Howard and Switkowski allowed U.S. to commence spying on Telstra customers from 29 November 2001 onwards

Former Australian Prime Minister John Howard and former Telstra CEO and current Chancellor of RMIT University Dr Zygmunt "Ziggy" Switkowski have a lot to answer for - as do their respective cabinet ministers and telco chair and board members.

It is noted that Opposition Leader Tony Abbott was a cabinet minister in the Howard Government during the period in which this secret data collection and retention agreement was negotiated and signed, as was National Party Leader Warren Truss. Both men are standing at the forthcoming federal election.

Telstra’s current Chair, Catherine Livingstone, was also an independent non-executive director on the board at the time the agreement was negotiated and signed, whilst current CEO David Thodey was Group Managing Director of Telstra Mobiles in 2001 and was not appointed to the position of Group Managing Director Telstra Enterprise and Government until December 2002.

Telstra must reveal all on secret deal with FBI

12 Jul 2013 | Scott Ludlam Media Release
Broadband, Communications & the Digital Economy

The Greens have called on Telstra to immediately disclose details of a secret deal, revealed by Crikey today, which was struck 12 years ago to allow the FBI and US Department of Justice to monitor calls and data traffic via the company's undersea cables.

"Telstra, at the time majority owned and controlled by the Howard Government, struck a deal to allow 24/7 surveillance of calls going in and out of the United States, including calls made by Australians. The cables in question are operated by Telstra subsidiary Reach, which controls more than 40 major telecommunications cables in the region, including cables in and out of China and Australia," said Greens communications spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam.

"While the current Australian Government recently pushed then abandoned a two-year mandatory data retention scheme, for more than a decade this secret deal with the United States compelled Telstra, Reach and PCCW to store all customer billing data for two years.

"The deal also compelled Telstra, Reach and PCWW to provide any stored communications and comply with preservation requests; to provide any stored meta-data, billing data or subscriber information about US customers; to ignore any foreign privacy laws that might lead to mandatory destruction of stored data; and to refuse information requests from other countries without permission from the United States.

"This secret deal also allowed FBI and US Department of Justice officials to conduct inspection visits of Telstra and Reach offices and infrastructure.

"This is an extraordinary breach of trust, invasion of privacy, and erosion of Australia's sovereignty," said Senator Ludlam.

The agreement is available at this link: http://media.crikey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/US-NSAs-Telstra.pdf

Agreement between the U.S. Dept. of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation and three telecommunication co...

Financial Review 13 May 2013:

The Coalition has approached former Telstra chief executive Ziggy Switkowski to be a director of NBN Co if it wins the election in another sign that it plans to shake up the board of the $37.4 billion broadband project.

The Australian Financial Review can reveal that opposition communications spokesman Malcolm Turnbull has canvassed Mr Switkowski and other former Telstra executives to replace NBN co-directors as he prepares for negotiations with the telco.

On 9 July 2013 Public Intelligence posted a list of other telecommunications corporations known to have made similar agreements with the U.S. Government:

