Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Government no longer places girls in Young Offender Institutions
Vulnerable girls sentenced to youth custody will no longer be placed in Young Offender Institutions (YOIs)
Ministers have acted immediately to end the practice of placing girls in young offender institutions following recommendations from Susannah Hancock’s independent review into the placement and care of girls in youth custody.
The review published today highlights the complex mental and physical health issues these girls often face, with self-harm at a concerning level.
It comes as recent figures show girls are involved in more than half the self-harm incidents across the youth estate in England and Wales, despite accounting for less than two percent of the children in custody.
The intervention will ensure girls are always placed in settings more suited to their needs such as Secure Schools or Secure Children’s Homes.
The decision was informed by feedback from hardworking staff and the vulnerable children in their care. The review found that despite tireless efforts of staff involved in their care, YOIs cannot offer the therapeutic, trauma-informed support these girls need.
Minister for Youth Justice Sir Nic Dakin said:
Girls in custody are often victims themselves with complex mental health and emotional needs.
Ending their placement in YOIs for good is a first step in drastically improving the support they receive to turn their lives around.
I am grateful to Susannah Hancock for her recommendations, and we will set out our response to each one in due course.
Girls have not been placed in HMYOI Wetherby, the only YOI accepting girls, for several months. This has now been made a permanent decision.
Susannah Hancock was appointed by the government in November 2024 to conduct an independent review into the placement of girls in the children and young people’s secure estate.
The report acknowledges the scope of the challenge at hand, and the department will now consider the full range of its recommendations and develop a long-term action plan in response.
Susannah Hancock said:
I am pleased that the government has acted swiftly in accepting the first recommendation in my review and that girls will no longer be placed in YOIs.
This is an important step forward towards ensuring that all girls in custody receive appropriate levels of support, care and therapeutic interventions to address their physical, mental health and emotional needs.
I look forward to hearing the government’s response to the wider review recommendations and to seeing professionals come together to help make positive changes for these girls.
Stephanie Roberts-Bibby, Chief Executive of the Youth Justice Board said:
We welcome the recommendations from Susannah Hancock’s independent review into girls in custody and we are pleased that the Minister has agreed to the immediate removal of girls in young offender institutions.
It is our position, informed by the evidence, that girls should only be placed in secure settings in exceptional circumstances, and when this happens, they should be held in places that are designed to meet their needs. Children in the youth justice system are overwhelmingly boys, and as a result girls’ needs and vulnerabilities can be overlooked, resulting in them encountering poorer experiences and outcomes.
The Youth Custody Service can place girls in different settings across the youth custody estate, including secure children’s homes, the new secure school and Oakhill Secure Training Centre. Girls were previously placed at HMYOI Wetherby following the closure of Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre, but today’s decision removes this placement option permanently.
Over 4000 people have joined the call for the Scottish Government to finally reject destructive proposals for an industrial salmon farm development at Loch Long.
The objections have been lodged via a web portal created by Scottish Green MSP Ariane Burgess.
The controversial proposal was rejected by the National Park Authority in 2022. It was appealed by the developers almost 12 months ago, with the Scottish Government taking the rare decision to “call” it in.
Only 2 miles from Loch Lomond, at the heart of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, Loch Long is an iconic landscape. It’s home to seals, otters and seabirds, as well as linking with the Endrick Water Special Area of Conservation, which hosts a fragile population of endangered Atlantic Salmon.
The final decision now lies with the Scottish Government and Cabinet Secretary Shona Robison.
“A lot of residents have told me how concerned they are by this destructive proposal and what it would do to their local environment.
“This has hung over local people for far too long. They want a decision and for the uncertainty to end.
“Loch Long is renowned for its natural beauty, wildlife, and cultural heritage. The salmon farm would scar all of that. At present there is no salmon farming on Loch Long, and the local community wants to keep it that way.
“I hope that the Cabinet Secretary reflects on the strength of local feeling and that together we can ensure that this iconic landscape and its wildlife are preserved for future generations.”
Ms Burgess added:
“The issue is bigger than this proposal. Salmon farming is an unsustainable and often very cruel practice that is in urgent need of dramatic improvement. We should not be giving away more of our waters to it.
“Scotland positions itself as a frontrunner when it comes to animal welfare, but the overfarming of salmon is a risk to that reputation.
“It is time to pause new salmon farms and take meaningful action to address high mortality rates, environmental harm, and the welfare of farmed fish.”
Nuclear energy is costly and toxic and will do nothing to cut bills.
More in Climate
New nuclear power would cost Scottish households while diverting funding and resources from real climate action, says Scottish Green Co-leader Patrick Harvie.
Speaking ahead of a Scottish Government debate on Scotland’s renewable future, Mr Harvie warned that Labour’s focus on nuclear power would risk increasing household bills and would be a gift to a toxic industry that is not offering the solutions we need.
The UK Labour government has proposed building new nuclear power plants across the UK touting so-called ‘small modular reactors’, despite one never having been built and the long-running record of the nuclear power industry running over schedule and budget.
The first nuclear power plant to be built in the UK for over 30 years, at Hinkley Point, is nearing £28 billion over budget and despite the construction phase beginning in 2016, it will likely not generate any electricity until at least 2029 but possibly 2031.
“This cold war era obsession with nuclear power shows just how out of touch Labour are with the real crisis we face. It is costly, takes years to go online and will leave a long and toxic legacy for future generations.
“New nuclear power would cost billions of pounds at a time when Labour are telling the public that there is no money to tackle poverty or keep pensioners warm. These new reactors would do nothing to reduce the bills that Labour promised to cut during the election.
“Hinkley Point is the perfect example of everything wrong with nuclear power. Its construction has been a disaster for the environment, requiring masses more concrete and steel than initially thought and it is now running significantly over budget and behind schedule. Does Keir Starmer really think the people want more of this?
“It is a distraction from doing the real work that is so important in terms of investing in clean, green renewable energy that will make a big difference for people and planet.
“Keir Starmer seems to have been sold up the river by his friends in the nuclear power industry who promise modular reactors, which have never been built to any kind of scale and don’t remove the major problem of highly toxic nuclear waste that will still scar our landscape for centuries to come.
“Scotland can have a positive and prosperous green future, but nuclear energy has no part in it. We have the resources for a renewables revolution but we need all governments to commit to it rather than taking a big backwards step with nuclear.”
Released by: Minister for the Central Coast, Minister for Regional Health
More women on the Central Coast will be able to access public maternity services locally with Gosford and Wyong to expand and improve ante and post-natal services.
This funding will improve both capacity and capability of the local hospitals to provide such services.
The Albanese Government’s investment of $10 million will support the Minns Labor Government to manage the anticipated significant increase in demand for maternity services in the region following the closure of private maternity services at Gosford Private Hospital.
This $10 million investment from the Albanese Government will support an increase in staff training, development and support incentives to attract and retain high demand maternity professionals to the region.
This investment means more support for families, during one of the most important times of in their lives and it builds on the NSW Government’s work on a new Women’s Children and Families Services Plan focused on maternity and population growth expectations.
The Central Coast community will have an opportunity to provide input into the plan.
The Government is building an engaged, capable and supported workforce on the Central Coast, and have recently recruited doctors to vacant obstetrics and gynaecology positions, including individual Heads of Department for Obstetrics, and for Gynaecology.
Quotes attributable to Regional Health Minister, Ryan Park:
“The Minns Labor Government welcomes this contribution to maternity services up and down the central coast.
“We know the closure of private maternity services will add pressure on our public system, and these additional funds will support our efforts to ensure women, and their families have access to safe, high quality maternity care.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for the Central Coast, David Harris:
“I welcome this funding to support maternity services for our Central Coast community.
“This support will build on existing services in place on the Coast that are ensuring all expectant mothers wishing to have their birth in our growing region are able to do so.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Swansea, Yasmin Catley:
“Labor is committed to delivering the public healthcare that people deserve, and this $10 million investment in maternity services will greatly benefit our area, improving in-hospital care.
“Having a child is one of the most significant milestones in any family’s life, and this funding should reassure locals that they will be well looked after when they need it most.”
Quotes attributable to Member for The Entrance, David Mehan:
“Any investment in maternity services here on the central coast is welcome.
“I remain determined, along with my Labor colleagues, to improve public maternity services here on the coast after years of financial neglect by the former government.”
Quotes attributable to Member for the Gosford, Liesl Tesch:
“Above all else, women deserve choice, control and access to high-quality care during their maternity journey. This fantastic announcement by the Albanese Government is a clear and powerful commitment to women’s healthcare on the Central Coast, now and into the future.
“In a growing region like the Central Coast, investment in our maternity services is critical to building and strengthening the services our community rely on most. The NSW Minns Labor Government and the Federal Labor Government are committed to working together to continue to build a stronger healthcare system for everyone.”
Quotes attributable to Government Spokesperson for Terrigal, Mark Buttigieg MLC:
“The $10 million investment by the Albanese Government addresses community concerns over the looming closure of Gosford Private Hospital’s maternity services.
“This government cares about people – what could be more important than making sure families can have safe and easy access to having a baby. It’s great news for the Coast!”
A second confirmed human case of Japanese encephalitis (JE) has been identified in a resident of northern Victoria, with likely exposure in the Riverina region of New South Wales on the Murray River.
JE virus has also been detected through environmental surveillance along much of the Murray River in Victoria from Mildura to Moira.
Additional human cases of Japanese Encephalitis have been reported in New South Wales and Queensland.
JE virus has also been detected in mosquito populations and at piggeries across Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland this summer.
Residents and people visiting northern Victoria and inland riverine regions of eastern Australia, particularly near the Murray River, are potentially at higher risk of infection and should take measures to prevent mosquito bites.
Avoid mosquito bites by using mosquito repellent containing picaridin or diethyltoluamide (DEET) on all exposed skin. Wear long, loose fitting clothing when outside, and ensure accommodation, including tents are properly fitted with mosquito nettings or screens.
In Victoria, JE vaccine is available free-of-charge for specific groups at higher risk of exposure to the virus, including eligible people in 24 eligible LGAs in northern Victoria, and those at occupational risk across Victoria.
JE vaccine booster doses are now recommended for some people one to 2 years after their primary course, if they remain eligible in Victoria.
Clinicians should test for JE virus in patients with compatible illness and notify the Department of Health immediately of suspected cases by calling 1300 651 160 (24 hours).
What is the issue?
A second confirmed case of JE virus infection has been identified in a resident of northern Victoria this mosquito season. Five human cases of Japanese encephalitis have also been reported across New South Wales and Queensland.
JE virus has continued to be detected through environmental surveillance in northern Victoria, and in mosquitoes and at piggeries in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.
JE virus can cause a rare but potentially serious infection of the brain and is spread to humans through bites from infected mosquitoes.
Mosquitoes can spread diseases such as JE, Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE), and West Nile (Kunjin) virus infections, as well as Ross River and Barmah Forest viruses. The risk of mosquito-borne diseases remains high in the coming weeks. Taking measures to avoid mosquito bites is critical to protect against infections.
In Victoria, cases of JE were reported for the first time in 2022 while cases of MVE were last reported in 2023.
