New charity connected to Julian Assange will help other whistleblowers facing persecution
A new charity connected to wikileaks founder Julian Assange has been launched to support whistleblowers, writers and activists who face persecution for sharing confidential information in the public domain.
The new charity is called The Information Rights Project and is designed to offer advocacy, education and other practical support to those not just in Australia but worldwide.
Guest: Gabriel Shipton, brother of Julian Assange, and founder of the Information Rights Project
Producer: Anne Barker
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News.com.au
37 minutes ago
- News.com.au
‘Endearing' messages read in Kiama MP Gareth Ward's criminal trial
A political staffer who alleges Kiama MP Gareth Ward sexually abused him has told a court that he spent months 'looking over his shoulder' after the alleged assault despite sending him 'endearing' messages. Mr Ward, 43, is facing a four-week criminal trial in the Downing Centre District Court over allegations he sexually abused two young men. The NSW independent MP was charged in March 2022 with three counts of assault with act of indecency, an alternative charge of common assault against an 18-year-old man at Meroo Meadow in 2013, and intercourse without consent against a 24-year-old man in Potts Point in 2015. He has pleaded not guilty to each of the five charges. Mr Ward arrived in court on Monday for the second week of the criminal trial before Judge Kara Shead SC. The first complainant, a man who was aged 24 at the time of the alleged assault, again took the stand to give evidence in a cross-examination by defence solicitor David Campbell SC. Mr Campbell asked the man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, about an RSVP to a party in 2016. The man said he 'did not recall' either sending an RSVP or even attending the party. However, Mr Campbell put to the man that it would be 'extraordinary' for him not to remember attending such an event, given how he previously told the court that he felt 'uncomfortable' towards Mr Ward at the time. 'Until today I haven't recalled attending,' the man replied, noting it was almost 10 years ago. The man's memory again came under question when Mr Campbell asked him about further communications with Mr Ward in the months following the alleged assault. A series of Facebook messages were read out in court between the complainant and Mr Ward. In the messages, the man refers to Mr Ward as 'love', along with a smiley face, and asks him how his night was. Mr Campbell said the term 'love' was 'an expression of endearment', which he suggested was not the sort of dialogue one would use when feeling 'uncomfortable'. The man replied that he often referred to others, as well as colleagues, as 'love' or 'dear' and perhaps he was 'overcompensating' at the time. During the time of the messages in the months following the alleged assault the man told the court that he felt a 'little uncomfortable'. 'What do you mean by that?' Mr Campbell asked. 'Having to be alert made me uncomfortable … when you're looking over your shoulder, you often felt uncomfortable,' the man replied. The cross-examination is expected to continue on Monday afternoon. The man had earlier told the court that he attended an event on the night of the alleged assault at NSW Parliament House in 2015 before heading back to Mr Ward's apartment. The man said he had drunk 'three or four glasses of white wine' at the event and was trying to organise a cab ride home when he ran into Mr Ward. The pair had a brief conversation before Mr Ward allegedly invited the man to his office at Parliament House where he poured the staffer another wine. The man told Mr Ward that he had to leave as he lived 'a long way away', to which the MP offered the 24-year-old to stay at his place that night, the court was told. The pair allegedly walked to Mr Ward's apartment in Potts Point, and along the way Mr Ward continued telling the man about 'how bright' his future was, the court was told. Back at Mr Ward's apartment, the MP poured the man another drink before allegedly attempting to kiss him on his balcony, to which the political staffer pushed him away and said 'no'. Mr Ward leaned in again a short time later and kissed the man before the 24-year-old said he wanted to go to bed, the court was told. The Crown alleges the man was shown to his room by Mr Ward, who had allegedly stripped down to his boxers. Mr Ward allegedly put an arm over the man and his hands on the man's buttocks before he was told to stop. Without warning, it's alleged Mr Ward digitally penetrated him before allegedly kissing his neck and masturbating. The two maintained a professional relationship for some time after the alleged events, the court was told. The man made a formal statement years later to police, and Mr Ward was formally charged in March 2022. In her opening address last week, Crown prosecutor Monika Knowles alleged that Mr Ward indecently assaulted another man, who had just turned 18, at his home on the South Coast in February 2013. Beginning his political career in 2011, Mr Ward was a councillor on the Shoalhaven Council before becoming the Liberal member for Kiama in 2011, a seat he has held since. The trial continues.
