CANBERRA: And welcome to Canberra on the first Tuesday in November for the race that doesn't stop the nation. The Anti-Terrorism Cup. The final horses are being brought into the barriers, and we are almost ready for the start.
"Cross the Floor" from the Joyce stables is looking very frisky. English horse "Shoot to Kill" is playing up, with jockey T Blair struggling to keep his mare under control. Blair has had a lot of trouble in foreign races lately, with "Dossier" causing massive problems in the Middle East two years ago. She is now in, and ready to go.
Racing.
"No Debate" and "A Nation Distracted" are off to a great start but "Our Democracy" missed the start badly and is at the back of the field.
"Xenophobia" ridden by Pauline Hanson has settled to the front of the field. "Fear" ridden by veteran hoop John Stone is also up near the front.
"Against the Constitution" ridden by Peter Beatie is also making a strong showing. "There's no time" is three wide.
"Divide and Conquer" has been steered into a good position by John Howard as he chases his fifth cup. "Me Too" ridden by Kim Beazley is settling in just behind "Divide and Conquer". And as we pass the post for the first time, "Open and accountable" has settled towards the back of the field. "No Debate" still leads by a head, but here comes "Johnie's Boy" ridden by Mick Keelty.
"I'm with Him" ridden by Alan Jones is now making himself heard, and his large group of fans are sure to be happy about that.
And "Xenophobia" now makes her move. "Clap and Cheer" with Andrew Bolt in the saddle is just behind "Xenophobia". "Clap and Cheer"'s stablemate "Piers Agrees" is also in the running. "Seperation of Powers" is well and truly boxed in by "Ram It Through" and "Undue Haste".
"Cheques and Balances" ridden by Petro Georgio started strongly but is now dropping back in the field. The pace is now picking up in the back straight with "State's Concerns" and "Legal Advice" making their move, but it's still "Shoot to Kill" and "No Debate" leading the field.
"Our Democracy" and "Open and Accountable" continue to fall behind and "I'm still here" ridden by Lyne Allison is also struggling.
Coming into the home straight, horses are eight wide with "Trust Me" ridden by P Ruddock holding a slight lead. "Fear", "Xenophobia" and "Ram it through" are in great position. They are being pushed hard by "Clap and Cheer", "Piers Agrees" and "I'm With Him". "Seperaration of Powers" is gone and so is "Me Too".
There has bean a dreadful fall at the back of the field with three horses going down. I think it's "Our Democracy", "Open and Accountable" and "Public Consultation".
400 out, and here comes "Shoot to Kill" and "No Debate". "There's No Time" is flying down the outside. And here comes "A Nation Distracted".
Two hundred out and it's anyone's race. "I'm with him" ridden by Alan Jones has been dragged to the extreme right of the track Alan Jones opening up a huge hole for "Divide and Conquer". "Clap and Cheer" and "Pier's Agrees" continue to block "Sensible Debate" against the rails.
Foreign raider "Shoot to Kill" has sprouted wings down the outside and we could see more of him later. "High Court Challenge" has been severely checked by "Trust Me" and the stewards will definitely be looking at that incident.
It's "Shoot to Kill" leading, but here comes the great stayer "Divide and Conquer". "A Nation Distracted" and "Fear" are pushing "Divide and Conquer" forward. "Shoot to Kill", and "A Nation Distracted" are battling it out. IT'S NECK AND NECK. "Shoot to Kill", "Divide and Conquer" and "A Nation Distracted". It's close.
AND HERE COMES "CROSS THE FLOOR" FROM NOWHERE. IT'S A FOUR WAY PHOTO FINISH.
The race that doesn't stop the nation is too close to call. A four way photo and a steward's appeal by "High Court Challenge" mean the final result won't be known for a while.
Related:
By Tanya Giles posted 31 October 05
THE Bracks Government is preparing a crackdown on police secretly taking the DNA of Victorians.
Concerns about corruption and police improperly using or releasing DNA details has prompted the Government to move to protect those whose DNA has been seized without their knowledge.
The Herald Sun understands a panel of legal experts has been established to set up controls on how police take, use and store DNA samples collected covertly from genetic material left on items such as clothing and cigarettes.
"The Government is examining what measures are required to regulate the collection and use of DNA samples that are gathered covertly," Police Minister Tim Holding said.
There are no laws in Victoria to govern the secret practice.
Police use the samples of skin, hair, sweat and saliva to compare with DNA collected at crime scenes.
But the Herald Sun understands a battle is looming between the Government and Victoria Police over the issue.
The Government is keen to ensure the safeguards are set up and enshrined in law to protect the rights of Victorians whose DNA has been secretly seized.
But sources said police want to be able continue to take covert samples free from regulation or independent review.
Documents obtained by the Herald Sun under Freedom of Information reveal senior justice figures have warned the Government of the dangers of allowing police to conduct covert DNA sampling without safeguards or regulation.
"Covert collection of DNA material may provide opportunities for improper use of samples, potential for substitution and unauthorised disseminations," one document says.
Legal experts have raised concerns about DNA of innocent Victorians being mistakenly recorded as a criminal sample and added to the criminal DNA database.
Others have raised concerns about corrupt police planting DNA evidence at crime scenes.