Mosquito testing is being carried out across Victoria to help identify high risk areas.
Who is at risk?
Anyone is potentially at risk of being bitten by mosquitoes and while most bites will only cause minor swelling and irritation, an infected mosquito can transmit potentially serious diseases, including JE. People with increased exposure to mosquitoes may be at a higher risk of infection, particularly people camping, working or spending time outdoors in inland riverine regions and along the Murray River.
Children aged under 5 years old and older people who are infected with JE virus are at a higher risk of developing more severe illness, such as encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).
Symptoms and transmission
JE virus is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. There is no evidence of transmission from person to person.
More than 90 per cent of JE virus infections are asymptomatic. Less than one per cent of people infected with JE virus develop neurologic illness.
Encephalitis is the most serious clinical consequence of JE virus infection. Illness usually begins 5 to 15 days after exposure with sudden onset of fever, headache and vomiting. Mental status changes, focal neurological deficits, seizures, generalised weakness, movement disorders, loss of coordination and coma may develop over the next few days. The encephalitis cannot be distinguished clinically from other central nervous system infections. Milder forms of disease, such as aseptic meningitis or undifferentiated febrile illness, can also occur.
Recommendations
For health professionals
Clinicians should consider the possibility of JE virus infection in patients presenting with encephalitis or a compatible illness, and particularly in those who have spent time in rural or regional Victoria, the inland riverine regions of eastern Australia or have had extensive mosquito exposure or contact with pigs within the few weeks prior to symptom onset.
JE virus infection is an urgent notifiable condition and must be notified immediately to the department if suspected or confirmed by medical practitioners and pathology services by phoning 1300 651 160 (24 hours).
Recommended testing for patients with encephalitis, particularly those without another pathogen identified, and with compatible MRI or CT findings, in adults and children is as follows:
Blood (serum tube – 2 mL from children, 5-8 mL from adults)
Acute and convalescent (3-4 weeks post onset) for flavivirus and JEV IgG, IgM and Total Ab
Culture/PCR on acute sample
CSF (at least 1 mL)
Flavivirus and JEV PCR and culture
Flavivirus and JEV IgG, IgM and Total Ab
Urine (2-5 mL in sterile urine jar)
Flavivirus and JEV PCR and culture.
Specimens should be sent urgently (same or next day) to Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL) for flavivirus serology, PCR and culture and transported at 4 degrees Celsius. Request forms should be appropriately labelled and the on-call pathologist at VIDRL should be contacted to provide information on samples being sent.
For the public
Victorians should be aware of the risk of mosquito-borne diseases, including JE virus infection and take steps to significantly limit their exposure to mosquitoes. There are simple steps to protect against mosquito-borne diseases:
Cover up – wear long, loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing.
Use mosquito repellents containing picaridin or diethyltoluamide (DEET) on all exposed skin.
Don’t forget the kids – always check the insect repellent label. On babies, you might need to spray or rub repellent on their clothes instead of their skin. Avoid applying repellent to the hands of babies or young children.
Limit outdoor activity if lots of mosquitoes are about, especially around dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
Remove stagnant water where mosquitoes can breed around your home or campsite.
Residents and visitors to high-risk areas of Northern Victoria and visitors to at-risk areas of New SouthWales and Queensland are advised to take additional preventative measures, including:
Make sure your accommodation is fitted with mosquito netting or screens.
Close doors and tent flaps to stop mosquitoes getting inside.
Sleep under a mosquito net if mosquito screens are not available.
Try to avoid camping near wetland habitats where mosquitoes are likely breeding.
Mosquito coils can be effective in small outdoor areas where you gather to sit or eat.
JE vaccination
There is significant global demand for the JE vaccine and therefore access is restricted to those most at risk.
JE vaccine is available free-of-charge forspecificgroupsat higher risk of exposure to the virus, including eligible people in 24 eligible LGAs in northern Victoria,and those at occupational risk across Victoria. Eligibility criteria will continue to be monitored.
The free JE vaccine is available for eligible people through GPs, Aboriginal health services, community pharmacies and some local councils.
JE vaccine booster doses are now recommended for people one to 2 years after their primary course, if they remain eligible in Victoria and their primary course was with:
Imojev®, and the individual was less than 18 years at time of primary dose, OR
JEspect®, and the individual was ≥18 years at time of primary dose.
Imojev® vaccine is contraindicated in people who are immunocompromised, and in pregnant or breastfeeding women.
Eligible people should speak to their GP or immunisation provider it if has been one to 2 years since getting a primary course of JE vaccine, to check if they require a booster dose.
See JE vaccination for further detailed information on vaccine eligibility criteria and access.
This will see the Commonwealth contribution jump from 20% to 25% of the schooling resource standard (on which school funding is based) by 2034. The NSW government will contribute the rest.
This follows more than a year of negotiations between federal Labor and the states and territories to lock in a new agreement, after the previous one expired at the end of 2024. Queensland is now the only state or territory without an agreement.
Th NSW deal will result in an additional A$4.8 billion in federal funding to NSW public schools over ten years. But the extra funding comes with conditions.
As Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says,
This is not a blank cheque; [it] ties funding to reforms that will help students catch up, keep up and finish school.
The federal government finally agreed to a 5% increase for South Australia and Victoria in January, in a sign the school “funding wars” were about to see some peace.
The new funding is part of the Better and and Fairer Schools Agreement. Under this agreement, states and territories must agree to specific education reforms to qualify for the federal funding. These include:
Year 1 phonics and early years numeracy checks
an emphasis on “explicit teaching” (where teachers show students what to do and how to do it)
providing intensive support for students
support for student and teacher wellbeing
improving teacher recruitment and retention.
The specific actions required by each state and territory are outlined in their bilateral agreements with the federal government.
The new money will take time to arrive
The federal and NSW governments have billed their deal as a means to “fully and fairly fund New South Wales public schools”. Or, as Education Minister Jason Clare noted, “this is big”.
But while the extra funding is welcome news for NSW public schools, the results of the agreed reforms will not be felt for some time. Underfunded schools will continue to be underfunded for years to come.
This is because the extra funding will gradually kick in from 2026 to 2034. So many students who currently attend underfunded public schools will not see the benefits of the increased funding during their time at school.
Keep in mind, talk of “fully funding” schools dates back to David Gonski’s 2011 report, which called for equitable funding for Australia’s education system.
The federal government is placing considerable emphasis on its bid to lift wellbeing, teaching and learning standards as part of the new agreement. But the last agreement with states made little difference to schools.
The National School Reform Agreement (which expired at the end of 2024) aimed to improved academic outcomes, especially for children from disadvantaged backgrounds and improve school attendance. But there were few positive gains around its goals.
The [reform agreement’s] initiatives have done little, so far, to improve student outcomes.
The new bilateral agreements contain more specific targets for each state and territory. However, this does not mean promises will be kept. Our 2024 research has shown how various education ministers make national schooling reform promises, which are then lost as the political cycle moves on.
once agreements are endorsed and ratified, the ongoing commitment to the enactment of agreed education reforms can be ‘forgotten’.
Our research has also shown how school reform also becomes stuck in the process of moving between national, state and school levels. That is, the policy intention (or reform agreement) rarely plays out the way it is intended in schools.
What now?
Does this mean the new agreement will also fail to produce “better and fairer” outcomes for some of Australia’s most marginalised and disenfranchised students?
We need to be careful that real schooling reform – of which fair and full funding to every Australian schools is an important element – is not lost to the short-term political games of the election cycle.
While the Coalition has been critical of the time taken to reach an agreement, it says it will honour the funding commitments if elected.
So assuming Queensland signs onto the new agreement before the federal election, perhaps the promise of the original Gonski reforms will finally be realised, even if it is two decades later.
Stewart Riddle receives funding from the Australian Research Council (LP210100098).
Headline: Building the allied health workforce in Southern NSW
Published: 4 March 2025
Released by: Minister for Regional Health, Minister for Regional NSW
The Rural Allied Health Educator Pilot Program, a joint venture between NSW Health and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), is building a pipeline of allied health clinicians in rural, regional and remote communities, by boosting the number of student placements in Southern NSW Local Health District (SNSWLHD).
SNSWLHD developed a new student-led clinic as part of its program to assess and provide therapy for pre-school children in Moruya. Ten allied health students have gone through the program with more planned for 2025.
The program is enticing allied health students to stay and take up full time roles in rural, regional and remote locations.
A survey of students participating in the program found prior to commencing placement only 56.2 per cent were interested in working for NSW Health in a rural area as a graduate.
Following completion of placement, 85 per cent were more interested in working for NSW Health in a rural area as an allied health graduate and 95 per cent of students were satisfied with their placement experience and would recommend a rural placement to other students.
Allied health clinical placements typically take 4-8 weeks and give students experience across a range of clinical areas relevant to their profession.
At SNSWLHD, the allied health educators supervise students directly and work with universities to coordinate placements.
Amy Cooke and Joanne Li completed their allied health student placement at Moruya Hospital in February 2025 where they worked with the Brighter Beginnings program, delivering paediatric development screening, communication and occupational therapy assessments and interventions.
The $1 million Rural Allied Health Educator Pilot Program is a joint venture between NSW Health and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development across Hunter New England, Western NSW, Far West, Murrumbidgee and Southern NSW Local Health Districts.
DPIRD has invested $1 million per year over three years into the Rural Allied Health Educator Pilot Program.
Quotes attributable to Regional Health Minister, Ryan Park:
“Staffing is one of the most critical issues we face in the healthcare system, and in regional, rural and remote locations that problem is amplified.
“I am really proud a program like this is having great results at encouraging allied health students to take up a rewarding role in the bush.
“The Minns Labor Government is committed to boosting our allied health workforce by increasing training and education pathways for students in rural and regional NSW.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional New South Wales, Tara Moriarty:
“We support the Rural Allied Health Educator Program through funding these important regional allied health workforces.
“Getting essential workers into regional NSW is a major focus of the Government and this program plays a role in that plan.
“The students also have the opportunity to participate in The Welcome Experience while on placement.
“The Welcome Experience is a service which provides essential workers the support they need to make the move into live and work in regional communities by assisting them to get to know the local area and people first.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Bega, Dr Michael Holland:
“It’s really positive to hear this program is encouraging students to take up positions in regional, rural and remote hospitals.
“I spent many, many years working in regional and rural hospitals, and I can say that it is incredibly rewarding.”
Quotes attributable to Allied Health Educator, Cathie Matthews:
“The allied health students have been an integral part of our Brighter Beginnings and Speech Pathology Services offered to preschools in the Eurobodalla region.
“It has been great to see them develop their clinical skills working with our occupational therapists and Education colleagues to support children’s communication development.
“Providing students with quality clinical placements to develop their skills and love of allied health in the incredible communities found in our regions, and carry that passion with them through their careers has been an amazing privilege.”
Quotes attributable to Allied Health Student, Joanne Li:
“This rural placement has been thoroughly enjoyable and a wonderful opportunity to increase my knowledge and experience in the field.
“We have been able to work with a multi-disciplinary team to help provide screenings and interventions at preschools, which has greatly increased our knowledge and experience. The Southern Coast is beautiful with so much to offer, and the lack of traffic is such a luxury.”
