A Who's Who of Donors to that US-influenced hard right political misinformation machine & "significant third party entity", Advance Australia aka Advance Aus Ltd formerly known as Freedom Aus Limited

"Advance Australia registered as an official significant third party in February 2019 (with $2.4 million in seed money supplied by 16 donors). 

The legal entity which underpins this organisation is Advance Aus Ltd formerly known as Freedom Aus Limited, registered in Queensland on 31 August 2018 and then moved to South Australia before landing in the ACT and now situated at Level 4, 15 Moore Street Canberra, CITY ACT 2601 since July 2023.... 

This registered corporation never has reported annual income of less than $1.3 to $2.8 million, according to the AEC Transparency Register. Advance Australia been running political issue 'talking points' and campaign advertising ever since, [but] it wasn’t until 2021-22 when its xenophobia and prejudice began to be writ large that media coverage had increased as had awareness. 

By the time 2022 came around with a firming of the political objective to hold a national referendum, it was obvious that Advance Australia had not just political backing from right-wing politicians and committed culture warriors like Tony Abbott, it had a number of financial backers with deep pockets. Pockets which appear to be financing its referendum “No” campaign against the inclusion of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament in the Australian Constitution." [North Coast Voices, NATIONAL REFERENDUM STATE OF PLAY 2023: Advance Australia, 18 September 2023]

The list of admitted individual and corporate donations now runs to almost five A4-sized sheets of paper and, shielded by company names or the plain title of "Mr" can be found Melbourne Storm director Brett Ralph, Perth car dealer Brian Anderson, Sydney millionaire Rodney O'Neil, Queensland millionaire businessman Trevor St Baker, multi-millionaire Franklyn Roger Brazil, multi-millionaire Executive Director of Blackmores Ltd Marcus Blackmore, Chairman Trisco Foods Pty Ltd Ian Tristram, Institute of Public Affairs board member Simon Fenwick, co-founder of Bakers Delight Roger Gillespie - and other names associated with wealth, business or the Liberal Party just keep scrolling on.

Excerpt from Australian Electoral Commission, Transparency Register, retrieved 4 February 2024, showing donors to Advance Australia:

