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☆ Elon Musk vs Australia: Fight heats up over Sydney church stabbing video on X
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Hilary Whiteman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The country’s e-safety commissioner ordered social media giants to take it down. Australia wants X to remove the video completely, not just hide it from Australian users who could circumvent a local ban by using virtual private networks. With her message to Musk, Australian Senator Jacqui Lambie posted an image of herself in army fatigues taken at a Veteran Mentors' Junior Leadership camp in January. President David Adler told CNN he hadn’t been asked to take it down, either by X or Australia’s e-safety commissioner. In a statement Wednesday, Australia’s eSafety commissioner said the takedown request wasn’t designed to stifle discussion about the church attack.

Persons: Elon Musk, that’s, X, ’, Anthony Albanese, Jacqui Lambie, “, hadn’t, ”, fatigues, AJA, David Adler, Adler, AJA hasn’t, Krissy Barrett, Reece Kershaw, Marcus Hoyne, Bishop, Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, Joanne Gray, Grzegorz Wajda, Gray, Musk, Musk’s, Australia’s, Lambie’s Organizations: Australia CNN, Christian Church, Australian, Leadership, Australian Jewish Association, CNN, ” CNN, Joint Counter, Counter, New South Wales Police Seven, Australian Federal Police, AFP, Australia’s Security Intelligence Organisation, National Press Club, Musk, Court, Bishop Mar, Good Shepherd, University of Sydney, European Jewish Association, X Corp Locations: Brisbane, Australia, Sydney, Tasmania, United States, New, Australia’s, Krakow, Poland

☆ After Months of Cocaine Washing Ashore, Australian Police Make an Arrest
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Yan Zhuang | More About Yan Zhuang | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Inside were 39 sealed packages, each containing about two pounds of cocaine, according to the police. Then, within days, nine more packages were found across eight beaches and bays spanning a 60-mile stretch of coastline between Sydney and Newcastle. And more kept washing ashore in the following weeks and months. In one instance, a lifeguard plucked a two-pound block out of the water off Bondi Beach in Sydney. In another, a fisherman found a blue barrel containing 39 two-pound blocks.

Organizations: Australian Federal Police Locations: New South Wales, Australia, Sydney, Newcastle, Beach, Queensland

☆ Mexican drug gangs ‘increasingly targeting’ Australia as meth supplies overtake rivals, police say
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Drug cartels from North America have overtaken rivals in Southeast Asia to become Australia’s top suppliers of methamphetamine, police said, warning that Mexican gangs are “increasingly targeting” the country. Meanwhile, Southeast Asian meth fell to less than 15% of seizures of the drug, a highly addictive and potent stimulant. A wastewater detection program led by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission projected meth to be Australia’s second most used drug. In 2022, authorities stopped 1.8 tons of liquid meth masquerading as coconut water in Hong Kong before it reached Australia. They were bound for New Zealand, Australia and the surrounding Pacific region, police said.

Persons: Jared Taggart, Taggart, ”, Sam Gor, Terry Goldsworthy, Criminologist John Fitzgerald, Masood Karimipour Organizations: CNN —, Australian Federal Police, Police, ”, Australian Institute of Health, Welfare, Australian Criminal Intelligence, AFP, Bond University, Australian Capital Territory, University of Melbourne, Drugs, New Zealand police, Southeast, Pacific, United Nations Office Locations: North America, Southeast Asia, Australia, AFP, Mexico, United States, Canada, ” Australia, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Japan , New Zealand, Hong Kong, Asia, Pacific, Queensland, American, Europe, Ukraine, New Zealand

☆ Medibank attack: Australia publicly names and sanctions Russian hacker Aleksandr Ermakov over data leak
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Jessie Yeung | Hilary Whiteman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Brisbane, Australia CNN —Australia has publicly named and imposed cyber sanctions on a Russian hacker for his alleged role in a 2022 ransomware attack, in the country’s first use of the penalty. At the time, the Australian Federal Police said investigators knew the identity of the attackers but declined to name them. On Tuesday, the Australian government revealed the name of the individual sanctioned — Russian national Aleksandr Ermakov, 33, an alleged member of the Russian ransomware gang REvil. When the Medibank attack took place later that year, experts said it could have been perpetrated by a REvil member — which Australian authorities confirmed on Tuesday. An initial ransom demand was made for $10 million (15 million Australian dollars).