Corporate Parties	Government Parties	Date	Download Link
Level 3 Communications, Inc.	DHS, DoD, DoJ	September 26, 2011	Download
AP TeleGuam Holdings, Inc.; AP TeleGuam Merger Sub, LLC	DHS, DoD, DoJ	May 1, 2011	Download
American Samoa Hawaii Cable, LLC; Samoa American Samoa Cable, LLC; American Samoa License, Inc.; and AST Telecom, LLC d/b/a Blue Sky Communications	DHS	February 2, 2011	Download (12.85 MB)
TerreStar Corporation; TerreStar Networks Inc.,	DHS, DoJ	December 18, 2009	Download
GU Holdings Inc.	DHS	September 21, 2009	Download
American Samoa Hawaii Cable, LLC; AST Telecom, LLC	DHS	January 9, 2009	Download
Inceptum 1 AS now known as Mobsat Holding Norway AS; Telenor Satellite Services AS successor to Telenor Broadband Services AS now known as Vizada AS; Telenor Satellite Services Holdings, Inc.; Mobsat Holding US, Inc. now known as Mobsat Holding US Corp; Telenor Satellite, Inc., now known as Vizada Satellite, Inc.; Telenor Satelltie Services, Inc. now known as Vizada, Inc.; GMPCS Personal Communications, Inc.; Marlink, Inc.; Telenor Secure Services, Inc. now known as Vizada Secure Services, Inc.; MindSparX, Inc.; Vizada Services Holding, Inc.; Vizada Services LLC	DHS, DoJ, FBI	September 25, 2008	Download
Horizon Mobile Communications, Inc.; SatCom Distribution, Inc.; SatCom Distribution Ltd.; and SatCom Group Holdings Plc	DHS, DoJ	September 24, 2008	Download
Inmarsat Global Limited; Inmarsat Hawaii Inc.	DHS, DoJ	September 17, 2008	Download
Reliance Communications Limited; Reliance Gateway Net Limited; FLAG Telecom Group Limited; FLAG Telecom Group Services; Yipes Holdings, Inc.; Yipes Enterprise Services, Inc.	DHS, DoJ	November 30, 2007	Download
Stratos Communications, Inc., previously MarineSat Communications Network, Inc.; Stratos Mobile Networks LLC; Stratos Mobile Networks, Inc.; CIP Canada Investment Inc.	DHS, DoJ, FBI	August 14, 2007	Download
Global Crossing Limited, formerly known as GC Acquisition Limited; Singapore Technologies Telemedia Pte Ltd	DHS, DoD, DoJ, FBI	February 1, 2007	Download
Telenor Satellite Services AS; Telenor Satellite Services Holdings, Inc.; Telenor Satellite, Inc.; Telenor Satellite Services, Inc.; Inceptum 1 AS; Mobsat Holding US, Inc.; GMPCS Personal Communications, Inc.; Marlink, Inc.; Telenor Secure Services, Inc.; MindSparX, Inc.	DHS, DoJ, FBI	March 5, 2007	Download
Guam Cellular and Paging, Inc.; DoCoMo Guam Holdings, Inc.	DHS, DoJ, FBI	October 13, 2006	Download
América Móvil, S.A. de C.V.; Telecomunicaciones de Puerto Rico, Inc.	DHS, DoJ	2006	Download
Cypress Communications Holding Company, Inc.; TechInvest Holding Company, Inc.; Arcapita Investment Management Limited; and Arcapita Bank B.S.C.(c)	DHS, DoJ, FBI, Treasury	June 17, 2005	Download
TelCove, Inc.	DHS, DoJ, FBI	June 15, 2005	Download
VSNL America, Inc.; VSNL Telecommunications, Inc.; Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited	DHS, DoD, DoJ, FBI	April 7, 2005	Download
Telefonica Moviles, S.A.; TEM Puerto Rico, Inc.; NewComm Wireless Services, Inc.	DHS, DoJ, FBI	May 14, 2004	Download
Micronesian Telecommunications Corporation; Pacific Telecom, Inc.	DHS, DoD, DoJ, FBI	October 6, 2003	Download
Global Crossing Ltd.; GC Acquisition Limited; Singapore Technologies Telemedia Pte Ltd	DHS, DoD, DoJ, FBI	September 23, 2003	Download
XO Communications, Inc.	DoJ, FBI	September 16, 2002	Download
Telenor Satellite Services Holdings, Inc.; Telenor Satellite, Inc.; Telenor Satellite Services, Inc.; Telenor Broadband Services AS	DoJ, FBI	November 29, 2001	Download
Reach Ltd.; Telstra Corporation Limited; Pacific Century CyberWorks Limited	DoJ, FBI	November 29, 2001	Download
Mobile Satellite Ventures LLC; Mobile Satellite Ventures Subsidiary LLC; Motient Corporation; TMI Communications and Company, Limited Partnership	DHS, DoD, DoJ, FBI	November 14, 2001	Download
MarineSat Communications Network, Inc.; Stratos Mobile Networks LLC	DoJ, FBI	August 7, 2001	Download
Deutsche Telekom AG; Voicestream Wireless Corporation; Voicestream Wireless Holding Corporation	DoJ, FBI	April 1, 2001	Download
AT&T Corp.; British Telecommunications PLC; TNV BV; VLT Co. LLC; Violet License Co. LLC	DoD, DoJ, FBI	October 7, 1999	Download

American telco customers are fighting back through the courts - but has anyone in this country filed against the United States of America, Commonwealth of Australia and Telstra Corporation Limited yet?

