Posts Tagged sydney
Citizens for Legitimate Government: 28 February 2012
Posted by Metro in Uncategorized on March 15, 2012
Thursday, 1 March 2012, 2:02 pm Column: Citizens for Legitimate Government
Breaking News and Commentary from Citizens ForLegitimate Government
28 Feb 2012
http://www.legitgov.org
Breaking:Romney Wins Arizona GOP Primary 28Feb 2012 Mitt Romney won the Arizona primary and was lockedin a tight battle with Rick Santorum for Michigan Tuesday,with returns showing mr. Romney holding a small lead in hisnative state. the former Massachusetts governor had beenwidely expected to win Arizona. Michigan was the fiercerbattleground, and the results in that state could determinewhether mr. Santorum can offset mr. Romney’s advantages inmoney, organization and experience. the outcome in Michiganand Arizona will set the stage for the biggest primary dayof the year a week from now, when 10 states hold Republicanprimaries or caucuses on March 6, Super Tuesday.
US draws up secret charges against Assange:media –’We have a sealed indictment on Assange.’ 28Feb 2012 US prosecutors have drawn up secret charges againstWikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, Australian media reportedWednesday, citing a confidential email. the email is one ofa huge number from the US-based global intelligence companyStratfor that the whistleblowing organisation beganpublishing Monday. Internal correspondence to Stratforanalysts from vice-president of intelligence Fred Burtonsaid: “We have a sealed indictment on Assange,” according tothe Sydney Morning Herald.
Anonymous hackers: Police arrest 25 in fourcountries 28 Feb 2012 Police in Latin America andEurope have arrested 25 suspected members of the Anonymoushacking group, according to Interpol. the authorities inArgentina, Chile, Colombia and Spain carried out the arrestsand seized 250 items of IT equipment and mobile phones,Interpol says. Spanish authorities say four people werearrested as part of the operation in Spain, in Madrid andMalaga. two of them remain in custody, while the other two,including a minor, were released on bail. [Obviously,Anonymous, it's time for you to visit the Interpolwebsite.]
WikiLeaks releases first 200 of 5m Stratforemails 27 Feb 2012 WikiLeaks has released the first200 of a cache of 5m emails obtained from the servers ofStratfor, a US-based intelligence firm. the emailsoriginated not from a whistleblower, but instead from aseries of hacking attacks against Stratfor in December 2011,carried out by the online activist collective Anonymous.Anonymous apparently passed the emails to WikiLeaks in theweeks following the attack. the whistleblowing website thenrecruited, according to its statement, 25 media partners to work onthe document cache.
Obama using Espionage Act to ‘silence andprosecute federal workers’ – NYT 27 Feb 2012 TheObama administration, which promised during its transitionto power that it would enhance “whistle-blower laws toprotect federal workers,” has been more prone than anyadministration in history in trying to silence and prosecutefederal workers. the Espionage Act, enacted in 1917 topunish those who gave aid to US enemies, has been used sixtimes since the current president took office. In the mostrecent case, John Kiriakou, a former C.I.A. officer whobecame a Democratic staff member on the Senate ForeignRelations Committee, was charged under the Espionage Act withleaking information to journalists about other C.I.A.officers, some of whom were involved in the agency’sinterrogation program, which included waterboarding. Forthose of you keeping score, none of the individuals whoengaged in or authorized the waterboarding of terrorsuspects have been prosecuted, but mr. Kiriakou is infederal cross hairs, accused of talking to journalists andnews organizations, including the new YorkTimes.
Israel to attack Iran without US permission:Report 28 Feb 2012 Israeli official say they willnot alert the US if they decide to launch a military strikeon Iranian nuclear facilities amid growing war threatsagainst Tehran. An unnamed US intelligence official saidIsraelis argue that if they keep Washington in the dark, itis unlikely that the US would be held responsible forfailing to stop Israel’s potential assault. Israeli PrimeMinister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Military AffairsEhud Barak have delivered the message to senior US officialswho have visited Israel, the associated Pressreported.
