Magistrate finds guilty climate activists to have ‘muscular good character due to their strong records of community service ’

 

Echo, 30 January 2024:

More than thirty climate activists controversially charged under NSW laws are free to continue life without penalty after their matters were heard in the Newcastle Local Court last week.

Police arrested 109 activists at the 12th Rising Tide anti-coal blockade of Newcastle Port late last year when the protest continued past the officially permitted time.

Officers said afterward they would allege in court some protesters deliberately entered the harbour channel after the permitted end time for the protest at 4pm on the Sunday, after three days of protests, despite police warnings and directions.

Protestors this week said police had subsequently charged 99 people with s14a of the Maritime Safety Act, Unreasonable interference by operation or use of vessel.

Twenty-one activists reportedly received convictions in the first related court hearing on 11 January while no convictions were recorded for another 40.

Last Friday, charges against 36 protestors were heard in the Newcastle Local Court, with the case against one, who was pleading not guilty, adjourned until 15 February.

Magistrate finds guilty climate activists to have ‘muscular good character’

Byron Shire climate and housing advocate Chels Hood-Withey on Monday said the other 35 protestors pleaded guilty, with five receiving convictions.

Many had their charges handled under a ‘Section 10A’ in NSW law effectively allowing for groups of people facing similar or the same minor charges to receive the one judicial finding.

Ms Hood-Withey said neither she, nor many of the other protestors pleading guilty in Newcastle Local Court, received a penalty or recording of the offence.

Magistrate John Chicken told the court protestors had ‘noble intentions, albeit they ended up in an infraction of the law,’ Ms Hood-Withey told The Echo.

‘They were motivated by selflessness and a genuine concern for the climate and the future of the earth,’ Magistrate Chicken was quoted as saying.

He characterised the defendants, aged 24 and 71, as being of ‘muscular good character due to their strong records of community service’......

Returning to the matters heard in Newcastle last week that protestors said included five Northern Rivers residents, Ms Hood-Withey said many represented themselves.

Some had the support of the Environmental Defenders Office, she said.

Several opted to enter their guilty pleas through the court’s online system and didn’t have to face court in person.

There were no conditions placed on their release from the court matters......

Read the full article here.

Note:

John Chicken was appointed to the bench of the NSW Local Court by NSW Attorney General John Hatzistergos in 2009, after practicing law in New South Wales for 21 years with a strong background in criminal law having appeared extensively as a criminal advocate in the Local, District and Supreme Court of NSW.

Two persistent fires in Yuraygir National Park under control

 

How cute is this! A giant thank you message was written on the beach for the pilots and aerial crews working on the Sandon River Fire. We'd like to say a huge thank you to all of the #RFS members and aircrew who gave up their long weekend to protect communities around the state. pic.twitter.com/LjkCcm1pTj

— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) January 28, 2024

Crews are working to contain the Sandon River fire (Clarence Valley LGA), burning north of Wooli, near Minni Water. In this video the Large Air Tanker is laying retardant in the area of Diggers Camp, in an effort to protect property and slow the spread of fire. #RFS pic.twitter.com/rcUQTWWs5h

— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) January 26, 2024

#RFS and NPWS crews are working to control the Sandon River Fire (Clarence Valley LGA), with backburning operations being undertaken today in areas including around the Minnie Water village and Diggers Camp, to strengthen containment lines. (🎥: Luke McGlynn - Southampton RFB) pic.twitter.com/aCpZzP2qMe

— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) January 27, 2024

 Two bushfires have been burning in Yuraygir National Park on the Clarence Coast for well over a week now.

The largest which began in the Sandon River area now covers a fireground of at least 4,246ha.

The second at Lake Arragan  between Angourie and Brooms Head area has only covered 514ha to date. 

Both fires are under control and the current NSW Rural Fire Service advice for the Sandon River fire is set out below:

Advice: Sandon River Fire (Clarence Valley LGA) Monitor Conditions - Minnie Water, Diggers Camp, Wooli.

Posted: 28/01/2024 11:21

Firefighters have contained a fire burning to the east and north of Lake Hiawatha near the locations of Minnie Water, Diggers Camp to the north of Wooli township, and south of Sandon.

