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A damaged house Photocall Ireland!

Report vindicates belief that State is not responsible for pyrite problems - Hogan

He added, however, that he supports the affected homeowners who have been suffering for “far too long”.

THE MINISTER FOR the Environment has said a report by the specially commissioned Pyrite Panel vindicates his belief that the State is not responsible for the problems being experienced in some homes across the country.

Although he acknowledged the “difficult and distressing situations” faced by those living in homes with pyrite problems, Phil Hogan said the responsibility lay with stakeholders, including quarries, material suppliers, builders, developers, vendors and relevant insurance companies.

It is not a sustainable viewpoint that the taxpayer should be made liable for the costs associated with the remediation of pyrite damaged dwellings. The costs should fall to those responsible and I welcome the Panel’s clear view on this matter. The Panel was unambiguous in its view that the parties with direct or indirect responsibility for the pyrite problem should face up to their responsibilities and provide solutions for homeowners and that the State is not responsible for the pyrite problem or liable for remediation costs.

The Government has said that it is not liable for the costs of fixing the properties but Hogan told the Dáil today that the State has a role and duty to assist homeowners as they try and find a resolution.

I want to make it clear that I will do what is necessary to ensure that effective solutions are provided for affected homeowners…As I have said earlier, I am conscious of the long period of time that many affected homeowners have been waiting to get a resolution to this complex problem and I will not delay in finalising robust proposals and to bring this phase of the process to a speedy conclusion. Nobody should be in any doubt which side of this debate that I am supporting.  It is the homeowners that have suffered for far too long with this problem.

Hogan has accepted a recommendation from the Panel to set up a resolution board, adding that he has asked his department to finalise arrangements as early as next week.

The Minister said he hopes that all stakeholders will respond positively to requests within 10 days. If not, he will ask the government to sanction a levy which would provide finance for the resolution.

The move has been welcomed by the Opposition with Fianna Fáil’s Barry Cowen describing it as “overdue, but welcome”. He also said he intends to hold Hogan to his deadline of 10 days.

In his statement to the Dáil, the Minister also discussed the number of dwellings impacted by pyrite. He said estimates are significantly less than the figures which have been speculated in the public domain.

He said the panel’s estimate of 12,250 is more accurate and based on proper methodology than the 60,000 or 70,000 being quoted by various other sources.

What is the cost of repairing pyrite-damaged homes?

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47 Comments
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    Mute CeannairBlue
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    Jun 14th 2017, 10:00 AM

    Australia have every right not to land anyone on their shores that they do not want.

    If only we had the balls – we send the bloody Navy halfway round the world to pick them up!

    388
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    Mute Kal Ipers
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    Jun 14th 2017, 10:07 AM

    @CeannairBlue: Actually they don’t hence the lawsuit and them losing. They broke international and their own national laws

    72
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    Mute CeannairBlue
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    Jun 14th 2017, 10:08 AM

    @Kal Ipers: Then I’ll rephrase. THEY BLOODY WELL SHOULD DO!

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    Mute Kal Ipers
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    Jun 14th 2017, 10:15 AM

    @CeannairBlue: So you are fine with when countries refused to allow a ship with refugees fleeing the holocaust during WWII? They eventually returned to the Nazis and were killed in concentration camps. You think the agreements and laws brought in to never allow that to happen again should be scrapped?

    31
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    Mute CeannairBlue
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    Jun 14th 2017, 10:26 AM

    @Kal Ipers: Ah the old Godwin’s Law, where would the intellectually challenged be without it.

    No, I wouldn’t have been okay with that. But I’m okay with this and the knobheads legging from Syria and leaving their wives and kids behind because “THEY’RE NOT FLEEING A HOLOCAUST”.

    125
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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jun 14th 2017, 10:30 AM

    @CeannairBlue: quoting the relevant laws is not Godwins Law.

    23
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    Mute Kal Ipers
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    Jun 14th 2017, 10:34 AM

    @CeannairBlue: Hard not to mention the Nazis when they are the reason for the laws. Many of these people were fleeing certain death if they stayed.
    Do you know anything about the people and how they were treated? The suicide rate in Naru camps is shocking. Do you think these people killed themselves for a laugh?

    25
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    Mute Marie Agnew
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    Jun 14th 2017, 10:52 AM

    @CeannairBlue: so the millions that left Ireland because of the famine should have been abandoned as well huh!! Short memories eh!

    23
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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jun 14th 2017, 10:53 AM

    @Marie Agnew: abandoned? Abandoned would be preferable to internment

    13
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    Mute CeannairBlue
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    Jun 14th 2017, 10:56 AM

    @Dave O Keeffe: Did I say it was ? Invoking the Holocaust is.

