Michael Swanson

@affablehygge.bsky.social

1701 Followers 204 Following

Lawyers to birds, for birds and by birds.

Commissioner Stuart Wood KC was highly critical of the police response, saying they had failed in their "fundamental obligation" to "enforce the law". "The role of the police is to keep the peace, which means enforce the law, which means to … not allow a group of blockaders to prevent access," Commissioner Wood said. Picture of Commissioner Wood KC
Excerpt from article: Police prosecutors, however, are fighting to keep the history out of the witness box. They argued the case is not a defamation trial and that branding an entire political movement as “terrorists” is an absolute, discriminatory slur. They contended that Australians do not require a history lesson to find the language insulting and that the report is an “excursive exercise” into Middle Eastern affairs that distracts from the law. The hearing on the admissibility of evidence follows a major concession by Victoria Police to abandon claims that Mr Tayeh was motivated by antisemitism. As revealed by The Australian, the prosecution has now pivoted to a narrow argument focused solely on whether his words violated the Summary Offences Act as “insulting words” in a public place. They argue that calling a group “terrorists” is inherently insulting.
Excerpt from Guardian article: Conway told the commission: “I think that idea of anti-Zionism is, in fact, a genocidal impulse.”
Extract from interim report 1.20. Following the events on and after 7 October 2023, jurisdictions established police operations to ensure public safety in light of events in the Middle East. In NSW, Operation SHELTER was launched by the NSW Police in October 2023 after protestors set off flares and chanted antisemitic slogans at the Sydney Opera House on 9 October. The purpose of the operation was to protect public safety and community cohesion in light of the rise in antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents.19 In Victoria, Victoria Police established Operation PARK to oversee operational
Extract from interim report by Commissioner Bell stating 1.8. On 7 October 2023, Hamas launched attacks across Israel, with over 1,200 lives lost and hostages taken, and which triggered an Israeli military offensive in Gaza. On 9 October 2023, hundreds of people in Sydney joined a pro-Palestinian march from Sydney Town Hall to the Opera House chanting slogans which included ‘fuck the Jews’.
Excerpt from article Co-counsel Megan Blake said the Sex Discrimination Act should be interpreted in a way that gave biological women priority over trans women. She said the Human Rights Commission had no issue with heterosexual and homosexual men being excluded from the group and that trans women should likewise be considered biological men. "[Lesbians] are united by one or more common features … mainly biology," Dr Blake said.
Scooby doo meme. 1st panel: Ghost is tied up with words over him reading "neither left nor right". Freddie is reaching for the ghost's hood. 2nd panel: Freddie has removed the hood to reveal the ghost to be a man. Text over the former ghost reads "right wing". Centrist are always right wing.
Universities monitor and collect data on the feeling of JewishStudents and staff on campus on safety, support, and any pressureto conceal Jewish, Israeli or Zionist identity. Data collection isinformed by data collected by peak bodies of Jewish academic and students.
Screenshot of the time.com website showing the current cover of an AI image of Trump playing "chess". All of the white pieces are queens and all of the black pieces are pawns.
Excerpt of draft Bill reading: 80.2BF Publicly promoting or inciting racial hatred etc. (1) A person commits an offence if: (a) the person engages in conduct in a public place; and (b) the person engages in the conduct intending to: (i) promote or incite hatred of another person (the target), or a group of persons (the target group), because of the race, colour or national or ethnic origin of the target or target group; or (ii) disseminate ideas of superiority over or hatred ofanother person (the target), or a group of persons (the target group), because of the race, colour or national or ethnic origin of the target or target group; and (c) the conduct would, in all the circumstances, cause a reasonable person who is the target, or a member of the target group, to be intimidated, to fear harassment or violence, or to fear for their safety. Example: Inciting antisemitic hatred against Jews in a public place where a reasonable member of the Jewish community would be intimidated or fear violence. Penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years.
Excerpt from SHM article: Hate speech legislation being drafted by the federal government after the Bondi terror attack must focus solely on Islamic extremism and antisemitism, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley says, despite calls for the protection of LGBTQ Australians in the reforms. Ley spelled out her stance on the proposed legislation as she once again demanded Prime Minister Anthony Albanese establish a Commonwealth royal commission into antisemitism and recall parliament to debate hate speech legislation, both moves Labor seems prepared to announce imminently. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley speaking at a press conference in Sydney on Wednesday. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley speaking at a press conference in Sydney on Wednesday. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer “I want to be very clear, tackling hate speech is not a licence to go after free speech. There are clear issues that this legislation needs to address. It needs to be targeted to the threats that we face, and those threats are radical Islamic extremism and antisemitism. That’s what we want to see in this legislation,” Ley told a press conference in Sydney.