The fire has burnt more than 4,010ha and is contained.

Current Situation

The fire has burnt to the north of Wooli and to the north and west of Minnie Water.

Crews undertook backburning operations yesterday along the northern side of Diggers Camp Road and south west of the Minnie Water village.

Rain fell across parts of the fireground yesterday evening and overnight, further easing conditions, with minimal fire activity today.

National Parks and Wildlife crews assisted by RFS crews will continue to black out, mop up and continue to strengthen containment lines today.

A number of campgrounds in the area have been closed and people planning to visit camp grounds in the Diggers Camp area are advised to use alternate campgrounds.

Monitor conditions and stay up to date in case the situation changes. Know what you will do if the situation changes.

Minnie Water – Monitor Conditions

Firefighters conducted backburning operations yesterday south west of Minnie Water village. Crews will continue to strengthen containment lines today.

The fire continues to burn to the south west of the Minnie Water village between Lake Hiawatha and the coast.

Diggers Camp – Monitor Conditions

The fire is burning to the west of Diggers Camp between south of Lake Hiawatha and the coast.

Backburning operations were undertaken yesterday along the northern side of Diggers Camp Road. Crews will continue to mop up and patrol this area today.

People in the area are advised to monitor the situation and know what they will do if conditions change.

Wooli – Monitor Conditions

While the fire remains to the north of the Wooli village. People in the area are advised to monitor the situation and know what they will do if the situation changes.

What you need to do

• People in the Minnie Water, Diggers Camp, and Wooli areas stay alert and monitor your surroundings.

• Watch out for emergency services personnel and follow their directions.

• This means looking out for burning embers, changes in wind direction and smoke. Watch for signs of fire in your area.

• Know what you will do if the fire impacts on where you are. Identify a safer location in case the situation changes. This may include a well cleared area or a solid structure such as a home.

• If you are not prepared to the highest level, leaving early is the safest option.

If you are threatened by fire

• If the fire impacts, seek shelter in a solid structure such as a house to protect yourself from the heat of the fire.

• Bring pets indoors and restrain them, close all doors and windows and turn off air conditioners, keep water running if possible.

• Shelter in a room on the other side of the building from the approaching fire, and one that has water and a clear exit out of the house.

• Monitor both inside and outside for small fires and burning embers and turn sprinklers on if you have them.

• Be careful outdoors after the fire has passed as trees can be unstable and fall.

• If your life is at risk, call Triple Zero (000). 

There are currently no total fires bans in the Northern Rivers region.

BAN KRILL FISHING IN ANTARCTIC WATERS: Krill supertrawlers found trawling through whale pods for a second year in a row in the Antarctic.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxgdmnm8RYs

Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), 16 February 2018:

Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba)

Krill are small crustaceans of the order Euphausiacea, and are found in all the world's oceans.

In the Southern Ocean, one species, the Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba, makes up an estimated biomass of around 379 000 000 tonnes1, more than that of the global population of humans. Of this, over half is eaten by whales, seals, penguins, squid and fish each year, and is replaced through reproduction and subsequent growth of the krill population. Krill can live up to 8 years in aquariums but in the wild they probably live for 3 to 4 years, spawning when they are 2 to 3 years old.

They are important in the food chain because they feed on phytoplankton, and to a lesser extent zooplankton, making nutrients available to other animals for which krill make up the largest part of their diet. For this reason krill are considered a keystone species in the Southern Ocean ecosystem.

Krill undertake large daily vertical migrations, providing food for predators near the surface at night and in deeper waters during the day.

The size of the krill population is very variable from year to year and the changes observed appear to be driven mostly by how many young krill enter the population each year. This may be driven by variability in the amount of sea-ice, which is why there is a concern about the effects of climate change.....

“The krill fishing industry claimed that the images of krill trawlers fishing amongst whales that we captured last year were a rare occurrence. It’s now evident that it is par for the course. 