2022-23	Steve Baxter	25 Jul 2022	$500
2022-23	Steve Baxter	09 Feb 2023	$2,500
2022-23	Mr Marcus Blackmore	21 Feb 2023	$5,000
2022-23	Mr Marcus Blackmore	01 May 2023	$20,000
2022-23	Mr David Brown	09 Mar 2023	$20,000
2022-23	Roderick Campbell	27 Oct 2022	$5,000
2022-23	Roderick Campbell	13 Apr 2023	$10,000
2022-23	Roderick Campbell	20 Apr 2023	$10,000
2022-23	Roderick Campbell	25 May 2023	$1,000
2022-23	Roderick Campbell	26 Jun 2023	$2,000
2022-23	Mr Michael Cane	01 Oct 2022	$3,000
2022-23	Mr Michael Cane	30 Oct 2022	$1,000
2022-23	Mr Michael Cane	01 Jan 2023	$1,000
2022-23	Mr Michael Cane	13 Jan 2023	$500
2022-23	Mr Michael Cane	03 Mar 2023	$5,000
2022-23	Mr Michael Cane	31 Mar 2023	$5,000
2022-23	Mr Michael Cane	27 Apr 2023	$5,000
2022-23	Mr Michael Cane	08 Jun 2023	$5,000
2022-23	Mr John Church	01 Sep 2022	$5,000
2022-23	Mr John Church	17 Nov 2022	$5,000
2022-23	Mr John Church	22 Feb 2023	$2,500
2022-23	Mr John Church	07 Mar 2023	$5,000
2022-23	Mr John Church	31 Mar 2023	$3,000
2022-23	Mr John Church	19 Apr 2023	$3,000
2022-23	Coogee Chemicals Pty Ltd	19 Dec 2022	$20,000
2022-23	Currabulla Pty Ltd	13 Apr 2023	$25,000
2022-23	Mrs Belinda Fisher	15 Aug 2022	$1,500
2022-23	Mrs Belinda Fisher	04 Sep 2022	$1,000
2022-23	Mrs Belinda Fisher	13 Oct 2022	$1,000
2022-23	Mrs Belinda Fisher	07 Nov 2022	$1,500
2022-23	Mrs Belinda Fisher	18 Nov 2022	$5,000
2022-23	Mrs Belinda Fisher	13 Dec 2022	$1,000
2022-23	Mrs Belinda Fisher	31 Dec 2022	$1,000
2022-23	Mrs Belinda Fisher	13 Jan 2023	$500
2022-23	Mrs Belinda Fisher	20 Feb 2023	$1,000
2022-23	Mrs Belinda Fisher	07 Mar 2023	$1,000
2022-23	Mrs Belinda Fisher	07 Mar 2023	$1,000
2022-23	Mrs Belinda Fisher	30 Mar 2023	$1,500
2022-23	Mrs Belinda Fisher	19 Apr 2023	$1,000
2022-23	Mrs Belinda Fisher	06 May 2023	$10,000
2022-23	Mrs Belinda Fisher	06 May 2023	$2,500
2022-23	mr Roger Gillespie	02 Nov 2022	$10,000
2022-23	mr Roger Gillespie	31 Mar 2023	$10,000
2022-23	HADLEY HOLDINGS PTY LTD	01 Nov 2022	$25,000
2022-23	HADLEY HOLDINGS PTY LTD	28 Nov 2022	$1,000,000
2022-23	J M R Management Consultancy Services Pty Ltd	15 Sep 2022	$50,000
2022-23	Mr Bryant Macfie	13 Mar 2023	$100,000
2022-23	Mr Greg McKay	03 Aug 2022	$2,500
2022-23	Mr Greg McKay	03 Aug 2022	$150
2022-23	Mr Greg McKay	07 Nov 2022	$500
2022-23	Mr Greg McKay	05 Dec 2022	$500
2022-23	Mr Greg McKay	06 Jan 2023	$500
2022-23	Mr Greg McKay	06 Feb 2023	$500
2022-23	Mr Greg McKay	06 Mar 2023	$500
2022-23	Mr Greg McKay	05 Apr 2023	$500
2022-23	Mr Greg McKay	05 May 2023	$500
2022-23	Mr Greg McKay	05 May 2023	$10,000
2022-23	Mr Greg McKay	05 Jun 2023	$500
2022-23	Mr Warwick Morris	08 Aug 2022	$10,000
2022-23	Mr Warwick Morris	17 Feb 2023	$10,000
2022-23	Mr Warwick Morris	24 Mar 2023	$10,000
2022-23	Naylor Partners Pty Ltd	01 Mar 2023	$25,000
2022-23	Naylor Partners Pty Ltd	14 Apr 2023	$25,000
2022-23	Nedigi Pty Limited	10 Mar 2023	$50,000
2022-23	PCI Pty Ltd	08 Mar 2023	$50,000
2022-23	Pesca Aviation Pty Ltd	28 Jun 2023	$20,000
