Latest news with #Saffioti
Perth Now
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Outrage over bare knuckle fighting event in WA
The West Australian government has been warned by concerned health advocates that it will be responsible for any deaths if a bare knuckle fighting event goes ahead in Perth. WA Sports Minister Rita Saffioti has declared she will not intervene to stop the Promotion Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship from coming Down Under if it's given the all clear from the state's Combat Sports Commission (CSC). 'The event has to be sanctioned by the Combat Sports Commission … there's two stages of this,' she said. 'This was the first, whether the sport can be allowed in the state, and that was something that has been signed off by the previous minister. 'And then there's the actual event … what the proponents have to do is put forward to the CSC what is involved and then the commission either approves or doesn't approve it.' Ms Saffioti said the decision was up to the sporting body, emphasising the importance of regulation. NewsWire /Philip Gostelow Credit: NCA NewsWire Ms Saffioti said she was aware that although not everyone enjoyed combat sports, it was more important to ensure the sport could be regulated. 'If you don't regulate, then things go underground and it's much less safe for the competitors,' she told Perth Today's Simon Beaumont. 'It's not my cup of tea, but similar to the discussion and the debate around cage fighting or the octagon, MMA and UFC, similar arguments were put forward … but all I can do is take the advice of the board and the team that's been appointed to give me this advice. 'I take the advice of the Combat Sports Commission seriously. They've gone in, they've created some additional regulations in relation to safety.' The Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship is set to make its Australian debut in Perth on July 19. BKFC Credit: Supplied 'As I said, it's now up to the promoter of the event to make sure they satisfy all the regulations and rules that the Combat Sport Commission have put in place.' Regulations imposed include the presence of medical practitioners onsite and ringside. 'The advice is that they believe with the level of regulations they've imposed that it can be undertaken safely in WA,' Ms Saffioti said. Health advocates warn that a death during the event will leave the state government with bloody hands. In 2021, American bare knuckle fighter Justin Thornton died in hospital more than six weeks after suffering a horrific knockout. Bare knuckle boxing claimed the life of Justin Thornton in 2021 after he suffered blows to the head and face. BKFC Credit: Supplied Just 38, Thornton collapsed after taking several vicious blows to the head and face during the first round of a championship fixture in Mississippi. His injuries left him partially paralysed, requiring assistance breathing, and he suffered an infection in his lungs and spinal cord. Australia Medical Association WA president Michael Page told 7News that the government was only 'taking the advice that they want to take'. 'They're not taking any advice from society, they're not taking advice from us, they're not taking any advice from anyone in our community,' he said. 'Our government has the ability to stop this from happening and if there is a death during the event then of course that falls at the feet of our government that's made this decision.' The event, pending approval, is set to go ahead on July 19.
Perth Now
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Outrage over bare knuckle fighting event
The West Australian government has been warned by concerned health advocates that it will be responsible for any deaths if a bare knuckle fighting event goes ahead in Perth. WA Sports Minister Rita Saffioti has declared she will not intervene to stop the Promotion Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship from coming Down Under if it's given the all clear from the state's Combat Sports Commission (CSC). 'The event has to be sanctioned by the Combat Sports Commission … there's two stages of this,' she said. 'This was the first, whether the sport can be allowed in the state, and that was something that has been signed off by the previous minister. 'And then there's the actual event … what the proponents have to do is put forward to the CSC what is involved and then the commission either approves or doesn't approve it.' Ms Saffioti said the decision was up to the sporting body, emphasising the importance of regulation. NewsWire /Philip Gostelow Credit: NCA NewsWire Ms Saffioti said she was aware that although not everyone enjoyed combat sports, it was more important to ensure the sport could be regulated.'If you don't regulate, then things go underground and it's much less safe for the competitors,' she told Perth Today's Simon Beaumont. 'It's not my cup of tea, but similar to the discussion and the debate around cage fighting or the octagon, MMA and UFC, similar arguments were put forward … but all I can do is take the advice of the board and the team that's been appointed to give me this advice. 'I take the advice of the Combat Sports Commission seriously. They've gone in, they've created some additional regulations in relation to safety.' The Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship is set to make its Australian debut in Perth on July 19. BKFC Credit: Supplied 'As I said, it's now up to the promoter of the event to make sure they satisfy all the regulations and rules that the Combat Sport Commission have put in place.' Regulations imposed include the presence of medical practitioners onsite and ringside. 'The advice is that they believe with the level of regulations they've imposed that it can be undertaken safely in WA,' Ms Saffioti said. Health advocates warn that a death during the event will leave the state government with bloody hands. In 2021, American bare knuckle fighter Justin Thornton died in hospital more than six weeks after suffering a horrific knockout. Bare knuckle boxing claimed the life of Justin Thornton in 2021 after he suffered blows to the head and face. BKFC Credit: Supplied Just 38, Thornton collapsed after taking several vicious blows to the head and face during the first round of a championship fixture in Mississippi. His injuries left him partially paralysed, requiring assistance breathing, and he suffered an infection in his lungs and spinal cord. Australia Medical Association WA president Michael Page told 7News that the government was only 'taking the advice that they want to take'. 'They're not taking any advice from society, they're not taking advice from us, they're not taking any advice from anyone in our community,' he said. 'Our government has the ability to stop this from happening and if there is a death during the event then of course that falls at the feet of our government that's made this decision.' The event, pending approval, is set to go ahead on July 19.
