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Albanese and post-China/US War Dictatorship: Part 8

Posted on by Jeff Schubert

Albanese and post-China/US War Dictatorship: Part 8

Movie Plot: Following a war between China and the US in which there are no clear winners, Australian Prime Minister Albanese wants to ensure that the US sticks to the AUKUS deal and to also increase his own powers. But it all quickly starts to go wrong as his chief of staff and then Richard Marles are killed. Peter Dutton eventually becomes prime minister with the same goals as Albanese and with former Labor premier Minns the new Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Dutton and Minns want to manipulate future elections so they can remain in power. Minister for Citizenship Dave Sharma, appointed because of his propaganda skills, is anti-Chinese but hates Muslims even more and plots to kill a High Court Judge so that Jillian Segal can be appointed to the Court. Journalist Nick McKenzie investigates the behind the scenes role of The Broker which increasing appears to be an AI algorithm which independently organizes murders.

Characters at time of the War:

Prime Minister Albanese; Defence Minister Marles; Foreign Affairs Minister Wong; Treasurer Chalmers; Attorney-General Dreyfus; PM’s Chief-of-Staff Gartrell; Secretary of Department of PM&C Davis; Secretary of Treasury Kennedy; Minister of Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Conroy; Luke Gosling; Tanya Plibersek; Mike Burgess of ASIO. Journalists Greg Sheridan, David Speers, Cameron Stewart and Nick McKenzie. Premiers: NSW Minns, Vic Allan, Qld Miles, WA Cook, Tas Rockliff, SA Malinauskas.

New Characters in Part 5 to 8:

Prime Minister Peter Dutton; Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Birmingham; Treasurer Angus Taylor, Defence Minister Andrew Hastie; Finance Minister Jane Hume; Attorney-General Michaella Cash; Minister of Immigration and Citizenship Dan Tehan; Minister for Citizenship Dave Sharma; Journalists Paul Kelly and Michelle Gratton; Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Reece Kershaw. Secretary of the Department of PM&C Minns; Alex Ryvchin of the Council of Australian Jewry.

 Scene 73: Press Gallery

Stewart: “The Government have announced a new commissioner of the Border Force, Gavin Reynold, who was the ADF chief of intelligence.”

Speers: “I have sometimes wondered if our defence and security organizations have any truly intelligent people.”

Stewart: “That is a stupid comment!”

Speers: “Just look at people like Peter Jennings! Always saying the same thing. I don’t mean that he is a total fool, but I do wonder how he became a deputy secretary for strategy in the department of defence. And then there is this ex-major general Mick Ryan who keeps saying that the war in Ukraine proves the need for conscription because many men have died in trenches like in the First World War. Are we going to dig trenches in Taiwan?”

Sheridan: “It doesn’t really matter. We can let the Americans do the thinking. As long as we do all we can to protect the alliance – all will be ok!”

Kelly: “Conscription would instil a sense of national purpose and morality.”

Gratton: “Paul! I have been listening and reading your prophet-like views on morality for decades. We need to be more practical! There is a rumour that Dutton wants senior public servants to hand in their passports to top management.”

Speers: “Why?”

Gratton: “Something about protecting Australia’s national security secrets.”

Scene 74: Prime Minister’s Office

Dutton: “So, what is the problem?”

Minns: “Tarnawsky’s solicitors are briefing Chrysanthou for a defamation case against Marles’ wife who has been saying on social media that Tarnawsky had him killed by someone – she doesn’t say who – because Marles would not leave her and live with Tarnawsky.”

Dutton: “Maybe she knows more than she is now telling?”

Minns: “She just wants money but doesn’t think we can deliver if she publicly makes a Chinese connection to his death.”

Dutton: “I am feeling very frustrated! Even Sharma is not delivering as I hoped. Of course, he is anti-Chinese, but he really hates Muslims.”

Minns: “I suspect the first thing he does every morning is call Alex Ryvchin from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry for daily riding instructions.”

Dutton: “Let him do that, but the main focus must be China — and AUKUS.”

Minns: “I have been thinking about Wong. Albanese is a psychological mess and is drinking a lot in his office. He is also talking, or rambling on, a lot. There is some story about that Marles accused Wong of being a Chinese agent and was investigated by ASIO. But ASIO has no record of this. However, there are a few journalists at The Australian that would love such a story. And, then there is Peter Hartcher!”

Scene 75: Park

Burgess: “Minns is the secret director of ASIO. Is asking internally about The Broker.”

McKenzie: “What is going on? The Broker is about killing people.”

Burgess: “Yes.”

McKenzie: “You think that he is asking because of my articles and rumours about this thing?”

Burgess: “Thing! You are right. It appears to be a thing. It may be an AI algorithm without much human control. Just like a dating site that sends out emails and phone app messages to potential clints that it can match. Then arranges follow up messages and payments. So, maybe Minns has been offered a service because the algorithm has identified him as a potential customer!”

McKenzie: “How would it identify potential clients?”

Burgess: “Probably searches the internet. For example, it would probably not send a proposal to you because it would not think you wanted someone killed. But, it might send a proposal to someone you have written about or even investigating which it thinks might want to kill you!”

McKenzie: “I will keep this in mind. Would it identify Minns as a potential customer? Or ASIO?”

Burgess: “Whatever. The possibly more important issue is who is the suggested target?”

McKenzie: “This is only for your ears, but I have been talking with a so-called representative of The Broker in Australia.”

Burgess: “Ex-SAS guy?”

McKenzie: “Yes. But his killing days are over. Unless he kills himself. He is a psychological wreck.”

Burgess: “Mmm! So, even if – and this is a big if – Minns wants someone killed. Who has this algorithm identified? And who is actually going to do it?”

Scene 76: Office of the Foreign Minister

Birmingham: “Malinauskas has been calling me. He has heard that the Yanks wants to pull out of AUKUS and that no submarines will be built in Adelaide. I told him that this could be true but that we still might get the Virginia subs that have been made in the US.”

Taylor: “Well, some good news for the budget at last!”

Hastie: “Hear, hear! From the army. What has been Dutton’s reaction?”

Birmingham: “He doesn’t really care. He has never really understood the crazy reality of attempting to build nuclear subs in Adelaide. His focus his on how to stay PM. Everything else is secondary.”

Taylor: “He is being very secretive about any ideas for an election.”

Hastie: “Except that he does not want one.”

Birmingham: “This idea of a secret director of ASIO is unnecessary. We are supposed to be running the country! Not some secret spook!”

Hastie: “Do you think it could be Minns?”

Birmingham: “What! Don’t be silly. He already has enough power as head of the prime minister’s department.”

Scene 77: Public Service Office

Dave Sharma is meeting with Alex Ryvchin, CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry.

Sharma: “There is one more thing that I wanted to raise with you. It’s a bit weird, but I have received two phone calls offering to have someone killed for $5 million in bitcoin.”

Ryvchin: “There are lots of scams. You should call the police.”

Sharma: “But the calls suggested killing a High Court judge.”

Ryvchin: “Are you serious?”

Sharma: “Yes. I dismissed it at first as a crank call, but when I got the second call I realized that this could be an opportunity to create a vacancy on the Court and finally get Jillian Segal appointed.”

Ryvchin: “It would be risky. But it might work.”

Sharma: “But that would still leave two issues. Does it matter which judge should be killed, and where to get $5 million in bitcoin.”

Ryvchin: “We should try to make sure that it is a judge least sympathetic to Israel. As for the bitcoin, I would not want to try to find it in Australia. Too dangerous. Somone might talk. If you think that this can work I can go to Israel to try to organize it.”

Sharma: “Let’s wait untill I get another call. I will try to get more information. It seems to be quite automated, so I am not sure how serious it is. The call themselves The Broker – just like in the Nick McKenzie article.”

Ryvchin: “Unless I have some new thoughts or information, I will leave choosing the judge to you.”

Sharma: “That could be a difficult choice. I wonder if we could get two for the price of one?”

Albanese and post-China/US War Dictatorship: Part 7

Posted on by Jeff Schubert

Albanese and post-China/US War Dictatorship: Part 7

Movie Plot: Albanese attempts to become Australian dictator after China-US war but it does not go to plan! Eventually, Peter Dutton becomes prime minister with the same goals as Albanese.

Characters at time of the War:

Prime Minister Albanese; Defence Minister Marles; Foreign Affairs Minister Wong; Treasurer Chalmers; Attorney-General Dreyfus; PM’s Chief-of-Staff Gartrell; Secretary of Department of PM&C Davis; Secretary of Treasury Kennedy; Minister of Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Conroy; Luke Gosling; Tanya Plibersek; Mike Burgess of ASIO. Journalists Greg Sheridan, David Speers, Cameron Stewart and Nick McKenzie. Premiers: NSW Minns, Vic Allan, Qld Miles, WA Cook, Tas Rockliff, SA Malinauskas.

New Characters in Part 5, 6 and 7:

Prime Minister Peter Dutton; Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Birmingham; Treasurer Angus Taylor, Defence Minister Andrew Hastie; Finance Minister Jane Hume; Attorney-General Michaella Cash; Minister of Immigration and Citizenship Dan Tehan; Dave Sharma; Paul Kelly; Michelle Gratton; Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Reece Kershaw. Davis has been sacked as Secretary of the Department of PM&C and Minns has been appointed Secretary in his place.

Scene 66: Prime Minister’s Office

Cash: “The AFP say some teenagers were see in the park where Marles was killed and they were flying a drone. At least one was Asian.”

Minns: “Chinese?”

Cash: “They don’t know. Could be.”

Minns: “That’s enough if we can get Reece Kershaw to publicly say ‘Asian’. We will add the Chinese bit.”

Cash: “So, Marles was killed by a suspected Chinese agent flying a drone?”

Minns: “Yes. It is our duty – in the national interest to take advantage of this! It will give Sharma something to work with.”

Dutton: “This all sounds good. I like the way you think!”

Cash: “Chris Merritt of “Rule of Law Institute of Australia” has an article coming out tomorrow in The Australian suggesting Jillian Segal for the High Court.”

Dutton: “More good news. But we still need one of the existing judges to resign.”