Quotes attributable to Allied Health Student, Amy Cooke:
“I have loved undertaking my placement in the Eurobodalla region. It has been a wonderful opportunity to take the time away from my family commitments and focus on my learning and development in such a beautiful location.
“It has felt like a working holiday – enjoying the traffic free roads, friendly community and taking in all the sights along the coastline.”
Headline: Critical funding locked in to deliver Para-Sport Unit at NSWIS
Published: 4 March 2025
Released by: Minister for Disability Inclusion, Minister for Sport
The Minns Labor government is today announcing $2.305 million investment towards the formation of the New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) Para Unit.
The NSWIS Para Unit will provide a landing place for aspiring Paralympians. It will create opportunities for holistic development and progression focusing on increased participation in sport, and the number of NSW athletes selected to compete for Australia at major international para events.
The funding will be used to:
break down the 160 systemic barriers that have been identified as deterring potential para-athletes from entering, and progressing, in sport
guide more para-athletes into sport to increase participation numbers and, consequently, the talent pool for international sport
identify talent
employ specialised para-coaches and support staff
increase opportunities to gain classifications to compete nationally and internationally, and to enter high performance pathway
assist para-athletes to overcome the difficulties they encounter when travelling to domestic and international competitions.
NSW Minister of Sport Steve Kamper said:
“The Minns government believes that no athlete should be held back by barriers.
We’re committed to making sport accessible to all—because everyone deserves the opportunity to chase their dreams.
The NSWIS Para Unit will be a game-changer, providing a clear pathway for athletes to develop their skills, find purpose, and strive for greatness. “
NSW Minister for Disability Inclusion Kate Washington said:
“We saw just last year in Paris, how the sheer grit and determination of our Paralympians can inspire the nation and open our eyes to a more inclusive society.
“The NSW Government has a proud history of investing in our Paralympians and cheering them on as they do us proud on the world stage.
“This commitment will ensure people with disability have the same opportunities to reach their full potential in sport – by providing dedicated pathways, specialist coaches, and more support.”
NSWIS Chief Executive Officer, Professor Kevin Thompson said:
“Young Athletes will be inspired knowing there is now a world-class, high-performance unit that’s dedicated to nurturing emerging para-athletic talent – like them – to succeed on the world stage.
“The funding will be used to unearth yet to be discovered para-athletes from around the state and provide them with every opportunity to experience the joy and fellowship of sport, as well as the honour and privilege of competing for Australia at the Paralympics.”
Paralympics Australia Chief Executive Officer Cameron Murray said:
“NSW has a proud tradition in Paralympic sport, having produced many of Australia’s greatest Paralympians,”
“We are confident the establishment of a dedicated and well-resourced NSW Para Unit at NSWIS will prove an enormous boost for current and future athletes and coaches.
It is exciting to think this unit will provide opportunities for up to another 40 para-athletes over the term of the current two-year contract to come into the NSW Para-sport system and help set the foundation for an era of unprecedented success.
The Albanese and Minns Labor Governments have reached an Agreement to fully and fairly fund New South Wales public schools. As part of the Heads of Agreements signed today, the Commonwealth will provide an additional 5 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) to New South Wales. This will lift the Commonwealth contribution from 20 per cent to 25 per cent of the SRS by 2034 and follows New South Wales delivering its election commitment to reach 75 per cent of the SRS in 2025, two years ahead of the former Liberal National Government. This will see an estimated $4.8 billion in additional Commonwealth funding to New South Wales public schools over the next 10 years.
This represents the biggest ever new investment in New South Wales public schools by the Australian Government. New South Wales has also committed to removing the 4 per cent provision of indirect school costs such as capital depreciation so that New South Wales schools will be fully funded over the life of the Agreement. Commonwealth funding will be tied to the reforms needed to lift education standards across the country, including more individualised support for students, continuing evidence-based teaching practices, and more mental health and wellbeing support for schools.
This is not a blank cheque. The Agreement will be accompanied by a New South Wales Bilateral Agreement, which ties funding to reforms that will help students catch up, keep up and finish school, such as:
Year 1 phonics and early years of schooling numeracy checks to identify students who need additional help;
evidence-based teaching and targeted and intensive supports such as small-group or catch-up tutoring to help students who fall behind;
initiatives that support wellbeing for learning – including greater access to mental health professionals;
access to high-quality and evidence-based professional learning, and
initiatives that improve the attraction and retention of teachers.
In addition to these reforms, the Agreements have national targets that complement the New South Wales Government’s own public school targets released last week.
National targets include:
Improving NAPLAN proficiency levels for reading and numeracy across all year levels;
Increasing the outcomes for priority equity cohorts in NAPLAN results;
Increasing the Student Attendance Rate;
Increasing the engagement rate (completed or still enrolled) of initial teacher education students; and
Increasing the proportion of students leaving school with a Year 12 certificate.
This means more help for students and more support for teachers.
Today’s agreement with New South Wales follows agreements with Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory, South Australia and Victoria. The Commonwealth is continuing to work with Queensland. Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese: “Building Australia’s Future means investing in the next generation. “That’s why every dollar of this funding will go into helping children learn. “We know that education opens the doors of opportunity, and we want to widen them for every child in Australia. “This is about investing in real reform with real funding – so all Australian children get the best possible education.” Quotes attributable to New South Wales Premier Chris Minns: “Public education is the best investment any government can make. Every dollar spent in this space is a dollar spent on the future of our country.
“Every single child in Australia has the right to a quality, free public education and we are proud to work with the Albanese Labor Government to ensure New South Wales schools are fully funded. “We’ve seen a 40% reduction in teacher vacancies since we came to government, but we know there’s still more to do.
“This investment is vital as we work to lift education standards across the state by ensuring there is a qualified, dedicated teacher at the front of the classroom.” Quotes attributable to Minister for Education, Jason Clare:
“This is big. The biggest state in the country has now signed up. “This will help more than 780,000 kids in more than 2,200 public schools. “This is real funding tied to real reforms to help students catch up, keep up and finish school. “It’s not a blank cheque. I want this money to get results. “That’s why funding will be directly tied to reforms that we know work. “It will help make sure every child gets a great start in life. What every parent wants. And what every Australian child deserves.” Quotes attributable to New South Wales Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car:
“This incredible outcome for public schools will allow us to deliver on the ambitious targets we have set for the public education system in New South Wales.
“Our commitment to rebuilding public education will now be underpinned by an agreement that delivers full funding for public schools. “The Minns Labor Government inherited a teacher shortage crisis and falling outcomes after a decade of under funding by Federal and State Liberal and National Governments that saw 10,000 merged and cancelled classes daily and over 3000 teacher vacancies. “With teacher vacancies now down 40 per cent and the number of cancelled classes halved, we are delivering tangible results.
“This investment will enable us to restore public education in New South Wales to the world-leading standards that families deserve.”
EDDIE WILLIAMS: Bega will become home to a new Medicare urgent care clinic, while the existing clinic at Batemans Bay will see its hours extended under an election promise from the Labor Government. It’s part of a $644 million commitment to open another 50 urgent care clinics across the country. The Member for Eden-Monaro is Kristy McBain. Good morning.
KRISTY MCBAIN: Good morning, Eddie.
WILLIAMS: How do these clinics work?
MCBAIN: These clinics are aimed at trying to free up emergency departments for real emergencies. Those urgent matters like cuts that need stitches, burns, a sprain at the local football on the weekend, minor breaks. Those things can all be done through the Urgent Care Clinic, so that you’re not waiting in an emergency department, and you’re leaving the resources there for people who need emergency care.
WILLIAMS: Have they been effective in that? Or do patients often end up being referred to the emergency department anyway?
MCBAIN: There are times where patients do get referred to the emergency department. I was at an Urgent Care Clinic yesterday, and previously they had referred someone who had chest pains to the emergency department. They do refer patients that are in emergency situations anyway, that’s what they’re required to do. It’s our health system working to its best, where we’ve got GPs taking care of those routine appointments, where you’ve got Urgent Care Clinics dealing with people that have got, urgent medical needs. Then you’ve got the emergency department dealing with those serious emergency issues in our hospitals.
WILLIAMS: Why Bega as a location for one of these clinics?
MCBAIN: We went to the last election with a commitment to open 50 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics and we’ve delivered 87. We know that they’ve been incredibly effective, but the locations of the additional 50 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics were determined based on advice from the Department of Health and Aged Care. The exact locations of those will be worked through with an independent commissioning process, which is the same process that has delivered the previous 87. That commissioning process is run by the primary health networks or state and territory governments, independent of the Commonwealth. We’re looking at the data which shows where these clinics are best located, and making sure we’re giving people more options and more choice for healthcare.
WILLIAMS: When you say, you know that they’re working, the Royal Australian College of GPs says there’s been no sign of an evaluation to show whether they are actually providing value for money or helping keep people away from hospital. Is this really the best use of $644 million, or would, more support for GPs be a better bang for buck?
MCBAIN: Obviously, we’ve strengthened Medicare rebates over the last three years. We’ve tripled that bulk billing incentive, and worked really closely with GPs on a whole range of things. The announcement we made to strengthen Medicare by a further investment of $8.5 million not only provides additional rebates in the Medicare system, it also provides more Commonwealth supported places at universities to train doctors. It provides scholarships to nurses and nurse practitioners to upskill themselves to get further qualifications. It provides incentives to get those medical graduates to take up the GP specialisation so that we can get more doctors into our system. That’s on top of waiving HECS for doctors and nurse practitioners who go out and practice in rural and remote Australia. We’re really focused on that workforce issue, as well as strengthening Medicare, as well as providing more healthcare options across our communities.
WILLIAMS: Yeah. Does that work for workforce issue going to be a challenge here as well? How difficult will it be to staff these clinics?
MCBAIN: The workforce issue has been there for many decades. What we’re doing is concentrating on how we can get more people studying medicine at university. As I said, more Commonwealth supported places. We’ve worked with communities across the country to put in rural medical schools and training options into our regional hospitals so that people, when they come out and train in a regional area, are more likely to stay there. We are continuing to focus on that workforce issue with a number of the incentive programs that we’ve got now for doctors and nurse practitioners to go out into our region. We’ll continue to focus on the training option as well as strengthening the rebates, as well as making sure we’ve got more care options. It’s incredibly important that we continue to keep those focuses on all aspects of healthcare.
WILLIAMS: When would you hope that this clinic in Bega would open?
MCBAIN: Obviously following the next election that independent commissioning process will be undertaken by the Primary Health Network or the state government, depending on who we partner with at that time. Hopefully we’ll see one up and running very soon.
WILLIAMS: You’re hearing from Kristy McBain, the Member for Eden-Monaro. Labor’s also promising to freeze the excise on beer. The Coalition’s committed to the same. Will you consider freezing the tobacco excise as well?
