Latest news with #Braddon
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Mother of murdered teen fears justice reforms
A mother whose teenage son was murdered by a convicted offender on probation says she fears proposed changes to the justice system. Conner Marshall, 18, of Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, was beaten to death by David Braddon in March 2015 in a case of mistaken identity. But plans to deal with prison overcrowding would see more prisoners in Wales and England, including some serious offenders, eligible for early release after serving a third of their sentence. Mr Marshall's mother, Nadine Marshall, is concerned reforms announced by Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, including increased use tagging and home detention, will put even more strain on the probation service "The problems are going to be magnified because the system isn't fit for purpose as it is," she said. The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) said the UK government inherited a criminal justice system "in crisis" but would include £700 million to fund "intensive supervision" of released prisoners by the Probation Service. Mrs Marshall responded: "I'm not confident in the slightest. "That money is just going to plug holes. "The staffing isn't there, the processes aren't there, the systems aren't there for probation to actively be able to deal with the workload they have." Violent criminals could be released early and chemical castration pilot expanded after review Bold spending needed to halt prison crisis - union More inmates released early to stop prisons running out of space Mr Marshall was killed at Trecco Bay caravan park in Porthcawl, Bridgend county, in a drink and drug-fuelled attack. At the time, Braddon, 26, of Caerphilly, was subject to two community orders following his conviction for drug offences and assaulting a police officer, but was classified as a low-risk offender. He was among 244 criminals on probation who were charged with murder in Wales and England between January 2020 and March 2024 - an average of one a week - according to statistics shared with BBC Wales-produced Newyddion S4C. At the inquest into Mr Marshall's death, the coroner heavily criticised the Probation Service, particularly the "woefully inadequate" management of Braddon's inexperienced new case worker. An MOJ spokesperson said: "Our thoughts remain with the victims of these horrific crimes and their families. "A 45% uplift in funding for the service will allow us to tag and monitor tens of thousands more offenders in the community. And we are on track to have recruited 2,300 probation officers by March next year." But an independent sentencing review has suggested wider use of probation services and the third sector in managing offenders after release from prison. It was carried out by the former Conservative Lord Chancellor David Gauke after prisons across Wales and England almost reached capacity last summer. It acknowledged the probation service is also currently "under great strain". Mahmood told the Commons on Thursday she accepted most of the proposals but stopped short of allowing the most serious offenders from being released early and said nobody jailed for terror offences would be eligible. Between July 2024 and March 2025, the UK government recruited 1,000 probation officers and has set a target of recruiting a further 1,300 this financial year 2025-26. National Association of Probation Officers broadly supports the government announcement but warned proper investment must accompany the burden on staff. "We have long been saying if the prison system is full and it is, so is probation," general secretary Ian Lawrence told Newyddion S4C. "Can the probation service cope with what will be a new cohort of early releases in Spring next year once this is all enacted? Not at the current rate of progress. "We currently have a system where staff are working massive hours under massive pressure just to cope with what I would call business as usual." Murdered teen's mum gets commissioner nomination Mother's pride at son's organ donation Murdered teen's story told to pupils
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Mother of murdered teen fears justice reforms
A mother whose teenage son was murdered by a convicted offender on probation says she fears proposed changes to the justice system. Conner Marshall, 18, of Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, was beaten to death by David Braddon in March 2015 in a case of mistaken identity. But plans to deal with prison overcrowding would see more prisoners in Wales and England, including some serious offenders, eligible for early release after serving a third of their sentence. Mr Marshall's mother, Nadine Marshall, is concerned reforms announced by Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, including increased use tagging and home detention, will put even more strain on the probation service "The problems are going to be magnified because the system isn't fit for purpose as it is," she said. The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) said the UK government inherited a criminal justice system "in crisis" but would include £700 million to fund "intensive supervision" of released prisoners by the Probation Service. Mrs Marshall responded: "I'm not confident in the slightest. "That money is just going to plug holes. "The staffing isn't there, the processes aren't there, the systems aren't there for probation to actively be able to deal with the workload they have." Violent criminals could be released early and chemical castration pilot expanded after review Bold spending needed to halt prison crisis - union More inmates released early to stop prisons running out of space Mr Marshall was killed at Trecco Bay caravan park in Porthcawl, Bridgend county, in a drink and drug-fuelled attack. At the time, Braddon, 26, of Caerphilly, was subject to two community orders following his conviction for drug offences and assaulting a police officer, but