I know you've already discussed this, but it deserves airing again.
Senators Milne & Rhiannon are a disgrace to the Parliament of Australia!
For people who MAKE our laws to be party to the BREAKING of those laws is the most outrageous situation imaginable.
Disseminating false information with the intent to cause confusion on the stockmarket is an offence under the securities law and to condone the doing of it is, in my opinion, to be a party to the offence.
That is what these senators have done. I wonder do they realise that a lot of self-funded retirees, stupid as it may seem, are green voters. Some of them may have been shareholders in Whitehaven and might be reconsidering their allegiance right now.
If Milne & Rhiannon had any honour, which they don't, they would resign now.

hadrian_now wrote on Jan 10^th, 2013 at 12:15pm:

I know you've already discussed this, but it deserves airing again. Senators Milne & Rhiannon are a disgrace to the Parliament of Australia! For people who MAKE our laws to be party to the BREAKING of those laws is the most outrageous situation imaginable. Disseminating false information with the intent to cause confusion on the stockmarket is an offence under the securities law and to condone the doing of it is, in my opinion, to be a party to the offence. That is what these senators have done. I wonder do they realise that a lot of self-funded retirees, stupid as it may seem, are green voters. Some of them may have been shareholders in Whitehaven and might be reconsidering their allegiance right now. If Milne & Rhiannon had any honour, which they don't, they would resign now.

No argument here!

you do wonder at the safety of this country when we have people like this who condone actions like this..

wonder what would happen if the next one who doesnt like the govt burns down parliament house... will that be ok as well???.

seems to me the greens pick and choose...

so how can anyone possibly say they are working for the country...they arent..

no one told this young man or Milne or Rhiannon they have to buy shares or support mining.. but give us a break..

with that bad attitude where do they draw the line????

and whos to say anyone will obey the line they draw....

dissatisfied ???  I think everyone is at some stage... but do we act like this thug?

Just let them go. It lets everyone see what loons they thought they were. Reaffirms the idea. Once we get rid of labor, they will not go back to greens. gillard and her socialist feminist sexist lot will be disconnected. Abbott will make sure unions are disconnected to a point as well.

Just saw the Milne interview on TV. What a friggen  lunatic bitch it is.

see where the lunatic is talking to a lawyer.. lets hope he gets a nice fat bill.

cods wrote on Jan 10^th, 2013 at 4:55pm:

see where the lunatic is talking to a lawyer.. lets hope he gets a nice fat bill.

about $300M sounds fair!!!

hadrian_now wrote on Jan 10^th, 2013 at 12:15pm:

I know you've already discussed this, but it deserves airing again. Senators Milne & Rhiannon are a disgrace to the Parliament of Australia! For people who MAKE our laws to be party to the BREAKING of those laws is the most outrageous situation imaginable. Disseminating false information with the intent to cause confusion on the stockmarket is an offence under the securities law and to condone the doing of it is, in my opinion, to be a party to the offence. That is what these senators have done. I wonder do they realise that a lot of self-funded retirees, stupid as it may seem, are green voters. Some of them may have been shareholders in Whitehaven and might be reconsidering their allegiance right now. If Milne & Rhiannon had any honour, which they don't, they would resign now.

No insider trading = no stock market = pure fact!

In other words:  No one cares, lol!!

I don't see why you lot are getting so worked up about this.  the calls for $300 million fines or 300 year sentences are absurd. 

Dodgy rumours are nothing new or unusual in the markets.  This one caused a brief dip in share prices, but what about the dodgy rumours that work in your favour? Swings and roundabouts....

KJT1981 wrote on Jan 10^th, 2013 at 1:03pm:

Just saw the Milne interview on TV. What a friggen  lunatic bitch it is.

