Survivor of Alleged Elite Paedophile Ring Including Former Prime Minister Speaks out OCTOBER 28, 201511:39AM

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Survivor of Alleged Elite Paedophile Ring Including Former Prime Minister Speaks out OCTOBER 28, 201511:39AM http://www.news.com.au/national/crime/survivor-of-alleged-elite-paedophile-ring-including- former-prime-minister-speaks-out/story-fns0kb1g-1227579834065 crime Survivor of alleged elite paedophile ring including former prime minister speaks out OCTOBER 28, 201511:39AM Abuse survivors demand pedophile action Liz Burkenews.com.au A WOMAN claiming to be the victim of a “VIP paedophile ring”, which involved three former prime ministers, has alleged she was prostituted to “paedophile parties” at Parliament House in Canberra. Speaking to media in Sydney, Fiona Barnett detailed her alleged abuse by the alleged elite paedophile ring 40 years ago. The 45-year-old said she was abused by the ring, which included high-ranking politicians, police and members of the judiciary, at the age of five and claimed there were thousands of other victims. “My experiences were horrific beyond words,” she said. “But the way I’ve been treated for reporting the crimes I witnessed and experienced has been far worse than my original abuse experiences.” Explosive allegations ... Fiona Barnett speaks to the media in Sydney. Pic: Liz Burke.Source:News Corp Australia The northern NSW woman went on to detail “hundreds of crimes” she claimed she had witnessed, including child abduction, torture, rape and murder. Ms Barnett described the alleged operation as a “very well-coordinated international paedophile ring”, and said there was a strict hierarchy. “I was only saved for the VIP paedophiles,” she said. “It’s a hierarchy, what I witnessed was the very top of the hierarchy.” Ms Barnett said she “lives in absolute fear” and only decided to speak out because she “has nothing left to lose”. She maintains the network is still in operation, and urged Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to make it a priority to “make the kids safe”. Ms Barnett said she had taken the allegations to multiple health professionals in the 1980s, NSW Police in 2008 and approached the Royal Commission in 2013. She said she and other victims of “VIP” perpetrators were “stonewalled” by authorities. ACT Police release a statement this afternoon after Ms Barnett’s press conference. “The matter was thoroughly investigated by ACT Policing’s Operation Attest and there was no evidence to substantiate the complainant’s allegations,” the statement read. “The matter was finalised and the complainant was notified on April 30, 2015.” Leader of child sex abuse advocacy group Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) Nicky Davis said Ms Barnett’s alleged experience was not unique. “SNAP has heard from a number of survivors of very similar offences who have been raped, who have been tortured, whose perpetrators include the most senior people in Australia.” SNAP says allegations have been ignored by the Royal Commission and government officials. The group claims many survivors have spoken to police, the Royal Commission into Child Sex Abuse, politicians and government officials and had produced “considerable” evidence. “There are a large number who want to speak out,” Ms Davis told news.com.au. “These are some of the worst crime committed by the most powerful against the most vulnerable.” Allegations of the elite paedophile ring surfaced in a Senate estimates hearing earlier this week, with Liberal senator Bill Heffernan claiming he had obtained a police list containing the names of 28 prominent people. Senator Heffernan wouldn’t name names on Tuesday but called on Attorney- General George Brandis to expand the child abuse Royal Commission to include the legal fraternity, as well as a former prime minister. He told the Senate estimates hearing in Canberra he had provided the Commission with documents, one naming the alleged paedophiles including “a whole lot of prominent people.” Senator Heffernan is a vociferous campaigner against paedophiles, but in 2002 he used parliamentary privilege to falsely accuse a judge of using commonwealth cars to procure young men for sex. Senator Heffernan said the documents relating to these allegations, delivered to him by a police agency some time ago, were very disturbing. Ms Barnett said she wanted to see her claims and the claims of others investigated the Royal Commission. “I’m not the only one who’s seen this stuff,” she said. “What I want to see happen is not just my claims, I want all of the claims pooled and I want them investigated.” EDITOR’S NOTE: In an earlier version of this story, former Prime Minister Julia Gillard was pictured in the background of a photograph of Nicky Davis, the leader of advocacy group SNAP. news.com.au does not suggest Ms Gillard was in any way linked to any allegations made in this story. .