US tax dollars at work: War games: Tel Aviv missile drill 27Feb 2012 Preparing for escalation? Security officials aretaking the threat of long-range rockets being fired atcentral Israel from the Gaza Strip seriously, and havedecided to hold a drill to prepare for such scenario. Theexercise, to be held in the Tel Aviv area next month, willsimulate rocket attacks on central Israel that are notundertaken in the framework of an all-out regional war,unlike previous missile drills. the “Hit to the Heart” drillwill be held on March 14 in the form of a war game held bysenior officials and simulating rocket attacks launchedwithout prior warning.
Another historical narrativebaked in a CIA false flag bites the dust: Scientific evidence unearthed by Scottishlegal review undermines Lockerbie case –Secret legalfiles show that conviction in aircraft bombing case wouldprobably have been overturned. 27 Feb 2012 Freshscientific evidence unearthed by a Scottish legal reviewundermines the case against the man convicted of beingresponsible for the Lockerbie aircraft bombing, aninvestigation for Al Jazeera has found. the ScottishCriminal Case Review Commission (SCCRC) report detailsevidence that would probably have resulted in the verdictagainst Abdel Baset al-Meghrahi, a Libyan man convicted ofcarrying out the bombing of Pan-Am flight 103 in 1988, beingoverturned. ‘Lockerbie: Case Closed’, a documentary to beaired on Al Jazeera on Monday, examines the evidenceuncovered by the SCCRC as well as revealing fresh scientificevidence which is unknown to the commission but whichcomprehensively undermines a crucial part of the caseagainst the man known as the Lockerbie bomber.
Fukushima crisis: Official warned ‘demonicchain reaction’ of plant meltdowns could trigger evacuationof Tokyo 28 Feb 2012 In the darkest moments of lastyear’s nuclear accident, Japanese leaders did not know theactual extent of damage at the plant and secretly consideredthe possibility of evacuating Tokyo, even as they tried toplay down the risks in public, an independent investigationinto the accident disclosed on Monday… the 400-pagereport, due to be released later this week, also describes adarkening mood at the prime minister’s residence as a seriesof hydrogen explosions rocked the plant on March 14 and 15.it says Prime Minister Naoto Kan and other officials begandiscussing a worst-case outcome if workers at the FukushimaDaiichi plant were evacuated. This would have allowed theplant to spiral out of control, releasing even largeramounts of radioactive material into the atmosphere thatwould in turn force the evacuation of other nearby nuclearplants, causing further meltdowns. the report quotes thechief cabinet secretary at the time, Yukio Edano, as havingwarned that such a “demonic chain reaction” of plantmeltdowns could result in the evacuation of Tokyo, 150 milesto the south.
Report: Gov’t ‘collapsed’ during Japannuclear crisis 27 Feb 2012 Today, a report revealedthe chaos between Japan’s leaders during the Fukushimanuclear crisis. “The normal lines of authority completelycollapsed,” Tetsuro Fukuyama, the prime minister’s adviser,told investigators. With little information from the plant,Fukuyama said that the government thought that a nuclearmeltdown was impending, and feared that a massive cloud ofradiation would force the evacuation of 30 million people inthe Tokyo region. as a last-ditch effort, the Japanesegovernment discussed “suicide squad” made up of men over 65years old to ascertain the damage first hand. Fukuyamasaid he would lead the group.
NATO airstrike kills four Afghancivilians –The victims were reportedly bombed twicewhile herding sheep in the snow. 26 Feb 2012 A US-ledNATO airstrike carried out by French troops has claimed thelives of four Afghan civilians, including children. Theairstrike targeted Kapisa’s Tagab district, leavinganother four people injured. the attack comes less than twoweeks after another US-led strike killed eight Afghancivilians in the same province. the victims were reportedlybombed twice while herding sheep in the snow.[*Sociopaths.*]
Nine killed in Afghan airport bomb, NATObase attacked 27 Feb 2012 A suicide car bomberkilled at least nine people in an attack on a militaryairport in eastern Afghanistan on Monday, officials said,the latest incident of violence and protests since copies ofthe Koran were ‘inadvertently’ burned at a NATO base lastweek. …the Taliban quickly claimed responsibility for theattack as “revenge” for the Koran burning. Anti-Western furyhas deepened significantly since the desecration of theMuslim holy book at the main NATO base inAfghanistan.