:D :D :D

i think youre being too kind to her

... wrote on Jan 10^th, 2013 at 5:18pm:

I don't see why you lot are getting so worked up about this.  the calls for $300 million fines or 300 year sentences are absurd.  Dodgy rumours are nothing new or unusual in the markets.  This one caused a brief dip in share prices, but what about the dodgy rumours that work in your favour? Swings and roundabouts....

it shows how far some fringe dwellers will go though... thats the point...

are you saying it wasnt a big deal because he didnt blow the mine up???..

this is about someone having the ability to change something because he/she doesnt agree with it..

do you think we should all act like that?????

cods wrote on Jan 10^th, 2013 at 5:49pm:

... wrote on Jan 10th, 2013 at 5:18pm: I don't see why you lot are getting so worked up about this.  the calls for $300 million fines or 300 year sentences are absurd.  Dodgy rumours are nothing new or unusual in the markets.  This one caused a brief dip in share prices, but what about the dodgy rumours that work in your favour? Swings and roundabouts.... it shows how far some fringe dwellers will go though... thats the point... are you saying it wasnt a big deal because he didnt blow the mine up???.. this is about someone having the ability to change something because he/she doesnt agree with it.. do you think we should all act like that?????

Do i reckon we should all try to change what we don't agreew ith?  Sh!t yes!!!!
The only thing unusual about this is that it was Joe Blow manipulating the share price, and not cashed-up arseholes.  Just gave them a taste of their own medcine, and they sure didn't like it. 

hadrian_now wrote on Jan 10^th, 2013 at 12:15pm:

I know you've already discussed this, but it deserves airing again. Senators Milne & Rhiannon are a disgrace to the Parliament of Australia! For people who MAKE our laws to be party to the BREAKING of those laws is the most outrageous situation imaginable.

Yes.  They never should have associated themselves with Godwin Gretch.

...oops

... wrote on Jan 10^th, 2013 at 5:55pm:

cods wrote on Jan 10th, 2013 at 5:49pm: ... wrote on Jan 10th, 2013 at 5:18pm: I don't see why you lot are getting so worked up about this.  the calls for $300 million fines or 300 year sentences are absurd.  Dodgy rumours are nothing new or unusual in the markets.  This one caused a brief dip in share prices, but what about the dodgy rumours that work in your favour? Swings and roundabouts.... it shows how far some fringe dwellers will go though... thats the point... are you saying it wasnt a big deal because he didnt blow the mine up???.. this is about someone having the ability to change something because he/she doesnt agree with it.. do you think we should all act like that????? Do i reckon we should all try to change what we don't agreew ith?  Sh!t yes!!!! The only thing unusual about this is that it was Joe Blow manipulating the share price, and not cashed-up arseholes.  Just gave them a taste of their own medcine, and they sure didn't like it.

arseholes love yelling UMPIRE UMPIRE UMPIRE!  :o :o :o

BatteriesNotIncluded wrote on Jan 10^th, 2013 at 5:58pm:

... wrote on Jan 10th, 2013 at 5:55pm: cods wrote on Jan 10th, 2013 at 5:49pm: ... wrote on Jan 10th, 2013 at 5:18pm: I don't see why you lot are getting so worked up about this.  the calls for $300 million fines or 300 year sentences are absurd.  Dodgy rumours are nothing new or unusual in the markets.  This one caused a brief dip in share prices, but what about the dodgy rumours that work in your favour? Swings and roundabouts.... it shows how far some fringe dwellers will go though... thats the point... are you saying it wasnt a big deal because he didnt blow the mine up???.. this is about someone having the ability to change something because he/she doesnt agree with it.. do you think we should all act like that????? Do i reckon we should all try to change what we don't agreew ith?  Sh!t yes!!!! The only thing unusual about this is that it was Joe Blow manipulating the share price, and not cashed-up arseholes.  Just gave them a taste of their own medcine, and they sure didn't like it.  arseholes love yelling UMPIRE UMPIRE UMPIRE!  :o :o :o

havent you got some"one direction" to listen to :D :D

aquascoot wrote on Jan 10^th, 2013 at 6:16pm:

BatteriesNotIncluded wrote on Jan 10th, 2013 at 5:58pm: ... wrote on Jan 10th, 2013 at 5:55pm: cods wrote on Jan 10th, 2013 at 5:49pm: ... wrote on Jan 10th, 2013 at 5:18pm: I don't see why you lot are getting so worked up about this.  the calls for $300 million fines or 300 year sentences are absurd.  Dodgy rumours are nothing new or unusual in the markets.  This one caused a brief dip in share prices, but what about the dodgy rumours that work in your favour? Swings and roundabouts.... it shows how far some fringe dwellers will go though... thats the point... are you saying it wasnt a big deal because he didnt blow the mine up???.. this is about someone having the ability to change something because he/she doesnt agree with it.. do you think we should all act like that????? Do i reckon we should all try to change what we don't agreew ith?  Sh!t yes!!!! The only thing unusual about this is that it was Joe Blow manipulating the share price, and not cashed-up arseholes.  Just gave them a taste of their own medcine, and they sure didn't like it.  arseholes love yelling UMPIRE UMPIRE UMPIRE!  :o :o :o havent you got some"one direction" to listen to :D :D

*ahem*

that's 1D to you.

Can those who vote for the Greens please say why?

... wrote on Jan 10^th, 2013 at 5:18pm:

I don't see why you lot are getting so worked up about this.  the calls for $300 million fines or 300 year sentences are absurd.  Dodgy rumours are nothing new or unusual in the markets.  This one caused a brief dip in share prices, but what about the dodgy rumours that work in your favour? Swings and roundabouts....

it was a deliberate attempt to derail the market. thats a criminal offence. he shoudl do some jail time to dissuade others from doing the same thing.

john_g wrote on Jan 10^th, 2013 at 6:21pm:

Can those who vote for the Greens please say why?

Coz Bill "Poofter basher" Heffernan and Cory "Bestiality" Bernardi are Libbos Senators  ;D

adelcrow wrote on Jan 10^th, 2013 at 6:40pm:

john_g wrote on Jan 10th, 2013 at 6:21pm: Can those who vote for the Greens please say why? Coz Bill "Poofter basher" Heffernan and Cory "Bestiality" Bernardi are Libbos Senators  ;D

That doesn't answer the question.

gold_medal wrote on Jan 10^th, 2013 at 6:39pm:

... wrote on Jan 10th, 2013 at 5:18pm: I don't see why you lot are getting so worked up about this.  the calls for $300 million fines or 300 year sentences are absurd.  Dodgy rumours are nothing new or unusual in the markets.  This one caused a brief dip in share prices, but what about the dodgy rumours that work in your favour? Swings and roundabouts.... it was a deliberate attempt to derail the market. thats a criminal offence. he shoudl do some jail time to dissuade others from doing the same thing.

How do you dissuade the fund managers and brokers who do the same thing on a daily basis? 

john_g wrote on Jan 10^th, 2013 at 7:36pm:

adelcrow wrote on Jan 10th, 2013 at 6:40pm: john_g wrote on Jan 10th, 2013 at 6:21pm: Can those who vote for the Greens please say why? Coz Bill "Poofter basher" Heffernan and Cory "Bestiality" Bernardi are Libbos Senators  ;D That doesn't answer the question.

Hmm maybe it's a cryptic clue....Greens voters are homos and beasty bangers.... :D

... wrote on Jan 10^th, 2013 at 7:36pm:

gold_medal wrote on Jan 10th, 2013 at 6:39pm: ... wrote on Jan 10th, 2013 at 5:18pm: I don't see why you lot are getting so worked up about this.  the calls for $300 million fines or 300 year sentences are absurd.  Dodgy rumours are nothing new or unusual in the markets.  This one caused a brief dip in share prices, but what about the dodgy rumours that work in your favour? Swings and roundabouts.... it was a deliberate attempt to derail the market. thats a criminal offence. he shoudl do some jail time to dissuade others from doing the same thing. How do you dissuade the fund managers and brokers who do the same thing on a daily basis?

do they? do they fraudulently announce such things and misrepresent themselves in such a manner. Im not defending them as pure and honest, but they dont do this.

gold_medal wrote on Jan 11^th, 2013 at 6:47am:

... wrote on Jan 10th, 2013 at 7:36pm: gold_medal wrote on Jan 10th, 2013 at 6:39pm: ... wrote on Jan 10th, 2013 at 5:18pm: I don't see why you lot are getting so worked up about this.  the calls for $300 million fines or 300 year sentences are absurd.  Dodgy rumours are nothing new or unusual in the markets.  This one caused a brief dip in share prices, but what about the dodgy rumours that work in your favour? Swings and roundabouts.... it was a deliberate attempt to derail the market. thats a criminal offence. he shoudl do some jail time to dissuade others from doing the same thing. How do you dissuade the fund managers and brokers who do the same thing on a daily basis?  do they? do they fraudulently announce such things and misrepresent themselves in such a manner. Im not defending them as pure and honest, but they dont do this.

