COUNCIL ON … VIOLENCE
IMAMS favour preserving the family over protecting them, and sometimes advise women to endure beatings. Legal workers report that Muslim women are particularly vulnerable due to a lack of information and community backlash against women who take legal action.
Police and legal workers say Muslim women often drop charges after husbands come to court with family members and religious leaders and put pressure on them. These conversations are not in English, and police say they are frustrated that because of it, they cannot carry out Australian laws.
Some women who were legally separated but not religiously divorced reported that their husbands entered their homes and forced them to have sex, and imams said this was permitted because there was still a valid marriage. Legal workers also had concerns about allegations of sexual assault as part of under-age marriages. The report says imams must speak out against violence using Friday sermons, other public forums and the media.
THE ISLAMIC COUNCIL ON … YOUTH
MANY Muslims report instances of racism and discrimination, and one community worker says he has never known racism worse than now. Lebanese youths, in particular, feel under siege.
Women who wear the hijab (headscarf) say they are discriminated against in jobs, though not in telemarketing (where they are heard but not seen).
Government funding has moved more to African youths than Arabs but their need has not lessened, as racism and emotional trauma persist.
One community worker says: "What we save from parenting programs we may have to spend on security."
There is a shortage of facilities in northern suburbs where many Muslims live and recreation funding has dried up. Police also expressed concern about this.
A community worker says about one school: "You wouldn't put your dog in there. In an environment like that, school loses its meaning, the teachers don't care, the kids drop out and it eventually closes, having ruined the life chances of many young people."
THE ISLAMIC COUNCIL ON … DIVORCE
IMAMS apply sharia (Islamic) law selectively against women, using it to perform polygamous marriages and grant divorces but saying they cannot use it to enforce compensation to Muslim women because Australia does not have a sharia court.
When wives seek a divorce, some imams say they must leave with only the clothes on their backs, leaving their assets and children.
One imam told a woman she should not seek maintenance, saying: "It is not necessary in Australia where women can get Centrelink benefits."
Women and community workers say it is extremely difficult for a woman to get a religious divorce.
Some women say imams have declined divorces if they are intimidated by the men or are friends with them.
Imams are supposed to charge $200 to consider a divorce, but some (not members of the board) allegedly exploit women by asking a large fee, then more fees to register the divorce in the country of origin.
THE ISLAMIC COUNCIL ON … POLYGAMY
SOME imams have performed religious marriages knowing that the man was already married.
Traditionally, Islam allows a man to have up to four wives under certain circumstances.
However, because this is illegal in Australia, second wives are treated as de facto relationships and often receive welfare.
Women whose husbands took other wives have blamed Centrelink benefits for easing the way to polygamy because one wife or the other will claim it.
Marriage celebrants are required to ask whether the parties are already married, but many imams are not doing so.
Asked about this, the Board of Imams said it was the woman's responsibility to ensure the man was not already married. However, some imams say the husband does not have to tell his wife he is marrying another woman.
Source
November 22, 2008
Australia's most senior Muslim wants men and women to pray together.
AUSTRALIA'S most senior Muslim has said he will end segregation of men and women in mosques, in a bold response to Islamic women's anger at entrenched discrimination.
The Mufti of Australia, Sheikh Fehmi Naji el-Imam, said he would put his proposal to the next meeting of the Australian National Imams' Council and consider how women could share the room with men during prayers.
Sheikh Fehmi said segregated worship had been introduced long ago, as a cultural change, not a religious one, and he would argue to end it.
"It is good to hear the complaints of the sisters, and to try to find some solution to their concerns," he told The Age in an exclusive interview.
"My duty is to propose, to discuss and try to convince. I can't guarantee the outcome."
Sheikh Fehmi said that in the time of the Prophet Mohammed 1400 years ago, women were not segregated.
His announcement is likely to attract international attention and may spark fierce debate among highly conservative mosque communities within Australia.
In some mosques overseas, there are no physical barriers between men's and women's areas but in Australia almost every mosque separates men's and women's sections.
Sydney lecturer Jamila Hussain this week told a conference at the National Centre for Excellence in Islamic Studies that women found facilities at some mosques "insulting" and that they were treated as second-class citizens.
Last night, Ms Hussain welcomed Sheikh Fehmi's promise to try to end segregation.
"It's an excellent start. But I'm a bit hesitant about when or whether it will happen — it will be a while."
She said many men would oppose such a move and, sadly, some women too. Imams didn't necessarily have much say.
Islamic Council of Victoria vice-president Sherene Hassan said it was a fine initiative, and it was good to see imams being proactive. She said it was in line with true Islamic teaching.
Sheikh Isse Musse, imam of Werribee mosque, agreed that at the start of Islam men and women had prayed together, "but it's not allowed that a man stands to the right of a woman or to the left of a woman".
At his mosque, all pray in the same room, with men in rows at the front, then children in rows, then women. But he did not think this was palatable to many Muslims, especially as many new mosques gave better facilities to women in their own areas.
Several Muslim women spoke out about discrimination and disadvantage this week at the conference.
In particular, a report by the Islamic Women's Welfare Council of Victoria highlighted problems with imams, claiming some were condoning domestic violence, polygamy, rape in marriage, welfare fraud and exploitation of vulnerable women.
Sheikh Fehmi, who is also secretary of the Victorian Board of Imams, acknowledged there were problems.
"Imams are human beings, and every human being is fallible, so if one imam errs on a point we should not generalise and say all imams are the same."
Sheikh Fehmi also addressed many of the criticisms in the council report.
On divorce, he said the committee of the Victorian Board of Imams that dealt with applications always spoke to both parties before ruling, and required men to give women their full due, especially dowries that had not yet been fully paid.
On rape within marriage, he acknowledged this could be a problem and said the solution was to link legal divorce with Islamic divorce — something the board was working towards.
On domestic violence, he said imams taught that men should never strike their wives. "The prophet said, 'I never hit a wife in my life', and everybody should do the same."
On polygamy, he said Islam allowed a second wife only if the husband guaranteed he could treat both exactly alike, which almost amounted to a prohibition.
"Polygamy in Islam is not willy-nilly. There are a lot of restrictions, which sometimes make it impossible."
On a charge by educator Silma Ihram that Muslim women could speak out in the mainstream community but not in the Muslim community, Sheikh Fehmi said women should "tell us what they are going through. That's the only way we can rectify mistakes and wrongdoing." He said that if Muslims received unsatisfac- tory advice from an imam, they could consult another imam or the board of imams.
Ms Hussain said this week that provisions for women and children in mosques lagged far behind men's. In most mosques, men entered the prayer room through large front doors, but women usually had to enter a small door at the rear, often competing with traffic while leading small children.
Their space was always considerably inferior to the men's, and was sometimes entirely blocked off so that they could not see or hear the service.
Ms Hussain, who studied Sydney mosques, said that in some, women had to pray in the yard under a blazing sun while men enjoyed the cool interior, or to pray in a kitchen between stoves and sinks, or to pray in a tent in full view of a pub over the road.
The chairwoman of the Islamic Women's Welfare Council, Tasneem Chopra, said Sheikh Fehmi's response made her optimistic that better outcomes could be negotiated.
She said she had not received much critical feedback from the Muslim community yesterday, but a lot of questioning.
THE ISLAMIC WOMEN'S WELFARE COUNCIL ON … VIOLENCE
IMAMS favour preserving the family over protecting them, and sometimes advise women to endure beatings. Legal workers report that Muslim women are particularly vulnerable due to a lack of information and community backlash against women who take legal action.
Police and legal workers say Muslim women often drop charges after husbands come to court with family members and religious leaders and put pressure on them. These conversations are not in English, and police say they are frustrated that because of it, they cannot carry out Australian laws.
Some women who were legally separated but not religiously divorced reported that their husbands entered their homes and forced them to have sex, and imams said this was permitted because there was still a valid marriage. Legal workers also had concerns about allegations of sexual assault as part of under-age marriages. The report says imams must speak out against violence using Friday sermons, other public forums and the media.
THE ISLAMIC COUNCIL ON … YOUTH
MANY Muslims report instances of racism and discrimination, and one community worker says he has never known racism worse than now. Lebanese youths, in particular, feel under siege.
Women who wear the hijab (headscarf) say they are discriminated against in jobs, though not in telemarketing (where they are heard but not seen).
Government funding has moved more to African youths than Arabs but their need has not lessened, as racism and emotional trauma persist.
One community worker says: "What we save from parenting programs we may have to spend on security."
There is a shortage of facilities in northern suburbs where many Muslims live and recreation funding has dried up. Police also expressed concern about this.
A community worker says about one school: "You wouldn't put your dog in there. In an environment like that, school loses its meaning, the teachers don't care, the kids drop out and it eventually closes, having ruined the life chances of many young people."
THE ISLAMIC COUNCIL ON … DIVORCE
IMAMS apply sharia (Islamic) law selectively against women, using it to perform polygamous marriages and grant divorces but saying they cannot use it to enforce compensation to Muslim women because Australia does not have a sharia court.
When wives seek a divorce, some imams say they must leave with only the clothes on their backs, leaving their assets and children.
One imam told a woman she should not seek maintenance, saying: "It is not necessary in Australia where women can get Centrelink benefits."
Women and community workers say it is extremely difficult for a woman to get a religious divorce.
Some women say imams have declined divorces if they are intimidated by the men or are friends with them.
Imams are supposed to charge $200 to consider a divorce, but some (not members of the board) allegedly exploit women by asking a large fee, then more fees to register the divorce in the country of origin.
THE ISLAMIC COUNCIL ON … POLYGAMY
SOME imams have performed religious marriages knowing that the man was already married.
Traditionally, Islam allows a man to have up to four wives under certain circumstances.
However, because this is illegal in Australia, second wives are treated as de facto relationships and often receive welfare.
Women whose husbands took other wives have blamed Centrelink benefits for easing the way to polygamy because one wife or the other will claim it.
Marriage celebrants are required to ask whether the parties are already married, but many imams are not doing so.
Asked about this, the Board of Imams said it was the woman's responsibility to ensure the man was not already married. However, some imams say the husband does not have to tell his wife he is marrying another woman.
Source
Local Muslim clerics accused
Barney Zwartz
November 21, 2008
SOME Muslim religious leaders in Victoria are condoning rape within marriage, domestic violence, polygamy, welfare fraud and exploitation of women, according to an explosive report on the training of imams.
- Rape and violence condoned within marriage: report
- Study says Islamic law applied to benefit men
- Mufti of Australia denies claims
Women seeking divorces have also been told by imams that they must leave "with only the clothes on their back" and not seek support or a share of property because they can get welfare payments.
And the report says some imams knowingly perform polygamous marriages, also knowing that the second wife, a de facto under Australian law, can claim Centrelink payments.
The report is based on a study commissioned and funded by the former Howard government and conducted by the Islamic Women's Welfare Council of Victoria.
It was presented yesterday at a National Centre for Excellence in Islamic Studies conference at Melbourne University.
It is the result of extensive community consultation, interviews with police, lawyers, court workers and academics, and meetings with and questions to the Victorian Board of Imams.
