NSW government to spend $500m on criminal system as remand custodies skyrocket
Half-a-billion dollars will be splashed on NSW's beleaguered criminal justice system after tough new domestic violence bail laws resulted in a record number of people locked up on remand.
The funding will include an additional $227m as part of the 2025-26 budget over five years for the Victims' Support Service, including strict monitoring for high-risk DV offenders as well as $50m for a victim-survivor hub.
Sydney's main criminal courts, the Downing Centre and John Madison Tower in the CBD, will also be refurbished and upgraded as part of the package, including at least 15 new courtrooms to be located somewhere in the CBD.
Premier Chris Minns said the package, which was announced on Monday, meant well-needed funding would go to making NSW safer and better protecting victim-survivors.
'We will deliver new courtrooms and a unique new hub allowing vulnerable victim-survivors to testify from a different location than their perpetrator. This hub will make a major difference, especially for women and children.'
Attorney-General Michael Daley said the courtroom upgrades and victim-survivor services were 'crucial to reduce courtroom trauma for child complainants and witnesses in sexual abuse cases' and increasing court capacity.
'The Government is also beefing up resources to support industrial manslaughter prosecutions to deter unsafe work practices.
'These investments ensure we are continuing to prioritise community safety and access to justice through the efficient operation of our court system.'
Slated to be opened in 2027, the 'vulnerable persons court hub' will allow witnesses to give evidence remotely via a video link, including in DV and family violence matters, reducing the trauma of being in the court complex.
The hub joins more than $34m in funding for upgrades to the Downing Centre courthouse and the adjoining John Madison Tower, or JMT, including at least five new courtrooms and at least 10 virtual courtrooms.
The NSW Office of Director of Public Prosecution will also receive a further $48.3m to fund additional solicitors, as well as funding for staff working in child sexual offence cases and to address demand on corrections services.
The state government will spend an additional $100.5m on the state's correction system in light of new DV bail laws that resulted in a record spike of alleged offenders being behind bars on remand awaiting trial or sentence.
At least half of the funding will go to frontline domestic, family, and sexual violence services, including almost $10m for the implementation of the strict new Serious Domestic Abuse Prevention Orders for offenders.
Other measures include five-year contracts for domestic and family violence support services, funding for a new common approach to offender risk assessments – a factor in sentencing – and a new DV and family violence workforce strategy.
It comes amid the passage of controversial youth bail laws in NSW which divided members of the Labor caucus, and as crime in regional communities continues to make headlines, including violence and theft offences.
Domestic Violence NSW CEO Delia Donovan welcomed the government's announcement on Monday, stating that victim-survivors in the state were currently waiting up to two months for support from state services.
Nonetheless, Ms Donovan said more was needed.
'We believe much of this represents the continuation of existing state and federal funding – not new investment,' she said.
'This is not enough. Victim-survivors deserve more than business as usual.
'Yes, we welcome the fulfilment of longer-term reforms such as five-year contracts, workforce development strategy implementation, and new data strategies.
'But they don't address the reality that existing services are stretched to breaking point – operating on outdated funding models that don't come close to covering today's costs.'
Ms Donovan urged the state government to 'listen – really listen – to the voices of victim-survivors, and the frontline workers' and to adequately support services.
