Latest news with #BradBattin

The Age
14 hours ago
- Politics
- The Age
Third Melbourne council to hire private security guards as ‘safety issues at their worst level'
An inner-west Melbourne council has become the third municipality to take crime prevention into its own hands by hiring private security to patrol antisocial hotspots, prompting calls for more police resources and funds for support services. After an hour-long debate, Maribyrnong council voted on Tuesday night to support hiring guards to patrol central Footscray after a spate of violent incidents, including an alleged murder in the Nicholson Street mall and the fatal police shooting of a homeless man. The six-month trial is expected to begin in August and would cost ratepayers up to $100,000 for two security officers for 24 hours a week. The decision follows a similar move at Melbourne City Council, which last month made its CBD security guard scheme permanent after a three-month pilot. The scheme costs $2 million for 11 guards per year. Wyndham City Council, in the outer west, also voted last month to pay $372,000 for private security to patrol the streets of Truganina in a 12-month trial. Security guards' powers are limited to citizen's arrests as they are unable to use force, but councils argue that they create a passive safety presence while accompanying the council's local law officers, who enforce on-street behavioural issues such as public nuisance and alcohol consumption. Security guard patrols are also increasingly being paid for by private operators, such as at housing estates in Melbourne's outer suburbs to combat theft and violence and Jewish schools and communities fearing antisemitic attacks. Opposition Leader Brad Battin blamed the government for fuelling a trend of local councils turning to private security to help their communities feel safe, which is costing ratepayers. 'When local councils are forced to step in and fund private security to fill the gaps, it's a clear sign that the Labor government has failed to deliver on one of its most basic responsibilities: keeping Victorians safe,' Battin said.

Sydney Morning Herald
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Third Melbourne council to hire private security guards as ‘safety issues at their worst level'
An inner-west Melbourne council has become the third municipality to take crime prevention into its own hands by hiring private security to patrol antisocial hotspots, prompting calls for more police resources and funds for support services. After an hour-long debate, Maribyrnong council voted on Tuesday night to support hiring guards to patrol central Footscray after a spate of violent incidents, including an alleged murder in the Nicholson Street mall and the fatal police shooting of a homeless man. The six-month trial is expected to begin in August and would cost ratepayers up to $100,000 for two security officers for 24 hours a week. The decision follows a similar move at Melbourne City Council, which last month made its CBD security guard scheme permanent after a three-month pilot. The scheme costs $2 million for 11 guards per year. Wyndham City Council, in the outer west, also voted last month to pay $372,000 for private security to patrol the streets of Truganina in a 12-month trial. Security guards' powers are limited to citizen's arrests as they are unable to use force, but councils argue that they create a passive safety presence while accompanying the council's local law officers, who enforce on-street behavioural issues such as public nuisance and alcohol consumption. Security guard patrols are also increasingly being paid for by private operators, such as at housing estates in Melbourne's outer suburbs to combat theft and violence and Jewish schools and communities fearing antisemitic attacks. Opposition Leader Brad Battin blamed the government for fuelling a trend of local councils turning to private security to help their communities feel safe, which is costing ratepayers. 'When local councils are forced to step in and fund private security to fill the gaps, it's a clear sign that the Labor government has failed to deliver on one of its most basic responsibilities: keeping Victorians safe,' Battin said.


