Still going with "the conned are the guilty", Pericles? Sheesh, give it up, I want you to defend me next time I get a speeding fine.

In Sara Joseph's analysis (Poirot's reference) she talks of the "vindictive capacity of the State". The state is no more vindictive towards Moylan than it was towards me when I last got a speeding fine. I made a bad choice that didn't hurt anybody, while Moylan did.

Joseph's "analysis" is a recipe for anarchy. Isn't the fact that Moylan's act was unlawful a reason he did it, gaining full publicity? Shouldn't a price be paid given that he intentionally broke a reasonable law that was legislated by a democratic parliament?

The price of not punishing Moylan is to undermine the law and does not pass on the matter to a court to decide for future reference by others considering hoaxing. IMO, the public will generally not see him as a victim anymore than it sees me as one when I receive a speeding fine (although I believed I was speeding for the greater good of humanity, Your Honour :)

For a good deconstruction of this hoax (not a fraud--the hoaxer gained no monetary benefit) read todays Crikey. Just how poor is the oversight of real fraud by the ASX and regulatory agencies !! Virtually non existent. But they will hang this guy for what was a momentary blip on the money radar affecting day traders mostly. One rule for the powerless and scot free for the powerful inside traders. This article is pretty much what you would expect from the IPA. SteveofRobbo

Moylan should be charged at the very least under sections 1041 (e) and (f) of the Corporations Act:

http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/ca2001172/

In my opinion Moylan is a spoiled prat who lacks utility and assauges his ego in the typical green manner by sanctimoniously alligning with the great scam of AGW. He has enjoyed every accoutrement this great society has to offer and like all parasites and hypocrites spits in the face of the hard working citizens.

Of course every green will praise him; like all good children of gaia they consider themselves above the mundane constraints of laws and regulations; may they scream and wail long and hard when the lights go out.

Having said that the coal companies are complete and utter b.....ds.

It might sound mean but I am hoping for the impossible, some custodial sentence. So the authorities can hopefully get a handle on this fellow.

It is always concerning where an educated intelligent young man from a comfortable background chooses a mindless act of sabotage through belief that there is other way he can influence public policy.

Members of the Australian Senate should be responsible and first do no harm. They should be the very last people in the world to encourage any young man in the view that he is voiceless and powerless and to be noticed he must commit a crime that could have a serious impact on his fellow humans.

What about the prospect of copy cats? What method might they choose knowing that they will bask personally in the media publicity? Notoriety. Instant celebrity.

Are we all so completely wrapped up in the sideshow that is the media presentation of politics that we do not care that so,me young people have become convinced that the only solution is to take the law into their own hands?

Yes, I know that the Greens are tarts for cheap headlines, but even they should be aware when they are part of the problem and making it worse.

Apologies, my first sentence above missed the qualifying clause 'if found guilty'.

I really do hope that the twits defending this bloke have superannuation schemes.

As super schemes are big investors in the mining industry, wouldn't it be neat, if their super schemes dropped a few million on the scam he pulled?