The Scottish Government must apologise for decades of persecution.
More in Human Rights
The Scottish Government must apologise for the historic treatment of Scotland’s Gypsy Traveller community as part of the controversial ‘Tinker Experiment’, say the Scottish Greens.
Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell urged Ministers to publicly address the decades of distress caused to traveller communities by ‘the Tinker Experiment’ in a General Question asked in the Chamber today.
This state-sponsored operation, which ran from the 1940s until the 1980s, threatened to take travellers’ children into care if they did not give up their way of life. It forced travellers to move into low quality prefabricated accommodation, often with no running water, heating or electricity, ghettoising them and tearing their communities apart.
Mr Ruskell said:
“Generations of families have been impacted by disgraceful persecution at the hands of the British state. People who could have thrived within their unique culture were split up, put into slum housing and shunned by local communities.
“I have heard first-hand from a constituent about the severe physical and mental health impacts caused by the many years of racist abuse and inhumane housing conditions they had to endure, and the scars of mistreatment to the traveller community are still felt and added to in society today.
“Scotland should be ashamed that it had a role in what was known as the ‘Tinker Experiment’. It is only right that the state apologises for its actions and commits to making meaningful improvements to the lives of those affected by it.”
We stand with the LGBTQ+ community: today, tomorrow and always.
More in Equality
Speaking at First Minister’s Questions, Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie MSP called on the First Minister to take action to restore the LGBTQ+ community’s trust in politicians.
Just this week, Pride event organisers in Glasgow and across parts of England made the decision to suspend all political parties from attending, due to a lack of action and comment on the Supreme Court’s decisions that impact the trans community.
“This week it was announced by Glasgow Pride, in line with major pride events in England, that political parties are no longer welcome to participate. This is something that never even happened in the worst days of political homophobia in the 80s and 90s.
“And it’s a direct result of political attacks on the rights of LGBTQ+ people, especially transphobia.
“Does the First Minister acknowledge that the political landscape as a whole has betrayed the trust of our community? Does he understand that there are Scottish Government employees currently living in fear that their workplaces will be subject to segregation policies, as has already happened in Parliament?
“And what does the First Minister intend to do to begin restoring the trust that has been lost?”
BOSTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested a Russian national on criminal charges for allegedly attempting to smuggle clawed frog embryos and embryonic samples into the United States.
Kseniia Petrova, 31, a Russian citizen, was charged by criminal complaint with one count of smuggling goods into the United States. Petrova was taken into immigration custody on Feb. 16, 2025, and arrested May 14 by ICE Homeland Security Investigations special agents on the criminal charge.
“As alleged in the evidence presented in the charging documents, Petrova was aware of her requirement to declare biological material brought into the United States. These laws aren’t arbitrary, they protect the safety of the public from dangerous and unregulated biological specimens entering the country and posing a threat to public health and agriculture. Nobody is exempt from these regulations, and nobody should be surprised to find these critical laws being enforced when they’re willfully broken,” said ICE HSI New England Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol.
According to the charging documents, on Feb. 16, 2025, Petrova arrived at Logan International Airport in Boston via an inbound flight from Paris. Upon her arrival, Petrova was stopped by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents after a law enforcement canine allegedly alerted its handler to the defendant’s checked duffel bag on the baggage carousel. Per protocol, law enforcement removed the bag from the carousel and brought it to an agricultural secondary inspection area for further screening. There, an officer inspected the contents of the bag and allegedly discovered the biological items: a foam box containing clawed frog embryos in microcentrifuges, as well as embryonic samples in paraffin well stages and on mounted dyed slides. All biological products require a permit for entry and require the individual to make a declaration to CBP at the port of first arrival.
It is alleged that, when approached by law enforcement, Petrova initially denied carrying any biological material in her checked baggage. However, when asked again, Petrova allegedly admitted that she was carrying biological material. During an interview under oath, Petrova allegedly claimed to be unsure that she was required to declare biological material when entering the United States.
According to the charging documents, however, Petrova’s phone revealed text messages from an individual identified as one of Petrova’s colleagues informing Petrova that she was required to declare the biological material:
“if you bring samples or antibody back, make sure you get the permission etc. Like that link I sent to leon-/group chat about frog embryos because TSA went through my bags at customs in Boston;” and
“What is your plan to pass the American Customs with samples? This is the most delicate place of the trajectory.”
It is alleged that in another text message conversation with an individual identified as her principal investigator, Petrova was asked how she planned to get through customs with the biological samples, to which she replied: “No plan yet. I won’t be able to swallow them.”
Petrova was thereafter advised that she was ineligible for entry to the United States. It is alleged that, when asked if she wished to willingly withdraw her application for admission, Petrova responded in the affirmative before being taken into custody by immigration officials.
According to the charging documents, the defendant was recently employed by the Institute of Genetic Biology in Moscow from 2023 to 2024 and previously served as a bioinformatician of genetic disorders at the Moscow Center for Genetics from 2016 to 2023.
The charge of smuggling goods into the United States provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a term of up to five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. 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.
HSI New England’s National Security group and CBP New England led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by HSI New Orleans and the U.S. Marshals Service in Louisiana.
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.
Opening a third runway at Heathrow Airport could result in pollution equivalent to an additional 2.4 million tons of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere each year by 2050, according to the government’s own figures released through FOI requests. Responding to this being reported in Politico, Sian Berry MP said,
“This Labour Government is wildly out of touch with reality. Even with the maximum possible impact of “jet zero” efforts on fuel this expansion remains a climate catastrophe.
“The Net-zero minister is missing in action and his department is shamefully failing to stand up to a misguided Chancellor.
“No credible net-zero plan can include rampant airport expansion and it’s time Labour looked to the many, many alternative ways to create high-paid green jobs.”
The annual football tournament for care experienced young people aged 16 to 24 is organised by the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Reach Leaving Care Team and Wolves Foundation.
Six-a-side teams from around the country will go head to head in a series of 8 minute matches on Saturday 14 June – culminating with the final on the same day.
To book your free tickets, please visit Eventbrite or scan the QR code. Tickets will be issued by Ticketmaster; please note, only Ticketmaster tickets will be accepted at the turnstiles.
The event, proudly sponsored by the EFL in the Community in partnership with the Wolves Foundation, will see 20 teams from as far away as North Yorkshire and Milton Keynes competing for 3 cups, with one being the overall Championship Cup. All participants will also receive a medal.
Among those taking part will be Wolverhampton Warriors, who have been preparing for the finals since March, training weekly in collaboration with Wolves Foundation coaches.
Last week they took on Staff FC, a team composed of staff from the council’s Reach Leaving Care, Participation Team, House Project and managers, at Black Country Goals, running out 4-0 winners.
Wolverhampton Warriors’ Osarende Iyawe said: “Being part of a tournament or team can be incredibly rewarding. It gives you a chance to test your skills under pressure and brings a sense of belonging, shared goals and support. It’s about competition, but it’s also about growth and discipline.”
Teammate Josh Hayes added: “It’s opportunity for young people in care and we have raised money for charity; this team means something.”
Councillor Jacqui Coogan, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: “This is a fabulous opportunity for care experienced young people to play at one of England’s most prestigious sporting venues and to follow in the footsteps of so many of their footballing heroes.
“We are delighted to be supporting the event, which gets bigger and better with every passing year, and I wish all the young people the very best of luck – may the best team win!”
To protect Jersey’s livestock, food security and farming community new safeguard measures will soon come into force. This will restrict personal imports of products of animal origin (POAO) from the European Union.
Effective from 16 May 2025, travellers will no longer be permitted to bring meat or dairy products from EU single market area (EEA states, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Switzerland) countries into Jersey for personal use.
This aligns Jersey with the existing measures in the UK and Crown Dependencies and follows an increase in confirmed cases of foot and mouth disease (FMD) across parts of Europe.
What This Means for Travellers
Banned Items
This is regardless of whether they are fresh, cured, raw, packed, or purchased from duty -free:
Meat products from cattle, pigs, sheep or goats
Dairy products including cheese, milk, and yogurt
Items containing these products, such as: Meat or cheese sandwiches, cured meats, sausages and milk-based desserts.
Items travellers can still bring
The following remain permitted for personal import:
Bread (excluding sandwiches filled with meat or dairy)
Cakes (as long as they do not contain fresh cream)
Biscuits, chocolate, and confectionery (excluding those with large amounts of unprocessed dairy)
Pasta and noodles (not mixed with or filled with meat)
Packaged soups, stocks, and flavourings
Processed and packaged plant products, including packaged salads and frozen vegetables
Food supplements containing small amounts of animal product (e.g. fish oil capsules)
Up to 2kg per person of powdered infant milk, baby food, or special dietary food required for medical reasons.
Why these measures are needed
While foot and mouth disease poses no threat to human health, it is a highly contagious viral disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals.
The current spread of FMD across parts of Europe presents a serious risk to Jersey’s agriculture sector.
An outbreak could result in severe economic losses through: Reduced productivity in affected animals, disruption to trade and potential bans on export of livestock and animal products.
Background
Earlier this year, Jersey introduced specific bans on personal imports of meat and dairy products from Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria following confirmed FMD outbreaks. The latest measures now extend this safeguard to all EU countries.
Important clarifications
These restrictions apply only to personal imports from EU countries
They do not apply to personal imports from Great Britain, Northern Ireland, Guernsey, or the Isle of Man
Commercial imports of meat and dairy products from the EU remain permitted, provided they meet all current import requirements and health standards.
Further Information
These precautionary measures are in line with advice from the UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and are essential to maintaining the health of Jersey’s livestock.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
News story
Joint trade statement between New Zealand and United Kingdom
Summary of a Joint Statement following the meeting of the Minister for Trade and Investment of New Zealand and Secretary of State for Business and Trade.
This Joint Statement follows the meeting of the Minister for Trade and Investment of New Zealand and Secretary of State for Business and Trade of the United Kingdom on 12 May 2025.
At their meeting, the Ministers celebrated the successful trading relationship between the UK and New Zealand, which reached a record £3.7bn1 or $7.3bn of trade in goods and services in 2024.
At the meeting, the Ministers opened the second Joint Committee of the New Zealand-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
Significant progress has been made under the FTA, including amongst other things, the commencement of an artists’ resale royalty scheme, the inclusion of further wine making (oenological) practices, the establishment of a legal services regulatory dialogue, the renewal of the engineers’ Admissions Pathways Agreement, a sustainable finance dialogue, a women in STEM event, and a visit to the UK by a delegation of Māori women technology entrepreneurs.