Excerpt from SHM article: Hate speech legislation being drafted by the federal government after the Bondi terror attack must focus solely on Islamic extremism and antisemitism, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley says, despite calls for the protection of LGBTQ Australians in the reforms. Ley spelled out her stance on the proposed legislation as she once again demanded Prime Minister Anthony Albanese establish a Commonwealth royal commission into antisemitism and recall parliament to debate hate speech legislation, both moves Labor seems prepared to announce imminently. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley speaking at a press conference in Sydney on Wednesday. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley speaking at a press conference in Sydney on Wednesday. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer “I want to be very clear, tackling hate speech is not a licence to go after free speech. There are clear issues that this legislation needs to address. It needs to be targeted to the threats that we face, and those threats are radical Islamic extremism and antisemitism. That’s what we want to see in this legislation,” Ley told a press conference in Sydney.
Headline from the Guardian "Woman wearing 'Globalise the intifada' jacket along three arrested at Sydney protest against US action in Venezuela." The other two arrests were people who attempted to interrupt the protest.
Scooby Doo mall reveal meme. First image is a man in a white sheet with Freddie reaching for the white hood. Text over the villain reads "concern". Second image Freddie has removed the mask from the villain. Text over the villain reads "white supremacy".
Excerpt fun the Guardian live blog Minns refuses to specify alleged 'violent imagery' at pro-Palestine protests Farid Farid at AAP is pressing the NSW premier again to be specific about what he claims is “violent imagery” at pro-Palestine protests. Minns says it is “the stuff that I see in Hyde Park”, but refuses to “go into the ins and outs of it”. He says: People shouldn’t believe it’s consequence-free if you do jump on the back of a lorry in Hyde Park and make an inflammatory speech … I understand freedom of speech laws are very important, of course they are. But you should also have the to enjoy a city free from intimidation and violence from racism, from people yelling at you in the street.
Extract from article "he (Sauel) said. “I hate to say it but it’s that well-worn phrase of ‘don’t let perfect be the enemy of good’.”
Excerpt from article that reads "“Luckily, my business allows me to have some extra access,” says Calvin, who lives in Denver and runs a Bitcoin mining business with operations in the Middle East. He’s planning to present Trump’s".
Qatar condemns 'cowardly criminal assault' on Doha it says violated international laws Dr Majed Al Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar’s foreign ministry, has issued a statement on X in response to the Israeli attack in Doha. Here is the statement from the foreign ministry’s spokesperson in full: The State of Qatar strongly condemns the cowardly Israeli attack that targeted residential buildings housing several members of the Political Bureau of Hamas in the Qatari capital, Doha. This criminal assault constitutes a blatant violation of all international laws and norms, and poses a serious threat to the security and safety of Qataris and residents in Qatar. The Ministry affirms that the security forces, civil defense, and relevant authorities immediately began addressing the incident and taking necessary measures to contain its repercussions and ensure the safety of the residents and surrounding areas.
Excerpt reading "More recently, a special envoy in Australia issued a report calling for the use of the IHRA definition in universities and other areas of society like funding for arts, culture, and broadcasting, and threatening funding if the definition is violated. It reads like the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 authoritarian companion, called Project Esther, outlining how to suppress pro-Palestinian speech."
Except from report by Jillian Segal. Text stating: 3.10 Multicultural and interfaith engagement Objective: Strengthen intercommunal relationships to build a united front against antisemitism and all forms of hatred. Solidarity across all communities based on shared Australian values is key to social cohesion. Interfaith and multicultural programs can reduce prejudice and reinforce these shared values and our joint investment in the unifying Australian project. Community leaders must be visible in their condemnation of hateful conduct and must express support for their fellow Australians when incidents occur. Key actions: The Envoy will: • Lead and encourage the Jewish community to re-establish, strengthen and fund long-term interfaith and intercultural community initiatives. • Support visible, cross-cultural responses to antisemitic incidents. • Reach out, including through Jewish community organisations, to communities with which the Jewish community has had longstanding close relations, including the Indigenous community, to create a shared understanding of ways to combat discrimination and hatred. • Support local government initiatives to educate about and counter antisemitism.
Excerpt from ABC article with quote from Albanese saying "This is a guy who stood begot sound at a CFMEU rally in Brisbane describing me as a Nazi." Picture of excellent signs at a protest including the name "Albanazi".