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Epoch Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Filmmaker Warns Australia on Importing ‘Communist Culture' Amid Push for Greater China Trade Ties
An award-winning filmmaker once jailed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has warned Australia against pushing hard for more trade opportunities with China without considering the negative consequences. Kay Rubacek is an Australian expat and author based in the New York area, and has spoken extensively on the human rights situation in China. On the 36th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre on June 4, an interview between Rubacek and ABC Radio Brisbane was released where she urged policymakers to consider the Australia-China trade relationship more holistically. 'We should look at not only importing goods. We're importing students. We're importing dollars that have political ties and expectations to reciprocate back with China. We are also importing a communist culture that we don't understand.' Rubacek said China was a 'very complex society.' 'It has 5,000 years of history, and it has this imposed ruling party that has taken over the entire nation, a one party state, and that is what's controlling the system,' she said. Related Stories 5/14/2025 5/19/2025 'It is not a rule of law, because everything falls under the Chinese Communist Party. There is a Constitution for the nation of China, but it is subject to the CCP.' (From right to left) Kay Rubacek, Chris Chappell, Sean Lin, and moderator Jenny Chang at the Wake Up to CCP Threat seminar in Middletown, N.Y. on Dec. 8, 2022. Cara Ding/The Epoch Times Australia Grapples With China Debate Her comments come after the recent Australian election saw One narrative that has circled for years is that Chinese-Australian voters will vote based on whichever party is more favourable towards ties with Beijing. In response, politicians from both sides of the aisle have limited their own rhetoric, despite well-publicised CCP infiltration efforts. The situation has led defence analyst Michael Shoebridge to warn Australia's public discourse on the matter had now been effectively hemmed in by Beijing's propaganda strategy. 'The issue of foreign interference became politicised for domestic reasons here in Australia, and lost its actual significance as a threat to our democracy,' he told 'Without focusing clearly on the Chinese government in this area of policy, Australian politicians play straight into CCP propagandists' hands, by allowing them to claim anyone who talks about Beijing's foreign interference activities as somehow biased against 1.2 million [ethnic Chinese] Australians.' Rubacek's comments about 'communist culture' also align with deeper issues with CCP indoctrination. 'Under the influence of party culture, people's minds, thoughts, and behaviours have undergone profound distortions. In many areas—such as society, family, education, work, and interpersonal relationships—they have deviated from the normal state of humanity,' according to 2006 Epoch Times editorial series, ' Some of the methods deployed by the CCP include removing content on traditional faiths like Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism, and instead, implanting pro-CCP narratives into text books and media, even replacing everyday words with newly coined phrases that reflect communist ideology (akin to 1984's Newspeak). For example, mainland Chinese today will use the phrase 'working unit,' instead of 'company' or 'organisation.' A Life Impacted by Communism Rubacek's great-grandparents escaped Soviet Russia to China in the early 1920s. Her father then escaped communist China to Australia at the age of 14, right before the Cultural Revolution started. Born and raised in Sydney, Rubacek became active in human rights work related to China. In a still image from a video released by NTD, host Kay Rubacek, describes her excitement to see and touch a piece of the real Berlin Wall after learning that pieces of it are on display in public places in New York City on Oct. 12 2021 Oliver Trey/NTD In 2001, in her early 20s, she went to China to join a human rights appeal by Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a meditation practice rooted in the Buddhist tradition, with moral teachings centered on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. Alarmed by its widespread popularity and independence from the communist regime's control, former CCP leader Jiang Zemin launched a nationwide persecution of the practice in 1999. Since then, Falun Gong practitioners in China have faced mass arrests, torture, forced labor, sexual abuse, and even forced organ harvesting, while globally the CCP leveraged its influence to silence debate on the topic. 'I just could not believe that a young woman would be thrown into a basement prison cell for holding the word 'compassion' in a public place, Tiananmen Square,' Rubacek said. The CCP authorities detained Rubacek for 23 hours before expelling her from China to avoid involving the Australian embassy. Having seen what was happening in China, Rubacek felt that she needed to try and bridge the gap between the cultures. 'What's happened in China, how it's changed under the rule of the Chinese Communist Party, what my father lived through, how it's coming to modern day times, and how to help people in Australia and around the world understand that because it is so different to our experience,' she said. Since then, she has continued to work on the cause, producing multiple works, including the documentary Falun Gong practitioners from 12 countries peacefully appeal on Tiananmen Square in 2001 for an end to the persecution and torture of their Chinese counterparts. Rubacek said the U.S. government was now much firmer on the CCP. 'America is waking up to that, and I'm very pleased to see how they are bravely cutting ties, and they are no longer being bullied,' she said. 'It is vitally important that we understand who we are dealing with and what they expect from us and how they use us,' she concluded.