Ministers commended the significant uptake of the Agreement.
Since entry into force, £752.3m ($1,588m NZD) of traded goods successfully used preferential tariffs; i.e. around 82.2% of goods traded between the UK and New Zealand made use of preferences where one was available.
The strong uptake of the Agreement’s benefits is resulting in real savings with the potential to benefit both businesses and consumers.
Between June 2023 and Dec 2024:
£164.2m or $344.5m NZD (80.7%) of goods imports into New Zealand from the UK used preferential tariffs4. Had these occurred at standard Most Favoured Nation (MFN) tariff rates, they could have encountered an additional £9.3m ($19.5m NZD) in duties.
£588.1m or $1,243m NZD (82.6%) of goods imports into the UK from New Zealand used preferential tariffs6. Had these occurred at standard MFN tariff rates, they could have encountered an additional £67.4m ($141.8m NZD) in duties.5
The Ministers noted that free trade is a cornerstone of prosperity in both countries. Recognising that open markets, and reliable legal and regulatory frameworks are essential for trade, the Ministers committed to strengthening the rules-based trading system.
The Ministers agreed to work together to strengthen the role that free trade, including the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (which the United Kingdom and New Zealand are Parties to), plays in increasing prosperity and reinforcing resilience against economic turbulence.
This includes growing the agreement ambitiously through further accessions, modernising the agreement through the ongoing General Review, and working with partners to defend the rules-based trading system upon which we rely.
Trade asymmetries exist between the UK and New Zealand official trade statistics, but this does not mean that either country is inaccurate in their estimation. Differences can be caused by a range of conceptual and measurement variations between the estimation practices of different countries.
Based on data from New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade, Statistics New Zealand, Customs import utilisation data, April 2025
Estimated duty savings are based on exchanged country tariff schedules and preference utilisation data (footnotes 4 and 6). For UK imports, these are all calculated used the Ad Valorem, Specific, or Compound tariffs applied at the CN8 level. Where appropriate, Ad Valorem Equivalent tariffs were used (source: MacMap). The Bank of England spot exchange rates (June-December 2023, and 2024) was used to convert from GBP to NZD.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
New coastal path connects Mablethorpe to Humber Bridge
The latest stretch of the King Charles III England Coast Path (KCIIIECP) from Maplethorpe to Humber Bridge opens today.
Two coastal path walkers
Families, nature lovers and ramblers can now explore a stunning new 47 miles (75km) coastal route along Lincolnshire’s diverse shoreline.
The new section, connecting Mablethorpe to the Humber Bridge, takes walkers from traditional seaside towns through expansive dune systems. Through nature reserves and to the industrial heritage of the Humber estuary.
This opening creates an almost continuous 160-mile coastal route from Sutton Bridge to Easington, with just 2 small gaps at Gibraltar Point bridge and Immingham.
Natural England’s Deputy Director for Natural England in the East Midlands Victoria Manton, said:
“This new stretch of the King Charles III England Coast Path will give people from all over the country access to our beautiful local coastline, connecting them with nature and providing health and wellbeing benefits. The trail will also support the local economy – bringing walkers and visitors to the towns and villages for daytrips, refreshments and places to stay.”
Chris Miller, Head of Environment at Lincolnshire County Council said:
“With these latest additions to the King Charles III England Coast Path coming to fruition we can now provide one of the most spectacular walks anywhere in the country.”
“This is the outcome of several agencies working together to give legal access to a unique part of the country for people to enjoy. There is a vast array of wildlife and topography that you only get on our coast and now anyone who wants to see it, can do so for free.”
The route showcases the remarkable diversity of Britain’s coastline. Visitors can experience the traditional seaside charm of Mablethorpe, with its donkey rides and holiday parks, before discovering the tranquillity of Saltfleetby and Theddlethorpe National Nature Reserve.
Two donkeys on the beach
Further north, the path passes Donna Nook bombing range, where bizarrely around 2000 grey seal pups are born each autumn. Then follows the beaches of resort Cleethorpes and the fishing town of Grimsby. Before traversing the industrial and port developments around Immingham, ultimately reaching the iconic Humber Bridge.
When the final 41-mile link between Easington and Bridlington North Sands opens later this year, there will be over 450 miles of continuous path from Sutton Bridge to the Scottish border.
The project now means over half of the entire King Charles III England Coast Path is open for public use.
Research shows coastal paths provide significant health and wellbeing benefits while generating valuable tourism income for local businesses along the route.
Two pairs of walking boots on the sandy beach
The King Charles III England Coast Path aims to stay as close to the sea as possible. In many places, that means walking right where land meets sea, occasionally heading inland, though usually only for short distances.
The National Trails website has lots of maps and advice on route-planning and details of places to visit, stay or eat.
By the end of 2025, all unrestricted roads in urban areas around Scotland will have a default 20mph speed limit under the Transport Scotland strategy. The aim is to consistently reduce the risk of conflict between different road users and therefore also cut the levels of road traffic collisions and casualties across the country.
All urban streets within Perth and Kinross have been assessed, and adjustments to speed limits made in agreement with the councillors for each ward. Some key transport routes into larger towns will continue to have a 30mph speed limit on the periphery of the settlement but be lowered to 20mph in the town centres themselves. Where A and B roads have limited buildings along them, or have housing restricted to one side of the road, the 30mph limit will be retained.
The assessment has additionally identified locations for new 30mph and 40mph limits, and where these limits already exist, those locations which should be amended because of the new 20mph limit being introduced.
Each change is being put in place via a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO), which can be in place for up to 18 months, and would be made permanent if the change proves successful. All the new 20mph limits are being introduced, in the first instance, through road signage at the beginning and end of the speed limit section and reminder signs within it to highlight the change.
The impact of the changes will be assessed via speed monitoring at selected sites representing the different road environments within the Council’s network. The data gathered in this way will also help determine where physical speed reduction measures may be needed in addition to the road signs.
Introduction of the new speed limits by geographic area is already underway, with new signs installed in Crieff and Comrie along the A85 corridor at the same time as works being carried out by BEAR Scotland, along with works as part of the Cross Tay Link Road mitigation measures. The third phase, covering Braco, Greenloaning and Muthill (Council Ward 7) is now underway following site meetings with local community councils.
Convener of Economy and Infrastructure, Councillor Eric Drysdale said: “Improving the consistency of speed limits in our urban areas is important in trying to protect road users, particularly the most vulnerable, and reduce collisions. The changes being made over the course of 2025 as part of delivering locally on the national strategy from Transport Scotland are intended to make a real difference to road safety in Perth and Kinross. I would encourage motorists to be aware of the changes and drive to the new speed limits as they are put in place.”
Inspector Gordon Dickson from Police Scotland said: “Road safety is a priority and we work closely with partner agencies to ensure this.
“The dangers of speeding are well-known. People who speed not only put themselves at risk, but also other members of the public and drivers should take responsibility for their own actions when they get behind the wheel.
“We urge drivers to remain within the speed limit and help ensure safety for themselves and other road users.”
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Pension Scheme reforms to boost benefits and tackle inequality
Changes will mean more money in the pockets of hard-working people when they reach retirement, delivering on government’s Plan for Change
Street cleaners, school cooks and other dedicated public servants are set to benefit from a package of reforms to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) that will end discrimination and lead to more money in people’s pockets.
Today’s measures build on the government’s wider Make Work Pay agenda that will back millions of workers by banning exploitative zero-hours contracts and ending ‘Fire and Rehire’ and ‘Fire and Replace’ practices.
Under measures announced today, the Local Government Pension Scheme for England and Wales will become the first public service pension scheme – of which three quarters are women – to make the last 13 weeks of statutory maternity pay automatically pensionable.
And issues with current regulations that saw survivors of members receiving smaller pensions on the basis of their relationship type will be fixed – ending historic inequalities.
These steps will directly benefit people working on the front line, serving school lunches, cleaning buildings, managing libraries and cleaning streets.
Loopholes that allow those guilty of serious offences to continue benefitting from the pension scheme will also be closed, as part of a crackdown to ensure public servants’ money does not go to those who do not deserve it.
Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner said:
“These historic changes will give hard working street cleaners, librarians, school cooks and other public servants the security that they deserve.
“This is a critical step in ending years of discrimination, backing our dedicated public servants and helping to Make Work Pay.”
Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution, Jim McMahon OBE MP, said:
“Having worked in local government for years, I know first-hand how much those who help keep the lights on across the country rely on the Local Government Pension Scheme.
“Through these reforms, we will make sure they are properly rewarded and able to enjoy their hard-earned retirement.”
Minister for Pensions Torsten Bell MP said:
“Today’s changes will ensure more public servants get the benefits and security they deserve.
“Our reforms to Local Government Pension Schemes are bringing fairness and equality to workers, while boosting the potential of schemes to drive opportunity and growth in local communities.”
Latest estimates show 74 per cent of the scheme’s seven million members are women, and one of the most significant gaps in a woman’s pensionable service is often maternity leave.
Making the final 13 weeks’ leave automatically pensionable will be a significant improvement and help close the gender pensions gap women face.
Another issue the reforms aim to address is a disparity in survivor benefits – which are paid to the scheme’s members’ partners upon their death.
Due to issues with the existing regulations, there have been instances where those in same-sex marriages and civil partnerships receive a more generous pension entitlement than those in opposite-sex marriages and partnerships. But under proposed reforms, all discrimination on the basis of the sex of those affected will be removed.
In addition, an age cap currently in place that requires an LGPS member to have died before the age of 75 for their survivor to receive a lump sum payment will also be abolished.
The government is also taking steps to keep people in the scheme by enhancing data collection on why people opt out, in a bid to ensure as many people as possible benefit.
A consultation on the proposed reforms to LGPS members’ benefits is now open for 12 weeks, and those affected are encouraged to register their views.
Other measures the government is taking to make work pay include:
Banning exploitative zero-hours contracts
Ending ‘Fire and Rehire’ and ‘Fire and Replace’ practices
Record increase in offshore wind capacity critical to Clean Power 2030 goal, says OEUK report
15 May 2025
In its 2025 Offshore Wind Insight, Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) warns that without action to address price inflation, capital cost and UK supply chain competitiveness, the UK will fail to meet the government’s Clean Power 2030 (CP30) target of between 43 and 51 GW of installed offshore wind capacity.
