Latest news with #RonHoenig
News.com.au
6 days ago
- General
- News.com.au
Bombshell inquiry into Dural ‘terror' caravan referred to ethics committee
An inquiry into the relationship between the Dural 'terror' caravan incident and the passing of controversial anti-hate laws in NSW is an 'incursion upon the privilege' of parliament that 'breaches one of the fundamental bedrocks of parliamentary democracy', a Labor MP has claimed. Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig slammed the Legislative Council inquiry during question time on Thursday morning as the government seeks to refer the terms of reference of the inquiry, established in March, to the Standing Committee on Parliamentary Privilege and Ethics. The Legislative Council inquiry, chaired by independent MLC Rod Roberts, was established earlier this year following criticism over the passage of sweeping anti-hate and anti-protest laws in February after a spate of anti-Semitic attacks in Greater Sydney over the summer. In January, police discovered an explosives-laden caravan in Sydney's northwest that Premier Chris Minns claimed could have resulted in a 'mass casualty event'. The Australian Federal Police later determined it to be part of a criminal conspiracy, sparking questions about who knew what and when. Mr Minns last week expressed concerns that the parliamentary privilege of the Legislative Assembly, where he spoke about the caravan on March 18, might be infringed, including by the calling of key staffers as well as the 'observance of comity' between the two houses. In his address, Mr Hoenig claimed the probe – launched by the Legislative Council, not the Legislative Assembly – 'breaches one of the bedrock of parliamentary democracy', which was the ability of either house of parliament to have exclusive control over its own members and debate. 'Broadly, what happens within parliament is a matter for control by parliament alone,' Mr Hoenig said. 'The prerogative of this House to set out the rules, conduct, and regulate its own affairs – its exclusive cognisance has not been disputed. 'That is why the resolution of the Legislative Council was so egregious. 'It expressly seeks to scrutinise the discourse of the House, the conduct of its members, be it backbencher or a member of the executive government, while undertaking the primary function entrusted upon them by their constituents which is to legislate.' Mr Hoenig also warned that 'courts will never sit by idly and allow powers to be unconstrained if abused' but admitted 'certain principles have become diminished over time' that 'may well be as a result of the disagreements we have with the other place (Legislative Council)'. The motion to refer the inquiry passed following a division 47 to 27. Inquiry changes 'don't go far enough': Labor On Wednesday night, Mr Roberts, moved amendments to the inquiry to 'narrow the focus on the passage of bills concerned through the Legislative Council', which Mr Hoenig said 'dismisses the very fundamental issue I have raised'. Noting the amendments, Mr Hoenig said it was the House of Representatives 'and this House alone that will be arbiter of its actions and that of its members, whether they also be members of the executive or not' and Mr Roberts' amendments 'did not go far enough'. Wahroonga Liberal MP Alister Henskens said the opposition was concerned about issues of privilege but would not support the motion following the amendments and instead claimed it was 'a transparent attempt to frustrate and delay the upper house inquiry'. Mr Henskens also noted that the only remaining witnesses were executive employees, including ministerial staff. 'The terms of reference were intentionally changed to exclude any infringement upon the privileges of this House by reason of the terms of reference, and I think that's a very important matter which was not highlighted to members of this place in the address,' Mr Henskens said. 'So, the inquiry in the other place is essentially directed towards a very narrow scope. There's been no public submissions invited, and the scope of the inquiry is simply whom knew that the Dural caravan incident was not a mass casualty event and when did they not?' Greens MP Jenny Leong did not say whether the party would support the referral but noted that if they did it would be 'critical' that the Legislative Council was not 'prevented from doing their work' and that the issues of privilege were 'probably dealt with by the amendments'. If there was an 'unreasonable delay' to the inquiry, Ms Leong warned that 'it would raise further concerns and questions about whether this is being used as a way for the Premier and the executive to avoid and subvert the ability of the council to inquire into these matters'. Speaker Greg Piper said the change of the terms of reference was 'not done on the basis of a change of view' but to advance an 'important inquiry' and agreed with the Greens that the inquiry would not be referred as a way of obstructing its progression. 'I say to the members of this House, this is an opportunity for us to actually examine the issue, the rights and privilege, the exclusive cognisance of the Legislative Assembly. And if we do not do it now, then we will no doubt be doing it again,' Mr Piper said. 'This is an opportunity to actually examine this and to make a stand as to the rights and privilege of the assembly.' Mr Piper said he stood by his advice to Mr Minns when he was advised about the potential breach. Last week, the inquiry heard evidence from key staffers behind the scenes at Mr Minns' office and at cabinet.