I am amazed that ion this day an age some people think theres nothing wrong with this... its no big deal..

the fact that it was done and gives some insight into what CAN BE DONE..is scary..

if someone hacked into their bank accounts a stole every last cent.. would they shrug their shoulders I wonder..and say so what?

well this tells me anything is possible.

Miranda Devine:

Greens relish the Tweet taste of success
PUBLISHED: 10 Jan 2013 00:32:00 | UPDATED: 10 Jan 2013 11:29:40


The Greens used Twitter as “an insurgency tool” during the last election to communicate directly to members and the public.
The Australian Greens use social media as an “insurgency tool” to force themselves onto the news agenda and don’t vet messages sent out by members, according to their digital expert.

This aggressive use of social media, especially Twitter, was on display this week when Greens senator Lee Rhiannon congratulated activist Jonathan Moylan for his hoax email about Whitehaven Coal.

The tweet was condemned by, among others, Whitehaven chairman and former Nationals MP Mark Vaile as “un-Australian” but it also led to widespread coverage of the Greens.

It was mission accomplished as far as Greens digital communications co-ordinator David Paris was concerned.

“If there is a little bit of controversy and it kicks up a great discussion, I think that’s a good thing,” he said.

“The criticisms that get thrown at us on Twitter are no different to what has been thrown at us in the past.”

Mr Paris said the party encouraged its nine senators and one house of representatives member to be themselves on social media.

“There’s no process for them clearing what they want to say,” he said.

The party had learnt to use Twitter as “an insurgency tool” during the last election to communicate directly to members and the public, he said.

“For us, it’s a challenge to get a run in the mainstream media as it is. There are more than two sides to a story.”

The party has found that Twitter can be quicker and more effective than a formal press conference.

Mr Paris said there was the sense that “MPs are being more candid than what they would be with a journalist” on Twitter.

“Twitter allows people to be publicly concise, which is great for MPs as they can make a quick definitive contribution to a conversation without the rigmarole of a press conference.”

hadrian_now wrote on Jan 10^th, 2013 at 12:15pm:

I know you've already discussed this, but it deserves airing again. Senators Milne & Rhiannon are a disgrace to the Parliament of Australia! For people who MAKE our laws to be party to the BREAKING of those laws is the most outrageous situation imaginable. Disseminating false information with the intent to cause confusion on the stockmarket is an offence under the securities law and to condone the doing of it is, in my opinion, to be a party to the offence. That is what these senators have done. I wonder do they realise that a lot of self-funded retirees, stupid as it may seem, are green voters. Some of them may have been shareholders in Whitehaven and might be reconsidering their allegiance right now. If Milne & Rhiannon had any honour, which they don't, they would resign now.

hadrian_now,

Well said.




This 'attitude' of Senators Milne & Rhiannon to lawlessness, is a 'weighty' comment upon our current political state of affairs, here in Australia.

Australia today, is a morally sick community.

Australia, you are 'going down',      ....to hell.




Psalms 9:16
The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.
17  The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.

Yadda wrote on Jan 11^th, 2013 at 9:30am:

hadrian_now wrote on Jan 10th, 2013 at 12:15pm: I know you've already discussed this, but it deserves airing again. Senators Milne & Rhiannon are a disgrace to the Parliament of Australia! For people who MAKE our laws to be party to the BREAKING of those laws is the most outrageous situation imaginable. Disseminating false information with the intent to cause confusion on the stockmarket is an offence under the securities law and to condone the doing of it is, in my opinion, to be a party to the offence. That is what these senators have done. I wonder do they realise that a lot of self-funded retirees, stupid as it may seem, are green voters. Some of them may have been shareholders in Whitehaven and might be reconsidering their allegiance right now. If Milne & Rhiannon had any honour, which they don't, they would resign now. hadrian_now, Well said. This 'attitude' of Senators Milne & Rhiannon to lawlessness, is a 'weighty' comment upon our current political state of affairs, here in Australia. Australia today, is a morally sick community. Australia, you are 'going down',      ....to hell. Psalms 9:16 The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah. 17  The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.