MCBAIN: We’ve listened to communities and I’ve spoken to numerous publicans and club managers across our community. What we don’t want to see is people not going out to socialise. We don’t want to see some of our small businesses that provide social connection in our community fail because of the excise, which goes up by CPI twice a year. We’ve campaigned really heavily to make sure that this announcement was made. It’s incredibly important that we continue to focus on how we can assist people with cost of living. This is another way, along with our cheaper medicines policy, the cheaper childcare policy. At this stage, we haven’t discussed the excise on tobacco.
WILLIAMS: Telstra held a community forum in Narooma on Friday. That was something you’d asked them to do after a lot of locals had poor mobile coverage during peak holiday season. How confident are you that things will be better next summer?
MCBAIN: It was really good for Telstra to hear directly from community members about the frustrations they had with congested signals and call drop outs, particularly during the summer period. They have assessed the tower that services the main township of Narooma and have found that it is congested and they are looking at putting up additional spectrum on that tower. It’s in addition to the work that they’re doing for a new tower in Dalmeny, and small cells in mystery Bay, which have been funded already. It was incredibly pleasing for community to hear that their concerns were being heard, and that there is more work happening, particularly on that Narooma Tower with additional spectrum. It is important, though, that we continue to tell Telstra when there are problems, so that it can be reported and it can be looked into by the Telstra engineers. We remain open to passing that feedback directly to Telstra for consumers, if that’s what’s required.
WILLIAMS: Couple of quick questions from the community on health. Jane asks where’s the funding for dental clinics in the hospital and down at Pambula Community Centre? Or what can the government do when it comes to dental care in the region?
MCBAIN: Obviously dental care is provided by Community Health through New South Wales Health. We continue to work with them on how we can provide more options to the community, particularly into dental care. The community health fair in Pambula does a great job, but it takes a while to get an appointment and we continue to work with the New South Wales Health Department on what additional options they can provide.
WILLIAMS: Robyn in Bega asks, if you have a fracture, wouldn’t a hospital be faster than an Urgent Care Clinic?
MCBAIN: At times an Urgent Care Clinic can be faster. We saw over the weekend when I was in Queanbeyan someone that came in with what appeared to be a fracture or a break in the foot. It turned out to be a serious sprain instead. They were in and out of that Urgent Care Clinic within an hour. It’s important to know if you do need to be referred on to emergency department, you will, but in many cases, it can be dealt with quicker through the emergency care centre.
WILLIAMS: Kristy McBain, appreciate your time this morning. Thank you.
Today, the Minns Labor Government has expanded a new free virtual healthcare service to all Sydney residents.
Residents from Western Sydney, South West Sydney, Nepean Blue Mountains, Central Coast and the Illawarra Shoalhaven local health districts will be able to access free and safe virtual care for non-life threatening conditions, right from the comfort of their own home.
It is expected to save 85,000 people from an unnecessary wait in an emergency department each year.
This virtual care service will provide care for urgent but non-life threatening illnesses or injuries including:
Coughs, colds, fevers and flu;
Respiratory symptoms;
Vomiting and diarrhoea; or
Minor infections and rashes.
The service will be available between 8am and 10pm seven days a week for people aged 16 years and older.
You can access this service by phoning HealthDirect on 1800 022 222 where patients will first speak to a registered nurse who will assess your condition, and if appropriate, refer you to the virtual care service.
The service uses video conferencing technology to connect patients with a multidisciplinary team of clinicians, including doctors and nurses, where clinically appropriate.
Virtual care forms part of a broader range of measures to relieve pressure on the state’s busy EDs, including:
$100 million investment for a further two years to continue our urgent care services, providing a pathway to care outside of our hospitals for an estimated 114,000 patients;
$70 million over 4 years to expand emergency department short stay units to improve patient flow to reduce ED wait times by nearly 80,000 hours;
$15.1 million for an Ambulance Matrix that provides real time hospital data to enable paramedics to transport patients to emergency departments with greater capacity and reducing wait times;
$31.4 million over 4 years to increase Hospital in the Home across the state allowing over 3,500 additional patients each year to be cared for in their home rather than a hospital bed; and
$53.9 million to improve patient flow and support discharge planning by identifying patients early that are suitable to be discharged home with the appropriate supports in place.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Ryan Park:
“Today, we are announcing that virtual care for non-life threatening conditions will now be available to all residents across Sydney.
“This virtual care service is a free, convenient and safe way to access care right from the comfort of home.
“People from right across Sydney will be able to avoid for a wait for a GP or in a hospital through this expanded virtual care service.
“It will relieve pressure on our busy emergency departments by creating more alternative pathways to care outside the hospital.”
Released by: Minister for Regional Transport and Roads
A rare but highly disruptive problem for heavy vehicle operators on the Pacific Motorway is now a thing of the past following the installation of new technology and truck turning areas at the Tugun bypass tunnel.
Drivers of overheight vehicles would sometimes slip past warning signs and find themselves stuck at the northbound or southbound tunnel entrances.
It was a particular problem approaching the tunnel from the north because if an overheight vehicle reached the tunnel from the Queensland side, the driver would have to reverse his or her rig four kilometres back up the motorway before they could turn around.
And they had to have support from Transport for NSW, Transport and Main Roads Queensland and the police forces of the two states to resolve.
That chaos is now a thing of the past following the completion of a project to improve advance warning for drivers of overheight vehicles and the installation of new turning areas closer to the north and southbound entries to the Tugun Bypass tunnel.
This means that if any operators do happen to go past the warning signs, they will only have to reverse a short distance up the highway to reach an area where they can cross over.
Most of the work to fix the issue was carried out over two years during the quarterly maintenance tunnel closures to minimise impacts to motorists.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison:
“With the investment from the Minns Labor Government, overheight vehicles should never reach the tunnel, but if they do, they can be turned around with help from the Tugun incident response officer or a single police officer.
“The time and cost savings from this change are enormous and it will mean the lengthy delays when an overheight vehicle inadvertently entered the tunnel are a thing of the past.
“Transport for NSW put in new overheight detection systems to notify staff of a vehicle approaching the tunnel, so they can immediately activate variable speed limit signs to stop them reaching the tunnel.
“We’ve also installed five new advance warning signs and new traffic lights just short of where we’ve put in new heavy vehicle crossovers.
“The Tugun tunnel goes underneath the Coolangatta Airport, with the southern end of the tunnel in NSW and the northern end in Queensland, and we had great collaboration with the Queensland authorities to get the work done.
“The project has improved advance warning technology as well as the infrastructure, so if any overheight vehicles did get past the advance warning systems, they would be stopped and able to turn around at the entrance to the tunnel.”
Released by: Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism
The long-awaited Moama Police Station is reaching a significant milestone today, with the first sod to be turned on site, officially marking the start of construction.
The $7.9million station will bolster police capabilities and community safety in the growing Murray River region.
The state-of-the-art facility is being built on the corner of the Cobb Highway and Francis Street and will be a central regional policing hub for the entire district.
The station will be fitted with modern technology and facilities to support local officers to better serve the district and drive down crime.
The new Moama Police Station will include:
Public front counter
Custody area
Command and administration offices
Highway Patrol and Crime Management Unit areas
Detectives area and Task Force room
Specialist teams, including Police Prosecutors, and Emergency Management
Storage areas for exhibits and investigation materials
Vehicle parking for first responders and Highway Patrol
General Duty & Duty Rooms
Meeting/conference areas
Staff amenities, including meal rooms, lockers, and other facilities.
The new police station is scheduled to be completed in early 2026.
This facility is a key part of the NSW Government’s ongoing commitment to providing modern policing services and supporting local officers with the resources they need to protect their communities.
The NSW Government is building a better NSW and ensuring our frontline police have the capability they need to fight crime and support every community.
Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism, Yasmin Catley said:
“Our police officers do incredible work keeping our communities safe and this new station will provide them with the modern facilities and resources they need to continue this important work.
“As Moama and the surrounding regions continue to grow, it’s important that our police have the infrastructure to keep up with the increased demand for services.
“The new station will bolster the capability of local police to respond to and drive down crime.”
NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Joe Cassar APM, Southern Region Commander said:
“This new fit-for-purpose Moama police station provides a more centralised location for officers to be deployed across the district with improved capacity, in turn improving response times.”
“We know the population in and around Moama is growing and the current police station is no longer fit for purpose. This modern station will be fitted with the most up to date technology, which means we are better able to serve the local community and its future needs.”
Independent Member for Murray, Helen Dalton MP said:
“This new Moama Police Station will play an important role in the safety of our region.”
“People might remember that I was quite critical of the delays to this project involving the previous NSW Government and I congratulate the Minns Government for getting on with the job.”
“We all have a right to feel safe in our homes and on our streets. And as our community grows, it’s essential that our police force grows with us.”
“Our police officers need proper facilities and equipment to do their jobs and we can all be confident that this new station will help NSW police continue to keep us all safe.”
Released by: Minister for Planning and Public Spaces
In a stunning display of just how out of touch they are, the NSW Opposition have ignored the Illawarra, Hunter and Central Coast in a desperate attempt to criticise planning reforms that will deliver homes for young people.
The Opposition Spokesperson for Planning has tried to pass off a flawed examination of the NSW Government’s Low and Mid-Rise planning reforms as ‘analysis’, conveniently leaving out one-in-five locations.
The Low and Mid-Rise reforms, introduced last week, address the “missing middle” by allowing terraces, townhouse and mid-rise apartments within 800m of 171 stations across Sydney, the Hunter, Central Coast, the Illawarra and Shoalhaven filling the supply gap between high-rise and single dwellings – a planning solution the Opposition were unable to deliver for twelve years when they were in Government.
The Opposition Spokesperson has claimed that the regional Low and Mid-Rise sites should not be considered in the total number of sites, defying both logic and explanation.
The majority of Low and Mid-Rise changes are in Labor electorates. Of the top 12 councils taking the largest amount of new housing set through council targets, 10 are council areas represented predominantly by Labor electorates.
This follows the NSW Opposition also moving a bill in parliament last year to abolish the Transport Oriented Development program, a program that also delivered housing in a majority of Labor electorates.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:
“I represent a large regional city called Wollongong. While the Opposition don’t seem to have heard of it, it is host to three Low and Mid-Rise sites, that is contributing to solving the housing challenge.
“It is particularly insulting to have the Opposition continue to ignore regional centres like they did in government.
“I think the Opposition Spokesperson needs to buy a map of NSW and a calculator.
“Passing off this sort of rubbish as analysis says everything you need to know about the attitude of the NSW Liberals.
“I would encourage the Opposition Spokesperson to step outside of his Sydney bubble, stop obsessively worrying about the North Shore and speak to people living in regional NSW, struggling to buy a house.
“As the Shadow Minister for cities, you’d think he’d know there’s more than one city in NSW.”
Support for the LMR program from stakeholders:
Property Council NSW Executive Director, Katie Stevenson:
“These long-awaited reforms bring certainty and confidence to support the industry to deliver more housing, improve affordability, and provide greater choice for homebuyers and renters.”
Urban Development Institute of Australia NSW CEO, Stuart Ayres:
“Today’s announcement is welcome and long overdue. UDIA has consistently advocated to increase availability of medium density housing options in locations close to existing services and transport to help tackle a worsening housing supply crisis.”
