Chinese national charged with alleged foreign interference
A Chinese national has been charged with alleged foreign interference by the Australian Federal Police.
In a statement, the AFP say the woman has been accused of covertly collecting information about a Canberra Buddhist association on behalf of a public security bureau of China.
The woman appeared in ACT magistrates court today to face one count of reckless foreign interference. She was arrested and charged on Saturday, after homes were searched in Canberra with electronic devices seized. AFP said these devices will undergo forensic examination.
The operation was launched after the AFP received information from Asio. In a statement the AFP said:
The AFP will allege the woman, who is also an Australian permanent resident, was tasked by a public security bureau of China to covertly gather information about the Canberra branch of Guan Yin Citta, a Buddhist association.
It is the third time a foreign interference offence has been laid in Australia since new laws were introduced in 2018, and the first time relating to alleged community interference.
Key events
Giving a press conference just now, the AFP counter terrorism and special investigations assistant commissioner, Stephen Nutt, said:
This is the first time the AFP has charged a person with foreign interference that allegedly involves targeting members of the Australian community. Foreign interference is a serious crime that undermines democracy and social cohesion. It is a crime carried out by or on behalf of a foreign principle that involves covert and deceptive conduct or threats of serious harm or menacing demands.
Chinese national charged with alleged foreign interference
A Chinese national has been charged with alleged foreign interference by the Australian Federal Police.
In a statement, the AFP say the woman has been accused of covertly collecting information about a Canberra Buddhist association on behalf of a public security bureau of China.
The woman appeared in ACT magistrates court today to face one count of reckless foreign interference. She was arrested and charged on Saturday, after homes were searched in Canberra with electronic devices seized. AFP said these devices will undergo forensic examination.
The operation was launched after the AFP received information from Asio. In a statement the AFP said:
The AFP will allege the woman, who is also an Australian permanent resident, was tasked by a public security bureau of China to covertly gather information about the Canberra branch of Guan Yin Citta, a Buddhist association.
It is the third time a foreign interference offence has been laid in Australia since new laws were introduced in 2018, and the first time relating to alleged community interference.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry releases statement on Sydney Gaza march
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry has released a statement regarding yesterday’s Harbour Bridge protest.
The statement acknowledged the majority of those who marched did so in solidarity with civilians in Gaza, but said the rally had ignored the hostages held in Gaza.
Co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said:
Our national landmarks are there to bring Australians together. This march did not do that.
Any genuine concern for humanity would have also included the forgotten people held against their will in Gaza, the tortured and broken innocents held underground for nearly two years.
Tom McIlroy
Sussan Ley welcomes new AFP commissioner
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has welcomed Krissy Barrett’s appointment as the new commissioner of the Australian Federal Police.
Barrett will be the first woman to lead the agency, replacing outgoing commissioner Reece Kershaw.
Barrett has worked in law enforcement for nearly 25 years, including as deputy commissioner responsible for national security.
With more than 20 years’ experience in the AFP, including in counterterrorism and as deputy commissioner, Ms Barrett is well-equipped to lead the AFP in its important work in defending Australia’s national security.
We thank the departing commissioner, Mr Reece Kershaw APM, who has tirelessly served the Australian community for more than 30 years, including almost six years as the head of the AFP, and we wish him all the best in his future endeavours.
SA Police investigating sudden death of two people in Bordertown
SA Police are investigating after two people were found dead at a property in Bordertown. Officials said they were called to a home around 11pm local time on Sunday evening for a welfare check on the occupants.
When they arrived they found a man, 47, and woman, 41, dead inside. The pair were in a domestic relationship, police said.
Detectives and forensic response units were on scene and investigations will continue. Police are not seeking any suspects in the matter.
That’s all for me, thanks for sticking with us. Natasha May will be your news guide from here. Take care.
Fire and Rescue NSW had no disruptions to service during Sydney protest
Fire and Rescue NSW said there were no disruptions to emergency responses yesterday during the large march over the Sydney Harbour Bridge. At a press conference earlier today, opposition leader Sussan Ley expressed concern that people who needed emergency services may have “had to wait or couldn’t actually get them”.
A Fire and Rescue NSW spokesperson said:
There were no disruptions to any emergency responses by Fire and Rescue NSW during the bridge protest.
FRNSW was able to plan ahead and deploy its flexible resources as required.
Australia will spend $130m to woo international tourists, including new ad featuring Nigella Lawson and Robert Irwin
The government will soon launch a $130m campaign to appeal to international travellers, including a series of ads set to roll out in China, the US, UK, India and Japan. The television and online ads are centred on a 3-minute video featuring Ruby the Roo and a slate of international and local celebs, including Robert Irwin, Nigella Lawson, Heartbreak High star Thomas Weatherall and others.
The government says every dollar in tourism investment leads to $14 in return to the tourism industry.
