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Govt, police 'let off the hook' Haneef inquiry

2008-12-24T09:37:00.093+11:00

Australia holds grudges against the Howard Government and corrupt police and officials. Doctor Mohamed Haneef says he will seek compensation for false imprisonment, [assault] and defamation after he was arrested on [scapegoat-propaganda] charges.

An [alleged] independent inquiry by retired NSW judge John Clarke QC has found no evidence to link Dr Haneef to the [alleged] attempted terrorist attacks in London and Glasgow which led to his arrest in July 2007.

Dr Haneef says he is satisfied by the Clarke report's findings.

"This report will go some way to restoring the reputation of me and my family," he said.

In his report, Justice Clarke said he was "mystified" by former immigration minister Kevin Andrews' decision to cancel the Indian-born doctor's visa after he was granted bail. The case against Dr Haneef later collapsed and the charges were dropped.

The inquiry found that Mr Andrews did not reflect deeply enough on his department's advice, but his decision was not politically motivated and he did not act improperly.

[Why didn't Andrews act improperly by going about denying his own departments advice? Therefore, self-explanatory that his decision was politically motivated, more likely than not, for his then boss John Howard and therefore he did act improperly. So the general public ought not be satisfied as they are told more lies and white washed about an ex-minister and totally corrupt Howard government propaganda.]

Justice Clarke also called for an independent reviewer to be appointed to oversee Australia's anti-terrorism laws, and for changes to the way the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Immigration Department operate.

The report found that the Australian Federal Police commander who led the investigation, Ramzi Jabbour, had "lost objectivity" and the senior prosecutor, Clive Porritt, gave advice that was "obviously wrong and should never have been given".

The AFP refused to say whether Commander Jabbour still worked for the force. The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions would not say whether Mr Porritt was still working, though he was effectively demoted last year.

The report also includes damaging insights into the handling of the case by two senior Howard government cabinet members, Kevin Andrews and Philip Ruddock.

The report says Mr Ruddock, the then attorney-general, failed to question the fundamental differences between the AFP's and ASIO's assessments of Dr Haneef, even though he had responsibility for both agencies - a shortcoming that "might be viewed as troubling". And it concludes the effort to oversee the affair by the Prime Minister's Department was "affected by misconceptions and miscommunication".

Dr Haneef says he does not hold resentment towards any particular person or government agency.

"I mean, whatever any wrong that has been done, definitely the Government should take a proactive role and should address them," he said.

The Federal Government says it will implement all 10 recommendations from the judicial review.

But Treasurer Wayne Swan says the Government will need time to consider the issue of compensation for Dr Haneef.

"It's too early to judge all of those matters," he said.

"The Clarke report is out there for people to comment on and make judgements about, but it's too early to be talking compensation."

Poor treatment

Dr Haneef's lawyer, Peter Russo, says the Clarke report should remove any doubt that his client was poorly treated by authorities.

"How the Australian public perceive all of this is difficult to say, but I hope that the doubters out there now know that Mohamed had done nothing wrong," he said.

The Clarke report found there was poor co-ordination between intelligence and police agencies, but Attorney-General Robert McClelland says none of the agency heads will be asked to step down.

"We don't adopt the view of life that you execute one to educate a thousand," he said.

[This was more than poor co-ordination - this was fabricated propaganda using scapegoats and supposed witches, to continue to bolster support and quell dissent in the illegal and degrading resource wars in the Middle East.

This was a corrupt government and its police agency creating their own crimes and fear-mongering based on nothing accept John Howard’s agenda. Heads should roll and one of those heads has to be Mick 'Guilty' for covering up pre-meditated state-terror and over a number of years during the John Howard corrupt government.

ASIO and the Federal Police blatantly lied to the Australian people and worse still will do it again if nothing is done about it. Why don't we adopt a view that there are bad apples who are all too willing to do a dirty governments bidding?]

Meanwhile, Queensland Health Minister Stephen Robertson says Dr Haneef would be welcome to work in the state again.

"Dr Haneef's qualifications were appropriate to his position at the Gold Coast Hospital," he said.

"If he sought to return to Queensland, there, in our view, is no barrier to him resuming his career in Queensland should he wish to apply for a position with Queensland Health."

Professor George Williams from the University of New South Wales says the report should have urged the Government to completely scrap provisions allow continuing detention.

"Instead of recommending that that be changed, that the law not actually have an unlimited period of detention, it simply says that that should be reviewed, thereby leaving it up to the Government to make its own decision and not presenting the Government with a clear mandate for change," he said.

"It needed to go further in recommending changes to the law. It needed also to deal in a better way with some of the problems in the decision to cancel Dr Haneef's visa."

The Greens says the Government has failed to hold police and intelligence agencies to account for their mishandling of the case.

Greens Senator Scott Ludlum has [said] no-one is taking responsibility for errors.

"I think it's absolutely extraordinary, given the scale of the successive bungles that were made, some obviously politically motivated and some perhaps not, I think it's really extraordinary that no-one, that at the end of the day, the buck seems to stop with no-one," he said.

The Greens say the Federal Government is risking another bungled investigation like the Haneef case unless counter-terrorism laws are overhauled immediately.

Senator Ludlum says it's extremely likely the same thing wil happen again unless changes are made.

"In Australia under Prime Minister John Howard, we passed some of the most aggresive and draconian terror laws in the world," he said.

"It's really no surprise that what happened to Dr Haneef was able to occur. And as long as all those laws are still on the books there's nothing to stop the same happening again to anybody."

Mr McClelland said the arrest and detention of Dr Haneef for longer than allowed was "totally unacceptable" and followed failings that included "errors of judgment … inadequate procedures … inadequate testing and contesting of competing advice … lack of attention identifying the role of different agencies … and lack of appropriate training and direction from the leadership of several agencies".

Updated 2009

Australia: Five men convicted of terrorist “conspiracy”

The house raids are 'fishing expeditions of suburbs'. Their objective is to find as much common handyman hardware, common internet and reading material, or anything that they can use as a conspiracy theory against a person. And to claim that material was going to be used for terrorist activity. But if police raid a whole suburb without probable cause then no doubt they could easily find such material. They don't need 'probable cause'. In other words they don't need to state what it is they're looking for prior the raid? Nor why they are raiding etc...

Quote: Any corrupt head of state, like ex-Prime Minister and War Criminal John Howard. Or Minister of any government of the crown like ex-Attorney General Philip Ruddock and ex-Immigration minister Kevin Andrews. Or Police force heads of ASIO or the AFP, officer's that bent the law for any other head of state, like the fall guy for Mick Guilty, Commander Ramzi Jabbour and fall guy for the Howard government, DPP prosecutor Clive Porritt - like corrupt war criminal John Howard - should be identified as a traitor to the Australian people and tried for their crimes.

These are all people who could have potentially covered-up, or made up tall stories and some will say did cover up for the Howard government's complicity in state terror.

The real reason for hundreds of other deaths. Deaths identified as from other causes that were (not valid reasons given because of discrepancies in the evidence that suggests other reasons about why they died) like those deaths in the Bali Bombings and the Sieve X.

So when these ministers and police are identified as having lied to the Australian people or acted improperly then they should be held to account for it and not just brushed aside like nothing happened.

How many more lies did ex-ministers and police tell the Australian people about the alleged war on terror? (war on resources in the Middle East). How many innocent people, scapegoats and witches are locked up for it now? How many more will be locked up for it later? All the Australian people want is the truth, Now!

Some History on Draconian Laws:

Draconian Scapegoat laws: Every Breath You Take?

Commonwealth ombudsman John McMillan expects there will be a need for better accountability as terrorism, [? draconian scapegoat], laws are bolstered across Australia.

Labor to back new draconian scapegoat laws?

The [alleged], federal opposition will support changes to the nation's terrorism, [? draconian scapegoat], laws, which the Government is expected to introduce to Parliament today.

Scapegoat bail laws pass NSW Parliament

New laws to make it difficult for people charged with terrorism offences, [scapegoats for the Coalition of the Killing's resource war's in the Middle East], to get bail have been whisked through the New South Wales Parliament after only being introduced earlier today.

NSW: New laws to stop bail for scapegoats

The New South Wales Attorney-General has rushed new laws into State Parliament to make it difficult for people charged with terrorism offences, [scapegoats for the Coalition of the Killing's resource war's in the Middle East], to get bail.

QLD Politician (Community Safety?) Amendment Bill 2004

QUEENSLAND crime-fighting bodies will be given formidable new powers to track and thwart terrorists. [Err...to accuse scapegoats and patsies for the Coalition of the Killing's resource war's in the Middle East], Legislation to be introduced to State.

Terror trial: criminalising speech
This self-serving drive results in injustices against the individuals targeted, but it also endangers freedoms for all of us. So far the Muslim community has been targeted but this could spread to include activist groups in the future if people are unwilling to defend their civil liberties.

State provocations, security and Socialist Alternative The failure of the protest organisation Socialist Alternative (SA) to issue any serious response to revelations that a police agent provocateur spent a considerable period of time working within their ranks provides a revealing insight into the class character of the organisation and the opportunist nature of its politics.

Hicks 'won't tell story until he recovers'
Former Guantanamo Bay prisoner David Hicks has no intention of speaking about his experience in the near future, his lawyer says.

David Hicks breaks his silence
The [framed ex-prisoner] says he is very worried that the controversial control order obtained by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) to restrict his activities may be extended.

ASIO officers should be prosecuted
The charges against Izhar Ul-Haque were withdrawn last year, after a Supreme Court judge ruled that two ASIO officers had been "grossly improper" and criminal in their interviews with the student.

Ex-CIA Officials Tied to Rendition Program and Faulty Iraq Intel Tapped to Head Obama’s Intelligence Transition Team John Brennan and Jami Miscik, both former intelligence officials under George Tenet, are leading Barack Obama’s review of intelligence agencies and helping make recommendations to the new administration. Brennan has supported warrantless wiretapping and extraordinary rendition, and Miscik was involved with the politicized intelligence alleging weapons of mass destruction in the lead-up to the war on Iraq. We speak with former CIA analyst Melvin Goodman and Michael Ratner of the Center for Constitutional Rights.

Police provocateur infiltrates political and protest groups
In a series of articles published last month, Melbourne's Age newspaper revealed that a covert police agent recently infiltrated several left-wing political and activist groups, including Socialist Alternative, Stop the War Coalition, Unity for Peace, and Animal Liberation Victoria. Beginning in 2006, the agent provocateur was involved in anti-Iraq war demonstrations—including last year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) protests in Sydney—animal liberation actions, and participated in planning meetings for a protest to be held against a weapons fair in South Australia.

There's never been a terrorist attack in Australia
Just yesterday an ATM was blown out of a wall though. Hole in wall' gang blow out ATM The damage caused when thieves blew away the brick wall of a North Ryde shopping centre to steal an ATM.

Not one shred of evidence, Haneef case
Federal police knew they had nothing to link Mohammed Haneef to terrorism, but pressed on regardless, writes David Marr.

ASIO agent watched my torture - Habib
"I had to stand for hours and hours on my toes, trying not to drown: Mamdouh Habib with his family in a Bankstown cafe, yesterday. From his left are his children Ahmed, Maryam, Moustafa and Hajer, and his wife Maha.

Thomas lawyers call for inquiry
Lawyers for Melbourne man Jack Thomas are calling for an inquiry into the conduct of the Australian Federal Police and Commonwealth Director of Prosecutions, in pursuing him on terrorism charges.

Concern over anti-terrorism laws
THE Haneef inquiry emerged briefly into daylight yesterday to hear the former chief justice Sir Gerard Brennan express concern that security laws are causing "too great an erosion of our fundamental rights".

Stand down, lawyers tell Keelty
THE Australian Federal Police Commissioner, Mick Keelty, should stand down pending the outcome of the Clarke Inquiry into the handling of the Haneef case, the Australian Lawyers Alliance said yesterday.

Legal experts to mull Haneef case
The head of the inquiry, retired Supreme Court judge John Clarke QC, says the forum will examine legislation as it applied to Dr Haneef.

Benbrika guilty on terrorism charges
A Victorian Supreme Court jury has found Abdul Nacer Benbrika guilty [Draconian Laws] of leading a terrorist group.

Jury discharged in terrorism book trial
Khazal's barrister said his client wrote just two paragraphs in the book, with most of it written by other people.

Jury finds man guilty of terrorist book charge
A Supreme Court jury has found a man guilty of one terrorism-related offence and is still considering its verdict on a second terrorism-related charge.