France and Germany evacuate staff fromAfghanistan 26 Feb 2012 France and Germany haveannounced the withdrawal of staff supervisors from Afghanministries. following last week’s shooting of US members ofNATO forces in Kabul, the French and German ambassadors inAfghanistan were told by their respective governments tomake arrangements for some staff to leave. Advisors who havebeen helping to rebuild public institutions in Afghanistanwill be amongst the first to go.
U.S. opening up airspace to use ofdrones –Currently, UAVs can only fly in restrictedairspace zones controlled by U.S. military 23 Feb 2012Legislation passed by Congress last week gives the FederalAviation Administration until Sept. 30, 2015, to open thenation’s skies to drones. the first step comes in 90 dayswhen police, firefighters and other civilian first-responseagencies can start flying UAVs weighing no more than 4.4pounds, provided they meet still-to-be-determinedrequirements… By may 2013, the next class of drones, thoseweighing less than 55 pounds, can fly the nation’s skies,according to provisions of the FAA bill passed by Congressand signed by President Barack Obama last week.
Federal Money Linked to NYPD’s MuslimSurveillance Program 27 Feb 2012 the AssociatedPress reports that the new York Police Department’scontroversial program to monitor Muslim neighborhoods andorganizations was funded, at least in part, by White Housegrants meant to pay for the drug war. the money wasgiven to the NYPD through the High Intensity DrugTrafficking Area program, which was established years ago tofight gangs and drug trafficking. after September 11, 2001,however, local authorities were permitted to redirect someof that money to fight terrorism. the HIDTA has given outaround $2.3 billion over the last 10 years, with about $135million given to officials in the new York/New Jersey metroarea.
Kelly Defends Surveillance ofMuslims 28 Feb 2012 Police Commissioner Raymond W.Kelly defended the new York Police Department’scounterterrorism program on Monday, saying “people haveshort memories as to what happened here in 2001.” mr.Kelly’s remarks, made during an appearance on WOR-AM (710),were in response to growing criticism of the department’ssurveillance methods, including monitoring of Muslimcommunities in new York City and beyond, and its reliance onstop-and-frisk interactions as a crime-fighting tool. Hedefended the surveillance conducted by the PoliceDepartment, saying, “It would be folly for us to focus onlyon the five boroughs of new York City, and we have to useall of our resources to protect everyone.”
Some September 11 dead’s remains ended inlandfill 28 Feb 2012 Partial remains from somepeople killed in the September 11 attacks in 2001 ended upin a landfill, according to a Pentagon-commissioned reportreleased on Tuesday that revealed previously undisclosedblunders at the U.S. military’s main mortuary. Theunidentified remains came from two of the three sites of theSeptember 11 attacks: the Pentagon and the Shanksville,Pennsylvania crash site of one of the ‘hijacked airliners.’Retired General John Abizaid, briefing Pentagon reporters onthe findings of the independent review of practices at themortuary at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, said it wasunclear how many people’s partial remains were disposed ofin this manner.
Citing partisanship, Maine’s Snowe saysshe’ll leave the Senate 29 Feb 2012 Republican Sen.Olympia Snowe of Maine announced Tuesday she will retirerather than seek re-election this year, surprisingcolleagues and perhaps casting the future of her seat indoubt. Snowe, 65, was first elected to the U.S. House in1978 and then to the Senate in 1994. she is the first womanto serve in both chambers of a state legislature and theU.S. Congress. Snowe was known as a moderate who sometimessided with Democrats in the increasingly partisanenvironment of Washington politics.
