logo
Adam Hort says Labor's budget boost to hire new staff for GPS tracking an admission the scheme failed

Adam Hort says Labor's budget boost to hire new staff for GPS tracking an admission the scheme failed

West Australian17-07-2025
The Opposition has seized on a $23 million funding boost for GPS tracking of family violence offenders as proof the scheme was previously under-resourced.
The State Government insists the cash injection — to hire an extra 38 staff — is nothing unusual.
But Shadow Police Minister Adam Hort called it an admission of failure.
'We had leaked letters, we had all sorts of information coming out from a system that was stretched, saying that this monitoring was not working and time and again Roger Cook said that the system was working,' he said.
'Now what we've seen is an admission by this Government in the Budget. They can spin it all they like, the Budget doesn't lie.
He called it a 'final win' for the community, but said the Government should have 'come clean' in April when it was revealed magistrates in Bunbury and Albany were told GPS monitors could not be used in regional WA — where 41 of 107 repeat offenders were being monitored
A leaked letter from the Justice Department to WA Police warned that community corrections would stop recommending electronic monitoring for regional offenders, due to an 'unacceptable risk' when equipment failed.
At the time, Premier Roger Cook blamed 'technical limitations' and 'black spots' and denied there was any resourcing shortfall.
On Thursday, Minister for Child Protection Jessica Stojkovski said the staffing boost was part of normal Budget processes.
'Whenever we bring in new programs, as they develop we look at how we adapt and fund them to meet the need that we're seeing,' she said.
'The two year trial was only limited to certain areas and it didn't include the whole State.
'So rolling the program out across the State, obviously, we were going to have some learnings, even as we started to roll it out. It's not even a 12 month old program.'
Laws mandating the installation of GPS monitors on repeat domestic violence offenders came into effect last December.
Ms Stojkovski denied victims of domestic violence were left unprotected, if GPS monitors didn't work.
'Western Australians have some of the strongest legislation in the country to protect victim survivors of domestic violence,' she said.
'This has been part of what we're doing, it is not the whole of what we're doing.
'Electronic monitoring was a bail condition, it was only ever required on a perpetrator if they had met other bail conditions so they were being allowed out on bail and were deemed to not be a risk to the community of to their victim survivor.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Maxwell completes US justice dept Epstein interviews
Maxwell completes US justice dept Epstein interviews

Perth Now

time2 hours ago

  • Perth Now

Maxwell completes US justice dept Epstein interviews

Disgraced British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, the imprisoned former girlfriend of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has finished one-and-a-half days of interviews with US Justice Department officials. "She answered those questions honestly, truthfully, to the best of her ability," her lawyer David Oscar Markus told reporters outside the federal courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida, where Maxwell met on Friday with Deputy Attorney-General Todd Blanche. "She never invoked a privilege. She never refused to answer a question, so we're very proud of her," Mr Markus said. Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence and is housed at a low-security federal prison in Tallahassee. She was sentenced three years ago after being convicted of helping Epstein, a wealthy, well-connected financier, sexually abuse underage girls. Officials have said Epstein killed himself in his New York jail cell while awaiting trial in 2019, but his case has generated endless attention and conspiracy theories because of his and Maxwell's links to famous people, such as royals, presidents and billionaires, including US President Donald Trump. In a social media post this week, Mr Blanche said Maxwell would be interviewed because of President Trump's directive to gather and release any credible evidence about others who may have committed crimes. Mr Trump has denied prior knowledge of Epstein's crimes and claimed he cut off their relationship long ago. But he faces ongoing questions about the Epstein case, overshadowing his administration's achievements. On Friday, reporters pressed the Republican president about pardoning Maxwell, but he deflected, emphasising his administration's successes. Mr Markus said Maxwell "was asked maybe about 100 different people". "The deputy attorney-general is seeking the truth," Mr Markus said. "He asked every possible question, and he was doing an amazing job." Mr Markus said he did not ask for anything for Maxwell in return, though he acknowledged that Mr Trump could pardon her. "Listen, the president this morning said he had the power to do so. We hope he exercises that power in the right and just way," Mr Markus said. Earlier in July, the Justice Department said it would not release more files related to the Epstein investigation, despite promises that claimed otherwise from Attorney-General Pam Bondi. The department also said an Epstein client list does not exist. Maxwell is appealing against her conviction, based on the government's pledge years ago that any potential Epstein co-conspirators would not be charged, Mr Markus said. Epstein struck a deal with federal prosecutors in 2008 that shifted his case to Florida state court, where he pleaded guilty to soliciting and procuring a minor for prostitution. Epstein in 2019 and Maxwell in 2020 were charged in federal court in New York.