Released by: Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
1 in 2 people in New South Wales have now heard of coercive control and understand what it means, following the NSW Government’s recent awareness campaign.
The campaign on social media and other platforms demonstrated behaviour that may indicate coercive control with the tag line: ‘It’s not love, it’s coercive control’.
Independent research shows awareness and understanding of coercive control has increased since the campaign, compared to one in three people pre-campaign.
Among those who saw the campaign, over 75 per cent took some form of positive action such as discussing coercive control with others, reflecting on their own or other relationships or visiting the website for more information.
More people can also now correctly identify key behaviours linked to coercive control, such as threats, manipulation or monitoring someone’s movements (21 per cent pre-campaign to 33 per cent post-campaign).
In NSW, coercive control became a criminal offence in current or former intimate partner relationships on 1 July 2024.
Coercive control is a pattern of behaviour which may include financial abuse, threats against pets or loved ones, tracking someone’s movements, or isolating them from friends and family to control them.
Coercive control has been strongly linked to intimate partner homicide, with the NSW Domestic Violence Death Review Team finding that in 97% of intimate partner domestic violence homicides in NSW between 2000 and 2018 were preceded by the perpetrator using coercive and controlling behaviours, such as emotional and psychological abuse, towards the victim.
The results from this campaign will help inform ongoing campaigns for new target audiences, including older people, people with disability, and additional culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
The Minns Labor Government is continuing work to build a safer New South Wales by addressing domestic and family violence through a whole of community approach. This includes work in primary prevention and earlier intervention, as well as ensuring perpetrators take accountability for their actions.
Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said:
“Coercive control is insidious and can manifest in many ways, but it can also be easily overlooked, excused, or not recognised as abuse.
“The ‘It’s not love, it’s coercive control’ campaign has been important to raise community awareness of this abuse, and empowered people to take positive steps towards better understanding the signs of abuse.
“Along with the implementation of coercive control laws since July last year, people in NSW can understand the seriousness of these behaviours and that coercive control is a crime.
“The NSW Government remains committed to reducing domestic violence in our society because all of us have a right to feel safe, no matter where we are and who we are with.”
NSW Attorney General Michael Daley said:
“Coercive control in current or former intimate partner relationships is criminal behaviour that will not be tolerated in this state and is punishable by up to seven years’ imprisonment.
“We know from the results of this awareness campaign that there is awareness of coercive control in the community and that the justice system is responding.
“We also know that legal reform is just one of the ways we are tackling domestic and family violence with a whole-of-government approach.
“The NSW Government is listening to victim-survivors and the sector and is committed to continue taking meaningful action against domestic and family violence.”
Women’s Community Shelters CEO Annabelle Daniel OAM said:
“The domestic and family violence sector knows the devastating impact of coercive control on the people we support every day. It’s heartening to see so many people took positive action after seeing this campaign – talking with a friend or colleague, researching further, or reaching out to someone. The campaign represents the efforts of so many advocates, including many with lived expertise.
“Building understanding and awareness of coercive control across New South Wales, along with providing support to those experiencing it, will help us meaningfully interrupt cycles of violence.”
Support:
If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, call the Police on Triple Zero / 000.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic and family violence, call the NSW Domestic Violence Line on 1800 65 64 63 for free counselling and referrals, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
For confidential advice, support, and referrals, contact 1800 RESPECT or 13 YARN.
HARTFORD, Conn. – Servio Barros-Terreros, 58, an illegal alien from Ecuador last residing in Stamford, was sentenced Feb. 20 to 320 months of imprisonment for taking pictures of his repeated sexual abuse of a minor.
According to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigation, in December 2022, a minor female victim reported Barros sexually assaulted her multiple times, took sexually explicit pictures of her, and threatened to publish the pictures and show them to the victim’s mother if she told anyone. Barros also instructed the victim to undress during video calls he initiated with the victim, during which he also engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
“Not only did Barros sexually abuse a young child, he used guilt and fear to threaten her and prevent her from coming forward about this abuse. It takes real bravery to overcome those threats and thanks to her perseverance, this predator is facing serious time behind bars as well as deportation after the completion of his sentence,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations New England Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol.
On Jan. 12, 2023, Stamford Police arrested Barros on state sexual assault and risk of injury offenses and seized Barros’ iPhone. Analysis of the iPhone by ICE special agents revealed sexually explicit images of the minor victim, and images of Barros engaging in sexually explicit conduct with the minor victim.
Barros has been detained since his arrest. On March 5, 2024, he pleaded guilty in federal court to production of child pornography.
Barros entered the U.S. illegally without inspection at an unknown date and unknown location. ICE lodged a detainer with the Bridgeport Correctional Facility in 2023. Barros faces immigration proceedings when he completes his prison term.
The case was investigated by ICE New England’s Hartford Resident Agent in Charge office and the Stamford Police Department.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
Members of the public can report child exploitation by calling the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.
NEW BEDFORD, Mass.—U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and law enforcement partners from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives apprehended an illegal Hatian alien charged in Massachusetts with two counts of rape, indecent assault and battery on a person 14 years or older, possession of child pornography, witness intimidation, and violation of a harassment prevention order. Officers with ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston along with agents from ICE Homeland Security Investigations New England and ATF Boston arrested Queenssy Bryan Lindor, 21, in New Bedford Feb. 5.
“Queenssy Bryan Lindor stands accused of some unspeakable crimes, when combined with his convictions prove that he represents a substantial threat to the residents of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” said ICE ERO acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde. “We refuse to allow law-abiding New Englanders to be subjected to such a menace. ICE Boston will continue to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing illegal alien offenders from our neighborhoods.”
U.S. Border Patrol arrested Lindor after he illegally entered the United States near Del Rio, Texas, Nov. 21, 2019. USBP served Lindor with a notice to appear before a Department of Justice immigration judge.
ICE ERO San Antonio released Lindor Nov. 27, 2019, on an Order of Recognizance.
The Barnstable District Court arraigned Lindor Feb. 13, 2023, for assault and battery. Later that day, ICE lodged an immigration detainer against Lindor with the Yarmouth, Massachusetts, Police Department.
The Barnstable House of Corrections ignored the ICE detainer and released Lindor on $1,000 bail and GPS conditions.
The Barnstable District Court convicted Lindor of assault and battery Sept. 14, 2023, and sentenced him to 30 days in prison
The Barnstable Superior Court indicted Lindor Nov. 1, 2023, for two counts of rape, indecent assault and battery on a person 14 years or older, possession of child pornography, witness intimidation, and violation of a harassment prevention order.
The Barnstable District Court convicted Lindor Sept. 20, 2024, for violation of a harassment prevention order and sentenced him to probation.
Officers with ICE ERO Boston along with agents from ICE HSI New England and ATF Boston arrested Lindor in New Bedford Feb. 5.
Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.
Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in our New England communities on X: @EROBoston.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
New Chief Executive appointed at MHRA
Lawrence Tallon is appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
The government has today announced the appointment of Lawrence Tallon as the new Chief Executive Officer of Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
Following an extensive recruitment process, Mr Tallon will begin the role from 1 April 2025.
He will succeed Dame June Raine DBE who is retiring and has led the organisation since 2019, having steered the MHRA through the COVID-19 pandemic and the UK’s exit from the European Union.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:
“I’m delighted to appoint Lawrence Tallon as CEO, marking an important new chapter for the MHRA.
“MHRA’s work is mission critical to making the NHS fit for the future. There is a revolution taking place in life sciences, with new innovative medicines developed more frequently than ever before. We need the MHRA to work much faster so patients can benefit as soon as possible, and I’m confident that Lawrence is the man for the job.
“The agency plays a crucial role in protecting public health and promoting medical innovation and, under Lawrence’s leadership, I am confident it will continue to be a world-leading regulator.
“I want to thank Dame June and wish her all the best in her retirement.”
Throughout his career, Mr Tallon has demonstrated a strong commitment to healthcare innovation and patient safety.
He is currently Deputy Chief Executive at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, where he has served since March 2020.
He is also managing director of the Shelford Group, which represents some of England’s leading NHS teaching hospitals. This experience has given him valuable insight into the challenges and opportunities facing modern healthcare systems.
Prior to this he served as Director of Strategy, Planning and Performance at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and worked within the Department of Health and Social Care alongside ministers and NHS leaders.
Professor Anthony Harnden, Chair of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said:
“I am delighted to welcome Lawrence Tallon as the new MHRA Chief Executive.
“Lawrence is an impressive leader who brings with him a wealth of experience from across the healthcare sector, nationally and globally. I look forward to working with him to maintain the UK as a global centre of excellence in life sciences and strengthening safety systems in the best interests of patients and the public.
“I would also like to give enormous thanks to Dame June Raine, who is handing the baton on to Lawrence after more than 5 years of being MHRA CEO and nearly 40 illustrious years at the Agency. June’s leadership and unwavering commitment to patient and public health cannot be overstated.”
The appointment comes at a crucial time for the MHRA as it continues to enhance its position as a sovereign regulator and strengthen its international partnerships. Mr Tallon will lead the organisation’s work to accelerate patient access to innovative medicines and medical devices while maintaining the highest standards of safety and effectiveness.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is the UK’s regulator of medicines, medical devices and blood components for transfusion.
Defendant allegedly possessed over 20 kilograms of controlled substances, pill press and six firearms hidden inside an alarmed trap wall closet, accessed via remote control
BOSTON – A Dominican national residing in Lawrence has been arrested and charged for his alleged involvement in a North Shore-based drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed fentanyl and methamphetamine supplied by the Sinaloa Cartel.
Leury Then Rosario, 33, was charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and methamphetamine. Rosario was arrested on Feb. 25, 2025 and was ordered detained pending a hearing scheduled for March 7, 2025.
“The alleged discovery of this defendant’s hidden trap wall concealing a stockpile of narcotics and weapons lays bare the dangerous reality of drug trafficking today: fentanyl and methamphetamine are flooding our communities, protected by deadly firepower,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “Drug traffickers are adapting, but so are we. This office, alongside our law enforcement partners, will continue to dismantle these criminal networks piece by piece, ensuring those who peddle poison in our communities face the full force of justice.”
“Those who choose to distribute fentanyl, especially fake pills containing the drug, endanger their customers as well as the general public. Maintaining public safety requires that they be investigated and prosecuted aggressively,” said Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division. “We work closely each day with our law enforcement partners to target those who seek to profit from the sale of deadly substances.”
“The Massachusetts State Police has committed investigatory, intelligence and tactical resources in support of the DEA Strike Force, knowing that it could yield enormous results for the communities we serve,” said Massachusetts State Police Colonel Geoffrey Noble. “This arrest, the second successful operation in as many weeks, is a culmination of a complex investigation by local, state and federal partners. Their results and the decision to prosecute these offenses reinforce our shared belief that criminal gangs, illegal guns and illicit drugs have no place in Massachusetts. We remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our communities.”
According to the charging documents, in January 2023, an investigation began into a DTO operating on the North Shore area of Massachusetts that was being supplied with fentanyl and methamphetamine by an organization based in Sinaloa. The investigation allegedly identified Rosario to be a Lawrence-based drug trafficker operating as part of the DTO.