2022-23	MR RONALD PITCHER	08 Nov 2022	$5,000
2022-23	MR RONALD PITCHER	18 Nov 2022	$2,500
2022-23	MR RONALD PITCHER	15 Dec 2022	$5,000
2022-23	MR RONALD PITCHER	24 Mar 2023	$10,000
2022-23	MR RONALD PITCHER	01 Jun 2023	$10,000
2022-23	Porto Katsiki Pty Ltd	12 Aug 2022	$10,000
2022-23	Porto Katsiki Pty Ltd	08 Dec 2022	$2,000
2022-23	Porto Katsiki Pty Ltd	24 Feb 2023	$25,000
2022-23	Porto Katsiki Pty Ltd	31 Mar 2023	$15,000
2022-23	Mr Michael Quinn	09 Feb 2023	$16,000
2022-23	Siesta Holdings Australia Pty Ltd	05 Sep 2022	$15,000
2022-23	Siesta Holdings Australia Pty Ltd	09 Feb 2023	$100,000
2022-23	SILVER RIVER INVESTMENT HOLDINGS PTY LTD	11 Aug 2022	$150,000
2022-23	SILVER RIVER INVESTMENT HOLDINGS PTY LTD	06 Apr 2023	$250,000
2022-23	Sixmilebridge Pty Limited	10 Mar 2023	$50,000
2022-23	STRANG INTERNATIONAL PTY LTD	05 Sep 2022	$2,000
2022-23	STRANG INTERNATIONAL PTY LTD	03 Oct 2022	$2,000
2022-23	STRANG INTERNATIONAL PTY LTD	07 Nov 2022	$2,000
2022-23	STRANG INTERNATIONAL PTY LTD	05 Dec 2022	$2,000
2022-23	STRANG INTERNATIONAL PTY LTD	03 Jan 2023	$2,000
2022-23	STRANG INTERNATIONAL PTY LTD	06 Feb 2023	$2,000
2022-23	STRANG INTERNATIONAL PTY LTD	06 Mar 2023	$2,000
2022-23	STRANG INTERNATIONAL PTY LTD	03 Apr 2023	$3,400
2022-23	STRANG INTERNATIONAL PTY LTD	01 May 2023	$3,400
2022-23	STRANG INTERNATIONAL PTY LTD	05 Jun 2023	$3,400
2022-23	The Trustee for St Baker Family Trust	15 Feb 2023	$50,000
2022-23	Mr Kenneth Warriner	11 Nov 2022	$5,000
2022-23	Mr Kenneth Warriner	24 Apr 2023	$5,000
2022-23	Mr Kenneth Warriner	08 May 2023	$10,000
2021-22	Mr Andrew Abercrombie	30 Mar 2022	$20,020
2021-22	Mr Marcus Blackmore	12 Apr 2022	$20,000
2021-22	Brazil Farming Pty Ltd	14 Sep 2021	$20,000
2021-22	Brazil Farming Pty Ltd	20 Apr 2022	$14,000
2021-22	Mr Louis Denton	17 Aug 2021	$20,000
2021-22	Mr Louis Denton	17 Sep 2021	$15,000
2021-22	Mr Louis Denton	18 Sep 2021	$20,000
2021-22	Mr Louis Denton	19 Sep 2021	$20,000
2021-22	Rayleen Guisti	27 Apr 2022	$20,000
2021-22	Rayleen Guisti	28 Apr 2022	$17,500
2021-22	Mrs Gabrielle Hull	12 May 2022	$20,000
2021-22	Mr John Francis Hull	07 Feb 2022	$25,000
2021-22	Mr John Francis Hull	12 May 2022	$20,000
2021-22	J M R Management Consultancy Services Pty Ltd	03 Sep 2021	$75,000
2021-22	Mr Karl Morris	16 Mar 2022	$10,000
2021-22	Nedigi Pty Limited	12 Nov 2021	$25,000
2021-22	Siesta Holdings Australia Pty Ltd	09 Feb 2022	$20,000
2021-22	Siesta Holdings Australia Pty Ltd	22 Apr 2022	$10,000
2021-22	SILVER RIVER INVESTMENT HOLDINGS PTY LTD	21 Apr 2022	$50,000
2021-22	Sixmilebridge Pty Limited	12 Nov 2021	$25,000
2021-22	Sixmilebridge Pty Limited	27 Apr 2022	$20,000
2021-22	Telowar Pty Ltd	12 Nov 2021	$25,000
2021-22	Ian Tristram	11 Apr 2022	$25,000
2021-22	Willimbury Pty Limited	29 Nov 2021	$25,000
2020-21	Mr Ronald Baldwin	04 Mar 2021	$15,000
2020-21	Mr Marcus Blackmore	06 Apr 2021	$10,000
2020-21	Mr Marcus Blackmore	13 May 2021	$5,000
2020-21	Cartwright Investment Corp Pty Ltd ATF Burleigh Trust	11 Aug 2020	$350,000