The Ashby-Slipper-Harmer matters still wending their way through the Australian judicial system

Excerpt from bouefbloginon 14 June 2013

As Ashby v Slipper - NSD22/2013 and Harmer v Slipper - NSD31/2013 wend their way through the judicial system, placing yet more submissions before the Federal Court, J at bouefbloginon adds another perspective.

Full list of court documents available online here.

Cut and paste churnalism* in the lead up to the 2013 Australian federal election campaign

Spot the difference………

The Federal Nationals Member for Cowper Luke Hartsuyker’s media release of 8 July 2013:

Coalition’s policy to reduce regulation will give North Coast small business a break - Hartsuyker

July 8, 2013

Small business on the North Coast will be the main beneficiaries from the Federal Coalition’s commitment to cut red and green tape, Federal Member for Cowper Luke Hartsuyker said today.

Newsagents, dry cleaners, butchers, restaurants, fruit shops and small businesses across the region will benefit from the Coalition’s policy to reduce regulation.

“Small businesses across the region are really struggling because Labor has smashed consumer and investor confidence,” Mr Hartsuyker said. “Local small business owners and community groups tell me they are spending more time than ever complying with red tape.  

                         

“Small business people are expected to be the chief salesperson, the HR manager, the financial controller and the lawyer.  It’s a tough ask at the best of times, and even tougher when you are expected to comply with more and more regulation. Small businesses don’t have compliance departments – and nor should they.  We need common sense to prevail again.

“Under the Rudd-Gillard Government, 21,000 additional regulations have been added despite having promised to cap the growth of regulation.  Our policy will cut $1 billion in red and green tape costs every year – that means more jobs, more productive businesses, more efficient government and less costs to consumers and taxpayers.”

Mr Hartsuyker said the Coalition’s policy to Boost Productivity and Reduce Regulation will shift the focus from more regulation to less. 

If elected, a Coalition government will undertake a range of measures to deregulate the economy. These include:

•  Repealing Labor’s carbon tax;
•  Setting aside two Parliamentary sitting days for the repeal of legislation each year;
•  Reporting to Parliament annually on red and green tape reduction;
•  Creating a dedicated unit within each department and agency that is charged with driving red tape reduction;
•   Linking the remuneration  of senior public servants to quantified and proven reductions in red tape;
•  Establishing a  one-stop-shop for environmental approvals;
•   Allowing small  businesses to remit compulsory superannuation payments made on behalf of workers directly to the Australian Taxation Office;
•  Transferring administration of paid parental leave from business to the Family Assistance Office; and
•  Amending the Future of  Financial Advice legislation to reduce compliance costs for small business financial advisers.

Mr Hartsuyker recognised that all modern economies need regulation, but excessive regulation results in more costs than benefits and destroys the incentive to work, or in the case of community groups, it destroys the incentive to volunteer.  The Coalition will restore the balance.

“I want to make it easier for small businesses to employ people and for community groups to do their work without worrying about red tape.  My message to North Coast small businesses is that the Coalition has a smart plan to cut red tape and costs and that starts with the removal of the carbon tax,” Mr Hartsuyker said.

The Coffs Coast Advocate’s online version of 10 July 2013 which also appeared under a number of other APN digital mastheads:

Coalition promises to cut red and green tape

SMALL business on the North Coast will be the main beneficiaries from the Federal Coalition's commitment to cut red and green tape.

That's according to Member for Cowper Luke Hartsuyker who said newsagents, dry cleaners, butchers, restaurants, fruit shops and small businesses across the region will all benefit from the Coalition's policy to reduce regulation.

"Small businesses across the region are really struggling because Labor has smashed consumer and investor confidence," Mr Hartsuyker said.

"Small business people are expected to be the chief salesperson, the HR manager, the financial controller and the lawyer. It's a tough ask at the best of times, and even tougher when you are expected to comply with more and more regulation.

"Small businesses don't have compliance departments - and nor should they. We need common sense to prevail again.

"Our policy will cut $1 billion in red and green tape costs every year - that means more jobs, more productive businesses, more efficient government and less costs to consumers and taxpayers."