Persons: Aleksandr Ermakov, “, ” Richard Marles, GCHQ —, Marles, “ REvil, ” Abigail Bradshaw, Medibank, — Organizations: Australia CNN —, Australian Federal Police, Medibank, Australian Signals Directorate, FBI, National Security Agency, NSA, United Kingdom’s, Microsoft, JBS Foods, Russia’s Federal Security Service, REvil, Australian Cyber Security, ” Locations: Brisbane, Australia, Australia CNN — Australia, Russian, United States

☆ Papua New Guinea to recruit Australia police in security deal - minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape will travel to Canberra on Thursday to sign the security agreement, his office said. "The security arrangement is in the best interest of Papua New Guinea and also for Australia and its regional security interests," Marape said in a statement on Tuesday. The Australian Federal Police and the defence minister's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the security agreement. "Its a big issue and Australia can help us out considerably," said Tkatchenko, who began negotiations with Australia on the deal last year. They will be contracted officers reporting directly to the police commissioner of Papua New Guinea and they will be under all the laws of PNG.

Persons: James Marape, Lillian Suwanrumpha, Marape, Justin Tkatchenko, Tkatchenko, Kirsty Needham, Edmund Klamann Organizations: Guinea's, APEC, APEC Business, Economic Cooperation, Rights, Papua New Guinea, Australia, U.S, Reuters, Defence, Australian Federal Police, PNG Royal Constabulary, CID, Australian, Thomson Locations: Papua, Asia, Bangkok, Thailand, Papua New Guinea, biosecurity, Papua New, Canberra, United States, China, Solomon Islands, Australia, France

☆ DP World cyberattack: Australian ports restart some operations
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —One of Australia’s biggest port operators has restarted some operations after a crippling cyberattack that led to a huge backup of cargo. DP World Australia, which manages the flow of nearly 40% of the country’s goods and is owned by Dubai-based logistics giant DP World, announced Monday that the resumption came three days following a breach of its IT systems. The ports’ reopening comes after “successful tests of key systems overnight,” DP World Australia said in a statement, adding that about 5,000 containers would move out of its four terminals across the country on Monday. CNN has reached out to DP World Australia for confirmation. The Australian Federal Police told CNN on Monday that it was investigating the incident, while declining to comment further.

Persons: “, Darren Goldie, Goldie, ”, Home Affairs Clare O’Neil Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Australia’s, DP, Commercial Bank of China, Australian Financial, CNN, Fremantle, National Cyber, ABC, Australian Federal Police, Twitter, Home Affairs Locations: Hong Kong, Dubai, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane

☆ Police investigate 'cyber incident' at Australia ports operator
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/file photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Nov 12 (Reuters) - The Australian Federal Police said on Sunday they were investigating a cybersecurity incident that forced ports operator DP World Australia to suspend operations at ports in several states. DP World Australia told Reuters on Saturday that operations at impacted ports were not yet restored. DP World Australia, part of Dubai's state-owned ports giant DP World, operates four container terminals in Australia in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Western Australia's Fremantle. Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil said on Saturday that the government was coordinating a response to the "cyber incident". According to DP World, in the Asia Pacific region it employs more than 7,000 people and has ports and terminals in 18 locations.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, We've, we're, Darren Goldie, Goldie, Clare O'Neil, Sam McKeith, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Australian Federal Police, Australia, DP, Reuters, Fremantle, Cyber, Twitter, Home Affairs, Thomson Locations: Dubai's, Australia, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Western, Sydney , Melbourne, Asia

☆ Australian woman arrested in suspected death cap mushroom poisoning
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Tara Subramaniam | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Australian police have arrested a woman who served a lunch in late July that led to the deaths of three people from suspected death cap mushroom poisoning. Victoria Police confirmed a 49-year-old woman has been arrested in connection with the case. CNN affiliate Nine News said Patterson was arrested at her home in the town of Leongatha in southern Victoria. In the same statement she claimed she bought the mushrooms used in the meal from two separate stores. Following the arrest, the woman will be interviewed and the investigation remains ongoing, police said.

