Phone tapping runs rampant

PHONE tapping is running rampant because of a lack of scrutiny of applications by police and others, the Ombudsman has warned.

George Brouwer revealed yesterday that no one examined the merits of why the Office of Police Integrity bugged telephones.

He could find no evidence the OPI had illegally tapped phones, but said that it, and Victoria Police, should be subjected to more rigorous scrutiny to ensure that all bugging was justified.

In a report tabled in State Parliament yesterday, Mr Brouwer recommended changes so that the OPI, and the new anti-corruption body that will replace it, have to argue merit as well as legality when applying to tap phones.

Every one of the 179 bugging applications made by the OPI since 2007-08 was approved.

Mr Brouwer heard allegations that the OPI had abused its powers when it bugged the phones of former police deputy commissioner Sir Ken Jones and Tristan Weston, an adviser to Police Minister Peter Ryan.

Mr Brouwer expressed his frustration yesterday that he had been unable to fully investigate allegations that the OPI had been abusing its powers to tap telephones.

"Witnesses have also raised concerns with my office regarding the OPI's alleged overuse of telecommunications interception powers - particularly, but not exclusively, in the investigation into Mr Jones," he said.

"Due to Commonwealth legislation, I am not able to investigate the OPI's alleged use of telecommunications interceptions."

He warned the lack of scrutiny of warrants used by the OPI, and by Victoria Police, could lead to a "situation where an opportunity for the improper use or overuse of interception powers could go undetected".

heraldsun 13 Oct 2011

Corruption in the police force is rife, and none of the authorities admit to the great extent it is.

Heads of police are involved in the drug syndicates, but when they're exposed for other fraud, they are taken away from the public eye, and deliberately not reported by the government sponsored mass media.

The so called anti-corruption watch dogs are a joke at the expense of the public.

D-Link Pocket 3G Wi-Fi Router

Another product that is not only a Consumer rip off, but marketed without many specification or performance results.

From the Gizmodo article:

Given the almost ubiquitous nature of 3G in Australian cities, yet the general lack of 3G SIM cards in most of today’s laptops, the idea of a pocket-sized WiFi router makes a lot of sense. DLink seem to think so, as they’ve just released the DIR-457U pocket 3G Wi-Fi router.

Capable of sharing 16 connections on one HSPA SIM card, the DLink router supports WPA2 encryption for added security, and has a built-in MicroSD slot which can be used to share files between devices. It runs off an internal battery, although there’s no word how much juice you can expect from it, and comes in both 850/1900/2100MHz and 900/1900/210MHz options. It has an RRP of $330, and is available now.

Comments

• poedgirl

  September 20, 2010 at 4:48 PM

  Or you can get the Huawei one from Vodafone or 3 for $110 on prepaid, way better value.

  
  
  • palmce

    September 20, 2010 at 9:24 PM

    What a rip off!
    This same exact model cost $110 oversea.

    
    
• jacob

  September 20, 2010 at 10:37 PM

  I swore I wouldn’t buy dlink after I tossed my crap router away about 4 years but I recently bought a dlink wireless G card for my pc and it too is full of problems. I don’t care if dlink builds a wireless laser multi P microwave router and give it away for free I will not be using it.

Wifi routers tracking without sim card

Unbeknown to most of the general populous, the humble pocket wifi router is yet another tracking device.

From a Brisbane based I.T. company, a security seminar was recently held dealing amongst other topics, privacy issues.

When a mobile router such as the ones shown in the illustration, irrespective of their branding, most of which are made by Huawei, is connected to the mobile tower network, via the users telco provided sim card, there are mobile status fields which are used in diagnostics tests. Some of these fields included are cellid, RSSI, Eclo, RSCP and Service Status.

It has been a well known fact within the industry that mobile phones are able to be tracked / traced via cell tower triangulation.

It should also come as no surprise that this is also true for pocket wifi routers.

Pocket wifi routers also track the users movements, even without an inserted telco sim card.

Independent test results have shown how effectively the users pocket wifi router can be located to within only tens of meters accuracy, depending on the environment, even smaller tolerances.

Invasion of privacy of the masses is becoming more and more predominant, supported by the new laws that are being passed to allow greater invasion of privacy with the backing of the business community, with the excuse of 'marketing'.

There is very little that Mr. Joe Average can do to stop companies obtaining information about him (in the name of marketing), to hold and sell to others.