ABC News
7 days ago
- General
- ABC News
Brisbane's new bus timetable will begin on June 30. Here's everything you need to know
The biggest change to Brisbane's bus network in two decades will come into effect on June 30. About three-quarters of Brisbane's bus services will change in some way, with services being cut, added, rerouted, renamed, or split in half. ABC Radio Brisbane has created a handy guide to prepare passengers ahead of June 30. What's different? There will be six new bus routes, including the new M1 Metro service. Route 26 Upper Mt Gravatt station (Garden City) to Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (RBWH) station via Woolloongabba and Fortitude Valley Upper Mt Gravatt station (Garden City) to Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (RBWH) station via Woolloongabba and Fortitude Valley Route P109 Acacia Ridge to City via Ipswich Road Acacia Ridge to City via Ipswich Road Route 127 Indooroopilly to Fairfield Gardens Shopping Centre via Yeronga Indooroopilly to Fairfield Gardens Shopping Centre via Yeronga Route 182 Upper Mt Gravatt station (Garden City) to Holland Park West station via Wishart and Mansfield Upper Mt Gravatt station (Garden City) to Holland Park West station via Wishart and Mansfield Route 197 South Brisbane to City South Brisbane to City M1 New Metro service from Eight Mile Plains to Roma Street Cancelled routes There will be three cancelled routes. Route 28 Langlands Park to the University of Queensland Langlands Park to the University of Queensland Route 145 Browns Plains to Griffith University Nathan Campus Browns Plains to Griffith University Nathan Campus Route P151 Calamvale to City Divided routes Three routes will be divided into two. Route 375 Bardon to Stafford will be divided into Route 348 Stafford to City via Lutwyche, and Route 375 Bardon to City Bardon to Stafford will be divided into Route 348 Stafford to City via Lutwyche, and Route 375 Bardon to City Route 379 Ashgrove to Stafford via Grange will be divided into Route 347 Stafford to City via Grange, and Route 379 Ashgrove to City Ashgrove to Stafford via Grange will be divided into Route 347 Stafford to City via Grange, and Route 379 Ashgrove to City Route 470 Toowong to Teneriffe Ferry will be divided into Route 470 Toowong to City, and Route 309 RBWH station to City via Teneriffe Merged routes Twelve routes will be merged. Route 124 will be combined with Route 125 will be combined with Route 125 Route 174 will be combined with Route 175 will be combined with Route 175 Route 184 will be combined with Route 185 will be combined with Route 185 Route 108 will be combined with Route 105 will be combined with Route 105 Route 117 will be combined with Route 115 will be combined with Route 115 Route 136 will be combined with Route 132 will be combined with Route 132 Route 178 will be combined with Route 177 will be combined with Route 177 Route P129 will be combined with Route 131 will be combined with Route 131 Route P157 will be combined with Route 156 will be combined with Route 156 Route P173 will be combined with Route 172 will be combined with Route 172 Route P207 will be combined with Route P217 will be combined with Route P217 Route P343 will be combined with Route 345 Changed routes There will be changes to 155 routes. Routes 29, 40, 50, 60, 61, 104, 105, 107, 108, 110, 111 (upgraded to M1), 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, P119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, P129, 131, 132, 134, 135, 136, P137, 138, 139, P141, P142, 150, 152, 153, 155, 156, P157, 160 (upgraded to M1), 161, 162, 169, 170 (renumbered to 179), 171, 172, P173, 174, 175, P176, 177, 178, 180, 181, P183, 184, 185, 186, P189, 192, 195, 196, 199, 200, P201, 202, 203, 204, P205, P206, P207, P208, 209, 210, P211, 212, 213, 214, 215, P216, P217, 220, P221, 222, 225, 227, P228, 230, P231, 232, 234, 235, P236, 300, 301, 302, 305, 306, 310, 320, 322, 325, 330, P331, P332, 333, 334, 335, 340, P341, P343, P344, 345, 346, 350, 351, 352, 353, 357, 359, 360, 361, 364, 370 (renumbered to 338), 375, 376 (renumbered to 349), 377, 378, 379, 380, 381, 382, 383, P384, 385, 390, 393 (renumbered to 309), 411, 415, 417, 433, 444, 445, 450, 453, 454, 460, 470, 590, 598, 599 Suburb transfers Twelve suburban routes will now terminate at busway stations. Passengers will either transfer to a Metro or a high-frequency bus to get into the city. Route 105 Route 110 Route 112 Route 113 Route 115 Route 135 Route 155 Route 161 Route 170 Route 172 Route 202 Route 203 Two transfers City workers will need to get used to taking two buses in order to travel from the suburbs into the inner city. The new timetable is based on a "hub-and-spoke" model, with