Charges over riot messages: [1 All-round Country Edition]
Dan Box, John Stapleton. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 23 Dec 2005: 6.
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Abstract
A 33-YEAR-OLD man has become the first person to be charged for inciting racial violence by forwarding text messages in the aftermath of the Sydney race riots.
Former Cronulla Sharks captain Andrew Ettingshausen is one of several high-profile sportspeople recruited for the NSW government- funded, $250,000 print and radio tourism campaign designed to promote Sydney’s beach suburbs as safe for everyone.
The campaign also will feature swimmer Susie Maroney, Sydney Swans star Nick Davis, retired Cronulla Sharks prop Jason Stevens and former Wallaby Mark Ella. “These measures will attract residents and visitors back to the beach and help businesses turn things around,” Mr [David Campbell] said.
Full Text
A 33-YEAR-OLD man has become the first person to be charged for inciting racial violence by forwarding text messages in the aftermath of the Sydney race riots.
The man, from Matraville in Sydney’s east, was arrested on Wednesday night and taken to Maroubra police station for questioning.
He was granted bail and is due to appear in Waverley Local Court on February 1, where police will allege he forwarded two text messages calling for people to meet at two Sydney beaches last Sunday.
He was charged with using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence, as well as one count of printing, publishing to incite or urging the commission of a crime. The charges carry a jail term of up to three years.
A spokeswoman for NSW police said officers were hopeful of making more arrests relating to the distribution of text messages concerning the riots.
“We are still carrying out extensive inquiries relating to the forwarding of messages and there is still a large volume of information that we are still investigating,” she said.
Police believe a huge number of text messages inciting people to violence were sent in the days before and after the December 11 riots.
While police have been working closely with telecommunication companies to identify the source and content of those messages, many businesses typically keep such data for only a few days before it is deleted.
A spokesman for the Australian Communication and Media Authority said there was no legal requirement for companies to keep this data. Under a 2004 amendment to the Telecommunications (Interception) Act, police do not need an interception warrant to access text messages held by carrier companies.
New anti-terror legislation, rushed through NSW parliament in response to the Cronulla violence, also gives police powers to search and confiscate mobile phones.
A teenager will appear at Bidura Children’s Court today in relation to a violent attack aboard a train on the day of the Cronulla riot.
The 17-year-old, who faces charges of riot and affray, is the fifth person to be charged over the attack on two males inside a train carriage at Cronulla station.
NSW Minister for Small Businesses David Campbell was at Cronulla yesterday to launch the Government’s Back to Business campaign, which aims to kickstart the local economy.
Former Cronulla Sharks captain Andrew Ettingshausen is one of several high-profile sportspeople recruited for the NSW government- funded, $250,000 print and radio tourism campaign designed to promote Sydney’s beach suburbs as safe for everyone.
The campaign also will feature swimmer Susie Maroney, Sydney Swans star Nick Davis, retired Cronulla Sharks prop Jason Stevens and former Wallaby Mark Ella. “These measures will attract residents and visitors back to the beach and help businesses turn things around,” Mr Campbell said.
A strong police presence will, however, be maintained at popular beaches after several days of unrest and revenge attacks in Sydney’s south last week.