2020-21	J M R Management Consultancy Services Pty Ltd	08 May 2021	$50,000
2020-21	Nedigi Pty Ltd	19 Feb 2021	$50,000
2020-21	Sentinel Property Group	19 Aug 2020	$20,000
2020-21	Siesta Holdings Australia Pty Ltd	29 Sep 2020	$20,000
2020-21	SILVER RIVER INVESTMENT HOLDINGS PTY LTD	25 Mar 2021	$650,000
2020-21	Sixmilebridge Pty Limited	19 Feb 2021	$50,000
2020-21	Telowar Pty Ltd	19 Feb 2021	$50,000
2020-21	Willimbury Pty Limited	15 Feb 2021	$50,000
2019-20	Cartwright Investment Corp Pty Ltd ATF Burleigh Trust	24 Oct 2019	$150,000
2019-20	Peter Farrell	01 Jul 2019	$50,000
2019-20	Peter Farrell	18 Nov 2019	$25,000
2019-20	Nedigi Pty Ltd	13 Dec 2019	$75,000
2019-20	Sixmilebridge Pty Limited	13 Dec 2019	$75,000
2019-20	Telowar Pty Ltd	13 Dec 2019	$75,000
2019-20	Willimbury Pty Limited	18 Dec 2019	$75,000
2018-19	Mr and Mrs Philip and Patricia Anderson	09 Nov 2018	$40,000
2018-19	Mr and Mrs Philip and Patricia Anderson	12 Nov 2018	$60,000
2018-19	Mr and Mrs Philip and Patricia Anderson	15 Mar 2019	$1,000
2018-19	Mr Gerard Benedet	09 Nov 2018	$3
2018-19	Mr Gerard Benedet	29 Jan 2019	$3
2018-19	Mr Gerard Benedet	19 Mar 2019	$5,050
2018-19	Mr Gerard Benedet	20 Mar 2019	$6,000
2018-19	Mr Gerard Benedet	25 Mar 2019	$3,000
2018-19	Mr Gerard Benedet	28 Mar 2019	$3
2018-19	Mr Gerard Benedet	29 Mar 2019	$3
2018-19	Mr Gerard Benedet	08 May 2019	$5
2018-19	Mr Gerard Benedet	27 Jun 2019	$100
2018-19	Boka Investments Pty Ltd	10 May 2019	$15,000
2018-19	Careline Australia Pty Ltd	09 May 2019	$15,000
2018-19	Cartwright Investment Corp Pty Ltd ATF Burleigh Trust	21 Nov 2018	$1,000
2018-19	Cartwright Investment Corp Pty Ltd ATF Burleigh Trust	05 Dec 2018	$100,000
2018-19	Cartwright Investment Corp Pty Ltd ATF Burleigh Trust	21 Feb 2019	$50,000
2018-19	Cartwright Investment Corp Pty Ltd ATF Burleigh Trust	10 Apr 2019	$40,000
2018-19	City Lodge Motel Pty Ltd	01 May 2019	$20,000
2018-19	Mr Samuel Ellis	16 Apr 2019	$50,000
2018-19	Peter Farrell	25 Mar 2019	$50,000
2018-19	GeoInfoSystems Pty Ltd	11 Mar 2019	$17,000
2018-19	GeoInfoSystems Pty Ltd	13 Mar 2019	$3,000
2018-19	Mr Leo James Lynch	24 Apr 2019	$50,000
2018-19	Miroma Investments P/L	20 Nov 2018	$37,000
2018-19	Miroma Investments P/L	27 Nov 2018	$13,000
2018-19	Nedigi Pty Ltd	19 Dec 2018	$100,000
2018-19	Ms Mavis Pirola	26 Oct 2018	$9,100
2018-19	Ms Mavis Pirola	29 Oct 2018	$10,000
2018-19	Ms Mavis Pirola	30 Oct 2018	$10,000
2018-19	Ms Mavis Pirola	31 Oct 2018	$25,000
2018-19	Ms Mavis Pirola	01 Nov 2018	$25,000
2018-19	Ms Mavis Pirola	02 Nov 2018	$20,900
2018-19	Ms Mavis Pirola	06 Nov 2018	$25,000
2018-19	Ms Mavis Pirola	07 Nov 2018	$25,000
2018-19	Ms Mavis Pirola	08 Nov 2018	$20,000
2018-19	Ms Mavis Pirola	12 Nov 2018	$25,000
2018-19	Ms Mavis Pirola	13 Nov 2018	$5,000
2018-19	Sixmilebridge Pty Limited	13 Nov 2018	$100,000
2018-19	Sixmilebridge Pty Limited	19 Feb 2019	$10,000
2018-19	Telowar Pty Ltd	19 Feb 2019	$100,000
2018-19	Willimbury Pty Limited	16 Nov 2018	$100,000

