Islamic State Beheadings Plot Alleged Following Terrorist Raid Arrests In Sydney And Brisbane

Sep 18, 2014

Federal Police raids this morning have resulted in a 22-year old man, Omarjan Azari, appearing in a Sydney court charged with planning a terrorist act designed to “shock, horrify and terrify”.

Azari is accused of conspiring with Mohammad Baryalei, the man described as a “top terrorist recruiter” in Australia. The arrest is one of about 15 resulting from raids across western Sydney and Brisbane. The raids, involving 800 police and described as the largest in Australian history, took place as a result of information gleaned from an intercepted telephone conversation in recent days. [Read more…]

Filed Under: A.L.P., Abbott, Audio, Greens, Iraq-Afghanistan, Terrorism, Video Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Question Time Ended As Government Wins Technical Victory On Suspension Motion

Mar 21, 2013

2.50pm – Prime Minister Julia Gillard has ended Question Time, following an attempt by the Opposition to move a no-confidence motion in her.

The motion to suspend Standing Orders was carried 73-71 but failed because it needed to reach an absolute majority of 76 votes.

The House of Representatives has now moved on to routine business as Labor members left the chamber to prepare for the 4.30pm leadership ballot.

Sky News is reporting the Gillard camp claims it still has 58 certain votes to defeat Rudd.

Backbencher Graham Perrett (Moreton, Queensland) has said he will support Gillard. Parliamentary Secretary Richard Marles says he will support Rudd.

There are some suggestions from Sky’s Peter van Onselen that Kevin Rudd may not nominate. Rudd has maintained since his defeat in February last year that he will not challenge.

Sky’s Kieren Gilbert read a text he said was from the Gillard camp: “Simon Crean is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rudd enterprises.”


Filed Under: A.L.P., Gillard, House of Reps, Rudd Tagged With: , , , ,

Australia Wins Seat On United Nations Security Council

Oct 19, 2012

Australia has won a two-year term on the United Nations Security Council, winning 140 votes out of 193 to comfortably defeat Luxembourg and Finland.

Bob Carr

In the ballot for a seat representing the Western European and Others region, 193 nations voted. There were no invalid votes and no abstentions. A two-thirds majority of 129 votes was required for election. Australia polled 140 votes, Luxembourg 128, and Finland 108.

Australia’s Foreign Minister, Senator Bob Carr, was in the General Assembly for the election and is shown here shaking hands with Australia’s Ambassador to the UN, Gary Quinlan, immediately after the announcement of the vote. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Audio, Australia, Gillard, United Nations, Video Tagged With: , , , , ,