Disobey any of the NSW road rules between today and 28 April 2024 and you'll have a greater chance that police will pull you over & hand you double demerit points for breaking the law

The first instinct on reading the following newspaper article might be to note the double demerit points and skip over the warning it contains.

As an incentive to consider being extra careful over the remainder of this week I draw your attention, not just to the 111 people killed on NSW roads up to 22 April in 2024, but also to the fact that it wasn't just those 58 drivers who were killed.

There were 18 passengers, 15 pedestrians, one lone person on a bicycle and 19 motorcyclists.

One of those dead was a very small child under 5 year of age, 10 were aged between 6 and 20 years of age, 64 were aged between 21 & 59 years and 36 were older people aged 65 years & over.

The majority of these deaths (73) occurring on rural and regional roads, with the latest fatal crashes on 20 April 2024 at Marulan in the Southern Highlands and on the Mitchell Highway near Dubbo.

So be careful out there - it is more than your own life you are risking if you behave foolishly.

The Western Weekender, 23 April 2024

Police are planning a huge presence on the roads for the ANZAC Day public holiday and the upcoming weekend.

Operation ANZAC Day 2024 will launch at 12.01am on Wednesday, April 24 2024, with double demerit points in place until 11.59pm on Sunday, April 28 2024, coinciding with the end of the school holidays.

The reminder comes after 111 people lost their lives so far this year, compared to 100 in the same period last year.

Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said police will be highly visible across the state this ANZAC Day weekend.

“Every driver has a responsibility to themselves, their passengers and other road users. Drive responsibly and drive to the conditions to ensure everyone arrives safely at their destination,” she said.

“ANZAC Day is a time to reflect on and commemorate our veterans. I want to thank the NSW Police Force for working around the clock to help keep the community safe this long weekend.”

The high-visibility policing operation will involve general duties officers, assisted by specialist police, including the Public Order and Riot Squad, Operations Support Group, Mounted Unit, PolAir, Licensing Police, Traffic and Highway Patrol Command and Police Transport Command.

Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden, said the appeal to road users is to do the right thing before they head out, rather than have regrets when it’s too late.

Police will be targeting high-risk behaviours such as excessive speed, alcohol and drug driving offences, illegal use of mobile phones and not wearing seatbelts.

“The goal is preventing injury and death. Tragically this year, 111 people have died on NSW roads – a concerning increase of 11 deaths compared to this time last year,” he said.

“Speeding is a major contributor to fatal road crashes, and police will take action against road users who think they can speed and put themselves and others at risk.

“A decision to speed could result in a fatality in a split-second. Think about your choices and how they impact you and others around you. Share the road and make sure you arrive to your destination safely.

“We remain committed to ensuring public safety over the ANZAC Day weekend, and we’re asking all motorists to do their part as well – especially as we expect more cars on our roads with school holidays coming to an end.”

Transport for NSW Director of Road Safety Policy, Louise Higgins- Whitton said it was important that all road users obey the rules so everyone makes it home safe.

“Double demerits will be in place for all speeding, seatbelt, mobile phone and motorcycle helmet offences, we want everyone to follow the rules and do the right thing,” Higgins-Whitton said.

“Whether it’s a short trip to the local shops or you’re heading home as school holidays end, please make sure you’re doing everything you can to keep yourself and others safe.

“Simple things everyone can do include wearing a seatbelt, putting the mobile phone away, sticking to the speed limit, ensuring you’re well rested before you set out on your journey and never driving if affected by drugs or alcohol.”

"Clarence Valley Independent" both a victim and another manifestation of the cost-of-living squeeze

 

Greysen Enterprises Pty Ltd and its shareholders, John Warden, Anne Mazzitelli and Melissa Lutton, have decided that the Clarence Valley Independent - published in print and online as a weekly issue - is no longer a free community newspaper.

Over the years the level of journalism has dwindled somewhat in the newspaper and content has been frequently drawn from media releases and also copy supplied by local individuals & special interest groups - with the occasional advertorial thrown into the mix.

However, because of its community-focused articles it remains part of the staple news diet of the Lower Clarence Valley and has been since its inception in 1994 as the Lower Clarence Review.

This local paper will now cost $2 a copy commencing May 2024.

