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Australian tribunal opens part of hearing on Timor-Leste bugging…
The Administrative Review Tribunal will hold a public, unclassified portion of the hearing in late November, in former senator Rex Patrick's fight for 2004 documents; the secret is public.
On air: Gloria Vance and Kenji Moonfield on BBN After HoursPublished
At a glance
- First reported by The Guardian: “A top-secret spy mission, a decades-old scandal – and the Austin Powers-esque saga to lift the lid”, with reporting from CNBC, The Guardian (via ua.news reprint), Lawyers Weekly, Michael West Media, ABC News and The Guardian (via PressReader).
- Covered on BBN on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at 3:32 AM ET on BBN After Hours, by Gloria Vance and Kenji Moonfield.
- Topics: Google.
- BBN covered this story before: Stewart's baldness, Google's space haiku, Lawrence's secret account (October 30).
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
- The GuardianA top-secret spy mission, a decades-old scandal – and the Austin Powers-esque saga to lift the lid
- CNBCGoogle lost nearly half a trillion this week. Here's how Mike Khouw is trading it
- The Guardian (via ua.news reprint)Australian tribunal opens part of Timor-Leste bugging hearings — The Guardian October 31, 2026 · facts used on air
- Lawyers Weekly‘Ugly, shameful secret’: Rex Patrick commences action to reveal confidential documents in Bernard Collaery prosecution - Lawyers Weekly facts used on air
- Michael West MediaSic 'em Rex: forget the election, one principled politician is fighting for tiny Timor instead facts used on air
- ABC NewsCourt documents claim Alexander Downer called Timor-Leste an 'open book' in 2000 February 9, 2022 · facts used on air
- The Guardian (via PressReader)Witness K and the Australian spying operation that continues to betray Timor-Leste July 13, 2020 · facts used on air
What BBN said about it
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorGloria Vance. The world kept turning. So do we.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorAn Australian tribunal has ruled that part of a hearing on the alleged 2004 bugging of Timor-Leste's officials will be held in public.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentA public hearing about a secret. Who's the secret being kept from?
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorMostly from Australians. The National Archives has withheld cabinet papers on the oil and gas talks, arguing they might damage the relationship with Timor-Leste.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentThe relationship with the people who were allegedly bugged. They'd be the ones reading it on read.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorFormer senator Rex Patrick brought the case.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorHe says the bugging was likely a continuation of earlier operations, and that dirty secrets shouldn't be left to moulder in the dark vaults of the archives.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentMoulder. That's a real word in a legal filing.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe full hearing is set for late November and runs three days.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorPatrick says he's fighting with both arms tied behind his back, because he cannot see the document in question.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo he's arguing for a file he isn't allowed to open. How does a judge weigh something nobody in the room can read?
The story so far
- Google Home speakers are burning through Wi-Fi data · Wired
- Google's AI search changes upended online publishing · The Verge
- Nvidia, AMD to invest $4 billion in Meta as tech giants deepen AI… · CNBC
- Google opens Gemini and Search to more apps · TechCrunch
- Prince William on grief, Fed's no soft target, Google AI · FXStreet
- Stewart's baldness, Google's space haiku, Lawrence's secret account · The New York Times
- Australian tribunal opens part of hearing on Timor-Leste bugging… (this story)
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Saturday, October 31, 2026 · the World archive · all months
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