Judge attacks disparity in laws
Justice Kirby was at the University of NSW last night to accept an honorary Doctorate of Laws for his ''eminent service to the community''.

Suspended sentence in winery terrorist plot
A Victorian grape grower who planned to blow up a rival winery in the state's north-east has been given a suspended sentence.

Terror suspects held in 'repressive' conditions: lawyer
Lawyer Rob Stary who represented five of the men convicted of terrorism related offences said the conditions they were held in were 'repressive. He said the Government should review the anti-terror laws.

Key witness terrorism trial previously jailed
Outside the court, defence lawyer Rob Stary criticised Federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland for comments made while the trial was still underway.

'Traumatic, stressful' terrorism trial - lawyer
A lawyer for one of the men found not guilty in Australia's largest [scapegoat] terrorism trial has spoken about the effect of the long-running trial on his client and on his own life.

Haneef to seek compensation
Greens...AFP needs to properly explain the reasons why it pursued the case against Dr Haneef. MORE than a year after a terrorism charge against him was dropped and more than $8 million later, the Australian Federal Police have finally confirmed they have cleared the Indian doctor Mohamed Haneef as a suspect.

Haneef advice ignored by Andrews: lawyers
Lawyers for former Gold Coast-based Dr Mohamed Haneef say they have obtained new documents showing former immigration minister Kevin Andrews ignored advice from his own department.

Haneef's lawyer wants secret dossier released
A lawyer representing former Gold Coast-based doctor Mohamed Haneef says a secret dossier used to cancel his client's visa contained no incriminating evidence against his client.

High Court rejects appeal against Thomas retrial
The High Court has rejected an application for an appeal by Melbourne man Jack Thomas against his retrial on terrorism-related charges.

Haneef lawyers want more powers in probe
Lawyers acting for Mohamed Haneef want an inquiry investigating the failed terrorism case against him to be given the powers of a royal commission.

Haneef case evidence 'to remain secret'
The retired judge who is investigating the case of Dr Mohamed Haneef says much of the evidence he has received will have to remain secret.

AFP denied lawyer to Haneef: report
Mohamed Haneef's lawyers say the Australian Federal Police (AFP) repeatedly denied their client's request for a lawyer to be present during his first interview.

Contradictory verdicts in Australia’s largest terrorism trial
Australia’s largest and most protracted terrorist trial ended with distinctly mixed results last week in Melbourne. After a Victorian Supreme Court trial that ran for 115 days, the nine women and three men on the jury took nearly four weeks to reach their verdicts. While they found seven of the twelve defendants guilty of terrorist-related offences, they acquitted four others of all charges and were unable to reach a unanimous verdict on another, who now faces a lengthy re-trial.

Bill: Independent reviewer for terrorism laws
Two Liberal Senators have introduced a private member's bill calling for an independent reviewer of terrorism laws.

Thomas to appeal retrial order
Lawyers for Victorian man Jack Thomas will appeal to the High Court against a decision to retry him on terrorism related charges.

Court orders retrial for Jack Thomas
The Court of Appeal has ordered that Victorian man Jack Thomas must be retried on terrorism-related charges.

Court denies Lodhi leave to appeal
Lodhi claimed the trial did not establish that he had actually decided to carry out a terrorist attack.

Haneef's lawyer says inquiry is weak
The inquiry into Australian authorities' handling of the Mohamed Haneef case needs stronger powers to avoid becoming a "toothless tiger", the former terror suspect's lawyer says.

Push for overhaul of laws on terrorism
In a paper in Judicial Review he said that the National Security Information Act "gves te appearance of having been drafted by persons who have little knowledge of the function and processes of a criminal trial".

Hicks media gag order ends
As part of the deal, he was also banned from speaking to the media after his release in December 2007.

Terror trial halted over prison conditions
A Supreme Court judge has put a Melbourne terrorism trial on hold and ordered Corrections Victoria to change prison conditions of the 12 accused men.

Australia: THE MONSTER
If the MONSTER says that you're a Muslim and should be locked away and tortured for thought crimes, then you should. If the MONSTER goes fishing in your backyard and says that they found explosives to make a bomb to blow up a landmark, then that is exactly what you were doing.

Use of police infiltrators raises fresh questions about “terrorist” raids in Australia According to the report, which has been confirmed by lawyers, the infiltrator acted as a provocateur to incite and entrap the alleged leader of the group, Islamic cleric Nacer Benbrika. The officer asked Benbrika to accompany him to test explosives in late 2004. The explosives had been supplied by police, who covertly monitored the trip.

Faheem Lodhi - another non-terrorist jailed under Australia's 'anti-terror' laws? Jack Thomas, a non-terrorist, has been jailed under Australia's anti-terror laws. Now Faheem Lodhi has been convicted under the terror laws on flimsy, circumstantial evidence. It is likely he is another non-terrorist jailed for political purposes under the terror laws.

Anti-liberty laws should never be passed
Law Council president John North said the laws were flawed because they allowed people to be held without charge. "There's no amount of tinkering with those laws that can save the badness of that particular law," he said.

Neo-Liberal MP's approve fascism with minor changes!
Federal dictator john hoWARd's neo-liberal MP's have approved changes to the industrial relations system (irrational relations), new counter-terrorism laws (draconian anti-liberty-laws), and the welfare-to-work [social services] package, (sick and desperate to work orders) but these are only minor changes to the draconian laws!

At Aussie we'll raid you?
Melbourne raids for Sri Lankan Authorities? Australian Federal police have raided several Melbourne addresses while they say, they were investigating possible local links for Sri Lankan Authorities.

Scapegoat law should be made redundant
There is a good faith exception which seems to me to be a reversal of proof. In other words, the practical effect of the new legislation is that a person accused of doing any of the things in the new Criminal Code [?] bears the onus of showing he or she did not act with a seditious intent. This is repugnant to the notions of fair process. [Repugnant knowing that it was presented by war criminal John Howard as well.]

Lawyers urge open reporting of terrorism cases
Justice Marcus Einfeld of the Supreme Court 'warned' secret hearings or evidence would result in an unsavoury Guantanamo-style legal system under which there were no checks on the power of authorities.

Scapegoat to stand trial because police said: he lied?
Because police said Abdul Rakid Hasan lied to them 'twice' and now he has to prove that he didn't lie to them 'twice' by facing two charges one for each alleged lie? The man was one of eight arrested in last week's counter-terrorism raids. [Scapegoat raids to bolster support and help quell dissent for the Coalition of the Killings illegal and degrading resource wars in the Middel East.]

Prime Minister Guilty of Sedition
These proposed laws break internationally recognised treaties on human rights, overturn the fundamental principle of presumption of innocence, and seriously threaten free speech and protest.

Man shot by police in ASIO fishing raids
New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma has told Parliament the shooting is under investigation. [? by the same people who shot him? So you know what the result is don't you? Police who investigate police!]

Anti-war rally report and photos
MELBOURNE: Rob Stary, president of the Criminal Defence Lawyers Association, was one of the main speakers who attacked the anti-terrorism laws as abhorrent to Australia's liberal democratic values.

Thousands flood streets to protest draconian laws
Thousands of people protested their concerns yesterday that new draconian Anti-Terror laws were an attack on dissent, not fit for a dog and any new sedition laws would strangle freedom of speech and target innocent people.

Australian Prime Minister Plays Terror Card
The Australian government is under intense pressure to water down proposed draconian laws that include provisions whereby peaceful anti-war protesters could be jailed for 7 years under the language that they support the opposition of the Australian military.

Anti-terrorism laws inquiry calls for submissions
After lobbying from the Australian Democrats, the Government has agreed to a three-week inquiry. Democrats leader Lyn Allison is expecting a strong response from the community. "I think it's going to generate a lot of interest, I think there will be a lot of submissions," Senator Allison said. But Senator Allison doubts if her party will support the legislation.

Govt yet to show proper need for anti-terrorism laws: former judge
Professor Nicholson does not believe the Government has demonstrated a proper need for the legislation. He says some judges may refuse to sit to hear applications under the law, or may regard the legislation as unlawful.

Nazi tones in John Howard's anti-terror laws, says Malcolm Fraser
FORMER Liberal prime minister Malcolm Fraser has suggested parts of the Howard Government's anti-terror package resemble measures taken by Adolf Hitler and says Kim Beazley's handling of opposition to the package should determine his leadership.

Arbitrary Detention and Magna Carta
Perhaps some rear-view vision may help you when considering the laws now being proposed regarding arbitrary detention. It is somewhat gratifying that international treaties are belatedly being cited as reasons to oppose this slide into dictatorship, but it is odd that no-one seems to remember what underpins our personal freedom here and the whole of our legal system.

The race that doesn't stop the nation
CANBERRA: And welcome to Canberra on the first Tuesday in November for the race that doesn't stop the nation. The Anti-Terrorism Cup. The final horses are being brought into the barriers, and we are almost ready for the start. "Cross the Floor" from the Joyce stables is looking very frisky. English horse "Shoot to Kill" is playing up, with jockey T Blair struggling to keep his mare under control. Blair has had a lot of trouble in foreign races lately, with "Dossier" causing massive problems in the Middle East two years ago. She is now in, and ready to go.

Constitution: Defending Against State Terror and Despots
Australia has no major laws that are not derivatives of English Law and all of our major laws rely on British court precedents for interpretation and implementation. These laws and our Constitutional Monarchy system create a situation where, even if Howard and all State Premiers vote unanimously on the Anti-Terrorist laws, and every ALP/Dem/Lib/Nat/Green party hack also votes unanimously on their laws, and even if such laws are given Royal Assent, those laws are still void.

Preventive Detention: A Shield or A Sword?
There is a consensus among educated Australians that Preventive Detention is inimical to the democratic evolution of our country. Many are those who argue that given the standards of our time preventive detention is an unnecessary evil.

Cracks in terror solidarity
In remarks that are at odds with the Premier, Morris Iemma's determined support for the legislation, Mr Debus said yesterday: "I think I share the concern about the legislation with plenty of other people. I don't query that we need to have very tough responses to the threat of terrorism [actually though, the community do query it because the actual threat of terrorism is coming from the Government] and I don't query that the premiers have signed off on a framework last month.

ASIO laws: Don't be silenced
The secrecy surrounding the proposed national anti-``terror'' legislation stands in stark contrast to previous ASIO and "anti-terror'' laws that have been subject to scrutiny by parliamentary committees and public hearings.

Despoja: Stanhope hero of the hour
Natasha Stott Despoja has described Mr Stanhope as the "hero of the hour". Senator Despoja says there is meant to be a vote on the draft legislation in the week beginning November 7.

Stanhope stands his ground
Stanhope: It is bizarre to think legislation of this significance can be rushed into Parliament without consulting a single Australian.

Australia: Draconian laws draw rights watchdog's ire
Human Rights Watch has condemned Australia's proposed anti-terrorism laws as a "shocking departure" from its historical championing of the rights of the individual.

Australia: Rattling the cage
Recently, the federal government announced a controversial new 'counter-terrorism' package. Civil libertarians were quick to raise the spectre of a police state . Yet Muslim groups argued that the new security regime is already having an impact on the democratic freedoms and everyday safety of their communities.

Anti-terrorism laws put rights at risk: Fraser
Former prime minister Malcolm Fraser says Australians could be treated unfairly under the Government's anti-terrorism [draconian] laws unless a human rights act is introduced.

They know where you live
Twenty-four hours after the country's leaders agreed to draconian counter-terrorism laws this week, the Attorney-General, Philip Ruddock, was playing down media claims that ASIO believed there were 800 would-be suicide bombers living in Australia.

When Terrorism Outlaws Democracy
On September 27, 2005, Australian democracy surrendered to terrorism. On that day, a coalition of willing federal and state leaders agreed to anti-terrorism legislation that will enable police persecution of the Muslim community and threaten dissidents with imprisonment. In a country without a Bill of Rights, the prospect of more draconian Terror Laws delivers ultimate control through fear. Australia, with its history of penal colonies, racism and detention centers, is now set to become a police state.

Mein Kampf by John Howard
Months before Bali Au warships were seen invading Iraqi territorial waters in deliberate provocations under American protection. It was obvious that Howard had decided before Bali to join in an illegal and aggressive invasion of Iraq and in fact , when that happened, it was led by Au stormtroopers BEFORE the ultimatum given Baghdad had even run out!