Persons: Erin Patterson, Patterson, Dean Thomas, “, it’s, Gail Patterson, Gail’s, Heather Wilkinson, Don, Ian Wilkinson, ” Patterson, Patterson’s, Thomas, Simon, ” Thomas Organizations: CNN, Australian, Victoria Police, ABC, Nine, Gibson, Australian Federal Police Locations: Leongatha, Victoria, Melbourne’s

☆ Australian Aboriginal leader threatened ahead of referendum on Indigenous rights
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] People rally during the 'Walk for Yes', hosted by the Yes23 campaign Australia's upcoming referendum on Indigenous issues, at the Todd River in Alice Springs, Australia, September 17, 2023. Australians will vote on Oct 14, asked if they support a change to the constitution to include a "Voice to Parliament", an Indigenous committee to advise parliament on matters affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people. A video published online showed a man in a balaclava claiming to be from a neo-Nazi group, burning the Aboriginal flag, performing a Nazi salute, and threatening Senator Lidia Thorpe. Thorpe asked during a news conference in Melbourne. Aboriginal people track below national averages on most socio-economic measures and suffer disproportionately high rates of suicide, domestic violence and imprisonment.

Persons: Jaimi, Lidia Thorpe, Thorpe, I’m, Anthony Albanese, I've, " Albanese, Praveen Menon, Michael Perry Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Nazi, Australian Federal Police, AFP, Thomson Locations: Todd, Alice Springs, Australia, Torres, balaclava, Melbourne, New Zealand, Canada

☆ Australia toughens ban on training 'certain foreign militaries' after pilot case
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

FILE PHOTO: Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles speaks to the media at the 19th Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore June 12, 2022. A series of cases where former military pilots living in Australia had worked for a South African flight school training Chinese pilots, which the United States alleges are Chinese military pilots, has prompted the crackdown. Penalties of up to 20 years prison will apply for providing military training or tactics to a foreign military or government body, including hybrid civilian and military organisations, or state-owned companies, without authorisation from the defence minister. The Test Flying Academy of South Africa was placed on a U.S. trade blacklist on national security grounds in June for "providing training to Chinese military pilots using Western and NATO sources". A court was told Hartley, a former British military pilot, was suspected of organising the training of Chinese military pilots delivered by the flight school.

Persons: Richard Marles, Caroline Chia, authorises, recenty, Daniel Duggan, Keith Hartley, Hartley, Kirsty Needham, Lincoln, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Australian Defence, REUTERS, Rights, United Nations, Defence, U.S . Marines Corp, Flying Academy of South, TFASA, Australian Federal Police, Thomson Locations: Singapore, Australia, African, United States, Britain, New Zealand, Canada, China, Australian, Flying Academy of South Africa, U.S, AVIC, British

☆ Security raid on Chinese academic fuels concern over Australia-China exchanges
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Chinese academic, who specialises in foreign affairs research at a Beijing university, had visited universities in three Australian states in July and August. The Guardian first reported on Monday that the man had his accommodation raided and his laptop taken by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and Australian Federal Police in Perth, and was told his visa was being assessed for security reasons. A high-level dialogue between Chinese and Australian academic, industry and media delegations resumed in Beijing on Thursday after a four-year halt. It included a Chinese scholar who had his Australian visa revoked in 2020 by ASIO, amid concern over foreign interference in politics. "Any Chinese academic with an interest in relations with Australia would surely be re-assessing travel plans fearing the same thing could happen to them.

Persons: Florence Lo, Anthony Albanese, James Laurenceson, Greg McCarthy, McCarthy, Albanese, Kirsty Needham, Christina Fincher Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Guardian, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, Australian Federal Police, Reuters, ASIO, China Relations Institute, University of Technology, University of Adelaide, Peking University, The Australian Federal Police, Thomson Locations: Australia, China, Western Australia, Beijing, Perth, Sydney, Canberra

☆ Man arrested after Malaysian Airlines plane from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur forced to turn around mid-flight
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Alex Stambaugh | Jake Kwon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —A 45-year-old man has been arrested after he allegedly disrupted a Malaysian Airlines flight from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur, which was forced to turn around mid-flight and land back in Sydney International Airport on Monday. “The man is expected to be charged later tonight,” according to a spokesman for the Australian Federal Police. “Malaysia Airlines flight MH122 on 14 August 2023 returned to Sydney International Airport due to a disruptive passenger on board. Sydney International Airport said in a statement to CNN that 32 domestic flights, including 16 inbound and 16 outbound, were canceled with other domestic flights experiencing delays of up to 90 minutes. “Currently there are no international flight cancellations,” the airport said.