Please drive carefully on Clarence Valley roads as endangered Coastal Emus are moving about in the Lower Clarence

 

Clarence Valley Independent, 31 January 2024:

Locals and visitors to the Clarence Valley are urged to keep an eye out for endangered Coastal Emus. Image: contributed

Residents of the Clarence Valley and visitors to the area are being asked to keep a close lookout for endangered Coastal Emus on local roads following the recent death of a Coastal Emu on Brooms Head Road and the sighting of what appeared to be a family of the flightless birds at Palmers Island last Tuesday.

When the Coastal Emu count was done in October 2023, fewer than 50 of these critically endangered birds, that were once widespread across north-eastern NSW, were spotted in their remaining habitat from Corindi to Evans Head.

Coastal Emus are genetically different from all other Emus in Australia, and their loss would have a serious environmental impact because they eat and spread fruits and seeds across large areas which helps keep north-eastern NSW forests healthy and able to support many different threatened plants and animals.

Attacks from feral animals including pigs, dogs, and foxes can cause emu injury or death, particularly in chicks, and you can reduce the risks of attack by keeping your pets secured during the day and reporting sightings of wild dogs, feral pigs and foxes to Local Land Services on 1300 795 299.

The recent tragic death of a Coastal Emu on Brooms Head Road this month prompted Clarence Valley Council to issue the following warning to locals.

The Coastal Emu is a protected animal, both alive and dead.

Please leave remains where they are for the appropriate authority to deal with and to allow cultural repatriation.

You can help save Coastal Emus by reporting sightings of emus in the Clarence Valley Local Government Area via Clarence Valley Council’s online sightings register; installing emu-friendly fencing if you own land where emus roam; and by being on high alert for emus on local roads, following animal warning signs, slowing down and driving to the speed limit.

If you see an emu, log your sighting online at www.clarenceconversations.com.au/coastalemus

Saturday's Mood: HOT!

Australian Bureau of Meteorology, Northern Rivers Forecast, issued at 4:30 pm EDT on Friday 2 February 2024:

Weather Situation

A high pressure system over the Bight extends a ridge into southern and western New South Wales today, while a trough of low pressure lies over the northeast. This trough will decay early Saturday as the high moves to the Tasman Sea, although a new trough is forecast to develop in the west during the weekend. This pattern will direct hot air from central Australia across New South Wales, peaking in many areas during Sunday. The remnants of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Kirrily look set to be drawn into the inland trough during Monday, potentially bringing significant rain to some western areas, before the whole system weakens and shifts to the state's east on Tuesday.

Heatwave Situation for 3 days starting Saturday 3rd February 2024 

Click on image to enlarge

NOTE: Heatwave mapping for this cycle commenced Wednesday 31 January 2024.

Cartoons of the Week

 

Peter Broelman

Cathy Wilcox

Live and work in the NSW Northern River Region? Want to know how much less tax you will pay under the Albanese Government 's changes to former Morrison Government Stage 3 tax cuts?