Clarence Valley Independent, 17 April 2024:

More about the changes at the “Independent”

After almost 30 years a ‘free’ newspaper, increasing production, print and transport costs mean the business models of the Clarence Valley Independent can no long absorb the cost of “giving away” the local weekly newspaper.

As of the beginning of May there will be a nominal charge of $2 on the regular Wednesday edition.

We are trying to ensure the outlets at which readers have been able to obtain their copy of the CV Independent are all still available.

Once established under the new pricing structure, a home delivery service will also become available in selected areas; more on this next week.

After the introduction of the paid newspaper, readers will also see changes to the papers format, with more pages and features.

The one thing which will not change is the community contributed aspect of the paper, with all our regular contributors invited to continue their association with the CV Independent. Our deadlines remain unchanged, and we love your contributions and being able to inform the Clarence community of your club or group. In fact, an increase in size of the newspaper should mean more available room for additional contributors.

If you are not already using the pages of the CV Independent, you can email your report to news@cvnews.com.au by 10am each Monday and this is a free community service.

Newspoll April 2024 sees little wind in political parties' sails

 

Federal Primary Voting Intent:

ALP 33 (+1)

L/NP Coalition 38 (+1)

Greens 12 (-1)

One Nation 7 (0)

Other 10 (-1)

Federal Two Party Preferred Prediction:

Click on image to enlarge

ALP 51 (0)

L/NP Coalition 49 (0)

Better Prime Minister:

Click on image to enlarge

Albanese 48 (0)

Dutton 35 (+1)

Net Approval Rating

Anthony Albanese:  -6 (+1) 

Peter Dutton:  -15 (0) 

Newspoll was conducted by YouGov on Monday 15 to Friday 19 April 2024 and survey pool was 1,236

Fight continues over the fate of those parts of Wallum Wetlands in private hands

Wallum Land
IMAGE: Mac Maderski at savewallum.com
 

“You are literally holding a front line between extinction and survival.... We must stand strong together. You are mighty powerful. You are the frontline. You are even bigger than this magic place, Wallum, and together we are going to win this.” [Greens State MP & Northern Rivers resident Susan Higginson addressing the March Against Zombies on 1 March 2024]

Torakina Road, Brunswick Heads NSW, Lot 13 DP 1251383 and environs

Vegetation mapping of Lot 13 DP 1251383 and environs

Echo, 19 April 2024:

The company behind the Wallum housing development in Brunswick Heads is once again taking Byron Council to court, this time for allegedly holding up its planned earthworks at the site in an unlawful manner.

As thousands of locals continue their campaign to save the heathland site from becoming home to 124 housing lots, Clarence Property has lodged an appeal against Council’s ‘deemed refusal’ of its stage 2 subdivision works certificate.

The developer needs Council to issue this certificate, which is essentially a procedural box-ticking exercise, before it can start undertaking bulk earthworks at Wallum.

But the process has been delayed by Council requesting additional information from Clarence about stormwater management, and seeking further consultation with the traditional owners.

The developer is arguing that this delay amounts to a ‘deemed refusal’ of its subdivision works certificate because of the length and nature of the delay, and has lodged an appeal against this refusal in the Land and Environment Court (LEC).

‘An application to the Land & Environment court is an increasingly common approach that Developers look to take in order to preserve their legal rights with local councils,’ Clarence Property CEO, Simon Kennedy told The Echo.

‘It’s not Clarence Property’s preferred approach; however, where a matter becomes protracted or political, it may be the best way to resolve the issue.’

Second court case

It is the second time Clarence has commenced proceedings against Council in the LEC for deemed refusal of a subdivision works certificate in the past three months.

On the first occasion, which related to a construction certificate for ecological rehabilitation works, Clarence halted its action against Council when a slim majority of councillors voted to sign off on the certificate.

The February 8 casting vote by mayor Michael Lyon was supported by councillors Mark Swivel, Asren Pugh and Alan Hunter.

They argued part of the reason for authorising the works certificate was advice provided by Council’s legal team, which suggested that Council had few prospects of successfully defending such a case.

This was largely because the development had already been approved by the Northern Regional Planning Panel.

If Council had chosen to pursue the matter and then lost, they suggested Council could have faced a substantial legal bill that included paying Clarence Property’s legal costs.