Mr Hartsuyker said the Coalition's policy to boost productivity and reduce regulation will shift the focus from more regulation to less.

If elected, a Coalition government will undertake a range of measures to deregulate the economy. These include:

Repealing Labor's carbon tax;

Setting aside two Parliamentary sitting days for the repeal of legislation each year;

Reporting to Parliament annually on red and green tape reduction;

Creating a dedicated unit within each department and agency that is charged with driving red tape reduction;

Linking the remuneration of senior public servants to quantified and proven reductions in red tape;

Establishing a one-stop-shop for environmental approvals;

Allowing small businesses to remit compulsory superannuation payments made on behalf of workers directly to the Australian Taxation Office;

Transferring administration of paid parental leave from business to the Family Assistance Office; and

Amending the Future of Financial Advice legislation to reduce compliance costs for small business financial advisers.

* Churnalism is a form of journalism in which press releases, wire stories and other forms of pre-packaged material are used to create articles in newspapers and other news media in order to meet increasing pressures of time and cost without undertaking further research or checking.

Please don't run me over! WIRES and The Northern Star with an urgent reminder about baby platypus

The Northern Star June 12 2013

If you see a small brown animal scurrying along the roadside at dusk or dawn, it might not be a pesky rat.

It could be something much cuter - a baby platypus.

Young platypuses are currently dispersing from their home waterways, and WIRES Northern Rivers is warning motorists to be careful after reports that some of these tiny creatures had been run over.

"Once platypuses, especially males, get to a certain age, they start to leave their water source and look for somewhere new to live, particularly if there are a lot of males in their area," WIRES co-ordinator Sue Ulyatt said….

...they are slightly longer than your hand.

"So when they're out and about at dusk or dawn, they tend to look a bit like rats, and people do accidentally run them over.

"We are really urging people to slow down.

"We want people to be aware and look around, particularly if you are driving near waterways."

Ms Ulyatt said the Northern Rivers had a growing platypus population.

Water raiders on the march again

From A Clarence Valley Protest 10 July 2013:

Raiding our northern rivers 

Letter to the Editor, The Northern Star, 10 July 2013:

Raiding our rivers

ON June 26 the NSWLC Standing Committee on State Development published a report Adequacy of water storages in New South Wales.

This report recommended that the NSW Government "review the environmental flow allocations for all valleys in New South Wales and make representations to the Commonwealth Government for it to review the environmental flow allocations for all valleys in New South Wales in relation to the Murray Darling Basin Plan" and told the government that "the priority given to environmental needs above water supply to industry and high security needs in regulated rivers under the Water Management Act 2000 is not sufficiently balanced" and recommended that it change this act to prioritise these other needs above environmental needs.

The committee that produced this report was dominated by the Liberal-Nationals Coalition and its oft-times ally, the Christian Democratic Party, so it should come as no surprise that the advice received by the O'Farrell Government heavily favours the interests of both irrigators in the Murray-Darling Basin and the mining industry as it does not rule out damming and diverting water from the Northern Rivers to feed the insatiable water hunger of these two groups.

It is a general rule of thumb that it requires 1 to 2 tonnes of water to process 1 tonne of mined ore (USGS, 2012) and an individual coal seam gas well can require up to 1 million litres of drilling water (Metgasco, January 2013).

Irrigation water for crops can range from 2 to 5.5 million litres per hectare as a minimum to bring a crop to maturity in this state (NSW Dept Primary Industry, 2009).

The amount of water that would have to be drawn from the Clarence River systems to meet even part of what these two groups desire would potentially impact on the health of local rivers, local water security, local agriculture, local economies dependant on the fishing industry and tourism industries and the social and cultural life of local communities.

The Tweed and Richmond valley communities would possibly have similar concerns.
It would be useless to look to the North Coast Nationals to protect Northern Rivers interests, as the NSW National Party has never walked away from its 2008 state conference resolution to "support greater efforts to reduce the amount of eastern water lost to the ocean and campaign for more in-depth investigations into finding ways to turn this water inland" (My Daily News online, June 16, 2008).

It would also be useless to look to the Liberal Party to protect our interests, as the Upper House committee's recommendations echo the 2007 Howard-Turnbull push to dam and divert fresh water from the Clarence River catchment area and, the current Federal Opposition favours a "100 dams" plan according to a leaked draft discussion paper which makes mention of the Clarence and Mann rivers (The Daily Examiner, February 14, 2013).