Minns: “I will talk to Burgess again. There must be something we can use as leverage.”

Dutton: “Do you think he will deliver?”

Minns: “He was rattled when I raised the Mostyn issue. I think he will come-up with something.”

Scene 67: Park

Nick McKenzie is standing in a park waiting for someone when a middle-aged muscular man approaches him.

Man: “You McKenzie?”

After McKenzie nods, the man says: “I’m The Broker.”

McKenzie is wary: “How is John?”

Man: “John?”

McKenzie: “In Cambodia.”

Man: “I don’t know any John. Especially in Cambodia.”

McKenzie pauses and then asks: “Are you ex-SAS?”

Man: “Yeah!”

McKenzie: “What is your name?”

Man: “Not important.”

McKenzie: “Why did you contact me?”

Man: “I am being pressured by the AFP.”

McKenzie: “Over what?”

Man: “Marles. They want to know who wanted him killed?”

McKenzie: “Did you do it? Organize it?”

Man: “Let’s just say, that I can point you in the right direction.”

McKenzie: “Why are you talking to me?”

Man: “Money. The Broker organization really screwed me. I need $100,000 to get away from them forever.”

McKenzie: “Impossible!”

Scene 68: Office of the Foreign Minister

Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Birmingham: “It is slow moving nightmare. Where will it end?”

Minister of Immigration Dan Tehan: “Minns, as Secretary of the Department of PM & C should spend almost all his time in his public service office. Instead, almost every time I see Dutton, Minns is there. Even interrupts me when I am talking.”

Birmingham: “Even Hastie is starting to complain!”

Tehan: “So he should. AUKUS is destroying our ability to defend ourselves just as the US goes through self-doubt and turmoil.”

Birmingham: “Luckily non-one wants to invade us!”

Tehan: “Papua New Guinea?”

Birmingham: “Maybe Japan! The recent American experience has left them shocked and thinking more about their own defence efforts.”

Tehan: “Where is the US going now?”

Birmingham: “I spoke to Rudd yesterday. He thinks Washington needs time to sort itself out.”

Tehan: “Our problem is that they just see us as a forward base to protect them against China but I think that it would be unlikely that they would really defend us if it ever came to that.”

Birmingham: “That’s not how Dutton and Minns see it.”

Tehan: “How in the fuck did we get stuck with those two?”

Birmingham: “Right now they are, with the help of Sharma, winning the PR battle. And the continual attacks on the free speech First Amendment in the US are giving them cover for shutting down debate here.”

Scene 69: Prime Minister’s Office

Dutton: “I think Burgess is stalling.”

Minns: “He may feel guilty about Mostyn. Afraid that something similar will happen to Wong.”

Dutton: “And Michella says that he is not helping us in any way with getting Jillian Segal into the High Court.”

Minns: “We probably need to get rid of him. Who can replace him?”

Dutton: “Someone with not too high-profile – but reliable!”

Minns: “I just had an idea. Burgess talked to the media a couple of times and it destroyed the mystic of a secret ASIO ensuring Australia’s national security. Let’s appoint someone but keep the name a secret. It’s been done before and the Brits are very good at this sort of game.”

Dutton: “Good idea. I like it. But who?”

Minns: “Me! It would be secret even from other minister except Cash, and we would only ever refer to The Director.”

Dutton laughs: “It would drive them crazy. But can it be done?”

Minns: “Scott Morrison held multiple secret ministry positions at once. The Governor-General will enjoy the game, I am sure!”

Scene 70: Park

Burgess: “I have been sacked.”

Davis: “Who is the new head of ASIO?”

Burgess: “I don’t know. It is secret. I suspect it is Minns.”

Davis: “In addition to having my old job as head of PM&C?”

Burgess: “Yes.”

Davis: “I suspect Minns is a Lavrenti Beria.”

Burgess: “Who?”

Davis: “Never mind. What will you do?”

Burgess: “I don’t know. What do you suggest?”

Davis: “Talk to Nick McKenzie.”

Burgess: “No. That would betray my oath to Australia and betray my colleagues.”

Davis: “What is the alternative? Dutton and Minns are out of control.”

Scene 71: Public Service Office

Sharma: “Dutton would not tell me who the new head of ASIO is.”

Minns: “I am sorry. I can’t tell you either. The PM and Cash, who is directly responsible for ASIO, have decided that our national security would be best served by this appointment being a secret.”

Sharma: “But I am Minister for Citizenship! I need to know because I need to work with ASIO.”

Minns: “You can work through me.”

Sharma: But, will he – or she – help us get a High Court vacancy so that Jillian Segal can be appointed?”

Minns: “You can be sure of that! But it may take time. Now, there are other issues we need to discuss. I have asked the Treasury Secretary to think of ways that we can take-over any significant businesses owned or controlled by Chinese.”

Sharma: “What does Angus Taylor think of that?”

Minns: “He’s not particularly happy but will go along with it.”

Sharma: “The Muslim business sector is much smaller, but we should treat everyone equally and include them.”

Minns nods, and then asks: “What about passports?”

Sharma: “I’ve been thinking about that. We could say that it is no longer possible for an Australian citizen to also hold citizenship of another country except if that country is on a special list – like the UK, US, Israel etc. To be able to vote in Australia someone will need to prove that they are not also a citizen of another non-exempt country.”

Minns: “Not voting may not be a big deal for many people.”

Sharma: “It would be more than this. If you can’t prove that you are not a citizen of a non-exempt country, then you cannot have any citizen-type rights in Australia. No social welfare and only be able to work in a few low-paid jobs.”

Minns: “This is starting to sound good. How is your new departmental secretary with all this. What’s her name again?”

Sharma: “Jeni Whalan. Not very happy. She may have to go.”

Minns: “You remember? I questioned your sexual motives in hiring her.”

Scene 72: Prime Minister’s Office

Dutton: “Who is this Jo Tarnawsky? Marles former chief-of-staff. Can we use her in some way?”

Minns: “Not unless she is prepared to tell us something about Marles that we don’t already know.”

Dutton: “What about a Chinese connection?”

Minns: “It is unlikely. She now just wants money for supposed bullying and PTSD. Another Brittany Higgins!”

Dutton: “If we pay her enough she might talk about ‘her suspicions’ that the Chinese were after Marles because of his support for AUKUS?”

Minns: “Its probably worth a try.”

Dutton: “Can you talk to her, saying you were very fond of Marles from your days in the Labor Party but knew he could be a bully?”

Minns: “I might use Sue Chrysanthou as an intermediary. She likes getting close to people to get their trust.”

 

Russian Censorship Comes to Australia via Jews!

Posted on by Jeff Schubert

Russian Censorship Comes to Australia via Jews!

I lived in Russia until October 2022 – ie eight months after the February invasion of Ukraine after which it became illegal to refer to it other than as a “special military operation” (SMO). Almost immediately people I knew were fearful of what they might be heard saying, whether it be on WhatsApp, Zoom, on the street, or even sitting alone with me in a restaurant. Even when I used the term “invasion” or “war” people would invariably reply referring to the SMO. It soon became clear to me that it was not only fear of being heard and arrested because of that particular conversation with me, but also people were also practicing using the SMO term so that they did not mistakenly use the terms “war” or “invasion” on some other occasion.

I have also worked and lived in China and was conscious of the need to be careful what I said, but in Russia it was different because I had also lived in Russia before Vladimir Putin became president in 2000 and subsequently for many years on and off until 2022. In 2016 I wrote a research report for a Russian university and was advised to remove the term “annexation” when referring to the Russian takeover of Crimea in 2014, but in the following year some of my Masters degree students in my course in the Higher School of Economics — where I taught a course on Russian foreign policy — were still prepared to openly say in class that “we do not trust our government.” They would not do that now!

Nor would these students now walk down a street waving an Ukrainian flag. This is not only because they might be arrested but because many Russians do regard Ukraine as a terrorist state and thus supported the SMO and would take offence. This is not only due to Putin’s propaganda, but around 15,000 people had been killed in Eastern Ukraine between 2014 and 2022 by Ukrainian nationalists. Many of these dead – including women and children (even babies) – identified themselves as Russian rather than Ukrainian and had relatives in Russia.

On 4 July 2024, Sir John Sawers — a former head of M16, Britain’s secret intelligence agency and former Ambassador to Egypt — told Gideon Rachman of the Financial Times that Israel is now a different country from being a “bit like an extension of Europe in the decades of the 70s, 80s and 90s” and that now “more and more a sense within the Israeli mainstream parties” is that “the solution to Israel’s Palestinian problem is to expel the Palestinians” from Gaza.

Australian politicians such as Peter Dutton and Chris Minns are very ignorant of the wider world and might be surprised that the psychology of many Australian Jews and their indignant supporters would easily fit into a Russian milieu, and how their own psychology of censorship has much in common with dictators who want to eliminate people and views that they don’t like.

 

Albanese and post-China/US War Dictatorship: Part 6

Posted on by Jeff Schubert

Albanese and post-China/US War Dictatorship: Part 6

Movie Plot: Albanese attempts to become Australian dictator after China-US war but it does not go to plan! Eventually, Peter Dutton becomes prime minister with the same goals as Albanese.

Characters at time of the War:

Prime Minister Albanese; Defence Minister Marles; Foreign Affairs Minister Wong; Treasurer Chalmers; Attorney-General Dreyfus; PM’s Chief-of-Staff Gartrell; Secretary of Department of PM&C Davis; Secretary of Treasury Kennedy; Minister of Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Conroy; Luke Gosling; Tanya Plibersek; Mike Burgess of ASIO. Journalists Greg Sheridan, David Speers, Cameron Stewart and Nick McKenzie. Premiers: NSW Minns, Vic Allan, Qld Miles, WA Cook, Tas Rockliff, SA Malinauskas.

New Characters in Part 5 and 6:

Prime Minister Peter Dutton; Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Birmingham; Treasurer Angus Taylor, Defence Minister Andrew Hastie; Finance Minister Jane Hume; Attorney-General Michaella Cash; Minister of Immigration and Citizenship Dan Tehan; Dave Sharma; Paul Kelly; Michelle Gratton; Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Reece Kershaw. Davis has been sacked as Secretary of the Department of PM&C and Minns has been appointed Secretary in his place.

