Latest news with #SouthAustralia
News.com.au
27 minutes ago
- General
- News.com.au
Councillor reprimanded after walking out, turnng back on Indigenous ceremonies
A South Australian councillor has been called on to resign by his colleagues after he was accused of walking out during the Acknowledgement of Country and turning his back on a smoking ceremony at a Welcome to Country. Barossa councillor Bruce Preece was also alleged to have used the homophobic slur 'poofter' in 2024, in a conversation defending suspended Port Adelaide forward Jeremy Finlayson's use of the word. Councillor Preece says he's been denied procedural fairness and plans to appeal against any findings made against him. Another complaint alleged that he had blindsided colleagues by appearing on the front page of the local newspaper in December 2023 in a story announcing he would be bringing forward a motion to discontinue the Acknowledgement of Country at council meetings and events. Barossa Council received a behavioural complaint from two councillors and one unnamed individual against Cr Preece in April last year regarding the four allegations. The council spent $47,000 investigating the matter, according to public documents, with a report by law firm Kelledy Jones concluding that he had breached numerous Behavioural Standards for Council Members and recommending he be reprimanded, attend relevant training and issue a public apology. The council voted in favour of the motions at its meeting on May 20, calling on Cr Preece to resign 'forthwith'. Cr Preece told the meeting that he had been denied procedural fairness in the investigation, and would appeal to the state ombudsman. 'I believe one of the great pillars of Australian society and the way our country is run is that we have the rule of law, we have the principle that people are innocent until proven guilty and that those accused of wrongdoing are given procedural fairness in the ensuing investigations,' he said. Cr Preece declined to comment further when reached on Friday. According to Kelledy Jones' report, Cr Preece walked out during council's Acknowledgement of Country on five occasions in 2023 in a 'deliberate and calculated' manner. Cr Preece's actions were 'disruptive and contemptuous as well as disrespectful and discriminatory, on the basis that the Acknowledgement of Country is a public demonstration of respect to the First Nations of Australia and is a longstanding element of council's meeting procedure', the complaint read. At council's Australia Day event in 2024 at Tanunda Show Hall, Cr Preece was accused of getting up from his seat and walking away from the crowd after a smoking ceremony by Uncle Quenten Agius to wait in line at a coffee van, chatting with another person and standing with his back to the speaker 'for an extended period of time'. The complaint 'submits that Cr Preece's positioning and body language conveyed contempt and it appeared to be a calculated and deliberately public display of disrespect and repudiation directed towards our guest speaker'. He was alleged to have been heard by a number of attendees saying words to the effect of 'they shouldn't be allowed to have that smoke, they shouldn't be allowed to do that, it's so wrong', 'it's disgusting, it smells disgusting' and 'people can't breathe, they can't breathe because of all that smoke'. Cr Preece, who was elected to council in November 2022, spoke to The Barossa Leader newspaper in December 2023 ahead of bringing a motion to discontinue the Acknowledgement of Country. The complaint alleged that 'the manner in which Cr Preece brought this matter forward resulted in elected members becoming aware of the motion via the local newspaper in the first instance, which fails to meet his obligations under the Behavioural Standards in establishing and maintaining relationships of respect, trust, collaboration and co-operation with fellow elected members'. In April 2024, ahead of a meeting of the Gawler River Floodplain Management Authority (GRFMA) at Adelaide Hills Council's Kersbrook Sporting Complex, in his capacity as a GRFMA board member, Cr Preece was allegedly 'engaged in friendly football banter' with two individuals when he raised the recent 'Jeremy Finlayson homophobic slur' incident. 'Very vocally, in an audible voice heard by those beyond the conversation, Cr Preece spoke certain, similar, words to those purportedly used by Mr Finlayson, that the complainant submits were offensive and inappropriate,' the complaint read. 