“They are just criminals and don’t warrant any sort of special status,’’ Detective Superintendent Debbie Wallace

Don’t try to Ms around with our top cop, Detective Superintendent Debbie Wallace

Mark Morrie Crime Editor
The Daily Telegraph
February 14,2014

THE new boss of the NSW Police Gang Squad has a message for Sydney’s most infamous gang members: You’re nothing special.

And Detective Superintendent Debbie Wallace says she won’t treat gang bosses with kid gloves either. “They are just criminals and don’t warrant any sort of special status,’’ she said yesterday.

Supt Wallace takes it her stride that she is the first female boss of the Gang Squad.

“It’s really not an issue. I’ve been in the NSW police force for over 30 years. On my second day a respected policewoman I know told me there were two things to remember. Never lose your integrity or your femininity.’’

It’s not as if dealing with criminal gangs is anything new for Supt Wallace.

In the 90s she was a detective at Cabramatta fighting Asian street gangs, including the infamous 5T, which have since vanished.

And for the past five and half years she has headed the Middle Eastern Crime squad (MEOCS) which has been credited with the dismantling the vicious Brothers for Life gang responsible for dozens of shootings in Sydney over the past 12 months.

“There is a lot of crossover. Many Middle Eastern criminals are either in outlaw motor cycle gangs, associated with them or do business with them so my time with the MEOCS will help with the new role.

“The major difference is bikies have a banner which they trade on to intimidate people. Other gangs often implode or just die out, like the 5T and the Brothers for Life which sprung up in 2008 and have now been reduced markedly.

“But bikies have a brand which is more enduring and even international. They wear their colours which to them gives them special status.’’

Supt Wallace said the squad will continue to disrupt bikie business with a special squad, called Raptor, set up in 2009 targeting OMCG whenever they can.

They routinely stop known members for vehicle checks, licence checks and just to let them know they are being watched.

“We also have a strategy in place to close down their club houses by any means we can. We will get other government agencies in to breach them for fire regulations, building codes – anything that is available to us we will use.

Wallace says making it hard for bikies to meet takes away a lot of their power. “They exist as a group. If we stop them meeting at gyms, cafes or anywhere else it makes it hard for them to do business.’’

Supt Wallace’s transfer to the squad is part of a major reshuffling of the state’s crime commanders announced two weeks ago.

Supt Wallace said she will initially spend time on the street.

“It is the best way to know what is going on and what the officers in the field are up against,’’ she said.

A-G TAKES BIKIE LAWS DISPUTE TO HIGH COURT Mark Morri

THE High Court will today hear an application by the NSW Attorney-General Greg Smith to bypass the Court of Appeal after bikies launched a legal challenge against new consorting laws.

Tough new anti-consorting laws aimed at cracking down on bikies similar to those introduced in Queensland were passed by the O’Farrell government last November after a number of public shootings.

The government and the police want the matter resolved after two Nomads and another man challenged the new laws after being charged with consorting. Lawyers representing Nomads boss Sleiman Tajjour and fellow bikie Justin Hawthorne, who are challenging the laws in the Court of Appeals, support the High Court application.

Lawyers for Charlie Foster, an intellectually handicapped 21-year-old from Inverell, have also challenged the laws.

The consorting laws impose a penalty of up to three years jail for convicted offenders who continue to consort with other criminals who have been convicted of an indictable offence after receiving an official police warning.

The Attorney-General used his right to seek removal to the High Court under s40 of the Judiciary Act 1903, after receiving legal advice.

Australians Befuddled of mind, turn to worlds most violent and dangerous cult

Sydney's Occupied Territories : Missing Fatima Al-Shara - Prayers for a safe return

Missing 

Australia's Finest: 100th Victoria Cross awarded to late Digger Corporal Cameron Stewart Baird

100th Victoria Cross awarded to late Digger Corporal Cameron Stewart Baird

Jennifer Rajca and Simon Benson 
The Daily Telegraph
February 13, 2014 

A DIGGER killed in Afghanistan has been posthumously awarded Australia’s 100th Victoria Cross, which left his father fighting back tears.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott informed Federal Parliament of Corporal Cameron Stewart Baird’s honour, as his family looked on.

“This is a bittersweet day,” Mr Abbott told the Lower House, explaining the honour was for “acts of valour, extreme devotion to duty and ultimate self-sacrifice”.

Corporal Baird died in Afghanistan on June 22 last year.

He was the 40th digger to die in the conflict.

FALLEN SOLDIER CORPORAL BAIRD HAD COURAGE THAT CANNOT BE TAUGHT

Mr Abbott said Baird was an iconic figure in the army, and had already received the medal of gallantry.

He is being awarded the cross for most conspicuous acts of valour, extreme devotion to duty and ultimate self sacrifice in Afghanistan as a commando team leader.

Mr Abbott said Corporal Baird joined the army at 18 and was eventually posted to what is now the 2nd Commando Regiment.
He served in East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan.

The late Corporal’s brother Brendan said it was a “tremendous honour” to accept the award on his behalf.

“Today is a proud day for the Baird family,” he told reporters.

“Cameron never liked the limelight, he was a very humble man who would not see this as an individual award.”

Brendan thanked the Army and the Defence Force on the family’s behalf.

His father Doug choked back tears as he recited the ‘soldier’s code’ given to his son.