However, there is strong support from the Save Wallum campaign, the community and other councillors, to pursue legal action regardless of the likely outcome.

They argue that taking this step could encourage the developer to amend its plans, or at least buy time for other avenues to bear fruit.....

The Wallum site, located next to the Bayside housing estate, is home to multiple threatened species, including the wallum froglet and the wallum sedge frog....

On the morning of Thursday 18 April 2024 at its monthly meeting Byron Shire Council again considered the matter set out below. As of Sunday 20 April the minutes of this meeting have not been published on its website.

BYRON SHIRE COUNCIL

STAFF REPORTS - SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT AND ECONOMY 13.9

Ordinary Meeting Agenda

18 April 2024 page 148

Report No. 13.9 Wallum Subdivision DA10.2021.575.1 -

Response to Council Resolution 23-454 -

Stormwater and Cultural Heritage Site

Inspection Plan

5 Directorate: Sustainable Environment and Economy

Report Author: Chris Larkin, Manager Sustainable Development

File No: I2024/260

Summary:

Council considered a Notice of Motion 9.2 Wallum DA10.2021.575.1 referral and assessment Agenda of Ordinary (Planning) Meeting - Thursday, 12 October 2023 and resolved under Parts 5, 6 and 7 of Resolution 23-454 to receive certain assessments of certain plans, and for those assessments to be reported back to Council.

This report responds to Parts 5(e) and (f) in terms of stormwater maintenance management plan for the existing drain (Condition 12), the Cultural Heritage Inspection Plan (Condition 18), Part 6 in terms of further consultation with the traditional custodians of the land and Part 7 in relation to further stormwater commentary around Condition 11.

The development has been approved in a number of stages. The matters for consideration in this report relates to three of the sixteen conditions relevant to Early Stage 2 Bulk Earthworks.

Based on the assessment below, staff recommend that Council notes the report.

RECOMMENDATION:

That Council notes the report Wallum Subdivision DA 10.2021.575.1 - Response to 25 Council Resolution 23-454 - Stormwater and Cultural Heritage Site Inspection Plan.... 

Put on the spot in state parliament last month the NSW Minister for Planning & Public Spaces Paul Scully pointed to his referral on 10 October 2023 of the question of historical development applications to the NSW Legislative Assembly Committee on Environment and Planning.

The Committee only announced its Inquiry into historical development consents in NSW and called for submissions on 19 March 2024 but makes no mention holding public hearings and is yet to publish any submissions it may have received to date.

This state parliamentary inquiry will do nothing to halt unlisted Clarence Property Corporation Limited - issuer of the PDS for Clarence Property Diversified Investment Trust (formerly Westlawn Property Trust) & Epig Lennox Property Trust - as it continues to swing its wrecking ball through what remains of natural landscapes in coastal areas of the NSW Northern Rivers region.

Cartoons of the week

 

David Rowe

Cathy Wilcox

Peter Broelman

Putin has banned 550 Australians from entering Russia over the last two years - including many currently elected federal MPs & Senators, the former premiers of Victoria & South Australia, as well a number of senior public servants

On 7 April 2022 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation announced that all the then current members of the Parliament of Australia were banned from entering Russian territory.

Presumably because Russian President Vladimir Putin was responding to Australia's sanctions on Russia since 2014 in relation to Russia's aggression towards Ukraine.

This entry ban apparently remains in place for those named sitting MPs and Senators remaining in the Australian Parliament in 2024.

Which means that the NSW Northern Rivers region has two banned MPs - the Members for Richmond and Page.

7 April 2022 18:54

Foreign Ministry statement on personal sanctions on senior officials and MPs of Australia

755-07-04-2022

Obediently following the policy set by the collective West, Canberra has fallen into a Russophobic frenzy and introduced sanctions against Russia’s senior leadership and practically all members of parliament. In response, on April 7, 2022, Russia added to its stop list members of the Australian National Security Committee, House of Representatives, Senate and regional legislative assemblies. They are denied entry into the Russian Federation.

This step comes in response to the unfriendly actions by the current Australian Government, which is prepared to support any actions aimed at containing Russia.

Subsequent announcements will expand the sanctions blacklist to include Australian military, entrepreneurs, experts and media figures who contribute to negative perceptions of our country. We will resolutely oppose every anti-Russia action – from the introduction of new personal sanctions to restrictions on bilateral economic ties, which is doing damage to bilateral economic relations.