The UK has the capacity to become a major exporter of wind energy, but if it is to meet CP2030 objectives the September wind allocation round (AR7) will have to be the biggest ever with more than 8GW of new licences awarded.
As the halt to Hornsea 4 wind farm last week shows, cost inflation, finance costs and market outlook make investment in offshore wind all the more challenging, putting additional pressure on CP30 delivery.
North Sea oil and gas have provided the primary source of energy for more than 50 years and the UK will continue to need homegrown oil and gas as part of an integrated energy mix for years to come alongside the build out of renewables. As the focus on decarbonising the economy gains momentum, electricity is expected to dominate the future low carbon energy mix. Much of this will be generated by offshore wind installations fixed to the seabed as well as floating offshore wind (FOW) structures but unless the pace of change quickens, the UK stands to achieve only 35GW by 2030, short of the CP30 target.
In 2024, the National Energy System Operator (NESO) published the Clean Power 2030 (CP30) report, setting out recommendations to the UK government on the design of a clean power grid by 2030. With a goal to accelerate progress to net zero by eliminating emissions that currently come from electricity generation, CP30 also aims to ensure that heating, transport and industry sectors are powered by electricity.
The plan sees a huge build out of renewables including 43-50 Gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind, 27-29 GW of onshore wind, and 45-47 GW of solar power. Noting all renewables play important roles in delivering a clean power grid, whereby Britain will generate enough clean power to meet 95% of total annual electricity demand by 2030, NESO highlighted the critical role of offshore wind.
“Meeting the government’s 2030 target of 43 and 51 GW of installed offshore wind capacity means securing £15bn of private investment in offshore wind each and every year between now and 2030. The government’s next Contract for Difference auction in Allocation Round 7 (AR7), which incentivises new low carbon electricity generating projects, will need to secure historic levels of renewable energy procurement. AR7 needs to clear a record 8.4GW of offshore wind capacity to maintain the course toward CP30.”
“With the flexibility to supply oil and gas installations or the national grid, Floating Offshore Wind (FOW) will become a critical tool for delivering CP30 and beyond. Offshore wind leasing rounds released by Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG) under the auspices of Crown Estate Scotland are helping decarbonise offshore oil and gas production whilst accelerating deployment of the first floating offshore wind project at commercial scale.
“As Floating Offshore Wind projects will have access to windier areas in deeper waters around the UK, it is set to become the growth engine beyond 2030 with investment in FOW likely to overtake fixed-bottom wind in 2033. More than 50 years oil and gas experience means that our UK supply chain is well equipped to capture a sizeable stake of the floating wind market, but a significant portion of the spend required is beyond the reach of many UK companies, which highlights the need for strategic investment in innovation, skills and infrastructure. Getting this right means the UK can become a market leader in wind power generation and play a major part in delivering a homegrown energy transition.”
Wind power remains a key component of the UK’s energy system, its share for UK’s electricity amounting to 29.5% in 2024. Of that, offshore wind contributed 17.2% of total electricity generation. Its ability to outperform onshore wind generation relative to installed capacity is down to newer, larger turbines installed off the coast of Britain, where wind speeds are often stronger for longer and efficiency is likely to be higher. This makes offshore wind one of the most attractive of the renewable energy technologies.
Key report recommendations:
Development plans should be front-loaded to meet CP 2030 – The UK is not on track to meet CP 2030 target so Allocation Round 7 (AR7) needs to be the most ambitious auction round yet. It will need to secure 8.4 GW of new offshore wind capacity if the UK is to stay on course for CP30.
Timely delivery of transmission infrastructure will be essential– Rebuilding the National Grid electricity transmission grid will be a massive task. A grid investment programme of £58bn will be required to support 50 GW offshore wind by 2030.
Investment in UK energy should be to the long-term benefit of the UK economy– £65bn will be invested in UK offshore wind over the next five years – this has the potential to transform the growth outlook for the UK. The forthcoming UK industrial strategy should make developing a competitive homegrown energy supply chain equipped to make the most of these opportunities one of its key objectives.
Energy security is as important as a predominantly renewables-based power system-There should be a focus on homegrown energy, making the most of UK resources. There will be a continued role for gas-fired power generation to balance the grid. This should see the progressive deployment of gas with CCS and in due course hydrogen-fuelled power generation. Interconnectivity will help. A North Sea integrated grid can save £37bn/yr and cut wholesale prices by a fifth and would avoid system duplication.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
West Country water lovers urged to lend a hand to bathing waters
Communities who campaigned to turn their favourite spots into official bathing waters asked to help the Environment Agency make them cleaner to swim in.
The first sample of the season being taken from the River Tone at French Weir Park in Taunton
3 rivers in Somerset and Hampshire were officially chosen as ‘designated bathing waters’ last year. Meaning they ticked the boxes of being easy to get to with parking and toilets nearby. But contrary to public opinion, being ‘designated’ doesn’t automatically mean the water met set standards of public hygiene.
Environment Agency monitoring of the 451 beaches and rivers on England’s list of designated bathing waters this summer has begun. Water samples will be taken weekly or fortnightly at consistent points in seas and rivers and sent for testing in the lab.
The results of these samples show how clean the water is and will be available online at Swimfo to inform public choice of where to swim or paddle. These sample results will ultimately help dictate what classification a beach or river location will be given later in the year. Any classification from ‘Sufficient’ and above means the water quality is good enough to swim in.
The classifications for all 3 river bathing waters at Taunton, Farleigh Hungerford near Bath and Fordingbridge in Hampshire came back as ‘Poor’ – meaning swimming was not advisable.
In response, groups including campaigners, swimmers, councillors, MPs, water companies and the Environment Agency have formed to turn around water quality at these sites.
This includes the River Tone at French Weir Park in Taunton. The group has come together to create an action plan which will drive improvements to reduce pollution affecting the bathing water quality where swimming takes place.
Jim Flory of the Environment Agency said:
We routinely monitor rivers to check that the water quality for wildlife and the natural ecology of our rivers is protected.
But the standards needed to protect human health are different to those needed to safeguard the ecology and wildlife in our rivers and a lot of teamwork is needed to clear that bar. This will be a marathon not a sprint.
Environment Agency officers will patrol the surrounding area looking for obvious sources of pollution entering the watercourse. As well as inspecting water company pipes and other types of equipment that discharges water into the river.
Public interest also saw a Dorset beach return to the Environment Agency’s list of 450 monitored bathing waters last year. Water sampling began again at Church Cliff Beach in Lyme Regis after an absence of 9 years. The site lost its designated status due to the low number of people going into the sea.
The beach was given a classification of ‘Poor’ after its first bathing water season. Nevertheless, public support from the River Lim Action Group, Blue Tit Swimmers and local officials is strong and committed to improving water quality.
Throughout the season, 15 May until the end of September, the Environment Agency will be taking more than 7000 samples at 451 designated bathing waters across England.
Today also marks the re-opening of applications for new bathing waters which have been closed since October 2023. Since then, the government has announced significant reforms to the Bathing Water Regulations to better reflect public use of iconic swimming spots. Successful sites will be announced next year.
Background
Bathing waters are officially designated outdoor swimming sites. England has 451 designated bathing waters, which are monitored and classified by the Environment Agency.
Applicants are encouraged to use the bathing water season to gather evidence for their applications. Prospective sites will be assessed for their suitability as a designated bathing water. Applications for the 2026 season will close on 31 October 2025.
The Environment Agency has driven £2.5 billion of investment and facilitated partnerships to dramatically improve our bathing waters.
Last year, nearly 92% of bathing waters in England met the minimum water quality standards. More information on 2024 bathing water classifications is available here.
The UK Health Security Agency and Environment Agency also offer advice in their ‘swim healthy’ guidance, which is available to read before making any decision on swimming.
Bathing waters are stretches of water throughout England which we monitor for two types of bacteria: E.coli and intestinal enterococci. We monitor for these two bacteria because they indicate that there are germs in the water which can make you ill.
Charities losing funding from the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board (EIJB) are to receive urgent support from the City of Edinburgh Council.
One-off funding of £2.037m will be provided to 46 organisations and projects across Edinburgh which are working to prevent poverty and support vulnerable residents.
An additional £1m will help six third sector advice providers to support residents to maximise their income through accessing welfare benefits, reducing everyday living costs including debt management and improving access to work. A grant has also been provided to support the continued development of the Edinburgh Advice Network.
The decision by the Policy and Sustainability Committee this week (Monday 12 May) will allow funds to be released to prevent the closure of a number of organisations and avert the redundancies of many employees.
Decisions on how to allocate an outstanding £423,400 will be made when Councillors meet again later this month (Tuesday 27 May).
The emergency package of support is provided ahead of a long-term review of the relationship between the Edinburgh Partnership, public sector and third sector in Edinburgh, with the aim of improving funding certainty in future years.
As part of this review, the Edinburgh Partnership is asking voluntary organisations, social enterprises and charities to participate in an online consultation. Workshops will also take place in the coming weeks.
“The third sector provides vital support to our local communities, and we need to provide stability to projects which have been put at risk of closure. Our funding will quickly and directly prevent many charities from redundancies and from reducing the very important services they provide.
“While I’m pleased that we’ve reached a decision to prioritise this work – and to make sure we protect more people from entering poverty – we cannot become complacent. We need longer-term change so that organisations like these, and the many residents who rely on them, are at less risk and have greater stability.
“We want to hear about how we can make helping vulnerable people simpler. Please take part in the consultation we’ve recently launched, as the Edinburgh Partnership seeks views on strengthening our city’s third sector.”
In a deputation to Policy and Sustainability Committee, Bruce Crawford, CEO of EVOC and speaking on behalf of the Third Sector Reference Group said:
“The decisions made by Councillors to support these third sector organisations shows a real understanding of the role that the third sector play in communities across Edinburgh.
“The impact that these Resilience Fund payments will make cannot be underestimated in the way that they will support some of the most vulnerable people in our city. These grants will provide stability to the organisations in receipt of them and allow them to continue to serve their local communities. Longer term solutions need to be developed, and we are prepared to work with the council in planning for the future, beyond the current financial year.”