    18
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    Mute CeannairBlue
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    Jun 14th 2017, 10:58 AM

    @Marie Agnew: We also weren’t leaving the country to sponge off the nearest country – we went there because a third of the country were dying of starvation.
    One in those places, we bloody well went to work.

    Honestly I used to be a left wing socialist but ffs the “left” nowadays want a slap.

    80
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    Mute CeannairBlue
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    Jun 14th 2017, 10:59 AM

    @Clever Jake: The Pope is a better man than I am. Thank God.

    12
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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    Jun 14th 2017, 11:00 AM

    So how does this effect their refugee status ??

    8
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    Mute Ben Gunn
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    Jun 14th 2017, 11:12 AM

    @CeannairBlue: I think this issue was dealt with at Nuremberg. All people have human rights which should not be subject to artificial borders arbitrarily drawn for political reasons.

    8
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    Mute Robert Preston
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    Jun 14th 2017, 11:15 AM

    @Marie Agnew: Read a history book and educate yourself how can you compare the irish leaving to go to america and the rest of the world with whats going on now .

    45
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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    Jun 14th 2017, 11:24 AM

    @Kal Ipers: I doubt they even care about that . . They protected their borders and sent a message out and it stopped the boats arriving illegally. .

    33
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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jun 14th 2017, 11:52 AM

    @CeannairBlue: The law around this issue was created because of the legal grey area that existed on people fleeing the threat of concentration camps. To call mentioning where the law originated Godwin’s Law shows your absolute lack of understanding of the issue and human rights laws.

    6
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    Mute CeannairBlue
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    Jun 14th 2017, 12:06 PM

    @Dave O Keeffe: No, you would like it to. Nice try.

    11
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    Mute Gordon McCabe
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    Jun 14th 2017, 12:08 PM

    @CeannairBlue: I think you seriously need to look into what’s actually happening in countries like Syria.

    6
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    Mute Peter donnelly
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    Jun 14th 2017, 3:10 PM

    @Kal Ipers:if they were fleeing certain death why did they go so far ? im sure there were nearer countrys they could go to, but hold on they probably wouldnt have been allowed in and would not of got any support or special treatment, would it not make more sence to stay at home and fight for your country….

    17
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    Mute SteveW
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    Jun 14th 2017, 10:10 AM

    Even sovereign countries have no control over their own borders and rules.

    122
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    Mute Kal Ipers
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    Jun 14th 2017, 10:26 AM

    @SteveW: Not when they sign agreements saying they will take in refugees and then don’t. They actually broke their own rules. Their own courts and laws are what is being enforced.

    32
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    Mute Siouxsie Dumbtime
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    Jun 14th 2017, 11:46 AM

    @SteveW: History will look harshly upon Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers, a continent pillaged by Europeans.

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    Mute CeannairBlue
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    Jun 14th 2017, 12:06 PM

    @Siouxsie Dumbtime: Such an appropriate screen name with a comment like that.

    28
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    Mute Larissa Caroline Nikolaus
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    Jun 14th 2017, 12:16 PM

    @CeannairBlue: In how far is it incorrect that she mentioned that Australia was pillaged by Europeans?

    7
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    Mute Siouxsie Dumbtime
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    Jun 14th 2017, 1:06 PM

    @CeannairBlue: It’s an historically accurate statement so bully you!

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    Mute billy Dorney
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    Jun 14th 2017, 4:30 PM

    @Siouxsie Dumbtime: sure the Aussies are worried

    2
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    Mute Carl Ingalls
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    Jun 14th 2017, 10:15 AM

    Irish Right’s groups will be licking their lips as we speak.

    108
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    Mute Coles
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    Jun 14th 2017, 11:14 AM

    @Clever Jake: Best to ignore them. Everybody else does.

    15
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    Mute Polly Dolan
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    Jun 14th 2017, 11:21 AM

    @Clever Jake: block them!!

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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Jun 14th 2017, 2:14 PM

    @Carl Ingalls: the horror of not helping people who weren’t lucky enough to be born in a free society. If you had your way we’d be back in far-right paradise with human rights very restricted. No thanks.

    7
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    Mute Alex
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    Jun 14th 2017, 10:02 AM

    Go home

    79
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    Mute Siouxsie Dumbtime
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    Jun 14th 2017, 11:47 AM

    @Alex: The colonists?

    13
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    Mute Trevor W
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    Jun 14th 2017, 12:41 PM

    @Siouxsie Dumbtime: it’s a pity the originals didn’t send them packing centuries ago.

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    Mute Siouxsie Dumbtime
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    Jun 14th 2017, 1:08 PM

    @Trevor W: So true, they have treated the aboriginals disgracefully and now asylum seekers, one set of rules for the white man and another for anyone of colour.