Rick Santorum expected to get Secret Serviceprotection 27 Feb 2012 Republican presidentialcandidate Rick Santorum is expected to get Secret Serviceprotection Tuesday, according to an administration officialwith knowledge of the plan. the campaign of former HouseSpeaker Newt Gingrich requested Secret Service protectionlast week and is awaiting word on whether he will receivethe security, a person close to the campaign said Sunday.Secret Service protection is given to each major party’spresidential nominee but can be provided earlier if theHomeland Security Department approves a campaign’srequest.
Third Student Dies after Ohio SchoolShooting 29 Feb 2012 the fatal shooting rampage in ahigh school in this quiet suburb of Cleveland remained apuzzle on Tuesday, with prosecutors saying that a studenthad confessed to the killings and had told them that he didnot know his victims and chose them at random. Prosecutorssaid the student, T. J. Lane, 17, admitted taking a22-caliber Ruger semiautomatic pistol to Chardon High Schoolon Monday and firing 10 rounds at four students at acafeteria table. He has not been formally charged, butprosecutors said it was likely that he would be tried in anadult court.
Murdoch tabloid established ‘network ofcorrupted officials’, police chief says 27 Feb 2012Rupert Murdoch’s flagship tabloid, the Sun, established a”network of corrupted officials” and created a “culture ofillegal payments”, the police officer leading theinvestigation into bribery and hacking at News Internationalhas alleged. On a day of dramatic developments surroundingthe investigations into the tycoon’s newspapers, Sue Akers,the deputy assistant commissioner of the Metropolitanpolice, told the Leveson inquiry into press standards therehad been “multiple payments” by the Sun to public officialsof thousands of pounds, and one individual received £80,000in alleged corrupt payments over a number ofyears.
Hypocritical GOP sociopaths/DemocRATs thinkforced mercury-laden, squalene-filled vaccines are notgovernment intrusion: Va. Senate kills bill repealing vaccinemandate 28 Feb 2012 Legislation repealing arequirement that girls receive a vaccine to preventa sexually transmitted, cancer-causing virus thatcauses Guillain-Barre Syndrome was killed for this year whenthe Senate voted 22-17 Monday to send the bill back tocommittee and carry it over to 2013. Republicans JohnWatkins of Powhatan County and Frank Wagner of VirginiaBeach joined all 20 Senate Democrats in rejecting the bill.Del. Kathy Byron, R-Campbell County, sponsored the measureto repeal the [insane] 2007 law mandating the humanpapillomavirus, or HPV, vaccine before girls reach sixthgrade… California recently passed a law allowingchildren as young as 12 to be vaccinated without theirparents’ consent.
Virginia Senate approves contentiousultrasound bill 28 Feb 2012 the Virginia Senatevoted Tuesday for a scaled-back version of a contentiousproposal that would require women to undergo externalultrasounds before abortions, but not the transvaginal ones.the 21-19 vote in the Republican-controlled Senate – mostlyalong party lines – came after Gov. Robert F. McDonnell asked legislators to soften the billfollowing protests on Capitol Square and mocking on nationaltelevision. McDonnell, an abortion opponent who had said hewould sign the bill, asked lawmakers to amend the measureafter it became clear the original legislation would haverequired a vaginal ultrasound in most cases.
Nuclear Energy Group Sues over UraniumMining Ban in Arizona 28 Feb 2012 the Nuclear EnergyInstitute and the National Mining Association said they suedthe U.S. to reverse a ban on new uranium mining on federalland around the Grand Canyon in Arizona. the twoorganizations [corpora-terrorists], representing mining andnuclear power companies, today asked a federal court inArizona to reverse a U.S. Interior Department ban, announcedJan. 9, on new hard-rock mining claims on about 1 millionacres (405,000 hectares) of land, according to an e-mailedstatement. the lawsuit couldn’t be independently confirmedfrom court records.
