Tuesday, 17 February 2009

No role for Salvos in distribution of funds - BLACK SATURDAY DISASTER, The Australian, 17 February, 2009.

No role for Salvos in distribution of funds - BLACK SATURDAY DISASTER

Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 17 Feb 2009: 2.
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Sources within the Salvation Army said many officers had been "gobsmacked and bewildered" by their failure to be included in government planning and co-ordination, including being omitted from the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund Advisory Panel.
"The Salvation Army are always there when times are tough, without any favouritism as to race or creed," Mr [Tony Abbott] said. "The Salvos are at least as active as any other welfare group. It is disappointing they aren't being given a look-in at official level.
APPEAL
ONE of the nation's leading church-based charity groups, the Salvation Army, has been left off the committee that will oversee bushfire appeal funds.
Despite raising more than $12million for bushfire victims and already distributing $1.4 million in cash, the Salvation Army will not play a role in overseeing theoperation of distributing the millions raised.
Opposition community services spokesman Tony Abbott called for the inclusion of the Salvation Army.
"The Salvation Army are always there when times are tough, without any favouritism as to race or creed," Mr Abbott said. "The Salvos are at least as active as any other welfare group. It is disappointing they aren't being given a look-in at official level.
"For some reason -- maybe it is because of their Christian orientation, maybe because they were thought to be close to the Howard government -- the Rudd Government is giving them the cold shoulder. It is wrong and it should stop immediately."
Salvation Army spokesman Neil Venables said the organisation was ready to respond to any invitation.
"We would hope that it's not because of our Christian values and the perception that we were close to the previous government," Major Venables said.
"We were committed to working with the Howard government, as we are committed to working with the Rudd Government.
"It is not about political persuasion; it is about how we most effectively fulfil our mission. At times like this, the army has the ability to do its best work."
Sources within the Salvation Army said many officers had been "gobsmacked and bewildered" by their failure to be included in government planning and co-ordination, including being omitted from the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund Advisory Panel.
The administration costs of the official government-Red Cross appeal are being picked up by the Government, but the same offer has not been extended to the Salvation Army Bushfire Appeal.
Credit: John Stapleton
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Monday, 16 February 2009

Shark-catch ban defended despite attacks, The Australian, 16 February, 2009.

Shark-catch ban defended despite attacks

Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 16 Feb 2009: 3.
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"Shark fishermen have been telling the state Government that shark numbers are in plague proportions and the quota needs to be overhauled, but they are being ignored because Labor's policy is dictated by the Greens preferences they rely on at election time," he said. "The state Government should lift the quota on shark fishing and seriously look at extending air patrols."
Mr [Ian Macdonald] said there was no link between shark quotas and the recent attacks. "It is a lie, it's false and it's mischievous and misleading," Mr Macdonald said.

THE NSW Government has defended its ban on the commercial fishing of sharks, despite two serious attacks last week and the closure of Bondi Beach yesterday following another shark sighting.
The first of the attacks, on Wednesday, left navy diver Paul de Gelder, 31, without his right hand after he was savaged at Woolloomooloo, and the other, at Bondi the next day, injured surfer Glen Orgias, 33. Both remain in a stable condition at St Vincent's Hospital.
The state Government wrote to fishermen last week declaring a ban on shark fishing until July1, saying the annual quota had already been reached.
State Opposition industry spokesman Duncan Gay said that of the annual quota of 160tonnes of sharks, 100 tonnes were made up of sandbar sharks, which were not regularly caught south of Coffs Harbour, on the mid-North Coast. This left 60 tonnes between Coffs Harbour and the Victorian border.
By comparison, Queensland shark hunters catch up to 3000 tonnes a year.
Mr Gay said Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald was on record as saying the build-up of shark numbers was a priority of his Government.
"Shark fishermen have been telling the state Government that shark numbers are in plague proportions and the quota needs to be overhauled, but they are being ignored because Labor's policy is dictated by the Greens preferences they rely on at election time," he said. "The state Government should lift the quota on shark fishing and seriously look at extending air patrols."
Mr Macdonald said there was no link between shark quotas and the recent attacks. "It is a lie, it's false and it's mischievous and misleading," Mr Macdonald said.
The shark alarm at Bondi was activated, forcing lifesavers to close the beach, after a reported sighting just after 5pm yesterday.
It comes after a 14-year-old dolphin was badly injured by a shark at Morten Bay, near Brisbane. A crew from Sea World on the Gold Coast was last night on standby to treat the dolphin, named Nari, after it was spotted when he came in for his evening feed at a resort on Friday.
But the injured animal last night failed to join the pod of 11 wild dolphins that enjoy a nightly hand-feeding ritual by guests and staff at the Tangalooma Resort.
Credit: John Stapleton, Sanna Trad
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Saturday, 14 February 2009

Shark tried to 'rip off' Bondi surfer's arm, Weekend Australian, 14 February, 2009.