Immediately following Rosario’s arrest on Feb. 25, 2025, search warrants were executed at his primary residence and an alleged stash location in Lawrence, Mass. It is alleged that the stash location purported to be a multiservice business with an empty retail counter in the front room. The back room allegedly contained two large casino-style poker tables and video poker-type machines. A high-end video surveillance system was allegedly overserved operating throughout the first floor as well as outside. According to court filings, the basement storage room of the stash location contained two large, locked storage boxes that contained equipment commonly used in drug processing or manufacturing: respirators; gloves; drug packaging materials; scales; blenders; and other tools.
According to court documents, a small remote control with an extendable antenna was also allegedly found. When law enforcement actuated the remote control, an audible alarm sounded and a trap wall within the storage area opened – revealing a hidden closet that allegedly contained, among other things:
Over 16 kilograms of counterfeit pills, in various colors and sizes, containing controlled substances;
A brick-shaped object of a white powdery substance, weighing approximately one kilogram, that field tested positive for the presence of cocaine;
Over two kilograms of suspected fentanyl pressed into 10-gram units, commonly referred to as “fingers” in retail drug trafficking;
Over two kilograms of suspected fentanyl powder in large bags;
Over 25 pounds of loose powders in various colors, believed to include cutting agents used with narcotics;
A commercial pill press used to press counterfeit pills, including over 50 pill die casts with designs to counterfeit Percoet, Xanax, Adderall and others;
Multiple kilogram presses, as well as branded stamps used to imprint logos onto kilograms of narcotics;
One Glock Model 33 .357 caliber semiautomatic handgun loaded with six rounds of ammunition;
One High Point .380 caliber semiautomatic handgun loaded with eight rounds of ammunition;
One Ruger .380 caliber semiautomatic handgun loaded with six rounds of ammunition;
Two Glock-style personally made firearms (also known as “ghost guns”) with no serial numbers loaded with 10 and nine rounds of ammunition respectively; and;
One AR-15 style rifle with a .458 SOCOM caliber, loaded with eight rounds of ammunition.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and methamphetamine provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
U.S. Attorney Foley, DEA Acting SAC Belleau and MSP Colonel Noble made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Natick, Newton, Waltham, Brookline and Lawrence Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Dell’Anno of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland
Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister MP:
“I was very happy to welcome the Thales missile factory deal which will see an investment of £1.6bn in a Northern Ireland company when responding to a statement on Ukraine by the Prime Minister in the Commons earlier today.
“By way of contrast, Michelle O’Neill claims to be “incredulous” that the UK should be providing weapons to a country under attack from Putin.
“O’Neill feigns concern for money which she alleges should be spent on public services while defending an IRA campaign which cost the health service alone countless millions.
“With the approach of the new administration in Washington increasingly moving towards disengagement in Europe, it is more important than ever that Europe steps up to the plate when it comes to spending on defence – something it frankly hasn’t done in many decades.
“I am proud to be part of a nation which makes a difference on the world stage – in stark contrast to the Irish Republic which continues to shirk their responsibilities and free load on other nations when it comes to both air and naval defence.”
Historically, the ocean has been difficult to model. Scientists struggled in years past to simulate ocean currents or accurately predict fluctuations in temperature, salinity, and other properties. As a result, models of ocean dynamics rapidly diverged from reality, which meant they could only provide useful information for brief periods. In 1999, a project called Estimating the Circulation and Climate of the Ocean (ECCO) changed all that. By applying the laws of physics to data from multiple satellites and thousands of floating sensors, NASA scientists and their collaborators built ECCO to be a realistic, detailed, and continuous ocean model that spans decades. ECCO enabled thousands of scientific discoveries, and was featured during the announcement of the Nobel Prize for Physics in 2021. NASA ECCO is a powerful integrator of decades of ocean data, narrating the story of Earth’s changing ocean as it drives our weather, and sustains marine life. The ECCO project includes hundreds of millions of real-world measurements of temperature, salinity, sea ice concentration, pressure, water height, and flow in the world’s oceans. Researchers rely on the model output to study ocean dynamics and to keep tabs on conditions that are crucial for ecosystems and weather patterns. The modeling effort is supported by NASA’s Earth science programs and by the international ECCO consortium, which includes researchers from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California and eight research institutions and universities. The project provides models that are the best possible reconstruction of the past 30 years of the global ocean. It allows us to understand the ocean’s physical processes at scales that are not normally observable.
Large-scale wind patterns around the globe drag ocean surface waters with them, creating complex currents, including some that flow toward the western sides of the ocean basins. The currents hug the eastern coasts of continents as they head north or south from the equator: These are the western boundary currents. The three most prominent are the Gulf Stream, Agulhas, and Kuroshio. NASA Goddard’s Scientific Visualization Studio.
Seafarers have known about the Gulf Stream — the Atlantic Ocean’s western boundary current — for more than 500 years. By the volume of water it moves, the Gulf Stream is the largest of the western boundary currents, transporting more water than all the planet’s rivers combined. In 1785, Benjamin Franklin added it to maritime charts showing the current flowing up from the Gulf, along the eastern U.S. coast, and out across the North Atlantic. Franklin noted that riding the current could improve a ship’s travel time from the Americas to Europe, while avoiding the current could shorten travel times when sailing back.
Franklin’s charts showed a smooth Gulf Stream rather than the twisted, swirling path revealed in ECCO data. And Franklin couldn’t have imagined the opposing flow of water below the Gulf Stream. The countercurrent runs at depths of about 2,000 feet (600 meters) in a cold river of water that is roughly the opposite of the warm Gulf Stream at the surface. The submarine countercurrent is clearly visible when the upper layers in the ECCO model are peeled away in visualizations. The Gulf Stream is a part of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), which moderates climate worldwide by transporting warm surface waters north and cool underwater currents south. The Gulf Stream, in particular, stabilizes temperatures of the southeastern United States, keeping the region warmer in winter and cooler in summer than it would be without the current. After the Gulf Stream crosses the Atlantic, it tempers the climates of England and the European coast as well.
The Agulhas Current flows south along the western side of the Indian Ocean. When it reaches the southern tip of Africa, it sheds swirling vortices of water called Agulhas Rings. Sometimes persisting for years, the rings glide across the Atlantic toward South America, transporting small fish, larvae, and other microorganisms from the Indian Ocean. Researchers using the ECCO model can study Agulhas Current flow as it sends warm, salty water from the tropics in the Indian Ocean toward the tip of South Africa. The model helps tease out the complicated dynamics that create the Agulhas rings and large loop of current called a supergyre that surrounds the Antarctic. The Southern Hemisphere supergyre links the southern portions of other, smaller current loops (gyres) that circulate in the southern Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans. Together with gyres in the northern Atlantic and Pacific, the southern gyres and Southern Hemisphere supergyre influence climate while transporting carbon around the globe.
In addition to affecting global weather patterns and temperatures, western boundary currents can drive vertical flows in the oceans known as upwellings. The flows bring nutrients up from the depths to the surface, where they act as fertilizer for phytoplankton, algae, and aquatic plants. The Kuroshio Current that runs on the west side of the Pacific Ocean and along the east side of Japan has recently been associated with upwellings that enrich coastal fishing waters. The specific mechanisms that cause the vertical flows are not entirely clear. Ocean scientists are now turning to ECCO to tease out the connection between nutrient transport and currents like the Kuroshio that might be revealed in studies of the water temperature, density, pressure, and other factors included in the ECCO model.
When viewed through the lens of ECCO’s temperature data, western boundary currents carry warm water away from the tropics and toward the poles. In the case of the Gulf Stream, as the current moves to far northern latitudes, some of the saltwater freezes into salt-free sea ice. The saltier water left behind sinks and then flows south all the way toward the Antarctic before rising and warming in other ocean basins.
Currents also move nutrients and salt throughout Earth’s ocean basins. Swirling vortexes of the Agulhas rings stand out in ECCO temperature and salinity maps as they move warm, salty water from the Indian Ocean into the Atlantic.
ECCO offers researchers a way to run virtual experiments that would be impractical or too costly to perform in real oceans. Some of the most important applications of the ECCO model are in ocean ecology, biology, and chemistry. Because the model shows where the water comes from and where it goes, researchers can see how currents transport heat, minerals, nutrients, and organisms around the planet. In prior decades, for example, ocean scientists relied on extensive temperature and salinity measurements by floating sensors to deduce that the Gulf Stream is primarily made of water flowing past the Gulf rather than through it. The studies were time-consuming and expensive. With the ECCO model, data visualizers at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, virtually replicated the research in a simulation that was far quicker and cheaper.
The example illustrated here relies on ECCO to track the flow of water by virtually filling the Gulf with 115,000 particles and letting them move for a year in the model. The demonstration showed that less than 1% of the particles escape the Gulf to join the Gulf Stream. Running such particle-tracking experiments within the ocean circulation models helps scientists understand how and where environmental contaminants, such as oil spills, can spread.
Today, researchers turn to ECCO for a broad array of studies. They can choose ECCO modeling products that focus on one feature – such as global flows or the biology and chemistry of the ocean – or they can narrow the view to the poles or specific ocean regions. Every year, more than a hundred scientific papers include data and analyses from the ECCO model that delve into our oceans’ properties and dynamics.
[embedded content] Credits: Kathleen Gaeta Greer/ NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio
Composed by James Riordon / NASA’s Earth Science News Team Information in this piece came from the resources below and interviews with the following sources: Nadya Vinogradova Shiffer, Dimitris Menemenlis, Ian Fenty, and Atousa Saberi.
Liao, F., Liang, X., Li, Y., & Spall, M. (2022). Hidden upwelling systems associated with major western boundary currents. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 127(3), e2021JC017649. Richardson, P. L. (1980). The Benjamin Franklin and Timothy Folger charts of the Gulf Stream. In Oceanography: The Past: Proceedings of the Third International Congress on the History of Oceanography, held September 22–26, 1980 at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA on the occasion of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the founding of the Institution (pp. 703-717). New York, NY: Springer New York. Biastoch, A., Rühs, S., Ivanciu, I., Schwarzkopf, F. U., Veitch, J., Reason, C., … & Soltau, F. (2024). The Agulhas Current System as an Important Driver for Oceanic and Terrestrial Climate. In Sustainability of Southern African Ecosystems under Global Change: Science for Management and Policy Interventions (pp. 191-220). Cham: Springer International Publishing. Lee-Sánchez, E., Camacho-Ibar, V. F., Velásquez-Aristizábal, J. A., Valencia-Gasti, J. A., & Samperio-Ramos, G. (2022). Impacts of mesoscale eddies on the nitrate distribution in the deep-water region of the Gulf of Mexico. Journal of Marine Systems, 229, 103721.
BOSTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement removed an illegally present Honduran national convicted in Massachusetts of assault with a dangerous weapon and wanted by authorities in Honduras for homicide. Officers with ICE Boston removed Rene Alejandro Rosales-Vindel, 52, from the United States to Honduras Feb. 3 and turned him over to Honduran authorities.