The Guardian
14-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Morning Mail: Chalmers' plea to opposition, Victoria banner stoush, Trump's arms for Ukraine
Morning everyone. Jim Chalmers has used an interview with Guardian Australia to urge the opposition to take a constructive attitude into next month's big productivity as he tries to find ways to fix the issue that has dogged Australia's economy. In other news, a study showing the extent of low pay endured by young workers sheds some light on the treasurer's pet problem; Victorian politics is engulfed by a battle over a rally banner; Trump announces a big arms deal for Ukraine; and a recipe to reclaim the unloved brussels sprout. Bradfield bid | The New South Wales Liberal party will challenge votes counted in independent Nicolette Boele's wafer-thin win in the Sydney seat of Bradfield, asking a judge to recount some of the ballots that led to her 26 vote margin. Chalmers offensive | Jim Chalmers has warned the opposition will have no credibility with voters or key economic decision makers if it plays politics at next month's productivity summit and has called on the Coalition to work with Labor to boost growth and prosperity. He explains more in conversation with Tom McIlroy in our Australian politics podcast. Pay pain | More than one-third of young workers are exploited by their employers, according to a new study, with many paid less than the minimum wage, forbidden to take entitled breaks, compelled to pay for work-related items, or given food and products instead of money. Rally row | The Victorian opposition leader, Brad Battin, and firefighters union boss, Peter Marshall, have sparked backlash after attending a rally in Melbourne's west where the slogan 'ditch the bitch' – apparently aimed at the state premier, Jacinta Allan – was emblazoned on a fire truck. Stone charge | A man from Sydney has appeared in a court in Scotland charged with 'malicious mischief' following reports a glass case containing the famous historical artefact, the Stone of Scone, was broken in Perth. Ukraine deal | Donald Trump has agreed with Nato allies to supply a large amount of arms to Ukraine, including Patriot missiles, and warned Russia that it will face severe sanctions if Moscow does not make peace within 50 days. At home, Trump faces rare discontent from his Maga base over his administration's claim that it did not have a list of Jeffery Epstein's alleged clients. Israel feud | A feud has broken between the Israeli government and the military over the cost and impact of a planned camp for Palestinians in southern Gaza as politicians attacked former prime minister Ehud Olmert for warning that the project would create a 'concentration camp' if it goes ahead. Letby miscarriage | A senior coroner's officer who first reviewed the deaths of babies at at the Countess of Chester hospital now believes Lucy Letby – who convicted of murdering seven babies – has suffered a miscarriage of justice. Summary execution | A man in Pennsylvania has been given life in prison for shooting his father, who worked for the federal government, decapitating him and brandishing the severed head in an online video that called for the execution of other civil servants. Web of intrigue | German customs officials have seized roughly 1,500 young tarantulas found inside plastic containers that were hidden in chocolate sponge cake boxes shipped to an airport. The controversy over Jillian Segal's antisemitism plan Political reporter Josh Butler and education reporter Caitlin Cassidy speak to Reged Ahmad about why the proposed antisemitism plan has some people worried. Sorry your browser does not support audio - but you can download here and listen $ As Jim Chalmers prepares for his big economic summit, we have invited three academics to write about why Australia has struggled to improve productivity and ease the cost of living pressures on ordinary people. They argue that the reasons are complex, ranging from the impact of the GFC to political failures by all parties – but all warn that neoliberalism 'lite' is not the answer. Alice Zaslavsky looks at the history of our relationship with brussels sprouts and makes the arguable case for us to eat more of the brassica. Having said that, her suggestion of teaming them with apple and smoked pork belly sounds pretty tasty. Sign up to Morning Mail Our Australian morning briefing breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Cricket | England won the third Test against India by 22 runs as a dramatic, nail-biting final day at Lord's saw the visitors fall just short after recovering from a seemingly hopeless 112-8 at lunch chasing 193 to win. Rugby union | Wallabies back Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i has resisted the temptation to throw fuel on the fire ahead of a possible spicy rematch with British and Irish Lions centre Sione Tuipulotu in Saturday's opening Test in Brisbane. Cycling | An epic Bastille Day stage of the Tour de France ended with an Englishman winning in the Auvergne, an Irishman in the yellow jersey and a French hope falling by the wayside. The Telegraph hears from a 'leading China expert' who claims that the Beijing government has tried 'to weaponise' the Chinese Australian diaspora to the benefit of the Labor party. Dog owners in South Australia are worried the state's algal bloom is making their pets sick, the Advertiser reports. An opinion piece in the Herald Sun asks whether the Liberal party should copy the tactics used by Nigel Farage's Reform UK party to stem its slide. The son of Eileen Bond paid tribute to her 'colourful personality' at a funeral service in Perth yesterday, WAtoday reports. Reserve Bank | The RBA will release a consultation paper on retailer card payments costs and surcharging. Universities | A 'people's inquiry' into campus free speech on Palestine will hold public hearings in Sydney. Sydney | The former Greens candidate Hannah Thomas will appear at Bankstown local court over a protest in which she sustained a serious injury. If you would like to receive this Morning Mail update to your email inbox every weekday, sign up here, or finish your day with our Afternoon Update newsletter. You can follow the latest in US politics by signing up for This Week in Trumpland. And finally, here are the Guardian's crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow. Quick crossword Cryptic crossword