Governments are deliberately taking no action to protect the privacy of individuals.

Doubt on independence of bug watchdog

PHONE tapping watchdogs who will sit in on secret court hearings will get their instructions from politicians, it has been revealed.

The admission by Andrew McIntosh, minister in charge of setting up the new Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission (to replace the OPI), has cast doubt on the independence of the so-called “Public Interest Monitor”.

It would mean that potentially, the minister would have knowledge of covert investigations into his political colleagues.

Asked who would brief the Public Interest Monitor, Mr McIntosh said: “Ít will probably be no doubt the minister responsible for the establishment of an anti-corruption commission.

“Or it may be the department. But the reality is, it will be the Government that will do the briefing on this person to appear on behalf of the public interest.”

At that point, the press conference was shut down and Mr McIntosh refused to answer further questions.

Repeated warnings that it is too easy to bug, track and spy on Victorians have apparently been heeded by the Baillieu Government.

The fact every phone tapping application made by Victoria Police and the Office of Police Integrity in the past three years was approved helped persuade the Government a crackdown was needed.

All 1271 applications were granted and only two of a further 423 applications for other surveillance devices have been knocked back since 2007-08.

Concerns held since being in opposition that the OPI's extraordinary powers were not being adequately scrutinised also contributed to the Government's decision to make it tougher to tap telephones and secretly watch Victorians.

It will today introduce legislation to establish a Principal Public Interest Monitor, who will be supported by deputy monitors.

A monitor will be in court every time any agency seeks a covert search warrant or makes an application to bug a telephone or install surveillance equipment, such as tracking or listening devices or hidden cameras.

Monitors, who must be lawyers, will represent the interests of the agency's targets to ensure the use of such intrusive powers is justified.

Mr McIntosh said yesterday the monitor would test the content of the material being relied on by the agency applying for the bugging or other warrant.

"At the hearing, the Public Interest Monitor will be able to ask questions of the applicant and cross-examine witnesses," Mr McIntosh said yesterday.

"The monitor will make submissions to the court on the merits of the warrant application, and any terms and conditions that ought to be imposed.

"Increasing accountability of law enforcement agencies through independent oversight strengthens the fabric of our democratic society and the rule of law, which is why we are establishing the Public Interest Monitor."

Ombudsman George Brouwer this week highlighted a lack of oversight of surveillance powers.

news.com.au 13 Oct 2011

Another fraud set up by the government which is akin to a fox being in charge of the chickens in a chicken coop.

Going to a government institution to lodge a complaint against the government has very little success rate amongst the complainants.

These 'institutions' must be set up in order to give the masses that illusion that they are their for the protection of the general populous.

These institutions are another data collection point for the government to put on file against the complainant.

Another scam set up by the government.

Price rip offs have started

IT'S the tax she said we would never have and the public doesn't want, but Julia Gillard was so elated over her carbon scheme win even her bitter fight with Kevin Rudd was forgotten as they embraced for a kiss.

As Labor, Green and independent MPs celebrated the tax passing through Parliament's Lower House yesterday, the Herald Sun can reveal businesses have already been caught ripping consumers off with price gouges in its name.

The Prime Minister heralded the win as a historic moment in the fight against climate change.

But Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said the nation had been betrayed "with a kiss" - and gave a "pledge in blood" to repeal the carbon tax if he became PM.

Meanwhile, the consumer watchdog is gearing up for a carbon tax blitz to protect consumers.

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chairman Rod Sims revealed some taxi drivers had already been caught trying to add a "carbon levy" to fares, while a few companies were being probed for price rises that were "just silly".

Mr Sims said the ACCC would launch a nationwide campaign and issue detailed guidelines showing what price rises would and would not be allowed.

"If anyone is putting up prices now, they're way ahead of the game," he told the Herald Sun.

"We've had a few potential cases of people saying things that are just silly, and reports of taxi drivers adding a 'carbon levy'.

If people are making claims that price rises have been caused by the carbon tax, they must be able to substantiate them."

The ACCC has been given $12.8 million to play the role of carbon cop and Mr Sims said it would make sure consumers were not ripped off by dodgy businesses wrongly blaming the carbon tax for price rises.

After 40 hours of debate and speeches by 125 of the 150 Lower House MPs, independents Rob Oakeshott, Andrew Wilkie and Tony Windsor and Green Adam Bandt voted with Labor to pass the 19 bills associated with the carbon tax.