The board's role is to provide an Islamic view and religious guidance to the community and represent it to the media. The report claims that the 24-man board ignored or did not directly answer many of the questions.
It says women, community and legal workers and police involved in the consultation were particularly concerned about domestic violence, and suggested that imams aimed to preserve the family at the cost of women.
When cases came to court they were often dropped after family and community elders pressured women to withdraw charges.
The report says some women who were legally separated but not religiously divorced had their husbands enter their houses, demand sexual intercourse and take it by force.
"Workers who have assisted women in this situation said that the advice women received from the imams was that it was "halal" — permitted — because there was a valid "nikah" — marriage," it says.
The report also cites sexual assault allegations connected with under-age marriages.
It says polygamy is steadily increasing and gaining acceptance among Melbourne Muslims, and Shepparton police report many "de facto" relationships that are really polygamous marriages.
"Community workers who have provided support to women whose husbands took another wife religiously said that women blame the availability of Centrelink benefits … since one or the other wife will be claiming it, relieving the husband of the responsibility of supporting two families," the report says.
Community members quoted in the report believe that imams' narrow religious training in an increasingly complex world, lack of life experience, poor English and lack of understanding of Australia create problems for the community. For example, ill-informed comment by imams drew a wedge between the mainstream and Muslim communities.
The report suggests the Muslim community believes many imams are ill-equipped for the role, which involves much higher expectations in Australia than in predominantly Muslim countries, including marriage counselling, pastoral and spiritual care, marriages and divorces.
"They come from their own little village and culture and say this is what Islam is," one woman is quoted saying.
"They come from a village where there is no running water and electricity, and they bring their dark ideas into this country."
The secretary of the Board of Imams, Sheikh Fehmi Naji El-Imam, said he could not understand how the council could write such a report and denied the complaints "absolutely".
"They must have heard stories here and there and are writing about them as though they are fact," he said.
Sheikh Fehmi, who is also Mufti of Australia, said no authorised imam would conduct a polygamous marriage, and it was absolutely wrong that women's rights were ignored in marriage or divorce, or that imams ignored domestic violence.
"I haven't heard of any case where the board disregarded a woman or did not try to help her," he said.
Islamic women's council chairwoman Tasneem Chopra said: "We are hoping we can negotiate with the appropriate authorities a better outcome for women, whether through law reform or education.
"This is a crucial, necessary beginning but it is part of a much larger picture."
Source
November 21, 2008
SOME Muslim religious leaders in Victoria are condoning rape within marriage, domestic violence, polygamy, welfare fraud and exploitation of women, according to an explosive report on the training of imams.
- Rape and violence condoned within marriage: report
- Study says Islamic law applied to benefit men
- Mufti of Australia denies claims
Women seeking divorces have also been told by imams that they must leave "with only the clothes on their back" and not seek support or a share of property because they can get welfare payments.
And the report says some imams knowingly perform polygamous marriages, also knowing that the second wife, a de facto under Australian law, can claim Centrelink payments.
The report is based on a study commissioned and funded by the former Howard government and conducted by the Islamic Women's Welfare Council of Victoria.
It was presented yesterday at a National Centre for Excellence in Islamic Studies conference at Melbourne University.
It is the result of extensive community consultation, interviews with police, lawyers, court workers and academics, and meetings with and questions to the Victorian Board of Imams.
The board's role is to provide an Islamic view and religious guidance to the community and represent it to the media. The report claims that the 24-man board ignored or did not directly answer many of the questions.
It says women, community and legal workers and police involved in the consultation were particularly concerned about domestic violence, and suggested that imams aimed to preserve the family at the cost of women.
When cases came to court they were often dropped after family and community elders pressured women to withdraw charges.
The report says some women who were legally separated but not religiously divorced had their husbands enter their houses, demand sexual intercourse and take it by force.
"Workers who have assisted women in this situation said that the advice women received from the imams was that it was "halal" — permitted — because there was a valid "nikah" — marriage," it says.
The report also cites sexual assault allegations connected with under-age marriages.
It says polygamy is steadily increasing and gaining acceptance among Melbourne Muslims, and Shepparton police report many "de facto" relationships that are really polygamous marriages.
"Community workers who have provided support to women whose husbands took another wife religiously said that women blame the availability of Centrelink benefits … since one or the other wife will be claiming it, relieving the husband of the responsibility of supporting two families," the report says.
Community members quoted in the report believe that imams' narrow religious training in an increasingly complex world, lack of life experience, poor English and lack of understanding of Australia create problems for the community. For example, ill-informed comment by imams drew a wedge between the mainstream and Muslim communities.
The report suggests the Muslim community believes many imams are ill-equipped for the role, which involves much higher expectations in Australia than in predominantly Muslim countries, including marriage counselling, pastoral and spiritual care, marriages and divorces.
"They come from their own little village and culture and say this is what Islam is," one woman is quoted saying.
"They come from a village where there is no running water and electricity, and they bring their dark ideas into this country."
The secretary of the Board of Imams, Sheikh Fehmi Naji El-Imam, said he could not understand how the council could write such a report and denied the complaints "absolutely".
"They must have heard stories here and there and are writing about them as though they are fact," he said.
Sheikh Fehmi, who is also Mufti of Australia, said no authorised imam would conduct a polygamous marriage, and it was absolutely wrong that women's rights were ignored in marriage or divorce, or that imams ignored domestic violence.
"I haven't heard of any case where the board disregarded a woman or did not try to help her," he said.
Islamic women's council chairwoman Tasneem Chopra said: "We are hoping we can negotiate with the appropriate authorities a better outcome for women, whether through law reform or education.
"This is a crucial, necessary beginning but it is part of a much larger picture."
Source
Friday, November 21, 2008
'Go to hell' - Digger bashing accused's message
By Gemma Jones
November 21, 2008 12:00am
A DAY after war veteran Ernest Evans was laid to rest the alleged 50 cent thug who is accused of bashing him has shown his contempt, declaring: "Go to hell."
Kristopher Cowie, 30, today said the six weeks of hell Mr Evans endured, including a return of horrific post war trauma and injuries which never healed before his death last Friday, was "not my problem.''
He then raised his middle finger to a news photographer and shoved him in the chest outside Downing Centre Local Court.
Ernest Evans' funeral: Bashed digger laid to rest.
Cowie is accused of punching Mr Evans, 83, as he sat on a park bench outside St Vincent De Paul at Miranda, where his wife was shopping for a war history book for him last month.
"My apologies for their loss, it has got nothing to do with me,'' a slurring and unsteady Cowie said as he prepared to face Downing Centre Local Court on unrelated charges.
"Not my problem.''
When asked if he had a drug problem, Cowie shot back, "No, none of your business and no I don't so you can go to hell.'' He then expressed his dismay at featuring on the front page of The Daily Telegraph minutes after he had thanked a magistrate for releasing him on bail last month. He had already been on bail for other offences. "Putting me on the front page of The Daily Telegraph....you are a bitch,'' he said.
This tragic story has generated huge amounts of reader feedback - while we thank everybody for contributing, because the case is ongoing we are legally limited as to the comments we can post. If you wish yours to be posted, please refrain from mentioning the accused man.
Police allege Cowie demanded 50 cents from Mr Evans before returning with girlfriend Tracey Prater, 29 and punching him, sending him flying over the bench.
She allegedly threatened Mr Evans elderly wife Una.
Mr Evans died, six weeks after the attack, with the leg lacerations he suffered never healing and tormented from nightmares in which he would yell: "The bastard wants 50 cents.''
The night terrors he had suffered after the war in which he would jump up and try to shield his mates from Japanese fire also returned.
Cowie was appearing on unrelated charges relating to an airport offence and Sheriffs had to come to the court while he appeared.
When he saw them, Cowie began barking at them.
Read the original story about Ernest Evans' bashing and Cowie in court
Source
November 21, 2008 12:00am
A DAY after war veteran Ernest Evans was laid to rest the alleged 50 cent thug who is accused of bashing him has shown his contempt, declaring: "Go to hell."
Kristopher Cowie, 30, today said the six weeks of hell Mr Evans endured, including a return of horrific post war trauma and injuries which never healed before his death last Friday, was "not my problem.''
He then raised his middle finger to a news photographer and shoved him in the chest outside Downing Centre Local Court.
Ernest Evans' funeral: Bashed digger laid to rest.
Cowie is accused of punching Mr Evans, 83, as he sat on a park bench outside St Vincent De Paul at Miranda, where his wife was shopping for a war history book for him last month.
"My apologies for their loss, it has got nothing to do with me,'' a slurring and unsteady Cowie said as he prepared to face Downing Centre Local Court on unrelated charges.
"Not my problem.''
When asked if he had a drug problem, Cowie shot back, "No, none of your business and no I don't so you can go to hell.'' He then expressed his dismay at featuring on the front page of The Daily Telegraph minutes after he had thanked a magistrate for releasing him on bail last month. He had already been on bail for other offences. "Putting me on the front page of The Daily Telegraph....you are a bitch,'' he said.
This tragic story has generated huge amounts of reader feedback - while we thank everybody for contributing, because the case is ongoing we are legally limited as to the comments we can post. If you wish yours to be posted, please refrain from mentioning the accused man.
Police allege Cowie demanded 50 cents from Mr Evans before returning with girlfriend Tracey Prater, 29 and punching him, sending him flying over the bench.
She allegedly threatened Mr Evans elderly wife Una.
Mr Evans died, six weeks after the attack, with the leg lacerations he suffered never healing and tormented from nightmares in which he would yell: "The bastard wants 50 cents.''
The night terrors he had suffered after the war in which he would jump up and try to shield his mates from Japanese fire also returned.
Cowie was appearing on unrelated charges relating to an airport offence and Sheriffs had to come to the court while he appeared.
When he saw them, Cowie began barking at them.
Read the original story about Ernest Evans' bashing and Cowie in court
Source
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Muslims more disadvantaged
Dewi Cooke
November 18, 2008
AUSTRALIAN Muslims are more socially and economically disadvantaged than their non-Muslim counterparts, despite being, on the whole, better educated and more youthful.
Research to be presented at a Melbourne conference tomorrow shows Australian Muslims have significantly higher rates of high school completion and are also more likely to go to university than are non-Muslims.
But only 15% own their homes compared with 30% of non-Muslims, twice as many live in public housing and unemployment among Muslim youth is double that of non-Muslim Australians.
"One would expect that they should be able to participate in the economic and social life as other educated people are and they are not doing so, and I think that's nothing to do with their religious beliefs," Flinders University sociologist Riaz Hassan said.
"That's something to do with the larger community, whether it's discrimination, or prejudice or exclusion prompted by other factors."
Analysing 2006 census figures, Professor Hassan found that of 340,391 Muslims recorded on census night (1.7% of the population), 38% were born in Australia and the rest born overseas in countries including Lebanon, Turkey, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Despite their higher rates of high school and tertiary education — 24% of Muslim men and 26% of Muslim women had completed year 12 compared with 15% and 17% of non-Muslim men and women respectively — Professor Hassan found Muslims were not equally represented in well-paying white-collar professions.
However, they had higher rates of work in skilled blue-collar and labouring jobs.
Overall, 52% were in rental accommodation — private or public — more than 20% higher than other Australians.
