Politics latest: Free Palestine Melbourne loses momentum, dumps weekly rallies

Free Palestine Melbourne has told its followers the weekly marches, which have angered traders, will stop but the group will continue to advocate for Gazans.

Pro-Palestinian supporters marching in Melbourne. Picture: NewsWire / Tamati Smith

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5:46 pm July 12, 2024

Ukraine 'very appreciative' of $250m aid package

Staff writers

Assistant Defence Minister Matt Thistlethwaite says Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was "very appreciative" of Australia's $250m military assistance package for Ukraine.

The military support package, which includes air defence missiles and anti-tank weapons, was announced overnight by Defence Minister Richard Marles who was in Washington DC at the NATO summit.

Mr Thistlethwaite, who also attended the summit, described the commitment from other NATO defence ministers to assisting in "the defence of Ukraine and repelling Russia's illegal invasion" as "rock solid."

"I had a number of meetings with congressional representatives from both sides on Capitol Hill about AUKUS and about Ukraine and I can tell you their commitment to the defence of Ukraine is steadfast as well," Mr Thistlethwaite said.

"I think there's a collective commitment there, and indeed a commitment within the United States Congress to continue that important support."

Mr Thistlethwaite dismissed fears about what would happen to support for Ukraine and AUKUS if Donald Trump was to become the next president of the US, saying Australia's alliance had survived regardless of which administration had been in office in Washington and which government had been in office in Canberra.

"Obviously what happens in November, there is a matter for the American people," Mr Thistlethwaite said.

"The meetings I had this week only reinforced to me the steadfast commitment that the American people have, and indeed, the American Congress has, to continuing that support for AUKUS and indeed more broad scale support for their partnerships through NATO."

Lily McCaffrey

5:05 pm July 12, 2024

Spy offence charges viewed 'very, very seriously': Thistlethwaite

Staff writers

Assistant Defence Minister Matt Thistlethwaite. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

Assistant Defence Minister Matt Thistlethwaite says the government is taking the espionage offence charges against two Russian-born Australian citizens, one a member of the Australian Defence Force, "very, very seriously".

"No doubt this prosecution will be dealt with very seriously as well," Mr Thistlethwaite said on ABC's Afternoon Briefing program on Friday.

When asked whether the case confirmed fears about Australia's sensitive information being targeted by foreign nationals, Mr Thistlethwaite said: "Putting this case aside, it's been an area of concern for the government, and it's something we have acted on in terms of introducing new regulations.

"The Safeguarding Australia's Military Secrets bill has recently passed through the Parliament to ensure that the government has the regulatory power to enforce the safeguarding of sensitive information and Australia's secrets and of course, protecting the interoperability and the reputation Australia has, particularly with our Five Eyes partners, around the sharing of sensitive and classified information."

When asked whether the case would prompt a broader look at those with dual citizenships working within defence, Mr Thistlethwaite said "very, very thorough" background checks were undertaken on those working within the Australian defence force.

He said the government had recently changed the recruitment criteria for the Australian Defence Force to open it up to "Pacific partners and eventually Five Eyes partners … people that are on a journey to citizenship."

"But part of that, an important part of that, is ensuring that people have checkable histories, and checking people's backgrounds is pretty crucial to defence force recruitment," Mr Thistlethwaite said.

– Lily McCaffrey

4:08 pm July 12, 2024

'Foolish obsession': Dutton's nuclear plan panned

Staff writers

Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister Tim Watts has slammed the Coalition's nuclear energy plan, calling it a "foolish political obsession" from Peter Dutton.

When asked on Sky News on Friday afternoon whether the Labor Party should keep an open mind to nuclear energy, Mr Watts said: "It doesn't make sense to have an open mind for something that is, frankly, a foolish political obsession from Peter Dutton.

"Nuclear, it's too long term, it's too slow to keep the lights on and it's too expensive. It's too costly to reduce power bills."

When asked whether Australia was headed for an early federal election, Mr Watts said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had been "very clear" that the next election was due next year.

"I understand why the media and perhaps the Opposition might be focused on the speculation business but as a government, we're focused on delivering for the Australian people," Mr Watts said.

– Lily McCaffrey

3:59 pm July 12, 2024

Watts declines 'running commentary' on US politics

Staff writers

'A matter for the American people,' says Tim Watts.

Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister Tim Watts says it is "not in the national interest" for members of the Australian government to engage in a "running commentary" on the US electoral system and electoral processes.

When asked on Sky News whether he had seen US President Joe Biden's press conference at the NATO summit on Friday, Mr Watts would not comment on it and said the next US presidential election was "rightly a matter for the American people".

"I know that regardless of the outcomes of the next US presidential election, the relationship between Australia and the United States will remain strong," Mr Watts said.

– Lily McCaffrey

3:01 pm July 12, 2024 Highlight

Free Palestine Melbourne loses momentum, dumps weekly rallies

John Ferguson

Pro-Palestinian supporters march along Swanston St in Melbourne. Picture: NewsWire / Tamati Smith

The organisers of Melbourne’s once high profile pro-Palestinian marches have dropped their involvement in weekly protests in favour of monthly demonstrations.

