Sorry Paul, just telling it like it was. The community council has decided to rip out their 88 acres of grapes and 20 acres of stone-fruit and 150 acres of lucerne, and stop growing the 2000 acres of grain with the beautiful, free, dirty-big brand-new Massey-Ferguson tractor, and put 300 acres of almonds in. With 8000 acres, it might just have been possible to have both. But nah.

Anyway, they needed a million-dollar loan, so Charley drove out with an entourage of maybe four or five limos, stayed for an hour or so and drove out again, after approving the loan.

Imagine everyone's surprise when the loan was later turned into a grant ! Who could have believed it ?!

It was/is called 'self-determination'.

I was a believer and, in spite of nothing but counter-experience, a believer for thirty years. But clearly, across the entire country, it's been a total disaster. Thousands of 'communities', most with running water and probably not one with a vegetable garden, the most basic and easily-initiated project.

Would that it wasn't so, Paul, but ....... If only Aboriginal people had been farmers, like Maori and other Polynesians .....

Joe

Joe,

" but ....... If only Aboriginal people had been farmers, like Maori and other Polynesians ....."

How can you say that?

We have the written word of Bruce Pascoe, a genuine Australian Indigenous man, and others that Australia was extensively farmed before 1788.

Meanwhile. Back on topic.

And giving an idea of a recent matter.

The Australian Federal Police News & Media branch distributed the following release on 10th Dec 2020: http://www.afp.gov.au/news-media/media-releases/updated-nsw-joint-counter-terrorism-team-charge-18-year-old-albury-man

"UPDATED: NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team [JCTT] charge 18-year-old Albury man"

"Editor’s note: Footage and images of the arrest are available for media use.

A man from the southern NSW city of Albury has been charged with terrorism-related offences following a NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) investigation.

The investigation began in August 2020 after NSW JCTT investigators became aware of a number of online posts containing an extreme right wing ideology that indicated potential criminal activity.

It will be alleged in court that the man has regularly used social media forums and communications applications during 2020 to encourage other people to commit violent acts in furtherance of an extreme right wing ideology.

NSW JCTT investigators became concerned about the escalating content of some of the man’s communications, which allegedly indicated his willingness to commit a violent and criminal act. The decision was made to execute a search warrant on his Albury residence.

Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Counter Terrorism Scott Lee said NSW JCTT investigators were concerned about the man’s actions to date, and made a decision to act early to ensure community safety.

“The sole aim of today’s activity was to ensure the safety of the community by preventing further planning, preparations or advocacy by this man that could have resulted in an attack in Australia,” he said.

“The investigation into this matter remains ongoing, but we remain wary about the speed with which lone actors can progress from online activities to ones that impact the real world. It highlights the commitment and professionalism of the people and agencies involved in the JCTT, and their desire to protect the community by bringing people to account for their criminal actions.”

MORE TO FOLLOW BELOW

FROM ABOVE

NSW Police Force Counter Terrorism and Special Tactics Commander, Assistant Commissioner Mark Walton, said regardless of the nature of a person’s extremist views, there was no place for them within our community.

“The NSW JCTT will continue to work together to ensure the community is protected from those who seek to do us harm, and those who think they can exploit the online environment to spread their extremist ideologies.

“If we see activity that concerns us – as we have during the course of this investigation – we will act swiftly to ensure that activity does not escalate.

“I would like to take this opportunity to remind the community that they are our eyes and ears – so if you see something online, report it. Your information is often invaluable in assisting investigations such as this one.”

The man has been charged with one count each of the following offences:

Urging violence against members or groups, contrary to section 80.2A (1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is seven years imprisonment.

Advocating Terrorism, contrary to section 80.2C (1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is five years imprisonment.

He is expected to face Albury Local Court today (Thursday 10 December), and an application will be made to have the matter heard in a Sydney court at a later date.

The NSW JCTT is comprised of members from the Australian Federal Police, NSW Police Force, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and the NSW Crime Commission.

Anyone with information about extremist activity or possible threats to the community should come forward, no matter how small or insignificant you may think the information may be. The National Security Hotline is 1800 123 400.

There is no ongoing threat to the community relating to this investigation.

Media enquiries:
NSW Police Media: (02) 8263 6100
AFP Media: (02) 5126 9297"

ENDS

See more at http://www.afp.gov.au/news-media/media-releases

Hi Joe, do many isolated communities lack the business skills and the know how to operate such large scale diverse enterprises. I suspect so.

when you say;

"The community council had decided to rip out their 88 acres of grapes (glut of one sort of red-wine grape) and 20 acres of stone-fruit (salt-damp) and 150 acres of lucerne (gone sour), and stop growing the 2000 acres of grain (too dry), with the beautiful, free, dirty-big brand-new Massey-Ferguson tractor, and sold off their 200 stud merinos (too much trouble with dogs) - and put 300 acres of almonds in. With 8000 acres, it might just have been possible to have it all. But nah."

40 years ago Joe, can you honestly say the "community council" would be allowed to make a unilateral decision such as that, the first or second decision, without white fella involvement. Recently government has admitted that an overriding paternalistic approach of "Whitey knows best" has existed in Aboriginal affairs, with disastrous results. Good fodder for a redneck like Indy to point the finger at.

Sorry, Paul, that should have been '2000 stud Merinos'.

Yes, that's how it went. The community got self-management in 1974. The last white supervisors (Block, Farm, Building, Mechanics) left at the end of 1976. Those decisions were indeed made. by the community council, from 1977 onwards.

And that almond orchard is now call dead, by the way. And the yabbie farm, $ 5 million of grants, is also overgrown. Actually it never produced a single saleable yabbie.

Yes, it's unbelievable. How could people be either so stupid or so useless, or both ? I suspect, both. So many opportunities on so many 'communities' like that.

That's how it has been, and it's not getting any better. Sorry :(. My advice to anybody still on 'communities/ is to get the hell off and into towns - do any job, look after your kids, get them into the best schools, work your arse off to make sure they get on their feet: that's your destiny. And never go back. 'Community' is the enemy.

Joe