Krill is caught for products we do not need such as to create feed for farmed salmon or pet food. There is no need to destroy the foundation of the Antarctic ecosystem. It should shock all Australians that the farmed salmon that is produced in Tasmania, is fed the very food that penguins, seals and whales rely on to survive in Antarctica.” [Bob Brown Foundation, media release, 26 January 2024]

Echo, 26 January 2024:

Krill ships in Antarctica, trawling near whales. Screenshot from Sea Shepherd Global video.

Today Sea Shepherd Global has released footage and images of large industrial krill supertrawlers, once again trawling in large pods of whales off the Antarctic Peninsula.

The Bob Brown Foundation is calling on the Australian government to call on the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources to ban krill fishing in the Antarctic, based on the huge impact it has on the wildlife that calls Antarctica home.

The Bob Brown Foundation travelled to Antarctica over the Austral summer of 2022/23 and witnessed devastating scenes of trawlers fishing amongst foraging whales and penguins.

In October 2023, the Bob Brown Foundation released a report on where krill that is caught ends up in Australia. This report found that 100 per cent of Australian pharmacies surveyed carried krill oil products from the Antarctic and that Biomar, a fish feed producer in Wesley Vale, Tasmania, used up to 1200 tons of krill meal per year. This is the equivalent of 1 billion individual krill.

Krill ships in Antarctica.

Screenshot from Sea Shepherd Global video.

‘Once again, these immense supertrawlers have been caught plundering krill right out of the mouths of penguins and whales in Antarctica,’ said Alistair Allan, Antarctic and Marine campaigner at the Bob Brown Foundation.

‘The krill fishing industry claimed that the images of krill trawlers fishing amongst whales that we captured last year were a rare occurrence. It’s now evident that it is par for the course.

‘Krill is caught for products we do not need such as to created feed for farmed salmon or pet food,’ said Mr Allan.

‘There is no need to destroy the foundation of the Antarctic ecosystem. It should shock all Australians that the farmed salmon that is produced in Tasmania, is feed the very food that penguins, seals and whales rely on to survive in Antarctica.”

‘CCAMLR is expected to have a special meeting later this year to talk about Marine Protected Areas right where these trawlers operate. Australia must put forward a motion to ban krill fishing in Antarctica,’ said Alistair Allan.

International Court of Justice has decided there is a prima facie case against Israel and a full trial will take place, with a provisional order now in place requiring the State of Israel to ensure with immediate effect that its military does not commit any acts of genocide

 

On 29 December 2023 the Republic of South Africa made an application to the International Court of Justice instituting proceedings in accordance with Articles 36 (1) and 40 of the Statute of the Court and Article 38 of the Rules of Court against the State of Israel. The Application included a request that the Court indicate provisional measures to protect the rights invoked (as found in the UN 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide) from imminent and irreparable loss.

The Court sat for two days, 11 & 12 January 2024, and both South Africa and Israel put their cases concerning the rights and responsibilities found in the Genocide Convention and, whether the actions of the Israeli Government since 7 October 2023 had caused acts of genocide against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, had established a credible risk of genocide or that Israel's actions did not in fact involve genocide.

The Court adjourned and deliberated for thirteen days, then delivered its findings and decision.

It couldn't be any clearer, the State of Israel is on notice and a full trial will take place.

International Court of Justice (The Hague), South Africa v Israel, Summary of the Order of 26 January 2024, (Provisional Measures), excerpt:

OPERATIVE CLAUSE (PARA. 86)

The full text of the operative clause of the Order reads as follows:

“For these reasons,

THE COURT,

Indicates the following provisional measures:

(1) By fifteen votes to two,

The State of Israel shall, in accordance with its obligations under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, in relation to Palestinians in Gaza, take all measures within its power to prevent the commission of all acts within the scope of Article II of this Convention, in particular:

(a) killing members of the group;

(b) causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;

(c) deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; and

(d) imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;

IN FAVOUR: President Donoghue; Vice-President Gevorgian; Judges Tomka, Abraham, Bennouna, Yusuf, Xue, Bhandari, Robinson, Salam, Iwasawa, Nolte, Charlesworth, Brant; Judge ad hoc Moseneke;