It now needs final approval from the Senate next month, which has been guaranteed by the Greens, meaning it will begin on July 1 next year.

A jubilant Prime Minister Julia Gillard embraced and kissed many of her ministers after the legislation was passed by two votes.

"This is a significant day for the Australian nation, not only for Australians today but for the generations of children to come, who will live in a cleaner environment as a result of today's legislation," she said.

It will impose a tax starting at $23 a tonne on the 500 biggest polluters.

Electricity prices are tipped to rise by 10 per cent but overall living costs by just 0.7 per cent.

Households will receive tax cuts and welfare increases to compensate and the Government claims low-income families will be better off.

Ms Gillard said calls to delay the carbon tax would cost $5 billion and that Opposition Leader Tony Abbott would be "marooned by the tide of history".

Mr Abbott said the PM would be haunted by breaking her election promise not to have a carbon tax.

"This Prime Minister shouldn't just say sorry, she should resign," he said.

"We have witnessed the unseemly spectacle of government ministers celebrating a betrayal. They celebrated their betrayal with a kiss."

Mr Abbott stepped up his promise to repeal the tax, saying it was "a pledge in blood - this tax will go".

Greens leader Bob Brown said: "This is a great big green day for Australia."

About 85 mostly middle-aged anti-carbon tax protesters were thrown out of Parliament for repeatedly interrupting Ms Gillard during question time by chanting "no mandate, democracy is dead".

heraldsun.com.au 13 Oct 2011

Another Consumer Rip Off, supported by the government, but an overseeing (spineless) watchdog will see that goodness and fairness prevails.

Just like after the introduction of the GST, prices have skyrocketed, and the government pledged that it will see that the perpetrators will get caught.

Not so in reality.

Julia Gillard is a Prime Minister elected in a fraudulent manner, together with her false statements concerning the (non) introduction of Carbon Tax.

There will be no public inquiry or Royal Commission into the bribery of parliamentarians by Gillard for their votes.

Another example of how politicians elect each other and not the masses as it is lead to believed.

Thousands wipes from super accounts as share markets plunge

SUPERANNUATION funds took another major hit this week as plunging share markets wiped almost $2000 from the average account.

Since the start of the financial year, the average superannuation account has lost $6500 for every $100,000 in it, according to research company SuperRatings.

After another roller-coaster ride on the Australian share market, which has lost more than $60 billion this week, nervous super investors will be focused on the International Monetary Fund, which meets this weekend.

Jittery Australian investors rallied yesterday after heavy falls on Wall Street, with the All Ordinaries falling only 1.6 per cent to 3978 points - compared with falls of between 3.5 and 5 per cent in Europe and America.

And the Australian dollar recovered some ground to be trading at US98c - though it is still way down on its record high of $US1.10 on August 1.

But the market is demanding more action from political leaders and central banks to stop panic as concerns grow that the US is heading for a double-dip recession, China is weakening, and Greece may default next week.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard yesterday urged Australians not to be spooked by the turmoil.

She said Australia was the envy of the world, with a strong, resilient economy.

"The fundamentals of the Australian economy are strong - low unemployment, low public debt, a strong banking system, growth, employment prospects, record terms of trade, hundreds of billions of dollars in the investment pipeline," she said.

Ms Gillard is one of seven world leaders who signed a joint letter calling on European leaders to resolve their debt crisis.

SuperRatings analyst Nathan McPhee said the renewed turmoil had doubled super losses in the past three weeks.

At the end of August, SuperRatings reported a 3.1 per cent loss for "balanced" funds so far this financial year. Yesterday, however, the firm estimated the loss had climbed to almost 6.5 per cent for a balanced option fund.

"Basically, it's still just a case of staying the course and don't try and time the market. For anyone thinking about retiring soon, they should get financial advice before making any decisions," Mr McPhee said.

heraldsun.com.au

From a financial perspective, one of the worst performing places where people can put their money into is super funds.

The monies put in by the public go into benefiting the financial institutions and NOT the (mums and dads) investors.

Yest still the government forces the Australian public to put in a fixed amount from their slalary into super.

The excuse given is that so you will have 'something' when you retire.

The 'something' will be just enough for you to live on for 6 months whereas the institutions have made many time more profits.

Another scam supported by the government.

PM's $140,000 'stunt' to promote national broadband network

THE Federal Government spent $140,000 on a single publicity stunt to announce the first seven customers to sign up for a free trial of the NBN, it has been revealed.