Average household incomes also tended to be lower and Muslim children were twice as likely to live below the poverty line.
Professor Hassan said the findings were significant because of public concern about religious radicalism. He argued that radicalism was more likely to rise out of socio-economic inequality, negative stereotypes and discrimination.
Source
November 18, 2008
AUSTRALIAN Muslims are more socially and economically disadvantaged than their non-Muslim counterparts, despite being, on the whole, better educated and more youthful.
Research to be presented at a Melbourne conference tomorrow shows Australian Muslims have significantly higher rates of high school completion and are also more likely to go to university than are non-Muslims.
But only 15% own their homes compared with 30% of non-Muslims, twice as many live in public housing and unemployment among Muslim youth is double that of non-Muslim Australians.
"One would expect that they should be able to participate in the economic and social life as other educated people are and they are not doing so, and I think that's nothing to do with their religious beliefs," Flinders University sociologist Riaz Hassan said.
"That's something to do with the larger community, whether it's discrimination, or prejudice or exclusion prompted by other factors."
Analysing 2006 census figures, Professor Hassan found that of 340,391 Muslims recorded on census night (1.7% of the population), 38% were born in Australia and the rest born overseas in countries including Lebanon, Turkey, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Despite their higher rates of high school and tertiary education — 24% of Muslim men and 26% of Muslim women had completed year 12 compared with 15% and 17% of non-Muslim men and women respectively — Professor Hassan found Muslims were not equally represented in well-paying white-collar professions.
However, they had higher rates of work in skilled blue-collar and labouring jobs.
Overall, 52% were in rental accommodation — private or public — more than 20% higher than other Australians.
Average household incomes also tended to be lower and Muslim children were twice as likely to live below the poverty line.
Professor Hassan said the findings were significant because of public concern about religious radicalism. He argued that radicalism was more likely to rise out of socio-economic inequality, negative stereotypes and discrimination.
Source
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Legalised polygamy a good option
By Anne Taylor
The Courier-Mail
November 18, 2008 04:25am
WITH the introduction of "alimony payments" to mistresses, the comedy of equality of the sexes is turning into a farce.
There can be no equality; the sexes are simply different. During sex, a woman sometimes conceives; that's her downside. Her upside is that while she's bearing and rearing her infant(s) she and her infant may legally demand protection and financial support from the biological father. That's his downside.
Monogamy suits a wife and her children for practical reasons, but modern middle-class and upper-class women have gone beyond the practical. They want continuing romance, excitement, and a fulfilling career.
The women in the lower echelons have no choice but to work, as they have done since the Industrial Revolution. No flowers and wining and dining, boardrooms and glass ceilings for them.
Let me relate a "true confession".
I was deserted by my husband in 1970, and left with two infant sons. I was a middle-class housewife, totally naive about my rights and about government benefits. Unaware that I was entitled to a Deserted Wives' Pension, I went to work.
First I obtained factory work, but the meagre wage was impossible to live on with rent and child care to pay. It probably still is for single-income parents. Spare a thought for factory workers, you politicians and feminists.
I battled my way back into the clerical workforce I'd been in before my brief marriage, but I didn't have the equal pay and the childcare subsidy working mothers have today. The stress carried me off to a psychiatric hospital.
Those institutions were not what they are today. I came out hardened and bitter and wanting only to protect and nurture my sons at all costs.
I accepted the advances of the first presentable man who offered me his protection and became his mistress. Until my sons were of an age for me to go to work with ease of mind, I then had a succession of "protectors" who all told me the same story.
I could have been sceptical, except that my own husband had been a genuine cad. These men said their wives had lost interest in sex, criticised them, nagged them, constantly tried to "change" them.
I am reminded of a quote: "A man marries a woman thinking she won't change, and she does. A woman marries a man thinking he will change, and he doesn't."
I'd grown up in a household of men who never said a word if I left the toilet rim down, and explained to me once patiently that if I didn't like wet towels on the floor, it only took me a moment to pick them up as opposed to five minutes to find the culprit and complain. Thereafter they turned deaf ears to my complaint.To me, these men whose wives nagged about their thoughtlessness and laziness were gems. They provided for their wives, and most of them still loved them despite being mystified and disillusioned.
One of them asked me plaintively: "What does she want from me? She told the marriage guidance counsellor that I never remember wedding anniversaries and never give her flowers, so I got a standing order at the florist to deliver her flowers on our anniversary and Valentine's Day. The very first bunch of flowers she got she threw them at me."
Do you see what you're dealing with here, you fluffy-headed females? You're dealing with brains that are programmed differently from yours.
In the meantime let's just accept it, the way our mystified menfolk accept and are enchanted by us.
Women talk a lot about "communication" and "empathy". But it's men who communicate concisely and precisely, and I suspect women have an airy-fairy idea of empathy, or there would be far fewer divorces.
Once upon a time I put forward the idea of legalised polygamy as the answer to broken marriages, fatherless children, and women wanting to have children and still be part of the workforce.
The idea was that working wives could help provide financially, while the stay-at-home mums could provide child care.
With the present madness of Family Law legislation upon us, I put forward the suggestion again as being more sane. If all the wives, mistresses, de factos and girlfriends of any particular Lothario were to co-operate for the sake of their mutual children, instead of pulling against each other and the father, we might get some stability back into society.
Source
The Courier-Mail
November 18, 2008 04:25am
WITH the introduction of "alimony payments" to mistresses, the comedy of equality of the sexes is turning into a farce.
There can be no equality; the sexes are simply different. During sex, a woman sometimes conceives; that's her downside. Her upside is that while she's bearing and rearing her infant(s) she and her infant may legally demand protection and financial support from the biological father. That's his downside.
Monogamy suits a wife and her children for practical reasons, but modern middle-class and upper-class women have gone beyond the practical. They want continuing romance, excitement, and a fulfilling career.
The women in the lower echelons have no choice but to work, as they have done since the Industrial Revolution. No flowers and wining and dining, boardrooms and glass ceilings for them.
Let me relate a "true confession".
I was deserted by my husband in 1970, and left with two infant sons. I was a middle-class housewife, totally naive about my rights and about government benefits. Unaware that I was entitled to a Deserted Wives' Pension, I went to work.
First I obtained factory work, but the meagre wage was impossible to live on with rent and child care to pay. It probably still is for single-income parents. Spare a thought for factory workers, you politicians and feminists.
I battled my way back into the clerical workforce I'd been in before my brief marriage, but I didn't have the equal pay and the childcare subsidy working mothers have today. The stress carried me off to a psychiatric hospital.
Those institutions were not what they are today. I came out hardened and bitter and wanting only to protect and nurture my sons at all costs.
I accepted the advances of the first presentable man who offered me his protection and became his mistress. Until my sons were of an age for me to go to work with ease of mind, I then had a succession of "protectors" who all told me the same story.
I could have been sceptical, except that my own husband had been a genuine cad. These men said their wives had lost interest in sex, criticised them, nagged them, constantly tried to "change" them.
I am reminded of a quote: "A man marries a woman thinking she won't change, and she does. A woman marries a man thinking he will change, and he doesn't."
I'd grown up in a household of men who never said a word if I left the toilet rim down, and explained to me once patiently that if I didn't like wet towels on the floor, it only took me a moment to pick them up as opposed to five minutes to find the culprit and complain. Thereafter they turned deaf ears to my complaint.To me, these men whose wives nagged about their thoughtlessness and laziness were gems. They provided for their wives, and most of them still loved them despite being mystified and disillusioned.
One of them asked me plaintively: "What does she want from me? She told the marriage guidance counsellor that I never remember wedding anniversaries and never give her flowers, so I got a standing order at the florist to deliver her flowers on our anniversary and Valentine's Day. The very first bunch of flowers she got she threw them at me."
Do you see what you're dealing with here, you fluffy-headed females? You're dealing with brains that are programmed differently from yours.
In the meantime let's just accept it, the way our mystified menfolk accept and are enchanted by us.
Women talk a lot about "communication" and "empathy". But it's men who communicate concisely and precisely, and I suspect women have an airy-fairy idea of empathy, or there would be far fewer divorces.
Once upon a time I put forward the idea of legalised polygamy as the answer to broken marriages, fatherless children, and women wanting to have children and still be part of the workforce.
The idea was that working wives could help provide financially, while the stay-at-home mums could provide child care.
With the present madness of Family Law legislation upon us, I put forward the suggestion again as being more sane. If all the wives, mistresses, de factos and girlfriends of any particular Lothario were to co-operate for the sake of their mutual children, instead of pulling against each other and the father, we might get some stability back into society.
Source
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
ATM bomb bandits go on Sydney rampage
Peter Hawkins
November 18, 2008 - 6:31AM
A gang of four men are believed to be responsible for blowing up three ATMs across Sydney early this morning.
A St George ATM exploded through a shopfront window at Milperra in the city's south-west about 2.30am.
Debris and glass was sent flying across the carpark of the Ashford Village shopping centre on the corner of Bullecourt Avenue and Ashford Avenue.
Others hit in the rampage included an ATM at Birwood Avenue, Georges Hall, about 2.50am and an ATM in Penshurst Avenue at Penshurst about 3.10am, police said.
Both are also in Sydney's south-west.
It is believed the same men were disturbed attempting to rob a fourth ATM on Railway Street at Chatswood in Sydney's North Shore.
Police said a member of the public stumbled across the men setting up an explosive device about 4am and was then threatened with a firearm.
Startled, the men fled in a dark sedan. No shots were fired, police said.
The device did not detonate and is still in danger of exploding.
The bomb squad have sealed off the area.
Police said they are unsure how much money the men escaped with, if any at all.
Specialist forensic police remain at all the ATMs and State Crime Command are investigating.
Police said they are not ruling out the possibility of all four robberies being linked.
They also said it is too early to determine any link between the men and previous ATM robberies using explosives this month.
Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1300 333 000.
Source
November 18, 2008 - 6:31AM
A gang of four men are believed to be responsible for blowing up three ATMs across Sydney early this morning.
A St George ATM exploded through a shopfront window at Milperra in the city's south-west about 2.30am.
Debris and glass was sent flying across the carpark of the Ashford Village shopping centre on the corner of Bullecourt Avenue and Ashford Avenue.
Others hit in the rampage included an ATM at Birwood Avenue, Georges Hall, about 2.50am and an ATM in Penshurst Avenue at Penshurst about 3.10am, police said.
Both are also in Sydney's south-west.
It is believed the same men were disturbed attempting to rob a fourth ATM on Railway Street at Chatswood in Sydney's North Shore.
Police said a member of the public stumbled across the men setting up an explosive device about 4am and was then threatened with a firearm.
Startled, the men fled in a dark sedan. No shots were fired, police said.
The device did not detonate and is still in danger of exploding.
The bomb squad have sealed off the area.
Police said they are unsure how much money the men escaped with, if any at all.
Specialist forensic police remain at all the ATMs and State Crime Command are investigating.
Police said they are not ruling out the possibility of all four robberies being linked.
They also said it is too early to determine any link between the men and previous ATM robberies using explosives this month.
Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1300 333 000.
