Perth got millions for new trees. Not a single one has been planted
Approaching a year since the state government promised $7.2 million to replant 16,000 trees devastated by a destructive beetle, not a single tree has been planted and none will hit the ground until at least May 2026.
In response to concerns raised by Greens MLC Brad Pettitt in state parliament regarding the progress of the WA Tree Recovery program, including the number of applications received from local governments and residents, new Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn said only that the 'program continues to progress'.
The multimillion-dollar investment was to help replace thousands of trees affected by polyphagous shot-hole borer at Perth landmarks including Perth Zoo and Hyde Park.
It comes after the news that the majority of trees and shrubs on the islands in Hyde Park's two lakes are now infested with shot-hole borer, and will need to be removed.
Its eradication is a tough battle with no treatment options proven to be effective anywhere in the world – tree pruning and removal of infested trees is the only accepted way to stop the spread.
City of Vincent Mayor Alison Xamon said the council just started its annual tree program with around 4000 new plants to be planted on Hyde Park islands this winter, including mature trees to bring back canopy quicker.
She said minimising the loss of more trees to the borer was a priority for Vincent.
'The State Government grant funding is not yet available. As soon as it is released, we will apply,' she said.
'We will continue to seek additional funding support from state or federal government to ensure we not only replace, but increase our tree canopy coverage across Vincent.'
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News.com.au
27 minutes ago
- News.com.au
‘Must be called out': PM under pressure after 9News reporter Lauren Tomasi shot with rubber bullet during LA protests
The Greens have called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to seek 'urgent explanation' from Donald Trump after an Australian journalist was shot by police with a rubber bullet in Los Angeles. 9News reporter Lauren Tomasi was hit while covering street protests that have broken out in LA following the arrests of dozens of people for alleged immigration violations. The moment was captured on camera with Ms Tomasi directly hit in the leg. 'You just f***in' shot the reporter!' a protester yelled at the officer before asking whether she was OK. 'Yeah, I'm good,' she replied. In a statement, Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young called on Mr Albanese to hold the US President accountable. 'US authorities shooting an Australian journalist is simply shocking,' Ms Hanson-Young said in a statement. 'It is completely unacceptable and must be called out.' Ms Hanson-Young, who is also the Greens spokeswoman for media and communication, said the Prime Minister should seek 'an urgent explanation from the US administration'. 'As Albanese is preparing for his first meeting with President Trump, the first thing he must tell the President is to stop shooting at our journalists,' Ms Hanson-Young. 'Freedom of the press is a fundamental pillar of a strong, functioning democracy.' In a statement, Channel 9 said both Ms Tomasi and their camera operator were 'safe'. 'While reporting from protests in Los Angeles, 9News reporter Lauren Tomasi was struck by a rubber bullet. Lauren and her camera operator are safe and will continue their essential work covering these events,' the media company said. 'This incident serves as a stark reminder of the inherent dangers journalists can face while reporting from the frontlines of protests, underscoring the importance of their role in providing vital information.' On X, Ms Tomasi told a follower she was 'safe and okay'. The Prime Minister's office has yet to comment on the incident. Protesters ordered to disperse Before 10pm Sunday local time, the entirety of downtown Los Angeles was declared an 'unlawful assembly' zone, with members of the public instructed to disperse. 'Downtown Los Angeles has been declared as an UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY. You are to leave the Downtown Area immediately,' the police department posted on social media. It comes after cars were burned and protesters clashed with police, resulting in the arrests of almost 40 people involved in the riots. Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell said enforcement was 'overwhelmed' by the number of people involved in the protests. 'As far as people worried about the violence that we're seeing. The violence that we've seen is disgusting. It's escalated now, since the beginning of this incident. What we saw the first night was bad. What we've seen subsequent to that is getting worse and more violent,' Mr McDonnell said. 'Tonight we had individuals out there shooting commercial-grade fireworks at our officers. That can kill you. We have adapted our tactics to be able to have a chance to take these people into custody and to hold them accountable.' On Sunday morning, the first members of the National Guard arrived in Los Angeles after Mr Trump ordered 2,000 troops in the city after two days of violence and protests. A new statement from US Northern Command has confirmed that 500 Marines are also prepared to deploy to Los Angeles, should they be ordered to do so. California Governor Gavin Newsom has since come out demanding that Donald Trump withdraw the National Guard, accusing the President of 'inciting' more violence. 'These are the acts of a dictator, not a president,' he said. Mr Trump posted to the social media platform, Truth Social, to hit back at Mr Newsom as well as Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. 'Governor Gavin Newscum (sic) and 'Mayor' Bass should apologise to the people of Los Angeles for the absolutely horrible job they have done, and this now includes the ongoing LA riots,' he said. 'These are not protesters, they are troublemakers and insurrections.'
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Police shoot Australian journalist with rubber bullet during LA protest
A Greens senator has called out US authorities after an Australian journalist was shot in the leg with a rubber bullet while reporting on clashes between police and protestors in Los Angeles. Footage of the incident shared by Nine shows US correspondent Lauren Tomasi had finished filming a report when she yelled in pain after being hit. South Australian senator Sarah Hanson-Young reposted the footage on X, saying the alleged attack on a member of the press was "completely unacceptable and must be called out". "Freedom of the press is a fundamental pillar of a strong, functioning democracy," she said. It comes as California National Guard troops arrived in Los Angeles to quell demonstrations over President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement. The National Guard began deploying as demonstrations over federal immigration raids continued for a third day in Los Angeles, culminating in confrontations between protesters and police. Nine confirmed that Ms Tomasi was safe after she was struck by a rubber bullet while reporting from the protests in Los Angeles. "Lauren and her camera operator are safe and will continue their essential work covering these events," the statement said. "This incident serves as a stark reminder of the inherent dangers journalists can face while reporting from the frontlines of protests, underscoring the importance of their role in providing vital information." A Greens senator has called out US authorities after an Australian journalist was shot in the leg with a rubber bullet while reporting on clashes between police and protestors in Los Angeles. Footage of the incident shared by Nine shows US correspondent Lauren Tomasi had finished filming a report when she yelled in pain after being hit. South Australian senator Sarah Hanson-Young reposted the footage on X, saying the alleged attack on a member of the press was "completely unacceptable and must be called out". "Freedom of the press is a fundamental pillar of a strong, functioning democracy," she said. It comes as California National Guard troops arrived in Los Angeles to quell demonstrations over President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement. The National Guard began deploying as demonstrations over federal immigration raids continued for a third day in Los Angeles, culminating in confrontations between protesters and police. Nine confirmed that Ms Tomasi was safe after she was struck by a rubber bullet while reporting from the protests in Los Angeles. "Lauren and her camera operator are safe and will continue their essential work covering these events," the statement said. "This incident serves as a stark reminder of the inherent dangers journalists can face while reporting from the frontlines of protests, underscoring the importance of their role in providing vital information." A Greens senator has called out US authorities after an Australian journalist was shot in the leg with a rubber bullet while reporting on clashes between police and protestors in Los Angeles. Footage of the incident shared by Nine shows US correspondent Lauren Tomasi had finished filming a report when she yelled in pain after being hit. South Australian senator Sarah Hanson-Young reposted the footage on X, saying the alleged attack on a member of the press was "completely unacceptable and must be called out". "Freedom of the press is a fundamental pillar of a strong, functioning democracy," she said. It comes as California National Guard troops arrived in Los Angeles to quell demonstrations over President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement. The National Guard began deploying as demonstrations over federal immigration raids continued for a third day in Los Angeles, culminating in confrontations between protesters and police. Nine confirmed that Ms Tomasi was safe after she was struck by a rubber bullet while reporting from the protests in Los Angeles. "Lauren and her camera operator are safe and will continue their essential work covering these events," the statement said. "This incident serves as a stark reminder of the inherent dangers journalists can face while reporting from the frontlines of protests, underscoring the importance of their role in providing vital information." A Greens senator has called out US authorities after an Australian journalist was shot in the leg with a rubber bullet while reporting on clashes between police and protestors in Los Angeles. Footage of the incident shared by Nine shows US correspondent Lauren Tomasi had finished filming a report when she yelled in pain after being hit. South Australian senator Sarah Hanson-Young reposted the footage on X, saying the alleged attack on a member of the press was "completely unacceptable and must be called out". "Freedom of the press is a fundamental pillar of a strong, functioning democracy," she said. It comes as California National Guard troops arrived in Los Angeles to quell demonstrations over President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement. The National Guard began deploying as demonstrations over federal immigration raids continued for a third day in Los Angeles, culminating in confrontations between protesters and police. Nine confirmed that Ms Tomasi was safe after she was struck by a rubber bullet while reporting from the protests in Los Angeles. "Lauren and her camera operator are safe and will continue their essential work covering these events," the statement said. "This incident serves as a stark reminder of the inherent dangers journalists can face while reporting from the frontlines of protests, underscoring the importance of their role in providing vital information."
The Advertiser
5 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Greens strike conciliatory tone on super tax changes
The Greens are "absolutely ready" to work with Labor to make proposed changes to superannuation, acknowledging the mandate voters gave the Albanese government at the election. Labor is looking to double the tax rate of super balances above $3 million to 30 per cent, in a bid to limit the number of wealthy people using their balances for tax deductions rather than their retirements. The coalition has vowed to oppose the changes, labelling them unfair. With the government lacking a majority in the Senate, it needs the Greens or the coalition to pass legislation through the parliament. Greens treasury spokesman Nick McKim said he expected to begin negotiations with Treasurer Jim Chalmers before the new parliament returns at the end of July. "We are absolutely ready to work with with the treasurer and with Labor to try and move the superannuation system a little bit back towards what its original intent was when it was set up," he told ABC's RN on Monday. "We want the system to be as fair and as strong as it can be in terms of providing for a dignified retirement for working Australians, and that'll be our aim." Senator McKim said Dr Chalmers was a "re-elected treasurer in a re-elected government" which had taken the proposal to the May poll. Striking a more conciliatory tone, the Greens have previously been criticised for delaying Labor's housing bills during a crisis. The minor party lost three of its four lower house seats to Labor in a near wipe-out in the House of Representatives. Former Greens leader Adam Bandt also lost his seat after 15 years in parliament. The vast majority of Australians are unlikely to feel the impact of Labor's proposal, with the median super balance for 60 to 64-year-olds sitting at about $200,000 for men and $150,000 for women. Deputy Nationals leader Kevin Hogan said the coalition remained strongly opposed to taxing unrealised gains. "I don't know of many examples around the world that do that, and it's very damaging," he told ABC's RN. "The non indexation of that makes an exceptionally penalising policy as well." The Greens are "absolutely ready" to work with Labor to make proposed changes to superannuation, acknowledging the mandate voters gave the Albanese government at the election. Labor is looking to double the tax rate of super balances above $3 million to 30 per cent, in a bid to limit the number of wealthy people using their balances for tax deductions rather than their retirements. The coalition has vowed to oppose the changes, labelling them unfair. With the government lacking a majority in the Senate, it needs the Greens or the coalition to pass legislation through the parliament. Greens treasury spokesman Nick McKim said he expected to begin negotiations with Treasurer Jim Chalmers before the new parliament returns at the end of July. "We are absolutely ready to work with with the treasurer and with Labor to try and move the superannuation system a little bit back towards what its original intent was when it was set up," he told ABC's RN on Monday. "We want the system to be as fair and as strong as it can be in terms of providing for a dignified retirement for working Australians, and that'll be our aim." Senator McKim said Dr Chalmers was a "re-elected treasurer in a re-elected government" which had taken the proposal to the May poll. Striking a more conciliatory tone, the Greens have previously been criticised for delaying Labor's housing bills during a crisis. The minor party lost three of its four lower house seats to Labor in a near wipe-out in the House of Representatives. Former Greens leader Adam Bandt also lost his seat after 15 years in parliament. The vast majority of Australians are unlikely to feel the impact of Labor's proposal, with the median super balance for 60 to 64-year-olds sitting at about $200,000 for men and $150,000 for women. Deputy Nationals leader Kevin Hogan said the coalition remained strongly opposed to taxing unrealised gains. "I don't know of many examples around the world that do that, and it's very damaging," he told ABC's RN. "The non indexation