The launch in independent MP Tony Windsor's northern NSW seat in May was attended by Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Communications Minister Stephen Conroy, as well as NBN Co boss Mike Quigley.

The Government has admitted the cost of the event, which the Opposition calls a "giant publicity stunt", was $138,474.05.

It was organised to show the PM "switching on" the first mainland NBN connection in Armidale.

It was later revealed that only seven retail customers in Armidale had actually signed up for the free trial prior to the launch - despite 3000 homes in the area being NBN ready.

Ms Gillard at the time described the NBN as "the greatest infrastructure project in this nation's history."

Answers provided by NBN Co to a parliamentary inquiry into the broadband roll-out also have revealed the Government-funded monopoly has leased top-of-the-market office space in Melbourne and Sydney to base it operations.

Documents seen by the Herald Sun show that NBN Co has leased office space in North Sydney at $3.1 million a year - or $512 per square metre.

This would put the office in the highest quality space - regarded as A grade or premium real estate.

In Melbourne, its office rental costs are even higher - $535 a square metre - but due to the smaller size costs $2.46 million a year.

Liberal Senator Simon Birmingham, who put the questions to the company during a Senate inquiry, said the cost of the launch was unacceptable and with four similar events subsequently held in other states, the total cost of publicity already could be close to $700,000.

"Such is Labor's propensity for wasteful spending that even the flicking of a switch comes with a whopping great price tag," Mr Birmingham said.

"If Labor had any regard for taxpayers' money it would refund the cost of these blatantly political media opportunities.

"With expenses like these it is little wonder NBN Co has sought approval for price rises 5 per cent above the inflation rate."

Mr Conroy said NBN Co's spending was a matter for them, but "the Government expects that NBN Co, as a wholly government owned enterprise, will make reasonable and responsible spending decisions."

The documents also reveal that by December 31 this year, it is estimated 1427 staff will be employed at an average yearly wage of $145,000.

The NBN, it is claimed, will offer internet speeds 10 times faster than offered now.

heraldsun.com.au 8 Oct 2011

Another money for mates deal supported by public funding.

The so called tendering process is supposed to follow stringent outlines for best value.

These practices are ignored an in breach of the government's own procedures.

This salary scam is another deal the so commonly goes beyond the mass media eye.

Sacked lawyer fights back over murky police affair

AN underworld consultant deputised by former chief commissioner Christine Nixon allegedly abused his position to conspire with senior officers to concoct a false Victoria Police investigation and leak sensitive police documents.

Court documents allege this was done to pressure a wealthy immigrant to settle a civil matter.

The documents reveal new details of a murky affair that damaged Ms Nixon's reputation after an underworld consultant she personally appointed, Kerry Milte, was revealed to be a conman.

The affair involved Crime Department boss Cdr Rod Lambert and led to the 2005 sacking of Christopher Antony Dale, a partner at law firm Clayton Utz.

Mr Dale was sacked after the law firm alleged he and Mr Milte had used "rogue police" to leak documents and concoct a false police investigation.

The firm alleged the conspiracy was designed to force Korean businessman Che Sul Won to settle a civil matter against one of Mr Dale's clients, Cheuna Schmidt.

The affair also ruined the careers of an Australian Federal Police officer who leaked immigration records - a major embarrassment to Clayton Utz as the department was a client - and a junior VicPol constable.

Now, Mr Dale has launched legal action in the Supreme Court, claiming his dismissal was unfair because he was never charged or convicted over the affair or found guilty of misconduct.

According to Mr Dale's statement of claim, Cdr Terry Purton told the firm's board in September 2005 that Mr Dale's behaviour was "both criminal and unethical", even though he was never charged.

Mr Dale's statement of claim also includes a report by Barry O'Keefe, SC, whom Clayton Utz bought in to investigate.

Mr O'Keefe claimed Mr Lambert leaked documents to Mr Milte, who in turn sent them to Mr Dale.

"The strategy that was applied to Mr Won was that he was made to think there was an official police investigation into his activities with a view to a prosecution," Mr O'Keefe found.

But Mr Dale says none of the accusations levelled at him was substantiated.

heraldsun.com.au 30 Sep 2011

Another instance of corrupt officials are working with crime syndicates.

Once out into the open, governments distance themselves from the 'people' involved in the criminal activities, even though others are involved, but not yet implicated.