Scene 60: Public Service Office

Minns: “I just wanted to get your views on the best way out of this situation. We now have unemployment at 10% and I understand that Treasury is forecasting 15% in the next few months. The PM has asked me to keep a close eye on this issue.”

Kennedy: “Yes, that is the latest advice that I provided to the Treasurer this morning.”

Minns: “I haven’t seen it. In the future could you please ensure that I get a copy of future advice at the same time as Angus Taylor.”

Kennedy hesitantly: “OK. If that is what the PM wants.”

Minns: “Yes. There is another issue that I wanted to discuss with you. It seems to me that we need to consider in detail taking over Chinese-owned businesses in Australia. The Treasurer is a bit hesitant on this issue but I want to ensure the PM is fully briefed.”

Kennedy: “You mean nationalization? Businesses owned by foreigner as foreign investment?”

Minns: “I am also thinking of substantial business owned by Chinese living in this country.”

Kennedy: “Well! That sounds extreme! While I wait for the Treasurer to raise this issue with me I will give it some preliminary thought.”

Minns: “Yes. Do that!”

Scene 61: Prime Minister’s Office

Dutton: “I am sorry Dan. But Sharma is the man for the job. And more importantly I need you in Defence Industry and Capability Delivery. Hastie is young and enthusiastic but needs the support of a wiser and more experienced head.”

Tehan: “If that is the case, I would be prepared to take on the Defence Ministry.”

Dutton: “Not yet. Let’s see how Hastie performs.”

Tehan: “He needs to be realistic about AUKUS. We all do.”

Dutton: “I know. But we cannot tell the electorate that China remains a huge threat if we now say AUKUS is a mirage.”

Tehan: “Electorate? With no elections we should just call them the public.”

Dutton laughs: “Minns is working on a proposal to bring elections back – but with some restrictions to ensure we get the right result. And Sharma will have a big role in this.”

Scene 62: Park

Former Secretary of PM&C Davis meets Treasury Secretary Kennedy in park

Davis: “I have become a pariah. People who I have worked closely for years are not returning my calls. I am worried that our phones are being monitored. There is a real push – on so-called national security grounds – to get access to all messaging apps. I may be paranoid, but the way I was marched out of my office makes me feel that some attention will be paid to me.”

Kennedy: “It has not happened to me – yet! But, Minns is getting very pushy and even suggesting – actually demanding – that anything I send to the Treasurer be sent to him at the same time.”

Davis: “Fuck! Minns is becoming a Martin Bormann.”

Kennedy: “Who?”

Davis: “He was Adolf Hitler’s very pushy private secretary.”

Kennedy: “Wow! I hope we are not going that way.”

Davis: “The problem is that Dutton is a thug, would have been happy in the Soviet KGB if he would have passed their intelligence tests. But Minns is smarter and the KGB would have taken him to manipulate the likes of Dutton.”

Kennedy: “Much history!”

Davis: “I have finally had time to read Jeff Schubert’s books on dictators.”

Scene 63: Prime Minister’s Office

Cash: “Reece Kershaw has given us a preliminary AFP report on Marles. It doesn’t tell us much. From what they can get from his phone, his last communication was with an ex-Australian SAS soldier. He has a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder pension and now again in a hospital for care. Says Marles had at times talked with him about his problems. Claims that they met at some veterans function, but cannot remember details. We still do not know what Marles was doing in that park.”

Dutton: “Was this SAS guy flying the drone?”

Cash: “AFP don’t know.”

Dutton: “It’s a pity we cannot find a Chinese connection!”

Cash: “The legislation to ban display of any symbols or images suggesting that China was not the aggressor in the war is nearly complete. It is a tricky area but we are basing it on 80.2HA of the Criminal Code which has been used to jail anti-Israel protesters who displayed things in support of Hezbollah. So any display of the Chinese flag will lead to arrests.”

Scene 64: Press Gallery

Gratton: “I’ve heard that Dutton wants to ban Chinese New Years celebrations but has been persuaded against this.”

Kelly: “Christians have long had problems in China so it may be the moral thing to do.”

Sheridan: “I totally agree. Starmer has proposed a similar thing in the UK, although it is easier there because they have less Chinese.”

Gratton: “Don’t you worry that we are getting like China – and Russia – with all this?”

Stewart: “It is only temporary. Once China and Russia are defeated we can go back to normal.”

Speers: “What do you mean by defeated? Eventually we will need to get used to China being more important in our region than the US. Indonesia certainly thinks so.”

Sheridan: “Stupid Muslims. In any case, Sharma will hype-up the message that there is little difference between Muslims and Chinese when it come to morality. As Reece Kershaw says, displaying Muslim or Chinese symbol is un-Australian.”

Speers: “Walking down a street in Moscow carrying the flag of Ukraine would get you arrested.”

Sheridan: “That is different.”

Speers: “How?”

Sheridan: “We are Christian.”

Speers: “So are Russians – at least the majority!”

Sheridan: “That’s the problem. Too many Muslim immigrants from Central Asia have upset the racial and religious purity of Russia.”

Scene 65: Public Service Office

Minns meets with Dave Sharma, the new Minister for Citizenship

Minns: “Have you thought about who should be Secretary of the Department of Citizenship?”

Sharma: “There is a Jeni Whalan who is head of Strengthening Democracy Taskforce in DFAT.”

Minns: “Impressive sounding position. Are you sure that she will align with our views?”

Sharma: “Not entirely, but she is very ambitious – and not unattractive!”

Minns: “Polling shows that the public is prepared to accept no elections for a period and the court cases can be dragged out, but at some stage we will need to play the election game We need to start planning for this so that we get the right results.”

Sharma: “I have a couple ideas. The shorter-term on is some mechanism to ensure that candidates for election pass some citizen test so that we can weed out any Chinese and Muslim sympathisers. It might also favour Jews in some way. But, the longer-term need is for a youth education policy that promotes an uniquely Australian view of citizenship. One that is aligned with Judeo-Christian values. This is where Whalan should be useful because of her education background.”

Minns: “I hope you are not putting your personal desires ahead of good policy?”

Sharma: “One other idea. Is there some way we can get Jillian Segal appointed to the High Court? It would potentially help us a lot. We could count on her and Jagot. They are peas-in-a-pod when it comes to Muslims.”

Minns: “Mmm. Let me think about this. Burgess at ASIO might be able to help.”

Albanese and post-China/US War Dictatorship: Part 5

Posted on by Jeff Schubert

Albanese and post-China/US War Dictatorship: Part 5

Movie Plot: Albanese attempts to become Australian dictator after China-US war but it does not go to plan! Eventually, Peter Dutton becomes prime minister with the same goals as Albanese.

Characters at time of the War:

Prime Minister Albanese; Defence Minister Marles; Foreign Affairs Minister Wong; Treasurer Chalmers; Attorney-General Dreyfus; PM’s Chief-of-Staff Gartrell; Secretary of Department of PM&C Davis; Secretary of Treasury Kennedy; Minister of Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Conroy; Luke Gosling; Tanya Plibersek; Mike Burgess of ASIO. Journalists Greg Sheridan, David Speers, Cameron Stewart and Nick McKenzie. Premiers: NSW Minns, Vic Allan, Qld Miles, WA Cook, Tas Rockliff, SA Malinauskas.

New Characters in Part 5:

Prime Minister Peter Dutton; Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Birmingham; Treasurer Angus Taylor, Defence Minister Andrew Hastie; Finance Minister Jane Hume; Attorney-General Michaella Cash; Minister of Immigration and Citizenship Dan Tehan; Dave Sharma; Paul Kelly, Michelle Gratton.

Scene 53: Office of Prime Minister

Wong: “Welcome back. I have been reading your daily reports. How was the flight?

Plibersek: “I could not avoid feeling very depressed. Starmer and his ministers are all at sea. I could not get a coherent answer on anything. They remain committed to the US in theory, at the top level, but as soon as you get into any details – the economy, China, Indo-Pacific, AUKUS – nothing! The US has unofficially pulled out of AUKUS deal to concentrate on Virginia subs, but Starmer and co. still pretends all is OK. The world recession had deepened, and US is focussing economics on self. Japan wants to repair some economic relations with China.”

Conroy: “And now, on top of all this, we have an election!”

Wong: “Look!. I had to call the election because there needs to be some certainty going forward. The G-G was getting very pushy – even independently talking to Dutton.”

Plibersek: “But Dutton might win.”

Chalmers: “The economy is in deep recession and exporters to China have difficulty getting paid because of US sanctions on using the $US for any dealings with China.”

Conroy: “The attacks on Chinese businesses have been growing. No Chinese have yet been killed, but it will happen, I suppose.”

Plibersek: “I thought you hated Chinese?”

Conroy: “China more than Chinese!

Scene 54: Public Service Office

Davis: “It looks like Labor is gone, and so is my job!”

Kennedy: “Dutton is a thug, not very intelligent. Even Scott Morrison was smarter — although not by much.”

Davis: “I even begin to miss Marles!”

Kennedy: “Who do think will replace you?”

Davis: “I heard a rumour that it may be Minns.”

Kennedy: “What! Why would he give up the Labor premiership of New South Wales to work for Liberal Dutton?”

Davis: “Ambition. Power is increasingly being centralized and Minns will use his state-based experience to enable that.”

Kennedy: “Can the situation get any worse?”

Scene 55: National Cabinet

Victoria Premier Allen: “Unbelievable! Minns has sold us all out. Not only has he sold out the Labor Party but he has sold out Australia’s system of federal government. Up until now he was the most opposed to any increase in federal powers.”

Minns: “My resignation as premier takes effect tomorrow, but I wanted to attend this meeting to explain that the new world and Australian situation demands new strong and thoughtful leadership. I believe that the Labor Party has under three recent leaders failed to deliver that. I believe that Peter Dutton can.”

Dutton: “The Australian people have clearly expressed their view in the election that I lead the country. I intend to do so. Chris Minns will be my right-hand man in doing this.”

Malinauskas: “I think this is a good move. We all need to pull together.”