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News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
‘They walk among us': Inside Australia's top secret society of ‘real life vampires'
Mobsters. Doctors. Politicians. Musicians. What's the common thread connecting this motley crew? They're all in Australia's secret society of real vampires. Spawned from the goth subculture, this shadowy community – known as a 'vampire court' – now includes Aussies from all sorts of walks of life. Think real vampires are just pale people drinking red cordial? Think again. To many of its followers, the true blood lifestyle is about much more than fashion. It's about survival. And though they might not transform into bats or live forever, they do drink real human blood, wear surgically-enhanced fangs and let loose at vampire balls. These days, their ranks are being quietly pumped by social media and the decline of religion. Just don't ask these creatures of the night to throw light on their very dark way of life. They claim they keep to themselves and aren't dangerous. But critics claim some vampires use this cloak of secrecy to exploit people. So are they really monsters? Medical mysteries? Or just misunderstood? 'I want revenge' For centuries, vampire folklore has compelled us. Tales of bloodsucking beasts can be found in ancient cultures around the world including First Nations people. But in the last few decades, they've been forever fixed in pop culture as a romanticised symbol of finding identity in the world. This romanticism is at the heart of the complex history between real vampires and Sydney local Crystal, who does not wish to share her real name. On one hand, Crystal claims they've drugged her. Drank her blood without consent. Even forced her to drink the blood of others. On the other hand, she remains transfixed by their mythical morbidity. For Crystal, it all began when she was invited to an opulent mansion party in Sydney's affluent suburb of Vaucluse when she was just 18. Crystal, who was drawn to gothic culture at the time, said the house belonged to the father of a friend of a friend who worked as a nurse. Inside the party, she claims to have found herself in imposing company. She was greeted by yakuza and triads – otherwise known as the Japanese and Chinese mafias. 'They were just standing around wearing suits and watching anime movies', Crystal told 'And they weren't shy about what they did'. As it happened, the mafia is not the only bloodthirsty group these men belonged to. Crystal soon learned they were part of the Australian chapter of an international 'vampire court'. Inside, Crystal says she was given a glass of champagne. Soon after drinking it, she claims she sat on a couch and lost consciousness. When she woke up, she alleges she felt lightheaded and her neck and arms were dotted by what she calls 'love bites'. Looking back, she believes she'd been drugged. There were no other signs of assault. 'I didn't know what to think at the time,' she says. Before she left, Crystal was given a dark diagnosis. 'They told me I'd been infected with the virus.' She never reported her experience to the police. Indeed, real vampires would come back to haunt her before long. After moving into a Newcastle monastery to study business, Crystal met members of a local court. While things started safely, one night the group pressured her to drink from a bottle of red. It was human blood mixed with cordial. 'They said, 'it's time to join us',' says Crystal. 'You can't choose to join this society. They choose you.' Feeling powerless, Crystal agreed. But the court came harder than ever. Another night, Crystal woke with puncture wounds on her wrist. Crystal believes the vampires had fed on her while she slept. She kept quiet about the incident because the court had 'powerful people on their side.' 'There are doctors, nurses, business owners and musicians,' she says. 'It's very secretive. From the outside, they live normal lives.' Until now, Crystal kept her experience to herself out of fear she would not be taken seriously. Or worse. But now, she wants to raise awareness. 'I want revenge for how I was treated.' Despite this messy history, Crystal's experience with the court was forever imprinted onto her self-image. She hopes to one day launch a safe-space for people to appreciate vampire culture. Medical mystery Crystal's disturbing account is not unlike a scene in a horror movie, where vampires lunge from the shadows and maul victims' necks before sucking on the flowing wine-like liquid. It's important to note that vampiric crime is rare, and abusers of power are far from unique to the courts. For most members, this community offer a sense of belonging, and some courts are heavily involved with charity causes. Not all 'real vampires' feed on blood. And for those who do, the practice is traditionally safe. So how does it work? What's known as a 'donor' will willingly offer their blood to a vampire. Both take medical tests and other precautions. Complications are rare. Which is fine. But it begs another question: why? Real vampires claim they feel sick and lethargic if they don't feed on human blood. It balances their energy. Some believe this thirst for blood is a sign of a deeper mental health problem. So is it all a big delusion? When vampires follow a code of silence, it's not easy to say. But that secrecy is well founded. They've learned the hard way their lifestyle inspires revulsion. That's why this community stays in the shadows. Most Australian vampires I contacted for this story declined to take part in it. One local fanged figure you need to know is Jason De Marco, otherwise known as Don Jason. Don Jason runs the Sydney Vampires Meetup Group. He's also an electioneering member of the Liberal Party, bringing new meaning to idea of a bloodsucking polly. At least this one is honest. In a YouTube video made by married artists Gillie and Marc Schattner, Jason is seen wearing Edwardian-era clothing, surgically-enhanced fangs, and a wide smile. Among the graves of Waverley cemetery, he says Don Jason first knew what he was aged four. 'I was different to other children' Jason said. 'I said I'm going to grow up and be Dracula.' He says he drinks exclusively from the razor-sliced thighs of female donors. They don't just consent to this feeding. They're aroused by it. 'They seem to get an orgasm off it every time,' he claimed. 'People can assume we're insane: why do you have this need to drink blood?' 'The only thing I have to worry about is my innate illness, which was ironically an illness associated with the vampire myth.' 'My vitals can shut down and I look like a corpse. People who had it used to be buried alive.' Marc Schattner said Don Jason suffers from porphyria, a rare blood disorder thought to have inspired early vampire mythology. 'It can cause symptoms like extreme sensitivity to sunlight, skin blisters, and a reddish-purple discolouration,' he says. Jason is an extreme example. Some people just like vampires for a good old-fashioned doof. 'Not merely an event' The dawn of the vampire ball is misty. Sometime during the rise of Europe's medieval masquerade balls, a darker event emerged in honour of the undead. These days, the vampire ball circuit is an international network spanning Romania, the US and Australia. Melbourne's annual Carpe Noctem Vampire Ball was recently held in April. The founder of the event, who asked to remain anonymous, said it's about something bigger than costumes. 'More than just an opportunity to don elaborate attire, the Carpe Noctem Vampire Ball is a celebration of identity and belonging.' After a signature 'bloodbath cocktail' (ingredients undisclosed), the crowd – comprised of goths, role players and the real deal – take part in rituals including a 'sacrifice' that 'lifts the veil between the living and the dead.' Australian vampires Few real-vampires claim to have the magical powers you'll find in Twilight. But if I had to throw money on one of them being superhuman, Andreas Bathory is the one. He dwells on the sprawling grounds of Bran 'Dracula's' Castle in Romania's Transylvania. With these walls, Bathory drinks donated blood. Sometimes sleeps in a coffin. And channels Vlad the Impaler. 'It's not merely an event' Bathory says. 'It's a portal.' Bathory is the leader of the Ordo Dracul, a vampire court based in Transylvania. And he says more and more Aussies are signing up. 'New initiates are joining from Australia. Some of my dearest allies come from Melbourne and the Gold Coast,' he said. 'Australia resonates with the old blood.' Bathory believes these vampires thrive in silence. 'Just because we're not loud, doesn't mean we're not present. In our world we prefer to walk the line of shadows.' 'Realise their full potential' The University of Western Sydney's Dr Adam Possamai charted the rise of real vampires in his book Sociology of Religion for Generations X and Y. He believes it's a 'hyper-real religion' – a modern hybrid of religion, philosophy and popular culture that helps people find their identity in a noisy world. 'The vampire is no longer a monster that needs to be destroyed,' he said. 'It's now a superman-type of character that people aspire to become to realise their full potential. 'As society becomes more consumerist, I expect hyper-real religions like vampires to grow. But it's tricky to quantify.' 'Are they people who identify with the image alone? How far do their practices go? And how long will they keep them up?' Though Australian vampire groups have picked up have thousands of members on social media, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) said in a statement they don't formally recognise vampires. 'Vampires don't describe a stand-alone group in any of the statistical standard classifications used to disseminate Census data,' a spokesperson said. 'The ABS regularly reviews statistical standard classifications and holds public consultations to ensure standard classifications reflect the Australian community.' Until vampires are socially acknowledged, we'll never know how many of them walk among us or what secrets they hold.
ABC News
2 hours ago
- ABC News
SA ambulance ramping surges to third-highest level on record as government 'falls desperately short' of its promise
South Australian patients spent 4,791 hours ramped in ambulances outside public hospitals in May — more than one thousand hours higher than the previous month — as the health system continues to struggle despite billions in extra funding. Two days after releasing a state budget with $1.9 billion in additional money for health, the state government on Saturday published data revealing May was the third-worst month for ambulance ramping in SA since records began in July 2017. The amount of time ambulances spent waiting outside public hospitals to discharge patients increased from 3,700 hours in April to 4,791 in May. The result is roughly in line with the 4,773 hours recorded in May 2024, which preceded a winter surge that saw ramping reach record levels in June (5,539) and July (5,284) of that year. Health Minister Chris Picton said public hospitals were under "significant pressure" last month. "But we've got people stuck in hospital that don't need to be there because they're waiting for a federal aged-care bed." There are 243 elderly patients in SA's public hospitals awaiting an aged care bed, according to the state government. The Royal Adelaide Hospital recorded the biggest spike in ramping hours last month, jumping from 1,194 to 1,698 hours, while the Flinders Medical Centre also spiked from 1,021 to 1,318. Ambulance response times to call-outs also worsened slightly in May. The percentage of priority two call-outs met within the benchmark 16 minutes decreased from 67.7 per cent in April to 60 per cent in May. Priority one call-outs — triaged for a response within eight minutes — stayed the same, with 72.3 per cent of calls met on time. The Malinauskas government highlighted that the May 2025 response times are significantly improved on its early months in office — in May 2022, 54.9 per cent of priority one call-outs and 34.8 per cent of priority two call-outs were being met on time. The head of South Australia's paramedics union said today's ramping figures have given him "grave concerns" about the winter months ahead. Paul Ekkelboom, general secretary of the Ambulance Employees Association (AEA), said his members were also "very frustrated" with the situation. "I get messages every day from regional and metropolitan crews about the extended … hospital ramp times they're having," he said. Asked about the outlook for the next few months, Mr Ekkelboom said: "I've got some grave concerns, obviously." He said the current ramping levels were only around 700 to 800 hours below last year's record numbers and "we've not even hit winter". "If something's not done dramatically, then I think it's going to be even worse than what we saw last year, and that's detrimental to people in the community," he said. The Malinauskas government has invested an additional $9 billion in the state's health system since coming to office in March 2022, according to the state budget papers released on Thursday. Labor won the 2022 election with a core pledge to "fix the ramping crisis" through new spending on hospital beds, ambulances and staff. Opposition health spokesperson Ashton Hurn said the government was falling "desperately short" of its promise. "Labor are now three quarters of the way through their term in office and we're yet to see any green shoots when it comes to delivering on their number-one election promise which was to fix ramping," she said. "We really need to move away … from looking at the statistics here and actually remember what this means for people. "What this means is that sick South Australians are left stranded outside of our hospitals desperate to get in for the care that they need." But the Health Minister said the government was "throwing the kitchen sink" at the problem. "We are opening additional beds which has been called for for years and years and years. "We're putting extra into mental health which has been called for for years and years and years, we've hired an additional, above attrition 2,800 extra doctors, nurses, paramedics and allied health professionals. "But we've got a blockage at the other end of the system that is depriving us of that, so every bed that we're opening is pretty much being filled with an aged care resident that can't get into aged care." Thursday's state budget revealed that demand on public health services is estimated to have grown by more than 4.5 per cent in 2024-25, with the government stumping up $1.7 billion over five years just to cope with increasing demand. The state government says it is building and opening more than 330 new hospital beds across Adelaide in 2024 and 2025.
News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
Stewards set to resume inquiry into altercation between jockeys Noel Callow and Kyle Wilson-Taylor during Stradbroke week
The stewards inquiry into a physical altercation between two Queensland jockeys is likely to be resumed in Stradbroke Handicap week. Group 1 winner Noel Callow has been sidelined under concussion protocols after being involved in the altercation with fellow Group 1-winning jockey Kyle Wilson-Taylor in a dramatic incident at the midweek Doomben races on May 28. A stewards inquiry kicked off on the day but was unable to take evidence from Callow who had left the course to seek medical attention. Wilson-Taylor insisted he had not been the initial aggressor. Senior steward Geoff Goold confirmed to Racenet that it was the intention to reconvene the stewards' inquiry on Tuesday at Doomben. Meanwhile, young jockey George Rooke was suspended for 14 days for careless riding after an incident in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Rookie, a British-born jockey who has called New Zealand home for several months, was riding Kiwi filly She's A Dealer in the Oaks. She's A Dealer finished fifth behind Oaks winner You Wahng but caused interference to Real Class (Andrew Mallyon) passing the 350m. Meanwhile, Victorian jockey Jamie Mott was suspended for 11 days for careless riding as stewards reconvened an inquiry into an incident in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 on May 17.