BP seeks settlement with oil spillplaintiffs group 28 Feb 2012 BP Plc is seeking tosettle a lawsuit over the massive 2010 Gulf of Mexico oilspill by tapping a $14 billion fund it set aside tocompensate fishermen and businesses harmed by the disaster,lawyers familiar with the talks said. In exchange, theclaimants, represented by a group called the Plaintiffs’Steering Committee, would drop their lawsuit in a court casescheduled to start in new Orleans on March 5. U.S. DistrictJudge Carl Barbier delayed the trial by a week on Sunday toallow talks between BP and the PSC, which representsfishermen, oystermen, hoteliers and restaurateurs who saytheir livelihoods were damaged by the April 20, 2010,explosion of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig andsubsequent oil spill.
Polar bear cub going live to save seaice 27 Feb 2012 Officials at Denmark’s ScandinavianWildlife Park said Siku the polar bear cub would have animportant burden to shoulder. “Siku is going to be anambassador for polar bears, for global warming,” parkdirector Frank Vigh-Larsen said in December. Siku’s officialfirst day on the job was Monday, International Polar BearDay. “We”re launching the Siku Cam on International PolarBear Day, which is a day of action on climate change,”Robert Buchanan, president and CEO of Polar Bears International, said in apress release. “Our goal with the Siku Cam is for people tofall in love with this little cub and become inspired toreduce their carbon footprint to help save arctic seaice.”
Siku the Polar Bear goes Live onInternational Polar Bear Day 27 Feb 2012 Today isInternational Polar Bear Day, a day dedicated to raisingawareness about polar bears and conservation effortssurrounding the species. In honor of the occasion, theDenmark Scandinavian Wildlife Park, the organization whichhelped bring online polar bear sensation Siku to the world,has launched an initiative involving their most popular cubthat is aiming to help Siku’s entire species. Beginningtoday, the Wildlife Park, in conjunction with Explore.organd Polar Bears International, will have a live cameradedicated to Siku, the adorable polar bear, from 9am-11amEST daily. the aim of showing this adorable cub is to bringpeople to their senses and make people realize that anentire species (equally as cute as Siku) is indanger.
Dow crosses 13,000, first time sincecrisis 28 Feb 2012 the Dow Jones industrial averageon Tuesday finally reclaimed the ground it held before thecarnage of the Great Recession- bailouts, bank failures,layoffs by the million and a stock market panic that cutretirement savings in half. the Dow closed above 13,000 forthe first time since may 19, 2008, almost four months beforethe fall of the Lehman Bros. investment bank triggered theworst of the financial crisis. the Dow finished at13,005.12, up 23.61 points for theday.
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10,000 more customers to sue banks over fees
Posted by Metro in Uncategorized on February 7, 2012
The class action against Australia’s biggest banks over late payment fees has escalated, with lawyers this morning in Sydney drawing two more banks into the case – St George and BankSA.
In what is the biggest class action in Australia’s history, the law firm Maurice Blackburn is seeking to recover as much as $200 million in what it says are unlawful fees charged by the banks on credit card and other accounts.
The class action’s first target in 2010 was the ANZ bank, and in December it widened its net to include the Comnmonwealth Bank, National Australia Bank, Westpac and Citi.
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In December, the banks announced they would vigorously defend the action. St George and BankSA are owned by Westpac, and have yet to comment on the Federal court action filed against them.
St George and Bank SA are the latest Australian banks to be taken to court by customers angry at the fees they are charged.
Maurice Blackburn senior associate Paul Gillett said the legal firm and bank customers taking part in the class action were in for a long fight to recoup the fees plus interest.‘‘Everyday Australians are sick of the banks taking them for granted,’’ Mr Gillett told reporters in Sydney.
‘‘And they are sick of the banks throwing their weight around and sick of the banks making massive profits while they do it.
‘‘Maurice Blackburn is doing what it can to try and get some of that money back for families and small businesses around this country.’’
More than 10,000 St George and Bank SA customers are party to the action.
They are seeking to recoup $16 million in fees which the customers say they have been unfairly charged by the two banks.