Source
Friday, November 14, 2008
Suspended sentence for Vic uni rampage
November 14, 2008, 6:36 pm
A volunteer fireman feared he was part of a US-style university massacre when a Melbourne student pointed what appeared to be a semi-automatic weapon at him and told him he was about to die.
Warren Davis' life flashed before his eyes as Dylan Thomas Kennedy, dressed in army fatigues
and wearing a red bandanna, stood just metres from him and pointed the imitation gun at him, Davis told AAP.
Kennedy shouted: "Get the f*** out of here, I am going to f***ing get you, I am going to f***ing kill you."
The media student had just trashed dorm rooms at Swinburne University's Lilydale campus and was running around the grounds armed with the toy gun and yelling he was going to shoot people.
Kennedy on Friday has been handed a 15-month suspended jail sentence by the Victorian County Court for the rampage in the early hours of September 10 last year, just months after the Virginia Tech massacre in the US in which 32 people were killed.
Mr Davis, the Lilydale Country Fire Authority (CFA) captain who was at the university in response to a fire call, said Kennedy came running towards him shouting and pointing the gun at him.
"It was like one of these massacres that you see in America, that is exactly what we thought it was going to be," Mr Davis told AAP after the sentencing.
"Myself and the other crew members we thought we are all going to get shot here.
"I thought I was going to get a bullet."
Kennedy then pointed the gun at other members of the volunteer CFA crew.
"It all happened that quick, they say your life flashes before your eyes and it did for the four of us," Mr Davis, a father of three, said.
The situation ended when a policeman recognised the weapon as an imitation gun used for computer games, and subdued Kennedy with capsicum spray, the court was told on Friday.
Davis and CFA lieutenants Mark Owens, Trevor Dean and Michael Satori had been called to a building fire at the campus.
"You wake up in the middle of the night to attend a fire, expecting to get there and see a room or building on fire and you are confronted by something totally different," Mr Davis said.
"We are all volunteers, we are not paid for that."
All the firefighters involved had undergone counselling, and one of them still had nightmares about the rampage, the court was told.
Sentencing Kennedy, Judge Margaret Rizkalla agreed the firefighters feared for their lives.
"Even though the weapon you were using was imitation, those involved were not able to ascertain that," Judge Rizkalla said.
The court was told that a month earlier Kennedy showed a group of men in a McDonald's restaurant a cap-gun that also appeared real and claimed he was a contract killer.
Judge Rizkalla also ordered Kennedy, who pleaded guilty to charges including threatening to kill, destroying property and possession of an unregistered general category handgun, take part in a community based order that includes treatment for drug and alcohol addiction.
Source
A volunteer fireman feared he was part of a US-style university massacre when a Melbourne student pointed what appeared to be a semi-automatic weapon at him and told him he was about to die.
Warren Davis' life flashed before his eyes as Dylan Thomas Kennedy, dressed in army fatigues
and wearing a red bandanna, stood just metres from him and pointed the imitation gun at him, Davis told AAP.
Kennedy shouted: "Get the f*** out of here, I am going to f***ing get you, I am going to f***ing kill you."
The media student had just trashed dorm rooms at Swinburne University's Lilydale campus and was running around the grounds armed with the toy gun and yelling he was going to shoot people.
Kennedy on Friday has been handed a 15-month suspended jail sentence by the Victorian County Court for the rampage in the early hours of September 10 last year, just months after the Virginia Tech massacre in the US in which 32 people were killed.
Mr Davis, the Lilydale Country Fire Authority (CFA) captain who was at the university in response to a fire call, said Kennedy came running towards him shouting and pointing the gun at him.
"It was like one of these massacres that you see in America, that is exactly what we thought it was going to be," Mr Davis told AAP after the sentencing.
"Myself and the other crew members we thought we are all going to get shot here.
"I thought I was going to get a bullet."
Kennedy then pointed the gun at other members of the volunteer CFA crew.
"It all happened that quick, they say your life flashes before your eyes and it did for the four of us," Mr Davis, a father of three, said.
The situation ended when a policeman recognised the weapon as an imitation gun used for computer games, and subdued Kennedy with capsicum spray, the court was told on Friday.
Davis and CFA lieutenants Mark Owens, Trevor Dean and Michael Satori had been called to a building fire at the campus.
"You wake up in the middle of the night to attend a fire, expecting to get there and see a room or building on fire and you are confronted by something totally different," Mr Davis said.
"We are all volunteers, we are not paid for that."
All the firefighters involved had undergone counselling, and one of them still had nightmares about the rampage, the court was told.
Sentencing Kennedy, Judge Margaret Rizkalla agreed the firefighters feared for their lives.
"Even though the weapon you were using was imitation, those involved were not able to ascertain that," Judge Rizkalla said.
The court was told that a month earlier Kennedy showed a group of men in a McDonald's restaurant a cap-gun that also appeared real and claimed he was a contract killer.
Judge Rizkalla also ordered Kennedy, who pleaded guilty to charges including threatening to kill, destroying property and possession of an unregistered general category handgun, take part in a community based order that includes treatment for drug and alcohol addiction.
Source
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Vic man charged over plane bomb hoax
ABC - November 4, 2008, 9:59 am
A Victorian man has been arrested in Cairns, after allegedly telling police there was a bomb on board a plane that had left the far north Queensland city last night.
It is alleged the 31-year-old called 000 about 11:00pm AEST last night and said there was a bomb on board a commercial flight from Cairns to Melbourne .
Police say the call was traced to a mobile phone registered to an address in Hampton Park in Victoria.
They called the number and a negotiator spoke to the man who surrendered himself to police a short time later.
He has been charged with the use of a carriage service for a hoax and is due to appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court this morning.
Source
A Victorian man has been arrested in Cairns, after allegedly telling police there was a bomb on board a plane that had left the far north Queensland city last night.
It is alleged the 31-year-old called 000 about 11:00pm AEST last night and said there was a bomb on board a commercial flight from Cairns to Melbourne .
Police say the call was traced to a mobile phone registered to an address in Hampton Park in Victoria.
They called the number and a negotiator spoke to the man who surrendered himself to police a short time later.
He has been charged with the use of a carriage service for a hoax and is due to appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court this morning.
Source
Monday, September 29, 2008
Bomb used to blow up ATM
September 29, 2008 - 11:35AM
An ATM and a butcher shop have been destroyed in a bombing at a shopping centre in a northern Melbourne suburb.
Police said it's the first time criminals have used a bomb to blow up an ATM in Melbourne.
The bombing happened just after 2am today at the Edgewater Boulevard shops in Maribynong.
Neighbours heard the explosion, but emergency services were not called until 5.30am, when the owners of Edgeware Meats turned up to work.
Detective Sergeant Rod Stormonch from the arson squad said the ATM was the target, but it was still too early to say if money was taken, and how much.
"At this stage, we're still trying to render the scene safe for our arson chemists to go in," Detective Sergeant Stormonch told reporters at the scene.
He said he was unsure what sort of chemicals were used in the explosion.
"Whoever has done this today has got some knowledge of explosives or how to cause an explosion of this type," he said.
Bomb squad members have spent the morning making the scene safe for investigators.
"From an uneducated point of view, the shop is completely destroyed, the roof has fallen down, but I can't give you an idea of how much damage was caused."
Investigators plan to look at CCTV footage from cameras in the area.
Detective Sergeant Stormonch said it was lucky no one was hurt, with a supermarket next door and night packers working, and the shopping centre located in a residential area.
"This is the first one in Melbourne to my knowledge and the investigation will commence today and will continue until such time as someone is identified and arrested for this incident," he said.
Angel Angeles, who owns a bakery across the road from the butcher, said the bombing was a shock.
"The whole debris came through the area, so we've got big chunks across the road. They've done a really good job, they've spraypainted the cameras and all that in the area, so it's pretty professional," Mr Angeles told reporters.
"To be honest with you, it must be some sort of gas or pressure explosion ... As soon as we rocked up here it was just incredible, the whole focus must have been getting the ATM, which is a bit of a shock, especially around Edgewater."
He said it was a quiet area made up mainly of food businesses and shops.
Police were expected to remain at the scene for the rest of the day.
AAP
Source
An ATM and a butcher shop have been destroyed in a bombing at a shopping centre in a northern Melbourne suburb.
Police said it's the first time criminals have used a bomb to blow up an ATM in Melbourne.
The bombing happened just after 2am today at the Edgewater Boulevard shops in Maribynong.
Neighbours heard the explosion, but emergency services were not called until 5.30am, when the owners of Edgeware Meats turned up to work.
Detective Sergeant Rod Stormonch from the arson squad said the ATM was the target, but it was still too early to say if money was taken, and how much.
"At this stage, we're still trying to render the scene safe for our arson chemists to go in," Detective Sergeant Stormonch told reporters at the scene.
He said he was unsure what sort of chemicals were used in the explosion.
"Whoever has done this today has got some knowledge of explosives or how to cause an explosion of this type," he said.
Bomb squad members have spent the morning making the scene safe for investigators.
"From an uneducated point of view, the shop is completely destroyed, the roof has fallen down, but I can't give you an idea of how much damage was caused."
Investigators plan to look at CCTV footage from cameras in the area.
Detective Sergeant Stormonch said it was lucky no one was hurt, with a supermarket next door and night packers working, and the shopping centre located in a residential area.
"This is the first one in Melbourne to my knowledge and the investigation will commence today and will continue until such time as someone is identified and arrested for this incident," he said.
Angel Angeles, who owns a bakery across the road from the butcher, said the bombing was a shock.
"The whole debris came through the area, so we've got big chunks across the road. They've done a really good job, they've spraypainted the cameras and all that in the area, so it's pretty professional," Mr Angeles told reporters.
"To be honest with you, it must be some sort of gas or pressure explosion ... As soon as we rocked up here it was just incredible, the whole focus must have been getting the ATM, which is a bit of a shock, especially around Edgewater."
He said it was a quiet area made up mainly of food businesses and shops.
Police were expected to remain at the scene for the rest of the day.
AAP
Source
Sunday, September 28, 2008
AG's comments on Melbourne terrorism trial verdict
ATTORNEY-GENERAL ROBERT MCCLELLAND
15 SEPTEMBER
PRESS CONFERENCE, BLUE ROOM, PARLIAMENT hOUSE, CANBERRA, 16:15 PM
Subjects: MELBOURNE TERRORISM TRIALS; CLARKE INQUIRY.
ROBERT MCCLELLAND: The jury in the Pendennis trial has now reached a verdict in respect to ten of the accused. The jury is still deliberating on charges against two individuals and the court orders remain in place in respect to those matters, so, as such, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on detail relating to those matters.
However, I welcome the convictions that have been handed down today. There have been six individuals convicted of membership of a terrorist organisation. Three individuals convicted of providing support to a terrorist organisation and one individual has been convicted of directing the activities of a terrorist organisation.
The trial has been lengthy and complicated. It commenced in February of this year, over 50 witnesses have been called, over 3000 pages of evidence. The jury is, of course, entitled to reach various verdicts on the evidence before it, and four men have been acquitted of the charges bought against them. This is an example of effective cooperation between the Australian Federal Police, ASIO, the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions and of course mention should also be made of the role performed by the Victorian Police Force, which was also outstanding.