Dutton: “I intend to announce that national cabinet has agreed to suspension of all elections in Australia until this terrible situation is resolved.”

Miles: “This is going too far!”

Dutton: “We will see!”

Scene 56: Parliamentary Press Gallery

Michelle Gratton walks in.

David Speers: “Michelle! What are you doing here?”

Gratton: “The times are too interesting to sit at home.”

Speers: “And the commentators at The Australian want to make it more interesting – and dangerous! Paul Kelly is again on his moral high-horse telling us that we must bring in conscription of 18-year olds to promote pride in the country.”

Sheridan: “I heard that! It’s a good idea if it means working on some national projects as well as military service.”

Gratton: “You mean banish them to the countryside to live in a cave and do hard labour – like the young Xi Jinping?”

Sheridan: “Australia does not have enough mountains for caves, but they could do some community – or religious –work.”

Stewart: “In any case, Dutton will sort things out.”

Gratton: “There will be High Court challenges to suspension of elections.”

Scene 57: Office of Prime Minister

Dutton: “I want to know where you stand.”

Burgess: “What do you mean?”

Minns: “We are now in control of the information and investigations regarding the last three prime ministers. Davis liked making notes. He deleted much of what he did not want us to see, but IT specialists have been able to retrieve most or all of it.”

Dutton: “You are now working for us.”

Burgess: “Legally, I report to the Attorney-General.”

Dutton: “And Michaella Cash reports to me. You will now be able to avoid her foul mouth by dealing only with me.”

Burgess: “What do you want?”

Minns: “Wong! We want anything a everything you can get on her. Even be innovative as you were with Sam Mostyn.”

Scene 58: Office of Foreign Minister

Foreign Minister Simon Birmingham: “The PM says we should let Rudd keep his ambassador job. He loves being the center of attention so will always do as we say so that he can stay in Washington. No other city is big enough for him.”

Defence Minister Andrew Hastie: “That makes sense. And he will reliably continue to push AUKUS.”

Birmingham: “I was going to ask you about that. What is the latest?”

Hastie: “Nothing new. Except we keep paying money to the Americans and the Brits for something we will never get. As an ex-army man, it angers me.”

Birmingham: “Joe Hockey continues to beat the drum.”

Hastie: “This the difference with Rudd who needs attention. Hockey just wants money.”

Birmingham: “Dutton wants to appoint Dave Sharma is to new ministry for Citizenship. A sort of propaganda position – become a real Australian etc, bash Chinese and Muslims!”

Hastie: “Sharma would be good at this. Very intelligent and organized. A Goebbels!”

Birmingham laughs and then says: “But Dan Tehan is very opposed. Says that Citizenship belongs with Migration where it is now.”

Scene 59: Office of Prime Minister

Shadow A-G Michaella Cash: “There are now almost dozens of court challenges to the suspension of elections.”

Dutton: “Can’t we just ignore them. Cite national security concerns and the agreement of national cabinet.”

Minns: “Peter! We need at a least pretend that we believe in and are complying with the constitutional structures at state and national levels. Most of the population are stupid or occupied with their daily lives, but they still like to feel that things are been done in the proper way.”

Dutton: “But what if we start losing these cases?”

Cash: “Let’s cross that road when we come to it. In the meantime there are some good lawyers who will help drag these cases out for months.”

Minns: “And in the final analysis there are at least a couple of High Court judges who are sympathetic to us.”

Dutton: “You mean Jagot for one?”

Albanese and post-China/US War Dictatorship: Part 4

Posted on by Jeff Schubert

Albanese and post-China/US War Dictatorship: Part 4

Movie Plot: Albanese attempts to become Australian dictator after China-US war but it does not go to plan!

Characters at time of the War:

Prime Minister Albanese; Defence Minister Marles; Foreign Affairs Minister Wong; Treasurer Chalmers; Attorney-General Dreyfus; PM’s Chief-of-Staff Gartrell; Secretary of Department of PM&C Davis; Secretary of Treasury Kennedy; Minister of Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Conroy; Luke Gosling; Tanya Plibersek; Mike Burgess of ASIO. Journalists Greg Sheridan, David Speers, Cameron Stewart and Nick McKenzie. Premiers: NSW Minns, Vic Allan, Qld Miles, WA Cook, Tas Rockliff, SA Malinauskas.

Scene 42: Office of the Prime Minister

Wong: “Tanya (Pilbersek) is trying hard but everyone acts like I am still Foreign Minister. The American’s keep seeking assurances that we are still on board.”

Davis: “Its not only them who want assurances. Moriarty says the AUKUS mob are unhappy that you ordered the AUKUS website to be restored.”

Wong: “He is Secretary of the Defence Department. Tell him to deal with it.”

Davis: “He knows that the British cannot deliver. Max Hastings was right about the ‘remote possibility’ of an AUKUS sub eventually appearing. And so was Downer about the Adelaide ‘fairy tale’. But there are now so many snouts-in-the-trough that any talk of AUKUS not working results in great push-back.”

Wong: “I know. I am getting it from my ministers.”

Davis: “The other thing id the departmental investigation into Marles and the payment to Cyprus. ….???”

Wong: “Do we need to discuss it now?”

Davis: “No. There has been little progress. I just wanted to keep you up-to-date.”

Scene 43: Nondescript Office

Nick McKenzie looked at his mobile phone.

McKenzie: “Hello”

Voice on phone: “It seems that I need to help you a bit more. Ask yourself why and how Mostyn’s gambling problem suddenly ballooned? Was she set-up? By whom?”

McKenzie: “John! You do not sound well.”

Voice of John: “I am not.’

McKenzie: “You are telling me that The Broker was involved with Mostyn well as Gartrell?”

Voice of John: “Your article left out that connection.”

McKenzie: “It just seemed over-the-top.”

Voice of John: “Maybe. Have a look at ASIO. Bye!”

Scene 44: Parliamentary Press Gallery

Sheridan: “The AUKUS internet site is back up. And that idiot Michael Sharpe is still running around with his white Stetson hat. You would think that someone would tell him it looks foolish!”

Speers: “I saw that Mike Pezzullo is again loudly extolling the virtues of AUKUS as well as ANZUS!”

Sheridan: “He wants Moriarty’s job as head of Defence.”

Stewart: “They should give it to him, and triple defence spending!”

Speers: “At least that would make Air Marshal Chappell happy. I have heard suggestions that he dreams of hunting an underway AUKUS sub with Marles onboard and sinking it with a F35.”

Sheridan smiles: “An underhand strike?”

Speers: “His father is Greg, not Trevor. But it was Greg’s idea!”

Scene 45: Office of Foreign Minister

Plibersek: “I am meeting Marles this afternoon before he heads to Wellington.”

Conroy: “He is not happy but can do nothing right now. He knows that he cannot return as PM, but would support you!”

Plibersek: “I am not interested. Penny is my friend.”

Conroy: “Women’s club?”

Plibersek: “No. I have enough on my plate now with this new job. I am going to Indonesia next week, and then on to India, London and Washington.”

Conroy: “A long trip!”

Plibersek: “Yes. But everything is now so uncertain and I need to get my head around issues and meet people.”

Conroy: “Will you be discussing AUKUS?”

Plibersek: “Damm AUKUS! How can I avoid it.”

Conroy: “To be frank, AUKUS is a disaster. The Brits just cannot deliver the technology, no matter what we pay them and what they say. And the Americans keep talking it up, but really they are now concentrated on increasing the number of their own subs.”

Plibersek: “Will they give us the ones promised?”

Conroy: “No. But we need to keep talking-up AUKUS. We need the Yank’s subs – and marines etc – in Australia.”

Plibersek: “Why?”

Conroy: “Tanya. You need to be on-board with this. We cannot let China become a regional hegemon.”

Plibersek: “I keep asking why, but never get a real answer.”

Conroy: It is a matter of national security. Besides, Marles is still committed. He will not be happy if you are not out there supporting AUKUS.”

Scene 46: Public Service Office

Kennedy: “Are you saying ASIO went out to get Mostyn? Why?”

Davis: “There seems to be a connection. But there is not enough to tell Dreyfus or the PM. Burgess would go ballistic if what we have turned out to be wrong.”

Kennedy: “What will you do?”

Davis: “We need another conversation with him in the park!”

Scene 47: Office of the Prime Minister

Dreyfus: “I didn’t take long. No sooner does Marles get off the plane in Wellington does he try to stir up trouble for you. He has even suggested that that idiot white hat Michael Sharpe visit New Zealand to help them understand that AUKUS is also protecting them from the yellow hordes. Even if they don’t believe it all, it creates headlines here.”

Wong: “It’s so stupid. At least the army is quite – finally accepting that we do not need conscripts and thousands of tanks to fight millions of Chinese soldiers invading our beaches. But the air-force is another matter. They are still saying what about us? Why only spend money on subs? Conroy is not telling me this because he has AUKUS between his ears, but Davis is getting earfuls from various people.”

Dreyfus: “Pity we can’t get the air-force to bomb the subs!”

Wong: “It hard to bomb an idea – no matter how stupid.”

Scene 48: A Park in Canberra

Davis: “This is what we have. We wanted to give you a chance to tell us what happened before we decide whether or not to report up the line.”

Burgess: “It looks like we got carried away. We were offered proof and too easily accepted it.”

Davis: “By The Broker organization.”

Burgess: “Yes. We were stupid.”

Davis: “You caused an innocent woman to kill herself! No. Stop! The paedophilia bit was nothing to do with you?”

Burgess: “No.”

Davis: “But you willingly hyped the gambling bit?”

Burgess: “Yes.”

Davis: “Why?”

Burgess: “Marles threatened to move us to his portfolio. To Defence.”

Kennedy: “But you reported to Dreyfus. The Attorney-General!”

Burgess: “He had a hold over Albanese. He could have done it.”

Davis: “What a mess. Kennedy and I need to think about what to do next.’

Burgess: “I must go. I cannot be seen meeting in a park like this.”

Scene 49: Nondescript Office

Secretary of the Department of PM&C Davis is meeting with journalist Nick McKenzie

Davis: “I have nothing to say on this?”

