Drop the Prosecutions: Statement on Bernard Collaery, Witness K

By Coalition of Supporters of Bernard Collaery and Witness K

Australians from all walks of life are ashamed and angry when they learn that the Australian Government spied on the East Timor Government offices during oil and gas negotiations in 2004, under the guise of implementing an Australian aid program.  

This act of spying cannot be justified as protecting Australia’s defence or security interests. It was a deceitful act performed against an impoverished trading partner where both sides had promised “good faith” negotiations. 

It was espionage aimed at gaining commercial benefit on behalf of resource companies to the disadvantage of the people of East Timor –– our close neighbour, loyal ally in World War II, and the poorest country in South East  Asia. It has damaged Australia’s reputation for honest and fair dealings with our neighbours.  

This activity may have remained secret but for the courage and integrity of one of the spies, “Witness K”, and his lawyer, Bernard Collaery. These men acted in good faith at a time when our government failed to do so. They bravely stood up to government wrongdoing. The Australian government commenced prosecutions against them in May 2018, without explanation.  

Internationally accepted minimum standards for fair trials are challenged by the numerous hearings held since charges were laid, constant delays and postponements, strict secrecy provisions concerning evidence, and frequent closures of the court to the public. All of this is claimed to be required by national security.  

These dubious prosecutions threaten the rights and values of every  Australian.  

The Attorney-General has the power to discontinue the prosecutions under the Judiciary Act 1903 – Section 71.  

We call on him to drop the prosecutions of Witness K and Bernard Collaery immediately. 

Add your name to the Petition to DROP THE PROSECUTIONS


“Drop the Prosecutions” Statement is endorsed by:

Dr Nick AbelJen Tsen Kwok
Richard Ackland AMAnastasia La Fey
Cate AdamsJoseph Lai
Lesley AgarCarol Lam
Benjamin B. AitkenDr Winifred Lamb
Bill AitkenJohn Lamb
Carmel AitkenDr Judy Lambert AM
David E. AitkenDr Alan Lane
Emily M. AitkenRudolf Langeveld
Dr. Jessica C. AitkenYvonne Langley Wash
Madeline C. AitkenPaul Laris
Hannah J. AkbarianJacky Lawes
Andy AlcockHarold Lawrence
Bill AldcroftHeather Lawson
Debbie AllumP. Lay
Jillian AlsfordCaroline Le Couteur MLA
Karina AndersonProfessor Michael Leach
Tim AndersonPenelope Lee
Denby AngasMargaret Lee
Jackie AntounG. Paul Lehmann
Debbie ArgueJudith Leslie
Joan ArmitageAlan Leslie
Bill Armstrong AOPeter Lindsay
Luise AshleyRosemary Livingstone
Em. Professor Mark AronsonDr Lucas Lixinski
Judy AttwoodPenny Lockwood
Australian Lawyers AllianceColin Long
Sheryl AylwardDenise Lovric
Dorothy BabbBishop Vincent Long OFM
Helen BacheEm. Professor Ian Lowe
Dan BaldingScott Ludlam
William BaldingPatrick Lynch
Ivan BallinDr Gôsta Lynga
Adam Bandt MPDenise MacKay RSJ
Tony BannisterRichard Madigan
Dr Jan Barnett RSJMichele Madigan
Dr Jerard BarryDr Patricia Madigan OP
Maxine BarryDora Maguire RSJ
Professor Fran Baum AORev Peter Maher
Dick BaynhamJohn Mainwaring
Janice BeavanSusie Malady
Margie Beck AMCatherine Mann
Colin BegleyChris Mann
Belina BegleyEm. Professor Brian Martin
Martin BibbyW. Martin
Dr Elizabeth BiokFiona Martin
Jo BlackmanDr Chloe Mason
Margaret BlakersTony Matthews
Margaret BlanchDavid Maxwell
Pauline BleachTerri Mayr
Bea BleilePhyllis McCann RSJ
Graeme BloreMichael Mc Carthy
Jennifer BluhmAnn McCuaig
Mme. Madly BodinDr Helen McCue OAM
Gill BoehringerHamish McDonald
Dr Christine BoothTherese McGarry
Dr Lionel BopageDavid McIlveen
Chitra BopageSenator Nick McKim
Judith BourneDaniel McLoughin
Bosco Social Justice GroupSally McManus
Roger BowenProfessor Luke McNamara
Rod BowerKay McPadden RSJ
Kevin BrackenMedical Assoc. for Prevention of War
Hon Steve Bracks ACAssoc. Prof. Christopher Michaelsen
Rosalind BradleyDr Hannah Middleton
Sarah Bradley AOJosephine Mitchell RSJ
Wendy BradlyClaire Moore
Lawrence BradlyMonitoring Cmte- Attacks on Lawyers
Dr Kevin BrayProfessor Bronwen Morgan
Gwenyth BrayA. Mortimer
Em. Professor Frank BriggsEm. Prof. Ingrid Moses AO
Dr Alison Broinowski AMFather Claude Mostowik MSC
Richard Broinowski AOAdjunct Professor Kathryn Moyle
Michael BrownAngela Munro
David BrownAllison Murchie
Professor AJ BrownPauline Murphy
Samuel BrowningHon Peter Murphy QC
Bishop George BrowningNeil Murray
Annette BrownliePeter Muskens
Professor Ross BuckleySanjiv Muttukumaru
Ian BullJohn Nairn
Hon Dr Meredith Burgmann AMJoanne Nairn
Julian Burnside AO QCThe Hon Marcia Neave AO
C.L. BurtonDr Kate Neely
Dianne BushDanny Neumann
Karen ButcherNeville Newell
Anne ByrneAdj. Prof George Newhouse
Bill ByrneClive Newland
Em. Prof. J. A. Camilleri OAMCarole Newman
Rod CampbellMerilyn Newnham
Doreen CampionAnne Nielsen
Dr Douglas CappDieter Nikolai
Jeffrey CarltonMargaret Ning OAM
Elizabeth CarriganNithi Nithianandan
Shane CarrollSuzy Nixon OAM
Graham CashionProfessor Justine Nolan
Eva CermakAnne Noonan
Professor Janet ChanRobert Northey
Hon. Stephen Charles AO QCNSW Council for Civil Liberties
E. Professor Michael ChestermanLucie O’Brien
Dr Yung En CheeMary O’Byrne
Tom ClarkeAnne O’Connell RSJ
Barbara ClearyGeorge O’Farrell
Paul ClearyPhilomena O’Halloran RSJ
Julia ClementsMichele O’Neil
Annie CloseFr Peter O’Neill
Anthony B. ColeDr Paddy O’Reilly
Adj. Professor Kenneth CoghillMargaret O’Shea
JND ClarkProfessor Graeme Orr
Jenny ColesJon Owen
Graeme CollinDr Rod Page
Joe CollinsSenator Rex Patrick
Rowan CollinsAnn Paterson
Dr Susan Connelly RSJPax Christi Victoria
Dale ConwayGraham Perrett MP
Associate Professor Elizabeth ConnorsMargaret Pestorius
MIchael CookeKrista Petrauskas
Suraya CooreyDr Malcolm Pettigrove
Catherine CooreyAnn Peut
Mary Anne CosgroveRev. Prof. Stephen Pickard
Professor Anne CossinsNella Pickup
Nicholas Cowdery AO QCCathy Picone
Kevin CoxJonathan Pilbrow
Petra CramMichelle Pini
Christine CrasswellerEm. Professor Barbara Pocock
Tony CravenGary Potts
Pam CrichtonBishop Pat Power
Catherine CrittendenJoan Powling
John CummingAdjunct Professor Scott Poynting
Ian CunliffeEric Pozza
Margaret Cusack RSJDean Pratley
Sandra DannJennifer Price
Carmel DarlingDr Sian Prior
Emma DavidsonVal Pudney
Donald DavidsonDavid Purnell OAM
Graham DaviesA. Quah
Lyndall DavisSusie Quinn
Diana Davison MowleSheila Quonoey PBVM
John Davison MowleMalcolm Ramage QC
Professor Caroline De CostaWilliam G.C. Raper
Gerard De RuyterDale Rattle
Louise de VosBert Read
Bishop HIlton DeakinProfessor Stuart Rees
Nick DeaneDawn Richardson
Robert DebusKate Robertson
Quentin DempsterIan Robinson
Jagath DheerasekaraYolanda Rojas
