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Cook was pipped by 250 years : Comments
By Warren Reed, published 3/3/2020It was arguably the most secret intelligence mission of its day. And it was not the first or last such mission to go publicly unrecorded.
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Posted by plantagenet, Sunday, 22 March 2020 6:46:42 PM
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The Canberra Times, March 19, 2020 reports http://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6686921/coronavirus-concerns-could-delay-collaery-case/
TITLE "Coronavirus concerns could delay Bernard Collaery case"
"Concerns about the coronavirus pandemic could delay the case of a Canberra lawyer accused of breaching national security laws.
Bernard Collaery is fighting allegations that he conspired with the former spy known as Witness K to reveal classified information about a secret operation in which Australian Secret Intelligence Service spies bugged East Timor's cabinet room during sensitive oil and gas negotiations.
At a pre-trial hearing in the ACT Supreme Court on Thursday, Mr Collaery's barrister, Phillip Boulten SC...said he was not yet making a formal application to vacate a scheduled April hearing, but he was "alive to the issues confronting this court because of the coronavirus".
He said one of his instructing solicitors was already unable to participate in court proceedings because of the pandemic, while Mr Collaery would rely upon domestic and international witnesses who might not be able to get to Canberra.
...Mr Collaery's defence intends to call evidence from a range of witnesses including former East Timorese presidents Xanana Gusmao and Jose Ramos-Horta.
...Mr Boulten made reference to the "drastic measures" many courts had taken to combat the spread of COVID-19. He gave examples including the High Court, which will not sit in Canberra or on circuit between April and June.
Barrister Jeremy Kirk SC, for the Commonwealth Attorney-General, told Justice Mossop...that if the court went down the path of requiring witnesses to give evidence from remote locations rather than in person, there would be difficulties.
Much of the evidence would touch on national security issues, and Mr Kirk expressed doubt as to whether audio-visual link and telephone arrangements would suffice given the sensitivity of these issues..."
See the whole 715 word article at http://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6686921/coronavirus-concerns-could-delay-collaery-case/