McKenzie: “Then why meet with me like this if it is not true?”

Davis: “What do you intend to do?”

McKenzie: “Now knowing it is true and having enough to go public with it are not the same. I need more!”

Davis: “You won’t get it from me.”

Scene 50: Public Service Office

Kennedy: “Marles is friendless except for Conroy and Gosling. The PM and Dreyfus would love to shaft him but don’t really know how; Burgess knows how, but it would also shaft ASIO; McKenzie is willing but not yet able. And, then there is us!

Davis: “Yeh! And whoever is feeding McKenzie information is somewhere in this conga-line. The air-force might even be there because what the AUKUS subs are doing to it funding.”

Kennedy: “It will be interesting to see who gets to him first.”

Scene 51: Office of the Prime Minister

Dreyfus rushes into the prime minister’s office.

Dreyfus: “Have you heard?”

Wong: “What?”

Dreyfus: “Marles has been killed!”

Wong: “When? Where? How?”

Dreyfus: “Got off the plane in Sydney without telling anyone he was coming and went to some meeting in a park. Apparently someone was flying a drone and lost control of it. It hit Marles between the eyes. Died instantly!”

Wong: “My God! Why was he in Sydney and not New Zealand? Who was in the park?”

Dreyfus: “I don’t know.”

Scene 52: Public Service Office

Kennedy: “Why was he in Sydney and not New Zealand? Who was in the park?”

Davis: “We don’t know yet.”

Kennedy: “ASIO?”

Davis: “Maybe.”

Kennedy: “Well it wasn’t us; and wasn’t McKenzie; and wasn’t Wong or Dreyfus.”

Davis’s mobile phone rings. Davis looks at the number and says to Kennedy: “Its McKenzie!”

Davis puts his phone on speaker: “No Nick. We don’t know yet.”

Nick on phone: “I hear that The Broker was involved. Somebody wanted him dead.”

Davis puts the phone down after saying: “I have nothing more to say.”

Kennedy: “If I believed enough in conspiracies I might say it was an air-force drone organized through The Broker.”

Davis: “You could be right. Over these last few weeks I have learnt that anything is possible.”

Kennedy: “I think we need whisky!”

Davis: “Doubly!”

Anne Applebaum writes like Trump talks

Posted on by Jeff Schubert

Anne Applebaum writes like Trump talks

I bought a Kindle copy of Anne Applebaum’s book, “Autocracy, Inc.: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World”, expecting to find verifiable facts about such autocrats/dictators as Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. Instead I got a polemic in the style of Donald Trump with a mishmash of assertions of questionable quality.

I first visited Russia in 1991 and on-and-off spent about 15 years there until I finally left in October 2022 – ie eight months after the invasion of Ukraine — because the Indian government asked me to speak at an in-house conference in New Delhi on Russia-China relations.

The first few pages of Applebaum’s book express general sentiments about autocracies which I agree with, and I agree with the overall theme about the relationship of such people with enablers in democracies that assist their survival. But it was not long before I ran into a Trump-like distortion of the reality that I experienced as an analyst talking to policy makers and business managers in Moscow and the Russian Far East in the 1990s.

Applebaum writes that Russian “reformers believed that deep and rapid engagement with the outside world would help them break up the old, dysfunctional system of central planning and create a new political as well as new economic order. ‘I was absolutely sure that we will succeed’, said Yegor Gaidar, the Russian economist who promoted the policy of ‘shock therapy’. ‘I was absolutely sure that there is no other way, and absolutely sure that a delay is suicidal for the country.’”

Applebaum then immediately writes: “But others had different plans. Among them was Vladimir Putin.” She approvingly quotes Karen Dawisha (author of “Putin’s Klepocracy: Who Owns Russia”, 2015) saying many “mistakenly” described Russia in the 1990s as an “inchoate democratic system being pulled down by history, accidental autocrats, popular inertia, bureaucratic incompetence, or poor Western advice”.

In fact, in my experience these words are very accurate and not mistaken, and I first wrote about this after my second visit to Russia in 1992. See: https://russianeconomicreform.ru/

But Applebaum quotes Dawisha as saying that “the real story” was very different: “From the beginning, Putin and his circle sought to create an authoritarian regime ruled by a close-knit cabal ..…who used democracy for decoration rather than direction.”

Appelbaum and Dawisha seem to believe that Gaidar’s reforms failed because of a conspiracy involving Putin rather than the more obvious fact that they were the wrong solution to an admittedly difficult problem.

Appelbaum writes that “the state that finally emerged in the middle of the first decade of the twenty-first century was a full-blown autocratic kleptocracy, a mafia state built and managed entirely for the purpose of enriching its leaders.” “This project was launched much earlier than most understood. The first glimpse of the idea probably emerged in the Dresden headquarters of the KGB, where Putin was stationed in the 1980s and where KGB and Stasi teams were already building their networks of spies, safe houses, and secret bank accounts.”

From this moment I was unsure how to take Applebaum’s myriad assertions about other autocrats. I suspect that many are true – in the same way that Donald Trump generally manages to get a certain truth in many of his claims.

Appelbaum also writes about a dinner in Munich in February 2023 in which a European diplomat returned from Africa expressed surprise that some students repeated Russian claims that “blamed NATO for the invasion” of Ukraine. Once again Appelbaum reveals her limitations as an analyst and lack of in-depth Russian experience. I wrote and spoke about US proposals for a National Missile Defence (NMD) system in 2001 and said: “Many Russians see NATO expansion as aimed at Russia (the Poles and Baltic countries certainly see it this way) despite NATO denials. I marvel at the words of George Robertson, Secretary-General of NATO, when he says that NATO enlargement to possibly include countries of the former USSR carries no threat to Russia and that NATO’s enlargement follows precisely the post-Cold War logic.” See: https://www.jeffschubert.com/us-missile-defence/

Applebaum’s book is probably a thrilling read for people who want to occupy time at airports, but should not be relied upon for understanding “autocracy” in any detail — and certainly not for understanding Russia!

 

Albanese and post-China/US War Dictatorship: Part 3

Posted on by Jeff Schubert

Albanese and post-China/US War Dictatorship: Part 3

Movie Plot: Albanese attempts to become Australian dictator after China-US war but it does not go to plan!

Characters at time of the War:

Prime Minister Albanese; Defence Minister Marles; Foreign Affairs Minister Wong; Treasurer Chalmers; Attorney-General Dreyfus; PM’s Chief-of-Staff Gartrell; Secretary of Department of PM&C Davis; Secretary of Treasury Kennedy; Minister of Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Conroy; Luke Gosling; Tanya Plibersek; Mike Burgess of ASIO. Journalists Greg Sheridan, David Speers, Cameron Stewart and Nick McKenzie. Premiers: NSW Minns, Vic Allan, Qld Miles, WA Cook, Tas Rockliff, SA Malinauskas.

Scene 32: National Cabinet Meeting

Marles: “There are too many foreign-orchestrated people and on-line sites attacking our alliance with the US and in particular AUKUS. Our intelligence and national security officials believe that this activity needs to be restricted. Thus, I am proposing that we take action to block such sites.”

Minns: “This is extreme. People will still be able to use VPNs to access commentary on overseas sites.”

Marles: “Yes. One option is to make it illegal to use VPNs but this is probably impractical. In any case, most English language foreign sites – and specifically those in the US and the UK – are very supportive of AUKUS.”

Allan: “This is not China, so talk of outlawing VPNs is inappropriate.”

Marles: “In any case, Commonwealth agencies will not be disclosing any information about AUKUS in the future.”

Malinauskas: “Does that include to parliamentary committee?”

Marles: “Yes.”

Malinauskas: “Good!”

Scene 33: Parliamentary Press Gallery

Stewart: “Elon Musk has been released. There are suggestions that he has cut a deal to censor some tweets on X.”

Sheridan: “The AUKUS website is still down.”

Speers: “If the US is getting into censorship you can be sure Australia will be worse – along with the UK!”

Scene 34: Public Service Office

Davis: “Over a billion dollars? How”

Kennedy: “Whatever Marles now says, goes! Chalmers – who has now also become Minister of Finance – signed off on it. I called Moriarty but he seemed to have no real idea what the money was for; just payment for some AUKUS related services.”

Davis shakes his head: “Sounds a bit like Whitlam’s Khemlani!”

Kennedy: “The company has an internet site, but it says nothing. Appears to be based in Cyprus.”

Scene 35: Cambodia

McKenzie is in Phnom Penh to meet the person – ie the broker  – who had called him, and is directed to go to a “girly bar” on Street 136.

McKenzie: “You are the broker or John?”

John: “John. But I do know about The Broker. That’s why I called you saying I was The Broker. I don’t have long to live. Only weeks. Cancer. So I will get straight to the point.”

McKenzie: “I am sorry. Your accent is clearly Australian.”

John: “I was living in Moscow in the mid-1990s and helped some young computer whiz-kids with their English. One day they floated am imaginary idea to help people who wanted someone beaten to find someone to do it. This would not have been difficult to do at the time but these guys wanted to create a an computer program to do it online. I jokingly suggested that they call it The Broker. But they were not joking and they did it. They made money and even seemed to think they were providing a good public service – which they were in some cases. One of them ended up in jail but another became a very rich high-profile businessman. The Broker business seemed to fade out in the early Putin and Medvedev years, but I hear that is back in, or still in business – and bigger than before!”

McKenzie: “How is this relevant for me?”

John: “The Broker has become international. Want somebody threatened, beaten or killed and they will find someone to do it – including in Australia!”

McKenzie: “How to people contact these people if they want someone threatened, killed, or whatever?”

John: “Ah! This is the main point. You cannot find or contact The Broker. They find you! They now use sophisticated internet search engines and algorithms to identify possible clients and then offer a service – and if you accept, they will identify a service provider. But the client and service provider will never meet or even be able to identify each other.”

McKenzie: “Interesting. But this is not my field. I am more into corruption and public misdeeds.”

John: “Let me continue. The Broker still needs to find people on the ground and this can be sometimes problematic. Some years ago they found a guy in Australia – ex-SAS – and gave him some work. Killed several people. They still use him, but he is a bit mentally unbalanced and a little unpredictable.”