The Guardian
14-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
‘Disgusting' slogan apparently directed at Victorian premier seen at rally attended by Brad Battin and union boss
The Victorian opposition leader, Brad Battin, and firefighters union boss, Peter Marshall, have sparked backlash after attending a rally in Melbourne's west where the slogan 'ditch the bitch' was emblazoned on a fire truck. The phrase, apparently directed at the premier, Jacinta Allan, echoes the infamous 'ditch the witch' poster that Tony Abbott stood in front of during a 2011 rally, which was widely condemned at the time as sexist and misogynistic toward the then prime minister Julia Gillard. Gillard made reference to the sign in her 2012 misogyny speech and later said it should have been a 'career-ending moment' for Abbott. Other slogans displayed on the truck at Sunday's rally in Werribee, held against the government's new emergency services levy, included 'Truck Jacinta' and 'Raping the regions for the ring of steel' – a reference to the Covid-19 policy that separated Melbourne from regional Victoria. Micaela Drieberg, the chief executive of Gender Equity Victoria, said it was 'hard to believe' that 'disgusting signage insulting our leaders based on their gender' continued to be used. 'We would never accept this based on someone's race, and we should hold the same standards with gender,' Drieberg said. 'It's exhausting and demoralising for women in leadership, and we have been here before. We saw this issue brought to the forefront over 15 years ago when we saw similar signage directed at Julia Gillard, our sole female prime minister. 'It wasn't acceptable then and it isn't acceptable now.' Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email Helen Bolton, the chief executive of Respect Victoria, described the slogans as 'misogynistic language' that 'has no place in public debate'. 'This type of language sets the tone for how women are treated – in public life, in schools, workplace and behind closed doors – so it needs to be challenged and called out for what it is – sexism,' she said. It is understood the slogans were the work of female volunteers from the Country Fire Authority's Pura Pura brigade. The CFA has been approached for comment. Both Battin and Marshall, the Victorian branch secretary of the United Firefighters Union, delivered speeches at the event from atop another fire truck. Battin said he stood with CFA volunteers and farming families affected by the 'unfair' levy. 'I attended the rally to listen and call for its removal. I do not endorse offensive signs or language at the protest – anger should not become personal attacks,' he said. 'Farmers and volunteers are under severe financial and emotional strain, with tragic consequences.' Allan is currently on leave. In a statement, the acting premier, Jaclyn Symes, accused Battin of 'turning a blind eye to sexist slogans at rallies he attends'. 'This pathetic display from Brad Battin tells you everything about the Liberals' deep-rooted issues with respecting women,' Symes said. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion 'In the [Victorian] Liberal party, women aren't in the leadership team, they're not at the decision-making table, and they're not respected – they're on their own.' She also stressed the slogans 'do not represent the thousands of men and women that volunteer for the CFA and have been at pains to make women feel safe in their ranks'. Battin would not say whether he was aware of the slogans while at the event. A spokesperson for the UFU said Marshall wasn't. 'This language is unacceptable. Mr Marshall and the UFU condemn it in the strongest possible terms,' they said. 'Those who displayed the slogans have no association with the UFU and the union had no forewarning that this language would be used at the public event.' Only UFU-endorsed slogans were displayed on UFU-branded placards, they added. The protest was sparked by anger over the emergency services levy, which replaces the fire services levy and provides funding to the CFA, SES, State Control Centre and triple-zero – agencies facing increased pressure due to more frequent and extreme weather events. The levy will raise the average annual bill by $63 for residential homeowners and $678 for primary producers, leading to backlash from some farmers and firefighters. The government, however, paused the introduction of the levy for farmers in 2025–26 due to the drought affecting parts of the state. At a protest over the levy in May, a farmer left a box of manure outside Allan's parliament office, which the premier described at the time as 'inappropriate'. She also criticised Battin for failing to condemn Liberal MPs who allowed the farmer into the parliamentary precinct. Allan has also been subjected to a gendered cartoon, depicting her as a nude catwalk model, soon after she became premier. She previously told Guardian Australia seeing the cartoon 'was like a blow to the stomach' but she chose to call it out, citing Gillard's experience.