passengers transferring at busway stations to catch a high-frequency connecting service into the city. High-frequency services have been redistributed between the four inner busway stations, designed as a "turn-up-and-go" service without the need to check a timetable. For example, current passengers on Route 110 would get on at Inala Plaza station and get off in the city at the Queen Street bus station. From June 30, commuters on Route 110 will get on at Inala Plaza station, terminate at the Princess Alexandra Hospital station, catch the M2 towards the city, and then get off at the King George Square station. The new route will be more inconvenient, but the total commute time will be largely unchanged. The current Route 110 into the city. / Route 110 after June 30, linking to the M2 marked by the green pins. Metro derailed A centrepiece of this new hub-and-spoke model will be the two Brisbane Metro routes in and out of the city every five minutes during peak hour and weekends. The Brisbane Metro is not an underground railway, as its name would imply, but an electric bendy bus. The name hearkens back to a 2016 Brisbane City Council election promise that failed to eventuate. The M2 route runs between UQ Lakes and the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, and the M1 route will travel between Eight Mile Plains and Roma Street. The full digital timetable will be made available on the Translink website on June 9. In the meantime, passengers can find changes to individual routes by using the Translink journey planner website and selecting a date after June 29. Posted 8m ago 8 minutes ago Tue 3 Jun 2025 at 8:04pm , updated 7m ago 7 minutes ago Tue 3 Jun 2025 at 8:06pm
ABC News
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Knit a Beanie with Feeney for 2023
This winter, ABC Radio Brisbane and Queensland is asking the community to knit together to create hundreds of beanies to donate to those who need a bit of extra warmth. Whether you're a knitting pro, or a yarning novice, everyone can get involved and contribute to this appeal. All you need to do is knit or weave a beanie. If the best you can do is knit a little square, that's great, we'll turn them into blankets! Just make sure the square are 15 x 15 centimetres. On Friday 30 June, we're holding knit-a-thon events right across the state. You can find details of knitting events near below. So, if you're a knitting or community group and want to get involved, simply send an email to How to Donate: Once knitted, you can drop your knitted masterpiece to our office or mail them to us at ABC Radio Brisbane, 114 Grey Street, South Brisbane 4101, and we'll donate the items to trusted charities through GIVIT. Challenge your friends and colleagues to see who can knit the most! Queensland Knit-a-thon Events A massive thankyou to everyone who knitted up a storm at knit-a-thon events across the state last Friday! Don't forget to drop off our knitted masterpieces at your designated collection point. Brisbane ABC Brisbane Foyer and Auditorium Hosted by: ABC Radio Brisbane Address: 114 Grey Street, South Brisbane Time: 12.00pm to 3.30pm Queensland Spinners Weavers & Fibre Artists: QSWFA Address: Fibrecraft House, 12 Payne Street, Auchenflower Time: 11.00pm to 3.30pm Toowoomba Toowoomba Spinners, Weavers & Dyers Group Inc Address: Homestead Building, Toowoomba Showgrounds, Glenvale Road, Toowoomba Time: 12.30pm to 3.30pm Members of the Toowoomba Spinners, Weavers & Dyers Group knit beanies for Feeney at a knit-a-thon in 2023. ( Supplied: Toowoomba Spinners, Weavers & Dyers Group ) Hervey Bay Hervey Bay Spinners, Weavers and Fibre Artists Address: Old Nikenbah Schoolhouse, Cnr Chapel Rd & Aalborg Rd, Nikenbah Time: 1.30pm 3.30pm Contact: hbspinnersweaversfibrearts@ Mackay Valley Spinners and Crafters group Address: 78 Mackay Habana Road, Richmond Time: 1.00pm to 4.00pm Ladies knit beanies at the Mackay knit-a-thon for Knit a Beanie with Feeney for 2023. ( Supplied: Valley Spinners & Weavers Group ) Ladies knit beanies at the Mackay knit-a-thon for Knit a Beanie with Feeney for 2023. ( Supplied: Valley Spinners & Weavers Group ) Therese from Mackay drops off a box full of squares to be made into a rug for Knit a Beanie with Feeney 2023. ( Supplied: Valley Spinners & Crafters Group ) Bundaberg
Daily Mail
06-05-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Sophie Guidolin claims she has to fork out $4,000 per week in rent while her home is 'rebuilt' from 'cyclone damage' - as she teases starting an OnlyFans to get by