Shark tried to `rip off' Bondi surfer's arm

Stapleton, John. Weekend Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 14 Feb 2009: 9.
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"The shark just latched on to his arm. He started screaming `shark'. The shark was just ripping into his arm, trying to rip his arm off, thrashing about in thewater," Mick Marjonovich, who was only five metres away from the attack on Thursday, told surfing magazine Stab.
"He thought he was going to die. He said to me, `Tell my wife, Lisa, I love her'. He'll probably save a couple of inches of arm from his elbow. If the surgeons can keep any more than that, they've done well."
Mr [Orgias]'s pregnant wife, Lisa, was traumatised, at one point collapsing on to the floor. She appeared inconsolable as she waited to hear if the 10-hour operation on Mr Orgias's left arm was successful.
FATHER-TO-BE Glen Orgias was surfing at the southern end of Bondi, where the locals surf away from the tourists, just on nightfall when the second shark attack in as many days occurred.
"The shark just latched on to his arm. He started screaming `shark'. The shark was just ripping into his arm, trying to rip his arm off, thrashing about in thewater," Mick Marjonovich, who was only five metres away from the attack on Thursday, told surfing magazine Stab.
As several surfers managed to get to shore, the water became red with blood.
"When he stood up, his hand was dangling down on a piece of skin. He was holding his bicep together; that was ripped apart. He was looking towards me and all I could see was the bone of his forearm, and his hand just hanging off."
Still conscious after the attack, the 33-year-old told one surfer who had come to his rescue, James McIntosh, to pass a message to
his wife that he loved her.
"He thought he was going to die. He said to me, `Tell my wife, Lisa, I love her'. He'll probably save a couple of inches of arm from his elbow. If the surgeons can keep any more than that, they've done well."
French tourist Mikael Thomas, 21, said the Origin Energy worker's injuries were severe.
"We could see all of his bones cut like with a big knife," he said.
Bondi Beach was closed for several hours yesterday morning.
A rescue helicopter conducted patrols over the beach while lifeguards on jetskis searched for sharks. There were no sightings throughout the day, but only a handful of surfers went into the water.
On Wednesday, an elite navy diver, Paul de Gelder, 31, lost his right hand and suffered serious wounds to his thigh while attacked by a shark during early morning anti-terrorist exercises in Sydney Harbour.
Yesterday, the intensive care unit of St Vincent's Hospital was filled with distraught friends and relatives of both men.
Mr Orgias's pregnant wife, Lisa, was traumatised, at one point collapsing on to the floor. She appeared inconsolable as she waited to hear if the 10-hour operation on Mr Orgias's left arm was successful.
Surf Life Saving Australia and NSW Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald both issued statements calling for calm. They also warned against entering thewater at dusk or dawn, when sharks are more active.
Business leaders fear the shark attack will destroy the area's tourist trade. Bondi Chamber of Commerce vice-president Max Siano said news of the attacks would reverberate around the world, scaring off tourists.
Bondi's largest surf school, Let's Go Surfing, cancelled lessons yesterday and issued a statement saying the terrible and up-
setting event had shaken the local community.
Through a hospital spokesman, the family of Mr Orgias have thanked people at the scene who helped save his life, as well as ambulance and hospital staff, who they said played played a critical role.
Credit: John Stapleton, Jared Owens, Additional reporting: Fred Pawle
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Friday, 13 February 2009

Catchpole seeks return of seized $240,000, The Australian, 13 February, 2009.