Full list of organisations and projects confirmed to receive urgent funding from the Third Sector Transitional Fund:
1. ACE IT Scotland 2. Art in Healthcare 3. B Healthy Together 4. Bridgend Farmhouse 5. Calton Welfare Services 6. Care for Carers 7. Caring in Craigmillar 8. Community Renewal Trust 9. Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland 10. Drake Music Scotland 11. Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust 12. Edinburgh Community Food 13. Edinburgh Community Health Forum 14. Edinburgh Headway Group 15. Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre 16. Eric Liddell Community 17. Feniks 18. Fresh Start 19. Health All Round 20. Home-Start Edinburgh West and South West (HSEW) 21. LGBT Health and Wellbeing 22. Libertus Services 23. MECOPP 24. Murrayfield Dementia Project 25. Pilmeny Development Project 26. Pilton Equalities Project – Mental Health 27. Pilton Equalities Project – Day Care 28. Portobello Monday Centre 29. Portobello Older People’s Project 30. Positive Help 31. Queensferry Churches Care in the Community 32. Rowan Alba Limited 33. Scottish Huntington’s Association 34. Sikh Sanjog 35. South Edinburgh Amenities Group (SEAG) 36. The Broomhouse Centre (The Beacon Club) 37. Vintage Vibes Consortium 38. The Dove Centre 39. The Health Agency 40. The Living Memory Association 41. The Open Door 42. The Ripple Project 43. The Welcoming Association 44. Venture Scotland 45. VOCAL 46. Waverley Care.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
New energy upgrades for public buildings to save taxpayers money
Schools, community centres and care homes receive new awards to upgrade their buildings and save money off bills in the long term.
Local community buildings will benefit from cheaper energy bills in the years to come, thanks to funding allocated by the government
schools, community centres and care homes will benefit from upgrades, contributing to an estimated £650 million in savings for taxpayers per year on average to 2037
Pupils at schools, residents at care homes, and users of community centres will all be given a boost today, as the government allocates funding to help cut energy bills for public buildings in the years to come.
The social institutions that allow local communities to thrive, such as schools, hospitals, and care homes, will be given extra help to make energy saving upgrades and tackle costs, allowing more money to be spent on the services that people care about.
More than £630 million has been awarded for measures including heat pumps, solar panels, insulation and double glazing, helping to make Britain energy secure as part of the Plan for Change while contributing to an estimated £650 million in savings for taxpayers per year on average over the next 12 years.
The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has been awarded over £30 million to install heat pumps at Queens Park Leisure Centre, Birkenhead Central Library and Chase Heys Home for the Elderly, while the Northumbria NHS Foundation Trust will receive more than £14 million to replace fossil fuel heating at two sites, helping power these pillars of the local community with cleaner, homegrown energy.
The Royal Air Force Museum Midlands will benefit from £1 million to install heat pumps and solar panels at one of its aircraft hangars, and Worcester City Council will receive £90,000 to upgrade the King George V Community Centre, which is used for employability training and youth activities, with new heat pumps, solar panels and double glazing.
The University of York has been awarded £35 million to capture energy from beneath the Earth’s surface to help deliver low-carbon heat to buildings on campus, while the National Portrait Gallery has been awarded over £5 million to switch to heat pumps in its main public gallery and Orange Street building, which houses the historic archives of the library.
Minister for Energy Consumers Miatta Fahnbulleh said:
Today we are providing even more support for Britain’s buildings – from schools to museums and galleries – helping to rebuild vital public services as part of the Plan for Change.
This investment will see local communities benefit from our sprint to clean power, with warm public buildings, run more affordably.
An extra £102 million from the Green Heat Network Fund will help to develop new and existing heat networks in England, including the Hemiko South Westminster Area Network (SWAN), which could help to decarbonise iconic landmarks like the Houses of Parliament using waste heat from the River Thames.
This follows Great British Energy’s first major project to put solar panels on around 200 schools and 200 NHS sites, helping them to reinvest savings on their energy bills in teaching and healthcare.
Vice-Chancellor Professor at the University of York Charlie Jeffery said:
Our geothermal project will be a powerful catalyst in our journey towards net zero, offering a significant reduction in carbon emissions and a greener future.
Beyond its crucial environmental impact, the site will serve as a living laboratory that will drive research, educate our students and bring benefits beyond our campus.
The support from the government is a vital catalyst for this transformative endeavour, which we believe will empower the next generation of sustainability leaders and deepen community understanding of renewable energy technologies.
Policy Manager at Energy UK Louise Shooter said:
High energy bills have been a big headache for schools, hospitals, leisure centres and other community facilities in recent years – so it’s great to see them being helped to install energy saving measures and other green technology that will cut energy costs permanently while also enabling them to do their bit to reduce emissions. Energy UK’s members have been helping schools and hospitals across the country do the same and save money which means more funding for the essential services they provide. It’s a very tangible example of the benefits that come from investing in the switch to cleaner energy.
Head of External Affairs at ADE: Heat Networks Pablo John said:
Today’s investment in heat networks like the University of York’s geothermal project is a blueprint for Britain’s clean heat revolution. These networks capture every kilowatt of renewable energy and waste heat we produce, turning it into affordable warmth for consumers. York’s 78% cut in fossil fuels proves that when we back heat networks now – even outside of zones – we secure energy independence for good. Let’s build on this momentum by supporting heat network innovation everywhere and stop wasting the heat under our feet.
Director of Content and Programmes at the RAF Museum Karen Whitting said:
Warm thanks to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero for their investment through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. This will enable us to introduce new, low/no-carbon technologies to a historic 1938 Type-C aircraft hangar as part of our Inspiring Everyone: RAF Museum Midlands Development Programme. The re-developed hangar will be used as a Learning Centre and exhibition gallery which will welcome and inspire around 500,000 visitors a year, sharing the nationally important Royal Air Force story. The project will make a major contribution to the RAF Museum’s Strategy including our commitment to achieving Carbon Net Zero.
Notes to editors
Decarbonising the public sector with low carbon heating and energy efficiency measures will save the public sector an estimated £650 million per year on average to 2037. The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme is contributing towards delivering these savings for public sector organisations.
Applications for Phase 4 of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme opened in October 2024. Funding for this phase is worth approximately £940 million and will run until financial year 2027/2028. Some remaining funding awards will be issued in the coming weeks.
As of May 2025, the regional breakdown for Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme Phase 4 funding is as follows:
North East: £65,191,456
Yorkshire and the Humber: £81,262,778
North West: £116,815,617
East Midlands: £73,405,602
West Midlands: £84,306,700
East of England: £29,149,553
South East: £35,720,404
South West: £30,002,246
Greater London: £113,914,685
Wales: £2,500,000
Across Regions: £1,325,000
The Green Heat Network Fund supports new and existing heat networks in England to adopt low carbon technologies such as heat pumps, recovered heat, geothermal and energy from waste. A total of over £484 million in awards to 40 projects has been made public since the launch of the scheme in 2022.
The projects included in this announcement, which have been awarded a total of over £102 million in grant funding are:
Derby Energy Network (Derby Energy Ltd): £23,240,000
Bristol City Centre (Bristol Heat Networks/Vattenfall): £21,300,000
Highland Council is seeking feedback from the hundreds of families who attended a highly successful fun day at Eden Court Theatre in Inverness on Monday 3 March 2025.
Parents and carers who attended the Brighter Beginnings Family Fun Day are invited to answer 6 short and simple questions in an online form at: https://forms.office.com/e/wx9APAHaFR.
Cllr David Fraser, Chair of Highland Council’s Health Social Care and Wellbeing Committee explains: “Following a very high turnout of families at the Early Year Fun Day event, the Integrated Children’s Service Planning Board would like to build on this success by welcoming children under 12 to Eden Court on the of 11th August this year as part of Vision 26.
“To help shape the format of this year’s Vision 26, we need to hear what families thought of the Brighter Beginnings Event and what they would like to see in future events.”
If you attended the Brighter Beginnings Family Fun Day at Eden Court on 3rd March 2025 and you were one of the many families who turned out to take part in the free activities including messy play, scavenger hunt, outdoor play and puppet shows; or you enjoyed the police car and play bus, we want to hear from you what that experience was like.
The Council would like to hear your viewpoint by completing the online form at: https://forms.office.com/e/wx9APAHaFR. All Feedback will be anonymous and will help planning for future events based on the responses.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Environment Agency starts sampling Devon and Cornwall’s beaches
Environment Agency sampling of Devon and Cornwall’s 155 monitored beaches has started and will run through until the end of September.
An Environment Agency officer with a fresh sample taken, ready to be sent to the lab for testing
A beach or river on England’s list of designated bathing waters means water quality is routinely tested. Water samples will be taken at consistent points at these locations and sent to the lab for testing. Scientists will look for elevated levels of E. Coli and intestinal enterococci – bad bacteria found in sewage and other waste.
The results of these samples will inform a dedicated group of scientists and officers who are on standby 24/7 to respond to any reports of problems found at beaches and other bathing waters. The results will also be catalogued on the Swimfo website which also contains a lot more information about each bathing water – its history, a description of the surrounding area as well as several years of results.
The results, taken over four years, give the Environment Agency great confidence when deciding upon what classification a beach will be given later in the year. Any classification from ‘Sufficient’ and above means the water quality is safe to swim in. Out of 155 monitored bathing waters, there are only 2 beaches in Devon and Cornwall – Coastguards Beach on the Erme Estuary and Porthluney – with results tipping them into the ‘Poor’ classification. This doesn’t mean they are dirty. A ‘Poor’ classification means that very high standards are not consistently met, and the Environment Agency is actively investigating why.
Bruce Newport of the Environment Agency said:
Over a third of England’s bathing waters can be found in Devon and Cornwall and over 98 per cent of them meet the very high levels of water quality expected for safe swimming.
We also publish a daily water quality forecast on many of our beaches which can be found on our Swimfo website. This service is a great asset, especially after heavy rainfall which can temporarily cause a dip in water quality.
Throughout the season, which runs from 15 May until the end of September, the Environment Agency will be taking more than 7000 samples at 451 designated bathing waters across England.
Today also marks the re-opening of applications for new bathing waters which have been closed since October 2023. Since then, the government has announced significant reforms to the Bathing Water Regulations to better reflect public use of iconic swimming spots. Successful sites will be announced next year.
Background
Bathing waters are officially designated outdoor swimming sites. England has 451 designated bathing waters, which are monitored and classified by the Environment Agency.
Applicants are encouraged to use the bathing water season to gather evidence for their applications. Prospective sites will be assessed for their suitability as a designated bathing water. Applications for the 2026 season will close on 31 October 2025.
The Environment Agency has driven £2.5 billion of investment and facilitated partnerships to dramatically improve our bathing waters.
Last year, nearly 92% of bathing waters in England met the minimum water quality standards. More information on 2024 bathing water classifications is available here.