Recommended publications
  • A History of Misconduct: the Case for a Federal Icac
    MISCONDUCT IN POLITICS A HISTORY OF MISCONDUCT: THE CASE FOR A FEDERAL ICAC INDEPENDENT JO URNALISTS MICH AEL WES T A ND CALLUM F OOTE, COMMISSIONED B Y G ETUP 1 MISCONDUCT IN POLITICS MISCONDUCT IN RESOURCES, WATER AND LAND MANAGEMENT Page 5 MISCONDUCT RELATED TO UNDISCLOSED CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Page 8 POTENTIAL MISCONDUCT IN LOBBYING MISCONDUCT ACTIVITIES RELATED TO Page 11 INAPPROPRIATE USE OF TRANSPORT Page 13 POLITICAL DONATION SCANDALS Page 14 FOREIGN INFLUENCE ON THE POLITICAL PROCESS Page 16 ALLEGEDLY FRAUDULENT PRACTICES Page 17 CURRENT CORRUPTION WATCHDOG PROPOSALS Page 20 2 MISCONDUCT IN POLITICS FOREWORD: Trust in government has never been so low. This crisis in public confidence is driven by the widespread perception that politics is corrupt and politicians and public servants have failed to be held accountable. This report identifies the political scandals of the and other misuse of public money involving last six years and the failure of our elected leaders government grants. At the direction of a minister, to properly investigate this misconduct. public money was targeted at voters in marginal electorates just before a Federal Election, In 1984, customs officers discovered a teddy bear potentially affecting the course of government in in the luggage of Federal Government minister Australia. Mick Young and his wife. It had not been declared on the Minister’s customs declaration. Young This cheating on an industrial scale reflects a stepped aside as a minister while an investigation political culture which is evolving dangerously. into the “Paddington Bear Affair” took place. The weapons of the state are deployed against journalists reporting on politics, and whistleblowers That was during the prime ministership of Bob in the public service - while at the same time we Hawke.
    [Show full text]
  • Newly Elected Greek Prime Minister Demanded to Impose Additional
    International Law-in News International Law in News Newly Elected Greek Prime Minister Demanded to Impose Additional Austerity Measures http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/12/alexis-tsipras-pledged-to-end-austerity-now-he-is-asked- to-sign-up-for-more Following his election on 25 interviews prior to the election, January 2015, Greek Prime Min- Tsipras reaf›rmed the importance ister Alexis Tsipras has pledged to of the bail-out deal claiming the pursue anti-austerity measures in deal is an important factor that his political manifesto following a will allow Greece to retain its us- failure in the Greek parliament to age of the euro. Yet, Greece still elect a new president. Tsipras was faces considerable economic chal- reelected on 20 September 2015 lenges. Being still in recession, the winning against the New Democ- Greek government has to satisfy racy party under his Syriza party. international creditors that is ful- The Syriza has just won over 35% ›lling the terms of the ⁄85 billion of its previous result beating the bailout. Creditors are due to re- conservative New Democracy view the progress of the program who obtained 28% of votes. This in October. is short of a majority win, how- However several members ever Syriza will form a coalition of the Eurozone have expressed with the nationalist Independent ignorance whether Tsipras will Greeks. follow through on its promises. Tsipras’ reelection is following Germany, Finland, and other a new ⁄85 billion bailout agree- countries of northern Europe have ment between Greece and the made it clear that they no longer European Union which provides trust Greece ful›ll its promises for increased taxation and new and have lost patience with Tsip- spending cuts.