The latest action follows a $50 million claim the law firm launched in September 2010 on behalf of ANZ customers trying to claim back exception fees.
llamont@smh.com.au with AAP
Shark attack Down Under was "just like Jaws" … or was it?
Posted by Metro in Uncategorized on January 27, 2012
"it was just like Jaws!"
Really? Just like it?
We know what he's trying to say, right — the shark was huuuuuuge, with lots of teeth, an appetite for human flesh and a vengeful spirit?
Time for a look at the facts:
an Australian surfer is recovering after being attacked by a around 6.5-foot shark that "sliced his leg open then circled him as he screamed for help in a scene witnesses said was 'like Jaws.'"
That's from the AFP report on the attack off Redhead Beach north of Sydney.
Truth be told, Down Under prefers this version, from the Australian associated Press:
a bleeding and wounded tattoo artist in Australia fought his way back to a NSW beach as a marauding [6.5-foot] shark that attacked him seconds earlier circled, its fin slicing the surface.
the "marauding" shark reportedly attacked in front of dozens of stunned swimmers, taking a large chunk out of Glen Folkard's leg and board before dragging him under.
"it was kind of like Jaws, you know, the scene at the start… where everybody's pulled out of the water and it's a hot day and the water's inviting," the Fairfax Press quotes a witness, named only "Peter," as saying.
OK, so now we see where the Jaws reference maybe comes from.
Surely it can't come from the likeness of the shark to anything Hollywood has ever offered up.
After all, sharks don't reach 25 feet or weigh 3 tons. (That's in the script.)
Scientific evidence is scarce, but Discovery Channel makes a fairly unhysterical effort to verify the size of the biggest shark ever caught.
over the past two decades, most researchers accepted that the largest great white was a 23-foot individual caught in 1987 off the coast of Malta by Alfredo Cutajar. more recent studies on information concerning the specimen suggest its length had been exaggerated.
Meanwhile, National Geographic got pretty excited when their show "Shark Men—Biggest and Baddest" caught a 17-footer.
so while this "marauder" certainly meant business when in chomped into Folkard (he goes by Lenny), it was certainly no Jaws. (Though when you're waist deep in water and someone goes under, replaced by a bubbling pool of blood, who's going to blame you for clawing past your fellow swimmers to get back to shore.)
perhaps one must go back to the days of the megalodon to find a shark worthy of comparison to everybody's favorite New England killing machine.
Meanwhile, a rescue helicopter that conducted air patrols after the attack spotted several large groups of sharks off Redhead and nearby beaches, according to Fairfax.
the patrol saw clusters of sharks as big as [14 feet] close to the shore, including one that came within 10 [yards] of an unsuspecting surfer.
the news service quotes marine scientist David Powter as saying that currents moving up and down the coastline had been closer to shore than usual. "That's brought the bait fish in, which inevitably will bring the predators in — including sharks," he reportedly said
so much for shark intent?
there is one thing Chief Brody might accept about any comparisons: Australians evidently hold their own when it comes to mass panic after a shark alarm. Kind of like Jaws, you know.
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/down-under/shark-attack-jaws-australia-surfing-tattoo
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Sydney’s Best Budget Accommodation
Posted by Metro in Uncategorized on December 20, 2011
One of the reasons why you may be apprehensive about staying in a budget accommodation is there is always the feeling of being shortchanged. there is always something missing. It could be the shower has no heater, or you are located miles away from the main attractions of the city. there is no immediate bus stop, or the basic amenities are lacking.
Well, the same scenarios are not possible in these best-ranked budget accommodation options in Sydney. these units come in different forms, from guesthouses to hostels, but the bottom line is they offer pleasant experiences to their guests.
Periwinkle Manly Cove Guesthouse
This guesthouse is well-loved by guests because of its nearness to the famous Manly Beach of Sydney. Moreover, the surrounding bars, galleries, and shops are within reach. the property is also situated in an 1895 guesthouse, which makes it quaint and cozy. All guests can have access to the verandah, terrace, and the stunning courtyard complete with ponds and fountains.