Australia, USA, Iraq: Scott Parkin
The rapid and widespread response to the detention of US peace and global justice activist, Scott Parkin, has been heartening and effective on many levels. Actions have taken place in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns and outside several Australian Consulates in the United States.

COUNTER-TERRORISM LAWS STRENGTHENED?
In anticipation of the special Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting on counter-terrorism [scapegoats for resource wars in the Middle East.] to be held on 27 September, I announce a number of proposals to further strengthen Australia's counter-terrorism laws [make arrangements for the government and its agents to lock up anyone they want to in prison for any alleged reason whatsoever.] These proposals are designed to enable us to better deter, prevent, detect and prosecute acts of terrorism.

Government warned Terror Laws "inherently dangerous, draconian and open to misuse" John North, Law Council of Australia: "In times of fear, it is easy for governments to impose ever (more) draconian laws."

The Terrorism of ASIO Laws
Wanda Fish asks Australian Senators to reject Howard's proposal to strengthen laws that already erode our basic legal rights. This legislation has the potential to turn ASIO agents into terrorists who can kidnap and detain innocent Australians simply because they "might know something".

hoWARd, ruddock, ellison, keelty and news ltd plotted chaos
AUSTRALIA/CUBA: Government and corporate propaganda agencies 'believe' they have foiled an attack on the Melbourne Stock Exchange by a radical Islamic network linked to a covert group, which has carried out surveillance on key Sydney sites.

Houses raided over 'possible' political attack plans?
ASIO have raided a number of properties in Melbourne on a 'fishing expedition' in relation to a 'possible' political scare campaign by the hoWARd government, playing on the fears of all Australians... again!

Threat of terrorism overblown, says Kirby
The High Court judge Michael Kirby has urged Australia's security chiefs and judges not to exaggerate the risk of terrorism, saying that more people die of AIDS every day than were killed in the World Trade Centre in the September 11 [US false flag] attacks.

Innocent witch verballed by federal fascists!
Shame on the federal fascists. The wicked old witch is dead! A Melbourne Magistrates Court has heard that a 31-year-old innocent Victorian man was facing terrorism charges?

Lawyer blames police for Habib break-in
John HoWARd, Alexander Downer, Phillip Ruddock, Robert Hill, to name just a few....HOW DO YOU PLEAD?

NSW Prisoners' linked to Osama Bin Laden: Ten News
NSW prisoners held in a "box within a box" with "no fresh air or sunlight" at the countries terrorist jail (HRMU) or High Risk Management Unit at Goulburn Correctional Centre, (a super-max prison in NSW), are said to have followed Osama Bin Laden from their isolated cells.

AFP: The unlikely CRIMINAL
It was born of a bombing and it made its name after a far more devastating act of terrorism. But for most of the 25 years in between, little was known about the Australian Federal Police force or the work it did.

BREAK AND ENTER: NSW POLICE
Police will be able to break into your home without your knowledge and no less than a common criminal not tell their victims that they are doing it.

ASIO, AFP, NSW POLICE, HRMU: THREAT!
COMMUNITY URGED TO RAISE THEIR THREAT LEVELS TO HIGH ALERT! ASIO, AFP, NSW POLICE, HRMU: TERROR CELLS LINKED! LET YOU BE THE JUDGE!

PM, Carr attacked as judge pulls plug
In November 2002, as chairman of the International Commission of Jurists, he told a Senate inquiry "it is patently clear" that proposed anti-terrorism legislation "is aimed at Muslims". His submission said the new laws would be "subverting [liberty] more effectively than terrorism could ever do".

He was an undercover agent for the blues
He was my journalist, he was working undercover. The fellow knew all of the moves.... He really had me romping, bare footing stomping. He just kept igniting my fuse....

Draconian Scapegoat laws: Every Breath You Take?
Commonwealth ombudsman John McMillan expects there will be a need for better accountability as terrorism, [? draconian scapegoat], laws are bolstered across Australia.

Up there Khazal: Innocent man new bail laws
The New South Wales Supreme Court has asked innocent man Belal Khazal to increase to amount of surety offered, before the bail is formally continued.

Labor to back new draconian scapegoat laws?
The [alleged], federal opposition will support changes to the nation's terrorism, [? draconian scapegoat], laws, which the Government is expected to introduce to Parliament today.

Scapegoat bail laws pass NSW Parliament
New laws to make it difficult for people charged with terrorism offences, [scapegoats for the Coalition of the Killing's resource war's in the Middle East], to get bail have been whisked through the New South Wales Parliament after only being introduced earlier today.

Hatzsistergos defends speedy draconian laws
The New South Wales Government has been accused of "ramming" through a bill designed to make it much tougher for people to get bail if they are accused of terrorism-related offences, [scapegoats for the Coalition of the Killing's resource war's in the Middle East.]

Moroney moves to appeal Khazal bail decision
The federal government created the draconian laws, based on their resource war's in the Middle East and numerous, call to arms, false flag operations around the world. Then the government fear-mongered the general public about it, by using their media power, and then the federal government came up with their own solutions, about how to fix the problems, they themselves have created, for their own reasons. Now we have reduced, oversight, standards at law and reduced rules of evidence etc. Now Moroney wants to take away bail which proves the obvious.

New laws to stop bail for scapegoats
The New South Wales Attorney-General has rushed new laws into State Parliament to make it difficult for people charged with terrorism offences, [scapegoats for the Coalition of the Killing's resource war's in the Middle East], to get bail.

What's the Rush? Non Parole period for scapegoats
[Problem, Reaction, Solution. Firstly, the ASIO provocateur creates the problem, (approaches Jack Roche and asks...Can you take pictures of the Israel Embassy?) then (Roach thinks he's found a friend that also hates Israel) and then (ASIO set him up as the patsie), and then the Government gets a response from the corporate media and the general public about what to do about it. Then Ruddock finds the solution.]

Khazal: A stitch in time saves nine?
Lakemba man Belal Khazal, 34, was granted bail yesterday after appearing in Sydney's Central Local Court charged with activities related to terrorism. [Another Scapegoat for the Coalition of the Killing's resource war's in the Middle East.]

Channel Nine judge finds Saleh Jamal Guilty?
Why would a man carry out a shooting attack on a police station in Sydney's south-western suburbs? Because police wouldn't give him a licence? Because police owed him money?

UNDERWORLD IN AUSTRALIA: JACK ROCHE
If Roche wasn't "attention seeking" then he was bowled over and used by John Howard to promote his war on terror, and his addiction to promoting Abu Bakar Bashir as the ringleader of some fictional group called (JI) made up by the CIA.

Ruddock moves to give police access to emails
Police could get access to stored voicemails; emails and SMS messages under a Bill introduced to federal Parliament today. [War criminal], Attorney-General Philip Ruddock says police have had trouble getting access to stored messages because of the laws preventing them intercepting phone calls.

Australia: Innocent man granted bail
Innocent man Izhar Ul Haque was granted bail today by the NSW Supreme Court. Justice Peter Hidden granted the 21-year-old Sydney medical student $200,000 bail.

HEY! BIG BROTHER? LET INNOCENT PEOPLE GO!
Young men terrorised, tortured, and threatened with charges for no crime by Australia mate the lucky country. Lucky if you're not used for Howard's FEDERAL ELECTION and George Dubya's WAR ON LIBERTY! Who shot liberty? IGNORANCE!

Ul-Haque 'the man who wants to become a doctor'
The taskforce is investigating French man Willie Brigitte, who was tipped back home for a visa breach. Allegedly the Un-Australian Newspaper claimed he also attended training camps before his six-month stay in Sydney. Police have not alleged Mr Ul-Haque knew Brigitte. The Un-Australian just mentioned it because they are 'you guessed it' up John Howard's butt and they like the USA want 'you guessed it' our Federal Government. Well Yankee go home!

Protest Against the Incarceration of Izhar Ul Haque
Izhar is one of the new victims of Australia's draconian civil liberties deprivation laws. He has been accused of visiting a group that was not proscribed until ten months after Izhar's alleged visit.

Terror force has chip on its shoulder?
Ron Woodham the prisons bum boy commissioner creates the problem (Noble Cause Corruption for Bob Carr) by framing a prisoner, then seeks a reaction from the community for the false flag operation, then finds the solution that the government wanted to implement in the first place.

QLD Politician (Community Safety?) Amendment Bill 2004
QUEENSLAND crime-fighting bodies will be given formidable new powers to track and thwart terrorists. [Err...to accuse scapegoats and patsies for the Coalition of the Killing's resource war's in the Middle East], Legislation to be introduced to State.

Govt rejects ul-Haque's family 'political scapegoat' claims
The Federal Government has rejected as unfounded, claims that it is making a political scapegoat out of a Sydney man arrested on terrorism charges. [Scapegoat for the Coalition of the Killing's resource war's in the Middle East.]

Dictatorship under the crimes Act?
[War criminal], Attorney General Phillip Ruddock said yesterday under the Crimes Act Izhar Ul Haque committed a crime. But the real crime was preventing a 21-year-old young man decide for himself what is wrong and what is right. What a disgrace! Under the heading, further education.

Brain injury for suspicion 'inhumane'
Faheem Khalid Lodhi refused bail by a Sydney court and remanded until June in hell at the (HARM-U) High Risk Management Unit at Goulburn. While he is in there he will receive a brain injury and is likely to self-harm due to the gross violation of living standards.

Keelty foresees more terrorism
Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Mick Keelty says terrorist groups will continue to find new ways to threaten countries.

Daily Terror rolled-over for Howard's war games
The DAILY TERROR is suspected of being the source of the news this morning that Willie Brigitte is a terrorist and that Sydney faces a bomb attack.

Should Howard be detained indefinitely?
Australian mock, convicted terrorist and, [war criminal], John Howard is seriously considering appealing the precise time limit on detaining terrorist suspects,[scapegoats for the Coalition of the Killing's resource war's in the Middle East.]

Counter-terrorism-fear-mongering, propaganda exercise to test several states For the first time, Australia is about to test its ability to respond to terrorism threats and acts, [fear-mongering, propaganda for the Coalition of the Killing's resource wars in the Middle East], in several states simultaneously.

HoWARd, where's your head at?
Australians is living on the edge! Seems each time the bombs go off overseas for the Coalition of the Killing's resource war's in the Middle East Australians are living on the edge.

Australia: National Insecurity Anthem
Australians all let us give voice. For we are free no more. We've lost the right to liberty. In Uncle Howard's war. From high school kids. To journalists. You'll be in custody. If someone you know, give ASIO. A little insecurity.

Howard gov't and media talks up terror
First it was the Lucas Height nuclear reactor Willie Brigitte was alleged to have been planing to blow up. ASIO alleged to have found some type of map as evidence late last year.

Australian corporate media? Brigitte allegations?
A plot to attack the Lucas Heights Nuclear Reactor and blow up the Daily Telegraph Newspaper building is alleged to have been the reason Willie Brigitte was deported back to France. Believe it or not?

Brigitte release 'imminent for lack of evidence': lawyer
Lawyers for deported terror suspect, [scapgoat for the Coalition of the Killings resource war in the Middle East], Willie Brigitte expect he may be released shortly by French authorities due to a lack of evidence.

Did 'Jihad Jack' train at GI boot camp?
Parody: Jack Thomas, the Melbourne man allegedly linked to, [US demon], al-Qa'ida, [keywords: links, plots, cells, training camps, boot camps, terrorists, jihad, al-Qa'ida], through a friend of a friend of a friend, who had known about al-Qa'ida being investigated by police.

Man on first terror charge not first alleged terrorist
Zak Mallah of Condell Park was arrested overnight when federal and NSW police slipped on a banana skin into a western Sydney reserve and then raided his home.

Big Bang Theory, ASIO
The most significant threat to Australia is Prime Minister John Howard. Howard has lied to the Australian people constantly. Slaughtered the international rule of law by preventive strikes on Iraq, rigorously changed laws to deter asylum seekers, locked up children of asylum seekers, and undermined the political process by jailing Pauline Hanson, political prisoner of the year.

Sydney man terrorised by the NSW Police Force
Senior New South Wales police say s charges have been laid against a man in Sydney. Police say a 20-year-old has been charged with committing an action in preparation for a terrorist attack.

ASIO bill expected to pass Senate
The war criminal, Federal Attorney-General has defended proposed new ASIO, [an Australian terrorist organisation], powers which would limit the media's ability to report on terrorist investigations, [scapegoat investigations.]