Indeed, cooperation between these agencies is key to ensuring better coordination and ultimately more successful prosecution of terrorism cases. Implementation of the recommendations of the Street Review made earlier this year on matters of interoperability in national security operations is ensuring closer interaction and integration between policing and intelligence agencies. Recognition must also be made of the role of the court. It was a tremendously demanding responsibility placed on the judge and indeed court staff. And of course recognition should also be made to the sacrifices that were made by the jury who have clearly applied themselves with dedication to this important public role. I would also take the opportunity of briefly digressing to also indicate our appreciation for all those involved in the successful prosecution that occurred last week of Bilal Khaazal in Sydney.
It should be noted in both instances that the Muslim community has been integral to the success of these investigations. Strong links have been forged between police and the Muslim community through the ongoing efforts of the Australian Federal Police's community engagement teams. Successful prosecutions are of course important, vitally important, in sending a clear message to those who may be influenced by violent, extremism. The real prospect of conviction and imprisonment will hopefully open their eyes to what terrorism really is: nothing more than criminal behaviour at its most base and brutal level, armed at innocent civilians as the target of choice.
The Rudd Government is committed to protecting all Australians. We take a hard line against terrorism and we make absolutely no apology for that.
The seriousness of the offences involved in this case highlights why we must do all we can to ensure the public's security. Clearly a terrorist attack would not only cause loss of life and injury and destruction to property, it would also do significant damage to our social fabric. We live in a tolerant, multicultural society and our agencies are determined to keep it that way and I command all those involved in these successful prosecutions, very happy to answer questions.
QUESTION: Attorney, do you feel that the law enforcement agencies, and I use that term broadly, to include ASIO and the like, are now at a point where they understand these new terrorism laws that we've seen introduced since 9/11 and can use them well and deliver prosecutions?
ROBERT MCCLELLAND: I think to answer that question briefly: the proof of the pie is in the eating and I think they have performed their role admirably and clearly there are complexities involved in the fine line between the gathering intelligence and the fine line of gathering evidence which is admissible in court proceedings and I think all agencies with the assistance of and the expertise of the Director of Public Prosecutions have done an outstanding job and in that context council appearing on behalf of the Commonwealth clearly have developed and are continuing to develop expertise in these matter.
QUESTION: So some of the charges didn't stick. Is there likely to be a review of the legislation?
ROBERT MCCLELLAND: Obviously that's a matter for the agencies to advise government on but we'll look at the advice of the agencies in respect to both the individual charges and we will also look at how the laws generally operate as we are doing on an ongoing basis.
QUESTION: Is this - this group that's been convicted in Melbourne, is - are they an aberration or are they symptomatic of what concerns you might have about terrorism or extremism in Australia.
ROBERT MCCLELLAND: It would be naive to discount the prospect of a terrorist attack in Australia. Clearly a terrorist attack in Australia is possible and hence we have our security rating at the level of medium. Indeed, it would be naive not to recognise that such an attack could be perpetrated by home grown terrorism. It is an indication as to why our agencies must continue to be vigilant, as I am convinced they are, and it's an indication as to how we must get our national security arrangements in place so that our agencies, as has been shown in this case, operate effectively together and continue to work effectively and cooperatively together.
QUESTION: Are there any other groups like this out there?
ROBERT MCCLELLAND: Well, again, the national security agencies clearly in performing their role, look at the conduct of a number of individuals in Australia. But, given the fact that there are outstanding matters being considered by the juries and also that there is an ongoing trial in Sydney, I won't comment on any of those specifics or, indeed, identify any organisations.
QUESTION: Are you getting advice from your agencies that radicalisation of [indistinct] is a worsening problem or is it getting better? Can you give us some sense of...
ROBERT MCCLELLAND: The Government is of the view that having tough and effective national security laws is very important, and the area where we think there needs to be more work is in the area of counter-radicalisation. The Government is actually undertaking a considerable amount of work in that area to look at the factors that have led to young Australians being radicalised, and what we can do to prevent that occurring. And that's obviously in terms of not only social cohesion but looking down to the level of the individual organisations or groups they may be associated with, who they come into contact with. Clearly a lot of work has been done in countries such as Great Britain, the Netherlands, and we believe that the time has come for Australia to look at those broader and longer-term objectives. If we want to be in a situation where our children and grandchildren aren't feeling threatened by terrorism, that's the area that we need to occupy some space.
QUESTION: So, just following on from that, is the greater problem now then not imported terrorism but the radicalisation of Australians?
ROBERT MCCLELLAND: The reality is that we have to be alert to the prospect of a terrorist event being perpetrated by those who may come from overseas, but equally our agencies are - need to be and are in fact alert to the prospect of a terrorist event being perpetrated by young Australians.
QUESTION: What are you - again, what are the agencies telling you, in terms of where the threat is likely to come from, is it likely to come from within our own communities or from abroad?
ROBERT MCCLELLAND: Again, these possibilities exist - the answer to that is yes, the possibilities exist in respect to both levels. And that makes it imperative that our agencies work in cooperation with international agencies as well as working with not only national or federal agencies but also with street level policing. Clearly, a lot of intelligence and a lot of valuable evidence literally comes from the police on the ground, from local police, local state police on the ground. So, again, increasingly more work is being done in that space. Former Justice Street in his report indicated that more work needed to be done in that space, and our agencies have been working hard on doing just that. But it must be said, and specifically said, that it's still work in progress, and our agencies are still working hard to make sure those relationships with local state police are as effectively as they possibly can be. They're significantly improving, but even local police and our federal agencies will say that there is more to be done. And they're determined to do that work to ensure that cooperation at all levels.
QUESTION: Can you say how important this prosecution is, how it relates to - rates against other prosecutions we've had for terrorism offences?
ROBERT MCCLELLAND: It is my view that the successful prosecution in the Pendennis trials is the most successful terrorist prosecution that this country has seen. It involved obviously a number of individuals but it also evidenced a degree of organisation that our law enforcement agencies have been able to - able to prevent developing. And, as I say, we must be alive to the fact that not only would a terrorist event cause injury and death and destruction, it would be enormously damaging to our social fabric. Now, I think, in that context it must be recognised that the Muslim community as a whole has been enormously supportive of the work of the national security agencies. They are aware that everyone would be the loser if we suffered an event that could cause damage to our successful, vibrant and tolerant multicultural society. And that is clearly what would occur if there was a terrorist event in Australia.
QUESTION: On the Clarke Inquiry, are you disappointed that the AFP remain the only agency involved in that investigation not to have made a publishable submission available to the inquiry, and is it your expectation that they will do so?
ROBERT MCCLELLAND: I'm on the record as certainly making statements that would encourage the Australian Federal Police to make what they reasonably can make available public. Having said that, they are in the most difficult position given that much of the material in their possession was provided by the British authorities. I know they are liaising closely with the British authorities. I would expect, certainly as the British cases unfold as they are I understand from October, that increasingly evidence provided by the British agencies will be public aired in Britain. And I'm hoping that the situation will be kept under ongoing review in terms of what the Australian Federal Police can make public here.
Thanks very much.
* * End * *
Source: Email List
15 SEPTEMBER
PRESS CONFERENCE, BLUE ROOM, PARLIAMENT hOUSE, CANBERRA, 16:15 PM
Subjects: MELBOURNE TERRORISM TRIALS; CLARKE INQUIRY.
ROBERT MCCLELLAND: The jury in the Pendennis trial has now reached a verdict in respect to ten of the accused. The jury is still deliberating on charges against two individuals and the court orders remain in place in respect to those matters, so, as such, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on detail relating to those matters.
However, I welcome the convictions that have been handed down today. There have been six individuals convicted of membership of a terrorist organisation. Three individuals convicted of providing support to a terrorist organisation and one individual has been convicted of directing the activities of a terrorist organisation.
The trial has been lengthy and complicated. It commenced in February of this year, over 50 witnesses have been called, over 3000 pages of evidence. The jury is, of course, entitled to reach various verdicts on the evidence before it, and four men have been acquitted of the charges bought against them. This is an example of effective cooperation between the Australian Federal Police, ASIO, the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions and of course mention should also be made of the role performed by the Victorian Police Force, which was also outstanding.
Indeed, cooperation between these agencies is key to ensuring better coordination and ultimately more successful prosecution of terrorism cases. Implementation of the recommendations of the Street Review made earlier this year on matters of interoperability in national security operations is ensuring closer interaction and integration between policing and intelligence agencies. Recognition must also be made of the role of the court. It was a tremendously demanding responsibility placed on the judge and indeed court staff. And of course recognition should also be made to the sacrifices that were made by the jury who have clearly applied themselves with dedication to this important public role. I would also take the opportunity of briefly digressing to also indicate our appreciation for all those involved in the successful prosecution that occurred last week of Bilal Khaazal in Sydney.
It should be noted in both instances that the Muslim community has been integral to the success of these investigations. Strong links have been forged between police and the Muslim community through the ongoing efforts of the Australian Federal Police's community engagement teams. Successful prosecutions are of course important, vitally important, in sending a clear message to those who may be influenced by violent, extremism. The real prospect of conviction and imprisonment will hopefully open their eyes to what terrorism really is: nothing more than criminal behaviour at its most base and brutal level, armed at innocent civilians as the target of choice.
The Rudd Government is committed to protecting all Australians. We take a hard line against terrorism and we make absolutely no apology for that.
The seriousness of the offences involved in this case highlights why we must do all we can to ensure the public's security. Clearly a terrorist attack would not only cause loss of life and injury and destruction to property, it would also do significant damage to our social fabric. We live in a tolerant, multicultural society and our agencies are determined to keep it that way and I command all those involved in these successful prosecutions, very happy to answer questions.
QUESTION: Attorney, do you feel that the law enforcement agencies, and I use that term broadly, to include ASIO and the like, are now at a point where they understand these new terrorism laws that we've seen introduced since 9/11 and can use them well and deliver prosecutions?
ROBERT MCCLELLAND: I think to answer that question briefly: the proof of the pie is in the eating and I think they have performed their role admirably and clearly there are complexities involved in the fine line between the gathering intelligence and the fine line of gathering evidence which is admissible in court proceedings and I think all agencies with the assistance of and the expertise of the Director of Public Prosecutions have done an outstanding job and in that context council appearing on behalf of the Commonwealth clearly have developed and are continuing to develop expertise in these matter.
QUESTION: So some of the charges didn't stick. Is there likely to be a review of the legislation?
ROBERT MCCLELLAND: Obviously that's a matter for the agencies to advise government on but we'll look at the advice of the agencies in respect to both the individual charges and we will also look at how the laws generally operate as we are doing on an ongoing basis.
QUESTION: Is this - this group that's been convicted in Melbourne, is - are they an aberration or are they symptomatic of what concerns you might have about terrorism or extremism in Australia.
ROBERT MCCLELLAND: It would be naive to discount the prospect of a terrorist attack in Australia. Clearly a terrorist attack in Australia is possible and hence we have our security rating at the level of medium. Indeed, it would be naive not to recognise that such an attack could be perpetrated by home grown terrorism. It is an indication as to why our agencies must continue to be vigilant, as I am convinced they are, and it's an indication as to how we must get our national security arrangements in place so that our agencies, as has been shown in this case, operate effectively together and continue to work effectively and cooperatively together.