McKenzie: “You have names of people killed?”

John: “Gartrell. The former chief-of-staff from Anthony Albanese.”

McKenzie: “You have proof?

John: “I will tell you no more, except that whoever commissioned this job with The Broker is now under pressure to pay-up. This is my last attempt to do something for Australia. Thanks for coming. Goodbye!”

McKenzie: “One last question. Why are you in Cambodia?”

John smiles and looks toward a man sitting nearby: “My jail-bird friend from Moscow owns this bar!”

Scene 36: Office of Foreign Minister

Wong and Drefyus discuss the McKenzie article about “The Broker”.

Wong: “Who would benefit from killing Gartrell? It doesn’t make sense. The name sounds so casual – like buying and selling shares on the stock-market.”

Dreyfus shrugs his shoulders, then he remembers something: “Someone has tried to contact Marles by calling my office. Said he was ‘the broker’. I assumed Marles was buying or selling shares.”

Wong: “He has never mentioned the stock-market to me.”

Dreyfus: “Me either!”

Scene 37: A Park in Canberra

Davis, Kennedy and Dreyfus have confidential meeting with Burgess.

Davis: “So this is what we have. US Treasury have investigated financial flows related to The Broker as part of their sanctions on Russia. The company in Cyprus that we have paid a billion dollar to is not, as far as we can tell, directly linked to The Broker but the Cyprus company has some links to some former American security officials including Mike Pompeo who was both director of the CIA and Secretary of State.”

Kennedy: “But that still does no explain why Marles was so keen for this payment to be made.”

Davis: “Australia has paid a billion dollars to Americans supposedly for services related to AUKUS. Or, was it for something else?”

Burgess: “As far as we can tell there is no connection between the Cyprus company and the prime minister.”

Scene 38: Office of Foreign Minister

Wong: Anthony (Albanese), I am worried about you. Mark (Dreyfus) is too. He has always admired you so much. Is there anything we can do for you?”

Albanese: “I have made so many mistakes, betrayed so many people.”

Wong: “You never betrayed me when I needed you. I have always been so thankful for that.”

Albanese: “You keep saying that, but I do not know what you mean.”

Wong: “When you protected me from the allegations that I was a Chinese spy. When ASIO wanted to have me arrested.”

Albanese: “I never heard of these allegations. Who told you?”

Wong: “Marles.”

Albanese: “It’s nonsense!”

Wong: “Marles said ….”

Albanese: “Marles is a liar and a thug. He helped me once when I had a problem and I felt gratitude. But he took advantage of that and did things which I thought were to help me, but were really to help him.”

Wong: “You mean the car crash when you were drunk?”

Albanese: “How do you know about that?”

Wong: “I heard rumours. That’s when Marles told me how you had protected me from ASIO. Told me that I owed you and should say nothing.”

Albanese starts to cry: “He killed Gartrell.”

Wong: “What do you mean?”

Albanese: “Gartrell never took drugs. Marles had him killed.”

Wong: “Are you serious?”

Albanese says nothing and continues to cry.

 Scene 39: Prime Minister’s Office

Wong and Dreytfus confront Marles.

Wong: “We are sorry to have to have this conversation with you, but there are just too many strange things that have happened.”

Dreyfus: “Albanese has suggested that you are connected to death of Gartrell and the Mostyn issue. Your payment of one billion dollars seems to be connected to former American security and diplomatic officials, but we still cannot understand why it was necessary. And then there is The Broker organization – which seems to fit in here somewhere.”

Marles: “What do you want me to say. What are you implying?”

Wong: “We would just feel more comfortable if you were not prime minister. Some senior public service officials feel the same way.”

Dreyfus: “There are some investigations still underway, and at the same time the situation in Australia and the world are so perilous that a prime minister cannot afford to be distracted by internal – and what might be criminal – investigations.”

Scene 40: National Cabinet Meeting

Wong: “Richard (Marles) resignation is due to some sudden health issues. I propose that national cabinet continue to operate as before but suggest that we need to soften some of our approaches – both within Australia and internationally.”

Malinauskas: “And what about AUKUS?”

Wong: “We need to have a closer look at exactly where we are on this and where it is going. There seem to be some much discussed of problems on the UK aspect.”

Cook: “And exports to China?”

Wong: “We are also looking at that issue.”

Scene 41: Public Service Office

Davis: “Marles is heading to New Zealand as our High Commissioner. He cannot do much damage there and will be within easy reach if the investigators need him. Wong says he seems very scared, and seems to be hoping that the investigations will lapse if he is not PM.”

Kennedy: “This Broker organization. Could it have been involved in setting-up Mostyn?”

Davis: “ASIO did that investigation.”

Kennedy: “OK! So far so good. Time for a whisky!!”

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Albanese and post-China/US War Dictatorship: PART 2

Posted on by Jeff Schubert

Albanese and post-China/US War Dictatorship: Part 2

Movie Plot: Albanese attempts to become Australian dictator after China-US war but it does not go to plan!

Characters at time of the War:

Prime Minister Albanese; Defence Minister Marles; Foreign Affairs Minister Wong; Treasurer Chalmers; Attorney-General Dreyfus; PM’s Chief-of-Staff Gartrell; Secretary of Department of PM&C Davis; Secretary of Treasury Kennedy; Minister of Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Conroy; Luke Gosling; Tanya Plibersek; Mike Burgess of ASIO. Journalists Greg Sheridan, David Speers, Cameron Stewart and Nick McKenzie. Premiers: NSW Minns, Vic Allan, Qld Miles, WA Cook, Tas Rockliff, SA Malinauskas.

 Scene 20: Prime Minister’s Office

Marles: “Pat. I want you to take-over Defence and I will appoint Luke Gosling in your place.”

Conroy: “What about Moriarty? Should he stay?”

Marles: “He has been Secretary of the Department of Defence for nearly a decade. Hasn’t achieved much because he is little more than an office manager, but even an office manager can be useful if you can give him directions. Let him stay for a while.”

Conroy: “That leaves the appointment of a new Defence Force Chief of Staff. Vice-Admiral Hammond is the obvious choice if we want to bolster AUKUS. Lots of experience with subs.

Marles laughs: “And loves being in Washington!”

Scene 21: Public Service Office

Davis: “National cabinet starts in half an hour. It will be interesting to see if the premiers are still holding out. Marles is going to apologize for the way Albanese approached things but stick with the demand for referral of powers, saying that the street demonstrations and strikes underline the need for centralized control of law enforcement.”

Kennedy: “Not that this will help the economy!”

Davis: “I’m not being told much. Marles is even more secretive than Albanese. But I think that he is ready to make some concessions on trade with China.”

Kennedy: “WA will be happy!”

Davis: “Not only WA! I should help calm down some of the angry business groups.”

Scene 22: Office of the Foreign Minister

Wong: “Anthony (Albanese) is not handling the situation well. He has become a shell of himself.”

Dreyfus: “Every time that I try to talk to him I get the feeling that he will begin to cry. Marles has a lot to answer for!”

Wong: “Marles did not force him to dream of becoming another John Curtin.”

Dreyfus: “But he did push for extremely strong action against China, and it was Marles who got me to get ASIO to check on the G-G.”

Wong: “The death of Gartrell has not helped either.”

Both Wong and Dreyfus are silent for a moment before Wong says: “Marles is not telling me what he is planning next, and this has led to some difficult telephone conversations with quite a few foreign ministers. I don’t know what to tell them.”

Dreyfus: “National cabinet is about to start. Maybe we will learn more?”

Scene 23: Office of the Prime Minister

Marles, Conroy and Gosling are sitting around a table after the national cabinet meeting.

Conroy: “A surprise! The premiers seem to be falling in line – at least for now. The media remain mixed. The News Corp. mob are very supportive and even the ABC seems muted. Dutton does not know what to do. When he criticizes us he sounds pro-Chinese!”

Marles laughs: “We need to keep concern about China in the headlines. And we need to keep Wong, Dreyfus and Chalmers inline. Wong thinks the Japanese will try to repair things with China which means that we are the only true ally the US has in the Indo-Pacific.”

Gosling: “Yeah! India wants nothing to do with this stoush, particularly as Russia is being very vocal for China. And Indonesia says that it is not taking sides.”

Conroy: “It was a good move to soften the talk about conscription and instead emphasize, as you said, ‘general mobilization to protect our cherished freedoms.”

Marles now answers a call on his desk phone, and says: “Send him in.”

Marles greets Mike Burgess, head of ASIO: “Mike. Thanks for coming at such short notice. We have just finished a national cabinet meeting and there some things to discuss. Dreyfus should be here soon.”

Burgess: “Good. I would feel better given that I report to him.”

Marles: “National cabinet feels that we need to monitor Chinese in this country more closely. I know that many have left or are planning to go, but many of those staying will be loyal to Beijing. Don’t worry about resources. The national security budget is expanding rapidly and ASIO will get its share. Conroy has a few specific names that might be worth attention.”

Conroy hands Burgess a piece of paper, saying: “Keep it confidential!”

Marles: “It seems that Dreyfus is not coming. I will tell him about this meeting later. Thanks for coming Mike. These are difficult times and some difficult decisions need to be made.”

Burgess leaves the room.

Gosling: “I wonder what happened to Dreyfus.”

Marles: “I didn’t invite him.”

They all have a little chuckle.

Scene 24: Office of the Foreign Minister

Wong is sitting at her desk when Dreyfus quickly walks in.

Dreyfus: “It’s getting worse. I just passed Mike Burgess in the corridor. He had been in a meeting with Marles and his henchmen. He told Burgess that I had been invited! It is bullshit! Burgess told me what was discussed. I should have been there. ASIO is my legal responsibility!”

Wong: “It’s not only you. He called Keir Starmer yesterday. He didn’t tell me. I only found out this morning because I got a query from the British ambassador here who wanted some clarification on AUKUS. Apparently Marles was trying to keep the British on-board.”

Dreyfus: “There is a problem?”

Wong: “The are still trying to figure out how to handle China now that the American’s have a bloody nose. Maybe AUKUS is not the way to go for them?”