    [Show full text]
  • Liberal Women: a Proud History
    <insert section here> | 1 foreword The Liberal Party of Australia is the party of opportunity and choice for all Australians. From its inception in 1944, the Liberal Party has had a proud LIBERAL history of advancing opportunities for Australian women. It has done so from a strong philosophical tradition of respect for competence and WOMEN contribution, regardless of gender, religion or ethnicity. A PROUD HISTORY OF FIRSTS While other political parties have represented specific interests within the Australian community such as the trade union or environmental movements, the Liberal Party has always proudly demonstrated a broad and inclusive membership that has better understood the aspirations of contents all Australians and not least Australian women. The Liberal Party also has a long history of pre-selecting and Foreword by the Hon Kelly O’Dwyer MP ... 3 supporting women to serve in Parliament. Dame Enid Lyons, the first female member of the House of Representatives, a member of the Liberal Women: A Proud History ... 4 United Australia Party and then the Liberal Party, served Australia with exceptional competence during the Menzies years. She demonstrated The Early Liberal Movement ... 6 the passion, capability and drive that are characteristic of the strong The Liberal Party of Australia: Beginnings to 1996 ... 8 Liberal women who have helped shape our nation. Key Policy Achievements ... 10 As one of the many female Liberal parliamentarians, and one of the A Proud History of Firsts ... 11 thousands of female Liberal Party members across Australia, I am truly proud of our party’s history. I am proud to be a member of a party with a The Howard Years ..
    [Show full text]
  • The Life and Adventures of Malcolm Turnbull Pdf, Epub, Ebook
    STOP AT NOTHING: THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF MALCOLM TURNBULL PDF, EPUB, EBOOK Annabel Crabb | 208 pages | 18 May 2016 | Black Inc. | 9781863958189 | English | Melbourne, Australia Stop at Nothing: The Life and Adventures of Malcolm Turnbull PDF Book Without that a lot of it wont make sense, and relevance would also be limited. I am now much more inclined towards the Australian Conservatives rather than the Liberals. Quarterly Essay 34 Stop At Nothing. Craig Dowling rated it it was amazing Oct 09, I recommend this to anyone looking for a way to begin understanding the forces at work in Australian politics. Maybe I was looking for something different in the book did not find it enlightening at all first book I have read of Annabelle Crabb. Easy and enjoyable read - even for people who are not naturally liberal fans. Drawing on extensive interviews with Turnbull, Crabb delves into his university exploits — which included co-authoring a musical with Bob Ellis — and his remarkable relationship with Kerry Packer, the man for whom he was first a prized attack dog and then a mortal enemy. Bron rated it it was ok Dec 30, At times, the Turnbull life-story seems almost to have the silvery impermanence of cinema, and you suspect that somewhere behind it all is a haggard old-time Hollywood screenwriter, artfully inserting plot twists and complex little synchronicities for the benefit of the audience. Anyway, I I never really looked into the politics of my own country that much - America is just so much crazier and more sensational. This book, slightly longer than a quarterly essay, is worth an afternoon of your time.