The public naming of these people is futile, as there will never be any justice served.

The top dogs of the police force can never be taken down for working with the drug lords.

Navy rapist treated victim like a prop

A NAVY sailor jailed for raping a sleeping female colleague while filming on his mobile phone treated her like a prop, a judge said.

Keith Eric Calvert, 24, turned the camera on himself and gave the thumbs-up signal after digitally raping the woman, who was lying face down and unconscious on a bed after a night out drinking.

County Court Judge Michael Tinney said the footage was disturbing.

He said the victim "lay inert, silent and motionless, out to the world ... she was entirely unconscious".

He said Calvert held his phone in one hand while penetrating the 18-year-old with the other, treating her "as no more than an object or a prop".

"You should be ashamed of yourself," Judge Tinney said, calling it "disgraceful conduct".

Calvert's lawyer, David Sexton, had argued that bragging about sexual exploits and videoing them was part of the culture at the HMAS Cerberus training base south of Melbourne.

Calvert was found guilty last month of digitally raping the woman in a Melbourne home after a drunken night out at Crown Casino with five male colleagues in January, 2009.

The trial was told the woman stripped to her underwear during a game of truth or dare before the assaults. When Calvert tried to film her in this state of undress, she told him to stop.

Judge Tinney said this should have alerted Calvert to her attitude.

The woman was unaware she had been raped until three months later, when a colleague revealed he had seen sexually explicit images of her with Calvert.

Judge Tinney ordered Calvert to serve 3 1/2 years' jail before being eligible for parole.

heraldsun.com.au 30 Sep 2011

Another government cover up, where the government states that there is nothing wrong, whereas the actual climate for female staff is degrading and harassment, is a regular occurrence, of which the authorities are well aware of, but quieten any matters down before they escalate further.

The general method employed by the powers that be, are of intimidation, and career demotion or even the threat of not finding another job, ever.

These fear mongering tactics are used against women in order, so that the government has a 'pristine' record.

Victorians losing $300,000 an hour on pokies

VICTORIANS are losing $300,000 an hour on the pokies at pubs and clubs - $2.6 billion in the past year.

The losses are $55 million more than in 2009-10 and come as Victorian clubs admit they are spending, on average, 5c out of each dollar of net revenue on direct community benefits.

Some clubs have claimed the cost of darts, beer gas, Sky Racing subscriptions and staff drinks as community benefits.

No club declared spending any money beyond the legal minimum on problem gambling.

Victoria's most lucrative pokies venues are pubs, and the Epping Plaza Hotel brought in the most ($21 million) in 2010-11.

Other top venues were Werribee Plaza Tavern ($20.6 million) and the Plough Hotel in Mill Park ($20.2 million).

Hotels must pay 8.33 per cent tax towards the community support fund, which is controlled by the State Government.

But clubs are entitled to avoid this tax if they can show they have spent 8.33 per cent of net pokies revenue for the community's benefit.

An analysis of documents lodged with the Victorian Casino and Gaming Authority show that 5 per cent of club revenue went to direct community benefits.

This includes donations to charity, maintenance of club sporting amenities and subsidised food and non-alcoholic drink for members.

About 1 per cent of pokies revenue was directed to external charitable causes.

Indirect community benefits, which include club operating costs, soaked up 23 per cent of pokies revenue.

Clubs Victoria executive director Richard Evans said clubs were non-profit groups, as distinct from hotels.

"They're very conscious of providing a benefit back to the community," he said.

"They can't take a dividend. They return all their surplus back to the club."

A spokesman for Gaming Minister Michael O'Brien said the rules had been set by the former government.

"(We are) keeping a watching brief on claims to ensure that the scheme is working effectively," he said.

"The revenue that clubs receive from gaming is important to assist them to keep their doors open.

"These funds are used to provide club facilities for members as well as keeping thousands of people in work."

heraldsun.com.au 29 Sep 2011

The government has no interest in the well being of the society, and only in one lowest common denominator, that being revenue.

Other reports suggest that Victorians are spending over $5 billion annually on poker machines.

The poker machine industry is fraudulent, and conducive to drug money laundering.

Many millions of dollars are being transferred via the casinos.

Since the government is raking in the dollars, this industry is unshakable from its foundations.

Anyone trying to take the industry to court will be met with fierce opposition, eventually posing a risk to their well being.

Another fraudulent industry supported by the government .