The UK Health Security Agency and Environment Agency also offer advice in their ‘swim healthy’ guidance, which is available to read before making any decision on swimming.
Bathing waters are stretches of water throughout England which we monitor for two types of bacteria: E.coli and intestinal enterococci. We monitor for these two bacteria because they indicate that there are germs in the water which can make you ill.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
New bathing water season for Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Sussex
Environment Agency monitoring of the 56 designated bathing waters between Highcliffe and Hastings Pelham have started ahead of summer.
Lee-on-Solent is one of the 56 bathing waters being regularly monitored by the Environment Agency this summer
A beach, river or estuary location on England’s list of designated bathing waters means water quality is thoroughly tested. Water samples will be taken weekly or fortnightly at consistent points at these locations and sent to the lab for testing. Scientists will look for elevated levels of E. Coli and intestinal enterococci – bacteria found in sewage and bird and wildlife poo – and the results made available online at Swimfo to inform public choice of where to paddle.
These sample results will ultimately help dictate what classification a beach or river location will be given later in the year. Any classification from ‘Sufficient’ and above means the water quality is good enough to swim in. If it’s ‘Poor’ then swimming is not advisable.
Kate Donlon of the Environment Agency said:
Public confidence in the water quality at beaches and new river swimming spots has taken some knocks over the last few years. This is a shame as it’s a fact that 95% of the sites within Hampshire, Sussex and Isle of Wight hit acceptable standards for having a dip or a swim.
Don’t be put off going into the water during this lovely weather at one of the sites on the designated bathing water list. Go to our Swimfo website, choose a location and inform your own mind if you fancy going into the water.
The chief cause for any drop in water quality between Highcliffe to Hastings Pelham is pollution entering beaches from surface water drains connecting to the sea, not sewage discharges. Rain water washes bacteria from sources like bird, dog and wildlife poo into the drains along with any other pollutants from the urban environment.
Improving sites at Bognor Regis Aldwick, Worthing Beach House and Southsea will be a marathon effort and only possible with dedicated partnership groups. Public support is also key. Eliminating routine nuisances like litter and dog poo from investigations and promoting awareness that only rain should go down the drain will free up investigative time. Meaning we are able to focus on other serious causes.
Throughout the season, 15 May until the end of September, the Environment Agency will be taking more than 7000 samples at 451 designated bathing waters across England.
Today also marks the re-opening of applications for new bathing waters which have been closed since October 2023. Since then, the government has announced significant reforms to the Bathing Water Regulations to better reflect public use of iconic swimming spots. Successful sites will be announced next year.
Background
Bathing waters are officially designated outdoor swimming sites. England has 451 designated bathing waters, which are monitored and classified by the Environment Agency.
Applicants are encouraged to use the bathing water season to gather evidence for their applications. Prospective sites will be assessed for their suitability as a designated bathing water. Applications for the 2026 season will close on 31 October 2025.
The Environment Agency has driven £2.5 billion of investment and facilitated partnerships to dramatically improve our bathing waters.
Last year, nearly 92% of bathing waters in England met the minimum water quality standards. More information on 2024 bathing water classifications is available here.
The UK Health Security Agency and Environment Agency also offer advice in their ‘swim healthy’ guidance, which is available to read before making any decision on swimming.
Bathing waters are stretches of water throughout England which we monitor for two types of bacteria: E.coli and intestinal enterococci. We monitor for these two bacteria because they indicate that there are germs in the water which can make you ill.
A bespoke plan to help Scottish companies export to the United States will be drawn up as part of new measures aimed at boosting trade.
It is one of six actions announced in the First Minister’s Programme for Government to assist exporters and address global trade challenges.
Other steps include increased funding for product development, market research and attendance at international trade shows.
Within the current financial year, the Six Point Export Plan will:
produce a US Export Plan to identify states offering the best markets for Scottish products, as part of wider support for trade with North America
use the International Growth Support Programme to unlock opportunities through trade shows, distributor visits, market research and product development
bring more global buyers to Scotland to showcase what companies have to offer
expand funding for overseas trade missions through the International Trade Partnership with Scottish Chambers of Commerce
increase funding for exporters in the technology, life sciences, renewables and hydrogen sectors
widen support for businesses through Scottish Enterprise’s international team, Scottish Development International, including more overseas trade missions and exporter showcase events
During a visit to Summerhall Distillery in Edinburgh, which exports to more than a dozen countries including the US, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said:
“In the face of global uncertainty, I am determined to protect and grow Scotland’s business interests around the world.
“As the USA remains the single largest destination for Scottish exports outside the European Union, action to maintain and grow the market share while recognising the changing dynamics of US export opportunities is an important focus of our Programme for Government.
“These steps will build on the significant support we already provide through Scottish Development International and its network of 34 offices across the world, including four in the US.
“We must grasp all opportunities to strengthen Scotland’s reputation in world markets. Demand for Scottish products and services around the world is high and global customers recognise the innovation, quality and ambition of our businesses.”
Commercial Director of Summerhall Distillery Dave Quinnell said:
“We export around the world, including the US where we recently signed a new contract to sell more than 100,000 bottles a year.
“Without Scottish Development International, we would not have been able to access the majority of our international markets.
“We received help to draw up our initial export plan, to access specialist advice and to fund trade visits overseas. All of this has been vital to our business as we grow and continue to explore markets across the world.”
Summerhall Distillery was opened as the first exclusive gin distillery established in Edinburgh for over 150 years, producing Pickering’s Gin. It has since become home to The Broody Hen Scotch Whisky and Coldsnap Vodka. The business has diversified into private and own label products, culminating in the formation of Edinburgh Bottlers & Co-Pack, specialising in premium private label spirits services.
In the last financial year Scottish Enterprise, whose overseas brand is Scottish Development International, reported £2.15 billion in planned international sales from the Scottish companies it has helped – among the highest results ever achieved.
The International Trade Partnership Programme is run with the Scottish Chambers of Commerce and will expand access to business membership organisations to provide support for trade missions to established and emerging markets.
John Donnelly from the Education Authority, Katy Feeney, Principal of Banbridge High School and Gavin Boyd, Chair of Sport NI join the Lord Mayor of ABC Borough Cllr Sarah Duffy, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons and ABC Council Chief Executive Roger Wilson at the official opening of the new 3G sports pitch and pavilion.
A new £1.8m 3G sports pitch and pavilion which will benefit pupils and the local community has opened at Banbridge High School.
Minister for Communities, Gordon Lyons joined Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon (ABC) Borough, Councillor Sarah Duffy in officially opening the impressive facility which includes a full size 3G synthetic pitch complete with floodlighting, fencing and a changing pavilion.
The sports pitch will be operated on a dual-use basis; Banbridge High School using the pitch during the day and Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council managing the facility for community use in the evenings and weekends.
The project is funded through £1.6m investment from ABC Council and Department for Communities through the Your School Your Club initiative, with funding of £225,000 distributed through Sport NI.
Lord Mayor, Councillor Sarah Duffy said: “This is a very positive day for everyone at Banbridge High School and also the local community who can avail of this excellent facility. Sport and exercise are so important and as a council we are delighted to be a part of this innovative partnership which is helping people stay active and healthy.”
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons said: “This new pitch and changing pavilion are welcome additions to Banbridge High School, benefitting not only the pupils but sports teams in the wider community. I am keen to see young people participating in a range of sports and I am determined that school and grassroots venues are modernised and available to more teams and groups for training and matches. Your School Your Club has the potential to transform school sports facilities and I hope more schools will take inspiration from Banbridge High School.”
A spokesperson for the Education Authority (EA) said: “We would like to thank ABC Council, Sport Northern Ireland and Banbridge High School for their vision, support and significant investment. We look forward to seeing this partnership thrive and have no doubt that this facility will become a hub of sporting excellence and physical well-being.”
Richard Archibald, Interim CEO, Sport NI said: “Sport has the power to change lives and access to good sports facilities is vital to create more opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to participate in sport and physical activity. We are delighted to have supported this new facility at Banbridge High School through our Your School Your Club programme which will benefit both the school and the wider community.”
Principal of Banbridge High School, Mrs Katy Feeney said: “I am thrilled at the opening of our new 3G pitch, a state-of-the-art facility that will significantly enhance our sports programmes and provide our students with unparalleled opportunities for physical development, activity and teamwork.
“In addition to benefiting our students, the 3G pitch will also serve the local community. As a school, this will allow us to strengthen our ties with the community and create a vibrant, active hub for everyone to enjoy. I would like to thank all those who have made this a reality.”
The 3G pitch and pavilion was designed by AECOM and the work was successfully completed by Haffey Sports Grounds Ltd.
A by-election will be held in the Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart ward following the sad passing of Councillor Val Walker last month.
Residents will go to the polls on Thursday 26 June 2025 to elect one new councillor to represent the ward. The current electorate is 18,563.
Tomorrow, on Friday 16 May, the formal Notice of Election will be published, and the Election Timetable, Election Notices and Nomination Papers will all be accessible on the Council website.
Returning Officer for Edinburgh, Paul Lawrence said:
I want to reiterate my condolences to Councillor Walker’s family, friends, and colleagues. The tributes we saw last week at the Council meeting shows the esteem in which she was held across all sides of the Chamber, and she will be sorely missed.
Her passing has resulted in the vacancy for the Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart ward. I’d urge all residents in the ward to make sure they are registered and have their details or preference of how they would like to vote up to date in plenty of time.
Details on how to register, where to vote or how to vote by post can be found on the Council website.
Nomination papers can be submitted from 10am on Monday 19 May until 4pm on Friday 23 May to the Returning Officer in the City Chambers.
Candidates will be confirmed when nominations close at 4pm on Friday 23 May.
Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on Thursday 26 June.
The election will use the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system where voters can rank candidates in order of preference rather than using a single cross. Voters can give a rank to as many or as few candidates as they like.
The deadline to register to vote in this by-election is midnight on Tuesday June 10. For new postal vote applications, it’s 5pm on Wednesday June 11 and for new proxy votes its 5pm on Wednesday June 18.
The National Trust announces Coventry Charterhouse, a former 14th century monastery, will re-open to visitors on Wednesday 21 May.
Visitors are invited to join the Festival of Blossom during May half-term at the Charterhouse, to celebrate the beauty of nature’s confetti and have a go at family-friendly blossom crafts. Visitors can also enjoy immersive guided tours of Charterhouse interiors*.