Scene 25: Office of the Prime Minister

Marles is dialling a number on his mobile phone, and angrily says: “I told you not to send text messages – on any app! They leave a record. I will call you when I need you.”

Voice in phone is also angry: “Just remember. You owe me bigtime!”

Marles: “I know.”

Scene 26: Public Service Office

Davis: “I have been cut out of the loop on almost everything. The government of Australia is being run out of the PM’s office. I spoke to Moriarty this morning and he does not seem to know what is happening in Defence – although he won’t admit it. DFAT have the same problem.”

Kennedy: “Thankfully it is harder to run the economy in this way.”

Davis: “Thankfully?”

Kennedy: “I don’t mean thanks for the current situation. I mean Treasury with the help of Finance is still needed and thus can have some control. The problem is Chalmers! He won’t even try to stand up to Marles and it is only when I can talk to him directly that we get some sanity.”

Davis: “I’ve seen a couple of suggestion that they will try to strong-arm the Reserve Bank to cut interest rates.”

Kennedy: “Well, as a Bank Board member I have heard nothing – not yet, at least!”

Davis: “Things are in such a flux now, but where do you think the economy is heading.”

Kennedy: “It will be almost impossible to avoid recession. The question is its severity.”

Davis: “I have thought of resigning. But, this would ….”

Kennedy: “No! No! That would only make it easier for Marles and his mob to …”

Davis: “I know.”

Scene 27: Press Gallery Office

Cameron Stewart: “I just spoke to Malinauskas in South Australia. He has heard rumours that the UK is getting cold feet on AUKUS, and suggests an article extolling the effect it will have on our technological capacity, employment and national security even if the Yanks withdrawer from East Asia.”

Greg Sheridan sitting in front of a computer screen: “Fine. But, look at this! Elon Musk may have been arrested.”

Stewart: “Really? Why?”

Sheridan: “No reasons given yet. His X-tweets have been all over the place, although one did suggest the navy lost its aircraft carrier because the US was lagging behind Chinese-technology. This would not have endeared him to many people, and he has not said he will stop making Tesla cars in China.”

Stewart: “He should be more careful about what he says.”

David Speers is sitting nearby and listening to the conversation.

Speers: “Maybe we should all be more careful. Albanese has met with ASIO’s Burgess – alone! Dreyfus is reportedly not happy.”

Stewart: “What? You think there is some sort of threat to free speech?”

Sheridan: “You know, I do wonder about the UK now. If you say a man is a man and a woman is a woman in a tweet you can end up fined or even in jail. And we had the COVID19 experience here – particularly in Victoria!

Stewart: “You’re being paranoid!”

Scene 28: Prime Minister’s Office

Marles is with Conroy and Gosling.

Marles: “Dreyfus says he wants to resign as A-G.”

Conroy: “Let him. He will always be in the way of what we want to do.”

Marles: “No. I would then need to replace him with someone – and there is no guarantee that they would be easier to manipulate. It’s good to know the flaw in the weave. Besides, he won’t resign. He likes the financial perks and the prestige of A-G too much.”

Gosling: “Any feedback from Burgess so far?”

Marles: “Only an official request for more money. I’ve told Chalmers to find a way of organizing this.”

Conroy: “Chalmers is sounding good on the economy. He’s been on several breakfast television shows this week and urging calm. He knows that he needs to listen to Kennedy and Treasury.”

Gosling: “By the way. How is Davis going?”

Marles smiles: “He is ok. Wants to know more all the time, but I involve him just enough to stop him from resigning. It’s a bit like Dreyfus but Davis is really more into the power stuff. Always wants to be a player.”

Conroy: “So he will now be getting very frustrated.”

Marles: “Yes. But better to keep him than look for a new face!”

Scene 29: Office of the Foreign Minister

Dreyfus and Wong are sitting at a table looking glum.

Dreyfus: “The Mostyn thing really plays on my mind. I set it all in motion because Marles said he had some suspicions. But why? Where did these suspicions come from? I mean, I almost feel that I was set-up to …to, I don’t know what …to bring her down!”

Wong: “Because she was a woman?”

Dreyfus: “No. Nothing like that. More that she was …”

Wong: “She was set-up?”

Dreyfus and Wong looked at each other with a look of surprise on their faces as they realized they had similar thoughts.

Dreyfus: “But how? Sure, she liked a few bets, but no-one who knew her thought she was out of control.”

Wong: “I am told that no-one ever does suspect. But … I wish we could ask Burgess what exactly happened!”

Dreyfus with a mild look of surprise on his face: “I can. It is my job!”

Scene 30: Nondescript Office

Nick McKenzie looked at his mobile phone which was ringing with a number he did not recognize.

McKenzie: “Hello”

Voice on phone: “Marles, Mostyn, Gartrell, the broker.”

McKenzie: “Who are you?”

Voice: “The Broker.”

Scene 31: Prime Minister’s Office

Dreyfus is with Marles

Marles: “So, everything is now finalized the referral of state powers to us! Great!” Anything else happening?”

Dreyfus: “We get some idiot calls. Someone who calls himself ‘The broker’ has been leaving messages for you at my office. Says he knows you.”

Marles says nothing but quicky grabs his mobile phone when Dreyfus leaves: “Why are you calling Dreyfus’ office leaving messages? Who in the fuck are you?”

Voice on the phone: “After all that I have done for you, and you still don’t know? You took the first step with Albanese and the dead woman! Then Gartrell! How many years would you get in the slammer? Life? And then there is the Mostyn thing!”

Marles: “I mean, who are you really? What is your real name? Who is behind you? You can’t do all these things yourself.”

Voice: “When will you deliver?”

Marles is about to reply when he looks at his phone and sees that he is no longer connected. He slumps into his chair.”

 

Albanese and post-China/US War Dictatorship

Posted on by Jeff Schubert

Albanese and post-China/US War Dictatorship!

Plot: Albanese attempts to become Australian dictator after China-US war but it does not go to plan!

Characters at time of War:

Prime Minister Albanese; Defence Minister Marles; Foreign Affairs Minister Wong; Treasurer Chalmers; Attorney-General Dreyfus; PM’s Chief-of-Staff Gartrell; Secretary of Department of PM&C Davis; Secretary of Treasury Kennedy; Minister of Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Conroy; Luke Gosling; Tanya Plibersek; Mike Burgess of ASIO. Journalists Greg Sheridan, David Speers, Cameron Stewart and Nick McKenzie. Premiers: NSW Minns, Vic Allan, Qld Miles, WA Cook, Tas Rockliff, SA Malinauskas.

Scene 1: Prime Minister’s Office

Albanese: “Fuck! What are we going to do?”

Marles: “We have to agree. The US subs and marines in Australia are the only thing stopping a Chinese invasion.”

Wong: “My department thinks the Chinese now have enough problems at home and dealing with the fall-out from the fighting.”

Marles: “Only for the next year or two!”

Albanese: “Cutting all our exports to China will create a mess here. Think of the job losses!”

Marles: “We need to quickly spend more on defence. Introduce mass conscription. That will take care of job losses!”

Gartrell: “You need to create a national cabinet. Call all the premiers now, show you are in charge. Address the country. Tell it that the world in now different and that Australia must adjust. You can now be a war-time leader!”

Albanese: “Yes. A John Curtin leader. Let’s do it1”

Scene 2: Office of the Foreign Minister

Chalmers walks in and says: “Albanese has just told me. Cut all exports to China! Increase spending on tanks, ships, soldiers. It will wreck the budget. Is the situation really this bad. The Chinese are not going to invade us. Are they?”

Wong: “It hardly matters. Everyone is panicking. Marles is egging him on and teachers pet Dreyfus is helping the Albanese to start imagining himself as some sort of historical figure.”

Chalmers: “My god! We only elected him party leader because the electorate had turned on Shorten. We had little choice. You should have put up your hand.”

Wong: “He saved me when …”

Chalmers: “Let’s not go there again!”

Wong: “I owed him for that. But he is very sneaky and we are now stuck with him.”

Scene 3: Cabinet Room

The state premiers are all on-line as the PM prepares to address the nation.

Albanese: “My fellow citizens. I am speaking to you as head of the new national cabinet which has just concluded a long and difficult meeting. The state premiers and I are united in our view about what measures need to be taken for the future safety and prosperity of Australia. As you already know the conflict over Taiwan has thankfully calmed down and we hope that this uneasy situation does not flare-up again. Nevertheless, as a nation we are now presented with some stark and uncomfortable choices. The US, our alliance partner of many years and conflicts, needs Australia’s support to ensure that the recent events result in a long-term peaceful situation. This can only occur if Australia stands fast with the US against the aggression of China. This hopefully does not mean more fighting but it does mean that Australia needs to sever almost all of its relationships with China. All economic relations, including exports and imports, must cease. This also includes social media apps such as WeChat. The national cabinet understands the disruption to business and personal lives that this will bring. To minimise this, the national cabinet will work through the night so that in the morning we can announce more details of the way forward in these very difficult circumstances. Goodnight.”

Minns: “I hope we know what we are doing. This is all so extreme.”

Cook: “Yes. WA is going to be hit very hard.”

Allan: “Of course we do. The Chinese need to know where we stand, and that is with the US.”

Minns: “And what was the role of the US in causing this mess?”

Malinaukas: “We are a national cabinet, so stop arguing!”

Scene 4: Public Service Office

Davis: “I definitely need a drink. The PM’s speech sounded good. National cabinet, standing with the US etc. But what sounds good may not be good in reality.”

Kennedy: “Don’t be so glum. I knew the Albanese when he was a lobbyist. He has a good political nose, good a PR – but nuance and understanding of complex issues is not his thing. Reality will eventually hit him and his national cabinet!”

Davis: “I’m not so sure. Once something is publicly announced, it is hard to change course. His chief of staff and Marles will be encouraging him to go on. Wong probably knows better, but the PM seems to have some hold over her. As for Chalmers – he is so piss-weak!”

Kennedy: “I must admit that the Vic and SA premiers sound a bit too gung-ho. Allan is an ideologue and Malinauskas just wants more spending in his state for building AUKUS subs – so fuck the rest of Australia!”

