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Brisbane bomb scare

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An anonymously phoned in bomb threat will stop all bus and train services in Brisbane for the second time today.
BUS, train and ferry services in Brisbane were stopped this morning and passengers evacuated after an anonymous caller made threats against the city’s public transport network. Queensland Premier Peter Beattie said this afternoon that the threat would cause all bus and train services in Brisbane to be suspended again between 4.45pm and 5.15pm (AEST) this afternoon.
Mr Beattie said the Government was being “over-cautious” about the threatening phone calls.
War on Terror

Armistice Day

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On Friday I represented Legacy at Tradelink, a commercial enterprise mainly involved with plumbing. They have a couple of hundred stores around Australia all administered from their Brisbane HQ. Once a month the staff have a theme day, dress up and generally have a good time while collecting for a nominated charity. This intiative comes from the top but is clearly supported from the ground floor. Friday being Armistice day the theme was the service and sacrifice of servicemen over our history. I was there all booted and spured with polished medals and regimental tie and was escorted around by two delightful ladies dressed as nurses, complete with make-up scars. One section had turned their office space into 4077 MASH with people dressed as BJ, Honeycut, Radar, ‘Hot Lips’ Hooligan and yes, there was a Cpl Klinger. He did it so well and had the panache to carry it off. One young man had his grandfathers medals, with history and a young woman had a huge library of 1942 newspapers and Time magazines recovered from under the linoleum when she recarpeted. Entire sections were given over to military themes with militaria, badges, flags, posters, news clippings, model soldiers and equipment. What impressed me was the respectful way I was treated. Not me personally, of course, but what I represented. Everyone I met knew what Legacy does and they gave generously – almost $500, a sum that will be matched one-for-one by the GM. They spoke respectfully of service and sacrifice and nearly all had a story to tell of their family member who had died or served. It bouyed me and reaffirmed my faith in the Australian people. No politics, just thanks and I thank them in return. Not for the money, although it is appreciated, but for their smiles, handshakes, appreciative comments about Legacy and service and just for taking us seriously. Armistice Day is always sad for me – I’ve buried too many friends for it not to be so, but this one was all the better for my having visited Tradelink.
General Musings

Dana Vale backs the wrong horse again.

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Dana Vale is starting to lose me. First she comes up with the crazy idea of a Gallipoli Theme Park on the Mornington Peninsular and now she’s wants Hicks brought back from Guantonamo Bay.
Former veterans affairs minister Danna Vale said today she had asked Prime Minister John Howard to lobby US President George W Bush for Hicks’ release. She says the Australian’s rights are being denied.
If she had half a brain she would’ve realized her faux pas when Hicks senior and Bob Brown agreed.
Hicks’ father Terry and Greens Senator Bob Brown say they hope Ms Vale’s comments will lead to public support for his release from other Coalition MPs.
I can understand Hicks senior going along with it but if I ever said something that Bob Brown agreed with I’d book myself in for retraining Dana Vale might like to consider that option as well. I’m sure glad she isn’t running Veteran Affairs any more. Marvelous, isn’t it? One second rate back bencher makes a comment and it’s all over the news with Howard and/or Downer having to waste time and say no! It’s not happening……remember, we said so before…..nothing has changed. Back in your box. Meanwhile from the UK comes bad news for Hicks and good news for the rest of us.
War on Terror

Back on net

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Brought myself a Toshiba laptop and set it up on my home network. Set up the old desktop to transfer all the data over….went to press start and the HD decided to take a break. Result. Three days to get back on line and I still have to recover the old data. There goes my Saturday. Bloody computers! Tonight some Brisbane bloggers are meeting at the Brekkie Creek to celebrate the demise of Whitlam’s circus. Come along if you’re up to it but I would hope the BLF pick another pub for the night. About sixish.
General Musings