Persons: “ Organizations: CNN, Malaysian Airlines, Sydney International Airport, Australian Federal Police, Police, Twitter, “ Malaysia Airlines, Sydney International Locations: Sydney, Kuala Lumpur

☆ Australian police charge man over bomb threat on Malaysia Airlines flight
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Malaysia Airlines planes sit on the tarmac at Kuala Lumpur International Airport July 21, 2014. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry laid out what he called overwhelming evidence of Russian complicity in the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 as international horror deepened over the fate of the victims' remains. REUTERS/File PhotoSYDNEY, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Australian police on Tuesday charged a man after he allegedly claimed to have explosives on board a Malaysia Airlines flight from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur, forcing it to return to Sydney. Flight MH122 left Sydney on Monday afternoon for Malaysia and returned to Sydney about three hours later after the passenger "allegedly became disruptive" during the flight, police said. There were no international flight cancellations.

Persons: John Kerry, MH122, Renju Jose, Stephen Coates Organizations: Malaysia Airlines, Kuala, REUTERS, Australian Federal Police, Malaysia, Police, Sydney Airport, Thomson Locations: Kuala Lumpur, Sydney, Canberra

☆ Dozens arrested over alleged child sex abuse following murder of two FBI agents
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A total of 98 people have been arrested in connection with child sex abuse, and 13 children rescued from harm, US and Australian authorities said Tuesday, more than two years after two FBI agents were killed investigating an alleged international pedophile ring. Two FBI agents investigating the alleged ring were shot dead in 2021 while executing a search warrant for a computer programmer suspected of possession of child abuse material, CNN previously reported. The alleged child abuse ring was a “peer to peer network” with “some offenders committing offenses for over 10 years,” said Australian Federal Police Commander Helen Schneider. Australian investigationThe Australian police investigation began in 2022 when the FBI passed on details of Australian members of a peer-to-peer network allegedly sharing child abuse material on the dark web. “The complexity and anonymity of these platforms means that no agency or country can fight these threats alone.”Most of the Australian alleged offenders had jobs that required advanced IT skills, police said in a statement.

Persons: ”, Helen Schneider, “, ” Schneider, Nitiana Mann, Schneider, Mann, Daniel Alfin, Laura Schwartzenberger, George Piro Organizations: CNN, FBI, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Australian Federal Police, AFP, Miami FBI Locations: Australia, Canberra, , Florida

☆ Former childcare charged with over 1,600 counts of abuse in Australia
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Alex Stambaugh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —A former childcare worker has been charged with 1,623 child abuse offenses allegedly carried out against 91 children in Australia and elsewhere over 15 years, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) said in a statement on Tuesday. The 45-year-old man from the Gold Coast has been in police custody since August 2022, when he was initially charged with making child exploitation material and using a carriage service to distribute it. “This is one of the most horrific cases of alleged child abuse our detectives have seen,” Assistant Commissioner Michael Fitzgerald with the New South Wales police said in a news conference. Other charges include hundreds of counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16 years, counts of making child exploitation material and other charges related to possessing, producing, distributing or obtaining child exploitation material. The AFP said it is working with international authorities to help identify four children recorded in the alleged child abuse material overseas.

Persons: CNN —, Michael Fitzgerald, Col Briggs Organizations: CNN, Australian Federal Police, AFP, Police, New South, New South Wales police, Queensland Police, Court Locations: Australia, Brisbane, Sydney, New South Wales, AFP

☆ Australia inquiry says ex-PM Morrison misled cabinet on debt recovery scheme
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Renju Jose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, July 7 (Reuters) - An Australian inquiry into a programme to recover welfare debt said on Friday former Prime Minister Scott Morrison had misled the cabinet about the scheme in an earlier ministerial role. The report recommended unnamed people be referred for prosecution or civil action over the automated "robodebt" programme, designed to ensure welfare recipients were not underreporting income and over-receiving government payments. The report said Morrison, who in 2015 monitored the rollout of the programme as the social services minister, took the proposal to the cabinet without necessary information. Morrison, prime minister from August 2018 to May 2022 and still a member of parliament, rejected each finding adverse to him and critical of his involvement in "authorising the scheme". In 2020, he apologised in parliament for distress caused by the robodebt scheme but did not admit legal liability.