State Ombudsman George Brouwer warned Attorney-General Rob Hulls and then police minister Andre Haermeyer last year that covert police checks were not covered under law.
Under the Crimes Act, police can obtain a court warrant to take genetic samples from prisoners, criminals and suspects with their consent or by force to add to the criminal DNA database.
Victoria Police were unable to provide details of its covert DNA sampling program.
Related:
By Cop Watcher posted 31 October 05
A weekly round up of police stuff.
KEEPING TO ITS POLICY OF SECRECY AT ALL COSTS, police forces around the country disclose little information about their activities unless enquirers force them to do so under freedom of information laws.
So it was that the Sun Herald newspaper had to make the application under freedom of information laws to find out what the Australian Federal Police spent at their Scotch College, according to the 24 October edition.
Their expenditure included
$7,400 on a home theatre system
$6600 on street theatre
$23,000 for beanies
a yacht (price unknown)
$72,000 paid to luxury car manufacturer BMW.
An AFP spokesperson, Kai Ianssen, refused to give any further details, including how the items bought with public money were related to police business.
STREET BRAWLING QUEENSLAND COPPERS have come under attack for using excessive force outside a Brisbane nightclub on the evening of October 23.
Twenty-seven men and women were arrested outside the Underground Nightclub, Edward St.
As often happens in these situations, the boys and girls in blue got carried away and sprayed everyone in sight with pepper spray.
'Some people were just trying to run past and just got caught up in it and just got dragged in and sprayed and thrown into the watch tower,' said one witness.
'They were bashing anyone with the bats, they even grabbed this other guy that was waiting for a taxi they sprayed him and then they started bashing him and then they arrested him.'
Police Superintendent Tonya Carew says her officers acted appropriately.
'I tell my staff to use capsicum spray,' she said.
YOUSE ARE FUCKED said a man to police officers through the window of a police car, according to media reports on 22 October 2005.
Rather than the police officers responding with professionalism and ignoring the man, they arrested him - like the big kids that they are. After being acquitted of 'offensive language' by the Magistrate who said that the word fuck is expected to be heard late at night in Sydney, the police are now using taxpayers money to appeal the matter to a higher court.
Rufus Richardson, a 27-year-old Canberra student, was awarded $2,600 for legal costs.
The Magistrate said it was difficult to find swearing an offence in relation to community standards, because she was 'not sure there is such a thing as community standards anymore.'
NO DOUBT THE TIP OF THE ICEBURG, Northern Territory Police has spent more than 80,000 hours secretly spying on people last financial year.
The figure is quoted in the October 27 Northern Territory News, after figures were tabled in the NT Parliament saying that they spent 3,895 days conducting surveillance.
The breakdown included
35 applications for a tracking device
26 for listening bugs
16 for filming.
No warrant applications were refused.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Crime Command George Owen refused to comment about the upsurge in the use of electronic surveillance when contacted by the Northern Territory News.
Related:
By Litigant posted 31 October 05
When the high-profile lawyer Adam Houda was arrested for assaulting a policeman and dragged out of a court he declared: "This is shit, this is shit... he pushed me first."
Five years on, Mr Houda left the NSW Supreme Court with a payout of $145,000, plus interest.
The lawyer - who has represented almost all Sydney's high-profile accused terrorists, including Mamdouh Habib - successfully sued the state for wrongful arrest, malicious prosecution and false imprisonment.
Witnesses to the tussle had heard insults fly - "deadset dickhead", "idiot", even "pork chop", which one officer apparently called the Muslim lawyer.
Before arresting him for assault, Constable Lance Stebbing had told Mr Houda to "f--- off" in the corridors of Burwood Local Court in 2000. The assault charge was withdrawn and dismissed six months later.
Yesterday Acting Justice Harvey Cooper said in his judgement: "Constable Stebbing well knew that that offence had not been committed and that he was motivated to do so solely out of spite or ill will towards the plaintiff because the plaintiff had stood up to his unjustified, menacing and rude conduct."
The argument began after Constable Stebbing interrupted a conversation between Mr Houda and a police officer and told him to treat her "with respect". Mr Houda told him to "please mind your own business".
"I am comfortably satisfied that Constable Stebbing was enraged that the plaintiff told him to mind his own business and, instead of ending the interlude, he told the plaintiff to f--- off," Acting Justice Cooper said.
Constable Stebbing shoved him repeatedly in the chest, demanding he "get out of my personal space". Mr Houda replied: "Where do you want me to go, you idiot?"
"By this stage the plaintiff, with every justification, thought that Constable Stebbing was crazy," Acting Justice Cooper said.
Mr Houda held his palm up in front of his chest and the officer walked into it, then arrested him.
The judge said the evidence of several police witnesses was "seriously diminished" because they had referred to Constable Stebbing's statement in their own.
Mr Houda was taken to the nearby police station, where one officer allegedly told him: "You are a prisoner now, pork chop."
Outside court yesterday Mr Houda said: "The police abused their powers on the day and brought thuggery to the court and I stood up for my rights."
For more reading on the crap that cops get up to, go to the recently released NSW Ombudsman report. It's as weak as piss, but there are even some things the Ombudsman has to notice.
Related:
