‘Attack': Shock claim at anti-Semitism probe
A controversial right-wing Jewish group has been grilled over whether it has furthered anti-Semitic tropes and supported 'extreme' posts that 'openly advocate for the ethnic cleansing of Arabs' in the West Bank as a landmark anti-Semitism inquiry begins.
Shooters, Fishers, and Farmers MP Robert Borsak is chairing the first hearing in state parliament on Monday of the NSW Legislative Council's inquiry into anti-Semitism in NSW, alongside Greens MLC Amanda Cohn and MLCs from Labor and the Liberals.
The inquiry seeks to examine the underlying causes behind the 'increasing prevalence and severity' of anti-Semitism in NSW, as well as the 'threat to social cohesion' it presents and how the safety of the state's Jewish community 'might be enhanced'.
Australian Jewish Association chief executive Robert Gregory and community engagement director Teneille Murray told the inquiry that 'Jewish institutions (now) resemble fortresses' and claimed taxpayer funds were going to organisations espousing anti-Semitism. The inquiry will examine anti-Semitism in NSW. NewsWire / Simon Bullard. Credit: News Corp Australia
But, it was a claim in the organisation's submission to the inquiry about 'Jewish anti-Semitism' and 'a tiny, fringe group claiming Jewish heritage (which) parrots anti-Jewish rhetoric, rejected by the broader Jewish community' that stirred debate.
Labor MLC Stephen Lawrence asked Mr Gregory whether 'your organisation might be falling into the trap of actually furthering anti-Semitism by presenting a monolithic view of Jewish people' and referenced social media posts connected to the organisation.
In one, by former president David Adler, comments were made about former SBS presenter Stan Grant's complexion 'which seems to have changed' and another, which Mr Lawrence said 'openly advocates for the ethnic cleansing of Arabs in the West Bank'.
In response, Mr Gregory said he thought it was 'quite strange at a committee here on anti-Semitism that the Jewish groups and Jewish people are being attacked by the committee members' – though, Mr Lawrence refuted that it was an 'attack'.
Asked again later if the AJA supported the statement about 'Arabs', Mr Gregory said 'if, as our friend who did, you wanted to scroll through and try and find a post, an offensive post, out of 10s of 1000s of posts, maybe they would be able to'.
He also stated that the AJA 'does not have a policy on these types of issues'.
NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president David Ossip told the inquiry that 'the past 20 months had seen an unprecedented and shocking rise in anti-Semitism' following the October 7 attack in Israel and the subsequent protests over the invasion of Gaza.
'For the first time, the Jewish community of Australia and NSW has felt unsafe and at risk, not because of anything it has done, but because of who we are,' he said.
'There have been moments where we have been completely overwhelmed as an organisation by the sheer volume and seriousness of anti-Semitic incidents which have been reported to us … No sphere of life has been immune to the virus of anti-Semitism.'
The inquiry was told of incidents reported to the organisation in which students were targeted because of their Jewish identity, including one in which a student was asked 'Are you Jewish? F**king Jews. You should kill yourself'.
'This all previously would have been unthinkable,' Mr Ossip told the inquiry.
In its submission, the board said there was a 339 per cent increase in incidents. It comes after a spate of incidents in Greater Sydney. NewsWire / Jeremy Piper Credit: News Corp Australia
It comes after a spate of high-profile anti-Semitic incidents across Greater Sydney this past summer that led to the passing of controversial new anti-hate laws that outlawed protests outside places of worship among other strict measures.
NSW Jewish Board of Deputies chief executive Michele Goldman told the inquiry that the board welcomed the new anti-hate speech laws, and it was 'something we've been advocating for some time' and a 'first step' but called for more action to be taken.
'What we really need to see now is consistent application of the law to ensure that those people who are guilty of vilification, of harassment, of intimidation face the law and that there is effective deterrence to others,' Ms Goldman told the inquiry.
'A clear message is that this is not OK in our society. This is not for Australia.'
Opponents of the laws, including civil society groups and Jewish groups and individuals who made submissions to the inquiry, claim the laws limit free speech and were a 'kneejerk' reaction and warned about conflations between criticism of Israel and anti-Semitism.
Asked about those concerns, Mr Ossip said 'getting into this discussion is a bit of a red herring' and the overwhelming majority of incidents reported to the organisation were 'textbook anti-Semitism … (which) have nothing to do with Israel or Zionism'.
'I think where the line is crossed is where hatred of Israel spills over into suspicion of Jews more broadly or a view that Jews are pernicious, dangerous, or particularly egregious in their actions,' Mr Ossip told the inquiry.
'I think it's when protesters will deny the rights of Jews for self-determination and saying that Israel's very existence is illegitimate or inherently racist.'
Mr Ossip told the inquiry that Holocaust education 'isn't sufficient to combat anti-Semitism'.
He singled out 'tropes' that were often 'subtle and pernicious'.
On far-right extremism, Mr Ossip went on to add that 'they're obviously an immense concern to us, but we've been making mistakes just to describe it as anti-Semitism'.
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Sky News AU
43 minutes ago
- Sky News AU
'An Important lesson': Tasmanian no confidence motion highlights ‘damage' that occurs when Labor and Greens align, MP claims
The decision to back a no confidence motion in Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff highlights the 'damage' that occurs when Labor gets together with the Greens, a federal MP has claimed. Tasmania is preparing to head to its second election in just 14 months after a narrow majority of MPs voted to support a no confidence motion in Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff. Labor's no confidence motion passed the Tasmanian lower house on a vote of 18 to 17 after Speaker Michelle O'Byrne – a Labor MP – broke with parliamentary convention to support the motion. Premier Rockliff has slammed the 'recklessness' of the motion and is asking the state's Lieutenant-Governor to call an election (Tasmanian Governor Barbara Barker is currently out of the state). Speaking to Sky News Australia on Thursday, federal Liberal MP Zoe McKenzie said the events in Tasmania were an 'important lesson' for the rest of the country. 'I think the message that the rest of the country should take is this is what happens when Labor gets together with the Greens,' she said 'We're seeing what's happening in Canberra at the moment in relation to the taxing of superannuation… now we've seen what damage they can do in Tasmania, and that's an important lesson for everyone to take away from today.' Ms McKenzie said an election was the last thing Tasmanians need. 'They've just come off the back of a federal election, and they only had their own state election 14 months ago,' she said. 'Elections are expensive, they are distracting, they are divisive, (and this comes) at a time exactly when the Tasmanian people need certainty, need strong measures to address cost of living.' The no confidence motion, put forward by Labor leader Dean Winter, was also backed by the five Greens MPs, as well as independents Craig Garland and Kristie Johnston, and Jacqui Lambie Network MP Andrew Jenner. Joining the Liberals in opposing the motion were independent David O'Byrne, as well as ex-Lambie Network turned independent MPs Rebekah Pentland and Miriam Beswick. Explaining her decision to back the motion, Speaker O'Byrne acknowledged there is a longstanding Westminster parliamentary convention that the speaker should use their casting vote to maintain the status quo, which would mean voting down the motion. However in an emotional speech, Ms O'Byrne said there was a tradition of speakers breaking the parliamentary convention, and that as a Labor MP she could not be expected to vote in favour of a Liberal government. "I am a member of the Labor Party. When I was elected to this position, it was made clear to this house and the public that despite no longer attending the caucus and strategy meetings of the Labor Party, that I would always vote with them,' she said. "No one in this chamber could realistically expect me to provide confidence to a Liberal government.' 'If I was not in the chair and the government had held this position, the vote would be won on the floor… the die is cast and the state is on the inexorable path to another early election.' Premier Rockliff described the events as a 'sad day' yet accepted the parliament's decision. 'In my personal opinion, this is a very sad day for Tasmania, it is a sad day as well because I put a lot on the line for this parliament,' Mr Rockliff lamented. 'It wasn't easy to get a 35-seat parliament over the line, but I believed it was the right thing to do. And I still believe it was the right thing to do. The embattled premier also took aim at the state's Labor leader for proposing the motion. 'The Leader of the Opposition has not only diminished this parliament, himself, his party. You might get rid of me today, but I'll tell you what, they are coming for you as well because you will always be known as a wrecker,' he said. 'I will also advise that if Mr Winter cannot command a majority in the place, most reluctantly, we must go to an election.' This seems all but certain since the Labor leader has ruled out an offer to form a minority government with the Greens.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
'Sad day' as state faces fourth election in seven years
Tasmanians are set to return to the polls with Premier Jeremy Rockliff confirming he will seek an election after losing a no-confidence motion. The Liberal leader's grip on power was lost after a marathon two-day debate in parliament finished on Thursday afternoon. The motion brought by Opposition Leader Dean Winter passed by the barest margin, with Labor speaker Michelle O'Byrne casting a deciding vote. With Governor Barbara Baker absent, Mr Rockliff spoke with her lieutenant, Christopher Shanahan, before announcing he would reconvene parliament on Tuesday to pass an emergency funding bill for public servants' wages. "It's at that point, when the bills go through both houses of parliament, that I will seek an audience with Her Excellency, the Governor of Tasmania, to call an election," he told reporters outside Government House. "But my most highest priority right now is to ensure that we continue to fund our essential services that all Tasmanians need, deserve and care about." In a speech following the vote, an emotional Mr Rockliff said it was a "sad day". "What we have in this parliament, as I've said over the course of the last 14 months, is an eclectic mix of people from all backgrounds, which is how parliament should be, in actual fact," he told the House of Assembly. "And I wanted it to work. I believed in it and I actually still do. "We've got most of our agenda through simply because of our negotiations between each other. And that's why I'm so disappointed, if not broken-hearted, frankly." Mr Winter brought the no-confidence motion following the Liberal minority government's budget, winning the support of the Greens and three crossbenchers for an 18-17 vote. Liberal MPs yelled out "weak" as the house divided for the vote. Mr Rockliff, premier since 2022, conceded the numbers were against him but vowed to "fight to his last breath" and not resign. He said Tasmania did not want and could not afford its fourth state election in seven years. "Be that on Mr Winter's head. This has been a selfish grab for power. I have a lot more fight in me," he said. "The only job Mr Winter is interested in is mine. And I am not going anywhere." Mr Winter, opposition leader since Labor's loss in 2024, said Tasmanians wanted to see the end of Mr Rockliff and the Liberals, who have governed under three different premiers since 2014. The 40-year-old brought the no-confidence motion following last week's budget, which forecasted deficits through the forward estimates and a debt blowout beyond $10 billion. "We are ready for an election," he said, flanked by his caucus outside a substation in Mt Wellington's foothills, a site chosen to press home arguments against privatisation. "We will not stand by and let this premier wreck our budget and sell the assets that Tasmanians have built." During the debate, Labor also lashed Mr Rockliff for delays and cost blowouts to the delivery of two new Bass Strait ferries. Mr Rockliff called the motion "a selfish grab for power" but Mr Winter pushed back against claims of an opportunistic powerplay "The premier did confidence and supply agreements with the crossbench when he became premier ... and it was up to him to hold those agreements together," he said. "He couldn't do it. Those agreements have fallen apart." Tasmania went to the polls just 15 months ago in an election which returned the Liberals to power in minority with just 14 of 35 seats in the lower house. Some crossbenchers and the Greens have gripes with a new $945 million stadium in Hobart, a condition of the Tasmania Devils entering the AFL in 2028. Labor supports the team and a stadium, a position it reiterated on Wednesday in writing to the AFL. But the Devils fear an early election would delay the stadium project and put the club's licence at risk. Tasmanians are set to return to the polls with Premier Jeremy Rockliff confirming he will seek an election after losing a no-confidence motion. The Liberal leader's grip on power was lost after a marathon two-day debate in parliament finished on Thursday afternoon. The motion brought by Opposition Leader Dean Winter passed by the barest margin, with Labor speaker Michelle O'Byrne casting a deciding vote. With Governor Barbara Baker absent, Mr Rockliff spoke with her lieutenant, Christopher Shanahan, before announcing he would reconvene parliament on Tuesday to pass an emergency funding bill for public servants' wages. "It's at that point, when the bills go through both houses of parliament, that I will seek an audience with Her Excellency, the Governor of Tasmania, to call an election," he told reporters outside Government House. "But my most highest priority right now is to ensure that we continue to fund our essential services that all Tasmanians need, deserve and care about." In a speech following the vote, an emotional Mr Rockliff said it was a "sad day". "What we have in this parliament, as I've said over the course of the last 14 months, is an eclectic mix of people from all backgrounds, which is how parliament should be, in actual fact," he told the House of Assembly. "And I wanted it to work. I believed in it and I actually still do. "We've got most of our agenda through simply because of our negotiations between each other. And that's why I'm so disappointed, if not broken-hearted, frankly." Mr Winter brought the no-confidence motion following the Liberal minority government's budget, winning the support of the Greens and three crossbenchers for an 18-17 vote. Liberal MPs yelled out "weak" as the house divided for the vote. Mr Rockliff, premier since 2022, conceded the numbers were against him but vowed to "fight to his last breath" and not resign. He said Tasmania did not want and could not afford its fourth state election in seven years. "Be that on Mr Winter's head. This has been a selfish grab for power. I have a lot more fight in me," he said. "The only job Mr Winter is interested in is mine. And I am not going anywhere." Mr Winter, opposition leader since Labor's loss in 2024, said Tasmanians wanted to see the end of Mr Rockliff and the Liberals, who have governed under three different premiers since 2014. The 40-year-old brought the no-confidence motion following last week's budget, which forecasted deficits through the forward estimates and a debt blowout beyond $10 billion. "We are ready for an election," he said, flanked by his caucus outside a substation in Mt Wellington's foothills, a site chosen to press home arguments against privatisation. "We will not stand by and let this premier wreck our budget and sell the assets that Tasmanians have built." During the debate, Labor also lashed Mr Rockliff for delays and cost blowouts to the delivery of two new Bass Strait ferries. Mr Rockliff called the motion "a selfish grab for power" but Mr Winter pushed back against claims of an opportunistic powerplay "The premier did confidence and supply agreements with the crossbench when he became premier ... and it was up to him to hold those agreements together," he said. "He couldn't do it. Those agreements have fallen apart." Tasmania went to the polls just 15 months ago in an election which returned the Liberals to power in minority with just 14 of 35 seats in the lower house. Some crossbenchers and the Greens have gripes with a new $945 million stadium in Hobart, a condition of the Tasmania Devils entering the AFL in 2028. Labor supports the team and a stadium, a position it reiterated on Wednesday in writing to the AFL. But the Devils fear an early election would delay the stadium project and put the club's licence at risk. Tasmanians are set to return to the polls with Premier Jeremy Rockliff confirming he will seek an election after losing a no-confidence motion. The Liberal leader's grip on power was lost after a marathon two-day debate in parliament finished on Thursday afternoon. The motion brought by Opposition Leader Dean Winter passed by the barest margin, with Labor speaker Michelle O'Byrne casting a deciding vote. With Governor Barbara Baker absent, Mr Rockliff spoke with her lieutenant, Christopher Shanahan, before announcing he would reconvene parliament on Tuesday to pass an emergency funding bill for public servants' wages. "It's at that point, when the bills go through both houses of parliament, that I will seek an audience with Her Excellency, the Governor of Tasmania, to call an election," he told reporters outside Government House. "But my most highest priority right now is to ensure that we continue to fund our essential services that all Tasmanians need, deserve and care about." In a speech following the vote, an emotional Mr Rockliff said it was a "sad day". "What we have in this parliament, as I've said over the course of the last 14 months, is an eclectic mix of people from all backgrounds, which is how parliament should be, in actual fact," he told the House of Assembly. "And I wanted it to work. I believed in it and I actually still do. "We've got most of our agenda through simply because of our negotiations between each other. And that's why I'm so disappointed, if not broken-hearted, frankly." Mr Winter brought the no-confidence motion following the Liberal minority government's budget, winning the support of the Greens and three crossbenchers for an 18-17 vote. Liberal MPs yelled out "weak" as the house divided for the vote. Mr Rockliff, premier since 2022, conceded the numbers were against him but vowed to "fight to his last breath" and not resign. He said Tasmania did not want and could not afford its fourth state election in seven years. "Be that on Mr Winter's head. This has been a selfish grab for power. I have a lot more fight in me," he said. "The only job Mr Winter is interested in is mine. And I am not going anywhere." Mr Winter, opposition leader since Labor's loss in 2024, said Tasmanians wanted to see the end of Mr Rockliff and the Liberals, who have governed under three different premiers since 2014. The 40-year-old brought the no-confidence motion following last week's budget, which forecasted deficits through the forward estimates and a debt blowout beyond $10 billion. "We are ready for an election," he said, flanked by his caucus outside a substation in Mt Wellington's foothills, a site chosen to press home arguments against privatisation. "We will not stand by and let this premier wreck our budget and sell the assets that Tasmanians have built." During the debate, Labor also lashed Mr Rockliff for delays and cost blowouts to the delivery of two new Bass Strait ferries. Mr Rockliff called the motion "a selfish grab for power" but Mr Winter pushed back against claims of an opportunistic powerplay "The premier did confidence and supply agreements with the crossbench when he became premier ... and it was up to him to hold those agreements together," he said. "He couldn't do it. Those agreements have fallen apart." Tasmania went to the polls just 15 months ago in an election which returned the Liberals to power in minority with just 14 of 35 seats in the lower house. Some crossbenchers and the Greens have gripes with a new $945 million stadium in Hobart, a condition of the Tasmania Devils entering the AFL in 2028. Labor supports the team and a stadium, a position it reiterated on Wednesday in writing to the AFL. But the Devils fear an early election would delay the stadium project and put the club's licence at risk. Tasmanians are set to return to the polls with Premier Jeremy Rockliff confirming he will seek an election after losing a no-confidence motion. The Liberal leader's grip on power was lost after a marathon two-day debate in parliament finished on Thursday afternoon. The motion brought by Opposition Leader Dean Winter passed by the barest margin, with Labor speaker Michelle O'Byrne casting a deciding vote. With Governor Barbara Baker absent, Mr Rockliff spoke with her lieutenant, Christopher Shanahan, before announcing he would reconvene parliament on Tuesday to pass an emergency funding bill for public servants' wages. "It's at that point, when the bills go through both houses of parliament, that I will seek an audience with Her Excellency, the Governor of Tasmania, to call an election," he told reporters outside Government House. "But my most highest priority right now is to ensure that we continue to fund our essential services that all Tasmanians need, deserve and care about." In a speech following the vote, an emotional Mr Rockliff said it was a "sad day". "What we have in this parliament, as I've said over the course of the last 14 months, is an eclectic mix of people from all backgrounds, which is how parliament should be, in actual fact," he told the House of Assembly. "And I wanted it to work. I believed in it and I actually still do. "We've got most of our agenda through simply because of our negotiations between each other. And that's why I'm so disappointed, if not broken-hearted, frankly." Mr Winter brought the no-confidence motion following the Liberal minority government's budget, winning the support of the Greens and three crossbenchers for an 18-17 vote. Liberal MPs yelled out "weak" as the house divided for the vote. Mr Rockliff, premier since 2022, conceded the numbers were against him but vowed to "fight to his last breath" and not resign. He said Tasmania did not want and could not afford its fourth state election in seven years. "Be that on Mr Winter's head. This has been a selfish grab for power. I have a lot more fight in me," he said. "The only job Mr Winter is interested in is mine. And I am not going anywhere." Mr Winter, opposition leader since Labor's loss in 2024, said Tasmanians wanted to see the end of Mr Rockliff and the Liberals, who have governed under three different premiers since 2014. The 40-year-old brought the no-confidence motion following last week's budget, which forecasted deficits through the forward estimates and a debt blowout beyond $10 billion. "We are ready for an election," he said, flanked by his caucus outside a substation in Mt Wellington's foothills, a site chosen to press home arguments against privatisation. "We will not stand by and let this premier wreck our budget and sell the assets that Tasmanians have built." During the debate, Labor also lashed Mr Rockliff for delays and cost blowouts to the delivery of two new Bass Strait ferries. Mr Rockliff called the motion "a selfish grab for power" but Mr Winter pushed back against claims of an opportunistic powerplay "The premier did confidence and supply agreements with the crossbench when he became premier ... and it was up to him to hold those agreements together," he said. "He couldn't do it. Those agreements have fallen apart." Tasmania went to the polls just 15 months ago in an election which returned the Liberals to power in minority with just 14 of 35 seats in the lower house. Some crossbenchers and the Greens have gripes with a new $945 million stadium in Hobart, a condition of the Tasmania Devils entering the AFL in 2028. Labor supports the team and a stadium, a position it reiterated on Wednesday in writing to the AFL. But the Devils fear an early election would delay the stadium project and put the club's licence at risk.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Voters forgo sugar-hit as law and order tops budget
A $395 million "law and order" package to fund hundreds of extra police officers headlines a state budget forced to absorb the impact of a troubled steelworks and an escalating drought. Delivering his fourth state budget on Thursday, South Australian Treasurer Stephen Mullighan had little to offer in the way of sweeteners before the state election in March. The state is already committed to big-ticket road and hospital projects and has had to prop up the Whyalla steelworks and respond to a drought crisis. Framing his budget as strategic investment balanced with fiscal discipline, Mr Mullighan said it provided the biggest boost to police funding in the state's history. The law and order package includes $172 million across six years to recruit 326 officers, lifting numbers to 5000 by 2030/31. More police security officers, civilianisation of administrative roles, and recruiting will deliver 630 extra police officers in frontline roles by 2031. "We are providing SA police the funding for more personnel, better facilities and new equipment, so they are better resourced," he said. But Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia said the government was not able to fill police vacancies, let alone recruit hundreds more. The budget showed Labor was "out of money and out of ideas", he said. "The budget has no new plan to solve the housing crisis, no plan to bring down power bills and no plan to alleviate the cost-of-living crisis," he said. Mr Mullighan said there were no new or increased taxes and "our economy has gone from laggard to leader" since being elected in 2022. "We have the lowest unemployment rate in the state's history, we are ranked the best place in the nation to do business, we have the best-performing housing market and are the lowest taxing state on the mainland," he said. The mid-year budget review in December had predicted a surplus of $201 million, but this has shrunk to $18 million because of the Whyalla package and drought funding. The budget allocates $650 million towards the $2.4 billion Whyalla "sovereign steel" package announced jointly with the federal government, as the administrator stabilises the steelworks and prepares it for sale. In February, the state government took dramatic action in Whyalla, rushing through legislation so it could place the city's steelworks into the hands of administrators KordaMentha because of the mounting debts of OneSteel's owners, GFG Alliance. "South Australians will not be taken for fools by fast-talking businessmen that continually break their promises to our state," Mr Mullighan said, referencing GFG chairman, UK billionaire Sanjeev Gupta. The $73 million for drought relief had already been announced and there was no new money to relieve the escalating impact of record and near-record low rainfall across most of SA's farming regions in recent years. The economy was predicted to grow by 1.25 per cent in 2024/25, rising to 1.75 in 2025/26 and 2.0 per cent in 2026/27. The state's AA+ credit rating remains stable and SA had the best credit outlook of all states except Western Australia. "This is what gives us the confidence to borrow, to invest in the infrastructure that's going to benefit future generations," Mr Mullighan said. Debt will increase to fund projects such as the new Women's and Children's Hospital and the north-south corridor's South Rd tunnel and net debt will grow over the forward estimates to $48.5 billion by 2028/29. Mr Tarzia described that figure as a "debt iceberg" that would cost almost $7 million a day in interest. But Mr Mullighan said the government would have more capacity to tackle debt once infrastructure projects were built. Premier Peter Malinauskas said the government was absorbing the cost of drought relief and the steelworks bailout while delivering record investments in infrastructure, health and housing. Shadow treasurer Sam Telfer said that was "quite frankly insulting when government departments have blown their budgets by a combined $1.6 billion". SOUTH AUSTRALIA'S BUDGET 2025/26: * Surplus: $179 million * Revenue: $31.369 billion * Expenditure: $31.190 billion * Net debt: $35.539 billion * GST revenue: $9.529 billion * Unemployment rate: 3.9 per cent (current) * Five biggest spending areas: health ($9.91 billion), education ($4.622 billion), infrastructure and transport ($1.965 billion), police ($1.269 billion), child protection ($877 million). A $395 million "law and order" package to fund hundreds of extra police officers headlines a state budget forced to absorb the impact of a troubled steelworks and an escalating drought. Delivering his fourth state budget on Thursday, South Australian Treasurer Stephen Mullighan had little to offer in the way of sweeteners before the state election in March. The state is already committed to big-ticket road and hospital projects and has had to prop up the Whyalla steelworks and respond to a drought crisis. Framing his budget as strategic investment balanced with fiscal discipline, Mr Mullighan said it provided the biggest boost to police funding in the state's history. The law and order package includes $172 million across six years to recruit 326 officers, lifting numbers to 5000 by 2030/31. More police security officers, civilianisation of administrative roles, and recruiting will deliver 630 extra police officers in frontline roles by 2031. "We are providing SA police the funding for more personnel, better facilities and new equipment, so they are better resourced," he said. But Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia said the government was not able to fill police vacancies, let alone recruit hundreds more. The budget showed Labor was "out of money and out of ideas", he said. "The budget has no new plan to solve the housing crisis, no plan to bring down power bills and no plan to alleviate the cost-of-living crisis," he said. Mr Mullighan said there were no new or increased taxes and "our economy has gone from laggard to leader" since being elected in 2022. "We have the lowest unemployment rate in the state's history, we are ranked the best place in the nation to do business, we have the best-performing housing market and are the lowest taxing state on the mainland," he said. The mid-year budget review in December had predicted a surplus of $201 million, but this has shrunk to $18 million because of the Whyalla package and drought funding. The budget allocates $650 million towards the $2.4 billion Whyalla "sovereign steel" package announced jointly with the federal government, as the administrator stabilises the steelworks and prepares it for sale. In February, the state government took dramatic action in Whyalla, rushing through legislation so it could place the city's steelworks into the hands of administrators KordaMentha because of the mounting debts of OneSteel's owners, GFG Alliance. "South Australians will not be taken for fools by fast-talking businessmen that continually break their promises to our state," Mr Mullighan said, referencing GFG chairman, UK billionaire Sanjeev Gupta. The $73 million for drought relief had already been announced and there was no new money to relieve the escalating impact of record and near-record low rainfall across most of SA's farming regions in recent years. The economy was predicted to grow by 1.25 per cent in 2024/25, rising to 1.75 in 2025/26 and 2.0 per cent in 2026/27. The state's AA+ credit rating remains stable and SA had the best credit outlook of all states except Western Australia. "This is what gives us the confidence to borrow, to invest in the infrastructure that's going to benefit future generations," Mr Mullighan said. Debt will increase to fund projects such as the new Women's and Children's Hospital and the north-south corridor's South Rd tunnel and net debt will grow over the forward estimates to $48.5 billion by 2028/29. Mr Tarzia described that figure as a "debt iceberg" that would cost almost $7 million a day in interest. But Mr Mullighan said the government would have more capacity to tackle debt once infrastructure projects were built. Premier Peter Malinauskas said the government was absorbing the cost of drought relief and the steelworks bailout while delivering record investments in infrastructure, health and housing. Shadow treasurer Sam Telfer said that was "quite frankly insulting when government departments have blown their budgets by a combined $1.6 billion". SOUTH AUSTRALIA'S BUDGET 2025/26: * Surplus: $179 million * Revenue: $31.369 billion * Expenditure: $31.190 billion * Net debt: $35.539 billion * GST revenue: $9.529 billion * Unemployment rate: 3.9 per cent (current) * Five biggest spending areas: health ($9.91 billion), education ($4.622 billion), infrastructure and transport ($1.965 billion), police ($1.269 billion), child protection ($877 million). A $395 million "law and order" package to fund hundreds of extra police officers headlines a state budget forced to absorb the impact of a troubled steelworks and an escalating drought. Delivering his fourth state budget on Thursday, South Australian Treasurer Stephen Mullighan had little to offer in the way of sweeteners before the state election in March. The state is already committed to big-ticket road and hospital projects and has had to prop up the Whyalla steelworks and respond to a drought crisis. Framing his budget as strategic investment balanced with fiscal discipline, Mr Mullighan said it provided the biggest boost to police funding in the state's history. The law and order package includes $172 million across six years to recruit 326 officers, lifting numbers to 5000 by 2030/31. More police security officers, civilianisation of administrative roles, and recruiting will deliver 630 extra police officers in frontline roles by 2031. "We are providing SA police the funding for more personnel, better facilities and new equipment, so they are better resourced," he said. But Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia said the government was not able to fill police vacancies, let alone recruit hundreds more. The budget showed Labor was "out of money and out of ideas", he said. "The budget has no new plan to solve the housing crisis, no plan to bring down power bills and no plan to alleviate the cost-of-living crisis," he said. Mr Mullighan said there were no new or increased taxes and "our economy has gone from laggard to leader" since being elected in 2022. "We have the lowest unemployment rate in the state's history, we are ranked the best place in the nation to do business, we have the best-performing housing market and are the lowest taxing state on the mainland," he said. The mid-year budget review in December had predicted a surplus of $201 million, but this has shrunk to $18 million because of the Whyalla package and drought funding. The budget allocates $650 million towards the $2.4 billion Whyalla "sovereign steel" package announced jointly with the federal government, as the administrator stabilises the steelworks and prepares it for sale. In February, the state government took dramatic action in Whyalla, rushing through legislation so it could place the city's steelworks into the hands of administrators KordaMentha because of the mounting debts of OneSteel's owners, GFG Alliance. "South Australians will not be taken for fools by fast-talking businessmen that continually break their promises to our state," Mr Mullighan said, referencing GFG chairman, UK billionaire Sanjeev Gupta. The $73 million for drought relief had already been announced and there was no new money to relieve the escalating impact of record and near-record low rainfall across most of SA's farming regions in recent years. The economy was predicted to grow by 1.25 per cent in 2024/25, rising to 1.75 in 2025/26 and 2.0 per cent in 2026/27. The state's AA+ credit rating remains stable and SA had the best credit outlook of all states except Western Australia. "This is what gives us the confidence to borrow, to invest in the infrastructure that's going to benefit future generations," Mr Mullighan said. Debt will increase to fund projects such as the new Women's and Children's Hospital and the north-south corridor's South Rd tunnel and net debt will grow over the forward estimates to $48.5 