I wonder what would have happened to Julian Assange  had he stuck with twitter..

seems there is no end to what anyone can post or do on that web..what on earth does the future hole for us all.

Supporting this sort of behaviour is reckless.....Like Sea Shepherd and Julian Assange these people are a law unto themselves and will never have my support.....Regardless of what people think of the laws members of Parliament should uphold the integrity of the system and not support these extremists.....The Greens are to extreme to ever appeal to rational voters....Milne and her cronies have no idea how the real world works!!!

::) ::) ::)

philperth2010 wrote on Jan 11^th, 2013 at 10:05am:

Supporting this sort of behaviour is reckless.....Like Sea Shepherd and Julian Assange these people are a law unto themselves and will never have my support.....Regardless of what people think of the laws members of Parliament should uphold the integrity of the system and not support these extremists.....The Greens are to extreme to ever appeal to rational voters....Milne and her cronies have no idea how the real world works!!! ::) ::) ::)

what LAWS did Assange break phil?

Well phil, I'm pleased no end to hear they would never have your support.
But some supposedly rational voters, including many self-funded retirees believe it or not, do support them.
And can I ask, if you support Labor, may you not indirectly be supporting the Greens, at least in the Senate? Unless of course you fill out all 50 or so boxes.

cods wrote on Jan 11^th, 2013 at 10:12am:

philperth2010 wrote on Jan 11th, 2013 at 10:05am: Supporting this sort of behaviour is reckless.....Like Sea Shepherd and Julian Assange these people are a law unto themselves and will never have my support.....Regardless of what people think of the laws members of Parliament should uphold the integrity of the system and not support these extremists.....The Greens are to extreme to ever appeal to rational voters....Milne and her cronies have no idea how the real world works!!! ::) ::) ::) what LAWS did Assange break phil?

I thought rape was a crime Cods.....Isn't that what he is wanted for in Sweden???

I am sure hacking into computers and releasing classified information is illegal in many jurisdictions Cods.....The fact remains Julian Assange is not in those jurisdictions so we await to see what happens.....If the Yanks want him and get him he will be locked away for some time I expect!!!

:) :) :)

Rape is what he's charged with, but it's nothing like what we recognise as rape. 

... wrote on Jan 11^th, 2013 at 10:33am:

Rape is what he's charged with, but it's nothing like what we recognise as rape.

I have no idea.....Assange believes the charges are trumped up and he refuses to face court over the allegations.....Some people think they are important enough to be above the law.....Assange strikes me as someone who thinks he is above the law....He made his bed and now he can lay in it!!!

:) :) :)

Quote:

Mr Assange is accused by Swedish authorities of one count of unlawful coercion, two counts of sexual molestation and one count of rape earlier this year. In August, Mr Assange was the key speaker at a seminar on "war and the role of the media" in Stockholm, and met "Sarah", Britain's Daily Mail reports. Mr Assange stayed at the apartment of the well-known feminist (who can't be named for legal reasons) and during his stay the two had sexual intercourse. It is not disputed by either of them that the condom broke, which is a key aspect of the case, The Australian reports. A few days later Mr Assange also met "Jessica", a young woman who sought to meet the activist after the seminar. Jessica alleges that Mr Assange refused to wear a condom during a second sexual encounter between them. Swedish law considers unprotected sex as rape but Swedish sources have doubted the credibility of the women, who many people believe set up a "honey trap" for the Australian activist.