Persons: Scott Morrison, Anthony Albanese, Morrison, Renju Jose, Jamie Freed, William Mallard Organizations: SYDNEY, Royal Commission, Australian Federal Police, Thomson Locations: Australian, Sydney

☆ 16 abused children freed in Philippines after man’s arrest in Sydney
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Teele Rebane | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Sixteen children allegedly abused in the Philippines have been rescued after Australian police found sexually explicit material on the phone of a man arrested in Sydney. The investigation began in January when the Australian Border Force intercepted a Queensland man, 56, as he returned to Sydney from the Philippines, the statement said. After searching his phone, the ABF found child abuse material and messages detailing his intent to pay a facilitator who would enable him to sexually abuse children in the Philippines. The man was charged with three offenses including grooming and possession of child abuse material, which carry a potential maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. “We must collaborate with our international partners, such as the AFP, to arrest offenders and rescue child victims,” she said.

Persons: ”, Andrew Perkins, Portia Manalad Organizations: CNN, Philippine National Police, Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force, Philippine Department of Social Welfare, Development, Philippine National Police Women, Children Protection, AFP, Philippine Internet Locations: Philippines, Sydney, Metro Manila, Northern Philippines, Queensland, Manila, Philippine, Australia, United Kingdom, Netherlands

☆ Why PwC is selling part of its business in Australia for less than $1
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —PwC, one of the world’s big four consulting firms, is selling its government advisory business in Australia for just cents after a scandal left its reputation there in shreds. As a result, PwC will sell its government consultancy practice in Australia to Allegro Funds, a private equity firm, for just 1 Australian dollar ($0.7), PwC said in a statement. The business accounts for about 20% of the firm’s revenue in the country. PwC Australia has taken steps to try to regain trust. The firm also ordered nine partners to go on leave as it carried out an investigation “into who may have shared or misused confidential information,” acting CEO Kristin Stubbins said in an open letter in May.

Persons: CNN —, PwC, Peter Collins, Tom Seymour, Kristin Stubbins, Stubbins, Collins, ”, “ Organizations: CNN, Allegro Funds, Australian Treasury, Australian Senate, Police, PwC, Mr Locations: Australia, PwC, PwC Australia

☆ Australia Russia embassy row: Suspected Russian diplomat squatter dismissed as just "a bloke" by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Australia’s government last week terminated its lease on the grounds of national security. A man, believed to be Russian diplomat, has remained at the site in defiance of the move. Albanese was asked by journalists on Friday to comment on reports that a Russian diplomat had taken up residence in a shed. “The national security threat that was represented by a Russian Embassy on site is not the same as some bloke standing on a blade of grass on the site – that, we don’t see really as a threat to our national security,” he replied. On Friday, Australia’s home affairs minister said Moscow had told the Australian government that it would take the matter to court.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, Albanese, ”, “ We’re, Clare O’Neil, Australia’s, Moscow, “ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN — Australian, Russian Embassy, Home, Russian, Reuters, Australian Federal Police, CNN, Russian Federation, Commonwealth Locations: Hong Kong, Russian, Moscow, Canberra, Yarralumla, Australia, Kyiv, Ukraine, Russia

SYDNEY, June 21 (Reuters) - The chair of an Australian senate committee looking into PricewaterhouseCoopers' leak of a confidential government tax plan has called for an international investigation into the matter. Earlier this month, PwC Australia listed in an unpublished letter to the senate committee at least 67 current and former staff who may have known of the 2015 leak of confidential government tax plans. Acting CEO Kristin Stubbins apologised for the leak on behalf of the firm in an open letter last month. The report also called on PwC to cooperate fully with a current Australian Federal Police investigation. ($1 = 1.4778 Australian dollars)Reporting by Lewis Jackson; Editing by Edwina GibbsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Richard Colbeck, PwC, Kristin Stubbins, Lewis Jackson, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: SYDNEY, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Australian Federal Police, Thomson Locations: Australia