QUESTION: Are there any other groups like this out there?
ROBERT MCCLELLAND: Well, again, the national security agencies clearly in performing their role, look at the conduct of a number of individuals in Australia. But, given the fact that there are outstanding matters being considered by the juries and also that there is an ongoing trial in Sydney, I won't comment on any of those specifics or, indeed, identify any organisations.
QUESTION: Are you getting advice from your agencies that radicalisation of [indistinct] is a worsening problem or is it getting better? Can you give us some sense of...
ROBERT MCCLELLAND: The Government is of the view that having tough and effective national security laws is very important, and the area where we think there needs to be more work is in the area of counter-radicalisation. The Government is actually undertaking a considerable amount of work in that area to look at the factors that have led to young Australians being radicalised, and what we can do to prevent that occurring. And that's obviously in terms of not only social cohesion but looking down to the level of the individual organisations or groups they may be associated with, who they come into contact with. Clearly a lot of work has been done in countries such as Great Britain, the Netherlands, and we believe that the time has come for Australia to look at those broader and longer-term objectives. If we want to be in a situation where our children and grandchildren aren't feeling threatened by terrorism, that's the area that we need to occupy some space.
QUESTION: So, just following on from that, is the greater problem now then not imported terrorism but the radicalisation of Australians?
ROBERT MCCLELLAND: The reality is that we have to be alert to the prospect of a terrorist event being perpetrated by those who may come from overseas, but equally our agencies are - need to be and are in fact alert to the prospect of a terrorist event being perpetrated by young Australians.
QUESTION: What are you - again, what are the agencies telling you, in terms of where the threat is likely to come from, is it likely to come from within our own communities or from abroad?
ROBERT MCCLELLAND: Again, these possibilities exist - the answer to that is yes, the possibilities exist in respect to both levels. And that makes it imperative that our agencies work in cooperation with international agencies as well as working with not only national or federal agencies but also with street level policing. Clearly, a lot of intelligence and a lot of valuable evidence literally comes from the police on the ground, from local police, local state police on the ground. So, again, increasingly more work is being done in that space. Former Justice Street in his report indicated that more work needed to be done in that space, and our agencies have been working hard on doing just that. But it must be said, and specifically said, that it's still work in progress, and our agencies are still working hard to make sure those relationships with local state police are as effectively as they possibly can be. They're significantly improving, but even local police and our federal agencies will say that there is more to be done. And they're determined to do that work to ensure that cooperation at all levels.
QUESTION: Can you say how important this prosecution is, how it relates to - rates against other prosecutions we've had for terrorism offences?
ROBERT MCCLELLAND: It is my view that the successful prosecution in the Pendennis trials is the most successful terrorist prosecution that this country has seen. It involved obviously a number of individuals but it also evidenced a degree of organisation that our law enforcement agencies have been able to - able to prevent developing. And, as I say, we must be alive to the fact that not only would a terrorist event cause injury and death and destruction, it would be enormously damaging to our social fabric. Now, I think, in that context it must be recognised that the Muslim community as a whole has been enormously supportive of the work of the national security agencies. They are aware that everyone would be the loser if we suffered an event that could cause damage to our successful, vibrant and tolerant multicultural society. And that is clearly what would occur if there was a terrorist event in Australia.
QUESTION: On the Clarke Inquiry, are you disappointed that the AFP remain the only agency involved in that investigation not to have made a publishable submission available to the inquiry, and is it your expectation that they will do so?
ROBERT MCCLELLAND: I'm on the record as certainly making statements that would encourage the Australian Federal Police to make what they reasonably can make available public. Having said that, they are in the most difficult position given that much of the material in their possession was provided by the British authorities. I know they are liaising closely with the British authorities. I would expect, certainly as the British cases unfold as they are I understand from October, that increasingly evidence provided by the British agencies will be public aired in Britain. And I'm hoping that the situation will be kept under ongoing review in terms of what the Australian Federal Police can make public here.
Thanks very much.
* * End * *
Source: Email List
PM's comments on Melbourne terrorism trial verdict
"The last thing I would turn to of course is the question of these trials which have just been resolved in Melbourne. Can I simply say this on the question of terrorism; this Government will continue to take a hard line on terrorism. The outcome of these cases in Victoria demonstrate that we have a continued challenge on our hands. The Government will continue to adopt a resolute approach to dealing with this challenge within Australia. Australia still faces risks when it comes to the terrorist threat and our law enforcement agencies will continue to be vigilant.
But I say this loud and clear that these convictions represent a clear message to those contemplating any act of political violence. We in Australia not only will not tolerate it but the full force of the law will be brought to bear as well."
Full Transcript:
Joint Press Conference with theParliamentary Secretary for Early Childhood Education, Maxine McKew and Local Member, Chris Hayes,Uniting Care Burnside Family CentreMinto, Sydney
16 September 2008
Subject: Early Childhood Education, Malcolm Turnbull, Republic, Terror Trials, Medicare Levy Surcharge, Economy, Senate
E&OE...
PM: Well it’s good to be here at the Minto family centre, our friends from Burnside and to meet the kids this morning and the mums and those who are working here at this great centre, and also to be here with Maxine McKew our Parliamentary Secretary for Early Childhood Education and of course Chris our local member.
There is great work going on here and it’s part and parcel of what we want to build for the nation through the education revolution. And that is - how do we bring all Australians with us and how do we bring all Australian young people with us as well?
One of the measures that we have announced as part of our education revolution is to produce a better funding package for schools in areas of disadvantage across Australia. That’s going to be important because so many of our Government schools across the country and other schools need greater investment to enable them to do their job properly.
Second is to make sure that we are reaching out when it comes to literacy and numeracy into the homes of kids who may be having a bit of a hard start in life. And that is where this sort of program comes into play.
What is being done here is really good, but what Maxine and I are talking about today is taking this model one step further through our national program of Home Interaction Programs. It’s designed like this so that through partnering with local community organisations we can then reach out into the homes of little ones aged three to five and help them with their reading and their writing and also their counting.
And we intend to do that by partnering with community organisations who then engage tutors, who then go out into the homes. Too often we have a system whereby we wait for kids who need help and their families to arrive at a centre somewhere. It doesn’t always work that way. The best thing you can do actually is reach out and take those services into the home and that’s what we intend to do with the Australian Government’s program for Home Interaction Programs right across the country.
Today - and I will turn to Maxine in a minute on the detail - is that we are announcing 13 of these across the country and it will be part of 50 being rolled out nationwide, helping literally thousands of families.
The purpose is this. We believe that every Australian deserves a decent start in life, we believe the nation needs an education revolution and part of that means bringing along all of our little ones whatever circumstances they grow up in. Home Interaction Programs are part and parcel of doing that and today we are very pleased to be able to confirm another 13 sites across the country including one here in south western Sydney at Claymore.
Also if I could touch on two other matters before I turn to Maxine to add to my remarks on Home Interactions Program.
In terms of what has just happened in Canberra can I simply say this, I congratulate Mr Turnbull on being elected as the new leader of the Liberal Party of Australia. It’s a great honour to be elected as a leader of one of Australia’s large political parties and therefore I extend my congratulations to Mr Turnbull and to his family.
I also say to Mr Turnbull, I look forward to working with him on a bipartisan basis on as many national challenges as possible. And this is really important. One of those national challenges for the future for Australia will be our move towards a republic. And therefore given Mr Turnbull’s historical track record on the republic, I look forward to working with him on both the timetable and the way in which we advance the cause of the republic in Australia.
Mr Turnbull has long been a supporter of the republic and we know for a fact that you are only going to achieve that sort of change in Australia on a bipartisan basis with both sides of politics agreeing. So the invitation is out there for Mr Turnbull to work with us on that. The invitation’s out there for him to work with us on as many matters in the national interest as possible and I congratulate him again.
The last thing I would turn to of course is the question of these trials which have just been resolved in Melbourne. Can I simply say this on the question of terrorism; this Government will continue to take a hard line on terrorism. The outcome of these cases in Victoria demonstrate that we have a continued challenge on our hands. The Government will continue to adopt a resolute approach to dealing with this challenge within Australia. Australia still faces risks when it comes to the terrorist threat and our law enforcement agencies will continue to be vigilant.
But I say this loud and clear that these convictions represent a clear message to those contemplating any act of political violence. We in Australia not only will not tolerate it but the full force of the law will be brought to bear as well.
Before we turn to questions I’ve got to ask Max to add to what we are talking about here with Home Interaction Programs.
MCKEW: Thanks Kevin. I welcome the roll out today of the Home Interaction Program because I think at its core it’s this and it’s what we see in the Burnside centre here. It’s about building resilience in children and in families.
We know that children have a happy healthy experience in their early primary years in the home where their parents also have a positive attitude to learning. And if I could just relate this to what we saw last week with the roll out of the national testing results in literacy across the country.
The children who would have struggled to get to the appropriate band level would have come from families, if you like, where there’s probably not a positive attitude to learning , perhaps where parents didn’t much like their own school experiences. But we know we don’t want that imparted to their children because they’re going to struggle too. So at the core of the Home Interaction Program and I know from conversations with Jane and Linda and other peoples at Burnside, it’s about working with families in a very particular targeted way and the HIP program does that.
It identifies home tutors in particular communities; often a parent who will work with a number of families with particular education resources, so that it’s a positive experience for both the community worker, for the parent and for the child. And it is all about making sure that child has a happy healthy transition to school.
Thank you
PM: Over to you folks
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, is 45-41 a good enough majority for the Liberal party to leave Malcolm Turnbull alone?
PM: Well that’s a matter for the Liberal party. I congratulated Mr Turnbull on becoming leader of the Liberal party. It’s an honour to lead a political party in Australia, it’s a tough road but I look forward to working with him on a bipartisan basis on challenges for the future including the transformation of Australia into a republic.
JOURNALIST: Is he a better choice for them than Dr Nelson?
PM: It’s a matter for the Liberal party and I am sure they will continue to have robust internal debates about their future. But I congratulate Mr Turnbull on his win.
JOURNALIST: Do you expect them to get a bounce in the polls following this?PM: Oh look I can say every Government in Australia including the one that I lead has got to be on its mettle and I fully expect that with the change of leadership and all of the attention which that will bring to bear, of course the Liberals will get a surge out there in the opinion polls, that’s just a normal thing.
But the responsibility of Government is to deal with the practical challenges of the nation and we’re here in Western Sydney today talking about a very big practical challenge and that is how do we build a first class education system for the 21st century which brings all of our kids along with us. And that means, as Maxine has just said, building resilience in our kids who are often finding it a bit tough out there, and starting at the earliest years of life.
JOURNALIST: Does this settle the issue of Mr Costello’s potential leadership?
PM: Matter for the Liberal party and matter for Mr Costello, Mr Nelson, Mr Turnbull - they can sort all of that out for themselves. But I congratulate Mr Turnbull on his win.
JOURNALIST: On the Medicare levy, on the surcharge is there any room to move to court some of the other members of the Senate?