was classified as a low-risk offender. He was among 244 criminals on probation who were charged with murder in Wales and England between January 2020 and March 2024 - an average of one a week - according to statistics shared with BBC Wales-produced Newyddion S4C. At the inquest into Mr Marshall's death, the coroner heavily criticised the Probation Service, particularly the "woefully inadequate" management of Braddon's inexperienced new case worker. An MOJ spokesperson said: "Our thoughts remain with the victims of these horrific crimes and their families. "A 45% uplift in funding for the service will allow us to tag and monitor tens of thousands more offenders in the community. And we are on track to have recruited 2,300 probation officers by March next year." But an independent sentencing review has suggested wider use of probation services and the third sector in managing offenders after release from prison. It was carried out by the former Conservative Lord Chancellor David Gauke after prisons across Wales and England almost reached capacity last summer. It acknowledged the probation service is also currently "under great strain". Mahmood told the Commons on Thursday she accepted most of the proposals but stopped short of allowing the most serious offenders from being released early and said nobody jailed for terror offences would be eligible. Between July 2024 and March 2025, the UK government recruited 1,000 probation officers and has set a target of recruiting a further 1,300 this financial year 2025-26. National Association of Probation Officers broadly supports the government announcement but warned proper investment must accompany the burden on staff. "We have long been saying if the prison system is full and it is, so is probation," general secretary Ian Lawrence told Newyddion S4C. "Can the probation service cope with what will be a new cohort of early releases in Spring next year once this is all enacted? Not at the current rate of progress. "We currently have a system where staff are working massive hours under massive pressure just to cope with what I would call business as usual." Murdered teen's mum gets commissioner nomination Mother's pride at son's organ donation Murdered teen's story told to pupils
ABC News
21-05-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Union organiser Josh Dolega the front runner to replace Anne Urquhart in the Senate
A union organiser and fitness instructor is the frontrunner to be selected as a new Tasmanian Labor senator at a meeting of the party's national executive on Friday. Labor sources say Community and Public Sector Union work health and safety lead organiser Josh Dolega has the backing of the Australian Manufacturing Worker's Union (AMWU) to fill the casual vacancy left by former senator Anne Urquhart, who is now the MP for the north-west Tasmanian seat of Braddon. Ms Urquhart, a former AMWU official, is also understood to back Mr Dolega winning the vacancy. Who Ms Urquhart nominates is seen as particularly important by the national executive after she quit her position in the Senate following a request from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to contest Braddon. She achieved a whopping 15.3 per cent swing in the federal government's landslide victory. It means Mr Dolega is tipped by a number of party sources as the candidate to beat, in a field including Unions Tasmania secretary Jessica Munday and Meander Valley Councillor Ben Dudman, backed by the United Workers Union. Former state secretary Stuart Benson was also raised as a potential candidate to join the Senate, but it's not clear if he officially nominated for the position, which will go to a member of the party's Left faction. If endorsed by the national executive, Mr Dolega will be a senator until the next federal election in 2028. The winner will receive a guaranteed salary of just over $700,000, given senators earn a base annual salary of $233,660. Mr Dolega is understood to have told the party he was happy to relocate from Hobart to the north-west coast, where Ms Urquhart had been based while a senator. He worked as a tax officer for the Australian Tax Office based in Burnie for more than a decade, and worked as a group fitness instructor at the Devonport aquatic centre. He does not have a high profile social media presence, but in a submission to a review of local government in Tasmania, said that the state's 29 councils should be reduced to three, one each in Devonport, Launceston and Hobart. Mr Dolega was contacted for comment. A member of Labor's left-faction, who had been lobbying for Ms Munday to be awarded the casual vacancy, speaking to the ABC on the condition of anonymity, said they were disappointed she was set to be overlooked. "We have a candidate here with deep expertise in policy, governance and leadership. "These decisions need to be based on merit but this doesn't seem to be happening." The new senator's selection will be made official next Tuesday, when it's confirmed by the Tasmanian parliament. Labor sources say Ms Munday's unwillingness to move to the north-west has been cited as the reason for overlooking her. But her supporters argue senators do not need to live in the same location their office is based in, and point to examples in other states where a majority of senators are based out of capital cities. Labor senator Helen Polley is based in Launceston, while Richard Dowling and Carol Brown are both based out of the state's south. The Tasmanian Labor Party was placed into administration in mid-2022 following a period of internal infighting. The administration was ended last year, but a new state administrative committee has not yet been appointed. It was stated a committee of six party members would remain in charge of internal decisions until that happened, but party sources say the party has effectively remained in administration, with all pre-selection decisions, including the casual senate vacancy, made by the national executive. Ms Urquhart and Ms Munday were contacted for comment.