“I had the honour to be a soldier in the Australian army,” he read, before being comforted by his wife Kaye.

“At all times I act in ways that will bring honour to Australia, credit upon the army, my unit and my fellow soldiers,” he went on.

“I think that sums Cameron up.”

FOR THE FULL LIST OF VC WINNERS CLICK HERE

IN PICTURES: DIGGERS KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN

Mr Abbott said Corporal Baird was the 40th Australian soldier killed in Afghanistan.

“And, please God, the last,” he said.

“He was on his fifth special forces tour when he was killed in the action for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.”

Addressing Corporal Baird’s family members in the public gallery, he said: “You have lost a son, a brother, an uncle and our country has lost a citizen, a soldier, a hero.”

Mr Abbott recalled the day Corporal Baird died, telling how he and his team came under heavy fire on three separate occasions “from well prepared enemy positions”.

“Corporal Baird charged enemy positions and neutralised them with grenade and rifle fire,” he said.

“By drawing fire on himself repeatedly he enabled other members of his team to regain the initiative.”

Mr Abbott then explained how the Commando then led an assault on an enemy-led compound, forcing the door of the building before being killed.

“Words can hardly do justice to the chaos, confusion and courage which were evident that day,” he said.

“He repeatedly drew enemy fire away from his team members and charged enemy positions under heavy fire,” Mr Abbott said.

“His actions enabled the enemy to be neutralised and his team to be kept safe.

“This award is in recognition of his most conspicuous acts of valour, extreme devotion to duty and ultimate self-sacrifice.

“The Victoria Cross is inscribed with the words “For Valour”.

“Corporal Baird’s actions were in keeping with the finest traditions of the Australian Army and the Australian Defence Force.

“He is an Australian hero.”

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said it was difficult to convey words that would properly describe Corporal Baird’s acts of heroism.

“I hope his family here feel that our Parliament, all of us here, do some justice to his memory today,” Mr Shorten said.

He said the VC is part of a proud military and Australian tradition, which recognises the courage to sacrifice your own safety for your friends.

“A quality Corporal Baird exemplified to the highest degree,” Mr Shorten added.

Corporal Baird was a member of the Special Operations Task Group and was from the 2nd Commando Regiment based at Holsworthy Barracks in Sydney, New South Wales.

He is survived by his parents, brother and his partner.

Corporal Baird was born in Burnie, Tasmania in 1981. He joined the Army in January 2000 and upon completion of his initial training was posted to the then 4th Battalion (Commando), The Royal Australian Regiment, now the 2nd Commando Regiment, in February 2000.

Corporal Baird was an outstanding Special Forces soldier.

The Defence Department website states: “He exemplified what it meant to be a Commando, living by the attributes of uncompromising spirit and honour, which in turn earned him the unconditional respect of his fellow Commandos. His leadership in action was exemplary, constantly inspiring those around him to achieve greater things.

“Corporal Baird was an extremely dedicated and disciplined soldier, always striving for excellence in everything he did.

“Corporal Baird died how he lived — at the front, giving it his all, without any indecision. He will forever be remembered by his mates and the soldiers he served with in the 2nd Commando Regiment.”

Labor Green Loons VOTE People :Iraqi bigamist Younus Taher Jaaz Al Saadi broke all the rules

Two wives, but only one law: Iraqi bigamist Younus Taher Jaaz Al Saadi broke all the rules

Ben McClellan and Alicia Wood
The Daily Telegraph
February 14,2014 

AN Iraqi bigamist duped a Sydney woman into marriage to get an Australian visa — then flew to Iraq a month later to marry a second wife, a tribunal has found.

Samira Asswad, a western Sydney grandmother, married Younus Taher Jaaz Al Saadi, 38 in December 2008, after meeting him through neighbours.

After Mr Al Saadi applied for and received a spousal visa in July 2009, he left almost immediately for Iraq when he married a second wife, Nihal Al-Sharmati and had a child with her.

When Ms Al-Sharmati applied for an Australian visa as Mr Al Saadi’s wife, the Department of Immigration notified the Migration Review Tribunal who cancelled his visa.

Mr Al Saadi argued he should be allowed to stay because having two wives was part of his culture.

During their three-year marriage, Mr Al Saadi stayed at Ms Asswad’s townhouse for only a few months in total, telling her he had to constantly return to Iraq for five to six months at a time for “work”.

The tribunal found that Mr Al Saadi separated from Ms Asswad three weeks after he was granted a permanent visa, and divorced her in August 2012.

In the same month he was granted a permanent visa as Ms Asswad’s spouse, his other wife, Ms Al- ­Shamarti, was giving birth to his son.

“I bring him to Australia for me,” Ms Asswad said. “When he get the permanent visa straight away he went from this house.”

The tribunal ruled that Mr Al Saadi’s actions “show deliberate and significant disregard for Australia’s immigration laws”.

“The definition of the ‘spouse’ in the migration legislation is quite unambiguous and requires an exclusive relationship.”

NSW Minister for Women Pru Goward said the case was a reminder of the implications of not abiding by the law.

“Many people want to come to Australia to enjoy our great way of life, and what everybody needs to understand that firstly, we have a strong commitment to the rights of girls and women, and secondly that there is only one law people have to abide by and that’s Australian law,” Ms Goward said.