“Rene Alejandro Rosales-Vindel attempted to flee justice in his home country and hide out in the United States,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde. “Not only did he break our immigration laws, but he also assaulted a resident of Massachusetts. Now he is back in Honduras to answer the charges against him. We will not allow our New England communities to become safe havens for the world’s criminals. ICE Boston will continue to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing illegal alien offenders.”
U.S. Border Patrol arrested Rosales Mar. 28, 2014, after he illegally entered the United States and placed him into immigration proceedings. ICE released Rosales May 5, 2014, after he paid an immigration bond.
Officers from ICE Boston arrested Rosales Aug. 30, 2017, after his arrest for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. ICE Boston cancelled Rosales’ bond and detained him to continue his immigration proceedings.
On Oct. 11, 2017, a Department of Justice immigration judge in Boston ordered Rosales removed from the United States to Honduras.
ICE Boston released Rosales on an order of supervision May 25, 2018. The next day, the Chelsea District Court convicted Rosales of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
ICE Boston arrested Rosales Nov. 23, 2024, and revoked his order of supervised release.
Officers with ICE removed Rosales from the United States to Honduras Feb. 3 and turned him over to Honduran authorities.
Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.
Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in our New England communities on X: @EROBoston.
Firefighters are urging the public to be aware of wildfire risk this Spring as figures show almost 80% of large outdoor fires since 2010 were recorded between March and May.
On average, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) attends 170 large outdoor fires each year.
Prolonged wet weather last year saw the figure drop to 55 incidents, but the seasonal risk remains.
Analysis shows that around two thirds of wildfires are accidental with the most common causes recorded as discarded cigarettes or unattended campfires.
Area Commander and Local Senior Officer for Highland, Michael Humphreys, the SFRS Wildfire Lead, emphasised the need for public responsibility. He said: “It is crucial that people understand the impact of careless fire-setting. Even with the best intentions, small fires can rapidly spread causing devastating damage.
“If you light a campfire during high winds, high temperatures and low humidity there is potential that it could get out of control.
“Always take steps to ensure your campfire is fully extinguished before you leave. Simple steps to act safely and responsibly is a must.”
SFRS continues to collaborate with partners, such as the Scottish Wildfire Forum, to issue wildfire warnings when weather and ground conditions are high and very high for fires. The public can follow SFRS social media channels and website for real-time wildfire warnings and safety guidance.
Deputy Chair of the Scottish Wildfire Forum, Michael Bruce, said: “Large wildfires burning over several days have a devastating impact on our natural environment.
“In May 2019, a wildfire burned for six days in the Flow Country where the burned peatland doubled Scotland’s emissions.
“Wildfires can strike a blow to rural economies and tourism.”
With climate change, we may be seeing hotter, drier summers and wetter, warmer winters. This could increase the chances for wildfires to occur, which is why preventative measures are more important than ever.
To address these risks, SFRS is advancing its Wildfire Strategy, and have invested £1.6 million in specialist equipment and firefighter training to improve its response capabilities.
While wildfires can happen year-round, Spring presents ideal conditions due to the combination of new growth and typically drier ground.
However, wildfire risks are not solely linked to warm conditions—cold, dry winter air can also create highly flammable environments.
Works are progressing well on the exciting changes taking place at Whin Park in Inverness.
Leader of Inverness and Area, Cllr Ian Brown said: “The works are moving with pace as eighty five percent of the equipment is in place and groundworks are continuing.”
Chair of Communities and Place Committee Cllr Graham MacKenzie added: “This month, visitors to the park will see the progression of the groundworks and the installation of the play surfacing and you might even catch a glimpse of the Nessie play feature!”
Weather dependant, the target is to have the works completed for Easter 2025. The park remains open during the works, but the main play area and a section of the car park in front of the shop are closed to allow the works to continue. This also includes the main entrance ramped area to the park. The path network from the Ness Islands and the path at the side of the public toilets also remain open enabling the public to view the works’ progress during this exciting period for this landmark location.
Funding for the contract has been awarded by the Scottish Government Play Area Fund (£234,988) which was allocated to the redevelopment of the park by Members of the Inverness, Central, Ness-side, Millburn, and Inverness West Wards. In 2023, Inverness City Committee Members agreed £150,000 Inverness Common Good Funding; and in 2024 a further £100,000 from the Community Regeneration Fund towards the park development costs.
Watch the video of the latest works. On YouTube: https://youtu.be/nZswm-1T0vo and look out for our next video update later in March.
As part of The Highland Council’s proposed three-year Medium Term Financial Plan, £14 million has been allocated for expansion of bus company operations across the Highlands and shared investment in renewable energy opportunities.
£6 million is proposed to be allocated for an ‘Investment in Community Transport’ programme to build on the success of the Council’s in-house bus service by expanding its services to benefit more communities across the Highlands.
Chair of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans said: “A big part of our budget setting process is focussing on investing in our Highland transport services. In our My Future Highland Programme we gave a commitment to develop affordable and reliable public transport, as part of our work to develop sustainable communities.
“Since we established our In-House Bus Service it has grown from strength to strength. The Council spends around £25m on school and public transport throughout the region, with well over 300 separate contracts. The last tendering round saw an increase of £8m in one financial year, which led to the Council setting up an in-house bus team. The new £6m being proposed will enable us to expand our operations, increase the availability of service provision and facilitate improved cost effectiveness in the next round of bus contract tenders.”
Last month Highland Council took over the operations of D&E Coaches who had operated a significant number of school contracts which will now be serviced in-house by the council.
Cllr Michael Green, Vice Chair of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee, said: “The public are set to benefit with greater control in the ways in which public and school transport is managed across the Highlands. This investment may well have positive impacts on older and younger age groups, and disabled people reliant on bus services, also those on lower incomes by supporting access to employment and training especially in rural areas through more accessible service provision.”
£8 million is proposed to be allocated for shared investment in renewable energy opportunities created by the Social Value Charter for Renewables. Agreed by the Council in June 2024, the Charter aims to maximise economic benefits from natural resources by setting out the community benefit expectations from developers wishing to invest in renewables in the Highlands and the way in which public, private and community partnerships can support and enable this contribution.
Leader of The Highland Council, Cllr Raymond Bremner, said: “If approved, an £8 million investment in renewable energy projects will reaffirm the Council’s vision as a centre for global renewable energy by capitalising on the wealth of resources and expanding renewables development in the Highlands. Significant investment opportunities in renewable energy schemes are being created through the Social Value Charter for Renewables, and we hope these investments could support a sustainable, long-term income stream for Highland Council. The Charter was developed as a way of unlocking economic opportunities for the Highlands and this investment would strengthen our commitment to community wealth building and enabling this wealth to remain within the local area.”
Convener of The Highland Council, Cllr Bill Lobban, said: “By capitalising on natural resources to deliver alternative energy solutions, the Council aims to create a more sustainable Highland environment for our communities. We must ensure that those living in the Highlands can benefit from potential income from renewables and the economic growth that these developments can support. The scale of renewable investment opportunities is considerable and a long-term revenue income for the Council and community partners could leave an important legacy that would have lasting benefits and positive impacts for local communities whilst addressing climate challenges.”
The full budget report and proposals can be found on the Council’s website.
People are being asked for their opinions on whether The Highland Council should introduce knowledge tests as part of the licensing process for private hire car drivers. Currently only taxi drivers are required to sit and pass a knowledge test as part of the licensing process.
The public consultation process will run for an 8 week period and will close on Monday 28 April 2025.
All representations received will be considered by the Highland Licensing Committee at a future meeting.
The consultation can be accessed using the following link or by scanning the QR code:
The question of how best to eliminate corruption has exercised the minds of philosophers as much as the practical drafters of legislation from Ancient Greek and Roman times.
Within the political sphere, the notion of “corruption” has fluctuated between broad and narrow conceptions.
The broad conception relates to the decay of institutions or of the stature of the individuals who comprise them. On the other hand, the narrow conception focuses on the abuse of public office for private gain.
There is also “grey corruption” – which involves questionable behaviour involving a breach of integrity standards that does not necessarily amount to criminal conduct.
This could include where a person has undue influence over a politician, such as by essentially buying that power through making large donations or hiring expensive lobbyists, particularly where it causes public officials to behave in corrupt ways.
However the notion is defined, it is clear the fight against corruption is one of the basic tasks of a liberal democracy, perhaps even of an effectively functioning civil society.
Corruption control is a pressing issue worldwide: the United Nations estimated the economic cost of corruption at 5% of global domestic product or $3.6 trillion annually.
Australia has had a number of major corruption scandals throughout its history. Corruption was rife in the colonial era, where wealthy landholders sought to influence parliamentarians with monetary bribes.
This has been followed by several major corruption scandals, such as the Fitzgerald inquiry, which revealed widespread police corruption involving illegal gambling and prostitution.
What are anti-corruption commissions?
Anti-corruption commissions are arguably the most significant tool developed in liberal democracies to fight corruption in recent times.
The first anti-corruption commission in Australia, the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), was established in New South Wales in 1988 by then premier Nick Greiner.
Infamously, a few years later, Greiner became the first premier to resign due to an ICAC investigation.
Over the next few decades, all states and territories have set up their own anti-corruption or integrity commissions.
In 2023, the Commonwealth followed suit with the introduction of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), a promise made by Anthony Albanese in the lead-up to the 2022 election after considerable pressure from the public and from within parliament.
As a result, Australia now has a comprehensive network of broad-based public sector anti-corruption agencies covering all levels of government – a significant development nationally and internationally.
Anti-corruption commissions are tasked with investigating serious and systemic corrupt conduct in government. This includes not just members of the House and Senate, but their staff and public servants.
In performing their functions, these commissions have strong coercive powers, equivalent to the powers of a royal commission. This includes the power to compel documents and witnesses.
Some anti-corruption commissions such as the NACC and NSW’s ICAC have the power to conduct public hearings if they believe it’s in the public interest. This increases transparency in government. But concerns have been expressed about reputational damage for those subject to investigations.
Anti-corruption commissions also have corruption prevention functions. They are tasked with educating the public about the detrimental effects of corruption on public administration.
Reports of anti-corruption commissions are often attended by significant media publicity, leading to public awareness of corruption in government.
Why are anti-corruption commissions needed?
It has become well accepted that effective anti-corruption institutions play an important role as institutions supporting constitutional democracy.
The state anti-corruption bodies have brought to light many indiscretions by politicians that would have otherwise remained hidden.
Without these commissions, corruption in the public sector can take root without us knowing about it. An anti-corruption agency is a powerful deterrent against improper behaviour.
Yet anti-corruption commissions tend to be unpopular within governments because they scrutinise government action. This means the a commission may expose improper conduct or corruption within their ranks.
It is common for governments hostile to anti-corruption commissions to attack them, including by reducing their powers or funding.
This is despite their integral role in our democracy. Alongside other oversight bodies such as the ombudsman (who investigates maladministration within government) and auditor-general (who performs audits of government expenditure), anti-corruption commissions form part of an intricate, interlocking integrity framework that monitors executive action.
Who watches the watchdogs?
A big question is about how we ensure anti-corruption commissions do not overstep their bounds. Given their broad coercive powers, how do we hold them to account?
