Share this page!

Stephen Dziedzic Profile picture
Twitter logo
11 Oct, 6 tweets, 2 min read
Officials from @dfat, Home Affairs + Defence are giving evidence to a parliamentary committee on Afghanistan. @kimbakit asks about the release of Hekmatullah, who murdered three Australian soldiers in 2012. Officials don't have much additional information theaustralian.com.au/nation/hekmatu…
Defence officials say they learned of Hekmatullah's release through "sensitive" intelligence channels and they aren't willing to disclose any details in a public forum 2/
Now @SenatorWong asks why the Secretary of @dfat Kathryn Campbell and the Secretary of Home Affairs Mike Pezzullo aren't present at the hearing. She says she wants to voice her disappointment given the critical issues being canvassed 3/
When were families of the soldiers killed advised of Hekmatullah's release? CDF says they were told over the weekend. Wong asks why then - was it because the news was about to be published in the Australian? CDF say it was simply because they'd established he'd been released 4/
Now Wong is digging into closure of Australia's Embassy in Afghanistan. When did planning for the closure begin? Officials stonewall masterfully, repeat over and over they ALWAYS engage in contingency planning etc etc. Wong losing patience (and we're only about 30 minutes in) 5/
Officials say discussions about closing the Embassy "came into sharper focus" (a wonderfully ambiguous phrase) after President Biden's withdrawal announcement on April 14. Now the lunch break. 6/

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh
　

Keep Current with Stephen Dziedzic

Stephen Dziedzic Profile picture

Stay in touch and get notified when new unrolls are available from this author!

Read all threads

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

PDF

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video
  1. Follow @ThreadReaderApp to mention us!

  2. From a Twitter thread mention us with a keyword "unroll"
@threadreaderapp unroll

Practice here first or read more on our help page!

More from @stephendziedzic

Stephen Dziedzic Profile picture
11 Oct
Back on this. We're once again in "constantly" land. Not only was @dfat "constantly" monitoring the security situation in Kabul, officials were also "constantly" assessing likely increase in applications from translators etc as Taliban approached Kabul. Not hugely specific 1/
This is more interesting and specific. The CDF says in the months leading up to the fall of Kabul the number of applications from local engaged staff and translators had actually fallen off (of course there was a surge later, as the Taliban approached the gates) 2/
How many Australian citizens/visa holders remain stranded in Afghanistan? DFAT says its "best estimate" is that 129 Australian citizens and 157 permanent residents (who have registered/requested assistance from the Australian Govt) remain in Afghanistan (as of 1 October) 3/
Read 8 tweets
Stephen Dziedzic Profile picture
13 Sep
Officials from @dfat + Home Affairs appearing at a parliamentary committee investigating foreign interference in diaspora communities in Australia. One official says DFAT has "conveyed concerns" directly to Chinese + Cambodian officials over intimidation or harassment in Aust 1/
To be clear I think @dfat has referred specifically to China + Cambodia here not necessarily because they are deliberately singling them out, but largely because both Uighur + Cambodian community groups gave evidence today alleging intimidation/harassment from those govts 2/
Labor MP @JulianHillMP asks for the Foreign Minister's statement on Cambodia's move to charge former Victorian MP Hong Lim with incitement (it's a bit of a pointed question - she has made no such public statement) 3/ sbs.com.au/news/a-big-dis…
Read 12 tweets
Stephen Dziedzic Profile picture
11 Aug
This is beginning now. Fairly grim opening. The FM says "we are probably experiencing the most massive, brutal and opportunistic military campaign of violence and terror, by the Taliban, in the history of our country" 1/
Even more grim. The FM says the country is grappling with compounding crises. Struggling not just with the Taliban assaults but also a terrible drought and the COVID-19 pandemic. He estimates around 18 million people need humanitarian assistance 2/
The FM says foreign fighters and terrorists are assisting the Taliban. They include fighters who are "globally focussed" (Al Qaeda) and others who are more "locally focussed" (LeT) He says there are implications for the whole region and the globe 3/
Read 14 tweets
Stephen Dziedzic Profile picture
11 Aug
Morrison has given a speech to the Australian American Leadership Dialogue. Some excerpts. After opening Morrison moves pretty quickly to the pandemic. The PM rather pointedly says Australia is the "partner of choice" for the Pacific when it comes to supplying vaccines 1/
Now defence cooperation. Morrison reiterates that Australia wants to build capacity to produce more advanced weapons, using US tech. He says this will also be valuable to the US because Australia can be a "second, secure source of supply" for it 2/
Morrison- "we're investing our wealth and treasure to make Australia stronger so we can be ready to defend our nation and a rules-based order in our region" (the use of "treasure" is a key tell that this is for a US audience) 3/
Read 9 tweets
Stephen Dziedzic Profile picture
6 Aug
Thread. Pacific Islands Forum leaders met this morning. Some excerpts. Tuvalu PM and outgoing chair Kausea Natano began with appeal for unity, but I think the only Micronesian nation which (briefly) attended the opening session was Nauru 1/
Next is Fiji PM Frank Bainimarama who recognises Samoa's new PM Fiame Naomi Mataʻafa- "a warm welcome to you Madam Prime Minister, it is always a proud moment when a daughter of the Pacific ascends to high office." Says she didn't have an "easy passage" to office (no kidding) 2/
Interesting. Bainimarama offers full apology to Micronesian nations splitting from PIF- "to our Micronesian brothers I offer my deepest apologies. We could have handled the situation better." Of course, almost none of them are actually present to receive this apology. Still. 3/
Read 9 tweets
Stephen Dziedzic Profile picture
5 Aug
Tehan, Albanese, Wong, Payne all speaking today at an Australia China Business Council event. Albanese + Wong both walking a careful line. Wong says there will be enduring differences between Australia and China, partly because they are - in some instances - structural 1/
Wong and Albanese both say Australia cannot compromise on its values when dealing with China. But they also say it's still critical to pursue engagement. Albanese suggests the Government's language has been clumsy at times- "we need to be diplomatic in how we deal with China" 2/
Albanese also says it's a shame the Government rejected his suggestion (in January) to recruit Rudd and Howard to try to break the ice with China - "it's a pity that was rejected it was constructive suggestion" 3/ afr.com/politics/feder…
Read 7 tweets

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!

This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3/month or $30/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Too expensive? Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal Become our Patreon

Thank you for your support!

Follow Us on Twitter!

Like this author's thread?

Get emails when @stephendziedzic has new unrolls!

Check out other threads from @stephendziedzic!

Read all threads by @stephendziedzic

:(