West Australian
6 days ago
- Politics
- West Australian
Bombshell inquiry into Dural ‘terror' caravan referred to ethics committee
An inquiry into the relationship between the Dural 'terror' caravan incident and the passing of controversial anti-hate laws in NSW is an 'incursion upon the privilege' of parliament that 'breaches one of the fundamental bedrocks of parliamentary democracy', a Labor MP has claimed. Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig slammed the Legislative Council inquiry during question time on Thursday morning as the government seeks to refer the terms of reference of the inquiry, established in March, to the Standing Committee on Parliamentary Privilege and Ethics. The Legislative Council inquiry, chaired by independent MLC Rod Roberts, was established earlier this year following criticism over the passage of sweeping anti-hate and anti-protest laws in February after a spate of anti-Semitic attacks in Greater Sydney over the summer. In January, police discovered an explosives-laden caravan in Sydney's northwest that Premier Chris Minns claimed could have resulted in a 'mass casualty event'. The Australian Federal Police later determined it to be part of a criminal conspiracy, sparking questions about who knew what and when. Mr Minns last week expressed concerns that the parliamentary privilege of the Legislative Assembly, where he spoke about the caravan on March 18, might be infringed, including by the calling of key staffers as well as the 'observance of comity' between the two houses. In his address, Mr Hoenig claimed the probe – launched by the Legislative Council, not the Legislative Assembly – 'breaches one of the bedrock of parliamentary democracy', which was the ability of either house of parliament to have exclusive control over its own members and debate. 'Broadly, what happens within parliament is a matter for control by parliament alone,' Mr Hoenig said. 'The prerogative of this House to set out the rules, conduct, and regulate its own affairs – its exclusive cognisance has not been disputed. 'That is why the resolution of the Legislative Council was so egregious. 'It expressly seeks to scrutinise the discourse of the House, the conduct of its members, be it backbencher or a member of the executive government, while undertaking the primary function entrusted upon them by their constituents which is to legislate.' Mr Hoenig also warned that 'courts will never sit by idly and allow powers to be unconstrained if abused' but admitted 'certain principles have become diminished over time' that 'may well be as a result of the disagreements we have with the other place (Legislative Council)'. The motion to refer the inquiry passed following a division 47 to 27. Inquiry changes 'don't go far enough': Labor On Wednesday night, Mr Roberts, moved amendments to the inquiry to 'narrow the focus on the passage of bills concerned through the Legislative Council', which Mr Hoenig said 'dismisses the very fundamental issue I have raised'. Noting the amendments, Mr Hoenig said it was the House of Representatives 'and this House alone that will be arbiter of its actions and that of its members, whether they also be members of the executive or not' and Mr Roberts' amendments 'did not go far enough'. Wahroonga Liberal MP Alister Henskens said the opposition was concerned about issues of privilege but would not support the motion following the amendments and instead claimed it was 'a transparent attempt to frustrate and delay the upper house inquiry'. Mr Henskens also noted that the only remaining witnesses were executive employees, including ministerial staff. 'The terms of reference were intentionally changed to exclude any infringement upon the privileges of this House by reason of the terms of reference, and I think that's a very important matter which was not highlighted to members of this place in the address,' Mr Henskens said. 'So, the inquiry in the other place is essentially directed towards a very narrow scope. There's been no public submissions invited, and the scope of the inquiry is simply whom knew that the Dural caravan incident was not a mass casualty event and when did they not?' Greens MP Jenny Leong did not say whether the party would support the referral but noted that if they did it would be 'critical' that the Legislative Council was not 'prevented from doing their work' and that the issues of privilege were 'probably dealt with by the amendments'. If there was an 'unreasonable delay' to the inquiry, Ms Leong warned that 'it would raise further concerns and questions about whether this is being used as a way for the Premier and the executive to avoid and subvert the ability of the council to inquire into these matters'. Speaker Greg Piper said the change of the terms of reference was 'not done on the basis of a change of view' but to advance an 'important inquiry' and agreed with the Greens that the inquiry would not be referred as a way of obstructing its progression. 