Catchpole seeks return of seized $240,000

Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 13 Feb 2009: 8.
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MARK Catchpole, the son of Wallabies legend Ken Catchpole, is trying to recover $240,000 seized by the NSW Crime Commission after allegations it was drug money were withdrawn.
Catchpole, 40, had earlier pleaded guilty to possessing an unlicensed and unregistered gun and the minor drug charge of possessing a small amount of cocaine and cannabis.
Police claimed the two had been supplying illicit drugs after an illegal pill press, commonly used for the production of ecstasy tablets, was found at a storage facility at Sydney's northern beaches. Mr Catchpole claimed the press, capable of producing 27,000 tablets an hour, belonged to [Scott Miller] and his only connection to it was that he once helped his friend move it.
MARK Catchpole, the son of Wallabies legend Ken Catchpole, is trying to recover $240,000 seized by the NSW Crime Commission after allegations it was drug money were withdrawn.
Prosecutors yesterday dropped serious charges -- of supplying ecstasy and dealing in the proceeds of crime -- at a hearing at Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court.
Catchpole, 40, had earlier pleaded guilty to possessing an unlicensed and unregistered gun and the minor drug charge of possessing a small amount of cocaine and cannabis.
He has acknowledged that the gun was his and he had allowed its licence to lapse. His barrister, William Barber, said his client would try to recover his money from the NSW Crime Commission, which had also frozen his bank accounts.
Mr Barber said: "He was originally portrayed as some enormous drug tsar and vilified right across Australia by police allegations.
"Those allegations have been proven to be unfounded. His life has been put on hold for the last 10 months. His professional and personal reputation have been seriously affected.
"He was under the attention of the police for over 12 months and that was the best they could come up with -- a small quantity of recreational drugs and one firearms charge? We are just trying to get his money back and his bank accounts unfrozen.
"It will be almost impossible to resurrect his reputation and his business interests."
Catchpole was arrested last April with his friend, former Olympic swimmer Scott Miller.
Police claimed the two had been supplying illicit drugs after an illegal pill press, commonly used for the production of ecstasy tablets, was found at a storage facility at Sydney's northern beaches. Mr Catchpole claimed the press, capable of producing 27,000 tablets an hour, belonged to Miller and his only connection to it was that he once helped his friend move it.
Catchpole claimed the $240,000 was gained through legitimate means and said he could account for every cent. A spokeswoman for the commission said she could not say what would happen to the money.
Last August, prosecutors dropped a further three charges against Catchpole of supplying and possessing the drug ice and one charge of possessing ecstasy.
Powder seized by police from his home turned out to be a vitamin supplement.
Catchpole is due to appear in court on March 19 for sentencing over the remaining charges.
Credit: John Stapleton
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Thursday, 12 February 2009

Call to start AFP war crimes unit, The Australian, 12 February, 2009.



Call to start AFP war crimes unit

Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 12 Feb 2009: 7.
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"Strong grounds exist for believing Australia has, over the years, inadvertently admitted a substantial number of these suspected criminals and there is no plausible reason why those who are alleged to have committed the most abhorrent crimes should continue to find refuge," he said.
"There are modern day examples of successful war crime trials, for example in The Netherlands, which has a war crimes screening unit," he said. "Even international organisations we associate with lethargy and incompetence have successfully run dozens of modern war crime trials that have resulted in numerous convictions."
A spokeswoman for Home Affairs Minister Bob Debus said the Lowy report would be examined. "The Government takes all allegations of war criminals living in Australia seriously and considers all requests for extradition for people accused of war crimes," she said.

A WAR crimes unit should be established within the Australian Federal Police to investigate whether international war criminals are living in Australia.
The Lowy Institute released a policy paper yesterday saying that potentially hundreds of war criminals from the former Yugoslavia, Cambodia, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and East Timor could be residing in Australia.
Research associate Fergus Hanson said Australia's tradition of mass migration meant it was likely we were a safe haven for suspected war criminals.
"Strong grounds exist for believing Australia has, over the years, inadvertently admitted a substantial number of these suspected criminals and there is no plausible reason why those who are alleged to have committed the most abhorrent crimes should continue to find refuge," he said.
Mr Hanson said past attempts such as the Special Investigations Unit, which was disbanded in 1992 after prosecuting only three people, none of whom was convicted, failed partly because of the long time lapse between the investigation and alleged crimes during World War II.
"There are modern day examples of successful war crime trials, for example in The Netherlands, which has a war crimes screening unit," he said. "Even international organisations we associate with lethargy and incompetence have successfully run dozens of modern war crime trials that have resulted in numerous convictions."
Mr Hanson said last year Australia gave more than $15million to international courts and tribunals. Comparatively, the cost of a war crimes unit would be modest.
"Sweden's unit costs $1.7million last year, and The Netherlands operates on a budget of $4million a year," he said.
"There's no reason why Australia could not achieve something similar."
The B'nai B'rith Anti-Defamation Commission chairman Tony Levy said it was imperative a dedicated war crimes unit be created.
"Factors such as the age of the accused or the location of the crime should be no barrier to an investigation by Australianauthorities into the role of the alleged perpetrators in the atrocities," he said.
The author of War Criminals Welcome, Mark Aarons, said successive governments of both persuasion had turned a blind eye to thepresence of alleged mass killers in Australia, including those who served under Cambodia's Pol Pot or Soviet officers from Afghanistan.
A spokeswoman for Home Affairs Minister Bob Debus said the Lowy report would be examined. "The Government takes all allegations of war criminals living in Australia seriously and considers all requests for extradition for people accused of war crimes," she said.
Alleged war criminal Dragan Vasiljkovic, accused of ordering soldiers to fire on civilians, is expected to lodge an appeal against his extradition to Croatia in the next few days.
Credit: John Stapleton
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