ABC News
05-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Tasmanian Liberals reflect on how Coalition campaign didn't 'read the tea leaves'
A Liberal senator for Tasmania says the party's campaign headquarters did not "read the tea leaves" and ignored warnings that the campaign was not going their way. In Saturday's election, the Coalition failed to win any Tasmanian lower house seats. Labor took both Braddon and Bass from the Liberals with Labor also looks set to keep Franklin, leaving just Clark, held by independent MP Andrew Wilkie. Election essentials: From two lower house seats to none. The Liberals in Tasmania are facing a crushing defeat. ( ABC News: Manika Champ ) Liberal senator Jonathon Duniam, whose seat was not up for re-election, told ABC Mornings that things went clearly wrong. "Frankly, I think there are a lot of questions to answer, particularly on the mainland," he said. "Our campaign headquarters in Paramatta didn't read the tea leaves, didn't talk to us in Tasmania, didn't understand Tasmanian issues. "We'd been pleading with them for quite some time to allow us to run our Tasmanian-specific approach to campaigning, which worked well in 2022. "You'd remember, we bucked the trend and Senator Duniam has been a Tasmanian senator since 2016. ( Supplied: Jonathon Duniam ) Campaign HQ 'in genuine shock' Senator Duniam said there were a range of policy ideas and projects that the Tasmanian Liberals wanted to advance but were blocked by the party's campaign headquarters. Photo shows A young couple From the outer suburbs to the seaside, the Coalition was abandoned by its core base. The ABC spoke to voters in key changing seats to ask why. "We didn't get to talk about the local health issues that we wanted to talk about," he said. "And there are people in genuine shock in our campaign headquarters wondering how we did this … we knew weeks ago we were in trouble … you only have to go out and gauge feedback at listening posts or out door-knocking. "There was a degree of politeness but it wasn't the warm embrace that the pollsters that we were using internally were telling us we should be expecting. " We did our own polling here in Tasmania and that is when we knew we were in trouble. " Bridget Archer was not expected to lose her seat in Bass, according to election analysts. ( ABC News: Manika Champ ) Move from Canberra-centric focus needed, former MP says The retired Liberal Member for Braddon, Gavin Pearce, also commented on what went wrong for the Coalition. Photo shows Labor supporters in red t-shirts put their fists into the air and cheer. It was something no-one saw coming — not even Labor dared dream the election would go this well, writes Lucy MacDonald. He told ABC Mornings the lack of a locally focused campaign was a significant factor in the party's loss. "I've also been a local-centric politician. I don't care much for Canberra. I go there for a job, for a reason and my main focus is the electorate," he said. "I think if there was more of that and less of Canberra-centric focus we'd be in a different place." Mr Pearce also said the party's loss was a "federal trend" and a "demographic issue" that was not helped by the impact of "Trumpism". Former opposition leader Peter Dutton also lost his own seat in Dickson. ( ABC News: Manika Champ ) "All of these things added up and I don't think it was any one thing — I think it was a combination and a culmination of many things put together," he said. "My advice at the moment is we just need to settle and remove the emotion … the 'I said, he said, she said', emotional side of it needs to be removed … we then need to have a critical look at what went wrong and where did it go wrong. "We need to listen more to the electorate, to the constitutes, to what they need and what they want." Loading
The Guardian
04-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Labor's lower-house lead and the Senate state of play: the election in four charts
We're not expecting much in the way of counting today as the AEC usually spends Sunday sorting and transporting ballot papers for fresh counts, so there may not be many updates on still undecided seats today. However, here's where we're currently at with the seats projected as won by each party, and the number of seats for which the ABC has that party leading as at 10am Sunday morning: The party leading in quite a few of the undecided seats could well change as they're either very close or the final order of the candidates for two-candidate-preferred counts is uncertain, so we can't rely on the totals too much just yet. However, Labor is on track for at least 85 seats, and the final tally could well be more. The Greens have suffered quite a setback here too, as they currently only lead in two seats. In 2022 they won four seats, so they are looking at a loss of two seats as things stand, despite their national primary vote actually remaining steady compared with 2022. Here's the state of play in the Senate, combining the number of Senate spots won for each party based on the AEC's provisional quota counts, plus the existing senators who weren't up for election this year. Also shown are the number of likely Senate seats according to the ABC's analysis. Labor is on track to have 27 senators, the Coalition 26, the Greens 11, and then various minor parties and independents making up another six. There are still six Senate seats in doubt. This means that Labor won't have a majority in the Senate, which is not surprising. However, Labor's gains do mean that Labor plus 11 Greens and one other independent could form the majority needed to pass legislation without the Coalition blocking it. The seats changing hands are a mix of suburban seats like Hughes and Banks in NSW, Moore in WA, Dickson, Petrie and Bonner in Queensland, and then larger seats covering towns and regional areas such as Leichhardt in Queensland's north and Bass and Braddon in Tasmania: Sign up to Afternoon Update: Election 2025 Our Australian afternoon update breaks down the key election campaign stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion The map above also shows the swing if you toggle the dropdown menu. Some of the highest two-party-preferred swings are in the seats changing hands, like Braddon, Bass and Leichhardt, but also seats which haven't switched, like Bruce and Lyons. Despite Labor's big win, Australia's two-party system has continued its long-term decline, with the combined major party primary vote dropping again compared with 2022: If these primary vote splits hold once the remaining votes are counted, then we will have crossed a significant, albeit symbolic threshold – at least one-third of Australians will have voted for someone other than a Labor or Coalition candidate for the first time. This declining primary vote is also causing some issues with vote counting on election night. Ahead of counting, the AEC makes an assumption on which candidates are likely to be in the final two so they can conduct the two-party-preferred count more quickly. If this final pairing is different to the AEC's initial assumption, then the seat is designated as 'maverick' and the two-party-preferred count, which uses the preference counts of all votes, is suspended until the proper final pairing can be determined. This election, a whopping 21 seats were declared maverick, which means we will have to wait longer to get the two-candidate-preferred counts. According to election analyst Ben Raue, this is due in no small part to the rising non-major party vote, as the gap between second and third candidates is becoming smaller.