Free Palestine Melbourne has told its followers the weekly marches, which have angered traders, will stop but the group will continue to advocate for Gazans.

Each week after Israel retaliated over the October 7 atrocities, FPM has been high profile on Sundays in the centre of Melbourne.

At its height, the protests have attracted tens of thousands of people but momentum has diminished over time.

They have been supported by the Greens and have largely been peaceful.

However, they often have included anti-Semitic posters, stickers and chants.

It is unclear whether other groups will step in to keep the tradition going.

“We will always be working strategically to build an even stronger movement for justice and human rights in Palestine,’’ FPM told its supporters in a newsletter.

“The social movement for Palestine since October 7 has been unprecedented and you have all been a major part of it.

“FPM will no longer be part of weekly rallies at the State Library, but we are most definitely not giving up the cause.”

The decision to dump the weekly marches comes after more radical anti-Israel groups than FPM have vandalised MPs’ offices across Melbourne.

FPM said a protest on July 14 had been organised by another group.

The FPM weekly marches caused significant issues for police resourcing, even though there were few examples of violence and the events were largely peaceful although disruptive to retail trading.

1:00 pm July 12, 2024

Charge sheets almost identical for alleged spy couple

David Murray

Court documents state that Igor Korolev is facing almost identical allegations to his wife, with the offending alleged to have occurred in both Brisbane and Russia.

The only difference in the charge sheets of the pair is that Kira Korolev is accused of unlawfully providing access to Defence computer systems.

Mr Korolev is listed in court documents as a labourer. He will turn 63 years old this Sunday, July 14.

They will next face court together on September 20.

12:54 pm July 12, 2024

Allegations against 'INFOSYS technician' detailed

David Murray

Kira Korolev. Picture: Facebook

Kira Korolev is listed in court documents as being employed as an “INFOSYS technician” with the Australian Army.

Her offending is alleged to have occurred in Brisbane and the Russian federation between December 6, 2022, and July 11, 2024.

The allegations include that she unlawfully provided access to Defence computer systems “to persons who have no lawful basis to access those systems”, the court documents state.

She is also accused of “unlawfully accessing, copying, and disseminating information from Department of Defence computer systems”.

The information “concerned the national security of Australia”.

Ms Korolov, 40, allegedly “maintained a relationship with members or affiliates of Russian Federation intelligence services for the purpose of providing” the information.

She had the “intention of preparing for or planning an offence … namely providing the aforementioned national security information to the intelligence services of the government of the Russian Federation”.

She has been charged under the Commonwealth criminal code.

Her birthplace is listed as Russia and her home as Everton Park in Brisbane.

A court suppression order states there are five witnesses whose identities cannot be revealed for five years or until further order.

12:38 pm July 12, 2024

Igor Korolov appears in Brisbane Magistrates Court

David Murray

Igor Korolev. Picture: Facebook

Igor Korolov has appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court in person wearing a prison-issue green jumper and shirt, blue tracksuit pants and was barefoot.

Australian police have charged the 62-year-old and his 40-year-old wife, Kira Korolov, with spying for Russia, top officials said Friday, accusing them of accessing defence-related documents for Moscow.

Korolov consulted an interpreter over the phone in private in the courtroom with a Legal Aid Queensland lawyer.

The court was then opened to the public, and was told there was no application for bail.

Magistrate Ross Mack remanded him in custody until his next appearance in Court 19 at 9am on September 20.

The interpreter translated proceedings in Russian for Mr Korolov, informing him that legal representation would be arranged for him before his next court appearance.

During the brief appearance, he remained calm in the dock. His grey hair was cropped short.

The AFP sought and was granted the same suppression order of five names associated with the investigation that had previously been granted in his wife Kira Korolov’s earlier court hearing.

12:04 pm July 12, 2024

Biden hits back at Trump jibe

Joanna Panagopoulos

US President Joe Biden is in damage control following today's press conference, hitting back at Republican hopeful Donald Trump who is already mocking his performance.

"Crooked Joe begins his 'Big Boy' Press Conference with, 'I wouldn't have picked Vice President Trump to be vice president, though I think she was not qualified to be president.' Great job, Joe!" Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social.

On X, President Biden responded: "By the way: Yes, I know the difference. One’s a prosecutor, and the other’s a felon."

https://x.com/JoeBiden/status/1811559621791752554

12:03 pm July 12, 2024

PM praises security agencies after arrest of alleged spies

Sarah Elks

Anthony Albanese says the arrest of two Russian-born alleged Australian spies shows the nation’s security agencies “are amongst the best in the world”.

The Prime Minister said he had been briefed extensively by the agencies and had spoken to AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw before Friday morning’s press conference.

“Australia’s security agencies are doing their job, and they’re doing it well,” Mr Albanese said in Brisbane.

"People will be held to account, who interfere with our national interest, and that's precisely what these arrests represent."

“We live in uncertain times, and we know that the work that our security agencies do, whether it be ASIO or the Australian Signals Directorate, working with the Australian Federal Police and state authorities.

"On top of this, I think we can have a great deal of confidence in the fact that our agencies do their job, and they do it very well, and I'm very proud of them, and every Australian should be.”

He said he had “every confidence in our agencies doing their job, and that they will do their job without fear or favour”.