    [Show full text]
  • The Vultures Will Be Hovering Again Soon Enough, As Bill Shorten Begins to Stumble Date September 21, 2015 - 5:58AM
    The vultures will be hovering again soon enough, as Bill Shorten begins to stumble Date September 21, 2015 - 5:58AM Paul Sheehan Sydney Morning Herald columnist Disability deserves its own ministry: Shorten Opposition leader Bill Shorten says he is disappointed Malcolm Turnbull's new ministry does not feature a minister for disability. Courtesy ABC News 24. It is only natural that the vultures will grow hungry again soon. They have become accustomed to kings becoming carrion. In the past 20 years Paul Keating, Kim Beazley, Simon Crean, Mark Latham, Beazley again, John Howard, Brendan Nelson, Malcolm Turnbull, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Rudd again, and now Tony Abbott have all been felled, a procession of change, on average, every 20 months, for 20 years. It shows no sign of slowing. In this context, the Canning by-election could have been called the Cunning by- election. It gave a clear, vindicating victory for Malcolm Turnbull's brazen, lightning coup. So now the vultures will soon be hovering over the obvious loser, Bill Shorten, who made a serious blunder last week that puts him on carrion watch. Having hovered over Abbott for months, the vultures will be riding the political thermals and circling in the sky, watching for Shorten to falter. He just became much more vulnerable. He has never been popular in the opinion polls. He has rarely been impressive in parliament. He was especially unimpressive in the three sitting days leading up to the Canning by-election. On Tuesday, in his first question to the new Prime Minister, Shorten finished
    [Show full text]
  • Julie Bishop and Malcolm Turnbull Took to Twitter to Deny Ben Fordham’S Claims They Had Secret Meeting in Sydney
    Julie Bishop and Malcolm Turnbull took to Twitter to deny Ben Fordham’s claims they had secret meeting in Sydney DAVID MEDDOWS THE DAILY TELEGRAPH FEBRUARY 05, 2015 4:29PM Malcolm Turnbull and Julie Bishop have taken to social media to deny they had planned a secret meeting in Sydney today. Picture: Supplied THE political rumour mill went into overdrive today when a Sydney radio host suggested Julie Bishop and Malcolm Turnbull had arranged a secret meeting in Sydney. 2GB host Fordham took to Twitter this afternoon claiming that Bishop and Turnbull would be meeting at the Communication Minister’s house sometime today. “Interesting fact - @JulieBishopMP and @TurnbullMalcolm have arranged to meet at his Sydney home today,” the Tweet read. But the pair quickly fired back denying the claims. The Communications Minister even provided happy snaps to prove his whereabouts. “you need to improve yr surveillance! I am on the train to Tuggerah. PoliticsinPub Nth Wyong 2nite,” wrote. “No Ben. At 11.30 am I was not meeting w @JulieBishopMP - after a meeting at NBNCo I was waiting for a train at Nth Sydney,” he said. Mr Turnbull was heading to the Central Coast where he was meeting with local MP Karen McNamara. Just to prove his point he posted pictures from the train trip and one hugging a sign at Tuggerah station. “Arrived at our destination! @BenFordham looking forward to discussing broadband with Karen Mcnamara MP,” he said. Still not convinced, Fordham asked one more time for confirmation from Mr Turnbull. “At the risk of coming across as obsessed, can I kindly ask you confirm you did not meet Julie today? *ducks rotten fruit*” he asked on Twitter.
    [Show full text]
  • Australian Foreign Policy Shift in China's One Belt One Road
    Australian Foreign Policy Shift in China’s One Belt One Road: The Role of Small Group and Multiple Autonomous Group Rahmatul Amalia Nur Ahsani and Baiq Wardhani International Relations Department, Faculty of Social and Political Science, Universitas Airlangga Keywords: OBOR, Australia, Small Group, Multiple Autonomous Group, Decision Unit Abstract: China’s One Belt One Road (OBOR) Foreign Policy aimed at building a liaison infrastructure between Asia, Europe and even globally is welcomed by the Australian government as a country that offered to invest in the project. Australia under the leadership of Prime Minister Turnbull has a cooperative foreign policy direction towards China. Therefore, OBOR investments offered by the Chinese government to the Australian government initially received a positive and optimistic response to the huge returns from infrastructure investments in Northern Australia where it coincided with the Australian government that intensifying massive infrastructure development in Northern Australia. However, Australia’s position in the OBOR cooperation was not clear with the rejection of the signing of the OBOR MoU by the Australian government. In this case, the author attempts to explain the shift in Australia’s position in OBOR through group level of analysis by explaining small-group decision units as well as multiple autonomous units. Furthermore, to explain how then the unit’s decision works, the author provide identification of the decision units contained in small groups and multiple autonomous groups, explaining how organizational structure of leaders to groups, as well as providing further small group analysis through the decision tree. 1 INTRODUCTION Turnbull seeks to avoid tension and emphasizes the existence of mutually beneficial cooperation Australia’s foreign policy under the government of between the two (Tyler, 2016).