AGAINST: Judge Sebutinde [representing the Republic of Uganda]; Judge ad hoc Barak [representing the State of Israel];

(2) By fifteen votes to two,

The State of Israel shall ensure with immediate effect that its military does not commit any acts described in point 1 above;

IN FAVOUR: President Donoghue; Vice-President Gevorgian; Judges Tomka, Abraham, Bennouna, Yusuf, Xue, Bhandari, Robinson, Salam, Iwasawa, Nolte, Charlesworth, Brant; Judge ad hoc Moseneke;

AGAINST: Judge Sebutinde; Judge ad hoc Barak;

(3) By sixteen votes to one,

The State of Israel shall take all measures within its power to prevent and punish the direct and public incitement to commit genocide in relation to members of the Palestinian group in the Gaza Strip;

IN FAVOUR: President Donoghue; Vice-President Gevorgian; Judges Tomka, Abraham, Bennouna, Yusuf, Xue, Bhandari, Robinson, Salam, Iwasawa, Nolte, Charlesworth, Brant; Judges ad hoc Barak, Moseneke;

AGAINST: Judge Sebutinde;

(4) By sixteen votes to one,

The State of Israel shall take immediate and effective measures to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance to address the adverse conditions of life faced by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip;

IN FAVOUR: President Donoghue; Vice-President Gevorgian; Judges Tomka, Abraham, Bennouna, Yusuf, Xue, Bhandari, Robinson, Salam, Iwasawa, Nolte, Charlesworth, Brant; Judges ad hoc Barak, Moseneke;

AGAINST: Judge Sebutinde;

(5) By fifteen votes to two,

The State of Israel shall take effective measures to prevent the destruction and ensure the preservation of evidence related to allegations of acts within the scope of Article II and Article III of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide against members of the Palestinian group in the Gaza Strip;

IN FAVOUR: President Donoghue; Vice-President Gevorgian; Judges Tomka, Abraham, Bennouna, Yusuf, Xue, Bhandari, Robinson, Salam, Iwasawa, Nolte, Charlesworth, Brant; Judge ad hoc Moseneke;

AGAINST: Judge Sebutinde; Judge ad hoc Barak;

(6) By fifteen votes to two,

The State of Israel shall submit a report to the Court on all measures taken to give effect to this Order within one month as from the date of this Order.

IN FAVOUR: President Donoghue; Vice-President Gevorgian; Judges Tomka, Abraham, Bennouna, Yusuf, Xue, Bhandari, Robinson, Salam, Iwasawa, Nolte, Charlesworth, Brant; Judge ad hoc Moseneke;

AGAINST: Judge Sebutinde; Judge ad hoc Barak.”

*

Judge XUE appends a declaration to the Order of the Court; Judge SEBUTINDE appends a dissenting opinion to the Order of the Court; Judges BHANDARI and NOLTE append declarations to the Order of the Court; Judge ad hoc BARAK appends a separate opinion to the Order of the Court.

___________

In South Africa v Israel the full Summary of the Order of 26 January 2024 can be read and downloaded at:

https://www.icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/192/192-20240126-sum-01-00-en.pdf.

The full APPLICATION OF THE CONVENTION ON THE PREVENTION AND PUNISHMENT OF THE CRIME OF GENOCIDE IN THE GAZA STRIP (SOUTH AFRICA v. ISRAEL) - 26 January 2024 Order can be read and downloaded at:

https://www.icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/192/192-20240126-ord-01-00-en.pdf

Meme of the Week

 

Image: X aka Twitter

Cartoons of the Week

 

Cathy Wilcox

 

Matt Golding

 

Gorkie

A brief look at changes to Australia's personal income taxation scheme from Morrison to Albanese

 

Then Treasurer, Scott Morrison, announced the Government’s Personal Income Tax Plan (PITP) in the 2018–19 Budget. The PITP reduced personal income taxes over the next seven years through a combination of changes to tax offsets for low and middle income earners and changes in income tax thresholds. The changes were to be implemented over three steps, commencing in 2018–19, 2022–23 and 2024–25. The 2018–19 changes were targeted at low and medium income earners, with the changes in 2022–23 and 2024–25 applying to individuals on higher taxable incomes. [Australian Parliamentary Library, Budget Review 2018–19 Index]

In 2018 the Treasurer placed a tentative costing on his seven-year tax scheme change of $140 billion.

