Latest news with #LucyMorris
RNZ News
02-06-2025
- Automotive
- RNZ News
Wellington Motorcyclists stage sit in, protesting against new parking fees
Motorcycles in Wellington car parks protesting the new parking fees. Photo: Supplied/Lucy Morris Motorcyclists in Wellington are staging a sit in in Central Wellington on Tuesday morning to protest against newly imposed parking fees. The Wellington City Council have recently put in fees of $1 per hour for Motorbikes to park in car parks, with a daily cap of $6. Protest organiser Lucy Morris is revved up about the charges. "It will effect other motorist because having this mode of transport is attractive and efficient, it reduces congestion on the roads, it improves traffic flow, and having to pay for this is going to drive more people into less efficient modes of transport like single-use car rides," she said. The council implemented motorcycle parking fees despite many submissions opposing the changes. Morris told Morning Report they were maliciously complying with the council's sentiment, taking up car parks along the Terrace and Lambton key. When asked why motorcyclists should be exempt from parking charges, she said it was supposed to be a cost effective way to travel, and they already faced high fees. "We have extremely high registration fees in terms of ACC levies, so registering a motorcycle is about $480 a year. "[These charges] include scooters and mopeds which are largely used by people of lesser financial means, such as students, a lot of delivery drivers use them and they use this transport as a cost effective way of getting around." She said the money to pay the parking fees would take away from other areas. "In this cost of living crisis, having to find an extra, you know, $30-$35 a week is going to come out of somewhere." No other city in the country charged motorcyclists, she added. The protests may continue on June 10. Wellington City Council has been approached from comment. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
West Australian
25-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
WA feedlot numbers continue to surge as global demand for Australian boxed beef booms
WA feedlotters are feeling positive about the year ahead with 51,235 head of cattle on feed in March and grain fed beef exports continuing to surge to record highs. The latest WA figures were revealed in the latest national feedlot survey by the Australian Lot Feeders Association and Meat and Livestock Australia and published earlier month. Australian feedlot numbers climbed to record levels in March, with 1.49 million head in feedlots across the country by the end of the month. Nationally, feedlots were at 90 per cent capacity, which industry refers to as feedlot utilisation. WA Lot Feeders Association president Lucy Morris, the senior operations manager at TW Pearson and Son, said the State's feedlot sector was feeling positive about demand for feedlot space and grainfed beef. 'The tight summer period and lack of rainfall throughout the southern areas of the State has brought some opportunities for feedlots to access additional feeder cattle which came onto the market as a result,' she said, 'Demand for WA grain fed beef seems to be on the rise with China looking for alternatives to the US market, and subsequently other markets are seeking to fill the void created by the demand from China. 'This is really positive for WA and there will be opportunities to gain ground in markets especially throughout South East Asia where we have a freight proximity advantage over our competitors.' While WA's feedlot numbers were hovering at 10 per cent above the same quarter last year, the report noted feedlot utilisation was 71 per cent with capacity remaining flat at 89 per cent. Comparatively, drought-like conditions plaguing farmers in South Australia and Victoria had sent feedlot utilisation in the latter soaring to more than 90 per cent — the State's highest since 2019. Meat and Livestock Australia senior market analyst Erin Lukey said it was important to note that WA's feedlot sector was 'largely seasonal' and traditionally peaked in March. She said the national and WA results highlighted the adaptability of the lot feeding sector and how it could respond to shifting seasonal and market conditions. 'Australia is currently facing a stark contrast in seasonal conditions: the south is experiencing sustained dry weather, with SA, Victoria, and parts of NSW experiencing poor pasture and feed availability,' she said. 'As a result, many producers have turned to feedlots to finish cattle to hit target weights through short-feeding programs.' Australia exported a record amount of beef in April, at 127,000 tonnes, with China ramping up is imports after ceasing imports from the US on the back of US President Donald Trump's controversial trade tariffs. But the US remains Australia's biggest beef customer, taking 37,213t compared to China's 21,572t. WA's feedlot sector is seasonal in nature, and typically peaks during the first and last quarters of the year. Queensland is the nation's feedlotting capital, with more than 850,000 cattle on feed in March, followed by NSW at 442,735, South Australia at 71,060 and Victoria at 69,613.
BBC News
16-05-2025
- BBC News
Essex police officer sacked for off-duty 'inappropriate behaviour'
A police officer has been sacked for acting inappropriately towards a woman at a social Jonathan Mawson, from Essex Police, was found to have committed gross misconduct in Chelmsford in February 2022 when he was off duty and "caused the woman to feel distressed", the force said. He stood trial for sexual assault by touching at Peterborough Crown Court and was found not guilty in July 2024. He had been suspended from duty while the Professional Standards Department carried out its investigation, the force added. 'Stamp out misogyny' The three-day hearing found Mr Mawson had breached four standards of professional behaviour relating to authority, respect and courtesy, honesty and integrity, discreditable conduct and equality and diversity. Assistant Chief Constable Lucy Morris praised the witness who "bravely came forward and reported this behaviour". "No-one should ever have to be subjected to such inappropriate behaviour", she said. "It fell well below our standards of professional behaviour and what we expect of our workforce."It is disrespectful to treat anyone in this way and will not be accepted or tolerated by us. "We continue to work hard to stamp out misogyny in all its forms and poor treatment of women and girls, both inside and outside of the force."She said it was important for the force to set high standards and "such poor behaviours can have a significant impact on the trust and confidence of the public in the police service". "We will rightly and robustly deal with those who act inappropriately towards women in public and in private – and indeed within our force - and we would encourage people to be upstanders and not bystanders, by calling out poor behaviours at the earliest opportunity, or reporting them to our Professional Standards Department." Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