Sky News AU
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
‘Two years in jail': Victorian Coalition proposes massive penalties as part of protest permit proposal
Victorian protest laws would face a major shakeup under a proposal put forward by the state opposition, with protesters who breach exclusion orders facing up to two years behind bars. Opposition Leader Brad Battin announced the proposal for a new protest registration scheme on Thursday, less than a week after a group of 20 pro-Palestine protesters stormed a Jewish restaurant in Melbourne's Hardware Lane. The proposal would see Victoria Police put in charge of a new state-wide protest registration scheme, providing them with intel to deploy resources and the power to alter protest routes to avoid particular locations such as synagogues. Protests that are registered with police, and carried out in line with agreed conditions, would receive legal protections, exempting them from laws such as obstruction and unlawful assembly. However unregistered protests that proceed in ways that disrupt public order or endanger others will be subject to tougher enforcement laws, with Victoria Police being given the power to issue on-the-spot move-on orders. Protesters who defy court-issued exclusion orders would also face up to two years in jail and fines of up to $22,000. Human rights groups have long opposed a NSW-style permit system for protests, arguing it would conflict with Victoria's Charter of Human Rights, which protects the right to freedom of assembly. 'Section 16 of the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities protects your right to gather for a common purpose or to pursue common goals, such as protesting, gathering or meeting, whether in public or in private,' Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission states on its website. But the Victorian opposition says its policy would remain consistent with the state's human rights laws by keeping protest registration voluntary while making clear that unregistered protests that disrupt public order or breach directions will face the full force of strengthened enforcement powers. 'This is a fair and practical policy that protects the right to protest while ensuring the rights of others to go about their lives are respected. It's about restoring balance, keeping people safe and supporting Victoria Police to do their job properly,' the Victorian Opposition Leader said. 'Victorians have had enough of disruption and intimidation on their streets. We've seen climate activists blocking roads at peak hour, regular protests shutting down the CBD, and deeply concerning anti-Semitic demonstrations and attacks outside synagogues and businesses – all while Labor has done nothing. 'Jacinta Allan's choices have left our communities exposed and our police stretched thin. Only the Liberals and Nationals have real solutions so every Victorian can feel safe, respected, and free. We will restore order and protect Victorians' right to go about their lives." The Allan government has previously resisted calls for a NSW-style permit system for protests, with Premier Jacinta Allan stating last year that Victoria Police already had adequate powers. 'People have a right to come together and to peacefully protest and that right should absolutely be respected,' The Victorian Premier said in 2024. 'In terms of when some of these protest activities turn violent, Victoria Police already have the tools that they need to arrest people (and) to move people on.' Ms Allan also argued a NSW-style permit system would impose a time-consuming and unwieldy process on police and the courts while failing to mitigate the risk of violence. 'What happens in New South Wales is it provides the Chief Commissioner with the authorisation to oppose a gathering going ahead and that opposition can then be challenged through a court process,' Premier Allan said. 'Now in my mind, that runs the risk of being a very lengthy, unwieldy, time-consuming process for both the police force and the court system. 'And as I said earlier, it does not give a guarantee that each and every event would be undertaken peacefully. 'That is why the focus we have is on supporting Victoria Police with the tools and resources they need - significant numbers of extra police, billions of additional dollars invested."