Australian Corruption: Absence in Absentia
Two Sydney brothers illegally sentenced in Lebanon to 10 years' hard labour could cancel extradition, despite the fascist dictator John Howard declaring Australia is ready to extradite them.

Lawyer said Govt made Brigitte a scapegoat
Lawyer, Phillipe Valent: "The story of Mr Brigitte will help the Government to try to pass a new law."

Daily Telegraph: Wife had a key role in war
[Allegedly], Mr Willie Brigitte's wife was being trained by the army to fight the Resource Wars, in the Middle East and the War on Liberty here at home.

ASIO: No responsibility!
Blick: "Because these searches are carried out with the cooperation of police forces, both AFP [Australian Federal Police] and state police, it's not always entirely clear which members of the team ... are those supposed to have done the things which people complain about," he said.

Australian fascist laws ready as scapegoat talks
ASIO [state terrorists], could use its special draconian powers for the first time in coming days as security forces [state terrorists] step up their investigation of French terror suspect [scapegoat], Willie Brigitte.

Fascist wants more power for ASIO
[War criminal] Federal Attorney-General Philip Ruddock wants to strengthen Australia's terrorism laws, [scapegoat laws], to make it easier for the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) [state terrorists] to hold and question suspects [scapegoats and patsies], without any evidence for three years and ban organisations.

NSW Terrorist Minister leads the way
New South Wales is hosting a two-day conference of state and territory prisons ministers on how to detain terrorists [scapegoats for the Coalition of the Killing's resource war's in the Middle East.]

Child detainees 'living in a nightmare', report finds
A report being released today documents disturbing evidence about mental health for children in detention centres. The report is a joint work by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, NSW University and NSW psychiatrists.

Gulag bill: ASIO set to ignite blazing debate
The Howard Government's controversial ASIO legislation [draconian laws] has top billing in the list of legislation to be debated when Parliament resumes today.The bill, due to be introduced into the Senate, gives ASIO officers [Noble Cause Corruption officers] new powers to detain for a week citizens aged 14 and over [child abuse and draconian laws.]

No need for new terrorism laws: DPP
The New South Wales Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has rejected the idea of new laws against terrorism in Australia.

Australia: Terrorising you in secret
Suspected terrorists [scapegoats and patsies for the Coalition of the Killing's resource wars in the Middle East] will be tried in secret under new laws to be introduced by the Federal Government.

When real safety is jeopardised in NSW
Perception of crime is still a problem in NSW, with a new Productivity Commission report showing the state's citizens feel less safe than most of their counterparts.

Midnight Special
Well, I know her by her apron and the dress she wore.
Umbrella on her shoulder, a piece of paper in her hand.
She gonna tell old Rotten Ron Woodham she want back her man.

2nd Renaissance -10 The War on Witches [150]
In 1484, Pope Innocent VIII issued a Papal Bull that became the rationale for establishing the Inquisition in Germany. The following excerpt from the Bull sets out the official view of the danger of witches to the community. The Bull and this this passage provided the sole excuse for the torture and cruel executions that were, ultimately, to be the fate of up to fifty percent of the population of some villages.

AUSTRALIA 2002: POLICE STATE LOOMING
As we go to press (December 2002), both the Federal parliament and the NSW parliament are debating legislation that would give police and ASIO agents greater powers of search, interrogation and detention, and significantly erode the fundamental rights of citizens. In both cases, of course, the alleged purpose of the bills is to combat terrorism.

Special powers? Or political grandstanding?
In NSW, great slews of legislation over the past year have increased powers for everything from police to sniffer pups and train guards and vastly reduced the rights of individuals to engage in civil disobedience, freedom of expression and communication with each other.

Give peace a chance
Dowd has condemned the State and Federal Governments' anti-terrorism measures, claiming they erode rights and give encouragement to oppressive regimes.

Bills, Bills and more Bills NSW Parliament deep in debt
NSW Parliament is unjustifiable creating intellectual debt, Academics, politicians, judges, lawyers and volunteers.

It is an absolute disgrace to: Undermine civil and democratic rights The event, hosted by a State MP Lee Rhiannon just a week before the meeting of the World Trade Organisation in Sydney, has enraged Police Minister Michael Costa, who said using the House for the event was appalling. Upper House Greens MP Lee Rhiannon is hosting the forum for about 60 people in State Parliament's Jubilee Room on November 8.

The scavengers of terror
The NSW Government is to introduce increased police powers bill. Legislation giving New South Wales police special powers to deal with an emergency terrorist situation [emergency scapegoat situation] will be introduced into the New South Wales Parliament today.

Greens more of a human touch
What is a real job? Writes Political Reporter Malcolm Farr Daily Tele Article 11 Nov 2002. "It would start if candidates had a CV of real jobs, such as medicine (Senator Brown), or even zoo keeping (NSW Upper House Green Lee Rhiannon ). Which leaves the type of candidate summed up by Kerry Nettle, who was elected a NSW senator at the poll a year ago.

Hairdresser jailed for people trafficking

2008-12-23T19:23:00.003+11:00

A 48-year-old Gold Coast hairdresser has been handed a five-year sentence in the District Court in Brisbane for people trafficking.

Keith William Dobie pleaded guilty to luring two Thai women to work as prostitutes in Australia.

The court heard the women were aware of the nature of the work, but were deceived about the hours they would work and were not paid the full amount they were promised.

Judge Leanne Clare said Dobie's crime and treatment of the women was calculated, protracted and callous.

She said he showed no sense of remorse and ordered he serve a non-parole period of 22 months.

Dobie was also found guilty on charges of providing false documents and dealing with proceeds of a crime.

Police believe Dobie is the first person to be sentenced with such a crime in Australia.

Police officer kills himself at station

2008-12-23T11:30:00.001+11:00

The shooting death of a police officer at a West Australian police station was a tragic event in the lead-up to Christmas, WA Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan says.

Police said the 36-year-old police sergeant from Collie, south of Perth, shot himself with a police issue firearm in the station's armoury room on Monday.

The officer left behind a wife and four young children and they and his fellow officers were being offered counselling, a police spokesman said.

WA Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan said local officers were shocked.

"This has affected all of the police officers and their families," he [said.]

"It's a very tragic situation that's occurred at a difficult time of the year when we're moving up to Christmas."

The officer joined the force in 1993 and had been stationed in Collie for 12 months, a spokesman said.

An internal police unit was investigating the death but it was not being treated as suspicious.

Hicks 'won't tell story until he recovers'

2008-12-22T04:44:00.001+11:00

Former Guantanamo Bay prisoner David Hicks has no intention of speaking about his experience in the near future, his lawyer says.

Mr Hicks is now free to tell his story after a Federal Police control order expired on the weekend.

But lawyer David McLeod says his client will not speak publicly until he recovers physically and mentally from his time at Guantanamo Bay.

"Those that have just been released have been discussing it as hell on Earth and things like that," he said.

"It's very much the case that it's been a very traumatic experience for him and irrespective of what led him there, the fact is that it's taking a long time for him to recover."

Mr McLeod says Mr Hicks needs to focus on positive goals for the future.

"Someone who's been locked up for a long period of time and very close quarters, then being subjected to an intrusive control order regime hasn't given him the positive outcome that he was hoping for," he said.

"It's hoped that he will now be able to focus on positive goals rather than the negative surroundings that he's been subjected to."

Related:

David Hicks breaks his silence
The [framed ex-prisoner] says he is very worried that the controversial control order obtained by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) to restrict his activities may be extended.

Judge to keep mentally ill man in jail

2008-12-22T04:20:00.002+11:00

A mentally ill man has been jailed for another 12 months because the Northern Territory's top judge says there is no where else for him to go.

Christopher Leo, 28, has already spent 16 months in Alice Springs prison for the aggravated assault of a woman in August last year.

He was found unfit to stand trial but was found guilty in a special jury hearing last December.

Chief Justice Brian Martin says he had no choice but to keep Leo behind bars for another 12 months, as there was no support or housing facilities in the Territory to make him safe outside of prison.

But Leo's lawyer told the court jail had been very detrimental for him.

He says Leo tried to harm himself with a broom stick in January this year, and more jail time would hamper his ability to go back into society.

Justice Martin says it is "utterly unacceptable" there is no support or housing facilities for mentally ill people who commit minor offences, other than jail.

He says it is not good enough that the Territory has not been able to provide any accommodation or resources for the mentally ill, and this should not be so in a civilised society.

He says work to build resources and facilities for mentally ill people who commit minor offences needs to be in the pipeline by next year.

The judge says by the time the review is held in July, he expects resources and support will be available so Leo can be released into the community.

But he says even if building work on facilities started straight away, they will not be finished in time.

He ordered a transcript of today's Supreme Court proceedings to be sent to the Health Department, Department of Corrections and Director of Public Prosecutions.

The Territory Government says a housing plan which will address the lack of mental health facilitates will be released next year.

Housing Minister Rob Knight admits more needs to be done.

"A lot of people who are homeless have mental illness and need specific supported accommodation with specialised providers," he said.

"I guess we acknowledge there is an issue and there is a need there and while there are some services being provided, there is more services that need to be provided in the future."

A Territory lawyer says Leo is part of a growing list of people not receiving proper support.

Central Australian Aboriginal Legal Aid lawyer Mark O'Reilly says Leo has had a tough time over the past 16 months in maximum security at Alice Springs jail.

He told the Supreme Court today Leo is in a hopeless situation and the jail only has one officer to support all of its mentally ill inmates, including three men serving life imprisonment.

He says arrangements should have been made to put Leo into a suitable interstate facility in the time he had been jailed.

Man jailed over faulty gun shootings

2008-12-22T02:28:00.002+11:00

A man who tried to murder two people has been sentenced to 14 years in jail.

The Supreme Court in Adelaide heard that Kire Ackoski, of Royal Park, shot at his former girlfriend and her partner at almost point-blank range in November last year.

Justice Trish Kelly said Ackoski, 26, would likely have killed one or both of his intended victims if the gun had not been faulty.

Ackoski was sentenced to a non-parole term of nine years.

Police defend shooting knife-wielding woman

2008-12-21T19:10:00.002+11:00

New South Wales police are defending the actions of a female officer who shot a woman in Sydney's west overnight.

Police were called to North Parramatta just after 1.30am after reports of a woman threatening a man with a knife.

It is alleged the 48-year-old woman lunged at the female police officer, who then fired several shots.

The woman was taken to Westmead Hospital, where she remains in a serious but stable condition.

A 23-year-old male was also taken to the hospital and treated for a neck laceration sustained in the initial confrontation with the woman.

Acting Police Assistant Commissioner Karen Webb said attempts to subdue the woman with capsicum spray failed.

"Upon arrival the woman allegedly threatened police with a knife, refusing to surrender the weapon," she said.

"Capsicum spray was used in an attempt to subdue her.

"The female continued in a threatening manner, lunging towards police and officers discharged a number of a firearms."

A critical incident investigation team is now examining the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

Fatal police chase 'foolish, horrifying'

2008-12-19T04:41:00.005+11:00

Police officers were responsible for the death of a woman who was thrown from a car during a high-speed pursuit, a court has found.

Vanessa Louise Hardy, 24, was killed when the car in which she was a passenger flipped and crashed while being chased by police on a dirt road in Brewarrina, in the state's north-west, in October 2003.

The State Coroner, Mary Jerram, said yesterday that it was horrifying that police were still unclear of protocols when it came to high-speed pursuits.

She recommended that all police undergo further training in safe driving to clarify their responsibilities in police pursuits.

The driver of the car, Joseph Shillingsworth, had been drinking heavily that night and was driving unlicensed in an unregistered car, with warrants for his arrest.

Police gave chase after he failed to stop for a random breath test. Shillingsworth's Holden Commodore reached 100kmh during the pursuit.

Ms Jerram said the police chase should not have taken place, because Shillingsworth had not been speeding when he evaded the roadside test and his car would have been traceable the next day in the small town.

"The actions of police … were lacking in common sense, foolish and without basis in terms of preventing a serious crime," she said. "Ultimately, those actions contributed to causing a fatality."

As the Commodore passed a second police car, which had been positioned on the side of the road, Shillingsworth lost control of the vehicle, which rolled, throwing Ms Hardy, who was not wearing a seatbelt, through the rear window.

"Conditions were anything but ideal. It was a pitch-black night, there was a lot of wildlife about, Mr Shillingsworth was highly intoxicated and his car was throwing up a great deal of dust on the sparsely gravelled road," Ms Jerram said. "To follow a car in those conditions put not only Mr Shillingsworth and his passengers at risk, but also the pursuing officer and the police in the waiting car."