Such rubbery definitions do no favours to victims of "legitimate rape."   

philperth2010 wrote on Jan 11^th, 2013 at 10:29am:

cods wrote on Jan 11th, 2013 at 10:12am: philperth2010 wrote on Jan 11th, 2013 at 10:05am: Supporting this sort of behaviour is reckless.....Like Sea Shepherd and Julian Assange these people are a law unto themselves and will never have my support.....Regardless of what people think of the laws members of Parliament should uphold the integrity of the system and not support these extremists.....The Greens are to extreme to ever appeal to rational voters....Milne and her cronies have no idea how the real world works!!! ::) ::) ::) what LAWS did Assange break phil? I thought rape was a crime Cods.....Isn't that what he is wanted for in Sweden??? I am sure hacking into computers and releasing classified information is illegal in many jurisdictions Cods.....The fact remains Julian Assange is not in those jurisdictions so we await to see what happens.....If the Yanks want him and get him he will be locked away for some time I expect!!! :) :) :)

'rape' is an odd description for a broken condom and a mysterious retraction of consent a year after the act. Everyone smells a rat here. why the massive international pressure to get a single man to another country to face a charge for something that isnt even a crime anywhere else? becaus the USA wants to extradite him.

its not rocket science.

philperth2010 wrote on Jan 11^th, 2013 at 10:29am:

cods wrote on Jan 11th, 2013 at 10:12am: philperth2010 wrote on Jan 11th, 2013 at 10:05am: Supporting this sort of behaviour is reckless.....Like Sea Shepherd and Julian Assange these people are a law unto themselves and will never have my support.....Regardless of what people think of the laws members of Parliament should uphold the integrity of the system and not support these extremists.....The Greens are to extreme to ever appeal to rational voters....Milne and her cronies have no idea how the real world works!!! ::) ::) ::) what LAWS did Assange break phil? I thought rape was a crime Cods.....Isn't that what he is wanted for in Sweden??? I am sure hacking into computers and releasing classified information is illegal in many jurisdictions Cods.....The fact remains Julian Assange is not in those jurisdictions so we await to see what happens.....If the Yanks want him and get him he will be locked away for some time I expect!!! :) :) :)

hummm the rape charges were a put up and dropped the police just havent let it go..

did he hack anything???..I thought he had someone on the inside of the Pentagon.

what classified did he release.....last I heard it was all chit chat the fact that it wasnt meant for publication....

you know...someone said something nasty about someone else... [ maybe a truth]..wouldnt do for the world to know that..

the facts remain that Assange is being railroaded..

they have muslim murderers in England sitting back getting the pension and they are wanted somewhere else

and the Brits wont send them back.....

yet they  are prepared to send Assange to Sweden..on a trumped up rape charge.

I dont buy it phil.

philperth2010 wrote on Jan 11^th, 2013 at 10:39am:

... wrote on Jan 11th, 2013 at 10:33am: Rape is what he's charged with, but it's nothing like what we recognise as rape.  I have no idea.....Assange believes the charges are trumped up and he refuses to face court over the allegations.....Some people think they are important enough to be above the law.....Assange strikes me as someone who thinks he is above the law....He made his bed and now he can lay in it!!! :) :) :)

why should he believe its only the British police waiting outside the Embassy and not the yanks as well.?

Sweden rape thats just the red herring..

philperth2010 wrote on Jan 11^th, 2013 at 10:29am:

cods wrote on Jan 11th, 2013 at 10:12am: philperth2010 wrote on Jan 11th, 2013 at 10:05am: Supporting this sort of behaviour is reckless.....Like Sea Shepherd and Julian Assange these people are a law unto themselves and will never have my support.....Regardless of what people think of the laws members of Parliament should uphold the integrity of the system and not support these extremists.....The Greens are to extreme to ever appeal to rational voters....Milne and her cronies have no idea how the real world works!!! ::) ::) ::) what LAWS did Assange break phil? I thought rape was a crime Cods.....Isn't that what he is wanted for in Sweden??? I am sure hacking into computers and releasing classified information is illegal in many jurisdictions Cods.....The fact remains Julian Assange is not in those jurisdictions so we await to see what happens.....If the Yanks want him and get him he will be locked away for some time I expect!!! :) :) :)

I don't like Assange one bit, but I have my doubts about the so-called rape charge. I think it's a clever trick to get Assange in the US so he can be tried for releasing classified documents. Furthermore, I do believe he should face court over his release of classified documents. There's no telling how many military and/or intelligence personnel have had their lives placed at risk because of this upstart. Your 15 minutes are over, Julian...