Bounce Hotels is one of the trendiest budget accommodation choices in town. After all it is located in Surrey Hills, often described as the artistic hub of the city. It has its an in-house bar, and guests can make full use of the WiFi connection and air-conditioning systems. They can converge in the common living room or dine at the rooftop garden.
This award-winning hostel is less than 25 minutes away from the main attractions such as the Botanic Gardens, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, and City Centre. Guests feel more relaxed because of its fun and laid-back atmosphere. It is not uncommon to see guests having their barbecue parties at night or watching feel-good movies in the common lounge. there are free computers to use, connected to the World Wide Web. Others may be found in the courtyard sleeping in the hammocks. If you need help roaming around Sydney, you can ask for tips straight from the owners themselves.
This budget accommodation option has been rated three stars, based on hotel standards. Its main selling point will be its location. You are never too far from the botanical gardens, Opera House, City Centre, main art gallery, Woolloomooloo Wharf, and State Library. All rooms are well equipped with coffee and tea facilities, Internet connection, TV, refrigerator, and telephone.
Tucked in the heart of Sydney’s CBD is a cheap accommodation selection. Highfield Hotel boasts of its art deco exteriors and interiors that resonate the glamour of yesteryears. Guests are treated to superior customer service and spic-and-span surroundings. best of all, you are only 20 minutes away from everything good about the central business district, including Chinatown, the shopping malls of Darling Harbour, AMP Tower, and Australian Museum.
Walking inside Travelodge Sydney you will never guess that it is actually a budget accommodation. the 3.5-star hotel has more than 400 spacious and stylish rooms, equipped with LCD screens, Foxtel, and kitchenette. You are also walking distance from the cosmopolitan Hyde Park and Darling Harbour.
Australian homes targeted by property scam
Posted by Metro in Uncategorized on November 25, 2011
There are calls for tighter identity checks for people selling property in Australia, after several homeowners have been conned by so-called Nigerian scams.
The fraud involves identity theft, and using faxes and emails to try to sell a property without the true owner's knowledge.
The latest attempt, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, was foiled soon before the apartment was due to be auctioned.
It followed two successful frauds in Perth.
In all three cases, the real owners were living in Africa.
In the Sydney case, the real estate agency thought the request to sell was legitimate and solicitors in Double Bay drew up contracts.
The unit was due to go to auction in September.
The chief executive of the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia, Anne Arnold says the real owner only found out by chance.
“What happened was that the real estate who originally sold the owner the property happened to see and ad for it on the net and was interested that he hadn't got the listing,” she said.
“So he sent an e-mail to his former client and of course the owner e-mailed back and said 'what do you mean, selling my property? I'm not selling my property'.”
The shocked owner stopped the sale from South Africa.
The owners of two properties in Perth were not so lucky. it was those cases which prompted the introduction of 100-point identity checks.
“Every sale of any property, not just homes but all sorts of property. Commercial property, residential, industrial,” Ms Arnold said.
“So of course we think if they can do it here, there is every chance they will try somewhere else.
“I understand that the Department of Commerce has been communicating with their counterparts in other states and in fact I'm in Canberra for a meeting with my counterparts of other real estate institutes next week and it is one thing that I'll be raising with them.”
The first known successful case occurred last year.
Roger Mildenhall was in South Africa when his Karrinyup investment property was sold without his approval.
The Department of Consumer Protection has revealed that no action will be taken against the real estate and settlement agents.
The Consumer Protection Commissioner, Anne Driscoll, says the second case, which occurred this year, is still being examined.
“It's clear the agents had a genuine belief that they were dealing with the true owner,” she said.
“Their efforts to service that clients were quite reasonable and a particular issue there is that a fraud of this type was not known in the real estate industry at the time these events occurred.
“And it's clear that it just wasn't in the mindset of the agents that such a fraud was possible.”