☆ Australian state bans PwC from new tax contracts for three months
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, June 15 (Reuters) - An Australian state on Thursday imposed a three-month ban on PricewaterhouseCoopers' (PwC) local unit from receiving new tax-related contracts - the latest repercussion to hit the firm after its misuse of confidential federal government tax plans. PwC has come under fire after a former tax partner in the firm who was advising the Australian federal government on laws to prevent corporate tax avoidance shared confidential drafts with colleagues that were used to pitch to companies for work. Last week, PwC named at least 67 current and former staff involved in the leak of government tax plans. The Australian Federal Police is investigating the misuse of confidential government documents and four major pension funds have paused work with the firm. Some private-sector clients and government agencies have also suspended or are reviewing their dealings with PwC.

Persons: PwC, Courtney Houssos, Houssos, Kristin Stubbins, Renju Jose, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: SYDNEY, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Australian Federal Police, PwC, Thomson Locations: Australian, New South Wales, Sydney

☆ Australia's war memorial mulls changing war hero display after defamation case
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Roberts-Smith, who quit his television excutive job on Friday, has not been charged with any offences. Australian civil courts require a lower threshold to prove accusations than criminal courts do. A four-year investigation known as the Brereton report found in 2020 that Australian special forces had allegedly killed 39 unarmed prisoners and civilians in Afghanistan. Kim Beazley, chair of the Australian War Memorial and a former defence minister, said the memorial in the national capital Canberra - where Roberts-Smith's uniform, medals and portrait are displayed - helps Australians to understand the conduct and consequences of war. Greens Senator David Shoebridge had earlier called for Roberts-Smith's uniform and medals to be removed from the memorial.

Persons: Ben Roberts, Smith, Roberts, Anthony Albanese, Brereton, Albanese, Chris Moraitis, Kim Beazley, David Shoebridge, Kirsty Needham, Byron Kaye Organizations: SYDNEY, Victoria Cross, Australian Federal Police, Special Forces, Australian, Canberra, Greens, U.S, Thomson Locations: Afghanistan, Australia, Sydney

☆ Australia says PwC leak of government tax documents may be referred to police
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY, May 22 (Reuters) - Australia said on Monday the government will take further steps in response to the leak of government tax plans by accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and that the matter could be referred to the Australian Federal Police. PwC Australia's CEO stepped down this month and the firm has said it is "committed to learning for our mistakes". "I think the PwC experience has been deeply, deeply troubling and we've already taken some steps but we will be taking further steps," Treasurer Jim Chalmers also told ABC Radio in an interview on Monday. "I will have more to say about how we crack down on this behaviour, which is inexcusable, frankly," he said. PwC said this month that former Telstra and Optus CEO Ziggy Switkowski will lead an independent review into the leak and will report his findings and recommendations in September.

☆ A plane in Australia was forced to turn back after a fight broke out among passengers. After several hours it took off again, and there was another fight, reports say.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A plane was forced to turn round after fighting broke out on board, News.com.au reported. Fights allegedly broke out on an Australian domestic flight last week that ultimately led to the plane being turned round, a window getting smashed, and four passengers being charged, News.com.au reported. A spokesperson for the Australian Federal Police told News.com.au that the flight had to be turned around because of an "incident." Three passengers were arrested and charged when the plane landed on Groote Eylandt, the outlet reported. Though the flight was chartered by Groote Eylandt Mining Company, Insider understands that the passengers involved in the incident were members of the public.

SYDNEY, April 17 (Reuters) - The lawyer for an Australian charged with foreign interference said his client had become "very worried" about two alleged foreign intelligence agents while living in Shanghai and returned to Australia after a decade-long career in China. Csergo is alleged to have accepted cash for writing reports, which Australian federal police say contained information about Australian defence, economic and national security arrangements. The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation had searched Csergo's laptop and WeChat accounts upon his return from Shanghai, the court was told. "The Chinese did not want it to be known they were making these inquiries and receiving these reports," Barko commented. Csergo, 55, appeared in court via video link from Parklea Prison where he is being held as a high security prisoner.

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