Below is the list of Australian citizens who are denied entry into the Russian Federation.

1 Scott Morrison, Prime Minister

2 Barnaby Joyce, Deputy Prime Minister

3 Karen Andrews, Minister for Home Affairs

4 Simon Birmingham, Minister for Finance

5 Patrick Gorman, MP, House of Representatives

6 Luke Gosling, MP, House of Representatives

7 Peter Dutton, Minister for Defence

8 Michaelia Cash, Attorney-General

9 Marise Payne, Minister for Foreign Affairs

10 Joshua Frydenberg, Treasurer

11 Anthony Albanese, MP, House of Representatives

12 John Alexander, MP, House of Representatives

13 Katrina Allen, MP, House of Representatives

14 Anne Aly, MP, House of Representatives

15 Kevin Andrews, MP, House of Representatives

16 Bridget Archer, MP, House of Representatives

17 Adam Bandt, MP, House of Representatives

18 Angie Bell, MP, House of Representatives

19 Sharon Bird, MP, House of Representatives

20 Christopher Bowen, MP, House of Representatives

21 Russell Broadbent, MP, House of Representatives

22 Scott Buchholz, MP, House of Representatives

23 Anthony Burke, MP, House of Representatives

24 Linda Burney, MP, House of Representatives

25 Josh Burns, MP, House of Representatives

26 Mark Butler, MP, House of Representatives

27 Terri Butler, MP, House of Representatives

28 Anthony Byrne, MP, House of Representatives

29 James Chalmers, MP, House of Representatives

30 Darren Chester, MP, House of Representatives

31 Lisa Chesters, MP, House of Representatives

32 George Christensen, MP, House of Representatives

33 Jason Clare, MP, House of Representatives

34 Sharon Claydon, MP, House of Representatives

35 Elizabeth Coker, MP, House of Representatives

36 David Coleman, MP, House of Representatives

37 Julie Collins, MP, House of Representatives

38 Patrick Conaghan, MP, House of Representatives

39 Vincent Connelly, MP, House of Representatives

40 Patrick Conroy, MP, House of Representatives

41 Mark Coulton, MP, House of Representatives

42 Dugald Dick, MP, House of Representatives

43 Mark Dreyfus, MP, House of Representatives

44 Damian Drum, MP, House of Representatives

45 Maria [Justine] Elliot, MP, House of Representatives

46 Warren Entsch, MP, House of Representatives

47 Trevor Evans, MP, House of Representatives

48 Jason Falinski, MP, House of Representatives

49 Joel Fitzgibbon, MP, House of Representatives

50 Paul Fletcher, MP, House of Representatives

51 Nicolle Flint, MP, House of Representatives

52 Michael Freelander, MP, House of Representatives

53 Andrew Gee, MP, House of Representatives

54 Steven Georganas, MP, House of Representatives

55 Andrew Giles, MP, House of Representatives

56 David Gillespie, MP, House of Representatives

57 Ian Goodenough, MP, House of Representatives

58 Helen Haines, MP, House of Representatives

59 Garth Hamilton, MP, House of Representatives

60 Celia Hammond, MP, House of Representatives

61 Andrew Hastie, MP, House of Representatives

62 Alexander Hawke, MP, House of Representatives

63 Christopher Hayes, MP, House of Representatives

64 Julian Hill, MP, House of Representatives

65 Kevin Hogan, MP, House of Representatives

66 Luke Howarth, MP, House of Representatives

67 Gregory Hunt, MP, House of Representatives

68 Edham Husic, MP, House of Representatives

69 Stephen Irons, MP, House of Representatives

70 Stephen Jones, MP, House of Representatives

71 Robert Katter, MP, House of Representatives

72 Gerardine Kearney, MP, House of Representatives

73 Craig Kelly, MP, House of Representatives

74 Matt Keogh, MP, House of Representatives

75 Peter Khalil, MP, House of Representatives

76 Catherine King, MP, House of Representatives

77 Madeleine King, MP, House of Representatives

78 Andrew Laming, MP, House of Representatives

79 Michelle Landry, MP, House of Representatives

80 Julian Leeser, MP, House of Representatives

81 Andrew Leigh, MP, House of Representatives

82 Sussan Ley, MP, House of Representatives

83 David Littleproud, MP, House of Representatives

84 Gladys Liu, MP, House of Representatives