News.com.au
39 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Anthony Albanese says action on climate targets ‘not ideological' but based on reality
Anthony Albanese says Labor was 'not being ideological' on its climate change target, but being 'real' on the need for immediate and long-term strategies to tackle climate change. The Prime Minister made the comments while visiting drought affected farming communities in Fischer, about 96km from Adelaide, where he was asked about the impact of climate change and how he plans on achieving bipartisan support on Labor's net zero targets. While former Liberal prime minister Scott Morrison initially committed Australia to reaching net zero by 2050, the topic has become a point of political argy-bargy, with some members of the Coalition calling on the party to abandon the promise. However, Mr Albanese said science had shown that extreme weather events were becoming more common, and said climate wars were 'pretty pointless'. 'Getting in a debate about whether, you know, any specific event is because of climate change is, in my view, a cul-de-sac that leads you back to the same place,' he said alongside SA Premier Peter Malinauskas and Agriculture Minister Julie Collins. 'The place is that climate change is real and we need to respond to it.' He said government had a 'responsibility' to tackle both the immediate and long term issues related to climate change, and that the response was not political. 'We're not being ideological about this, we're being real about this … the farmers that I meet know there's something going on with the weather,' he said. 'That's why we engaged in the lead up to setting those emissions targets that were going forward.' Labor has so far committed to reaching net zero by 2050, while also reducing emissions by 43 per cent by 2030. The government has also been under pressure to release the 2035 target, however it is waiting on further consultation with the Climate Change Authority, headed by former NSW Liberal minister Matt Kean. Speaking on Sunday, Energy and Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen said he believed Australia was 'by and large on track' to meet the 43 per cent 2030 emission reduction targets, despite figures released on Friday revealing that emissions had increased year-on-year by 0.05 per cent. On Monday, Mr Albanese also announced that the 2025 National Drought Forum will be held in nearby town of Gawler, with the state experiencing some of the driest conditions on record. Mr Albanese also committed an extra $2m to the Rural Financial Counselling Service, on top of the $36m in previous funding for the Future Drought Fund Communities Program to bolster social resilience among agriculture-dependent communities. The funding pledge has been welcomed by the National Farmers Federation president David Jochinke who said farmers were facing conditions which 'have to be seen to be believed'. 'Things are really tough right now in large parts of South Australia and Victoria, as well as areas in Tasmania, NSW and Western Australia,' he said. 'We're not just talking about dry paddocks and low rainfall. For some regions, there's been multiple bad seasons and entire communities are under pressure. 'We thank Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Minister Julie Collins for showing up and listening. We hope the visit will help them see the urgency of the situation and the need for action.'
ABC News
43 minutes ago
- ABC News
Students across Illawarra walk for Reconciliation Week
Hundreds of school students from across the Illawarra region of the New South Wales south coast have walked on Dharawal country to show their support for reconciliation — 25 years on from the landmark walk over the Sydney Harbour Bridge. More than 35 schools participated in the walk to mark National Reconciliation Week, bringing to life this year's theme: Bridging Now to Next. "It's a brilliant opportunity to bring all the community together, and more importantly, we're teaching young kids — both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal — about Aboriginal culture," Uncle Darrell Brown told the ABC's Indigenous Affairs Team. Students and teachers made their way from the Warilla Surf Club to Reddall Parade where they took part in a smoking ceremony and Welcome to Country. "When we do a Welcome to Country, we're speaking to the ancestors who protect the country, saying, look we're here, we're visiting, please protect us," said Yuin woman Maiquilla Brown. Ms Brown, the Aboriginal community planner at Shellharbour City Council, said the recent discussion around winding back Welcome to Country ceremonies shows a lack of understanding of First Nations people and culture. "We're not talking about welcoming people to Australia or a nation or a country as a whole. "It's welcoming people into that small area of land or physical country, and all the cultural and spiritual connections to that area." After the Welcome, the group held a minute's silence to pay homage to elders who have passed. They celebrated the spirit of reconciliation with a flag exchange between students and local elders. "It's amazing to me, seeing all the kids willing to put on the ochre and coming out here today," said Koorin Campbell, who played didgeridoo for the Gumaraa dancers who performed on the day. "We get to walk with our culture and our religion," one young student told the ABC. "[It's] learning about your culture, and Indigenous and non-Indigenous people [coming together]," another said. Lake Illawarra High has been participating in the local reconciliation walk since its inception 18 years ago. Behind the scenes is Aunty Denise Willis, an Aboriginal liaison officer who has worked at the school for over 25 years. It's an event she looks forward to each year. "We can walk the walk and be strong, powerful and not afraid. It makes us very proud of our community," she said. The long fight for Indigenous rights hasn't been easy, and it's something Aunty Denise doesn't shy away from. "I'm one of the older girls that experienced difficult times," she reflected. "To talk about reconciliation … means recognising our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and looking at the injustices that they have faced and where we are today. "We're heading in the right direction, but we've got heaps more to do." Lake Illawarra High's commitment to reconciliation is displayed in the Aboriginal murals in the playground and the growth in First Nations enrolment rates, led by Aunty Denise's work. "Seeing the younger generations, non-Indigenous people walking together and supporting our people, I feel emotional because it's a wonderful thing to see that progress happening," she said. Shellharbour City Council has been organising the reconciliation walk for almost two decades. For the council's Ms Brown, reconciliation "starts with empathy and understanding". "We need young people to understand the impacts of truth-telling and learning about Aboriginal history," she said. "Reconciliation for me, it really means reflection, thinking about what's happened in the past, all those atrocities, all the barriers and inequalities, and thinking about how we can make the future a better place for everyone." Ms Brown noted that the walk draws First Nations people with cultural connections across the east coast. "Our guests also have European or international family members … so it's important we share our culture so they can participate in it, learn it and embrace it," she said. "As long as we want to keep moving together and making Australia better for everybody, right now, reconciliation is the best strategy we've got. "If we step back from that, then we don't have anything to help us advance an Australia where Aboriginal people feel equal." Respected Yuin Elder Uncle Gerald Brown — known affectionately as Uncle Gee — has been involved in many of the previous years' walks, including performing the Welcome to Country for over a decade. "I get a lot of satisfaction out of it," he said. Reflecting on Australia's progress to reconciliation, including his disappointment at the outcome of the Voice referendum, Uncle Gee said the event gives him hope. "It's different now to when we went to school, we were never allowed to go to anything like this, so we're making a change for the better, I believe, anyway," he said.
