Secret police snoops check out 66,000 phone records

That's tens of thousands more than in any other state and Victoria Police doesn't need judicial approval to do it.

Any officer of the rank of inspector or above can approve applications to access the phone records of Victorians.

They did so 65,703 times in 2010-11, compared with 50,234 applications approved the previous year and 40,617 in 2008-09.

Telecommunications Act records also reveal Victoria Police spent almost $16 million tapping phones and recording conversations during the past three years.
They did so after getting 1036 phone bugging applications approved by Administrative Appeals Tribunal members during that time - almost one a day.

The head of Victoria Police's intelligence and covert support department yesterday defended the bugging and phone records snooping. "There is a very good reason for every one of them," Assistant Commissioner Jeff Pope said.

"There is a stringent process in place that we have to go through to have them approved.''

heraldsun.com.au 10 May 2012

The government is spying on the masses, and especially on the political innocent ones.

There is very little phone tapping with respect to the drug families, and their associates.

What the government is interested in is the people with a political opinion that is contrary to government policies, as in a dictatorship, or a communist regime, and then this goes on their file.

These people are persecuted both in a formal manner and a more subtle one.

They are brought to the attention of judges and magistrates in court rooms, and their matter are 'lost'.

'Cops won't report wrongdoing'

A SIGNIFICANT proportion of police were unlikely to speak up if they were aware of wrongdoing.

The conclusion has been reached by an Office of Police Integrity report tabled in State Parliament today.
But the OPI has found that the situation has improved over recent years.
The report reveals that:
AN officer hid a colleagues “day book” during an OPI raid on a station
TWO police were convicted this year of lying to the OPI in a bid to protect colleagues
ABOUT half of all OPI investigations were hindered by uncooperative police

Victims to be given more say on punishment
OPI acting director Ron Bonighton has described the willingness of some police to turn a blind eye as “misguided loyalty”
“OPI investigations indicate a significant proportion of police are prepared to speak up when workplace wrongdoing occurs,” the report says.
“Representatives of Victoria Police say the negative culture that denigrates police who report wrongdoing in the workplace has reduced over time.”
This suggests “some very negative perceptions of police culture might be unfair or outdated”.
The OPI has called on the Baillieu Government to consider the report in the “further development” of its anti-corruption legislation.
It also called on the Victoria Police to strengthen its protections for police who report wrongdoing by colleagues.
In response, deputy commissioner Graham Ashton said that Victoria Police’s internal witness support unit was addressing the issues raised.

news.com.au 20 Jun 2012

PM wins backing for carbon tax

WITH the biggest policy gamble of her career a week away from starting, Julia Gillard has been buoyed by international support for the carbon tax package.

And the Prime Minister hit back at critics, saying it was the right policy for creating a clean energy future.
As the United Nations Rio+20 sustainable development conference she is attending in Brazil wraps up, Ms Gillard has taken heart from South Korea and Colombia announcing plans to put a price on carbon.

Ms Gillard said it contradicted Tony Abbott's claim the carbon tax would be "an international orphan".
The PM claimed 850 million people would be covered by schemes similar to the carbon tax.
"Carbon pricing is very frequent subject of discussions when I meet leaders from other countries," she said.
"I spoke to the President of Colombia today, who has announced his intention to put a price on carbon.
"With the President of South Korea, I have discussed with him our carbon pricing scheme.
"He is moving to an emissions trading scheme.
"We are joining 850 million other people who are covered by carbon pricing schemes and we know that other nations are moving towards such schemes."
Ms Gillard said it would increasingly change Australia's mix towards renewable energy.
"I know this is the right policy for our nation," she said.
"I know it's right for us to seize a clean energy future, and we will do that in a way which will see our nation making more use of solar and renewable resources and clean energy, and we will do that in a way which protects Australians who need our assistance."
The Opposition says the biggest polluting countries are not introducing a carbon tax.
The Government says California, one of the world's largest economies, will.
Mr Abbott said the carbon tax was the last thing Australia needed when the global economy was fragile.

news.com.au 23 Jun 2012

The PM certainly did not win any votes for the Carbon (Dioxide) Tax from the masses that is for sure.

Prior to the election of  Julia Gillard as Prime Minister (Australia's first female lesbian PM), the conditions stipulated by her were that there was to be no introduction of any Carbon (Dioxide) Tax.

Another lie from the (Trailer Park Trash, uneducated) gob of a Prime Minister.

Australia has a population of approx just over 20 million or approximately 0.28% of the world's population.

If anyone seriously believes that the carbon scam scheme will have a positive effect on lowering the globes temperature is kidding themselves.

There is no evidence that shows that Australia's contribution to lower Carbon Dioxide emissions will lower the Earths temperatures.

Australia's east coast is experiencing some of the wettest and coldest weather to date.

Another Money for Mates scam in the hands of a fraudulent government.

