National Observer Today [29/1/2023]

Alice Springs Crime spike, Nuclear capsule goes missing, Comments on the Australia Day brawl, Australia-China relations, Liberal Senator sues for defamation

Jan 29, 2023

Alice Springs faces prolonged crime crisis - ABC Radio National

Alice Spring is experiencing a large crime wave largely driven by Indigenous Australians, a result of the lapsed alcohol ban. [Since last year property offences increased by 59.64%, assaults increased by 43.48% and domestic violence assaults rose by 53.75%] In response, the Albanese government has reimposed the alcohol ban, the original ban was successful in reducing crime by up to 50% but has been criticised as ‘racist’. Mounting worry the crime wave’s bad publicity may damage the voice to parliament campaign. Turmoil is leading to residents moving out of the town, roughly 200 properties up for sale.

Sources: ABC, The Saturday Paper, The Age

Missing nuclear capsule

Tiny radioactive capsule lost inbetween mine in WA’s Pilbara region and Perth

Urgent hazmat health warning issued
- Material cannot be weaponised
- Amount of radiation exposure is comparable to receiving 10 X-rays in the space of an hour.
Chief Health Officer Dr Andrew Robertson: “Exposure to this substance could cause radiation burns or severe illness – if people see the capsule or something that looks similar, stay away from it and keep others away from it too,”
lost sometime between January 10 and January 16, DFES put out an alert on Friday afternoon
WA chief health officer, Andy Robertson: “the capsule was understood to have fallen from a truck during the 1,400km journey, after vibrations worked loose a bolt, and the capsule fell through the bolt hole.”
Capsule is smaller than a 10c coin, measuring 6mm by 8mm
Being tracked down by multiple agencies:
- Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES)
- Department of Health
- WA Police
- other subject matter experts
If found: Do not touch or pick it up. Report immediately by calling 13 DFES (13 33 37)

Sources: 9News, WAtoday, The Guardian

Perth Lord Mayor comments on Australia Day brawl

Several people arrested during 150 person alcohol-driven brawl on Australia Day.

Police, lord mayor hit out at 'boofheads' behind Perth Australia Day brawls

The fight started between transit officers and a small crowd of people at Perth train station just after 10pm
- The crowd quickly grew to about 150 to its peak
- Police arrived at the scene at 10:50pm
- Crowd allegedly throwing glass bottles and rocks at officers
- Police arrived and supported transit officers as the crowd grew
Three hours later, at 1:30am, police were called to a second brawl in East Perth.
- protestors threw bricks, broken pavers at police officers.
- One individual armed with a tomahawk was arrested quickly.
- Two officers injured and taken to hospital, a minor face injury and dislocated shoulder reported.
Multiple arrests were made and charges expected
Perth Mayor: “The people who were in the city later carrying on like boofheads - had no connection no relation to the Langley Park event.” (Langley Park event was a family fireworks show)

Sources: 9News, WAtoday, The West Australian, PerthNow

Australia-China relations appear to be on the mend

Xi Jinping against a red background with the Communist Party symbol.

“After some three years of tense relations over a range of issues including trade freezes, signs have emerged recently that ties between the two countries are warming”… “China put unofficial bans on Australian products from coal to wine in 2020, after Australia called for an inquiry into the origins of COVID-19 and put a 5G network ban on China's telecom giant Huawei.”…“In January, China reportedly granted permission for select companies to resume importing Australian coal.”

Sources: ABC

Liberal Senator suing for defamation

“Federal Liberal senator Linda Reynolds is suing David Sharaz, Brittany Higgins' fiancé, for defamation over two tweets posted last year.”… “In documents filed by Reynolds' lawyers in the Western Australian Supreme Court, it is claimed Sharaz made two tweets in 2022 – one on January 27, the other on December 4 – that are "falsely defamatory".”

Sources: 9News

Western Australia Liberals leadership contest

Libby Mettam “wrote to Liberal Leader David Honey shortly after 6.00pm on Friday to inform him she intends to challenge him for the role.” She appears to be running on a standard Liberal party platform: “I believe the change is essential if we are to regroup and re-emerge as the party in Western Australian politics that advocates for aspirational Western Australians, families and small businesses, lower taxes, and safety in our community.”

This announcement follow the recent resignation of WA’s National Party leader.

Sources: WAtoday, ABC,

NSW Labor leader Chris Minns suggests school phone ban.

“Mobile phones could be banned across all public high schools across NSW by the end of the 2023 school year, in an election promise made by NSW Labor. Opposition Leader Chris Minns said he anticipated the rule to be “up and running in the year 2023,” while also committing $2.5 million in research into the impact of screen-addiction in young people.”

This announcement comes in response to declining education metrics

Sources: perthnow

Liberal candidate vying for Stokes’ seat defends voting record on pokies

“Rory Amon, The Liberal candidate vying to replace senior minister Rob Stokes in Pittwater at the state election has defended voting against a gambling harm minimisation policy as a councillor, insisting he supported pokies reform and the push for cashless gaming.”
Amon is set to face a teal independent in an upcoming March 25 poll

Sources: The Sydney Morning Herald