billion by 2028/29. Mr Tarzia described that figure as a "debt iceberg" that would cost almost $7 million a day in interest. But Mr Mullighan said the government would have more capacity to tackle debt once infrastructure projects were built. Premier Peter Malinauskas said the government was absorbing the cost of drought relief and the steelworks bailout while delivering record investments in infrastructure, health and housing. Shadow treasurer Sam Telfer said that was "quite frankly insulting when government departments have blown their budgets by a combined $1.6 billion". SOUTH AUSTRALIA'S BUDGET 2025/26: * Surplus: $179 million * Revenue: $31.369 billion * Expenditure: $31.190 billion * Net debt: $35.539 billion * GST revenue: $9.529 billion * Unemployment rate: 3.9 per cent (current) * Five biggest spending areas: health ($9.91 billion), education ($4.622 billion), infrastructure and transport ($1.965 billion), police ($1.269 billion), child protection ($877 million). A $395 million "law and order" package to fund hundreds of extra police officers headlines a state budget forced to absorb the impact of a troubled steelworks and an escalating drought. Delivering his fourth state budget on Thursday, South Australian Treasurer Stephen Mullighan had little to offer in the way of sweeteners before the state election in March. The state is already committed to big-ticket road and hospital projects and has had to prop up the Whyalla steelworks and respond to a drought crisis. Framing his budget as strategic investment balanced with fiscal discipline, Mr Mullighan said it provided the biggest boost to police funding in the state's history. The law and order package includes $172 million across six years to recruit 326 officers, lifting numbers to 5000 by 2030/31. More police security officers, civilianisation of administrative roles, and recruiting will deliver 630 extra police officers in frontline roles by 2031. "We are providing SA police the funding for more personnel, better facilities and new equipment, so they are better resourced," he said. But Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia said the government was not able to fill police vacancies, let alone recruit hundreds more. The budget showed Labor was "out of money and out of ideas", he said. "The budget has no new plan to solve the housing crisis, no plan to bring down power bills and no plan to alleviate the cost-of-living crisis," he said. Mr Mullighan said there were no new or increased taxes and "our economy has gone from laggard to leader" since being elected in 2022. "We have the lowest unemployment rate in the state's history, we are ranked the best place in the nation to do business, we have the best-performing housing market and are the lowest taxing state on the mainland," he said. The mid-year budget review in December had predicted a surplus of $201 million, but this has shrunk to $18 million because of the Whyalla package and drought funding. The budget allocates $650 million towards the $2.4 billion Whyalla "sovereign steel" package announced jointly with the federal government, as the administrator stabilises the steelworks and prepares it for sale. In February, the state government took dramatic action in Whyalla, rushing through legislation so it could place the city's steelworks into the hands of administrators KordaMentha because of the mounting debts of OneSteel's owners, GFG Alliance. "South Australians will not be taken for fools by fast-talking businessmen that continually break their promises to our state," Mr Mullighan said, referencing GFG chairman, UK billionaire Sanjeev Gupta. The $73 million for drought relief had already been announced and there was no new money to relieve the escalating impact of record and near-record low rainfall across most of SA's farming regions in recent years. The economy was predicted to grow by 1.25 per cent in 2024/25, rising to 1.75 in 2025/26 and 2.0 per cent in 2026/27. The state's AA+ credit rating remains stable and SA had the best credit outlook of all states except Western Australia. "This is what gives us the confidence to borrow, to invest in the infrastructure that's going to benefit future generations," Mr Mullighan said. Debt will increase to fund projects such as the new Women's and Children's Hospital and the north-south corridor's South Rd tunnel and net debt will grow over the forward estimates to $48.5 billion by 2028/29. Mr Tarzia described that figure as a "debt iceberg" that would cost almost $7 million a day in interest. But Mr Mullighan said the government would have more capacity to tackle debt once infrastructure projects were built. Premier Peter Malinauskas said the government was absorbing the cost of drought relief and the steelworks bailout while delivering record investments in infrastructure, health and housing. Shadow treasurer Sam Telfer said that was "quite frankly insulting when government departments have blown their budgets by a combined $1.6 billion". SOUTH AUSTRALIA'S BUDGET 2025/26: * Surplus: $179 million * Revenue: $31.369 billion * Expenditure: $31.190 billion * Net debt: $35.539 billion * GST revenue: $9.529 billion * Unemployment rate: 3.9 per cent (current) * Five biggest spending areas: health ($9.91 billion), education ($4.622 billion), infrastructure and transport ($1.965 billion), police ($1.269 billion), child protection ($877 million).