Will the Outrageous Milne & Rhiannon also support "civil disobedience" when it turns into market exploitation.
Probably, as long as the manipulator says he/she did it to bring down the lackeys of the capitalist system . . .or maybe even just if he/she has a beard:

Whitehaven a siren call for a host of hoaxes

Date January 12, 2013
Peter Ker

Resources reporter


WITH his untamed beard, radical politics and makeshift home in the scrub, Jonathan Moylan shapes as an unlikely participant in the pinstriped world of the sharemarket.

His home of the past six months - a bush campsite about 500 kilometres north-west of Sydney - barely has walls, let alone the sort of high-speed technology that dominates modern share trading.

Yet after the 24-year-old managed to wipe more than $300 million off the sharemarket this week using a hoax press release, many professional investors fear they will soon encounter plenty more of his type.


''Right now, somewhere, is a smart kid sitting in an office, working out how he can do the exact same thing to make a buck, and get away with it,'' says Patrick Trindade, the head of private wealth at Octa Phillip Financial Group.


Trindade's warning neatly illustrates how Moylan did more than shift the share price of Whitehaven Coal with his outrageously effective hoax press release. The anti-coal campaigner spooked an investment community that is well aware of its vulnerability to the sort of market manipulation that has now struck three times in the past six months.

There was agreement that Moylan's hoax - which tricked some investors and media into thinking that Whitehaven had lost a crucial $1.2 billion loan from ANZ Bank - was too damaging to market integrity to be laughed off as a prank.

The hoax sparked a sell-down at about midday on Monday that drove Whitehaven shares down from $3.52 to $3.21 within minutes.

Long after the damage was done, Whitehaven shares were put into a trading halt, and the company subsequently confirmed what the market had already worked out: the press release was a hoax.

Whitehaven shares resumed trading mid-afternoon and quickly recovered most of the lost ground, but the incident left some individual investors nursing losses.

Moylan insists he did not financially gain from his manipulation of the market, saying his motivations lay in highlighting the environmental damage that would occur if ANZ's loan helps Whitehaven to build a new coalmine - as planned - near his camp at Maules Creek.

With similar market hoaxes affecting David Jones and Macmahon Holdings in recent months, one of the nation's most powerful financial executives says there is a growing risk to Australia's reputation abroad.

''As a nation we have to be seen as a place where there is an orderly market in operation or overseas investors will get nervous,'' says Craig Drummond, the Australian head of Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

''We are already battling against a high dollar, which is a risk for overseas investors. That's why the regulators, it would seem, are taking firm action [against Moylan's hoax].

''If our regulators are seen to prevaricate, then overseas investors will have one more reason to be nervous about Australia.''

Amplifying concerns is a fear that similar hoaxes are bound to follow the Whitehaven stunt, and the bourse will be as vulnerable next time as it was to Moylan's antics.

''I don't think we will ever stop this sort of hoax statement. How can you stop someone issuing a press release?'' asks Tony de Govrik, the legal affairs director of the Australian Corporate Lawyers Association.

While there was widespread condemnation of the incident, there is anything but consensus over how best to fight the trend for hoaxes to distort markets.

A QC, David Galbally, has called for deceptive and misleading statements to be made offences under the Crimes Act, on top of their existing coverage under the Corporations Act. He says Federal Police would have more success in pursuing cases than investigators from the Australian Investments and Securities Commission.

Neither de Govrik nor David Horsfield - the chief executive of the Stockbrokers Association of Australia - supports that call. Horsfield says ASIC already has the weapons to deter hoaxers. ''The prevention is in showing people that if market integrity is damaged then there is a severe penalty for it,'' he says. ''It is important for ASIC to come down on the people involved quite hard … If they do that, then that will go a long way to stopping this sort of nonsense.''

ASIC struggled to make contact with Moylan in the 24 hours after the hoax. But by Wednesday an ASIC investigator made an unannounced visit to the Leard Forest camp, seizing the laptop and mobile phone used to make the fake release. Moylan has not been charged, but ASIC's inquiries relate to section 1041E of the Corporations Act, which covers misleading and deceptive statements. It can lead to criminal prosecutions and penalties of up to 10 years's jail or fines of $495,000.

De Govrik - who previously worked as ASX's le