    [Show full text]
  • AUSTRALIA UPDATE: New Prime Minister August 24, 2018 Scott
    AUSTRALIA UPDATE: New Prime Minister August 24, 2018 ▪ Scott Morrison was sworn in as Australia’s 39th Prime Minister on August 24 after a conservative “spill” initiative in the Liberal Party led by Peter Dutton led to the ouster of PM Malcolm Turnbull but resulted in the victory of Morrison over Dutton 45-40 in a secret ballot. The choice of Morrison was seen as a victory for the moderate faction within the party. ▪ Energy and Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg was elected deputy Liberal leader and replaces Morrison as Treasurer. Outgoing deputy leader, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, had stood for PM in a 3-way race but was knocked out in the first round. ▪ Turnbull has indicated he will resign from Parliament, which will cause a by-election for his seat in Wentworth, part of Sydney. The government currently has a single-seat majority in the House of Representatives. The next general election doesn’t have to be called until May 2019 but pressure for an earlier date is likely to increase. The immediate cause of spill was conservative frustration with what was seen as Turnbull’s left-wing tendencies, especially on social issues and energy policy. Just prior to the spill, Turnbull tried to satisfy his conservative critics by giving up his signature “national energy guarantee” by suspending plans to legislate the emissions reduction component and backing away from Australia’s Paris Accord targets. Morrison, although backed by the moderate faction, is seen as much more conservative than Turnbull. Prior to serving as Treasurer, he was Immigration minister and an architect of Australia’s controversial hardline asylum-seeker policies – including indefinite detention on remote foreign islands.
    [Show full text]
  • Political Chronicles Commonwealth of Australia
    Australian Journal of Politics and History: Volume 53, Number 4, 2007, pp. 614-667. Political Chronicles Commonwealth of Australia January to June 2007 JOHN WANNA The Australian National University and Griffith University Shadow Dancing Towards the 2007 Election The election year began with Prime Minister John Howard facing the new Opposition leader, Kevin Rudd. Two developments were immediately apparent: as a younger fresher face Rudd played up his novelty value and quickly won public support; whereas Howard did not know how to handle his new “conservative” adversary. Rudd adopted the tactic of constantly calling himself the “alternative prime minister” while making national announcements and issuing invitations for summits as if he were running the government. He promised to reform federal-state relations, to work collaboratively with the states on matters such as health care, to invest in an “education revolution”, provide universal access to early childhood education, and to fast-track high-speed broadbanding at a cost of $4.7 billion. Rudd also began to stalk and shadow the prime minister around the country — a PM “Doppelgänger” — appearing in the same cities or at the same venues often on the same day (even going to the Sydney cricket test match together). Should his office receive word of the prime minister’s intended movements or scheduled policy announcements, Rudd would often appear at the location first or make upstaging announcements to take the wind from the PM’s sails. Politics was a tactical game like chess and Rudd wanted to be seen taking the initiative. He claimed he thought “it will be fun to play with his [John Howard’s] mind for a while” (Weekend Australian Magazine, 10-11 February 2007).