Cop crime spree bungle exposed

 SECRET emails between the state's two top cops reveal police bungling led to a string of serious offences against Victorians.

An email exchange between former Deputy Commissioner Sir Ken Jones and former Chief Commissioner Simon Overland - disclosed for the first time yesterday in an Ombudsman's report - exposes a conflict over admitting the force's fault to families of murder victims killed by parolees.

Sir Ken told Mr Overland that the force's failure to manage parolees "led to many other offences being committed, some very serious, against Victorians".
Read the full Ombudsman's report
Andy Corp, father of one of three murder victims whose deaths Sir Ken said should have been prevented, said yesterday his family had been victims of police politics.
The former British policeman said it would have been "basic common courtesy" for police to have briefed the three families.
"The police who worked on our case were absolutely wonderful and put in so much effort, compassion and kindness and were thorough and professional," Mr Corp said.
"But I think some of the people upstairs (were) more interested in politics and getting promoted than getting the job done".
The Herald Sun revealed the parole scandal on April 19 last year, quoting a secret report blaming system failures for parole violators being left on the streets.
Sir Ken said in an email to Mr Overland a fortnight later that Victoria Police should "consider sensitively advising them (the bereaved families) of our preliminary findings".
But Mr Overland told his deputy to wait, saying it was "a big call to go to the families with this news" and it would exacerbate the situation if notification was handled badly.
He told the Ombudsman he believed he had been "set up" by Sir Ken.
"I considered it possible that Jones's motive in sending me that email was to add to the growing list of 'controversies' then enveloping Victoria Police as part of the orchestrated media campaign against the office of (the) chief commissioner," he said.
Mr Corp, whose daughter Elsa was strangled and battered to death by a parole violator, said a lot of people "have been just covering their a--- on this situation".
"There's too much politics, political correctness and crap involved, instead of taking care of the victims," Mr Corp said.
His wife, Gilly, said the family still had not been formally told by police or anyone else how the system had failed their daughter.
"We should have been told, of course we should," Mrs Corp said. "We should not have had to read what went wrong on the front page of the newspaper."
Keith Moor details who is who and who said what in the continuing Simon Overland and Sir Ken Jones saga.
SIMON OVERLAND
Cleared by Ombudsman yesterday of breaching Whistleblowers Protection Act, but found to have taken action against Sir Ken Jones which was detrimental to Sir Ken's character and professional reputation. Mr Overland resigned as chief commissioner in June last year after the Ombudsman found he released dodgy crime statistics on the eve of the state election.
SIR KEN JONES
Resigned as deputy commissioner and ordered by Mr Overland to take 'gardening leave' on May 6 last year despite planned August departure. Accused by Mr Overland of leaking to the media, but the Ombudsman found no evidence Sir Ken was a leaker.
CHIEF COMMISSIONER KEN LAY
Was one of five of the force's top brass involved in a meeting with then chief commissioner Mr Overland, which Mr Overland claimed resulted in a unanimous decision that Sir Ken posed a significant risk and needed to be removed asap. Ombudsman's report yesterday criticised Mr Overland, saying his claim there was a unanimous view that Sir Ken was leaking to the media was disputed by those at the meeting.
DOUG FRYER
Senior Victoria Police officer who secretly taped Age journalist Nick McKenzie. Later told the Ombudsman he had no reason to think Sir Ken was leaking to Mr McKenzie.
OMBUDSMAN GEORGE BROUWER
Has more he wants to reveal about the saga, but is prevented from doing so by the Whistleblowers Protection Act. Has recommended to the State Government that it change the legislation to enable him to expose the extra details, which he said were in the public interest to reveal.
OPI.
Has not yet finished its Sir Ken probe and its final report may not be made public due to the Whistleblower Protection Act. It is believed a whistleblower has accused the OPI of abusing its power in its pursuit of Sir Ken.
POLICE MINISTER PETER RYAN
He and Department of Premier and Cabinet secretary Helen Silver agree Mr Overland spoke to them early on May 6 last year and discussed the possibility of making Sir Ken take leave, but both deny Mr Overland told them it was going to happen that day.

heraldsun.com.au 23 Jun 2012

Corrupt police and judges always deny any wrongdoing or any other claims of inappropriate behaviour, even with evidence to the contrary.

Police are also on the payroll of criminal organisations, allowing 'bungles' to occur to let off the organisation's criminals officially.

These are the get out of jail free cards that police give to criminals, only later to be cashed in by the cops.

 

City fringe and country will be worst hit by carbon tax price rises

BATTLERS in Melbourne's fringes and the bush will be hardest hit with electricity price hikes averaging $155 a year as the carbon tax zaps family budgets.

A Herald Sun analysis has revealed residents in the city's outer suburbs will likely cop the brunt of rises from July 1.
The predicted pain is the same across the country.
It comes as Victoria's major power retailers raise charges as much as 15.6 per cent to claw back costs from the Gillard Government's green scheme and to cover commodity, generation and retail outlays.
Campaign: Time for a switch to people power
Energy Users Association of Australia executive director Roman Domanski said the timing for households already battling living costs could not be worse.
"It's a very bad situation for all electricity consumers," Mr Domanski said.
"For the past three or four years now electricity prices have gone up dramatically.
"Once the carbon tax comes on top of it, it will be even worse."
The Government expects bills to rise an average of 10 per cent because of the carbon tax when it begins in less than a fortnight.
Energy Supply Association of Australia chief executive Matthew Warren said the industry was doing all it could to avoid the impost, but urged unhappy customers to switch retailers.
"The energy market in Victoria is ferociously competitive," Mr Warren said.
"Like supermarkets, airlines and other markets, energy companies in Victoria are cutting costs to be able to compete against each other on price."
The Herald Sun estimated average bills for households using 4000kW-hours a year, typical for those with gas hot water.
Existing bill averages from the Essential Services Commission were combined with an average of price rises from the three major retailers in each distribution area.
In the SP AusNet distribution area, which includes outer northern and eastern Melbourne suburbs and eastern Victoria, the average annual bill is estimated to rise about $155 to $1420.
Bills in the Powercor area, which takes in Melbourne's outer western suburbs and western Victoria, are estimated to rise the same amount to $1403.
Inner-city bills are estimated to increase the least - an average $138 – but are going up the most as a proportion.
Search to save
THE Dohertys, pictured above, say the predicted rise in their power bill gave them no other choice but to find a better deal.
"The price of living has grown, and every cent counts when you want to live a life and bring up kids," father of two Tudor Doherty, said.
"Since the price of electricity has gone up we have been burning wood non stop."
The Dohertys of Mt Evelyn had not changed any of their providers in the past.
But after receiving a recent letter forecasting the price hikes, they began searching for a cheaper deal.
"Now we are definitely looking to change companies before the introduction of the carbon tax," Mr Doherty said.
"I have got friends who have done it ... and they said you could probably make 17-18 per cent in savings."
He believed "there are other ways the Government can be addressing the issue. But at the end of the day a dollar saved is a dollar earned".

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herqaldsun.com.au 18 Jun 2012

Inner suburbs face power bill shock

HOUSEHOLDS in Melbourne's inner suburbs are likely to face a greater increase in electricity costs than other Victorians with bills to rise by up to 15 per cent after the July 1 start of the carbon price.
 
Data from the state's three major energy retailers suggests that an average household within the CitiPower distribution area - which stretches from Port Melbourne in the west to Balwyn in the east, and Brunswick and Northcote in the north to Caulfield and St Kilda in the south - can expect a slightly larger rise than equivalent homes elsewhere.

While the federal Treasury predicted the increase due to the carbon price scheme would be 10 per cent, the actual rise in Victoria's deregulated electricity market is decided by the retailers and is based on factors beyond the new laws to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

theage.com.au 18 Jun 2012

Julia Gillard prior to government election 'promised' there will be no Carbon (Dioxide) Tax.

What false information that was.

Julia Gillard mentioned that the country's top 500 companies will pay, and the 'tax' will not be apssed on to consumers.

Another fraudulent statement.

Then the government says it will implement 'Carbon Cops', that will (protect?) the consumer. 

Another lie.

Just another Money for Mates deal at the highest level.

Nothing more simpler than fraud, that the corporate media is 'reluctant' to report.

Guns and drugs found in Dandenong North

A CACHE of guns, weapons and drugs have been found in a police raid on a Dandenong North property. 
 
Police executing a warrant on the McFees Road property uncovered six firearms, including a sawn-off shotgun along with drugs and other weapons.
A 26-year-old man Dandenong North man was arrested at the scene at 9am.
The man was arrested and charged with firearm and drug offences and bailed to appear at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on September 24.

heraldsun.com.au 22 Jun 2012

The Australian government went on to introduce an gun amensty,  for all citizen to hand in their weapons, but as no surprise to anyone (government included), the criminals did NOT hand in their weapons.

The drug lords are still carrying weapons together with other violent criminals with full knowledge of the authorities.

NOT enough is being done to keep the commnity safe, but then again that is not a priority, but rather sending police out onto the streets to collect easy money (speeding fines) is.

Pentridge developer lays claim to Ned Kelly's remains

THE developer of the former Pentridge Prison says he is the rightful owner of Ned Kelly's remains and wants compensation for the bushranger's bones.