Sophie Guidolin has claimed she will be out thousands of dollars due to damage from ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred last month. The fitness influencer, 36, jetted off to Europe with her twin daughters Evie and Aria, nine, before the storm hit landfall and caused damage to her lavish Gold Coast home. Now, the online personality has claimed on Instagram she will have to pay up to $4,000 a week in rent or $76,000 for three months in an Airbnb while she 'rebuilds'. 'Wow. I am so sorry to anyone trying to find housing recently. I am beyond sorry. Like mind-boggling,' Sophie captioned a video of her searching for an Airbnb. 'What are people doing to afford these rental prices? Our home will be six month min. rebuild so need a short-term lease. 'Either Airbnb at $76k for three months or between $2-$4k a week for us.' Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred heavily impacted Queensland and New South Wales in early March. While it weakened to a tropical low before making landfall, it still caused widespread damage, including strong winds, heavy rainfall and flooding. It wreaked havoc in southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales, which were smashed with severe thunderstorms and 'life-threatening' flooding. Both Brisbane and the Gold Coast were hammered with a 'rapid ramp-up' of torrential rain late Sunday, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. 'Basically from the CBD out towards Ipswich, and then right through Kenmore, Mount Cootha, and through the Samford Valley — some of the rainfall totals are getting to pretty phenomenal levels,' Bureau of Meteorology's Matthew Bass told ABC Radio Brisbane at the time. Many residents across the Gold Coast stranded by major flooding were advised to seek shelter and 'get up as high as you can'. Sophie teased she will need to start an OnlyFans for her feet just to get by while her home is being fixed after the damage caused by the storm. She shared screenshots to her Stories of a DM she had with her friend discussing the idea. 'Reckon if our toes touch people will pay more for an OnlyFans account?' Sophie asked her friend, who replied: 'Tempting.' She went on to say she has 'ballet big toes', but Sophie's friend claimed she had fans who called her feet 'magnificent'. 'I wonder if anyone would recognise my feet,' Sophie captioned one of the screenshots. However, it seems she was only joking as she followed it up with another post telling her followers she would never start and adult subscription account. 'Guys, I am getting so many of you DM me about this. I am not actually going to do this. My teenage boys would murder me at the thought,' she wrote. 'Even of my feet. Lol however all the power to the boss women out there with little butter on the stubs secretly under their desk haha. 'I wish I could pull this off. I couldn't pull off a one night stand let alone an OnlyFans or foot account. After the day you have had. I thought this was a joke.' Sophie shares twin daughters Evie and Aria, and sons Ryder, 15, and Kai, 16, with ex-husband Nathan Wallace.
Reuters
07-03-2025
- Climate
- Reuters
Cyclone Alfred downgraded as millions of Australians stay indoors
SYDNEY, March 8 (Reuters) - Ex-tropical cyclone Alfred, expected to hit the mainland of east Australia in the next few hours, was downgraded to a 'tropical low' on Saturday, but officials warn that the storm can still bring severe winds, rain and flooding. Alfred crossed the islands off the coast of Queensland overnight, and is heading towards Brisbane, Australia's third-most populous city, the Bureau of Meteorology has said. "Heavy to locally intense rainfall and damaging wind gusts are still expected over Southeast Queensland," the Bureau of Meteorology said in its latest update. Thousands have been evacuated and local media reported that about a quarter of a million people are facing power outages as violent winds toppled power lines. No deaths have been reported so far but authorities have urged residents to stay indoors. "Over the next few hours, the impacts are still going to be the same, if anything, the only thing we've lost is that consistency of gale strength winds," meteorologist Helen Reid told ABC Radio Brisbane. "We will still have winds that will be damaging or even destructive.' Brisbane Airport remains shut and the city has suspended public transport. More than 1,000 schools in southeast Queensland and 280 in northern New South Wales have been closed. Videos posted on social media and local news networks show some flooding, fallen trees, damaged homes and waves crashing in on the beaches. Officials have described Alfred as a "very rare event" for Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, which was last hit by a cyclone more than half a century ago in 1974. The city of about 2.7 million had near misses from cyclones in 1990 and 2019.