'I say to the members of this House, this is an opportunity for us to actually examine the issue, the rights and privilege, the exclusive cognisance of the Legislative Assembly. And if we do not do it now, then we will no doubt be doing it again,' Mr Piper said. 'This is an opportunity to actually examine this and to make a stand as to the rights and privilege of the assembly.' Mr Piper said he stood by his advice to Mr Minns when he was advised about the potential breach. Last week, the inquiry heard evidence from key staffers behind the scenes at Mr Minns' office and at cabinet. NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb and Deputy Commissioner David Hudson also gave evidence during preliminary hearings earlier this year.
ABC News
7 days ago
- General
- ABC News
Chinese couple's assault in Sydney's Eastgardens sparks 27,000-strong petition for youth justice reform
More than 27,000 people have signed a petition calling for tougher youth crime laws, after a Chinese couple was violently assaulted in Sydney's east last week. The petition, which gained traction on Chinese social media platforms RedNote and WeChat, was launched after the woman and her husband were allegedly attacked by a group of teenagers outside their Eastgardens apartment complex. The woman sustained facial injuries, bruising to her back, and fractured fingers. Seven children have since been charged over the incident, sparking frustration within the Chinese-Australian community over what many see as inadequate protection and legal accountability. The petition — signed by mostly people from the Chinese-Australian community — urges the NSW government to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility to 10 for serious offences and to deny bail to repeat youth offenders. "This was not an isolated incident. In the days before the assault, several other Asian individuals were reportedly harassed by the same or similar teens in nearby Green Square — including acts of spitting, mocking, and intimidation," the petition reads. "We call on the NSW government to urgently reform youth criminal justice laws." NSW Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig said he was "deeply concerned" by the attacks and had contacted police to seek urgent updates on the investigation. "Every person has the right to feel safe on our streets, regardless of where they come from, or the language they speak," he said in a statement. NSW Labor MP Jason Yat-Sen Li also acknowledged the widespread fear and anger within the Chinese-Australian community, urging people to "protect ourselves lawfully". "I'm aware that recent incidents of youth violence in areas such as Eastgardens, Mascot, Zetland and Waterloo have caused deep anger and anxiety within the Chinese community," Mr Li said. In a statement, the Chinese Australian Forum strongly condemned the Eastgardens attack and warned that "racism against Chinese Australians is resurging". The group urged political leaders to promote social cohesion and called out recent "unsubstantiated" remarks by Liberal senator Jane Hume, accusing Chinese Australian volunteers of being "spies". NSW Police had declined to confirm if the Eastgardens attack was racially targeting Chinese people, as their investigation was ongoing. The attack has come amid broader concerns about anti-Asian discrimination and a rise in racially-motivated incidents targeting Chinese Australians. A 2023 Lowy Institute report found that while verbal abuse against Chinese Australians had decreased since the height of COVID-19, many still report feeling unsafe and marginalised in public spaces. Ami, a 22-year-old Chinese international student at the University of Sydney, told the ABC she was attacked by a group of teenagers on George Street, Waterloo while delivering food on her bicycle earlier this month. "I was riding my bike and then the group of teenagers came out of nowhere, and the leader, a man with a buzz cut, kicked me off my bike and started kicking me in the head over and over again," Ami said. She said at least six others joined in. "Then a kid, who looked like he was in Year 6, squatted down in front of me and asked, 'Do you [have] money?'" she said. "I screamed very loudly and then they ran away." Ami reported the incident to police and went to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital's emergency room, where she was treated for a minor concussion and multiple skin injuries. "There have been a lot of these types of attacks and I believe that this group of teens are specifically targeting food delivery persons and Asians," she told the ABC. She said she hoped the increased public attention on youth crime would lead to real consequences. "If so many people are speaking out now, I hope those teenagers can be sent to juvenile detention, or at least face restrictions like a court order banning them from entering certain areas or being out at night," she said. "I also think police patrols need to be increased." Alex Zhang, a 25-year-old employee at a medical equipment company, also shared his recent experience on Anzac Parade in Kingsford. He said he was waiting at a bus stop in Kingsford on the evening of May 14 when two young men — who appeared to be teenagers — approached him. "One of them shouted, 'I'm a racist. Go back to China to study!'" Mr Zhang told the ABC. "At first, I didn't feel I was in danger because he didn't make a move, he just kept talking to me. Mr Zhang said a passer-by intervened and the pair fled, allegedly shouting, "But he is Asian!" He said if the offenders were found to be children, he hoped they would at least be formally charged and have a criminal record. "For repetitive offenders, especially those with a criminal history, they should be detained. "They're a serious danger to society. "I feel [like I have] PTSD at the moment, and I feel scared when I walk down the road," he said. NSW Police confirmed that both Ami and Alex's reports are under investigation by the South Sydney Police Area Command and the Eastern Beaches Police Area Command. Police have urged anyone with information or dashcam footage from either incident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. After the spate of attacks, members of the Chinese community in NSW — particularly across Sydney's eastern suburbs — have organised local safety patrols to support residents who feel unsafe. Operating through WeChat groups, these volunteers — mostly men in their 20s to 40s — provide 24-hour assistance, including walking escorts, on-call emergency help, and liaising with police where needed. Other states including Victoria, Tasmania, and Queensland are also facing public pressure after similar reports. In Victoria, a man in his mid-30s from Taiwan said he was told "go back to China" and punched in the face last weekend. He was bleeding from facial injuries. Last year, a series of assaults targeting Chinese migrants in Tasmania raised similar questions about racial safety and youth violence. One Hobart resident told the ABC they no longer felt safe walking in their neighbourhood and was considering moving to a different country. In Queensland, the LNP government introduced the "Adult Crime, Adult Time" laws, which impose tougher penalties on juvenile offenders. While the violent brawl between rival youth gangs at Northland Shopping Centre in Preston on Sunday has been used as an example of a youth crime crisis in Australia, criminologists and official data paint a different picture. In fact, they suggest youth crime rates have significantly declined nationwide over the past decade. Experts argue that sensationalist media coverage and political rhetoric have exaggerated the issue, leading to calls for harsher penalties that are not supported by evidence. Instead, criminologists advocate for evidence-based approaches that address the underlying causes of youth offending, such as poverty, education, and family support. Sydney-based lawyer Shen Hanbing told the ABC he expected there would be limited consequences for children offenders. "The primary purpose of a children's court is to educate children, not to punish them," Mr Shen said. He explained that Australia's juvenile justice framework is shaped by its commitment to the 1990 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Mr Shen encouraged victims of youth violence to assert their legal rights and not remain silent. "You have the right to protect yourself and pursue justice through legal means," he said. "Don't ignore what has happened to you — report it and follow through." He expressed strong support for the petition and said public mobilisation could play a critical role in prompting legal reform. He said proposals to lower the age of criminal responsibility and tighten bail conditions would represent a major shift in Australia's youth justice approach. "If the number of signatures is sufficiently high, Australia's parliament will have to respond," he said. The ABC has approached the NSW Department of Communities and Justice for comment.