During the inquest police officers gave conflicting accounts of the pursuit, including the speeds at which they were travelling and whether warning lights and sirens had been used. They were unsure whether the local command had a "no pursuits" policy.

Ms Jerram recommended all police be made aware of changes to pursuit policies in their area.

Quote: Catch and kill has its origin back in the cave man days when people had to catch and kill their meals. The adrenalin rush takes over these days and that’s what police are doing when they pursue people on the road. Give up the adrenalin rush. Give up the chase and stay safe.

Related:

Two killed after police pursuit
Two women are dead and a man earlier pursued by police critically injured following a head-on crash in Sydney's west.

Police pursuit: car smashes into truck
Two people have been taken to hospital with neck injuries after a high-speed police pursuit in Port Macquarie on the mid-north coast today.

Most speeding officers on urgent duty?
New South Wales police are playing down figures from the Office of State Revenue which show 1325 police officers have been caught speeding on speed cameras.

NSW bill for sick police tops $115m
Ten times as many NSW police officers retire on medical grounds than their Victorian colleagues, gaining access to benefits costing taxpayers over $115 million this year.

Charge officers over falsified breath tests: PIC
Three police officers should be charged with perverting the course of justice after allegedly falsifying alcohol breath tests to help two well-connected suspects escape prosecution, the Police Integrity Commission recommends.

Record level of complaints against NSW police
The number of complaints against NSW police has grown to a record level of more than 1000, new data reveals.

Police on sexual act, report finds
A WOMAN escaped a drink-driving charge after two male police officers turned a blind eye to her breath test results when she agreed to perform a sexual act on one of them in the back of her car, the annual NSW Ombudsman report reveals.

Over 130 police have criminal convictions
New South Wales Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione has defended his force, as new figures show 133 serving officers have criminal convictions.

REOPEN THE TJ ENQUIRY!
TJ died 4 years ago. His bike was rammed by a Redfern police vehicle, driven by then, Constable Michael Hollingsworth. As a result, he was impaled on the metal spiked fence.

Family murders under review?

2008-12-19T03:59:00.013+11:00

ALL domestic violence homicides that occurred over the past five years are set to be reviewed by a new body announced by the NSW Government.

Just days after another violent husband chose to murder his wife then kill himself rather than let her leave the relationship - bringing the death toll from domestic murders in the state for the past 18 months to at least 30 - the Government abandoned its long-held resistance to a homicide review.

"We've decided to bring forward a detailed examination of domestic violence-related homicide as a matter of urgency," said the Minister for Women, Verity Firth.

[As long as it includes all domestic violence-related homicide? That means the Government itself (Military) (Police) (Prisons) and Men, Women, Youth and Children?]

The review will examine the 108 deaths that occurred over the past five years, identify common risk factors, any gaps in the treatment of victims and recommend any changes to practices and procedures that would contribute to a reduction in domestic homicides, she said.

"Ultimately what this is all about is changing the way we do things, if there is a systemic problem, if there are risk factors we can identify, if there are gaps in services - this process will also help us inform the Government's consideration about having an ongoing, formal, domestic homicide review process," Ms Firth said.

The announcement follows the allegations by the Sydney Morning Herald that domestic violence homicides make up the majority of murders committed each year and that deaths in NSW remained unacceptably high - at least 184 over the past eight years.

It also [allegedly] revealed a system unable to protect women and children from violent men, of apprehended violence orders not enforced and danger signs that were ignored. [But revealed nothing about whether the same system could be unable to protect Men, Women, Youth and Children holistically, from violent Governments, Military, Police, Prisons, Men, Women, Youth, of apprehended violence orders not enforce and danger signs that were ignored? Or was it just the way the article was worded by SMH?]

[More women perpetrating domestic violence: statistics

In the 12 months to September 2003 police recorded 4918 women as persons of interest for perpetrating domestic violence. By 2006-07 that had risen to 6056, figures from the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research show.

Of the women arrested for domestic violence-related assault in the five years to last September only 32 per cent of the cases reached court, compared with 56 per cent of cases involving men, statistics show.

The bureau's director, Don Weatherburn, said the increase was likely to have been driven by more than one factor. Others could include an increase in binge drinking, or more men who were willing to admit they are victims.

"It's possible that people are becoming less tolerant of violence by females than they used to be," he said. More women are also being arrested for assault not related to domestic violence, which some attribute to a rise in alcohol abuse. Others say women can be as violent as men, and that in more than half of violent partnerships partners struck each other.]

The director of the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, Don Weatherburn, will head the expert advisory group, while other panel members will include Betty Green, the co-ordinator of the NSW Domestic Violence Coalition, and the chairwoman of the Premier's Council on the Prevention of Violence Against Women, Lesley Laing, as well as representatives of NSW Police and the departments of the Attorney-General, Heath and Community Services.

"Considering the proportion of homicides each year that are domestic it is well worth doing - we pay far more attention to stranger homicides than domestic even though domestic homicide is far more of a problem," Dr Weatherburn said.

Ms Green described its establishment as "the beginning of a long overdue process".

"I am pleased that we are moving towards a domestic violence homicide review and I believe it is certainly the right thing to do."

Ms Green said the death of Melissa Cook this week, shot dead by her estranged husband John Kudrytch, raised serious questions about whether police and other services were responding appropriately to warning signs that indicate a woman's life may be in danger.

"It is much broader than questions over how a man with an apprehended violence order had a gun - she was in the process of separating from him, he had threatened to harm her, there had been attempted strangulation, he had threatened to kill himself; these are all indicators that there was a lethal risk here."

Ms Green didn't say anything about Psychic spirit sex murder accomplice jailed or On a dusty morning, our tiny Lake Angel finds peace or even Teens who killed taxi driver jailed and what about Payouts for families of abused soldiers then perhaps she could look at The day police just went too far Then how about say, Girls gone wild Then what about say, Court overcrowding 'inviting violence' It just depends on the old memory stick and how you want some articles to come across? AFGHANISTAN: End the slaughter Or say, Soldier killed during Rudd's surprise visit or even, Ministerial Cover Up at LB Prison Hospital. How about Young at risk of homicide.

Last but not least people should look here for the reason the Sydney Morning Herald wants to condemn only men and violence, Zionists are a power group in Australia, particularly listings, 2). 6). 11). 12).

Updated: Mon 8:27am (AEDT)

Critical incident – North Parramatta

Sunday, 21 Dec 2008 05:32am

A critical incident investigation team has been formed following a shooting incident at North Parramatta.

About 1:30am police attended Iron Street following reports a female had threatened a male with a knife.

Upon arrival the woman allegedly threatened police with the knife.

Capsicum spray was used in an attempt to subdue her.

The female continued to threaten police and a female officer discharged a number of gunshots.

A 48-year-old woman sustained serious injury and has been taken to Westmead Hospital where she is undergoing surgery.

A 23-year-old male is being treated for a laceration to the neck.

A critical incident investigation team comprising officers from the Gladesville Local Area Command is investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Quote: So there is more to this story than meets the eye? If the government is serious about preventing violence or domestic violence then the government has to lead by some form of example - and if anyone looks into the links posted here then one can see holistically (at the root the cause of domestic violence in the community) that this problem of domestic violence has to include the Military, Police, Prisons from the Top Down and then the Community including women as a well as men and youths.

If it were as simple as 'lets just hit all the men over the head' and that'll fix the problem then that would be too easy and it wouldn't work. Because men per se are not the only perpetrators of violence in the community. Then we have the influence of TV murder and killing on every channel. Why is that? So when some person feels revengeful they have been well programed about what they can do 'subliminally' because they seen it on TV. Now we have women and girls boxing? Sport also teaches violence. There ought to be no violence taught or perpetuated in sport.

Yes we do have a violence epidemic in Australia with many root causes that have to be taken into account (altogether) to prevent that violence but if you take the SMH view that it is only men then the problem will continue to perpetuate, the community will continue to be divided, and families continually being broken down. Once a family is divided then they are easily able to be manipulated by 'big brother' and I think behind it all... that is what some evil people want? Always a scapegoat, always a victim and a victim industry - for leeches to suck your blood money. Don't let them do it, violence can be prevented as long as people decide to lead by example and spell out the real causes and dangers.

Related:

Police defend shooting knife-wielding woman
Police were called to North Parramatta just after 1.30am after reports of a woman threatening a man with a knife.

Gun laws fail safety test: Greens
THE latest domestic violence murder-suicide in Sydney should cause the Premier, Nathan Rees, to change gun laws immediately so that women [people] at risk from their estranged partners are better protected, the Greens MP Lee Rhiannon said.

Husband killer gets four years jail
Guilty of manslaughter ... Danielle Stewart has been sentenced to at least four years in jail for stabbing her husband Chaim Kimel to death.

Anti-violence plan for children
A Federal Government agency is developing a plan for anti-violence education programs for children.

Bligh won't budge on smacking code
The Queensland Government says it will not change a controversial section of the criminal code that allows "reasonable force" to be used when disciplining children.

Police arrest a father over access dispute?
In a media report yesterday the ABC reported (see article below), that the police arrested a man over the abduction of children. But were these his children?

Domestic murders hit 10-year high
But when we write our article then we may need to leave out say, the statistics in relation to women who commit 'domestic murders'? That's if we are going to succeed changing public opinon that it's only the men. Another fact is that women don't commit domestic murders? Of course this is just a guess?

Kiddy criminals, 8, let off with warnings
ONE murder last year by a 10-year-old, although details of the crime are not available.

Mayor seeks 'truth' over Mulrunji death
The Mayor of Palm Island, off north Queensland, says there are still too many unanswered questions about the 2004 death in custody of Mulrunji Doomadgee and the events that followed his death.

Torched man's killers get 24 years
Two people have each been sentenced to a minimum of 24 years in jail for burning a man to death in a hotel car park in Adelaide.

Psychiatric care for woman who killed
A Sydney woman charged with the stabbing murder of her father and sister has been found not guilty by reason of mental illness.

Lindstrom's murder plot sentence extended Swedish model
Charlotte Lindstrom's jail sentence for plotting the murder of two witnesses in a drug trial has been extended by at least another year.

Mother sentenced over her children's murders
A Victorian woman convicted of murdering her two sons has been sentenced to 24 years in a psychiatric hospital.

Psychic spirit sex murder accomplice jailed
A woman who helped her de facto husband after he murdered her best friend will spend at least 18 months in jail.

Woman jailed for 24 years for murdering teenage friend
Two Perth women have been sentenced to strict security life imprisonment, with a 24-year minimum, for what a judge has described as the evil and sexually perverse murder of a teenage girl.

Mother who threw baby convicted of manslaughter
A young mother has been found not guilty of murdering her baby daughter, despite admitting she caused the infant's fatal injuries.

On a dusty morning, our tiny Lake Angel finds peace
Two-year-old Dean James Shillingsworth was laid to rest in his father's home town of Brewarrina yesterday, a fortnight after his body was found dumped in a Sydney lake.

Mother found guilty of daughter's murder
A woman has broken down in the South Australian Supreme Court as a jury unanimously found her guilty of murdering her young daughter.

Teens to serve 15 years for 'gruesome' murder of friend
Two teenage girls have been sentenced to life imprisonment in Western Australia for murdering their 15-year-old friend who they then buried in a shallow grave in the south-west town of Collie.

Teens who killed taxi driver jailed
Two teenage girls who killed a taxi driver in western Sydney in January last year, have been jailed for at least three-and-a-half years.

Lawyers struggle to explain teenage murder motives
Lawyers for two teenagers have told the Perth Children's Court experts have been unable to determine why the girls turned into murderers.

Payouts for families of abused soldiers
The families of four young soldiers [diggers] who took their lives after suffering abuse in the army hope that government compensation is a step toward changing Australia's military justice system.

Day police just went too far
A man who challenged the right of police to remain in his home - only to be sprayed with capsicum spray, handcuffed and locked in a cell wearing only boxer shorts - has won his case in the High Court.

Girls gone wild
Women are drinking more and behaving more aggressively. Sonia Harford asks why. Not long ago, the women in Victorian prisons were there largely because of drug or property-related crimes. But that picture is slowly changing, with a rising number of women being convicted for assault and other violent crimes. Police statistics show that the rate of women arrested for crimes against the person - including homicide, rape, sexual assault, robbery and assault - increased from 2005 to 2007.