As Tasmania waits to find out who will form the next state government, here are the priorities of the new parliament's independents
As Tasmania waits to find out who will form the next state government, here are the priorities of the new parliament's independents

ABC News

time4 hours ago

  • ABC News

As Tasmania waits to find out who will form the next state government, here are the priorities of the new parliament's independents

Tasmania has elected another large crossbench that once again might equal or outnumber Labor Party members. Regardless of which major party forms government, they will need support from some or most of these politicians. The Liberal Party has the easier job when it comes to making up the numbers, but Labor has more in common with them. With negotiations underway, most of the independents are keeping tight-lipped on what they might be seeking, so what do we know about their priorities? Kristie Johnston was first elected as an independent in the 2021 election. This time around, she's had a massive swing towards her. Ms Johnston has been a fierce anti-stadium critic and has regularly raised concerns about the impact of pokies on her constituents. She even introduced a bill to the last parliament that would've forced gambling companies to repay money that had been stolen to put through poker machines. She's also used her time in parliament to raise awareness about the greyhound racing industry, and push for greater transparency and accountability around a range of issues including the budget and the stadium. Ms Johnston said the state has some very big decisions in front of it, and she wants to understand what the leaders are offering, particularly when it comes to budget repair. "What I want to see is someone after the election, after listening to what the people have said, is to come up with a clear plan," she said. "Treasury in their own PEFO report have indicated that we need to look at a number of factors to address the budget crisis. "The expenditure side, but also the revenue side, and they simply said looking at economic growth is not going to be enough to fix the issue. Speaking on election night, Ms Johnston said she wanted the major parties to do a better job at listening to and collaborating with the crossbench. "We need to see a respectful mature parliament that's respectful of everyone's voices." She has confirmed she would not want a ministry in a power-sharing government. Peter George is best known as an anti-salmon campaigner, having been the spokesperson for Neighbours of Fishfarming for years. While he leant into his anti-salmon reputation during the campaign, it certainly wasn't the only thing he spoke about. He was vocal in his opposition to the proposed Macquarie Point AFL stadium, and rolled out a variety of policies addressing concerns about health, housing and education. Like most of the independents and The Greens, Mr George wants to see a strengthened Integrity Commission with public hearings. He also wants to end native forest logging, crack down on short-stay accommodation, and address the state's soaring debt. "We have 5,000 people in this very small state … waiting to get decent roofs over their heads, we have a health system that's sort of tottering and teetering under the weight of demand, and we have an education system that's turning out functional illiteracy of somewhere close to 50 per cent. "Those are important things that we need to deal with. "I want to hear about that, and I want to see a parliament of 35 people roll up their sleeves and do some serious work across political lines." Mr George said he wants to hear what the parties' plans are for "rebuilding Tasmania's future" but so far his dealings with them have not won him over. "One area of concern is that Labor and Liberal seem to have drawn lines in the sand saying we won't talk about this, we're going to insist on that," he posted on a video on Facebook. "Well, that's not how minority government works, that's certainly not how collaboration works, so slight warning there, but we'll deal with this down the track." North West coaster Craig Garland received a massive jump in his primary vote this election. The fisherman was perhaps best known for his views on salmon farming before he was elected to parliament in 2024 — and he has certainly peppered the government with a lot of questions about the industry. But he has also spoken out on integrity and was so concerned about the budget, he was prepared to vote against it. This time around, Mr Garland wants a seat at the table. He wants to be included in budget repair and the development of policy. Speaking on election night, Mr Garland said "the focus has to flip". "The domestic violence in the North West Coast. We have four beds to deal with women fleeing domestic violence. One hundred and fifty women turned away, 147 children, and we're talking about building the biggest stadium." Mr Garland has spoken to both leaders but has yet to discuss any sort of policies or requests. "There's a lot of talk, and then in the same breath I hear, 'We're not moving on salmon, we're not moving on native forest logging,'" he said. Mr Garland is opposed to Hobart's waterfront stadium, which likely helped his vote in the seat of Braddon, and he is no fan of the proposed undersea electricity and data interconnector between Tasmania and Victoria, known as Marinus Link. A Labor Party veteran turned independent, David O'Byrne managed to make it work during the last parliament with Liberal leader Jeremy Rockliff's minority government. He was one of the few crossbenchers who did not support the no-confidence motion in the premier. Speaking after the election about his dealings with the leaders, Mr O'Byrne said he is "not a transactional politician". He does not have "a shopping list of issues" and is instead focused on who could offer the most functional parliament. "My view is we need to get on with governing, we need to find someone who can not only get the numbers on the floor of parliament for the first vote, but can sustain those numbers for a long period of time," he said. In terms of his core issues, they are unsurprisingly Labor core issues — health, housing and the cost of living. In the last parliament, he spent a lot of time questioning the government about the ongoing staffing and reliability issues facing Metro Tasmania, various women's healthcare issues, and TasNetworks' wage negotiations. His bill to amend the Family Violence Act to include the abuse of animals passed parliament last year. He also tabled a bill to introduce Industrial Manslaughter laws, but it was superseded by Labor. Mr O'Byrne is the only crossbencher who supports the stadium. The Greens are the party neither the Liberals, nor Labor, wants to deal with — but having won five seats, they may not be easily ignored. Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff has made it clear that in a balance of power situation, she would do all she could to stop the stadium from being built. "We've been really strong. We're going to fight and do everything we can to pile on the pressure to stop this stadium. "We know that's what's needed. The budget's in a desperate situation. We will not support cuts to essential services." Other things on the Greens' agenda include a strengthened Integrity Commission, something Labor has voiced support for in the past, and they want to see a Treaty with Tasmania's First Nations, another policy Labor is on board with. They are also likely to try and seek some improvement for renters while clamping down on short stay accommodation. The party also wants to keep pushing the major parties to find new revenue for the budget. They would like to see salmon farming companies pay some royalties for the use of Tasmania's waterways, and increased mining royalties to bring Tasmania into line with other jurisdictions. The Greens will not hold the balance of power if the Liberals form a minority government as there will be at least four other crossbenchers they could rely on to get votes through. Labor will likely have to deal with the Greens, if it wants to govern with just 10 of its own MPs, but it will need some form of confidence and supply guarantee from the minor party. That does not mean there will necessarily be any trade on policy or concessions from Labor, but the two parties did combine forces several times in the last parliament to pass their own legislation, including introducing Industrial Manslaughter laws and lowering the political disclosure threshold to $1,000. As counting continues in the state election, Shooters, Fishers and Farmers candidate Carlo Di Falco does not even know if he has been elected in the seat of Lyons, but that hasn't stopped him from getting calls from the two major party leaders. He describes himself as a "former blue collar worker" and "not much of a public speaker". Mr DI Falco said that, like the name suggests, he will be fighting for the rights of rural Tasmanians. "The phone coverage of a lot of the Tasmanians that are missing out. Even where I live in Forcett, not that far from Sorell, I've got really patchy coverage where I am," he said. "We need to improve that." Mr Di Falco said there were also a lot of issues with "social cohesion". "That's why I'm pushing for more funding for Neighbourhood Houses because sometimes when people's lives go to custard, probably the best place to go is somewhere where you can talk to somebody in the community." Mr Di Falco is pro development but he is not too keen on the proposed AFL stadium on Hobart's waterfront. "I'd be taking that money and increasing Hydro storage. If you want to increase wealth, that comes off the back of cheap, reliable energy."

