Australia

Australian police defend response to violent protest during Israeli president’s visit

Footage from the rally depicts law enforcement officers physically engaging with demonstrators, including punching and pulling away individuals who were kneeling in prayer.

A confrontation between Australian law enforcement and demonstrators protesting the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog has sparked a defense of police actions, following a violent altercation.

Footage has surfaced showing police engaging with protesters, including a state parliament member who reported being hurt, during a Monday evening gathering in Sydney; authorities reported 27 arrests, with charges laid against nine individuals, and 10 officers sustaining injuries.

According to NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon, officers exercised considerable self-control, stating that their response was necessary and appropriate under the circumstances, in comments made on Tuesday.

Prior to the incident, organizers of the protest had attempted to challenge police restrictions on their demonstration through the courts, but their bid was unsuccessful, ahead of Herzog's visit.

The Australian government extended an invitation to President Herzog following an antisemitic incident at Bondi Beach, aiming to support the healing process within the Jewish community, amidst objections from groups advocating for Palestinian rights.

A deadly attack occurred on December 14, claiming the lives of 15 individuals, including a 10-year-old girl, as two gunmen opened fire on a crowd gathered to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.

Footage of the demonstrations outside Sydney's Town Hall and nearby areas showed clashes between police and protesters, with estimates of attendance varying greatly – 6,000 according to police and 50,000 by organizers – and incidents of officers using force against protesters, including those who were praying.

Josh Lees, a representative of the Palestine Action Group, described the level of violence that erupted during the Monday evening protest as the most severe he has witnessed in recent years.

In an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) radio, Lees stated that the group should have been permitted to hold their march.

Lees suggested that the violence could have been prevented if the New South Wales (NSW) government had granted the group permission to march to either the state parliament or Hyde Park from Town Hall, citing this as a potential solution to avoiding the conflict.

Following the shooting in December, New South Wales implemented restrictions on public demonstrations, and just days before the rally, additional measures were put in place, granting police the power to restrict access to certain areas of the city under "major event" provisions. While gatherings were permitted, marches were prohibited.

In a last-minute attempt, protesters sought to challenge the application of the "major event" powers, but their bid was rejected by the court just 30 minutes prior to the scheduled protest.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns addressed the police response during an appearance on Channel 9's Today program, stating that law enforcement had faced an "impossible situation" the previous night. He cautioned against drawing conclusions based on brief video clips, emphasizing the importance of considering the full context.

Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna described the confrontations between police and protesters, noting that officers had been subjected to threats, physical altercations, and assaults amidst "multiple melees and rolling fights." He added that authorities were vastly outnumbered by protesters and individuals intent on engaging in violent and disorderly conduct.

Linda Feinberg, a member of the Jewish community, was among those in attendance, attending the event to demonstrate her support and solidarity with the cause.

A protestor expressed strong disapproval of Albanese's decision to extend an invitation to Herzog, as evident from the placard she held, which read "Jews say no to genocide".

Sihal Jamila attended the protest with her young daughter by her side.

"As a mother of two, with another on the way, it's crucial for me to be here," Sihal Jamila explained to the BBC, her voice filled with emotion. "The killing of our children is unacceptable, and it's imperative that we take a stand."

Although the speeches at Town Hall remained peaceful, the situation escalated afterwards as protesters began to chant "let us march", prompting the police to intervene.

The atmosphere grew increasingly tense, and police deployed pepper spray, causing protesters to scatter, but they were unable to exit the area due to the police barricades.

According to Minns, law enforcement had to intervene to prevent protesters from disrupting an event featuring Herzog at a nearby convention centre, where attendees were gathering.

A man wearing a red keffiyah around his neck raises his fist in front of a large crowd of people holding placards. — Thousands of people attended a rally on Sydney on Monday night against a visit by Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

Organisers have announced plans for a protest on Tuesday evening outside a Sydney police station, seeking the withdrawal of charges against demonstrators and an investigation into police officers who used physical force during the clashes.

The Australian National Imams Council has condemned the treatment of Muslim men who were forcibly removed while praying, describing the incident as "shocking, deeply disturbing, and entirely unacceptable" based on available footage.

NSW Greens MP Abigail Boyd has shared her account of being physically handled by police during the protests, despite identifying herself as a member of parliament; she posted a photo of herself wearing a neck brace afterwards.

Boyd recounted the incident, stating that she was pushed with such force that her feet lifted off the ground, even after informing the officers of her parliamentary status.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed dismay over the protests, stating that such scenes were unacceptable. Although he acknowledged the controversy surrounding the visit, Albanese defended the decision to invite Herzog, suggesting that the protesters' actions ultimately detracted from their message.

Certain pro-Palestinian organizations had voiced opposition to Herzog's visit, referencing a UN commission report from the previous year. The report alleged that Herzog, along with other Israeli leaders, had made statements that could be seen as inciting violence against Palestinians, thereby contributing to a genocidal environment.

The controversy stems in part from Herzog's remarks on October 7, 2023, in response to Hamas attacks on Israel, in which he implied that an entire nation was responsible for the violence. Additionally, a photo of Herzog signing a shell destined for Gaza has been cited as evidence in a legal case brought by South Africa before the International Court of Justice, accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.

Herzog has disputed the UN report's findings, claiming that his statements were taken out of context. Similarly, Israel's foreign minister has denounced the report as misleading and inaccurate, further fueling the ongoing debate surrounding Herzog's visit.

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Emergency call recording reveals boy’s heroic swim to save family

A 13-year-old boy, Austin Appelbee, took action to secure assistance for his mother and siblings when they were pulled out into the ocean.

An audio recording has been made public by authorities, capturing a distress call made by a 13-year-old Australian boy who swam for an extended period to seek assistance for his family after they were caught in a strong current at sea in early February.