Court overcrowding 'inviting violence'
The Federal Government has been told that overcrowding at Newcastle Family Court is creating a volatile situation that invites acts of violence.

AFGHANISTAN: End the slaughter
An Afghan woman who lost family members weeps after air strikes on Friday in Azizabad district of Shindand August 23, 2008. An UN investigation suggested that 60 children were killed in the airstrike. Australian troops are not restoring peace in Afghanistan but working for oil company profits, amongst other things.

AFGHANISTAN: End the slaughter
On 22 August, 95 civilians were killed by NATO forces, 60 among them
were children. Yesterday 1 September another 70 civilians suffered the
same fate.

Casualties in Afghanistan:
Afghan troops killed: 8,587 Afghan troops seriously injured: 25,761
Afghan civilians killed: 3,485 Afghan civilians seriously injured:
6,273 U.S. troops killed: 534 U.S. troops seriously injured: 1,602
Other coalition troops killed: 402 Other coalition troops seriously
injured: 1,206 Contractors killed: 75 Contractors seriously injured:
2,428 Journalists killed: 6 Journalists seriously injured: unknown
Total killed in Afghanistan: 13,089 Total injured in Afghanistan: 37,270

Casualties in Iraq:
Iraqi troops killed: 30,000 Iraqi troops seriously injured: 90,000
Iraqi civilians killed: 658,227 Iraqi civilians seriously injured:
1,184,809 U.S. troops killed: 4,193 U.S. troops seriously injured:
30,634 Other coalition troops killed: 314 Other coalition troops
seriously injured: 942 Contractors killed: 917 Contractors seriously
injured: 10,569 Journalists killed: 159 Journalists seriously injured:
unknown Total killed in Iraq: 693,810 Total injured in Iraq: 1,316,954

War criminal Howard wants crackdown on school violence?
Discipline is not achieved by cracking down but by teaching better lessons that include self awarness, empathy towards others and insight into offending behaviour. Once more Howard couldn't possibly teach those lessons because he himself lacks all of the above. That's why he asked for a 'crackdown'.

Taser consultation snub civil libertarians

2008-12-19T03:58:00.004+11:00

Civil libertarians have been outraged with not being invited to a Queensland Police community consultation meeting on the proposed January rollout of tasers for all officers.

Queensland Council for Civil Liberties (QCCL) Vice President Terry O'Gorman said he wasn't suprised at yeaterday's exclusion, as the group had been highly critical of the process of the taser roll out.

"We've lobbied on this matter for six years."

The police said the meeting focused on the training, policy and accountability frameworks put in place by the Queensland Police Service.

"The minister announced the roll out a year ago and any consultation process is going to consist of spin and window dressing," Mr O'Gorman said.

A Queensland Police Union spokesman defended the roll out.

"Tasers have been in use around the world for over ten years and there aren't any issues with the tasers that haven't been discussed."

Quote: But obviously there are issues that haven't been acted upon in the 'community interest' even if they've been discussed by Police and or the Police Union and that is why CCL wanted to consult with them. This just shows Police and Police Union ignorance on the subject of lethal memes and lethal weapons in the community. Of course Police want to belt people with something that is what they do best. However violence just begets violence and what happens is eventually police will get belted back perhaps, (after another senseless death in custody or riot?) What then another Mulrinji white-wash?

Related:

Tasers – Potentially lethal and easy to abuse
Amnesty International has said that industry claims that Taser stun guns are safe and non-lethal do not stand up to scrutiny. The organization called on governments to limit their deployment to life-threatening situations or to suspend their use.

Amnesty: 334 Taser Deaths Since 2001
And back in the United States, Amnesty International is calling for new limits on the use of taser stun guns by law enforcement officials. In a new report, Amnesty says 334 people have been killed by taser weapons since 2001. 90 percent of the victims were unarmed and did not appear to present a serious threat. Some of the people to be shocked by taser weapons include schoolchildren, pregnant women and an elderly person with dementia.

Police slammed over Taser death
In a particularly worrying finding, the report states that one person died of a heart attack 12 days after being shocked by NSW Police.

Guns a jolt from boys in blue
POLICE have already shocked five people with Tasers in the first fortnight of use of the controversial weapon, despite their assurances the stun guns would be a "less-than-lethal alternative" to police pistols.

Brother, sister Tasered 'after vandalism spree'
Police say they had to use a Taser gun on a brother and sister after they allegedly assaulted officers in the Sydney CBD early this morning.

Officers to adopt lethal shock tactics
"The camera-fitted Tasers will protect officers from spurious claims that a weapon was fired inappropriately, while also providing even greater accountability for police.

USA: RENEWED CALL FOR SUSPENSION AS TASER-RELATED DEATHS PASS 150 MARK Amnesty 2006

USA / CANADA: PATTERN OF ABUSE -- SUSPEND USE OF TASER GUNS Amnesty 2004

USA: Amnesty International concerned at use of tasers in Florida Amnesty 2007

Ministerial Cover Up at LB Prison Hospital

2008-12-19T03:57:00.001+11:00

“The Law and Justice Committee of the Legislative Council is inspecting the Long Bay prison and forensic hospitals this morning after an urgency debate on the effect of the early lockdown on mentally ill patients” said JA Coordinator Brett Collins.

“The government has been condemned by the entire Australian mental health profession for that cost-cutting decision, and it promised to move all forensic patients into hospital conditions by the end of last month. That has not been done” said JA Coordinator Michael Poynder.

“The Minister for Justice Hatzistergos rejected Committee members’ requests for the Nurses Association and Justice Action to join the Parliamentary inspection as expert advisers. This leaves the mental patients to speak for themselves with guards present, despite the immense experience offered by both independent organisations. This arrogant abuse of power isolating patients from community support could never be justified” said Mr Collins.

“One of the patients, an Iranian citizen, has been rushed by ambulance to the Prince of Wales Hospital. He has refused his heart medication until the lockdown ends. The Iranian Ambassador Mahmoud Movahhedi has written to the Premier and Prime Minister saying the ‘allegations have become a matter of concern for the Islamic Republic of Iran’ and asked them to investigate alleged violations of his civil, legal and human rights” said Mr Poynder.

For comments:

Brett Collins on 0438 705 003
Michael Poynder on 0401 371 077

JUSTICE ACTION
Trades Hall, Suite 204, 4 Goulburn St, Sydney NSW 2000 Australia
PO Box 386, Broadway NSW 2007 Australia
T 612 9283 0123 | F 612 9283 0112
E ja@justiceaction.org.au

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Related:

Churches protest Christmas prison visits
“Over 2,700 children and family members have visited prisoners on Christmas Day for the past 16 years, until NSW Corrective Services stopped the visits last year. After an initial change of heart, Christmas Day visits have been cancelled again” JA coordinator Brett Collins revealed.

Slow release for mentally ill prisoners
As many as 2000 NSW prisoners will receive improved psychiatric care under a revision to forensic mental health legislation.

Chock-a-block: state's jails bursting at seams
A new jail every two years - that is what's required to house NSW's prisoners.

Death brinkmanship patients lockdown
“The Minister for Justice Mr Hazistergos has been finally called to order by patients in the Long Bay Prison Hospital. After his unmet promise to Parliament on November 12 that no forensic patients would remain locked down in his prison hospital after November 28, the first protest has occurred” said JA spokesperson Brett Collins.

Violence and malnutrition linked before
The president of the Nutrition Society of Australia, Andrew Sinclair, says evidence presented at a conference shows violence and malnutrition are linked.

Prison privatisation morally wrong, bankrupt
“The NSW Government’s mini budget decision to privatise Cessnock and Parklea prisons would add them to the disaster that prison privatisation has proven around the world. Unions NSW added its voice in a resolution last night.” said JA Coordinator Brett Collins.

Two more NSW jails to be privatised
Cutting services through privatisation will mean worse results and higher costs eventually, which will be borne by the victims and taxpayers..Justice Action.

NSW slashes $3 billion - deficit $917M
The NSW government has slashed more than $3 billion from its planned spending for the next four years, as today's mini-budget confirms the state will record a deficit of $917 million this financial year.

NSW prisoners confined to cells for strike
The strike action, which began last night, is affecting some of the state's major prisons including Long Bay, Parklea, Cessnock and Goulburn.

160 juveniles housed in NSW police cells
We have seen a massive increase in the number of kids who are being held on remand partly due to the changes in bail laws: Juvenile Justice Minister
Most prisoners in New South Wales will be confined to their cells today as prison officers strike against privatisation plans.

NSW conviction and jail rates still on rise
THE number of people sentenced to jail in NSW continues to rise, as does the conviction rate.

REPORT OF ICOPA XII: Howard League
Here is the Report of the Twelfth International Conference on Penal Abolition (ICOPA XII) held in London in July 2008.

Soldier killed during Rudd's surprise visit

2008-12-19T03:00:00.011+11:00

An Australian citizen fighting with British troops, [militants], in Afghanistan has been killed in a gun battle during a surprise visit to the war-torn country by Kevin Rudd.

The day after the Prime Minister told Australian troops, [militants], in Afghanistan that he had been to too many soldiers' funerals, the unnamed, [?] soldier, [militant], was killed fighting with Britain's 1st Battalion in Helmand province, a volatile area in the south.

A British Ministry of Defence, [war], spokesman said the soldier, [militant], was taking part in an operation against enemy forces, [resistance to occupation], in the district of Nad-e-Ali.

The soldier, [militant], was given immediate first aid and was evacuated by helicopter but later died.

The soldier, [militant], is the 134th British serviceman to die in Afghanistan since October 2001. Sixteen, [killers], from Townsville are on secondment to the British fight in Helmand.

Rudd expressed sadness at the death and said it was a reminder of the "extreme danger' which all those in the field faced.

"Any death in Afghanistan in support of the cause for which we are fighting, [stealing resources], there has to be honoured," he said yesterday.

"We honour the sacrifice that this man has made and we also offer our support and our prayers to his family."

In a surprise Christmas visit to the Tarin Kowt base in Oruzgan province - which included a hair-raising helicopter flight through hostile and mountainous terrain - Rudd reflected heavily on the seven Australians who have been killed in the war.

"I've been to too many funerals and I don't like going. But when we say goodbye to one of our own, the nation is united in a common purpose," [stealing resources], he, [should have], told several hundred soldiers during a visit that lasted about 2½ hours.

Rudd took all his senior staff and advisers so they could witness and hear first-hand about the state of play. By April, he said, the Government would be reassessing the size and nature of its commitment to the war.

[Pre-emptive Strikes on Sovereign Nation States, Occupations, Genocides, Maiming and Torture.]

Rudd did not meet the, [US Puppet], Afghan President, Hamid Karzai, yesterday, but Karzai will visit Australia in February.

Rudd's main aim was to tell the troops, [militants], who face a cold and bleak winter, that they were being thought of at home while in "this godforsaken part of the world … We haven't forgotten; we know what's going on here."

"The fact that you are out there, pushing the enemy back, [resistance to occupation], step by step, mountain ridge by mountain ridge, that's progress."[?]

Stationed at the base are more than 800 troops, [militants.]

"How is it that for hundreds of years, people have fought over this place?" Rudd asked.

[Resource wars.]

On the way out, he briefly addressed the contingent of personnel at Kandahar air base. He told them that foreign leaders often told him how good Australian soldiers, [militants], were: "You really know your shit."

Oil Company Profits

Australia sent troops to Afghanistan for oil company profits.

The Australian military pawns are dying on behalf of oil profits, my friends.

The Taliban are Indigenous Afganistani's and are resisting our occupation.

Where after 7 years of war there's stil no water, no education, and no electricity for most of the people, most of the time.

Not improving their lives in any significant way at all.

Wouldn't you think after seven years of war promising food, water, power and education, whilst billions are embezzed by corrupt officials, they would be getting the picture?

Major Root Cause of Domestic Violence in Australia

The Military should be re named to AUSTRALIAN HUMANITY AID GROUP.

The AUSTRALIAN HUMANITY AID GROUP should lead Australia by some form of example - in terms of not perpetrating violence.

And instead only Helping people in crisis, or Defending Australia from invasion.

Not killing people for resource wars, pre-emptive strikes on foreign nation states or occupation of other nations.]

Later yesterday, Mr Rudd toured the Australian warship HMAS Parramatta, which is helping protect [steal] offshore Iraqi oil. It has docked in Abu Dhabi.

Mr Rudd was scheduled to leave and be back in Canberra this afternoon.