    8
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    Mute Peter donnelly
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    Jun 14th 2017, 12:41 PM

    simple answer send them back from whever they came from, no asylum….

    43
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    Mute Siouxsie Dumbtime
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    Jun 14th 2017, 1:10 PM

    @Peter donnelly: The Europeans? We’d have no room for all those descendants of Irish convicts.

    10
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    Mute Peter donnelly
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    Jun 14th 2017, 2:56 PM

    @Siouxsie Dumbtime: slight problem there the irish who were forced onto death ships god knows how long age were forced to go they diddnt chose to go, and when they finished their sentance they worked for a living not expecting any one to feed and house them any irish who emmigrated went to work and try to better themselves but unfortunatly not all of them made it….

    20
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    Mute Ben McArthur
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    Jun 14th 2017, 10:35 AM

    I’d say a lot of Australians will consider that money well spent.

    32
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    Mute Kal Ipers
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    Jun 14th 2017, 10:10 AM

    As there will be a flood of people saying how this is riddiculious I suggest you read up on what they did to these people. Also read what Australia did to Naru and to the captain of a boat who rescued people from a sinking boat.

    28
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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jun 14th 2017, 10:34 AM

    @CeannairBlue: *can’t

    14
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    Mute Larissa Caroline Nikolaus
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    Jun 14th 2017, 10:43 AM

    @CeannairBlue: You can’t be bothered reading, yet comment here, venting your faux outrage about refugees having a right to be treated humanely, the sure sign of a hypocrite and troll

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    Mute CeannairBlue
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    Jun 14th 2017, 11:00 AM

    @Dave O Keeffe: Difference between hitting the wrong key and the inability to spell. Troll.

    8
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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jun 14th 2017, 11:57 AM

    @CeannairBlue: best not to make a mistake when correcting others, makes you look ridiculous. Ha, troll. Says the moron that has no idea why most laws around concentration camps and many about refugees seem to have been agreed upon in the 40′s.

    9
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    Mute Mumpsimus
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    Jun 14th 2017, 2:05 PM

    Why don’t all the lefties move to all their countries and make it better for them so they don’t have to leave. Problem solved

    27
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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Jun 14th 2017, 2:22 PM

    @Mumpsimus: why don’t all righties F off to their own country? Oh yeah they still want to get a woman!!!

    7
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    Mute billy Dorney
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    Jun 14th 2017, 4:31 PM

    @Mumpsimus: keyboard warriors

    1
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    Mute Tony Daly
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    Jun 14th 2017, 11:19 AM

    Who let all of the white Caucasian Christian immigrants into Australia? The place is overrun with them.

    The Aboriginal people should not have let all of the white foreigners in.

    23
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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    Jun 14th 2017, 11:21 AM

    Who all entered legally into the country ….

    33
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    Mute Tony Daly
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    Jun 14th 2017, 11:57 AM

    @Suzie Sunshine: no, they did not.

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    Mute Greg Cavey
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    Jun 14th 2017, 12:20 PM

    @Tony Daly: and look how prosperous the country is all these decades later. Germany decided to let in 500,000+ migrants into their country and they stab 5 year old boys, assault and women and plough through innocent people shopping at a Christmas market. Infact lets compare east Europe to west europe. West lets in migrants = dramatic increase in terror attacks. East stands firmly against letting in migrants = virtually no terror attacks to my knowledge. Coincidence?

    39
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    Mute Siouxsie Dumbtime
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    Jun 14th 2017, 1:09 PM

    @Suzie Sunshine: Time to revisit your primary school history books.

    7
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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    Jun 14th 2017, 1:19 PM

    @Siouxsie Dumbtime: they weren’t the migrants I was referring to

    6
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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jun 14th 2017, 1:48 PM

    @Suzie Sunshine: who were you referring to then?

    6
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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jun 14th 2017, 10:33 AM

    You can’t put refugees in a concentration camp? Who knew!

    24
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    Mute just readin
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    Jun 14th 2017, 12:33 PM

    Australians should stop messing about and deport all immigrants and their families who arrived since 1606

    16
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    Mute Rodney Monaghan
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    Jun 14th 2017, 5:41 PM

    I hope they have the decency now to repay the Australian taxpayers, for the cost incurred by them, for the provision of their refugee accommodation…
    Regardless of the level of accommodation, the burden of its cost shouldn’t now be borne by Australia, given these people’s new found wealth!

    9
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    Mute Trevor W
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    Jun 14th 2017, 12:48 PM

    It’s a small justice. As multi-cultural as it is in Oz it is seriously racist in many ways.

    Read up on the Tampa affair. Will explain a lot for the keyboard warriors on here.

    10
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