From their inception, concerns have been expressed about the potential for anti-corruption bodies to infringe on civil liberties, and the possibility they may exceed or abuse their powers.
In Australia, anti-corruption commissions are subject to a strong system of accountability through parliaments and the courts. They report to dedicated parliamentary committees who scrutinise their actions and decisions. Complaints against anti-corruption commissions can be made to a dedicated inspectorate – an independent statutory officer who oversees their actions.
Anti-corruption commissions are also subject to judicial review by the courts to ensure they don’t exceed their legal boundaries. Court scrutiny occurs when a person investigated by an anti-corruption commission takes their grievance to court.
To be effective, anti-corruption commissions require strong powers and institutional independence. But this needs to be balanced with accountability and the protection of individual rights.
What is pork barrelling and what are some recent examples?
Pork barrelling involves governments channelling public funds to seats they hold or seats they would like to win from an opponent, as a way of winning voters’ favour. This means the money is used for political purposes, rather than proper allocation according to merit.
We have been inundated with pork barrelling scandals in recent years. This includes the car park rorts scandal, where 77% of the commuter car park sites selected were in electorates held by the then Coalition government, rather than in areas of real need with congestion issues.
This followed close on the heels of the “sports rorts” scandal. Minister Bridget McKenzie resigned from cabinet following allegations she had intervened in the sport grants program to benefit the Coalition government while in a position of conflict of interest.
My research has shown that pork barrelling is an intractable problem across multiple governments over many decades. It takes different forms based on electoral systems.
Australia has a single member electorate parliamentary system, which makes it more susceptible to pork barrelling than multi-member electorates such as Norway or Spain. The belief is that politicians who “bring home the bacon” for their constituents are electorally rewarded for doing so.
This means there are incentives for the central cabinet to strategically apportion benefits to marginal electorates to increase prospects of electoral success. There is also an incentive to bias the apportionment of funds towards the party in power.
In short, rorts scandals keep happening because governments believe that channelling money to marginal and government electorates will win them elections.
Potentially the NACC could investigate rorts scandals, but only where it amounts to serious or systemic corrupt conduct.
How do we fix the grants system?
At the federal level, we have sophisticated financial management legislation that provides a framework for grant rules. The Commonwealth grant rules provide a detailed set of guidelines that ministers and government officials must follow on grant application and selection processes.
However, there are significant loopholes in the rules. For example, the “car park rorts” scandal is not covered by these rules because it involves money being channelled through the states.
Also, there are no sanctions for breaching the rules. So ministers and government officials can break the rules without any repercussions.
To fix the system, we need to reform the rules about grants allocation and close the loopholes. We also need to impose punishment for breaching the rules.
It is imperative our grants administration system be reformed to ensure that taxpayer funds are protected from governmental abuse. If the ministerial discretion available in grants processes is improperly used, this can give rise to political favouritism and corruption.
How corrupt is Australia compared to other countries?
There is a public perception that a small elite is reaping large benefits in Australian society in terms of political influence and its flow-on dividends.
In Australia, the “game of mates” is flourishing. There’s now a revolving door in politics with many politicians, advisers and senior government officials leaving the public sector to become well-paid lobbyists.
Add to that the appointments of political “mates” to commissions, tribunals and cushy ambassadorships and the blatant misuse of parliamentary entitlements such as helicopter trips on taxpayer funds.
Political parties are also accepting millions of dollars in donations from lobbyists and others interested in influencing policy outcomes.
All of this adds to the perception that the system is rigged – and not in favour of the person on the street.
Australia has fallen steadily in Transparency International’s global corruption index, from 8th place in 2012 to 14th in 2024. But even so, Australia is the 14th-least corrupt country in the world, which is still a respectable ranking.
More alarming is the fact that one in 30 Australian public servants said in a survey last year they had seen a colleague acting in a corrupt manner.
The types of corruption witnessed included cronyism or nepotism (favourable treatment of friends or family members without proper regard to merit). Fraud, forgery, embezzlement and conflicts of interest were also reported.
In the 1980s, there were incidences of large-scale corruption that rocked the country, culminating in the Fitzgerald Inquiry in Queensland and the WA Inc Royal Commission in Western Australia. These scandals led to the resignations and imprisonments of various former ministers and officials.
Although we have not sunk to such depths since then, state anti-corruption commissions, such as the NSW ICAC, have uncovered various instances of corruption in recent years. The NSW ICAC’s inquiries have led to the resignations of several politicians, as well as the conviction of former Labor MP Eric Obeid.
Another classic case of corruption exposed by the ICAC led to the downfall of former Newcastle lord mayor, Jeff McCloy. McCloy famously bragged that politicians treated him like a “walking ATM” and admitted to giving two MPs envelopes of cash amounting to $10,000.
In Victoria, the Independent Broad-Based Anti-Corruption Commission’s (IBAC) revealed that a lobbyist funnelled suitcases of cash totalling more than $100,000 from a property developer to a councillor, under the guise of sham transactions.
These explosive scandals involving corrupt conduct by public officials have eroded public trust in politicians. But the exposure of these scandals by anti-corruption commissions have an important deterrent and educative effect on public officials and the broader public.
Our faith in government has been eroded by a lack of transparency and the perception that those in power are enjoying unfair benefits. The active investigations by robust institutions such as anti-corruption commissions will act as checks and balances on governmental power – and are key to a vibrant democracy.
This is an edited extract from How Australian Democracy Works, a new book from leading authors at The Conversation on all aspects of our political system and its history, out March 4.
Yee-Fui Ng does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Have you ever been called a Luddite? We have – usually as an insult, rooted in a popular misconception that Luddites are anti-progress fanatics.
Nothing could be further from the truth. The original 19th century Luddites weren’t against technology. Rather, they resisted its oppressive use.
Their rebellion was violently suppressed. But their core critique lives on: technology should benefit all of humanity, not a privileged few.
Today, as Silicon Valley billionaires and United States president Donald Trump turbocharge corporate control of public digital infrastructure, this critique rings truer than ever.
In response, we are a seeing a growing surge of attempts to wrest back control of technology for democratic ends. This is a kind of “digital Luddism” which echoes past struggles against high-tech injustice.
The original Luddites
The Luddites were 19th century English textile workers who destroyed machinery threatening their craft and livelihoods. Historians call their tactics “collective bargaining by riot”. They were fighting against technologies that centralised power and stripped workers of dignity.
Luddite resistance was part of broader struggles for labour rights and socioeconomic justice.
Earlier, England’s Diggers and Levellers resisted the privatisation of communal lands. This foreshadowed today’s battles over corporate control of digital infrastructure.
The Luddites faced severe punishment, including imprisonment and even execution. Despite this, their legacy endures. Today, dismissing critics of Big Tech as “Luddites” repeats the mistake of conflating resistance to exploitation with fear of progress.
In the most extreme scenario, unchecked corporate power allied with monstrous government polices can lead to atrocities. In Nazi Germany, for example, Dehomag, a former subsidiary of computer giant IBM, provided data systems to the Nazis to track victims. Chemical company IG Farben also supplied Zyklon B gas for extermination camps. Many other companies profited from forced labour and funded the regime. This shows how complicity can make oppression more efficient.
Digital Luddism doesn’t reject innovation. It demands technology serve stakeholders, not shareholders.
Removal: dismantling entrenched power
Some systems are beyond reform, requiring direct intervention. Removal involves political action and legal regulation. It also involves public pressure to break monopolies or impose penalties on unethical corporations.
Big Tech has also repeatedly faced huge fines and antitrust lawsuits. However, breaking up or nationalising these corporations remains rhetoric for now.
But digital Luddism isn’t just about using different tools. It’s about systemic change towards sustainable, transparent and user-controlled infrastructure.
Open-source AI projects such as China’s DeepSeek and HuggingFace’s Deep Research now rival corporate models, proving open tech is a force to reckon with.
The original Luddites smashed machines. But the global nature of today’s digital infrastructure makes physical sabotage impractical. That’s why digital Luddism isn’t about smashing screens. Instead, it’s about smashing oppressive systems.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
News story
NI Secretary meets with Windsor Framework Monitoring Panel
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland met Independent Monitoring Panel following announcement of first monitoring period for UK Internal Market Guarantee
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the Independent Monitoring Panel met today (3 March) to discuss the panel’s role in scrutinising the ‘UK Internal Market Guarantee’.
Both parties discussed the announcement made to Parliament by the Northern Ireland Secretary on 24 February 2025, confirming the first six month reporting period for the Internal Market Guarantee commenced on 1 January and will conclude on 30 June 2025. The Panel will report to the Secretary of State thereafter.
The Internal Market Guarantee relates to movements taking place under the UK Internal Market System and undertakes that more than 80% of all freight movements from Great Britain to Northern Ireland will be treated as ‘not at risk’ of moving onwards to the EU, and therefore moving within the UK internal market.
The members of the Panel expressed their commitment to the role and thanked those who have been involved in supporting the arrangements for it to scrutinise and report on goods movements data. The Panel confirmed to the Secretary of State that it will engage with business organisations representing affected traders and other stakeholders in support of the commitments in Safeguarding the Union Command Paper and commence that in the second half of the reporting period.
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland said:
“Today’s meeting demonstrates our continued commitment to protecting the UK internal market. I look forward to working with the panel and receiving their recommendations.”
Alistair Hamilton, Chair of the Independent Monitoring Panel said:
“Our desire is to ensure, within the parameters of the Windsor Framework, that our work will help to reduce and remove burdens for businesses and citizens and maximise the competitiveness and opportunities for Northern Ireland businesses.”
Background
A commitment to establish the Independent Monitoring Panel was made in the Safeguarding the Union Command Paper published in January 2024. The Panel’s role is to report to the Government on:
the performance of the ‘UK Internal Market Guarantee’ as set out in the Command Paper;
the activities of public authorities delivering the operational activity to give effect to the Windsor Framework; and
how the Government’s wider ambitions on improving UK-EU trade could support smooth flows of trade within the UK internal market.
On 19 September 2024, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland appointed Alistair Hamilton CBE, Aidan Reilly and Dr Anna Jerzewska to the Panel.
Further information on the Panel’s work will be made available online in due course.
Modern economics was built on ideas spelled out by Adam Smith in his 18th-century The Wealth of Nations. But while he used the term only once in that economic treatise, Smith is most remembered for “the invisible hand,” a metaphor Oren Cass says has wrongly been associated with the idea that the pursuit of profit is always socially beneficial and that markets are somehow magically guided by that principal. Cass is the founder and chief economist at American Compass. In this podcast, he says the contortion of Smith’s idea led to a blind faith in markets, whereas “the invisible hand” was about ensuring the alignment between private profit and the public interest. Transcript
OREN CASS is founder and chief economist of American Compass, a think tank.
Join Us on Every Major Platform
Latest Podcasts
BEHIND THE MIC
Bruce Edwards
International Monetary Fund
Bruce Edwards produces the IMF podcast program. He’s an award-winning audio producer and journalist who’s covered armed conflicts, social unrest, and natural disasters from all corners of the world. He believes economists have an important role in solving the world’s problems and aspires to showcase their research in every IMF podcast.