Davis: “We better get back to the meeting. Try to minimize the damage caused by this national cabinet.”

Scene 5: Parliamentary Press Gallery Office

 Greg Sheridan: “Here it is. The national cabinet press-release basically says that every-thing China is off-limits to Australians with no exceptions.”

David Speers: What are other countries doing?

Greg Sheridan: “Not much. Don’t they understand the threat? At least we are taking the lead.”

David Speers: “The EU? Japan? Why do we need to take a lead?”

Greg Sheridan: “Because we are standing up for values. And only the US can ensure international order!”

Scene 6: Prime Minister’s Office

Albanese: “The general media reaction has been supportive.”

Marles: “And the Opposition is all at sea. Say they want to support the US but also lots of stuff about the effect on the economy.”

Albanese: “Should I call the US president?”

Gartrell: “He should call you! You are taking the lead on this. He should be grateful.”

Wong: “I think he has bigger problems right now. The US is in shock over this. Some are calling for a nuclear strike on China.”

Albanese: “Should I say something about this? Be bit more of a leader?”

Wong shakes her head.

Albanese: “What now? What do we do next?”

Chalmers: “We try to fix this mess. I think the WA premier is very wobbly on the national cabinet, which is not surprising giving the uproar it is causing with the hit on exports. Their next session of parliament is going to be very rough.”

Marles: “Fuckin parliaments! We should abolish them.”

Chalmers: “Davis waiting in the Cabinet room to give us a briefing on next steps. Kennedy is with him.”

They all leave the room. Sometime later Albanese and Marles return.

Albanese: “Are you serious? Abolish the parliaments, and we appoint the premiers?”

Marles: “Put it up as another temporary measure. Nearly all the premiers would love it.”

Albanese: “Yeh! Especially if we choose them!”

Albanese calls in his chief-of-staff and asks: “Have we heard anything from the US?”

Gartrell shakes his head, and then says: “The WA parliament is in up-roar! There is talk of secession.”

Albanese turns to Marles: “Maybe your idea is good! We need to keep WA in line so that we can offers bases for US subs.”

Scene 7: Prime Minister’s Office

Albanese: “We need a more compliant G-G. How can we get rid of Mostyn. We could then appoint Admiral Johnston to the position – his status-conscious wife would love it – and we could then get a competent Chief-of-Defence Force. So, if we can get rid of present G-G we then kill two birds with one stone. What leverage do we have on Mostyn?”

Marles: “None that I know of.”

Albanese: “Pity!”

Marles: “How much do you trust Gartrell?”

Albanese: “What do you mean?”

Marles: “Only that I would prefer that we keep some of our conversations private – to ourselves!”

Albanese: “OK. You think that you can solve some of our problems?”

Marles: “I don’t know. But give me a little time.”

Albanese: “You always were a very useful chief-of-staff!”

Scene 8: Prime Minister’s Office

Albanese: “How can we get more of a handle on media commentary? Too much is extremely negative.”

Gartrell: “Maybe the commentary is right? I am beginning to worry that we are over-reacting and caving into US demands too easily. The US is nearly as much to blame as China for what happened. Do we need to shoot our-selves in the foot over all this?”

Albanese: “I understand what you are saying, but you are the only person in this building that I can trust with everything. I have no secrets from you. Think of your future career prospects. I will make sure you get a safe seat. Just like I did when Marles was my chief-of-staff. But, I need you to stay in tune with me.”

Scene 9: Prime Minister’s Office

Albanese: “You’re kidding?”

Dreyfus: “No. Marles thought there might be a problem and I asked ASIO to check it out. The G-G has had a gambling problem for years. Quite a few people knew, but we didn’t know how serious it was. She owes millions to some crypto mob based in China as far as we can tell.”

Albanese: “Is this a security risk?”

A knock is heard at the door and Marles walks in with a slight smile on his face: “You now know?”

Albanese: “About the G-G’s gambling?”

Dreyfus to Albanese: “You should talk to her. Maybe she should resign.”

Albanese: “Can you arrange a discreet meeting for tomorrow? And give me a one-page briefing which I can have for the meeting. And we need to find a public excuse for her resignation – and one that does not reflect badly on us!”

Dreyfus stands-up, nods and leaves.

Marles watches Dreyfus leave and then says: “He is so obedient. Thinks you are God! He listens to what you begin to say and finishes the sentence.”

Albanese laughs.

Marles: “So we can now appoint a new G-G. Defence Chief-of-Staff would be a good choice!”

Albanese looks at Marles for a moment before saying: “Did you have some role in this? Is it a set-up?”

Marles: “Mostyn has had a gambling problem for a long-time. We have just taken advantage of it – by making it more of a problem for her.”

Albanese: “Who else knows?”

Marles: “Besides us, only head of ASIO and a couple of his flunkies.”

Albanese: “Let’s keep it that way!”

Scene 10: Prime Minister’s Office

Albanese in new address to nation: “As a result of our discussions in national cabinet it has become clear that we need to prepare for a much longer period of uncertainty as foreign actors – and China in particular – attempt to sow discord in our society. The recent demonstrations against decisions of national cabinet are mostly the result of such foreign influences and there is a clear need for uniformity and firmness against the likely escalation in violence. There is thus a clear need to consolidate government decision making structures. I am thus proposing that all states agree to refer, as provided in Section 51 of the Australian constitution, a number of law and order functions to the Commonwealth which would exercise these powers as part of the national cabinet process. The first step is to bring unity of procedures for the appointment of senior police personnel.”

Scene 11: National Cabinet Meeting.

Albanese: “Calm down. Let’s try to continue working in the national interest.”

Minns: “Your speech did not reflect our discussions and there was no agreement as you suggested. NSW will not be referring such powers to the Commonwealth or to this national cabinet.”

Cook: “And, the same goes for WA.”

Allan: “The wording was clumsy but I think the basic idea is correct.”

Minns: “Wording? It was clear what Albanese wants. It is a naked grab for power!”

Malinauskas: “The polls show that there is a majority in favour.”

Cook: “It is small, and probably reflects the belief – the inaccurate belief – that this was discussed and agreed in national cabinet.”

Albanese: “There are national security considerations which I need to share with you.”

Cook: “Such as?”

Albanese: “The G-G resigned because she was asked to. She was being blackmailed over accessing paedophile internet sites. ASIO believes that she was part of a ring which also includes several senior police officials. I cannot say much more now, certainly not give details, because ASIO is still trying to determine the extent of this ring and the particular individuals involved.”

Scene 12: Prime Minister’s Office

Davis: “Why was I not told about the G-G and this paedophile ring?”

Albanese: “You were to be told, but things have moved so quickly.”

Davis: “What!”

Albanese: “Dreyfus was preparing a brief on the issue but it must have got delayed.”

Davis: “At least your chief-of-staff could have alerted me that there was this issue. I thought the G-G resignation was related to gambling.”

Albanese: “How do you know that?”

Davis looks at Gartrell.

Albanese now looks at Gartrell and asks: “How did you know.”

Gartrell: “Dreyfus was having some problems contacting you and called me.”

Davis, obviously frustrated and stands up to leave: “I am already late for another of these damn meetings.”

After Davis leaves, Albanese looks at a clearly uncomfortable Gartrell: “Just keep in mind the future safe seat!”

Scene 13: Prime Minister’s Office

Albanese to Dreyfus: “There was no need for Gartrell to know about the G-G’s gambling.”

Dreyfus: “He is your chief-of-staff and I could not get you because you were with Davis. Anyway, that’s not the main issue? You have now told national cabinet it was about paedophilia! Why?”

Albanese: “I needed to get them on-side. It was a small price to pay.”

Dreyfus: “This will spread like wild-fire. Half the country will soon know about it.”

Albanese: “Look! I am doing this for the country, for Australia’s national security!”

Scene 14: Prime Minister’s Office

Albanese is with Davis when there is a knock on the door and Gartrell hurries in: “The former G-G has killed herself”

Albanese after pausing for a moment: “I guess this is not a surprise. I need to put out a press-release saying the usual nice things.”

Gartrell’s voice now shows some anger: “Should it mention gambling or paedophilia?”

Albanese: “Let’s just leave it at gambling.”

Albanese: “She resigned because she owed millions to a Chinese gambling syndicate and was being blackmailed.”

Davis: “This is not going to end well – for anyone!

Scene 15: Restaurant

Gartrell is in a restaurant with an unidentified male friend. He is clearly upset, and quickly downs several drinks.

Friend: “Wow! This is unbelievable!”

Scene 16: Public Service Office

Kennedy: “State bureaucrats are beginning to fight back. I know some of them very well and they are calling me.”

Davis: “You’re not alone.”

Scene 17: Prime Minister’s Office

Marles: “Gartrell was talking too much.”

Albanese: “But, did you have to kill him?”

Marles: “It was a drug overdose.”

Albanese, shaking his head: “He never took drugs. He was almost a son to me.”

Marles: “Remember that we are doing all this for Australia’s national security.”

Albanese: “Who organizes these things for you?”

Marles just smiles.

Scene 18: Prime Minister’s Office

Dreyfus: “The state premiers are in revolt. The media is not saying much because of national security concerns, but the rumours are that the paedophile story was a lie and led to the death of an innocent woman. But the dam will eventually burst.”

Albanese says little and seems depressed: “This has got out of control.”

There is a knock on the door and Marles and Wong enter.

Wong to Albanese: “I have been very loyal to you because you once had my back when I really needed it. But, you now need to pull back! We risk a huge recession and massive civil unrest.”

Marles to Albanese: “It might be best for the country if you resign. I am ready to go to the G-G and say I can form a government.”

Wong: “No! There will then be pressure for an election. And, why you? There are other people who might want to be leader.”

Marles: “No. Johnston understands the situation. He knows that I am the best hope. There will be no election until the national security situation improves.”

Wong: “And when will that be?”

Marles: “Not soon!”

Albanese says nothing.

Marles hands Albanese a phone, saying: “Call the G-G.”

Scene 19: Prime Minister’s Office

Official: “The president is now ready to talk to you.”

Marles: “Hello. Yes, yes. Thankyou.”