of that makes an exceptionally penalising policy as well." The Greens are "absolutely ready" to work with Labor to make proposed changes to superannuation, acknowledging the mandate voters gave the Albanese government at the election. Labor is looking to double the tax rate of super balances above $3 million to 30 per cent, in a bid to limit the number of wealthy people using their balances for tax deductions rather than their retirements. The coalition has vowed to oppose the changes, labelling them unfair. With the government lacking a majority in the Senate, it needs the Greens or the coalition to pass legislation through the parliament. Greens treasury spokesman Nick McKim said he expected to begin negotiations with Treasurer Jim Chalmers before the new parliament returns at the end of July. "We are absolutely ready to work with with the treasurer and with Labor to try and move the superannuation system a little bit back towards what its original intent was when it was set up," he told ABC's RN on Monday. "We want the system to be as fair and as strong as it can be in terms of providing for a dignified retirement for working Australians, and that'll be our aim." Senator McKim said Dr Chalmers was a "re-elected treasurer in a re-elected government" which had taken the proposal to the May poll. Striking a more conciliatory tone, the Greens have previously been criticised for delaying Labor's housing bills during a crisis. The minor party lost three of its four lower house seats to Labor in a near wipe-out in the House of Representatives. Former Greens leader Adam Bandt also lost his seat after 15 years in parliament. The vast majority of Australians are unlikely to feel the impact of Labor's proposal, with the median super balance for 60 to 64-year-olds sitting at about $200,000 for men and $150,000 for women. Deputy Nationals leader Kevin Hogan said the coalition remained strongly opposed to taxing unrealised gains. "I don't know of many examples around the world that do that, and it's very damaging," he told ABC's RN. "The non indexation of that makes an exceptionally penalising policy as well." The Greens are "absolutely ready" to work with Labor to make proposed changes to superannuation, acknowledging the mandate voters gave the Albanese government at the election. Labor is looking to double the tax rate of super balances above $3 million to 30 per cent, in a bid to limit the number of wealthy people using their balances for tax deductions rather than their retirements. The coalition has vowed to oppose the changes, labelling them unfair. With the government lacking a majority in the Senate, it needs the Greens or the coalition to pass legislation through the parliament. Greens treasury spokesman Nick McKim said he expected to begin negotiations with Treasurer Jim Chalmers before the new parliament returns at the end of July. "We are absolutely ready to work with with the treasurer and with Labor to try and move the superannuation system a little bit back towards what its original intent was when it was set up," he told ABC's RN on Monday. "We want the system to be as fair and as strong as it can be in terms of providing for a dignified retirement for working Australians, and that'll be our aim." Senator McKim said Dr Chalmers was a "re-elected treasurer in a re-elected government" which had taken the proposal to the May poll. Striking a more conciliatory tone, the Greens have previously been criticised for delaying Labor's housing bills during a crisis. The minor party lost three of its four lower house seats to Labor in a near wipe-out in the House of Representatives. Former Greens leader Adam Bandt also lost his seat after 15 years in parliament. The vast majority of Australians are unlikely to feel the impact of Labor's proposal, with the median super balance for 60 to 64-year-olds sitting at about $200,000 for men and $150,000 for women. Deputy Nationals leader Kevin Hogan said the coalition remained strongly opposed to taxing unrealised gains. "I don't know of many examples around the world that do that, and it's very damaging," he told ABC's RN. "The non indexation of that makes an exceptionally penalising policy as well."