PM: Our attitude is very clear on this, here we are in Western Sydney, there is a big challenge in terms of cost of living and part of that cost of living is directly affected by how we treat this Medicare levy surcharge.
Now when the Liberals brought down this rule back in 1996 where they said that anyone earning $50,000 a year was a high income earner, and they haven’t changed that in 12 years. And we have sought to change that. And can I say I think that’s the right thing to do for people who are suffering cost of living challenges out there.And I’d appeal to the Liberal party - both on this and on the luxury car tax - do the responsible thing in the Senate. Make sure that the Government’s surplus is kept intact because in this time of global economic uncertainty the Government needs a strong financial buffer to deal with the uncertainties which lie ahead.
We’ve seen overnight developments in the United States on the global economy, on Lehmans, we’ve seen developments in relation to Merrill Lynch, we’ve seen developments in relation to AIG. And can I say on the top of what’s happened to other institutions in the United States, the mortgage lenders, we are in a period of significant crisis in global financial markets. This has continued for some time, it will continue for some time again. Therefore in Australia the overwhelming challenge is to maintain strong responsible economic management.
This is core business for the nation and part of responsible economic management means maintaining a strong budget surplus, because we need that buffer for the future. That’s the Government’s policy and I would appeal to the Liberals to support that as well.
JOURNALIST: Mr Rudd what do you say to people today who are worried about what effect this might have on their super funds?
PM: Well can I say that we are in a period of global financial crisis, this has been running now since August of last year and it’s become more intense. In Australia we are in a strong set of circumstances, the Government has a responsible policy of economic management to see Australia through these challenging global economic times. Already those who have superannuation investments have suffered as a consequence of the fall on global stock markets. That has already occurred and continues to occur.
The challenge for Australia is to see this nation through the current challenges which are coming from abroad and part and parcel of that means ensuring that we preserve our budget surplus for the future because we need that buffer for future investment.
The other part of the Government’s economic strategy is this, it’s a strategy of nation building. We believe that at a time like this - and it applies to Sydney and right across Australia - that the national Government must take the lead in building the nation’s long term infrastructure, Our roads, our rail, our ports, our high speed broadband. A strategy of nation building led by a $76 billion nation building fund which we have now through the national government is critical also to see Australia through the challenges of the current time.
Responsible economic management, anchored in a strong budget surplus and a policy of nation building.
But you know long term getting this education revolution absolutely right and necessary because if we don’t the young people who will form our workforce in 20 years time won’t have the skills necessary to compete.
JOURNALIST: Can I get you to return to Mr Turnbull once more? What do you think about the bloke?
PM: I just congratulate him on his winning the Liberal party leadership and I congratulate him because I have been in politics myself for a while, it is tough and I congratulate him on his win and I look forward to working with him on a bipartisan basis on the big challenges for Australia, and that includes longer term how we deal with the question of the republic.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Source
But I say this loud and clear that these convictions represent a clear message to those contemplating any act of political violence. We in Australia not only will not tolerate it but the full force of the law will be brought to bear as well."
Full Transcript:
Joint Press Conference with theParliamentary Secretary for Early Childhood Education, Maxine McKew and Local Member, Chris Hayes,Uniting Care Burnside Family CentreMinto, Sydney
16 September 2008
Subject: Early Childhood Education, Malcolm Turnbull, Republic, Terror Trials, Medicare Levy Surcharge, Economy, Senate
E&OE...
PM: Well it’s good to be here at the Minto family centre, our friends from Burnside and to meet the kids this morning and the mums and those who are working here at this great centre, and also to be here with Maxine McKew our Parliamentary Secretary for Early Childhood Education and of course Chris our local member.
There is great work going on here and it’s part and parcel of what we want to build for the nation through the education revolution. And that is - how do we bring all Australians with us and how do we bring all Australian young people with us as well?
One of the measures that we have announced as part of our education revolution is to produce a better funding package for schools in areas of disadvantage across Australia. That’s going to be important because so many of our Government schools across the country and other schools need greater investment to enable them to do their job properly.
Second is to make sure that we are reaching out when it comes to literacy and numeracy into the homes of kids who may be having a bit of a hard start in life. And that is where this sort of program comes into play.
What is being done here is really good, but what Maxine and I are talking about today is taking this model one step further through our national program of Home Interaction Programs. It’s designed like this so that through partnering with local community organisations we can then reach out into the homes of little ones aged three to five and help them with their reading and their writing and also their counting.
And we intend to do that by partnering with community organisations who then engage tutors, who then go out into the homes. Too often we have a system whereby we wait for kids who need help and their families to arrive at a centre somewhere. It doesn’t always work that way. The best thing you can do actually is reach out and take those services into the home and that’s what we intend to do with the Australian Government’s program for Home Interaction Programs right across the country.
Today - and I will turn to Maxine in a minute on the detail - is that we are announcing 13 of these across the country and it will be part of 50 being rolled out nationwide, helping literally thousands of families.
The purpose is this. We believe that every Australian deserves a decent start in life, we believe the nation needs an education revolution and part of that means bringing along all of our little ones whatever circumstances they grow up in. Home Interaction Programs are part and parcel of doing that and today we are very pleased to be able to confirm another 13 sites across the country including one here in south western Sydney at Claymore.
Also if I could touch on two other matters before I turn to Maxine to add to my remarks on Home Interactions Program.
In terms of what has just happened in Canberra can I simply say this, I congratulate Mr Turnbull on being elected as the new leader of the Liberal Party of Australia. It’s a great honour to be elected as a leader of one of Australia’s large political parties and therefore I extend my congratulations to Mr Turnbull and to his family.
I also say to Mr Turnbull, I look forward to working with him on a bipartisan basis on as many national challenges as possible. And this is really important. One of those national challenges for the future for Australia will be our move towards a republic. And therefore given Mr Turnbull’s historical track record on the republic, I look forward to working with him on both the timetable and the way in which we advance the cause of the republic in Australia.
Mr Turnbull has long been a supporter of the republic and we know for a fact that you are only going to achieve that sort of change in Australia on a bipartisan basis with both sides of politics agreeing. So the invitation is out there for Mr Turnbull to work with us on that. The invitation’s out there for him to work with us on as many matters in the national interest as possible and I congratulate him again.
The last thing I would turn to of course is the question of these trials which have just been resolved in Melbourne. Can I simply say this on the question of terrorism; this Government will continue to take a hard line on terrorism. The outcome of these cases in Victoria demonstrate that we have a continued challenge on our hands. The Government will continue to adopt a resolute approach to dealing with this challenge within Australia. Australia still faces risks when it comes to the terrorist threat and our law enforcement agencies will continue to be vigilant.
But I say this loud and clear that these convictions represent a clear message to those contemplating any act of political violence. We in Australia not only will not tolerate it but the full force of the law will be brought to bear as well.
Before we turn to questions I’ve got to ask Max to add to what we are talking about here with Home Interaction Programs.
MCKEW: Thanks Kevin. I welcome the roll out today of the Home Interaction Program because I think at its core it’s this and it’s what we see in the Burnside centre here. It’s about building resilience in children and in families.
We know that children have a happy healthy experience in their early primary years in the home where their parents also have a positive attitude to learning. And if I could just relate this to what we saw last week with the roll out of the national testing results in literacy across the country.
The children who would have struggled to get to the appropriate band level would have come from families, if you like, where there’s probably not a positive attitude to learning , perhaps where parents didn’t much like their own school experiences. But we know we don’t want that imparted to their children because they’re going to struggle too. So at the core of the Home Interaction Program and I know from conversations with Jane and Linda and other peoples at Burnside, it’s about working with families in a very particular targeted way and the HIP program does that.
It identifies home tutors in particular communities; often a parent who will work with a number of families with particular education resources, so that it’s a positive experience for both the community worker, for the parent and for the child. And it is all about making sure that child has a happy healthy transition to school.
Thank you
PM: Over to you folks
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, is 45-41 a good enough majority for the Liberal party to leave Malcolm Turnbull alone?
PM: Well that’s a matter for the Liberal party. I congratulated Mr Turnbull on becoming leader of the Liberal party. It’s an honour to lead a political party in Australia, it’s a tough road but I look forward to working with him on a bipartisan basis on challenges for the future including the transformation of Australia into a republic.
JOURNALIST: Is he a better choice for them than Dr Nelson?
PM: It’s a matter for the Liberal party and I am sure they will continue to have robust internal debates about their future. But I congratulate Mr Turnbull on his win.
JOURNALIST: Do you expect them to get a bounce in the polls following this?PM: Oh look I can say every Government in Australia including the one that I lead has got to be on its mettle and I fully expect that with the change of leadership and all of the attention which that will bring to bear, of course the Liberals will get a surge out there in the opinion polls, that’s just a normal thing.
But the responsibility of Government is to deal with the practical challenges of the nation and we’re here in Western Sydney today talking about a very big practical challenge and that is how do we build a first class education system for the 21st century which brings all of our kids along with us. And that means, as Maxine has just said, building resilience in our kids who are often finding it a bit tough out there, and starting at the earliest years of life.
JOURNALIST: Does this settle the issue of Mr Costello’s potential leadership?
PM: Matter for the Liberal party and matter for Mr Costello, Mr Nelson, Mr Turnbull - they can sort all of that out for themselves. But I congratulate Mr Turnbull on his win.
JOURNALIST: On the Medicare levy, on the surcharge is there any room to move to court some of the other members of the Senate?
PM: Our attitude is very clear on this, here we are in Western Sydney, there is a big challenge in terms of cost of living and part of that cost of living is directly affected by how we treat this Medicare levy surcharge.
Now when the Liberals brought down this rule back in 1996 where they said that anyone earning $50,000 a year was a high income earner, and they haven’t changed that in 12 years. And we have sought to change that. And can I say I think that’s the right thing to do for people who are suffering cost of living challenges out there.And I’d appeal to the Liberal party - both on this and on the luxury car tax - do the responsible thing in the Senate. Make sure that the Government’s surplus is kept intact because in this time of global economic uncertainty the Government needs a strong financial buffer to deal with the uncertainties which lie ahead.
We’ve seen overnight developments in the United States on the global economy, on Lehmans, we’ve seen developments in relation to Merrill Lynch, we’ve seen developments in relation to AIG. And can I say on the top of what’s happened to other institutions in the United States, the mortgage lenders, we are in a period of significant crisis in global financial markets. This has continued for some time, it will continue for some time again. Therefore in Australia the overwhelming challenge is to maintain strong responsible economic management.
This is core business for the nation and part of responsible economic management means maintaining a strong budget surplus, because we need that buffer for the future. That’s the Government’s policy and I would appeal to the Liberals to support that as well.
JOURNALIST: Mr Rudd what do you say to people today who are worried about what effect this might have on their super funds?
PM: Well can I say that we are in a period of global financial crisis, this has been running now since August of last year and it’s become more intense. In Australia we are in a strong set of circumstances, the Government has a responsible policy of economic management to see Australia through these challenging global economic times. Already those who have superannuation investments have suffered as a consequence of the fall on global stock markets. That has already occurred and continues to occur.