In 2019 the Morrison Government began Stage 1 of what it characterised as a 'flattened' personal income tax scheme which abandoned in large measure Australia's progressive tax scales.

At the time it was expected to cost $18 billion in 2019-20. It mainly comprised a Low and Middle Income Tax Offset (LMITO) worth up to $1,080 a year for taxpayers on $30,000 to $126,000. High income-earners (the top 20% of taxpayers on $90,000 or more) have already gained up to $135 p.a. from an increase in the upper threshold of the 32.5% tax rate to $90,000 in 2018. Overall, Stage 1 mainly went to middle income-earners on $30,000 to $90,000.

Stage 2 began in July 2022. It was projected to cost $16.4 billion in 2023. Stage 2 saw the end of LMITO on 30 June 2022 under the cessation schedule revised by the former Morrison Government. This was the end of targeted offset tax relief for those earning between $66,668 – $126,000.

The scaled Low Income Tax Offset (LITO) is still available for those earning between $37,500 or less and $66,667.

The Australian resident tax rate for 2020-21 to 2023–24.

Australian Taxation Office Table, retrieved 25 January 2024.

There were no changes to any resident personal income tax rates or threshold in the four financial years up to 2023-24.

Stage 3 of the tax scheme commences in July 2024 and as originally legislated, would have seen the 32.5% marginal tax rate will cut to 30% for one big tax bracket between $45,000 and $200,000. This was intended to closely align the middle tax bracket of the personal income tax system with corporate tax rates. While the 37% tax bracket was be entirely abolished at that time. It heavy favoured high income earners. By November 2023 it been found that this last round of tax cuts were estimated to cost around $69 billion over the forward estimates period (to 2026-27). This estimate was higher than previously provided and reflects an additional year in the forecast period, along with updates to economic parameters.

Stage 3 was amended by the Albanese Labor Government in January 2024 to reduce the largess awarded high income earners and lessen the impact of the sustained cost of living pressures.

On Thursday 25 January 2025 in a joint press release by the Prime Minister, Treasurer and Minister for Finance it was announced:

From 1 July 2024, the Albanese Labor Government will:

• Reduce the 19 per cent tax rate to 16 per cent (for incomes between $18,200 and $45,000).

• Reduce the 32.5 per cent tax rate to 30 per cent (for incomes between $45,000 and the new $135,000 threshold).

• Increase the threshold at which the 37 per cent tax rate applies from $120,000 to $135,000.

• Increase the threshold at which the 45 per cent tax rate applies from $180,000 to $190,000.

As a result of these changes, on July 1:

• All 13.6 million taxpayers will receive a tax cut – and 2.9 million more taxpayers will receive a tax cut compared to Morrison’s plan.

• 11.5 million taxpayers (84 per cent of taxpayers) will now receive a bigger tax cut compared to Morrison’s plan.

• 5.8 million women (90 per cent of women taxpayers) will now receive a bigger tax cut compared to Morrison’s plan.

• A person on an average income of around $73,000 will get a tax cut of $1,504 – that’s $804 more than they were going to receive under Morrison’s plan.

• A person earning $40,000 will get a tax cut of $654 – compared to nothing under Morrison’s plan.

• A person earning $100,000 will get a tax cut of $2,179 – $804 more than they would receive under Morrison’s plan.

• A person earning $200,000 will still get a tax cut, which will be $4,529. [reduced from est. $9,075] 

In addition, the Government will increase the Medicare levy low-income thresholds for 2023-24.