Check out the full ad below:
NSW Greens say Minns seeking to ‘override the will of the people’, will work to roll back police powers to move on protesters
Sue Higginson, the NSW Greens justice spokesperson, said she will introduce a measure in parliament this week to remove police powers to move on peaceful protesters, saying NSW premier Chris Minns had sought to “override the will of the people and is influencing the police with his personal opinion and his own ignorance and arrogance”.
Higginson’s remarks come after the major protest over the Sydney Harbour Bridge yesterday. She said in a statement:
Labor premier Chris Minns is acting strangely and is not listening. He has lost authority over his own caucus and on matters too significant to ignore. …
The premier has come out saying he has no regrets about his fierce opposition to the history-making march for humanity and is now making clear his opposition to future marches across the bridge … The question now really has to be: where was the premier? What was more important for the premier that he could not attend the march for humanity? …
Protest in NSW is a critical feature of our democracy, and the state’s response to protest can make the difference between whether it is safe, peaceful and understood.
As reported in the blog earlier, at a press conference earlier today Minns did not rule out changes to legislation to make it harder to organise demonstrations that would cross the bridge. He said the public has a right to protest but he was tasked with protecting that right and the need for public safety.
Greens back ACTU calls for levy on coal and gas exports and rollback of negative gearing
The Greens have thrown their support behind a proposal from the Australian Council of Trade Unions to roll back negative gearing and capital gains tax discounts, as well as impose a 25% tax on coal and gas export revenue.
Sally McManus, the secretary of ACTU, told ABC’s Insiders this weekend the government needed to “bite the bullet” on such policies to help young people get a leg up. McManus said the union, which represents about 1.8 million workers, believes the major changes would be in the national interest. The ACTU secretary will be at treasurer Jim Chalmers’ upcoming economic roundtable.
Greens leader Larissa Waters agreed with the ACTU proposals on Monday, which echo changes the party has long called for, saying:
Australia urgently needs comprehensive economic reform that tackles both the housing crisis and the climate crisis.
The Greens would be happy to see reforms in all of these areas come to the Senate and to work with Labor to pass them.
Police CCTV shows man in Scream mask approaching Melbourne synagogue – video
Current AFP commissioner leaving role after more than a decade: ‘It takes a toll on family life’
AFP commissioner Reece Kershaw said earlier he is leaving the role a year early after saying the job had taken a toll on his family life. Kershaw said earlier:
I’m coming up to almost 11 years as a commissioner and, as you’d appreciate, it takes its toll on the family life. Being a grandfather has changed me dramatically, and I need to be there for my family.
I want to give back to the Australian community in some other capacity down the track but it has been an incredible journey for myself. I am very grateful and privileged to have been able to serve the community.
PM says he is not surprised Australians marched in Sydney en masse yesterday
The prime minister said it is a good thing for people to peacefully protest in a healthy democracy, saying he was not surprised “so many Australians have been affected” by the images coming out of Gaza. Albanese said at a press conference:
Yesterday’s march was peaceful and an opportunity for people to express their concern about what is happening in Gaza.
It is not surprising so many Australians have been affected in order to want to show their concern at people being deprived of food and water and essential services. And so the demonstration in a democracy, it is important people be able to express themselves.
Albanese went on to say that the march’s approval was a decision for the courts and it was important for the rule of law to win out.
What’s an immediately important takeout was it was peaceful. I don’t support when there have been breaches of the peace, which has occurred in the past. What we saw yesterday was peaceful demonstration in a democracy; it is important people be able to express themselves.
Krissy Barrett to be first female commissioner of Australian Federal Police
Prime minister Anthony Albanese is speaking after appointing Krissy Barrett as the new commissioner of the Australian Federal Police. It’s a historic appointment, which will see Barrett become the first woman to lead the agency.
Barrett has worked in law enforcement for nearly 25 year and most recently served as a deputy commissioner with the AFP, managing national security. She also worked on the Bali bombings investigation.
Albanese said:
The role of the AFP is critical to keeping our nation safe. There is no greater honour than wearing the uniform of those that serve and protect Australians. And we are so proud of our world-leading AFP and the work that they do. Krissy, we very much look forward to working with you as you take on the leadership of the AFP.
Her five-year term will begin on 4 October.
Major flooding hitting parts of NSW, with hundreds of properties under evacuation orders in Gunnedah
Around 230 properties in the NSW town of Gunnedah are under evacuation orders amid major flooding. NSW SES officials said more than 1,500 volunteers had attended about 2,200 incidents over the weekend. In Gunnedah, officials said the Namoi River is now at 8.4m and is expected to peak later this evening, although it will stay at a major flood level until at least Wednesday.
Debbie Platz, the deputy commissioner of the NSW SES, said on the ABC earlier:
We are monitoring 11 different river systems and all of them, anything from a minor to a major flooding, we do need people to stay really alert. So, concentrating on your Hazards Near Me app, where you live, where you work and where you’re travelling to, and also the SES website.
And we’ll provide you with the most up-to-date information that we can so that we can keep you and your family and friends safe.