Earlier this year, Historic Coventry Trust, which owns the Charterhouse and oversaw its multi-million-pound renovation, entered into a partnership with the National Trust where the day-to-day operations of the site, and visitors’ experience will now be managed by the National Trust. The venue has also received funding and support from Coventry City Council to assist with its restoration and reopening.
The Grade I listed former Carthusian monastery – one of only nine ever built in England – is the National Trust’s first property in Coventry, where it will work closely with organisations in the city as part of its ambition to bring history and heritage to more people in urban areas.
The 14th-century former monastery is home to remarkable 15th and 16th century wall paintings, widely regarded as some of the finest surviving examples of medieval and Renaissance art in England.
Visitors can explore a beautifully landscaped walled garden as well as expansive green space that includes a wildlife pond, community orchard, children’s play area, and grassland park.
A 60-seat café will also open at the historic house from Wednesdays to Sundays, 8am until 5pm.
In preparation for reopening Coventry Charterhouse, the National Trust has appointed a dedicated team of experienced heritage professionals to manage the site.
The charity also put the call-out for volunteers and more than 160 people have come forward to support Coventry Charterhouse and help to share its fascinating history as the former 14th century monastery enters an exciting new chapter with the National Trust.
Cllr Naeem Akhtar, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities at Coventry City Council, said: “We are delighted to welcome the National Trust to Coventry and see the remarkable Charterhouse flourish as a hub of culture and heritage. This partnership enhances our cultural offer for both residents and visitors – it really does give them the opportunity to experience some Coventry’s rich history.
“The Charterhouse is already a key part of Coventry’s cultural landscape and I am excited to see how it will inspire and engage our community through its future as a National Trust property.”
Cllr Jim O’Boyle, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change at Coventry City Council, said: “Charterhouse opening as a National Trust attraction – the first in Coventry – is fantastic news. It’s a great chance to attract more visitors from across the region and beyond, boost the local economy and highlight one of the city’s most important historic sites.
“With the backing of the National Trust, the Charterhouse will benefit from national profile and a strong visitor experience – helping to attract more people to the city, support local businesses and highlight one of Coventry’s most important historic sites as part of our wider tourism offer.”
The new team, together with the support of local volunteers, will shape the next phase of the Charterhouse as both a heritage destination and key venue for local communities – a space where visitors can explore medieval architecture and rare wall paintings, enjoy the walled gardens and orchard, and take part in a growing calendar of events and activities.
Gurminder Kenth, General Manager at National Trust, said: “As one of Coventry’s oldest surviving medieval buildings, the Charterhouse is an extraordinary place with a rich story to tell, and we’re excited to open our doors for visitors to explore its layered history.
“Together with the highly experienced individuals we’ve welcomed into the fold as we prepare to reopen, we’ve been overwhelmed by the huge level of support and enthusiasm from locals coming forward to volunteer as we enter this next chapter together with the Charterhouse. Volunteers are at the heart of everything we do at the National Trust and as we’ve already seen from our constantly growing team at the Charterhouse, the passion to support this new chapter for the Charterhouse has been remarkable.
“Working closely with Historic Coventry Trust and the local community, we hope to make this already special place somewhere people from all walks of life can explore, learn, and feel a real sense of community and history.”
Coventry Charterhouse will be operated in partnership between Historic Coventry Trust, which owns the property and led its £11.9 million restoration with support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, and the National Trust, which will help bring the site to wider audiences locally, nationally and internationally.
In addition to managing the Charterhouse, the National Trust will also work with partners including the John Muir Trust to support the development of the wider heritage park and the green corridor connecting it to the city centre.
Greens call for scrapping of domestic abuse survivors council tax debt
More in Finance
Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer has urged MSPs to support his call that no domestic abuse survivors be forced to pay off their abuser’s council tax debts.
Greer has lodged an amendment to the Housing Bill which would require Ministers to review the impact of the current system on domestic abuse survivors.
Because of how the current legal liability arrangements work, where a survivor of domestic abuse has lived with their abuser, they are often responsible for the abuser’s debt. Researchers and organisations supporting abuse survivors have found examples where this debt is used as a means of ongoing control and financial abuse.
“Coerced debt is a form of abuse and financial violence that is being used against people in often very desperate situations. It is used to punish and control victims and survivors and to make them responsible for their abusers.
“Council Tax debt causes a huge amount of stress and anxiety for thousands of people across Scotland. Some of those worst affected are survivors of domestic abuse who are being forced to pay off their abuser’s debts.
“This is a problem overwhelmingly affecting women with children, with every penny they are forced to pay effectively being a tax for surviving their abuse. Cancelling it and changing the rules around joint liability is clearly the right thing to do.
“I hope that MSPs from all parties will support my proposal and that we can move quickly to provide some relief and support for people who are trying to rebuild their lives.”
Greens challenge property hoarding landlords in parliament
More in Housing
The Scottish Government must close loopholes which allow the wealthy to hoard extra homes at the expense of local communities, say Scottish Greens.
Speaking ahead of his Members’ Business Debate today in Holyrood, Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer said it is a national disgrace that thousands of children are in temporary accommodation at the same time as the rich continue to pay little tax whilst holding vast property portfolios.
Greer’s motion highlights that in areas such as Coigach in Wester Ross a majority of homes are now second homes or holiday lets, causing acute local housing crises and forcing young people to leave their own communities just to secure their own home.
Other communities where second homes and holiday lets are now a major problem include the Isle of Arran and both Cairngorms and Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Parks.
Mr Greer said:
“Across Scotland there are thousands of homes which no-one actually lives in, because they are either second homes or Airbnb-style holiday lets. At the same time, thousands of children are stuck in temporary accommodation and young people are forced out of the communities they’ve grown up in due to lack of housing. These problems are directly connected.
“Wealthy people collecting second homes are driving up house prices and creating acute local shortages. This hollows out communities, especially in rural areas and on our islands. Four in ten properties in Lochranza on Arran are either holiday homes or lets, which just isn’t sustainable.
“Unbelievably, despite the damage they are doing to so many communities, these Airbnb-style short-term lets often don’t have to pay business rates. I’ve proposed an end to that tax break, but the Scottish Government is resisting this much needed reform.
“The Scottish Greens have already doubled Council Tax on holiday homes, with our plan being that owners would sell up and make the properties available for those who need somewhere to live. That is already working, with 2455 fewer second homes in Scotland last year compared to 2023. With a housing crisis this bad though, we need to go further.
“More new homes need to be built, but that won’t tackle the problem if many of them just become second homes or holiday lets as well. Our tax system needs to change, to end the advantages enjoyed by the wealthy and to make things easier for first time buyers.”
Today’s debate also coincides with the first anniversary of the Scottish Parliament’s decision to declare a housing emergency in Scotland. Mr Greer said this should focus minds in the Scottish Government on taking urgent, concrete action.
He added:
“Today marks a year since MSPs voted to declare a housing emergency in Scotland. Despite the widespread acceptance that our housing system is broken, very little has changed over the last 12 months.
“I hope today’s debate underlines the vast inequality between those who own multiple homes and those who cannot afford their rent, let alone to own their own home.”
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 2
Press release
Great British Energy legislation passes through Parliament
Landmark bill passes in Parliament as Great British Energy takes another major step forward.
Landmark Great British Energy Bill passes in Parliament
Publicly-owned energy company to benefit working people by accelerating clean power, bringing energy security and jobs as part of the Plan for Change
£4 million renewable scheme opens to give Scottish communities a stake in energy
Working people will benefit from cleaner, homegrown power, as Great British Energy takes another major step forward today. Legislation for Britain’s new publicly-owned energy company has passed through Parliament and Great British Energy is set to deliver for working people.
Great British Energy will invest in clean power projects across the UK as part of the government’s Plan for Change to become a clean energy superpower – helping to get off the rollercoaster of fossil fuel prices and protect families’ finances.
Backed by £8.3 billion over the course of this parliament, the company will speed up the delivery of strategic energy projects and invest alongside the private sector to get new technologies like floating offshore wind up and running as part of the government’s modern Industrial Strategy.
The Energy Secretary is today visiting a hospital in Hull where solar power is saving the hospital hundreds of thousands of pounds each month, allowing money to be reinvested in frontline services.
That’s why Great British Energy is investing £200 million in funding for new rooftop solar power and renewable energy schemes for schools, hospitals and communities – saving hundreds of millions on their energy bills. In April NHS Humber Health Partnership was awarded nearly £8.5 million from this fund, which will deliver up to £14.2 million in lifetime bills savings.
As part of this, yesterday Scotland’s community energy fund opened for applications, backed by £4 million from Great British Energy for local clean energy projects – from community-led onshore wind, to solar on rooftops and hydropower in rivers – generating profits which could be reinvested into community projects or take money off people’s bills.
Meanwhile people in Wales will benefit from nearly £3 million of Great British Energy funding for local renewable projects.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:
“Great British Energy comes from a simple idea: British people should own and benefit from our own natural resources.
“We are giving people a stake in clean energy and delivering profits for the British people.
“As part of our Plan for Change, this will make us a clean energy superpower and help bring down energy bills for good.”
Great British Energy Chair Juergen Maier said:
“Great British Energy was created to ensure British people reap the benefits of clean, secure, homegrown energy.
“We now have full backing to scale up the company, crowd in investment, and back clean energy projects across the country.”
Today Great British Energy will host a roundtable in Edinburgh alongside the Scottish Secretary, Ian Murray, focussed on the supply chain opportunities in Scotland. It follows Great British Energy’s initial £300 million funding for offshore wind supply chains. This will support Britain’s engineers, technicians, and welders and invest in offshore wind manufacturing components such as floating offshore platforms and cables in the UK’s industrial heartlands.
As part of the government’s modern Industrial Strategy, which will turbocharge growth in the UK’s key sectors including clean energy, this investment is part of the Prime Minister’s drive to ensure that the clean energy future is ‘built in Britain’.
The Energy Secretary will soon outline Great British Energy’s strategic priorities – including which technologies the government expects the company to focus on and how it should consider the public benefits from investment decisions.
The Great British Energy Bill received legislative consent from all three devolved governments, the first Bill to under this parliament. This will allow Great British Energy to operate more effectively in every devolved nation and benefit people across the UK.
Recreational fishers fined after being caught with excess fish
Thursday, 15 May 2025 – 4:35 pm.