Maxwell names ‘100 different people' linked to Epstein
Maxwell names ‘100 different people' linked to Epstein

Perth Now

time5 hours ago

  • Perth Now

Maxwell names ‘100 different people' linked to Epstein

Notorious sex offender Ghislaine Maxwell provided the Department of Justice with information related to about '100 different people' connected to the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, according to her lawyer after two days of questioning led by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. David Oscar Markus told reporters that his client, currently serving a 20-year prison term following her 2021 conviction in Manhattan on federal sex trafficking and conspiracy charges, was 'asked about every possible thing you could imagine – everything.' He added, 'This was the first opportunity she's ever been given to answer questions about what happened. The truth will come out about what happened with Mr. Epstein and she's the person who's answering those questions.' During the Friday interview, Maxwell reportedly answered 'every single question' and chose not to invoke her Fifth Amendment rights. 'If she lies they could charge her with lying,' Mr Markus noted. Maxwell is appealing her conviction and sentence, and some experts suggest her full cooperation might be linked to a potential clemency grant from US President Donald Trump. Mr Markus described Mr Trump as 'the ultimate dealmaker' and said his client 'has been treated unfairly for the past five years' and 'didn't get a fair trial.' 'We hope he exercises that power in a right and just way,' he said. Mr Trump, who is currently in Scotland, told reporters he 'doesn't know anything about the conversation' between Mr Blanche and Maxwell and said, 'I haven't really been following it.' He also dismissed the idea of pardons, stating, 'This is no time to be talking about pardons,' though earlier he said he 'hasn't thought' about the matter. Previously, the Department of Justice expressed doubts about Maxwell's honesty, pointing to a 'significant pattern of dishonest conduct' and a failure to take responsibility. Court filings revealed prosecutors never seriously considered a plea deal with her following Epstein's death in 2019, which was ruled a suicide while he awaited federal trial on sex trafficking charges. According to Mr Markus, attorneys for Epstein had been informed that 'no potential co-conspirators would be prosecuted' as part of negotiations following his arrest in July 2019. He added, 'I don't think President Trump knows that the Justice Department took the position that that promise should not be upheld.' Earlier this year, Attorney General Pam Bondi had promised to release federal investigative files related to Epstein, including a so-called 'client list,' but a DOJ memo later stated there was 'no credible evidence' of such a list or of blackmail involving prominent individuals. The memo affirmed, 'We did not uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties.' Epstein's circle included influential figures such as former President Bill Clinton, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, and Mr Trump himself, who reportedly banned Epstein from his Mar-a-Lago club after a 2004 incident. A Quinnipiac University poll conducted earlier this month indicated most Americans disapprove of the Trump administration's management of the DOJ's Epstein investigation. Maxwell has also been subpoenaed to testify before the House Oversight Committee on August 11, where she may invoke her Fifth Amendment rights. 'We have to make a decision about whether she would do that or not,' said her attorney regarding the possibility of lawmaker questioning.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store