During the call, the boy, identified as Austin Appelbee, informs emergency services that his brother, Beau, 12, sister, Grace, eight, and their mother remain in the water, awaiting rescue.

Austin expresses concern for his family's well-being, stating that he is unsure of their current condition, which is causing him significant distress.

The teenager also reports feeling severely exhausted, a result of his prolonged and physically demanding effort to reach shore and call for help.

Following the call, Austin lost consciousness and was hospitalized, where he later received news that his mother, brother, and sister had been rescued approximately 14 kilometers offshore and were in good health.

Asia

Australian opposition leader faces pressure after key staff member quits

The departure of a high-ranking colleague has created an opportunity for a potential challenge to Sussan Ley, who holds the distinction of being the first female leader of the Liberal party.

Sussan Ley, the first female leader of the Liberal Party, is facing renewed scrutiny following the departure of Angus Taylor, her shadow defence minister, from the party's leadership team.

Sussan Ley, a blonde haired woman with pearl earrings and glasses looks off camera while people in suits sit on a green leather bench behind her — Liberal leader Sussan Ley is facing an expected leadership challenge from Angus Taylor

Taylor's resignation is expected to pave the way for a potential challenge to Ley's leadership, with local media outlets suggesting he has been quietly working to unseat her for some time.

Ley's tenure has been marked by struggles, including a narrow victory over Taylor in a leadership contest last year, which was held in the aftermath of the party's worst-ever electoral performance.

The Liberal-National coalition, a partnership that dates back to the 1940s, has experienced significant instability under Ley's leadership, having split and reunited twice during her tenure.

On Wednesday, Taylor, a member of the party's conservative faction, announced his resignation from the leadership team, citing his commitment to continuing to serve the Liberal Party.

In a statement to reporters, Taylor expressed his disappointment with the party's inability to hold the current Labor government accountable, emphasizing the need to protect Australians' way of life and restore their standard of living.

Taylor stated that he does not believe Ley is capable of leading the party effectively, citing the need for a change in leadership.

It remains to be seen whether Taylor's allies within the shadow cabinet will follow his lead and resign from their positions.

Local media reports suggest that Taylor's supporters are planning to request a special party meeting to consider a spill motion, which would allow the party to reconsider its leadership.

If Taylor were to succeed in his bid for leadership, it would bring an end to the ongoing speculation surrounding Ley's tenure, which has been marred by uncertainty.

The coalition's most recent split, which occurred in January, was followed by a reunification just days ago, after a dispute over hate speech laws, which Ley had supported in the wake of the Bondi Beach attack in December.

At the time of the initial split, Nationals leader David Littleproud explicitly stated that his party could not continue to serve in a shadow cabinet under Ley's leadership.

Recent polling data has shown the One Nation party, which secured 6% of the national vote in the previous election, surpassing the Coalition to take second place behind Labor, while Ley's personal approval ratings remain low.

The coalition has yet to reach a consensus on the factors that contributed to its decisive election loss to Labor, which saw the Liberals suffer significant losses in major cities.

In the aftermath of the election, the coalition briefly split over disagreements on climate and energy policy, including its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, a policy that the Liberals later abandoned under pressure from the Nationals and their own right-wing faction.

The Nationals, which have a strong presence in rural areas and tend to lean more conservative than the Liberals, have been pushed further to the right in response to the surge in support for the One Nation party, according to political analysts, who note that this shift may hinder the Liberals' ability to appeal to centrist voters in urban areas.

Asia

Australian author guilty of creating child abuse material

In the author’s novel, which falls under the erotic genre, the main character is 18 years old and engages in role-playing as a young child.

A court in Australia has convicted an author of producing child sex abuse material, which was presented in the form of a romance novel featuring an age-gap relationship.

A statue of Greek Lady Justice holding scales — The erotic age-gap novel sexually objectifies children, a judge has said

During the trial in a New South Wales court, it was revealed that the novel revolves around the story of Lucy, an 18-year-old, and Arthur, a 45-year-old friend of her father, including descriptions of Arthur's desires that originated when Lucy was a minor, as well as scenes where Lucy pretends to be a young child.

Lauren Mastrosa, who works in marketing for a Christian charity, faced charges after her book generated widespread outrage on the internet, but she maintained in court that the protagonist, Lucy, is explicitly portrayed as an adult throughout the story.

Magistrate Bree Chisholm delivered a verdict on Tuesday, stating that the novel's content constitutes the sexual objectification of children, thus rejecting Mastrosa's defense.

Prior to the complaint filed with the police, Lauren Mastrosa, 34, had shared an advance copy of the novel, whose title has not been disclosed by the BBC, with 21 readers in March of the previous year, prompting a subsequent investigation into its contents.

After reviewing the book, published under the pseudonym Tori Woods, Chisholm concluded that a typical reader would likely find the content to be unquestionably objectionable.

The novel, whose cover features a pastel pink background and title spelled out in alphabet blocks reminiscent of children's toys, portrays its protagonist exhibiting immature behavior, dressing in childish attire, and communicating in a simplistic manner.

According to Chisholm, the occasional mentions of the character's age as 18 were not enough to counteract the overall impression that the character is a minor.

As reported by the Australian Associated Press, Chisholm noted that the book's descriptive language and character portrayals, which evoke the image of a young child, are used in sections where sexual activity is described.

Chisholm stated that the narrative ultimately creates a disturbing visual impression in the reader's mind, suggesting an adult male engaging in sexual activity with a minor.

Mastrosa has been convicted of three offenses: creating, possessing, and distributing child abuse material, and is scheduled to appear in court for sentencing on April 28.

Following Mastrosa's charges, BaptistCare informed the Daily Telegraph that she had been removed from her position temporarily, pending the outcome of an investigation.