Once again the Northern Rivers region is going to have to rely on its own community resources and lobbying abilities to combat any attempt to raid our river systems.

Now is the time to organise and act.

Judith M Melville

Yamba

Sheilas speak up

Sheilas Monthly Mail

5 / 7 / 2013

This is a very special edition of the Sheilas Monthly Mail in which we wish to pay tribute to Australia's first female Prime Minister by ensuring truth is included on the public record - the 'Round Up' today focuses squarely on the Gillard Government's record in achieving huge nation-building policy reforms under a minority government in the most adversarial circumstances.

The text below is published in today's mainstream media - through full page newspaper advertisements in Fairfax papers The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald, and in the Murdoch press' Herald Sun, while a half page ad will appear in the Australian newspaper. We have deliberately selected these publications to directly connect with their readers.

The Victorian Women's Trust (publisher of Sheilas) has taken this significant step to put on the record what many women and men have witnessed over the last few years - watching in horror how the minority government’s achievements were delegitimized, while Australia's first female Prime Minister – who was governing successfully - was “torn down” by various forces, including:

(i) an overly hostile Opposition,

(ii) destabilizing and treacherous camps within the ALP prepared to bring down their own government,

(iii) a sustained, antagonistic mainstream media

(iv) a campaign of sexist abuse across social media and public forums.

Today's advertisements follows the work of the VWT in publishing ‘A Switch in Time’ in September 2012 – which documented the overwhelming sexist vitriol launched at the PM and the total lack of respect shown towards democratic principles and the Office of the Prime Minister. We know through feedback from this distribution of 13,000 copies nationally (and 20,000 downloads via the internet) that many women and men across Australia share our concerns.

Already, in the week since last Wednesday’s challenge, we continue to witness a ‘talking down’ of Julia Gillard and her minority government’s record of achievements. We also feel the deep reservoir of distress is not limited to 'feminist fringe groups' - but by large numbers of intelligent women and men across the country who are mourning the loss of a good prime minister and the contemptuous campaign launched against her.

This is our motivation behind publishing the message in today's advertisements. We have only been able to do this because women donors have given us the funds (without the privilege of tax-deductibility) because they share our concerns in putting truth on the public record.

Written by Executive Director Mary Crooks AO, on behalf of the Board and the staff of the Victorian Women’s Trust, the advertisement documents the Gillard Government’s record of nation-building policy reform achievements.  The advertisement also acknowledges for the many frustrated women and men how Australia’s first female Prime Minister had to contend with everything bar the kitchen sink thrown at her - with the saboteurs from her own Party ultimately rewarded.