Western Police are reminding recreational fishers to ensure they are abiding by catch limits after a number of people were caught taking excess fish and undersized/oversized fish in recent weeks. Two men have been fined after they were caught at Ulverstone on Sunday 11 May with 43 Sand Flathead which had been cut into 85 fillets. The possession limit for Sand Flathead on state waters in the Northern and Western Fishing Zones of Tasmania is 10 per person. The men were also found to have a gummy shark onboard which had the dorsal fin and tail removed – in Tasmania, the dorsal and pectoral fins of gummy sharks must remain attached until the shark is landed. For further information regarding size, bag and possession limits, you can download the Fishing Tas App which also has the reporting of Rock Lobster fishing activities on it. Remember, check your catch in all respects. Anyone with information regarding illegal fishing is asked to contact police on 131 444 or Fishwatch on 0427 655 557. Information can be provided anonymously
The 2025 federal election resulted in some unexpected outcomes, including the loss by the Greens Leader, Adam Bandt, of his seat in the House of Representatives. The new Greens leader is Senator Larissa Waters.
Does it matter that a party leader sits in the Senate, and why do the leaders of major parties almost always come from the lower House?
The answer is that by convention, rather than an express constitutional requirement, the prime minister sits in the lower house of parliament. Parties with aspirations to form government therefore choose leaders from among their members in the lower house.
Prime ministers in the House of Lords
Historically, in the United Kingdom, prime ministers could sit in either house. In the 19th century, most prime ministers sat in the House of Lords, and two started in the House of Commons and ended their prime ministership in the Lords.
But in the 20th century, the convention developed of the prime minister holding a seat in the House of Commons.
This was for three reasons. First, as a matter of practicality, the House of Commons is where the main work of government occurs, and the prime minister’s involvement is needed.
Second, according to convention, the monarch appoints as prime minister the person who commands the confidence of the lower house, which is hard to do from outside it.
Third, the House of Lords is not elected, and therefore does not have a democratic mandate. It ceased to be acceptable in the United Kingdom for an unelected person to govern as prime minister.
When the Conservative prime minister, Harold Macmillan, resigned suddenly for health reasons in 1963, Lord Home was appointed as Conservative Party leader and prime minister. He renounced his earldom and then ran successfully in a byelection for a seat in the House of Commons.
A prime minister in the Senate?
In Australia, the position is different because the Senate is elected by the people. A senator can therefore be regarded as having a democratic mandate, although he or she represents a state, rather than being elected by a particular electorate.
Section 64 of the Commonwealth Constitution requires ministers to be either a member of the House of Representatives or the Senate, with a three month leeway period to become elected. But it does not require that the prime minister sit in the House of Representatives. It is instead a matter of custom, practicality and convention.
When the prime minister, Harold Holt, went missing while swimming in the ocean in December 1967, the Liberal Party chose Senator John Gorton as its new leader.
Gorton was appointed prime minister on January 10 1968, despite being a Senator, but resigned from the Senate on February 1 1968 and was elected to fill the vacancy in Holt’s lower House seat on February 24.
Gorton was therefore prime minister while being a Senator for three weeks, and prime minister without a seat in parliament at all for just over three weeks. It was generally accepted that as prime minister, he should sit in the lower house.
Premiers in state upper houses
At the state level, premiers have sometimes sat in the upper house, at least for a short period.
One notable example is that of Hal Colebatch in Western Australia. In 1919, Colebatch, who was a member of the Western Australian Legislative Council, was acting premier, while the premier, Henry Lefroy, was at a conference in Melbourne. There was an outbreak of Spanish flu in the eastern states. In scenes reminiscent of the COVID pandemic, Colebatch gained immense popularity by slamming shut the state border. His own premier was even prevented from returning home.
Lefroy eventually resigned as premier, and Colebatch replaced him, despite sitting in the Legislative Council. But Colebatch did not last long in the job. He tried, but failed, to find a lower house seat to move to. In addition, his health was failing, as was his popularity after rioting during a wharf strike led to the death of a worker. So Colebatch resigned as premier, having spent his entire premiership as a member of the Legislative Council.
In New South Wales, when the Labor premier, Neville Wran, surprised his colleagues by resigning in May 1986, the party elected Barrie Unsworth as its leader.
Unsworth was a member of the Legislative Council. He was nonetheless appointed as premier. A Labor backbencher in the Legislative Assembly resigned to allow Unsworth to contest his safe Labor seat. Despite a large swing against him, Unsworth narrowly won the seat by 54 votes and continued as premier until 1988.
Leaders of major and minor parties
The main problem with a prime minister or premier sitting in the upper house is that the government is formed from the lower house, and the prime minister or Premier must be the person who holds its confidence. This is difficult when there is no direct accountability to the lower house, as it cannot question a prime minister or premier who sits in the other house.
For this reason, parties that could potentially win government will ordinarily choose a leader from among their members in the lower House, and politicians with leadership ambition will often seek to transfer from the upper to the lower house to enhance their chances to lead.
Due to the Senate’s proportional voting system, minor parties are more likely to have greater numbers in the Senate than the House of Representatives. It is therefore logical that their leadership should come from the Senate, especially when they are unlikely to have the numbers in the lower House to form a government. But for major parties, their leader is ordinarily chosen from among the members of the House of Representatives, in case government beckons.
Anne Twomey has received funding from the ARC and sometimes does consultancy work for Parliaments, governments and inter-governmental bodies.
Queensland Senator Larissa Waters is the new leader of the Australian Greens, following a two-hour partyroom meeting held in the wake of the party’s lacklustre performance in the May 3 election.
Waters was elected unopposed.
New South Wales Senator Mehreen Faruqi will continue as Greens deputy, while South Australian Senator Sarah Hanson-Young will be the Greens Manager of Business.
Besides having an apt surname for an ecological party leader, what do we know about Waters?
And as Australia’s 48th parliament prepares to sit, what might we expect from her leadership of the country’s largest minor party?
Who is Larissa Waters?
Waters first entered parliament in 2011, following a career as an environmental lawyer.
She was the first Greens senator to be elected in Queensland and is now the second-longest serving Green in parliament after Hanson-Young.
Born in Canada, Waters’ tenure was briefly interrupted in 2017–2018 when she discovered she had breached section 44 of the Constitution by failing to renounce her dual citizenship.
Waters is the second woman after Christine Milne to lead the party. She has leadership experience, serving as Senate leader since 2020 and co-deputy leader prior to that.
Waters’ re-election on May 3 for another six-year term will ensure leadership stability following the unexpected departure of her predecessor, Adam Bandt.
Beyond her clear passion for environmental protection, Waters has dedicated her time in parliament to advancing gender equity, ending gender-based violence, and addressing corporate donations and influence in politics.
She made international news in 2017 when she became the first politician to breastfeed in federal parliament.
New direction?
So what does new leadership mean for the direction of the Greens and the role the party will play in the new parliament?
Will it opt for pragmatism or hold firm on principle?
Will it continue to campaign hard on a diverse set of policy issues, or choose to focus more on its core environmental offering?
Waters is viewed by many in the party as a compromise candidate between Faruqi and Hanson-Young, who according to speculation, were also considering a tilt at the leadership. Faruqi represents the more radical wing of the Greens, while Hanson-Young is a prominent moderate figure who would likely have pushed the party closer to the political centre and faced resistance from elements of the membership.
Given this, Waters is expected to play a unifying role, much like Bandt did during his tenure.
While the Greens held all their seats up for re-election in the Senate, they were close to a wipe-out in the lower house, where they lost three of their four members from the previous parliament.
The party will likely concentrate in future elections on expanding and then retaining their presence in the Senate.
In the lower house, Queensland will be a major focus for the Greens as they try to win back seats they lost at the election – Griffith and Brisbane. Waters’ leadership should help with this aim.
Senate power
Waters will conceivably command more power than Bandt, given the Greens will hold the sole balance of power in the new Senate.
She’s pledged to keep Labor accountable, while urging the government to “be brave” and “actually do what the country needs them to do”.
There’s now no excuse for the Labor Party not to take the climate crisis seriously, to take real action on the housing crisis, to genuinely tackle the cost of living. People deserve more than just tinkering. They deserve real reform that will help them in their daily lives, and nature cannot be put last like it has been for so long.
This, together with the presentation of Waters as a leader who represents continuity, suggests any changes to the party’s approach will likely focus on presentation rather than policy.
Waters is now tasked with reframing the 2025 election result as a moment of short-term pain and setting the party on a path of long-term gain.
Whether or not this will be achieved, and how important Waters’ leadership will be to achieving this, remains to be seen.
How was Waters selected?
The Greens’ leadership selection relies entirely on the federal party room. Unlike the Labor Party, where members have a say on who becomes leader, grassroots Greens are excluded from the process.
Like Waters, all previous leaders – Adam Bandt, Richard Di Natale, Christine Milne and party founder Bob Brown – were elected unopposed, reflecting the party’s consensus style of decision making.
In 2020, there was an unsuccessful push to include the membership base in the leadership process. A “one member, one vote” option received majority support in a party-wide plebiscite. But it failed to meet the two-thirds majority required to force a change.
Nathan Fioritti 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.
New taskforce to focus on high visibility patrols in Glenorchy CBD
Thursday, 15 May 2025 – 4:21 pm.