Chemical stockpile led to raids

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NSW and Victorian police have made arrests preempting a terrorist attack. I’ve just watched the news conference and had to smile at the journalists repeated questioning aimed at getting Commissioner Moroney to say Howard forced the police hand by his statement about possible, imminent terrorist attacks. Please say Howard forced your hand. Please say Howard was wrong. Please…pretty please! The Commissioner didn’t bite.
Nine men have been charged in Melbourne with terrorism related offences and seven were being held in Sydney after a joint counter-terrorism strike in the two states this morning.
Cleric arrested as well
ONE of the nine men arrested in anti-terrorism raids across Melbourne overnight was the outspoken Melbourne Muslim cleric Abu Bakr, his lawyer said today.
Residents shocked at terror raids in South west Sydney
Residents of Renown Avenue, Wiley Park, described their shock at being woken by armed police raiding a single-storey brick home nearby.
And predictably, a junior journalist was dispatched to find someone who thought they were good people.
Ms Beyrouthy said she believed several families lived in the raided home, and she had often seen them in the street. “I am surprised (about the raid),” she said. “I see a lot of people in there (and) they’re very good people. “We’ve never had any problems with them.”
TREASURER Peter Costello has indicated last week’s amendment to federal anti-terrorism laws was directly related to raids today on homes in Sydney and Melbourne targeting terrorist suspects. AFP confirms 15 held after raids Commissioner Moroney says ‘Someone has been shot at Green Valley’ The SMH has a link Man shot in western Sydney The Age obviously made a typo when they let this positive Howard statement through
Victoria Police chief commissioner Christine Nixon said the raids were connected to comments last week by Prime Minister John Howard regarding a “specific” terror threat.
But manage to quote a lawyer to balance the issue and reflect The Age’s point of view;
However, a lawyer acting for six people in Sydney described the prosecutions as “political and a great shame on this country”.
I think you will find the public will describe the prosecutions as a positive step in the war against terror and will feel just a bit of pride and relief in that our political leaders had the sense to amend laws to allow police to act prior to the event rather than have to play catchup after Australians have been killed. I particularly like the fact that Abu Bakr was also arrested. Altogether a good mornings work. We should thank the police and the politicians who had the stamina to pursue the terror bills passage through parliament inspite of all the left wing carping.
War on Terror

SAS soldier killed in Mid-east

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DEVELOPING STORY: An Australian soldier serving in the elite special forces has been killed in a training accident in the Middle East, Defence said today. More as it comes to hand. UPDATE: From the Defence Media Centre
One of Australia’s most experienced special forces soldiers Warrant Officer Class 2 David Russell Nary, from the Special Air Service Regiment, was killed yesterday as a result of an accident that occurred during a training activity.
WO Nary had served for almost 25 years, experience that we can ill afford to lose.
Warrant Officer Nary was an extremely popular soldier with a wealth of special forces experience. He enlisted in the Australian Defence Force in 1981 and served as an infantry soldier in 8/9 Royal Australian Regiment, and 11/28 Royal Western Australia Regiment prior to joining the Special Air Service Regiment in 1989.
He had already served in three overseas rotations and was training for deployment in Iraq when the vehicle accident happened.
Warrant Officer Nary served the nation on operations in the Sinai, East Timor and Afghanistan. He was a professional and dedicated soldier. His experience, leadership and significant achievements within the Regiment were recognised in January this year when he was promoted to Warrant Officer Class 2.
Rest in peace soldier, your duty done. UPDATE: This is the second time that Naomi Nary has been widowed
It was a second tragic blow for Naomi Nary, who married the long-serving soldier after her first husband, SAS Corporal Gordon “Dutchy” Holland, was killed in a training accident in Perth in 1993. That first tragedy happened soon after the couple returned from their honeymoon.
Tragic.
War on Terror

Raffle funds ‘used to pay teachers’

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From the Australian… Of the 331 Victorian principals who responded to the Australian Education Union (AEU) survey, 87 per cent said funds raised by the schools through events like fetes were seen to be very important or important. Fair enough. I used to be involved in school committees and helped raise a lot of money for additional equipment but never in my wildest dreams did I imagine we could raise enough to pay teacher salaries. I still don’t but apparently in Victoria they do exactly that – according to the Australian Education Union.
And 55 per cent of principals said they used those funds to pay teacher and staff salaries.
With Victorian Teachers starting at $48k the raffles must be gold plated. At the local Catholic Ed school I know they net about $20k from the annual fete and I guess maybe they might get several thousand more from raffles but enough for a salary…I don’t think so. I just can’t help being cynical about the survey but I’m happy to be corrected if I’m wrong. Anyone?
Politics
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