Related:

Killer dies in Afghanistan stealing resources
A statement confirmed the victim as 25-year-old Lieutenant Michael Fussell. Lets do it baby, SASR... I can never die?

AFGHANISTAN: End the slaughter
An Afghan woman who lost family members weeps after air strikes on Friday in Azizabad district of Shindand August 23, 2008. An UN investigation suggested that 60 children were killed in the airstrike. Australian troops are not restoring peace in Afghanistan but working for oil company profits, amongst other things.

More than 98 times as many people have been killed in these wars and occupations than in all terrorist attacks in the world from 1995-2003. About 229 times as many people have been killed in Afghanistan and Iraq than in the ghastly attacks of September 11, 2001.

Casualties in Afghanistan:
Afghan troops killed: 8,587
Afghan troops seriously injured: 25,761
Afghan civilians killed: 3,485
Afghan civilians seriously injured: 6,273
U.S. troops killed: 534
U.S. troops seriously injured: 1,602
Other coalition troops killed: 402
Other coalition troops seriously injureed 1,206
Contractors killed: 75
Contractors seriously injured: 2,428
Journalists killed: 6
Journalists seriously injured: unknown
=================================================
Total killed in Afghanistan: 13,089
=================================================
Total injured in Afghanistan: 37,270
=================================================

Casualties in Iraq:
Iraqi troops killed: 30,000
Iraqi troops seriously injured: 90,000
Iraqi civilians killed: 668,051
Iraqi civilians seriously injured: 1,202,491
U.S. troops killed: 4,209
U.S. troops seriously injured: 55,923
Other coalition troops killed: 315
Other coalition troops seriously injured: 945
Contractors killed: 917
Contractors seriously injured: 10,569
Journalists killed: 160
Journalists seriously injured: unknown
=================================================
Total killed in Iraq: 703,652
=================================================
Total injured in Iraq: 1,359,928
=================================================

The Forgotten War: Sonali Kolhatkar on Why Afghanistan is “Just as Bad as Iraq” Coming on the heels of Barack Obama’s highly publicized visit to Afghanistan—what he calls a central front in the so-called war on terror—we play an address by Pacifica radio host Sonali Kolhatkar, one of this country’s leading voices against the occupation of Afghanistan and co-author of the book Bleeding Afghanistan: Washington, Warlords and the Propaganda of Silence. She spoke last month at the National Conference for Media Reform in Minneapolis about what she called widespread misconceptions about the occupation of Afghanistan.

I don't remember falling diggers
Diggers dig holes to bury their dead and when I see war that is what I see. Firstly, I see imperialists then I see murderers and killers. How come others cannot see that?

Lets do it baby, SASR I can never die?

Army chief admits morale concerns over lack of combat
Lieutenant General Leahy was responding to public criticism from two infantry officers who have written in the Australian Army Journal. The officers claim that some soldiers are sometimes ashamed to wear the Australian uniform and have been treated with "near contempt" by allies in Iraq and Afghanistan because they are involved in such low-risk missions.

Man awarded $1m for police assault

2008-12-19T02:46:00.000+11:00

Former constables Graeme Carter and Mark Sesin kicked in the door of Donald Walker's Surrey Hills flat in 1993, because they were concerned about his girlfriend.

The judgment states that what happened in the flat is unclear, but when Mr Walker confronted the officers they assaulted both him and his elderly mother.

Mr Walker suffered numerous injuries including broken ribs, while his mother's shoulder was dislocated.

The 461-page judgment awards Mr Walker more than $1 million, his brother more than $800,000 and his mother's estate $100,000.

Victimised' whistleblower loses appeal

2008-12-19T02:45:00.001+11:00

A former Customs officer found guilty of leaking classified information that exposed security breaches at Sydney Airport has lost an appeal against his conviction.

Allan Kessing applauded the 2005 leak of two Customs reports to The Australian newspaper but always maintained he was not behind it.

The leak prompted a big inquiry into crime and security at Australia's airports and led to a $200 million overhaul of procedures, but the whistleblower himself was last year given a nine-month suspended jail sentence for his actions.

Three Supreme Court judges reviewed Mr Kessing's case and announced today they had agreed to dismiss his appeal. The judges included Justice Virginia Bell, who was last week appointed to the High Court.

The retired 60-year-old says his legal bills will wipe out his superannuation.

"Not only did I not do it, it was patently obvious to anyone with half a brain who did do it," he said outside the Supreme Court today.

"I just cannot believe the decision's been reached.

"We're going to study the judgement or the reasons now but I'm just devastated. This is basically three-and-a-half years of my life that's just been crashed and it hasn't finished yet."

Mr Kessing could try to challenge his loss in the High Court but there is no guarantee the court will agree to hear the case or that he will be able to fund such an appeal.

"I have never been asked, 'Did you do this?' I've just sat there bemused by the whole thing," he said.

"It's pretty obvious why they needed a victim and I was the obvious one because I was retired and had no resources to fight it.

"My other colleagues would still be in the CPSU [Community and Public Sector Union] so they'd have the backing from that.

"They just needed a victim. They got one and who cares what happens to little people?"

Mr Kessing said the information was leaked because he and his colleagues were frustrated that reports they prepared was rejected.

He says the subsequent inquiry vindicated the findings of the reports but there has not been satisfactory change since.

"There was a report a few months ago saying that they've only just now got some new surveillance cameras in," he said.

"We're talking five years after the event. I wrote these reports in 2002, 2003.

"Five years later, they've finally managed to put up a few cameras but the actual procedures haven't changed."

Related:

Justice Kirby to be replaced by NSW judge
Justice Michael Kirby will be replaced on the High Court bench by the New South Wales Court of Appeal judge, Justice Virginia Bell.

Pair jailed six years for kidnapping, assault

2008-12-19T02:40:00.004+11:00

THEY used a sledgehammer to smash through two security doors and three locks to break into Klaudine Fajloun's flat, then kidnapped her, held her hostage and assaulted her for nearly nine hours in a deserted house in Guildford, in Sydney's west.

A jury found her former husband Raad Fajloun and his younger brother Mikel guilty of those crimes and yesterday in the District Court, after many delays, they were each sentenced to a non-parole period of six years. Neither had shown any significant remorse for the violent acts that had left Mrs Fajloun a prisoner in her own house, living with extreme fear, nightmares, depression and grief, Justice Richard Cogswell found.

"She thought she was going to die, she thought her husband was going to kill her and that she would not see her children again."

The judge found the break and enter, kidnapping and assault had been premeditated, and said the evidence given by numerous witnesses and by Mrs Fajloun was reliable and believable. Since the violent events of November 12, 2005, Mrs Fajloun has become estranged from her sons, who do not believe their father capable of such harm, and has endured relentless psychological trauma.

The judge ordered an apprehended violence order on Raad Fajloun to apply from his release until November 18, 2019.

Man jailed 17 years for mum's murder

2008-12-19T02:40:00.002+11:00

A man has shouted in court that his own jail sentence for murdering his mother is "manifestly inadequate".

Adam Owens, 35, has been sentenced to at least 17 years in jail for stabbing 69-year-old environmental campaigner Doris Owens several times in her bed in Swanhaven, on the NSW south coast, in 2006.

The murderer had pleaded guilty. In sentencing submissions, he said he felt no remorse and he regretted not killing his mother 20 years earlier.

Justice McCallum sentenced Adam Owens to 23 years' jail with a non-parole period of 17, saying there was no apparent motive for the attack.

Adam Owens shouted "manifestly inadequate" as the sentence was read out.

He was taken away by court officers.

Quote: A quick 17 years? He could be on to something here? No one gets parole anyway so he should add the other six years before complaining.

Three jailed over super conspiracy

2008-12-19T02:35:00.002+11:00

Three Sydney men have been sentenced to a maximum of five years in jail for conspiracy which nearly succeeded in defrauding $150 million from the Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme.

In sentencing today, New South Wales District Court judge Robyn Tupman said it was a well-planned fraud which involved large numbers of people who had spent a long time planning it.

"It is was no surprise that the conspiracy to defraud was able to succeed, given the lack of [internal] security at the bank. It is to be hoped that the problem has been rectified since the case came to light," she said.

Gregory James Bourchier, a 36-year-old former employee of JPMorgan Chase Investment Bank, was given a two-and-a-half-year non-parole period.

He will serve his sentence in protective custody because he is related to a police officer and a person who works for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Forty-seven-year-old former Telstra technician Barry Osbourne and 57-year-old unemployed man Ernst Hufnagl received three-year non-parole periods.

Justice Tupman says the three knowingly played an important role in getting the custodian bank JPMorgan Chase to approve the transfer of $150 million into four overseas banks on Christmas Eve 2003.

"Each role was important but was limited in the conspiracy. They had nothing to do with the initial planning nor were they at the level of organiser or principal," she said.

An error in the instructions was picked up by a Greek bank and the bulk of the transfer was frozen several day later.

However $3.5 million was lost after being transferred to Hong Kong.

Greg Bourchier took transfer documents from JP Morgan Chase Bank and gave then to a ringleader.

Later, when he received a fax of the fraudulent request, he got a superior to authorise the transfer of $150 million.

Telstra employee Barry Osbourne manipulated phone lines to make faxes appear to have come from another bank.

Ernest Hufnagl impersonated a banker and rang Bourchier to verify the transfer instruction.

Justice Tupman says one of the conspiracy leaders has left Australia and she sent another to jail earlier this year after he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.

She says the prosecution and defence had agreed that the man, whose name is suppressed, did not know the scope of the fraud.

However she now accepts that he was a controller.

"He was an organiser and manager and played a more significant role than any of the others did," she said.

Justice Tupman says Bourchier had no criminal record, and Osbourne and Hufnagl had never been involved in a crime of this size.

There was no evidence about what the men expected to receive for their participation, although Osborne has told his parole officer he expected to get the deposit for a home.

'Labelled me' thief sentenced

2008-12-19T02:35:00.001+11:00

The woman [labled] the 'catch me if you can' thief, who used fake identities and stolen bank cards to dishonestly obtain almost $150,000, has been jailed for five years and nine months.

Jody Harris, 30, lived a life of luxury over a four-month period in 2006, dressing in Louis Vuitton clothes, wearing expensive jewellery and taking holidays.

Sentencing Harris on Friday, Victorian County Court Judge Felicity Hampel described her offending as "professional, calculated and highly organised".

Harris has been serving time for similar offences in NSW since September 2006.

Judge Hampel added nine months to Harris' minimum term for the NSW offences, giving her a new minimum term of four years and three months.

Harris will be eligible for parole in December 2010.

Motorist incinerated after fleeing RBT

2008-12-19T02:30:00.000+11:00

Police are investigating a fatal crash in Boddington, south east of Perth, where a person was incinerated after their car hit a tree while being pursued by police.

Police were conducting random breath tests at a roadblock on Gold Mine Road when they say an approaching vehicle did a u-turn and sped away.

It was followed by a police car, but police say the officers lost sight of the vehicle.

They say that as officers continued down the road, they found the vehicle smashed against a tree and on fire.

The flames were so intense officers could not retrieve the driver from the car.

The damage to the vehicle has so far made it impossible to identify either the vehicle or the person inside.

While police have released few details, the accident appears similar to a fatality which happened in October, in the same area, when two men died attempting to evade police conducting speed checks.

A police internal investigation was launched into that incident.

Gun laws fail safety test: Greens

2008-12-18T04:09:00.015+11:00

THE latest domestic violence murder-suicide in Sydney should cause the Premier, Nathan Rees, to change gun laws immediately so that women [people] at risk from their estranged partners are better protected, the Greens MP Lee Rhiannon said.

Mr Rees met the National Coalition for Gun Control yesterday after agreeing to review gun laws that had made it easier for [people] men who had been the subject of apprehended violence orders to regain their licences.

"We've had a very useful discussion that canvassed a wide range of matters. We'll give a considered response to the Coalition. But I have agreed to keep up contact with them and meet with them on a regular basis," Mr Rees said.

Under NSW law, anyone who became the subject of an AVO had to wait 10 years after it expired to reapply for a gun licence, but an amendment moved by the Shooters MP Roy Smith, and approved this month, waived the 10-year waiting period.

Ms Rhiannon said although John Kudrytch, 39, who shot his former wife, Melissa Cook, 29, at a BP service station in Casula on Tuesday, did not appear to be a registered gun owner, Mr Rees needed to overturn the amendment.