See full press release at:

https://www.pm.gov.au/media/tax-cuts-help-australians-cost-living

UPDATE 1 February 2024

SEE: https://treasury.gov.au/tax-cuts

MAIN SOURCES

The Guardian, Scott Morrison seeks backing for budget tax cuts without full costings, May 2018

ACOSS briefing notes, The Government’s tax cuts:

Who gains? What do they cost?, June 2019

H&R Block 2023 Federal Budget Tax Updates, undated

Australian Tax Office, Tax rates – Australian resident, September 2023 and Individual income tax rates and threshold changes, January 2024

Treasury Question Time Brief, Personal Income Tax - Stage 3, November 2023

Australian Parliamentary Library, Budget Review 2018–19 Index, Personal income tax cuts and the Medicare levy

National Press Club Address by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, January 2024 

The Treasury, Tax cuts to help with the cost of living, January 2024

Australia Day aka Invasion Day or Day of Mourning 2024: far right media and politicians making an increasingly ugly day even uglier

First it was verbal attacks on local government councils which intend to change how they celebrate Australia Day or hold their citizenship ceremonies on a January day other than the 26th or split their official and community activities over two days. 

Then the mainstream media, led by baying News Corp staff opinion writers and political commentators, looked about for other imaginary 'woke' enemies of the public holiday designated Australia Day.

Following an early January 2024 announcement by the Woolworths Group that while it sells Australian flags all year round it will not be stocking additional items for Australia Day due to a decrease in store sales in recent years, the meeja decided this announcement made its supermarkets a suitable target.

Opposition Leader and LNP Member for Dickson (Qld) Peter Dutton eagerly jumped on the bandwagon accusing the Woolworths Group and others of "peddling woke agendas" and calling for a boycott of all Woolies stores - with predictable response from those who voted "No" at the 'Voice' referendum.

An even more predictable response came from racist cranks and the 'cookers' amongst us.

Teneriffe store, inner Brisbane City Qld
IMAGE: 7 News, 16 January 2024

Cleveland Central store, south-east Brisbane Qld
IMAGE:  Herald-Sun, 16 January 2024

Woolworths Group, 24 January 2024:

A message from Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci to customers

Dear Customers,

Over the last two weeks, there's been much commentary in the media and we have had direct feedback from our customers and our team regarding our approach to selling Australia Day merchandise.

I have tried to read all customer complaints and team incident reports, and I’m writing this in the hope of clarifying our position and also asking everyone to treat our team with respect.

In terms of the Woolworths position:

As a proud Australian and New Zealand retailer, we aren’t trying to ‘cancel’ Australia Day. Rather, Woolworths is deeply proud of our place in providing the fresh food that brings Australians together every day. As evidenced during COVID or increasingly natural disasters such as what is currently unfolding with Cyclone Kirrily in Northern Queensland. Woolworths will always support Australians in the moments that matter.

In terms of merchandising - our commercial decision to not stock specific Australian Day general merchandise was made on the basis of steeply declining sales. The decision to stock this mostly imported merchandise has to be made almost 12 months in advance. So as a business decision, it doesn’t make commercial sense.

Rather than stocking imported Australian themed merchandise, Woolworths is focused on what we do best 365 days of the year – providing the best of Australian fresh food for Australia Day long weekend gatherings with family and friends and working hard to ensure we deliver great value.

There are many other ways in which we are supporting our customers and our team to celebrate Australia, such as acknowledging the best of Australian products in our stores and online and supporting our team to mark Australia Day with their local community.

As a first generation Australian who gratefully calls Australia home, I look forward to getting together with my family and I hope that you too spend Australia Day in your own way and cherish what it means to be Australian.

Brad Banducci

Woolworths CEO

Byron Echo responds to claims in the Australian Jewish Association advertisement: an "extreme organisation" which "promotes one-sided warped and dangerous views"

 

The Byron Shire Echo

24 January 2024, p.2

Click on image to enlarge

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Byron Shire Echo

Volume 38 #33 • January 24, 2024

We’ve had complaints

The Australian Jewish Association (AJA) sure did stir up a lot of complaints to The Echo, given their inflammatory and inaccurate statements in their page 5 advertisement last week.

There is no evidence that Hamas is responsible for all Gazan deaths, for example, and the rest of their claims around the Middle East peace process are contested – at best.

But that’s free speech.

It’s easy to say you support it, but harder as a publisher to actually follow through with it.