The challenge for Australia is to see this nation through the current challenges which are coming from abroad and part and parcel of that means ensuring that we preserve our budget surplus for the future because we need that buffer for future investment.
The other part of the Government’s economic strategy is this, it’s a strategy of nation building. We believe that at a time like this - and it applies to Sydney and right across Australia - that the national Government must take the lead in building the nation’s long term infrastructure, Our roads, our rail, our ports, our high speed broadband. A strategy of nation building led by a $76 billion nation building fund which we have now through the national government is critical also to see Australia through the challenges of the current time.
Responsible economic management, anchored in a strong budget surplus and a policy of nation building.
But you know long term getting this education revolution absolutely right and necessary because if we don’t the young people who will form our workforce in 20 years time won’t have the skills necessary to compete.
JOURNALIST: Can I get you to return to Mr Turnbull once more? What do you think about the bloke?
PM: I just congratulate him on his winning the Liberal party leadership and I congratulate him because I have been in politics myself for a while, it is tough and I congratulate him on his win and I look forward to working with him on a bipartisan basis on the big challenges for Australia, and that includes longer term how we deal with the question of the republic.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Source
Sydney chemical find raises bomb fears
Occupants of several residential blocks in Sydney's eastern suburbs remain out of their units on Saturday night hours after the discovery of "potentially dangerous chemicals" in one of the buildings following a fire.
Bomb squad officers were called to a unit block on the corner of Edgecliff Road and Wallis Street in Woollahra shortly after firefighters discovered chemicals while extinguishing a blaze in one of the units about 7am (AEST).
The discovery raised fears of a home-made bomb and residents from the block and some neighbouring unit blocks have been evacuated until forensic examinations can determine the precise makeup of the chemicals.
Specialist resources were deployed, including the rescue and bomb disposal unit and were expected to remain at the crime scene until well into the night, police said. Firefighters earlier pulled a 54-year-old man from the unit with minor burns and smoke inhalation.
He was placed under police guard at St Vincent's Hospital and was expected to be released into police custody sometime later on Saturday night.
Hospital spokesman David Faktor said the man's condition was "satisfactory".
He said the hospital had treated him according to contamination precautions.
"We used a decontamination area where the staff garment-up next to the ambulance bay and adhere to that protocol," he told AAP.
Two ambulance staff who brought him in were also checked for contamination but they were cleared, he said.
Neighbours of the injured man, who was believed to be a supermarket worker, said they had often detected strange smells coming from the unit, Channel Seven reported.
It was not known whether the chemicals had caused the fire.
Inspector John Maricic, crime manager of Rose Bay Local Area Command, told reporters the fire was likely caused by an electrical fault.
He would not reveal whether the chemicals were explosives until forensic examinations were completed.
"(The chemicals) could be considered dangerous and hence we've evacuated the area.
"Obviously our concern to the safety of residents is of paramount importance and obviously we've put road closures in place to prevent any incidents before the examinations have been conducted."
There was no one else on the premises at the time of the fire, police said, and there were reports the man's partner was at work at the time.
The fire left one room of the fourth floor unit considerably damaged and smoke damaged surrounding units, police said.
He said that evacuated residents were being looked after.
"We're obviously feeding (the residents) and looking after their welfare and obviously as soon as we can conduct the examination of the scene, the quicker we can get the residents back in," he said.
"Hopefully today, but we've still got work to do."
One woman who lived in the unit block of the fire, who did not wish to be named, saw the blaze about 7.30am (AEST) today.
"It was a big one, there was smoke everywhere," she told AAP. "But fire brigades responded really quickly."
Still dressed in her pyjamas, she had passed the day in a local cafe and talking to other residents in the street.
She said she didn't really know the man that lived in the unit who had been hospitalised.
"I've passed him on the stairs a couple of times. I think he's been here about seven years," she said.
A male resident, who had also been evacuated and also did not wish to be named, said he didn't know what to do with himself.
"They say it could be hours yet," he said.
Source
Bomb squad officers were called to a unit block on the corner of Edgecliff Road and Wallis Street in Woollahra shortly after firefighters discovered chemicals while extinguishing a blaze in one of the units about 7am (AEST).
The discovery raised fears of a home-made bomb and residents from the block and some neighbouring unit blocks have been evacuated until forensic examinations can determine the precise makeup of the chemicals.
Specialist resources were deployed, including the rescue and bomb disposal unit and were expected to remain at the crime scene until well into the night, police said. Firefighters earlier pulled a 54-year-old man from the unit with minor burns and smoke inhalation.
He was placed under police guard at St Vincent's Hospital and was expected to be released into police custody sometime later on Saturday night.
Hospital spokesman David Faktor said the man's condition was "satisfactory".
He said the hospital had treated him according to contamination precautions.
"We used a decontamination area where the staff garment-up next to the ambulance bay and adhere to that protocol," he told AAP.
Two ambulance staff who brought him in were also checked for contamination but they were cleared, he said.
Neighbours of the injured man, who was believed to be a supermarket worker, said they had often detected strange smells coming from the unit, Channel Seven reported.
It was not known whether the chemicals had caused the fire.
Inspector John Maricic, crime manager of Rose Bay Local Area Command, told reporters the fire was likely caused by an electrical fault.
He would not reveal whether the chemicals were explosives until forensic examinations were completed.
"(The chemicals) could be considered dangerous and hence we've evacuated the area.
"Obviously our concern to the safety of residents is of paramount importance and obviously we've put road closures in place to prevent any incidents before the examinations have been conducted."
There was no one else on the premises at the time of the fire, police said, and there were reports the man's partner was at work at the time.
The fire left one room of the fourth floor unit considerably damaged and smoke damaged surrounding units, police said.
He said that evacuated residents were being looked after.
"We're obviously feeding (the residents) and looking after their welfare and obviously as soon as we can conduct the examination of the scene, the quicker we can get the residents back in," he said.
"Hopefully today, but we've still got work to do."
One woman who lived in the unit block of the fire, who did not wish to be named, saw the blaze about 7.30am (AEST) today.
"It was a big one, there was smoke everywhere," she told AAP. "But fire brigades responded really quickly."
Still dressed in her pyjamas, she had passed the day in a local cafe and talking to other residents in the street.
She said she didn't really know the man that lived in the unit who had been hospitalised.
"I've passed him on the stairs a couple of times. I think he's been here about seven years," she said.
A male resident, who had also been evacuated and also did not wish to be named, said he didn't know what to do with himself.
"They say it could be hours yet," he said.
Source
Friday, July 18, 2008
Leafy Lane Cove shows its dark underbelly
Daniel Emerson
July 18, 2008
AFTER three stabbings, a shooting, a car bombing and a local man charged with assisting a fleeing gunman all in the space of a week, residents of Lane Cove North could be forgiven for thinking they live in the new badlands of Sydney.
Even local police agree that the affluent North Shore precinct had been "copping it" of late.
"I don't know what's happening with the drinking water here, mate, but it's a bit of a worry, isn't it?" North Shore police inspector Jeff Bell said.
"We've been copping it a bit lately. Terrible, isn't it? Probably the next Neighbourhood Watch meeting down there will be an interesting one."
The suburb, in which houses sell for an average of $845,000 and the population is 34 per cent Catholic, first hit the headlines recently when three teenagers were stabbed during a brawl at a party on Mowbray Road West on Friday night.
On Tuesday, a home-made pipe bomb exploded under a Jeep Cherokee on Walkers Drive in Lane Cove North Estate.
Another one was defused by the bomb squad.
Police are still investigating whether holes in the front of the Jeep were from shrapnel flying from the bomb, or bullets fired by an automatic weapon that left more than eight cartridges strewn in the street.
The lead investigator, Inspector Peter Yeomans, said the target of the attack was being "unco-operative" but would not comment on reports he was a former Nomad bikie now moonlighting as a strong-arm driver for a Kings Cross identity.
Yesterday police charged a 23-year-old Lane Cove North man with being an accessory after the fact to a shooting with intent to murder in Manly, concealing a serious offence and possessing drugs.
The shooting, on July 5, resulted in a security alert at the Royal North Shore Hospital where the victim was recovering, and the dramatic arrest of the alleged gunman in Martin Place.
Inspector Bell said the incidents were coincidence rather than evidence of a spike in crime in Lane Cove North. "To my knowledge the stabbing bit was certainly unrelated to the pipe-bomb thing, and the young bloke with the shooting over at Manly is just a coincidence as well, unrelated to the other two," he said.
"That's three now, isn't it? They say these things come in threes so hopefully that will be the end of it in Lane Cove for the rest of the year."
Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research figures show the number of reported assaults in Lane Cove had fallen slightly between 2003 and last year but that does not placate residents. One said the target of the car bombing was one of a number of "very beefy, bald-headed" identities who intimidated other residents at the Lane Cove North Estate townhouse complex.
"Lovely, leafy, quiet Lane Cove, hey?" she said.
Source
July 18, 2008
AFTER three stabbings, a shooting, a car bombing and a local man charged with assisting a fleeing gunman all in the space of a week, residents of Lane Cove North could be forgiven for thinking they live in the new badlands of Sydney.
Even local police agree that the affluent North Shore precinct had been "copping it" of late.
"I don't know what's happening with the drinking water here, mate, but it's a bit of a worry, isn't it?" North Shore police inspector Jeff Bell said.
"We've been copping it a bit lately. Terrible, isn't it? Probably the next Neighbourhood Watch meeting down there will be an interesting one."
The suburb, in which houses sell for an average of $845,000 and the population is 34 per cent Catholic, first hit the headlines recently when three teenagers were stabbed during a brawl at a party on Mowbray Road West on Friday night.
On Tuesday, a home-made pipe bomb exploded under a Jeep Cherokee on Walkers Drive in Lane Cove North Estate.
Another one was defused by the bomb squad.
Police are still investigating whether holes in the front of the Jeep were from shrapnel flying from the bomb, or bullets fired by an automatic weapon that left more than eight cartridges strewn in the street.
The lead investigator, Inspector Peter Yeomans, said the target of the attack was being "unco-operative" but would not comment on reports he was a former Nomad bikie now moonlighting as a strong-arm driver for a Kings Cross identity.
Yesterday police charged a 23-year-old Lane Cove North man with being an accessory after the fact to a shooting with intent to murder in Manly, concealing a serious offence and possessing drugs.
The shooting, on July 5, resulted in a security alert at the Royal North Shore Hospital where the victim was recovering, and the dramatic arrest of the alleged gunman in Martin Place.
Inspector Bell said the incidents were coincidence rather than evidence of a spike in crime in Lane Cove North. "To my knowledge the stabbing bit was certainly unrelated to the pipe-bomb thing, and the young bloke with the shooting over at Manly is just a coincidence as well, unrelated to the other two," he said.
"That's three now, isn't it? They say these things come in threes so hopefully that will be the end of it in Lane Cove for the rest of the year."
Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research figures show the number of reported assaults in Lane Cove had fallen slightly between 2003 and last year but that does not placate residents. One said the target of the car bombing was one of a number of "very beefy, bald-headed" identities who intimidated other residents at the Lane Cove North Estate townhouse complex.
"Lovely, leafy, quiet Lane Cove, hey?" she said.
Source
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)