The Australian Government Treasury has kindly created a an online Tax Cut Calculator which those who pay personal income tax on their wages or salaries can use to calculate how much less in tax liabilities they will have in 2024-25. 

Calculation are based on an individual's annual taxable income and, starts showing varying degrees of tax relief at taxable incomes of $21,887 per annum all the way up to taxable incomes of $1,000,000 per annum.

It will also supply a comparison with this financial year's estimated annual tax liability and an individual's estimated annual tax liability in 2024-25 if the proposed amendments are passed by the House of Representatives this month.

Go to: https://treasury.gov.au/tax-cuts/calculator 

Why did the Albanese Labor Government make the decision to amend the former Morrison Coalition Government tax cuts due to come into effect on 1 July 2024?  

Treasury Advice on Stage 3 Tax Cuts

Overview

  The upcoming Stage 3 tax cuts were designed and legislated when dramatically different circumstances were expected to unfold. Since they were legislated, the global economy has been impacted by several significant, unanticipated shocks. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted supply chains and saw the rollout of unprecedented government support. More recently, ongoing global conflicts have led to rapid increases in energy and food prices, which are rippling through domestic prices and have contributed to inflation reaching 30-year highs. 

  Low- and middle-income households have been under significant pressure from unanticipated cost-of-living increases associated with the lift in prices. It is challenging to provide support to these households without unduly adding to inflationary pressures and perpetuating cost-of-living challenges. 

  Treasury expects inflation to return to the target band over the coming 18 months and built into this profile are the Stage 3 tax cuts. One way to provide further relief to those households most affected by cost-of-living increases and not impact inflation is to redesign the Stage 3 tax cuts. 

  It remains important to deliver an overall tax cut around the size of the Stage 3 tax cuts to unwind bracket creep and lower average income tax rates. This case is supported by the ongoing improvement in the budget position and adverse impacts of rising average income tax rates. 

  A redesign of the Stage 3 tax cuts presents other opportunities, including enhancing the participation benefits of the tax cuts, especially for women, and distributing the future impact of bracket creep more evenly. This can be achieved with the same budgetary cost as the Stage 3 tax cuts. 

  The redesign of the Stage 3 tax cuts outlined in this document is estimated to provide cost-of-living relief to 13.6 million taxpayers. This option is broadly revenue neutral, will not add to inflationary pressures and will support labour supply......

Read the full advice at:

https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-01/tax-cuts-treasury-advice.pdf 

IMAGE: Australian Treasury

By way of example.....

Using the 2021 Census &.id informed decisions data as guidelines for Northern Rivers Region stated annual individual incomes and relying on figures produced by Treasury's tax calculator:

in the 2024-25 financial year an est. 8.7% of all Northern Rivers local workers should see an annual tax cut somewhere between $234-$513;

with roughly 23% of local workers expected to find their annual tax liability reduced by between $468-$700;

around 14.5% can expect to have their tax liability drop by somewhere between $700-$978;

another 14.5% of local workers have annual incomes which should see their tax cut come in between $978-$1,303;

an est. 9.5% of local workers are calculated to receive a tax cut of between $1,304-$1,629;

while 7.7% of all local workers are estimated to fall within the range of between $2,279-$ 3,729 less in annual tax liability; and

est. 3.7% of all workers may see their annual tax liability cut by between $3,729-$3,889 or higher.  

Note: this is not an exhaustive list of Northern Rivers local workers' expected tax cuts in 2024-05 should the House of Representatives pass the Albanese Government proposed amendments to the former Morrison Government Stage 3 tax cuts.

BACKGROUND

Northern Rivers Regional Area

IMAGE: .id informed decisions

At the 2021 Census est. 116, 851 people were working part-time or full-time for a wage or salary in the seven local government areas within the NSW Northern Rivers region. [.id informed decisions, Northern Rivers Region economic profile]

In 2021 the taxable gross income of these workers ranged from est. $351 up to $3,500 and over per week.