West Australian
22-05-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Tagging on for free travel with SmartRider a sign of ‘respect for the system' says Rita Saffioti
Rules mandating passengers tag on to public transport to travel for free show 'respect for the system,' Acting Premier Rita Saffioti believes. Speaking after The West Australian reveal almost 7000 people had been fined for travelling without a ticket on free Sundays since last year, Ms Saffioti maintained the message was getting through to patrons. 'I am absolutely confident that the community has the message,' Ms Saffioti said. 'We're talking about respect today, there are rules when you catch public transport, and the rule is to catch a free public transport, you need a SmartRider. 'We have millions of SmartRiders out there in the community. We've run programs for people to access our SmartRiders, but it's a basic rule, and it's a basic part of the respect of the system and making sure, in particular, that everyone abides by the rules.' The minister said the rates of those fined represented less than one per cent of all riders. '(There are) 99.86 per cent who abide by the rules who don't feel like they've been taken advantage of. 'If people have been fined, and there's legitimate reasons why they didn't have a smart rider, they can apply to the PTA to have that to have that fine waived. New data revealed under Parliamentary questioning showed 6668 fines — more than 100 a week — were issued for ticketing issues since the start of the free travel in February 2024. The almost $700,000 in fines were doled out because people failed to tag on with their SmartRider to use the train or bus on Sundays — a requirement to travel for free as part of the Government's program.
West Australian
21-05-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Thousands slapped with fines for failing to tap SmartRider during free Sunday travel on trains and buses
Almost 7000 people have been stung with $100 fines for using public transport during times when it was supposed to be free. New data revealed under Parliamentary questioning shows 6668 fines — more than 100 a week — were issued for ticketing issues since the start of the free travel in February 2024. The almost $700,000 in fines were doled out because people failed to tag on with their SmartRider to use the train or bus on Sundays — a requirement to travel for free as part of the Government's program. But those stung on Sundays haven't been the only passengers caught out, with more than 1000 students fined for failing to tag on under free travel to and from school. And over the 'free' summer period, more than 1100 people were also slapped with a ticket. The cash-grab comes after the 'fines for travelling free' issue was raised during the State election campaign, with both the Liberals and the Greens calling for the infringements to be waived. The Public Transport Authority's response to shadow transport minister Steve Martin's questions said the Sunday fines were only 0.143 per cent of passengers. 'Passengers always require a valid ticket to travel on Transperth services, unless stated otherwise. The condition for free travel on Sundays is the use of a SmartRider,' the answer said. To access the free travel, passengers must tag on with a SmartRider, which can be purchased for $10, before requiring value added to the card. Mr Martin criticised the fines issued by the Public Transport Authority. 'Labor's free public transport on Sunday obviously isn't free for everyone,' he said. 'Labor are handing out over 100 fines to travellers on public transport every Sunday despite claiming to offer free transport. 'Transport Minister Rita Saffioti is also clearly embarrassed by the amount of fines because she refused to answer questions on how much Western Australians are paying.' Ms Saffioti said she believed the message was getting through to travellers about the need for a SmartRider. 'This is a part of the package — free public transport on Sunday, free public transport for kids going to school and we had the free summer of public transport. 'It's getting through. Most people have SmartRiders. People accept there's rules when you undertake free public transport, and that's one of the rules. 'We've introduced a range of initiatives. It's about getting people mobile, connected to their community, getting people out and about, and using our wonderful public transport system.' Ms Saffioti spoke about the fines at the unveiling of the last diesel-powered Transperth bus, which will roll out of a Malaga factory on Wednesday. Under a Labor election commitment, all future buses made in Western Australia will be electric, with Ms Saffioti saying the diesel fleet would be slowly phased out over the next two decades. The new electric buses will be rolled out once local depots are upgraded with electric vehicle chargers. The first will be Malaga, with Karrinyup following afterwards and then Claisebrook. 'This is a very big initiative for the state. It means there's far less CO2 emissions, and every diesel bus on the network uses around 22,000 litres of diesel fuel each year,' she said. 'That equates to around 40 tonnes of CO2 emissions. 'Electric busses, of course, emit no CO2 emissions, and as we continue to work to decarbonise the entire electricity system, we know that this is going to be cleaner and cleaner through the future.'
The Age
19-05-2025
- Politics
- The Age
Saffioti distances herself from bare-knuckle fighting bout
The Combat Sports Commission is mulling a decision to allow the world's biggest bare-knuckle boxing organisation, partially owned by UFC fighter Connor McGregor, to stage a major fight in Perth next month. In March, Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship founder David Feldman announced on social media his intention to bring a boxing event to Perth on either July 12 or 19. WA's boxing regulations were amended by former Sport Minister David Templeman in February to recognise the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship as a sanctioning body, paving the way for the body to stage a contest in the state. Saffioti took over the sport portfolio after the March election. Bare-knuckle boxing is as the name suggests, and has been panned by health groups, including the Australian Medical Association of WA, which describes it as 'blood sport'. On Monday Sport Minister Rita Saffioti said the state's Combat Sport Commission was still considering the event. When questioned why the government would allow such a brutal form of combat sport in WA Saffioti distanced herself from the decision to change boxing rules and said no government funding was going to the event. 'There is discussion about holding an event here. It needs to be signed off by the Combat Sports Commission, and it's in front of the Combat Sports Commission at the moment, but tourism is not providing any funding to it,' she said.