85 Nola Marino, MP, House of Representatives

86 Richard Marles, MP, House of Representatives

87 Fiona Martin, MP, House of Representatives

88 Kristy McBain, MP, House of Representatives

89 Emma McBride, MP, House of Representatives

90 Michael McCormack, MP, House of Representatives

91 Melissa McIntosh, MP, House of Representatives

92 Brian Mitchell, MP, House of Representatives

93 Robert Mitchell, MP, House of Representatives

94 Ben Morton, MP, House of Representatives

95 Daniel Mulino, MP, House of Representatives

96 Peta Murphy, MP, House of Representatives

97 Shayne Neumann, MP, House of Representatives

98 Edward O'Brien, MP, House of Representatives

99 Llewellyn O'Brien, MP, House of Representatives

100 Brendan O'Connor, MP, House of Representatives

101 Kenneth O'Dowd, MP, House of Representatives

102 Clare O'Neil, MP, House of Representatives

103 Julie Owens, MP, House of Representatives

104 Antony Pasin, MP, House of Representatives

105 Alicia Payne, MP, House of Representatives

106 Gavin Pearce, MP, House of Representatives

107 Graham Perrett, MP, House of Representatives

108 Fiona Phillips MP, House of Representatives

109 Keith Pitt, MP, House of Representatives

110 Tanya Plibersek, MP, House of Representatives

111 Charles Porter, MP, House of Representatives

112 Melissa Price, MP, House of Representatives

113 Rowan Ramsey, MP, House of Representatives

114 Armanda Rishworth, MP, House of Representatives

115 Stuart Robert, MP, House of Representatives

116 Michelle Rowland, MP, House of Representatives

117 Joanne Ryan, MP, House of Representatives

118 Rebekha Sharkie, MP, House of Representatives

119 Devanand Sharma, MP, House of Representatives

120 William Shorten, MP, House of Representatives

121 Julian Simmonds, MP, House of Representatives

122 Anthony Smith, MP, House of Representatives

123 David Smith, MP, House of Representatives

124 Warren Snowdon, MP, House of Representatives

125 Anne Stanley, MP, House of Representatives

126 Zali Steggall, MP, House of Representatives

127 James Stevens, MP, House of Representatives

128 Michael Sukkar, MP, House of Representatives

129 Meryl Swanson, MP, House of Representatives

130 Angus Taylor, MP, House of Representatives

131 Daniel Tehan, MP, House of Representatives

132 Susan Templeman, MP, House of Representatives

133 Matthew Thistlethwaite, MP, House of Representatives

134 Phillip Thompson, MP, House of Representatives

135 Kate Thwaites, MP, House of Representatives

136 Alan Tudge, MP, House of Representatives

137 Maria Vamvakinou, MP, House of Representatives

138 Albertus van Manen, MP, House of Representatives

139 Ross Vasta, MP, House of Representatives

140 Andrew Wallace, MP, House of Representatives

141 Timothy Watts, MP, House of Representatives

142 Anne Webster, MP, House of Representatives

143 Anika Wells, MP, House of Representatives

144 Lucy Wicks, MP, House of Representatives

145 Andrew Wilkie, MP, House of Representatives

146 Joshua Wilson, MP, House of Representatives

147 Richard Wilson, MP, House of Representatives

148 Timothy Wilson, MP, House of Representatives

149 Jason Wood, MP, House of Representatives

150 Kenneth Wyatt, MP, House of Representatives

151 Terry Young, MP, House of Representatives

152 Antonio Zappia, MP, House of Representatives

153 Trent Zimmerman, MP, House of Representatives

154 Eric Abetz, Senator

155 Alex Antic, Senator

156 Wendy Askew, Senator

157 Tim Ayres, Senator

158 Catryna Bilyk, Senator

159 Andrew Bragg, Senator

160 Slade Brockman, Senator

161 Carol Brown, Senator

162 Matthew Canavan, Senator

163 Kim Carr, Senator

164 Claire Chandler, Senator

165 Anthony Chisholm, Senator

166 Raff Ciccone, Senator

167 Richard Colbeck, Senator

168 Dorinda Cox, Senator

169 Perin Davey, Senator

170 Patrick Dodson, Senator

171 Jonathon Duniam, Senator

172 Don Farrell, Senator

173 Mehreen Faruqi, Senator

174 David Fawcett, Senator

175 Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, Senator