So who are the AJA (www.jewishassociation.org.au)?

Despite claiming they do not affiliate with any political party, their members are linked to far-right-wing think tank IPA, and the Liberal Party.

AJA tweet Jan 17

On January 17, the AJA tweeted

their Echo ad with the statement:

‘Byron Bay is known as a hot spot

for left-leaning activist types. The

local paper, The Byron Shire Echo,

is widely read and often contains

anti-Israel content. AJA decided to

take out a half page ad and share

some facts. The ad was generously

facilitated by Michael Burd. What

do you think of the AJA ad?’

Well here’s what we think:

The AJA is an organisation that should not be taken seriously, because it only promotes one-sided warped and dangerous views.

It is simply untrue to imply that Israel is an innocent bystander/victim in the unfolding clusterfuck.

Their ad appeared designed to divide rather than inform.

Unlike most mainstream media, The Echo is independent and contains a range of views from its readers and contributors.

Saying The Echo ‘often contains anti-Israel content’ is like saying that those who criticise Israel are antiSemite, or are ‘self-loathing Jews’.

As a society, aren’t we past such stupid school-yard bullying?

The AJA appears more aligned with war-mongering types, like Israeli PM, Bibi Netanyahu, than with those seeking genuine peace.

Netanyahu has forged a hardright coalition to remain in power, yet faces much criticism from within Israel over his attempts to curb the powers of the judiciary, for example. Netanyahu also faces court on charges of corruption, and it appears he needs this war to stay in power. There is no two-state solution with Netanyahu.

As for Australian mainstream media (especially Newscorp), they appear ‘state captured’ – that is, they take paid junkets to Israel and subsequently write favourably about Israel’s policies.

By contrast, Israel’s own media is often critical of its government, and there appears more freedom to report without fear or favour in Israel than here in Australia.

ABC journalist, Antoinette Lattouf, was recently sacked after posting a Human Rights Watch video describing Israel’s starvation of Gaza civilians. It’s alleged that the national broadcaster took action after complaints from ‘Jewish lobbyists’.

The Echo is not aligned with either side of the Israel and Palestine conflict.

It’s all too easy to shoot the messenger.

Instead, genuine attempts at peace are required by ‘leaders’ if this intractable ongoing disaster has any hope of resolution.

The Australian Jewish Association (AJA), like any extreme organisation on both sides of this conflict, are not helping that cause.

Hans Lovejoy, editor

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Letter to the Editor, 24 January 2024, p.12:

I live in Byron Bay and always look forward to reading The Echo. I was beyond shocked and horrified at seeing the Zionist propaganda advertisement on page 5 by the Australian Jewish Association (AJA). I certainly didn’t expect this in a Northern Rivers local newspaper.

As a non-practising Jewish woman who is completely appalled at what is happening in Gaza, due to the actions of Israeli leaders and IDF, I’m so disappointed with your choice to accept this advertisement.

Gaza has been under control by Israel for a very long time. They control all access into and out of Gaza with multiple checkpoints for children, women and men. The IDF shoots children throwing stones at them.

I don’t condone the actions of Hamas on 7 October, 2023. Killing civilians is not okay. However, the claims of beheading, rape and burning babies are not verified. Israel’s response was, and is, reprehensible and repugnant. Indiscriminate bombing of civilians and infrastructure is against humanitarian laws. Israel are committing war crimes and genocide against a race of people displaced in 1948 and harassed since then.

Entire families have been wiped out. Journalists, UN aid workers and medical staff are being killed by the IDF. No one is safe in Gaza.

The occupied (by Israel) West Bank is also an unsafe place for Palestinians to live, work and play. Settlers use violence to displace Palestinians from their homes and agricultural land.

To condone Israel is to condone genocide.

Linda Teese

Byron Bay

NOTE

The Byron Shire Echo is a free weekly independent tabloid newspaper that is published in the Byron Shire, New South Wales, Australia....

The Echo is totally owned by people who live in Byron Shire.

It is published by Echo Publications Pty Ltd, an Australian proprietary company, limited by shares, registered in 1990.