Editor, Sarah Capper

The Gillard Government - Credit Where Credit is Due

We have all witnessed something extraordinary in Australian politics over the past three years. The 43rd parliament came to a close with the removal of Julia Gillard as the nation’s first female Prime Minister: the first woman ever to hold the position after one hundred and ten years of federal political leadership that saw 26 male Prime Ministers elevated to the highest office. The frenzy of the forthcoming federal election campaign will change the nation’s focus. Before it’s too late, we want to pay public tribute to those who made this period of democratic minority government a successful one - against the odds. The federal election of 2010 delivered a hung parliament. Prime Minister Gillard successfully negotiated and formed a minority government, the fourteenth in our history. This coalition of the ALP, Independents and the Greens, opted to provide careful, thoughtful, stable government for a full term, so that our national government could get on with the business of governing in the national interest. And it did just that. However, from the outset, and despite its democratic legitimacy, the Gillard-led minority government sparked an unheralded series of hostile reactions from different quarters across the country. An Opposition Leader, stung by being denied what he saw as his due, proceeded to launch a ‘seek and destroy’ mission centred on opportunistic appeals to people’s prejudices and fears. A deposed Prime Minister, stung from being removed so decisively by a Caucus that had lost faith in his capacity, spent the next three years currying allies on a parallel  treacherous ‘seek and destroy’ mission – with Prime Minister Gillard squarely in his sights. By and large, the mainstream media fuelled these separate but powerful agendas by refusing to accept the legitimacy of the minority government with Julia Gillard at the helm. Her many achievements went largely unproclaimed while her mistakes were amplified - and continually referenced. Instead of delivering dispassionate reporting, seasoned journalists and broadcasters became players in the game. Low showing in opinion polls was attributed to her poor communication and her government’s performance, without factoring in the damaging impact of the on-going duplicity within her own party. The very day in March this year that Prime Minister Gillard delivered a majestic Sorry speech on forced adoptions, a speech that belongs to the store of great national oratory, she had to contend with yet another destabilising leadership meeting at which her opponent failed to declare himself. The ensuing toxic political discourse surrounding the Prime Minister and the minority government gave public licence across the community, online and elsewhere, for an unprecedented campaign of sexist and chauvinist abuse, denigration, double standards, gross disrespect for the office of Prime Minister and gross disrespect for her as a person. It has been a fraught political environment and we remain baffled by several of the Gillard government’s policies – on immigration and asylum seekers, reducing economic support for single parents and the Prime Minister’s position on same–sex marriage. By and large, however, she has displayed an enormous capacity and style of effective leadership rarely seen in parliamentary leaders across the political spectrum. She oversaw the introduction of a raft of impressive and far-reaching legislation, showing high-order negotiation skill, sharp intelligence and a great ability to command strategy and detail across complex issues. Much of this legislation is nation-building, addressing our common future as Australians – the introduction of a carbon price, the roll out of a National Broadband Network, The Murray-Darling Basin Plan, a ground-breaking National Disability Insurance Scheme, a much more equitable model for funding primary and secondary education, a national paid parental leave scheme, and the establishment of the Royal Commission into Child Sexual Abuse. There were many more reforms. Achievements in foreign policy, including Prime Minister Gillard negotiating the basis for future high level discussions with China, were notable and more far-reaching than those of her recent predecessors. On her watch as the nation’s Prime Minister, our growing economy has been the envy of the world - low unemployment, low interest rates, low inflation and triple-A credit ratings. We salute former Prime Minister Julia Gillard for getting on with the business of governing for us, the people; for the skilful negotiation, resolve and the leadership required to maintain the confidence of the Lower House; for steering the government through a full term; for enabling close to 500 pieces of legislation to be passed; for introducing significant and visionary reforms that will deliver great benefit to the Australian people in the time to come; and for remaining strong and poised when everything bar the kitchen sink was thrown at her. We pay tribute to those male and female colleagues who worked with her on the nation’s behalf, respected her capacity and gave her the loyalty she deserved. We pay tribute to retiring Independents Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott for their true independence, their courage and hard work in upholding democratic values; and for enduring with dignity, the threatening abuse aimed at them, their partners and staff. The success of this minority government has come at a significant cost. The past three years have led to a great loss of civility and common decency, a poisonous political discourse and a downturn in respect for our leaders. We now have a climate in which people willingly and disrespectfully attack one another in anonymous and often vitriolic commentary that is no substitute for mature democratic debate. There is a jaded cynicism and a sense of deep despair and powerlessness across much of the community. With men now back in their perceived ‘rightful place’ as political leaders of both the government and Opposition there will be little gendered attack in political circles. But the seams of aggressive contempt and sexist abuse that lay beneath everyday life and which surfaced with Julia Gillard’s elevation as Prime Minister, have not gone away. We have just lost our very first woman Prime Minister – a woman with a great sense of purpose and skill, a true reformer. Julia Gillard’s final observation, in a speech of supreme grace, was that her experience as the country’s first female Prime Minister will make it easier for the next woman, and the next and the next. If this proves to be the case, she will deserve further recognition and gratitude. Smoother passage for the generations of younger women coming through the ranks will only come about with more commitment – changes within political parties themselves, a greater focus on the benefits to be gained from gender equality, cultural change that reduces violent abuse and sexism and social action at many levels of our society. The truly ugly aspect of our national life revealed by the past three years should give cause for us all to reflect on what else is required to restore and maintain respect, civility, common decency and a fair go for women - in our society and in our democratic politics. Mary Crooks AO & Diana Batzias Executive Director & Convenor on behalf of the Board and Staff of Victorian Women’s Trust www.vwt.org.au

The Victorian Women’s Trust – About Us