Michael DillonGrant Rollinson
Professor David DixonClive Rosewarne
Peter DixonDenise Rosey
Denis DohertyEdna Ross
David DonovanNgareta Rossell
Michael DownFelicity Ruby
Phil DrewProfessor Tilman A. Ruff
Philippa Duell PieningStuart Russell
Dr Edward DukyerJanet Russell
Maria Dunell RSJAndy Russell
S. DuysterMarie Ryan
Jo DyerWayne Ryan
Patrick EarleColin Ryan
Leonie EbertRory Sain
Adj. Prof. Brendan EdgeworthAnnette Salt
Professor Louise EdwardsMehera San Roque
Dr Meredith Edwards AMJane Sanders
Sue EllermanProfessor Ben Saul
Ray EdmondsonPatricia Saunders
Jo ErreyDavid Savage
Catharine ErreyWarwick Sawyer
Robyn ErreyFrank Scaysbrook
Elizabeth Evatt ACCharlie Scheiner
John EyrePam Schindler
Wendy EyreDr Andy Schmulow
Dr David FaberRobert Scott
Michelle FaheyGil Scrine
Jon Faine AMLouise Seagrave
Darryl FallowMichael Searle
Trevor FarleyShirley Shackleton
Kathrine FarnAli Shambrook
Boris FeiginGary Shapcott
James FitzgeraldRebekha Sharkie MP
Jan FlanaganLinda Shaw
Colleen FoleyAndrea Shaw
The Hon Matt FoleyDr Julie Shaw
Patrick FoleyAdrienne Shilling
Patricia Fox NDSChris Sidoti
Dr Andrew FrainJeff Siegel
André FrankovitsAndrew J. Sinclair
Dr David FredericksS.R. Sivasubramaniam
Dick FriendNicholas Sivertsen
Professor Geoff Gallop ACFrances Sivertsen
Christian GelinekBen Slade
Ross GengosJoanne Smart
Anne T Gibbins BSc Dip EdJohn Smith
Greg GibsonLindsey Smith
Hon Ian GilfillanGabrielle Smith
Prue GillCatherine Smith
Gerry GillespieNaomi Smith RSJ
Judy Gillett FergusonEm. Professor Charles Sowerwine
David Gillett FergusonGraham Spindler
Dr Mike GilliganProfessor Terry Spithill
Dr Phil Glendenning AMLuke Stacey
Jennie GoldieNick Staniforth
Jan GoodallRaya Stanton
Brian GordonDr Rosemary Stanton OAM
Leonie GrantDr David Stephens
Ros GreenwoodGregory Stevens
Michael GrewcockAlan Stewart
Dr Richie GunJaney Stone
Kirsty Sword Gusmão AOLt Col Gary Stone (Ret)
Angie GutowskiMajor Michael Stone (Ret)
Dr Ross GwytherJudi Storer
Bruce HaighDr Jennifer Strauss AM
Jan HallGuy Struthers
Prof. Clive Hamilton AMRachel E. Sudbury
Stuart Hamilton APJane Sulis
Helen HamleyDr Michael Sullivan
John HanleyTrina Supit
Carmel Hanson RSJJan Supit
Rosemary HarrisJens Svensson
Jonathan HarrisDerk Swieringa
Karina HarrisGregoria Tamvakis
Tricia HarrisonProfessor Richard Tanter
Colin HarrisonDr Elizabeth K. Teather
Terence L. HartCouncillor Professor Philip Thalis
Barbara HartleyDr Tivi Thivianathan
Tom HayesJennifer Thomas
Rachel HealyDr Geoff Thompson
Graham HendersonAngela Thorburn
Roslyn HendersonCatherine Thorpe
Cathy HeptinstallAnn Lone Thwaites
Michael HessenthalerMiriam Tonkin
Dr John Hewson AMJan Trewhella
Stacey HigginsJim Truscott
Terence Higgins AO QC Dr Jen Tsen Wok
Dr Keryn HiggsSuzanne Tunks
John HighfieldElizabeth Turnock
Trish HighfieldPaul Turnock
Sharon HillProfessor Jonathan Unger
Dr Helen HillUnion Aid Abroad (APHEDA)
Dr Bernadette HinceShobha Varkey
Mary HincheyHugh Vaughan
Neil HobbsStancea Vichie MSS
Catherine HockingsDr Susan Vickers
Clive HodgesChristine Vincent
Tim HolloProfessor Prue Vines
Anne HolmesTherese Virtue OAM
Alexander HoodDr Vacy Vlazna
David HorkanFay Waddingham
Bob HowarthPat Walsh AM
Brian Howe AODr Sue Wareham OAM
Harold HudsonMargaret Warner
Hilary HughesThe Hon Ann Warner AM
Humanists VictoriaRosemary Watson
Associate Professor Janet HuntAlan Watson
Jonathon HunyorNicholas Watson
Independent and Peaceful Australian Network (IPAN)Geoffrey Watson SC
International Association of People’s Lawyers (IAPL)James Waugh
Michael JamesStuart Wearne
Keri JamesKen Weaver
Professor Paul JamesDr Tony Webb
Kevin JamesAnne Webb
Tony JamesSusanne Weress
W. JayakodyGary Werskey
Professor Sisira JayasuriaRobert Wesley-Smith
Dr Chris JefferisRobin Westcott
Peter JenningsKerry Weste (Aust. Lawyers for Human Rights)
Anya JoedickeChristine Wheeler
Gareth JohnsonDean Wheeler
Andrew JohnsonWhistleblowers Australia Inc
Robyn JohnstonChris White
Prof. the Hon. Barry Jones ACAlbert White
Karen JoyceLeo P. L. White
Daniel KaanHelen White
Hon Sandra KanckRobert White
Cynthia KardellMarie White RSJ
Klaus KaulfussMartin White
Bernard KeaneSarah White
Stephen Keim SCDr Margaret Whitstock
Kathryn KellyDr Brendan Whyte
Maureen KellySandy Wilder
Brendon KelsonAndrew Wilkie MP
Gordon KennardPeter Wilkins
Judith KerrHarold Wilkinson
Richard KeysErnst Willheim
Ian KilgourEvelyn Williams
Robyn KilpatrickPatricia Wilson
Susan KimptomSarah Winkler
Professor Damien KingsburyWomen’s Int. League Peace & Freedom Therese Woods
Rae Kingsbury AMRoslyn Woodward
Rose Mary Kinne OPDr Anna Young
Rosaleen KirbyAnne Yuille
Grace KochRosie Yuille
Mary KroneProfessor Spencer Zifcak
Dr Keryn HiggsAnn Zubrick

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