Overall, 15.4% of the local workers earned a high income, and 16.0% earned a low income, compared with 24.6% and 11.5% respectively for NSW.

The major differences between the weekly income of the local workers in the Northern Rivers Region and NSW were:

• A smaller percentage of local workers who earned $2,000 - $2,999 (7.7% compared to 13.3%)

• A smaller percentage of local workers who earned $3,500 or more (2.4% compared to 6.2%)

• A larger percentage of local workers who earned $800 - $999 (14.5% compared to 10.9%)

• A larger percentage of local workers who earned $650 - $799 (11.5% compared to 8.1%) [.id informed decisions, Northern Rivers Region economic profile]

In the global response to the War on Gaza words matter.....

 

Likud Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, posting in English via @netanyahu on 27 January 2024, a day after the International Court of Justice published its Order binding the State of Israel:

"Israel's commitment to international law is unwavering. Equally unwavering is our sacred commitment to continue to defend our country and defend our people.

Like every country, Israel has an inherent right to defend itself.

The vile attempt to deny Israel this fundamental right is blatant discrimination against the Jewish state, and it was justly rejected.

The charge of genocide leveled [sic] against Israel is not only false, it’s outrageous, and decent people everywhere should reject it."

The disconnect between those words, along with other recent statements made by the Likud Party leader, and the words found in the International Court of Justice Order of 26 January 2024 are being noticed.

 

CDU EXPERT: The ICJ’s order rebuts denials and is binding with its “Israel must”

 

 

Charles Darwin university

 

 

Hard facts, semantically clear landmark verdict

31 JANUARY, 2024

Who: Charles Darwin University forensic linguistics expert Dr Awni Etaywe is a lecturer in linguistics and a forensic linguistics researcher focusing on terrorism, incitement to hatred, radicalisation and genocide, and digital deviance. He is a former United Nations Expert on Mission and Observer of human rights violations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with training on the law of armed conflict and the protection of civilians and children.

Topics:

• Israel’s response to South Africa’s case and the International Court of Justice's order.

• The International Court of Justice rebuts Israel’s denials and claims, and decides it is a plausible case of genocide.

• The UCJ’s order is legally binding, and the Court sees that “Israel must” conform.

• Predictably, language is a main part of evidence to decode a genocidal intent and determine a plausible case of genocide.

• Violence in Gaza is a form of “genocidal moments” and placed within a broader settler-colonial context.

 

Quotes attributable to Dr Awni Etaywe:

“The Court issued its binding evidence-based order, using the 'Israel must' phrase where Israel not only 'must' 'take effective measures to prevent the destruction and ensure the preservation of evidence related to allegations…' but also 'must 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. The report so provided shall then be communicated to South Africa, which shall be given the opportunity to submit to the Court its comments thereon.'"

“The Court enacts tenor through high modality – 'must' – a linguistic means through which the Court expresses the highest level of intensity of obligation.”

“What are these must-take measures? The Court considers that:

• “Israel must […] take all measures within its power to prevent the commission of […]: (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.

• “…Israel must ensure with immediate effect that its military forces do not commit any of the above-described acts.”

• “…Israel must 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.”

“As predicted, speech function and dehumanising language was under the microscope of the Court to establish evidence of encoded genocidal intent.

"Judge Nolte adds that '…certain statements by Israeli State officials, including members of its military, give rise to a real and imminent risk of irreparable prejudice to the rights of Palestinians under the Genocide Convention.' In response to this genocidal language, the Court orders Israel to do the following:

• “…Israel must 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.”

“Netanyahu politically (again, not legally) labelled the ‘crime of crimes’ charge as 'outrageous', while Yoav Gallant countered by characterising South Africa’s case as 'antisemitic'."

"In the face of political dynamics and the framework of international law, nations worldwide are confronted with a critical choice.”     

ENDS                                           

Note: 

Judge Georg Nolte is a German jurist, former Professor of Public and International Law, a former member of the International Law Commission and a current Member of the International Court of Justice since 2021.