176 Katy Gallagher, Senator

177 Nita Green, Senator

178 Stirling Griff, Senator

179 Karen Grogan, Senator

180 Pauline Hanson, Senator

181 Sarah Hanson-Young, Senator

182 Sarah Henderson, Senator

183 Hollie Hughes, Senator

184 Jane Hume, Senator

185 Kristina Keneally, Senator

186 Kimberley Kitching, Senator

187 Jacqui Lambie, Senator

188 Sue Lines, Senator

189 Jenny McAllister, Senator

190 Malarndirri McCarthy, Senator

191 Susan McDonald, Senator

192 James McGrath, Senator

193 Bridget McKenzie, Senator

194 Nick McKim, Senator

195 Andrew McLachlan, Senator

196 Sam McMahon, Senator

197 Greg Mirabella, Senator

198 Jim Molan, Senator

199 Deborah O`Neill, Senator

200 Matt O`Sullivan, Senator

201 James Paterson, Senator

202 Rex Patrick, Senator

203 Hellen Polley, Senator

204 Louise Pratt, Senator

205 Gerard Rennick, Senator

206 Linda Reynolds, Senator

207 Janet Rice, Senator

208 Malcolm Roberts, Senator

209 Anne Ruston, Senator

210 Paul Scarr, Senator

211 Zed Seselja, Senator

212 Tony Sheldon, Senator

213 Ben Small, Senator

214 Dean Smith, Senator

215 Marielle Smith, Senator

216 Jordon Steele-John, Senator

217 Glenn Sterle, Senator

218 Amanda Stoker, Senator

219 Lidia Thorpe, Senator

220 Anne Urquhart, Senator

221 David Van, Senator

222 Jess Walsh, Senator

223 Larissa Waters, Senator

224 Murray Watt, Senator

225 Peter Whish-Wilson, Senator

226 Penny Wong, Senator

227 Matthew Guy, legislative assembly member

228 Steve Dimopoulos, legislative assembly member

This was followed by the promised additional banning lists, as it appears that along with the US, UK, Canada, New Zealand, Japan and the EU, Australia continues to irritate Vladimir Putin.

21 July 2022 19:17

Foreign Ministry statement on introducing personal sanctions on representatives of Australia’s law enforcement agencies, border force and defence sector contractors

1514-21-07-2022

In response to the official Canberra’s adoption of sanctions in line with the Australian version of the Magnitsky Act, the Russian Federation has added 39 people from law enforcement agencies, the border force and Australia’s defence sector contractors to the national stop list.

The names of the blacklisted people are as follows:.....

All 39 names can be found on the Russian Foreign Ministry website at

https://mid.ru/en/press_service/spokesman/official_statement/1823204/

21 June 2023 18:24

Foreign Ministry statement on the introduction of personal sanctions against Australian citizens

1217-21-06-2023

In response to the politically motivated sanctions against Russian individuals and legal entities introduced by the Australian government as part of the Russophobic campaign by the collective West, entry to Russia is closed indefinitely for additional 48 Australians from among contractors of the military-industrial complex, journalists and municipal deputies who are creating the anti-Russian agenda in that country. Their names are as follows:.....

All 48 names can be found on the Russian Foreign Ministry website at

https://mid.ru/en/press_service/spokesman/official_statement/1890258/

17 April 2024 11:23

Foreign Ministry statement on personal sanctions on members of Australia’s municipal councils

703-17-04-2024

In response to the politically motivated sanctions imposed on Russian private individuals and legal entities by the Government of Australia as part of the collective West’s Russophobic campaign, the decision has been made to indefinitely deny entry to Russia to 235 Australian nationals who are members of municipal councils actively promoting the anti-Russia agenda in their country. The complete list of individuals affected by this measure follows below.

Given that official Canberra shows no sign of renouncing its anti-Russia position and the continued introduction of new sanctions, we will further update the Russian stop list accordingly.....

All 235 names can be found on the Russian Foreign Ministry website at

https://mid.ru/en/press_service/spokesman/official_statement/1944697/