[If John Kudrytch did not appear to be a registered gun owner, then why is he being used here as an example to some law that won't change his circumstances, either before or after the fact that he killed his former wife with a gun? Why not clamp down on illegal guns? Or gun use in general? Also if Kudrytch didn't use a gun would he have killed his wife with something anyway?]

Ms Rhiannon: "The Premier's review of gun laws should ask why laws put the onus on the AVO subject to surrender his/[her] gun to police rather than require police to proactively seize the firearm. Tragedies like this are becoming more prevalent with the increasing number of firearms in circulation."

[The premier should review why the man had a gun and put the onus on the illegal gun owners to surrender his/her illegal gun.]

Ms Rhiannon: She said the weakening of gun control laws by the Shooters Party, with the support of major parties, could result in more accidents, deaths and suicides from guns.

[Either Ms Rhiannon and the Kudrytch murder suicide is being exploited by the Sydney Morning Herald or Ms Rhiannon?]

[Yesterdays headline from the SMH would strongly suggest media manipulation by SMH: Police probe how killer husband got gun - Breaking News - National ...17 Dec 2008 ... Police investigating the murder of a woman gunned down by her estranged husband will investigate how he got hold of a gun. - 14 hours ago -]

Quote: The weakening of the Sydney Morning Herald's article in relation to the gender blame game is preventing their ability to a balanced article in relation to solving the problem at the root. For some reason they seem to think only men commit crime using guns? Why is that? Then they go on to use the wrong example to attack gun laws? Why is that?

Related:

3yo grazed by bullet in drive-by shooting
A three-year-old boy has been grazed by a bullet during a drive-by shooting at Blacktown in Sydney's west.

Estranged husband shoots wife dead
A woman who was shot dead by her estranged husband in Sydney's south-west yesterday had taken out an apprehended violence order against him, police said.

Police shoot teenager dead in stand-off
'Just a scared little boy'...Tyler Cassidy, who was shot dead.

Domestic murders hit 10-year high
The New South Wales Government is being urged to hold an immediate review into domestic violence homicides, with the number of women and children killed in NSW at its highest level in almost a decade.

Anti-violence plan for children
A Federal Government agency is developing a plan for anti-violence education programs for children.

Amnesty: 334 Taser Deaths Since 2001 And back in the United States, Amnesty International is calling for new limits on the use of taser stun guns by law enforcement officials. In a new report, Amnesty says 334 people have been killed by taser weapons since 2001. 90 percent of the victims were unarmed and did not appear to present a serious threat. Some of the people to be shocked by taser weapons include schoolchildren, pregnant women and an elderly person with dementia.

3yo grazed by bullet in drive-by shooting

2008-12-18T04:08:00.000+11:00

A three-year-old boy has been grazed by a bullet during a drive-by shooting at Blacktown in Sydney's west.

Witnesses have told police they saw three men in a car open fire on a house on Vardys Road shortly after midnight.

The toddler was treated by ambulance officers at the scene.

Another boy, a man and a woman were uninjured.

Tasers – Potentially lethal and easy to abuse

2008-12-18T03:15:00.004+11:00

Amnesty International has said that industry claims that Taser stun guns are safe and non-lethal do not stand up to scrutiny. The organization called on governments to limit their deployment to life-threatening situations or to suspend their use.

The call came as the organization released one of the most detailed reports to date on the safety of the stun gun. The report "USA: Less than lethal?" is being published as the number of people who died after being struck by Tasers in the USA reached 334 between 2001 and August 2008.

"Tasers are not the 'non-lethal' weapons they are portrayed to be," said Angela Wright, US researcher at Amnesty International and author of the report. "They can kill and should only be used as a last resort.

"The problem with Tasers is that they are inherently open to abuse, as they are easy to carry and easy to use and can inflict severe pain at the push of a button, without leaving substantial marks."

Amnesty International’s study – which includes information from 98 autopsies – found that 90 per cent of those who died after being struck with a Taser were unarmed and many did not appear to present a serious threat.

Many were subjected to repeated or prolonged shocks – far more than the five-second "standard" cycle – or by more than one officer at a time. Some people were even shocked for failing to comply with police commands after they had been incapacitated by a first shock.

In at least six of the cases where people died, Tasers were used on individuals suffering from medical conditions such as seizures – including a doctor who had crashed his car when he suffered an epileptic seizure. He died after being repeatedly shocked at the side of the highway when, dazed and confused, he failed to comply with an officer's commands.

Police officers also used Tasers on schoolchildren, pregnant women and even an elderly person with dementia.

In March 2008, an 11-year-old girl with a learning disability was shocked with a Taser after she punched a police officer in the face. The officer had been called to the school in Orange County, Florida, after the child had become disturbed, pushing desks and chairs and spitting at staff.

Existing studies – many of them funded by the industry – have found the risk of these weapons to be generally low in healthy adults. However, these studies are limited in scope and have pointed to the need for more understanding of the effects of such devices on vulnerable people, including those under the influence of stimulant drugs or in poor health.

Recent independently-funded animal studies have found that the use of these kinds of electro-shock weapons can cause fatal arrhythmias in pigs, raising further questions about their safety on human subjects. It was also recently reported that nearly ten per cent of 41 Tasers tested in a study commissioned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, delivered significantly more current than the manufacturer said was possible, underscoring the need for independent verification and testing of such devices.

Although most of the 334 deaths nationwide have been attributed to factors such as drug intoxication, medical examiners and coroners have concluded that Taser shocks caused or contributed to at least 50 of these deaths.

"We are very concerned that electro-shock weapons such as Tasers have been rolled out for general use before rigorous, independent testing of their effects," said Angela Wright.

Related:

Police slammed over Taser death
In a particularly worrying finding, the report states that one person died of a heart attack 12 days after being shocked by NSW Police.

Guns a jolt from boys in blue
POLICE have already shocked five people with Tasers in the first fortnight of use of the controversial weapon, despite their assurances the stun guns would be a "less-than-lethal alternative" to police pistols.

Brother, sister Tasered 'after vandalism spree'
Police say they had to use a Taser gun on a brother and sister after they allegedly assaulted officers in the Sydney CBD early this morning.

Officers to adopt lethal shock tactics
"The camera-fitted Tasers will protect officers from spurious claims that a weapon was fired inappropriately, while also providing even greater accountability for police.

USA: RENEWED CALL FOR SUSPENSION AS TASER-RELATED DEATHS PASS 150 MARK Amnesty 2006

USA / CANADA: PATTERN OF ABUSE -- SUSPEND USE OF TASER GUNS Amnesty 2004

USA: Amnesty International concerned at use of tasers in Florida Amnesty 2007

Election spending spree eroding trust: senator

2008-12-18T03:10:00.000+11:00

AN ELECTION campaign spending "arms race" is leading the two main political parties to rely more heavily on donations from businesses, wealthy individuals and interest groups, eroding public trust in the political system, the Special Minister for State, John Faulkner, says.

Releasing a green paper on electoral law reform yesterday, Senator Faulkner said campaign fund-raising in recent years had created perceptions that donors were able to exert undue influence over politicians.

"The perception of undue influence can be as damaging to democracy as undue influence itself," Senator Faulkner said.

"It undermines confidence in our processes of government, making it difficult to untangle the motivation behind policy decisions.

"Electors are left wondering if decisions have been made on their merits."

Senator Faulkner said the Federal Government was determined to have legislation regulating election funding in place before the next federal poll and was considering measures ranging from banning donations to boosting taxpayer funding.

The green paper argues that donations, campaign spending and public funding are all linked as spiralling spending on electioneering means public funding accounts for just 20 per cent of the Labor and Liberal parties' financial resources.

It estimates the ALP's campaign spending has increased from $4.1 million in 1984 to $19.4 million in 2004 while the Liberal Party's spending rose from $4.2 million to $22 million.

After taking inflation into account, this represented real increases of 116 per cent and 136 per cent, respectively.

The paper says spending by political parties could be capped, reducing the incentive to raise money from private donations.

The paper points to the British system where parties cannot spend more than £20 million ($45 million) in the year before an election and to the US where parties can agree to limit spending in return for public funding.

Caps could be imposed on the size of donations with a view to reducing the influence of large donors. Donations from property developers, organisations that seek government contracts, lobbying firms or tobacco, alcohol and gaming companies could be banned.

Alternatively, all private donations could be banned in conjunction with increased public funding.

The paper says a key challenge is the growing influence of so-called third parties - interest groups that spend significant sums campaigning - such as the ACTU which funded advertisements against the former Howard government in the lead-up to the 2007 election.

Senator Faulkner said the Government would consider public comments on the paper. He would also continue discussions with state and territory governments about similar reforms at a state level.

A spokeswoman for the NSW Premier, Nathan Rees, said he welcomed the green paper because he was committed to making his Government more transparent and accountable.

Quote: "The perception of undue influence can be as damaging to democracy as undue influence itself," Senator Faulkner said. Unquote.

The argument that the two parties Lib/Lab represent opposed ideals and policies, one, perhaps, of the Right and the other of the Left, is a foolish idea acceptable only to the doctrinaire and academic thinkers. Instead, the two parties should be almost identical, so that the Australian people can 'throw the rascals out' at any election without leading to any profound or extreme shifts in policy?

Taxi drivers blockade Melbourne CBD

2008-12-18T03:08:00.000+11:00

Taxi drivers who are protesting against the fitting of safety screens in their cabs are being hit with parking fines.

Police have started writing fines for any taxi that is stopping traffic in Spring Street.

One person has been arrested for hindering police while one cab has been towed for blocking the street.

The drivers are protesting about a State Government decision forcing them to install safety screens in their cabs.

The blockade has caused major traffic disruptions for the second consecutive day.

The driver's spokesman Ange Goutsiolis says the Premier, John Brumby must meet with the drivers today or they will step up their protest.

"If we do not get an answer, if we don't talk to Brumby, mark my words, mark my words, we will block the whole city off," he said.

Taxi driver Clive Bundy says most cabbies do not want the screens and will not install the screens they are being forced to buy.

The State Government refused to overturn its policy after yesterday's protest against the screens blockaded Spring Street.

The Transport Minister met with the protesting taxi drivers yesterday, but is refusing to meet them again.

Fire Brigades managers corrupt: watchdog

2008-12-18T03:05:00.002+11:00

Two NSW Fire Brigades managers engaged in corrupt conduct by pursuing dishonest schemes that enabled them to receive $2.4 million in payments, the Independent Commission Against Corruption has found.

Under the schemes, which ran between 2005 and 2007, companies controlled by Christian Sanhueza received $6.07 million from the NSW Fire Brigades for upgrades, repairs and maintenance of fire stations.

After paying subcontractors, Mr Sanhueza received at least $1.4 million and his associate, Clive Taylor $1.01 million, ICAC found.

As a result of its inquiry, ICAC said it had found "systemic weakness" in the NSW Fire Brigades and made 14 "corruption prevention recommendations" to minimise or prevent similar corrupt conduct and improper work practices from recurring.

Earlier, ICAC referred the receipt of the corrupt proceeds to the NSW Crime Commission, which obtained restraining orders against Mr Sanhueza and Mr Taylor.

Subsequently, the Supreme Court has "made a proceeds assessment order" against Mr Sanhueza for $950,000 and has sought to forfeit assets of Mr Taylor - a farm at Merriwa, two flat-screen television sets and a laptop computer, ICAC said.

The NSW Fire Brigades had no effective method of costing a capital works project, ICAC noted in its report, released earlier today.

"The budget allocation process offered the corrupt project managers their opportunity," ICAC said.

Reports ICAC also made corruption findings against Fire Brigades contractor Rasem Guirguis, who gave both men gifts of televisions and laptop computers for awarding him work.

Another man, Soliman Hanna, was found to have acted corruptly by giving Mr Sanhueza and Mr Taylor $1000 each for awarding him work.

Patricia Xuereb, another Fire Brigades employee, was found to have improperly provided confidential information to Mr Sanhueza.

Related:

RailCorp corruption 'extraordinary'
The role of the NSW Minister for Transport, and the RailCorp CEO and board, must be reviewed to "better ensure financially responsible management that would limit the opportunity for corruption", says a damning report released today by the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

Rail rorts: ICAC recommends charges
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has found another four RailCorp employees received large cash payments for awarding work to favoured contractors

Something is rotten in the state of NSW
IN 1998 the lid was lifted on the corrupt world of NSW railways, revealing that supplying prostitutes could win you a contract, fake medical certificates signed by a dead doctor would get you a day off work, and you could claim overtime while playing golf.