nsw

The Conservatorium High School, a specialist public school in Sydney, has denied reports it removed former Australian of the Year Grace Tame from its consent education program. The school’s response came after media coverage linked her participation in the program to a controversial chant she led at a pro-Palestine rally.

Context of the Controversy

Ms. Tame had previously been involved in the Consent & Healthy Relationships classes for Years 9 and 10 students. Last week, she led a chant at a rally on the steps of Town Hall, stating “From Gadigal to Gaza, globalise the Intifada.” Gadigal is the Aboriginal name for Sydney, and “intifada” refers to Palestinian uprisings against Israel. The chant has been described as a call to violence.

A spokesperson for the NSW Department of Education stated that Ms. Tame is not associated with the school as an alumnus or speaker. The department too confirmed that the list of speakers for the 2026 program has not yet been determined.

Public Reaction and Next Steps

The situation has sparked public debate, with petitions launched calling for Ms. Tame to be stripped of her 2021 Australian of the Year title. One petition has garnered over 27,000 signatures. Ms. Tame responded to the criticism on Instagram, stating, “This is not the first time I’ve been made a villain for speaking out,” and, “I refuse to be silent.”

The NSW government is currently considering whether to ban the “globalise the Intifada” chant as hate speech, following a similar move in Queensland. The school’s consent program is scheduled to run in the middle of the year, leaving time to finalize speaker arrangements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What prompted the protests involving Grace Tame?

The protests were organized to oppose the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog following the Bondi Beach terror attack.

What was the NSW Department of Education’s response to reports about Grace Tame?

The department stated that Grace Tame is not associated with the school as an alumnus or speaker and that the list of speakers for the 2026 program has not been determined.

What did Grace Tame say in response to the criticism she received?

Ms. Tame responded on Instagram, stating, “This is not the first time I’ve been made a villain for speaking out,” and, “I refuse to be silent.”

As the debate continues, will the focus shift from Ms. Tame’s political expression to the core message of consent education itself?

A specialized Australian Federal Police surveillance team, established to monitor high-risk terrorist offenders, was disbanded due to funding shortfalls in the weeks leading up to the Bondi attack on December 14th. The team, based in Canberra, operated under the Commonwealth High Risk Terrorist Offender regime.

Funding Concerns and Team Disbandment

The decision to dissolve the team was made late last year, according to reporting by The Nightly, after a senior AFP figure informed staff that “current budget pressures and the lack of certainty in relation to ongoing funding has limited our ability to fill vacancies.” Correspondence indicates that consideration was given to disbanding the group and reallocating funding to the AFP’s Counter Terrorism and Special Investigations Command.

While funding for eight positions was secured for the following financial year, it was not guaranteed beyond that period. The commander of Covert and Technical Operations, Intelligence and Covert Services, stated that a decision regarding the team’s future was necessary due to “competing resourcing and operational priorities.”

An unnamed former senior officer suggested the disbandment stemmed from a decision within the AFP’s CTSI Command to prioritize investigative work over surveillance. This led to the team’s personnel being reassigned to ACT Policing.

Political Response and Ongoing Inquiries

Following the Bondi attack, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that Australia’s national security agencies, including the AFP, have “never had more funding than they have today.” AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett acknowledged “increasingly complex environments” require “constant re-prioritisation” and affirmed her commitment to securing necessary resources.

The AFP declined to comment on the specifics of its surveillance capabilities when approached by The Nightly. A closed-door investigation, led by former Defence and ASIO boss Dennis Richardson, is currently underway to review the actions of security agencies and Federal police prior to the Bondi shootings. The Albanese Government has resisted calls for a broader Royal Commission.

Federal Parliament is expected to be recalled, potentially in the week before Australia Day, to consider legislation aimed at cracking down on hate preachers and extremist organizations. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has called for a Royal Commission into the Bondi shootings, a demand echoed by four teal independent MPs in an open letter to the Prime Minister.

Frequently Asked Questions

What led to the disbandment of the AFP surveillance team?

The team was disbanded due to funding shortfalls and a lack of certainty regarding ongoing financial support, as communicated to staff by a senior AFP figure late last year.

What was the stated reason for reallocating the team’s funding?

According to an unnamed former senior officer, the AFP’s CTSI Command decided the budget would be more effectively used to support investigative efforts rather than surveillance.

What is the government’s response to concerns about funding for national security?

Prime Minister Albanese has stated that Australia’s national security agencies have “never had more funding than they have today.”

Given the ongoing inquiries and potential legislative changes, how might Australia’s counter-terrorism strategies evolve in the coming months?