Infamous bushranger Ned Kelly. Source: Herald Sun

Kelly's final burial, promised to descendants last year, has been delayed by the row.
The Herald Sun believes developer Leigh Chiavaroli has said Kelly's remains caused delays and cost blow-outs at his Pentridge Village housing development.
He has said the bones were found at a different location to where they were initially believed to be.
He has also claimed it was agreed all along that Kelly's remains would stay at Pentridge.
A permanent memorial or museum has been planned for Pentridge Village.
The remains are at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, where they were identified using DNA from a family member. After the remains were identified, Attorney-General Robert Clark decided they should be handed to Kelly's descendants for burial.
But that process has become complicated because the exhumation licence stated the remains would be returned to Pentridge.
The Herald Sun approached Mr Chiavaroli and Pentridge Village for comment yesterday, but there was no response.
RMIT adjunct professor Peter Norden, a former Pentridge chaplain, said any attempt to delay the return of the remains would be condemned.
"It is a national disgrace and a scandal," Mr Norden said, adding that almost without exception "most Australians would support (returning the remains to the family). Some would oppose it on the basis he killed police."
Mr Norden said no individual who could make money out of the remains should be an obstacle to their return to the family.
A spokesman for Mr Clark said the remains would be handed to the family.
"The Victorian Coalition Government stands by the commitment it made last November, and this process is continuing," spokesman James Copsey said.
After he was hanged in 1880, Kelly was buried at the Melbourne Gaol. His body was transferred to Pentridge in 1929 and exhumed in 2009.

heraldsun.com.au 23 Jun 2012

No one has the rights to anyones reamins other than family.

If the government allows for the possession of remains to be given to a 'developer' then this shows the real sad sate of governance.

The claim of 'compensation is ludacris.

Anyone wishing to make money from burried remains is low life grave robber.

Leigh Chiavaroli should have no troubles hidding or returing calls to the Herald Sun if there is no ethical dilemas in his actions.
 

Free passes for crims canned

JUDGES gave one in three offenders convicted of home invasions last year a free pass. 
 
Of all people sentenced in the County and Supreme courts in 2010-11 for aggravated burglary, 32 per cent were given a wholly suspended sentence.
But the days of judges freeing offenders without penalty are coming to an end.
Sentencing Act changes passed last year mean judges can not impose a suspended sentence for any offence of aggravated burglary committed after May 1, last year.
Attorney-General Robert Clark said the new Sentencing Advisory Council statistics showed why one of the Coalition Government's first acts was to abolish suspended sentences for serious crimes such as aggravated burglary.
"The days are over when those who commit violent home invasions can walk straight out of court on a pretend jail term," he said.

Less than half (48 per cent) the 176 offenders convicted of aggravated burglary in the higher courts in 2010-11 were jailed.
The maximum penalty for aggravated burglary, which is committed when an offender is armed or enters a home when people are inside, was increased to 25 years in 1997.
The average length of jail sentences imposed by judges in 2010-11 was two years and 10 months, the highest in five years.
Sentences for aggravated burglary have risen since the Court of Appeal and former Director of Public Prosecutions, Jeremy Rapke QC, called on judges to take a harder line.
The Court of Appeal said in 2009 that sentences being imposed for aggravated burglary did not reflect the very high maximum set by Parliament.
The court said the public saw home invasions as extremely serious and expected courts to sentence offenders accordingly.
Mr Clark reiterated that the Government, which last year banned suspended sentences for serious crimes, would legislate to abolish them for all crimes by the end of its first term.

heraldsun.com.au 22 Jun 2012

Another example of laws for criminals, where judges do NOT penalise criminals for their actions in effect supporting the criminal act itself.

Victims go uncompensated, whilst criminals walk free to reoffend, with full support of the government. 

The policy is to let out the criminals to keep the general populous at bay, as can been seen by the actions reported, which will apparently cease from the near future, only misinformation to keep the masses subdued.

It really does 'pay' to be a criminal in Australia.

Water bill fraud labeled bungle or hiccup

In recent corporate media news, it has surfaced that the water 'authorities' fraudulently charged customers when they were not only not entitled to, but also when forbidden so by regulations.

Melbourne's water has been privatised in line with global policy to rid governance of all responisibility for providing utility supplies to the masses.

In another slap in the face to the general populous, the corporate media reported that the 'authority' would not refund the $230 million fraudulently taken from account holders until 5 years.

When an employee finishes work at 5:10pm and writes 5:15pm in the timesheet, an employer has the right to sack that person for theft, and even the right to have that person charged.

If a customer steals a paper clip from a newsagent / Officeworks or any other stationary retailer, then the company chrages the person with theft, and this is recoreded against their name.

When companies steal millions of dollars from customers authorities label this fraud as 'bungles' or 'hiccups', and not only no one is held accountable but no charges are ever laid.

The legal system is organised in such a manner that fraud by 'authorities' is supported.

An interview with a member of the legal profession, indicated that there should be a penalty applied to the water 'authority', as there have been many breaches.

Since authorities do not fine 'authorities' there will never be any repercissions to fraudulent actions.