Tasmania Police is stepping up its focus on reducing anti-social behaviour and retail crime in the Glenorchy municipality, launching Taskforce Respect, a new community campaign involving high visibility patrols in the CBD and shopping areas. Inspector Jason Klug said the aim of Taskforce Respect was to enhance public safety and community confidence in the Glenorchy CBD, stretching also into Moonah and Claremont, with officers targeting recidivist offenders and anti-social behaviour. “Tasmania Police’s high-visibility foot patrols will continue in retail precincts to disrupt and reduce incidents of crime, with a particular focus on known and repeat offenders,” Inspector Klug said. “We’ll also be using drug detection dogs, CCTV footage and CBD exclusion orders to help achieve our goals of helping keep the community safe.” Recidivist offenders and youth crime will be a key focus of Taskforce Respect, with Tasmania Police data showing just 57 people made up 50 per cent of youth crime charges across the state in 2024. “Our message to these people is simple, if you are offending in the Glenorchy area, then we will be looking out for you,” Inspector Klug said. “Our aim is to ensure a safer, more welcoming environment for businesses, residents and visitors.” Inspector Klug said there was a deliberate use of the word ‘respect’ in naming the new taskforce, which began operation on Monday, May 12. “Our message is about instilling a basic respect for one another in our community,” Inspector Klug said. “It is a message, aimed particularly at our youth, in which we say acts of violence and abuse, and acts of retail crime and theft, like we have seen in the past, are unacceptable. “We want to help people understand the importance of respect, that is, respect for each other, respect for your community and respect for those businesses and retailers that are operating in our city.” Taskforce Respect will build upon successful policing initiatives Operation Swipe in Glenorchy (December 2024) and Operation Saturate (ongoing) across greater Hobart. Tasmania Police continues to work in partnership with Glenorchy City Council, businesses and stakeholders such as Metro Tasmania to prevent, resolve and investigate issues of crime and anti-social behaviour that occur in public spaces. Supporting police, Crime Stoppers Tasmania ambassador Mark Mewis said Crime Stoppers welcomed the initiative and sought to remind the public that community safety was the responsibility of all Tasmanians. “Everyone should be able to enjoy our public spaces without fear or intimidation, and we can further support the police by reporting anti-social behaviour and those engaged in such behaviour anonymously through Crime Stoppers,” Mr Mewis said. As part of the official launch of Taskforce Respect, Tasmania Police’s new Poli community outreach van was in attendance to help engage with the Glenorchy community. Launched in April, Poli has been developed to increase police visibility and improve engagement in the community. “Poli is staffed by members of the Community Engagement Services team, along with local officers, who can discuss local crime issues and provide crime prevention and general advice to residents and business owners. Poli staff can also provide information and resources about personal, residential and business safety, as well as child safety and safeguarding,” Inspector Klug said. Information on crimes in the Glenorchy community can be provided to police on 131 444 or to Crime Stoppers Tasmania on 1800 333 000 or crimestopperstas.com.au – information can be provided anonymously. If you are in immediate need of police assistance, call Triple-Zero (000) in an emergency.
Worker cooperatives may sound like something out of the 19th century, but they still exist in the age of global capitalism.
In Spain, for instance, the Mondragon Corporation is a huge worker-run cooperative based around 95 collectives – the largest cooperative in the world.
Worker cooperatives produce products or services. But they are run very differently. Workers can become members of the cooperative they work for by buying a share of the business. This gives them a vote in how the business is run and a share of net income, after costs have come out.
Co-ops do not have external shareholders – the profits stay with workers. Rather than bosses deciding and workers carrying out the tasks, worker cooperatives are based on democratic principles. Big decisions are discussed and then voted on, and each member gets one vote. They offer a direct way for workers to control their production and shape the economy.
In Australia, these models peaked in the 1980s. Most are gone, though a few older cooperatives are still running, such as Tasmanian recycling cooperative Resource Work Collective, founded in 1993.
In recent years, there’s been renewed interest in the model. The Earthworker cooperative network focused on Victoria’s Latrobe Valley. The goal: find new types of employment and products in a coal area undergoing transition.
Coal plants in the Latrobe Valley provided jobs for generations of workers. Their closure poses real challenges. Pictured: worker hardhats left on the fence at Hazelwood Power Station after it closed in 2017. Dorothy Chiron/Shutterstock
How well does the model work?
Mondragon is the most well-known example. Founded in 1956 in the Basque region of northern Spain, Mondragon grew and became self-sustaining. It has developed supporting institutions such as research and development companies and even a university. It also established a credit union, which attracted capital and provided loans to cooperatives.
While Mondragon is a successful example, these organisations face a number of barriers to their survival.
Critics have argued worker cooperatives tend to fail as workers do not understand the market for their products, but Mondragon undercuts this criticism.
Worker cooperatives can have difficulties raising capital. Some banks can be reluctant to invest as they may lack familiarity or sympathy with the model.
Instead, workers may put some or all of their savings into the organisation to get it started. Taking these kinds of risks means some workers may be focused on getting immediate rewards, rather than investing surplus funds or building up cash reserves.
Workers can sometimes choose to transform a successful cooperative into a capitalist enterprise to achieve greater capital gains.
Surprisingly, trade unions are generally hostile and suspicious of worker cooperatives. Union organisers may fear worker-owners could see little need for trade unions in representing their interests, or that cooperatives could undercut union wages and conditions to remain competitive.
To date, worker cooperatives have had a limited impact in Australia, despite the relatively strong historical position of workers.
Compared to member cooperatives and other types, worker’s cooperatives tend to be short lived in Australia. That’s because most were formed by workers after an industrial dispute or to maintain employment during economic downturns.
In 1987, for instance, workers retrenched by a major communications company decided to form a co-op which became the Electronic Service Centre in Fairfield, New South Wales. A later example is Abrasiflex, a NSW company bought by workers facing retrenchment in 1993. Both cooperatives failed by the early 2000s.
Their popularity peaked in the 1980s, when the model was promoted by state Labor governments. Policymakers saw them as a short term means to resolve unemployment, rather than a long term means to secure economic democracy.
The model lost traction in the early 1990s due to an economic downturn, capital shortfalls and changing political circumstances.
New energy
The idea for Earthworker came from discussions between unionists and environmentalists over job creation and the environment. Earthworker founders were influenced by the Green Bans.
As the project’s website states:
Conflict can occur between environmentalists who want to shut down certain industries, and unionists who want to protect jobs […] we should work together for a “just transition” and create jobs that aren’t just better for the earth, but for workers too.
In this respect, Earthworker has much in common with the Cleveland Model in the United States, which links green business, local economic development and fair labour practices.
Earthworker only formally became a cooperative in 2011, though discussions date back to the late 1990s. In 2016, the network bought a hot water tank manufacturer in Morwell and began making their own tanks and solar hot water systems as the Earthworker Energy Manufacturing Co-operative. The cooperative is aimed at helping the Latrobe Valley’s transition away from coal power jobs.
Morwell and other Latrobe Valley towns are losing coal jobs. But new industries and business models are emerging. AustralianCamera/Shutterstock
Earthworker promotes the payment of trade union wage rates and conditions. The goal is to build a network of cooperatives supporting each other to build economies of scale.
Their other cooperatives include Earthworker Construction (residential construction, landscaping and maintenance) and Earthworker Smart Energy (improving thermal efficiency and comfort in homes). These cooperatives are generally small, with 10 members or fewer.
Another cooperative, Redgum Cleaning, closed down in 2023. It was not viable due to staff shortages, increased costs and work cancellations during the pandemic. Paying union rates in a competitive industry also assisted its demise.
By contrast, the Earthworker Energy Manufacturing Co-operative has found a way to survive in a competitive market.
Niche or mainstream?
Australian worker cooperatives ensure manufacturing and services remain locally owned and controlled. Could they expand? It’s possible.
Capital remains a major issue for Australian worker cooperatives such as Earthworker. Without capital, it’s hard to scale. Government efforts to expand domestic manufacturing often overlook this model.
The Earthworker network points to one future for Australian worker cooperatives. Despite the failures of the past, Earthworker’s focus on building a network of sustainable businesses rather than a single cooperative is a promising path.
Gregory Patmore has received funding from the Australian Research Council and the Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals.
In an extraordinary concession, the Fair Work Commission has acknowledged labour hire firms may face millions of dollars in retrospective liabilities under Labor’s “same job same pay” laws – even leading to workers losing their jobs.
In its decision of 7 May 2025 (published Monday 12 May) relating to Glencore’s Bulga coal mine in New South Wales, the FWC considered arguments from labour hire firms Skilled and WorkPac that they would be impacted by increases in the retrospective value of annual leave and sick/personal leave entitlements of their employees, should the same job same pay order be made.
Despite ultimately making the order, the FWC found:
“… the fact that making a regulated labour hire arrangement order would increase the liabilities of each of Skilled and WorkPac for accrued annual leave and personal leave (which must be paid out in some circumstances), weighs in favour of a conclusion that it would not be fair and reasonable to make the orders sought.”
Further, in the case of WorkPac:
“… I accept that many arrangements could become wholly unviable for WorkPac’s business and it would need to consider its options to respond to those challenges, which may include terminating those arrangements which are commercially unsustainable. WorkPac’s employees may be immediately and adversely affected if those arrangements are terminated…”
And, in the case of Skilled:
“Skilled has no right to recover this increase in liability from Bulga or anyone else. Because Skilled only earns a small profit margin on the labour hire employees it supplies to the mine, the increased leave liability arising from the making of a regulated labour hire arrangement order would exceed the profit margin earned by (Skilled) under its supply contract with Bulga over the life of that contract.”
AREEA Chief Executive Steve Knott AM said the decision confirmed long-held concerns that “same job same pay” could mean “hundreds of millions of dollars in retrospective leave liabilities”.
“In late 2023, AREEA raised concerns with the Albanese Government that its proposed same job same pay laws could unleash retrospective leave liability costs on the mining industry, potentially ranging in the hundreds of millions,” he said.
“The government paid lip service in response – implementing a partial fix that would apply only in very limited circumstances. This issue needs to be urgently revisited.
“The FWC has finally been forced to acknowledge the unfair, unreasonable and unsustainable impacts of same job same pay orders on labour hire firms in the mining industry, going so far as to admit contracts may be terminated and employees may lose their jobs.
“Evidence was accepted that labour hire firms have limited ability to recover unplanned increases in both prospective costs and retrospective leave liabilities, and their ability to commercially service contracts may be put at real risk.
“Yet, remarkably, such impacts apparently do not weigh heavily enough in the favour of a same job same pay order being “not fair and reasonable” when balanced against labour hire employees and direct hired employees having a pay differential.
“Retrospective cost increases driven by government policy is a killer for investor certainty and business confidence. How could any firm confidently invest and do business in Australia when such concerns can be cavalierly brushed aside?
“The Albanese Government said the laws would not impact on firms retrospectively. It should act to ensure this commitment is upheld and protect the sanctity of commercial arrangements lawfully and compliantly entered into under the laws of the land at the time.
“At stake are thousands of jobs, billions of dollars in investment capital and many billions more in government revenues to fund national programs and infrastructure.”
Another challenging outcome of the Bulga mine same job same pay decision is that relatively inexperienced labour hire employees will soon be paid at the same rates as their vastly more experienced direct-hired counterparts.
This outcome was accepted, but also didn’t weigh heavily enough against the making of the order.
“As a result, labour hire trade assistants with as little as 12 months’ experience will receive pay rises of up to $40,000 per annum, bringing them into parity with experienced heavy machinery operators who have been employed at the mine for more than 10 years,” Mr Knott said.
“Given the Albanese Government said the laws would not result in unfair pay parity between inexperienced and highly experienced employees, these types of outcomes may play out adversely in the marketplace.”