    [Show full text]
  • Australia's Strategic Posture: Issues for Congress
    Australia’s Strategic Posture: Issues for Congress Updated October 9, 2020 Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov R46571 SUMMARY R46571 Australia’s Strategic Posture: Issues for October 9, 2020 Congress Bruce Vaughn Australia is responding to increased uncertainty in its strategic environment by developing a new Specialist in Asian Affairs strategic posture that will likely allow it greater flexibility to act independently. In new strategic documents, Australia has outlined plans to increase its defense spending, acquire key combat systems, and further develop strategic and defense ties and bilateral relations with Japan, India, Southwest Pacific states and others in the region while also seeking to maintain and strengthen its alliance relationship with the United States. Some have described these changes as the most significant changes to Australia’s strategic posture in a generation. This report is to inform Members seeking a better understanding of the strategic implications for the United States of the evolving strategic posture of one of the United States’ key allies in the Indo-Pacific. Australia’s evolving strategic posture has significant implications for congressional decisionmaking on U.S. defense procurement expenditures and for oversight of U.S. strategy and defense posture in the Indo-Pacific region, as well as congressional efforts to protect and strengthen U.S. alliances more generally. The report focuses on diplomatic, strategic, and defense ties and does not focus in depth on trade or people-to-people ties. The United States’ changed posture towards alliances and the Indo-Pacific region under the Trump Administration and rising tensions in Australia’s bilateral relations with China appear to be key drivers behind Australia’s efforts to develop and enhance its strategic posture.
    [Show full text]
  • The 2019 Australian Federal Election Results from the Australian Election Study
    HEADING TO GO HERE THE 2019 AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL ELECTION RESULTS FROM THE AUSTRALIAN ELECTION STUDY Sarah Cameron & Ian McAllister School of Politics & International Relations ANU College of Arts & Social Sciences australianelectionstudy.org The 2019 Australian Federal Election Results from the Australian Election Study Sarah Cameron Ian McAllister December, 2019 Sarah Cameron School of Social and Political Sciences The University of Sydney E [email protected] Ian McAllister School of Politics and International Relations The Australian National University E [email protected] Cover image: Nic Ellis / AAP iii iv The 2019 Australian Federal Election: Results from the Australian Election Study CONTENTS Executive Summary 3 Introduction 5 Policy Issues 7 Most important election issues 7 Preferred party policies 8 Tax policies 8 Climate change 9 Notes 10 Leaders 11 Does leadership matter? 11 Leader popularity 11 Leader characteristics 12 Leadership change from Malcolm Turnbull to Scott Morrison 12 Notes 13 Political Trust 15 Satisfaction with democracy 15 Trust in government 15 Who the government is run for 16 Notes 16 A Divided Electorate? 17 Gender gap 17 Generational divide 18 Battlers 19 Asset ownership 20 State differences 21 Notes 22 Explaining the Election Result 23 Understanding voters’ choices 23 Swing voters 23 Support for minor parties 24 Summary 24 Notes 25 Endnotes 26 Acknowledgements 27 References 28 Appendix: Methodology 29 1 2 The 2019 Australian Federal Election: Results from the Australian Election Study EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report presents findings from the 2019 Australian Election Study (AES). The AES surveyed a nationally representative sample of 2,179 voters after the 2019 Australian federal election to find out what shaped their choices in the election.
    [Show full text]
  • Australia's Tilt on China
    July 4 2017 Australia’s tilt on China On January 26, in a speech to the US- If stability and prosperity are to continue, Australia Dialogue on Cooperation in the the United States must play an even Indo-Pacific in Los Angeles, Australian greater role as the indispensable strategic Foreign Minister Julie Bishop supported a power in the Indo-Pacific. position where China’s rise is balanced by an expanded US role in the Indo-Pacific region:1 In the same speech Minister Bishop also sent a blunt message to China on the importance of The US presence and its alliances adopting democratic institutions:3 have provided the stability that has underwritten the region’s growth for The importance of liberal values and many decades…Most nations wish to institutions should not be underestimated see more United States leadership, or ignored. While non-democracies such not less, and have no desire to see as China can thrive when participating in powers other than the US, calling the the present system, an essential pillar of shots. Australia believes that now is our preferred order is democratic the time for the United States to go community. Domestic democratic habits beyond its current engagement in of negotiating and compromise are Asia, to support Asia’s own peace, essential to powerful countries resolving and to capitalise on the era of their disagreements according to opportunity that long-term United international law and rules. History also States investment has already shows democracy and democratic created. institutions are essential for nations if they are to reach their economic potential.
    [Show full text]