'The complainant asserts that Cr Preece seemed 'outraged' that you couldn't call someone a 'poofter' and reminded him that his use of that word was not appropriate.' The complainant alleged that despite being told to stop, Cr Preece then 'doubled down on his comments raised his voice louder and said he was sick of our society telling him what he could and couldn't say and if he wanted to call someone a poofter he should be able to, after all he was referred to that on the football field many times'. In his response to the investigation, Cr Preece's lawyer said his client was 'making a sticks and stones type argument' but 'accepts that his pursuit of the argument may not have been appropriate to the context and apologises for any offence caused'. Regarding the allegation of walking out during the Acknowledgement of Country, Cr Preece's representative submitted that he has had 'a battle with bowel cancer his need to go to the bathroom can be immediate' and on other occasions he had left the chamber to get his spare reading glasses from his car. He denied deliberately turning his back during the Australia Day smoking ceremony, saying he had noticed there was an elderly citizen who was coughing due to the smoke and went over to see if she needed assistance. And in response to the complaint about the newspaper article, Cr Preece maintained he was within his rights to raise a notice of motion without 'foreshadowing' to other members. Kelledy Jones found that Cr Preece's explanation for leaving the chamber during the Acknowledgement of Country was 'disingenuous', and that his explanation of the Australia Day incident did 'not address what was said to be his rude and offensive comments made at the time'. The law firm also found that Cr Preece 'made the homophobic comments as alleged, and when challenged regarding the same, asserted his right to do so, blanketed as 'free speech''. 'It is highly inappropriate and offensive for a member of the council to act in such manner, particularly when they are an 'ambassador' for their council, causing embarrassment and offending others present, which actions persisted, even when they were raised with him,' it said. Emotional councillors vented their fury at Cr Preece during last Tuesday's meeting. 'I have never, ever called upon someone to resign, but such is the seriousness of it,' Cr John Angas said. Cr Dave de Vries added, 'I'm actually surprised how emotional I'm getting about this … it's just so distressing. The enormity of what's happening is just starting to hit home.' Cr Jess Greatwich, council's representative to the local Rainbow Network, said she was 'apoplectic with fury when I read this complaint — I had to go and walk around the block and make myself a cup of tea'. 'I'm still furious and I am so sad,' she said. Cr Cathy Troup suggested 'Indigenous and cultural awareness training in this specific incident could be very beneficial'. 'Sometimes we just don't know what we don't know, and I do think this could give Cr Preece a chance to just, you know, think about the way he thinks,' she said. Barossa Mayor Bim Lange told the ABC on Thursday council's decision was about policies rather than politics. 'It's disappointing that this has occurred, but I believe that council is engaging with First Nations, looking at all the things associated with their history and it's just about showing respect,' he said. 'People can have personal views — I don't hold a grudge against that — but when we've set some policies and some principles on our behaviour, I think it's important we demonstrate that to the wider community.' A number of councils have voted to cancel Acknowledgement of Country and Welcome to Country ceremonies following the defeat of the Voice to Parliament referendum in 2023, including South Australia's Northern Areas Council, the City of Playford and Naracoorte Lucindale Council. Several others have knocked down motions seeking to end the practice, including the Shire of Harvey in Western Australia, Sydney's Cumberland City Council and Flinders Council in Tasmania earlier this week.
ABC News
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Jack Ball wins $100,000 Ramsay Art Prize at Art Gallery of South Australia
Jack Ball has won the $100,000 Ramsay Art Prize for an artist under 40 for their installation Heavy Grit. The Ramsay prize, announced today at the Art Gallery of South Australia (AGSA), is awarded every two years and is open to young Australian artists working in any medium. Ball was inspired to make the installation — which combines photography and sculpture — after they encountered a collection of scrapbooks from the Australian Queer Archives in Melbourne. As a trans man, they were particularly interested in press clippings from the 1950s and 70s about trans people — some were transphobic, while others showed instances of care and desire. Originally curated by Sarah Wall, Heavy Grit first opened at the Perth Institute of Contemporary Art in 2024. The judges for the Ramsay prize — Archibald winner Julie Fragar, head of visual art at the Queensland College of Art and Design; fellow artist Michael Zavros; and AGSA deputy director Emma Fey — were impressed by Heavy Grit's "experimental processes and sophisticated creative resolve". "We were particularly struck by the installation's restless, kinetic quality that refuses definition and creates an open opportunity to connect individually with the materials, forms and images the work deploys." The other 22 finalists in this year's prize — chosen from more than 500 entries — include Archibald Prize finalists Clara Adolphs and Jason Phu (also a former Ramsay finalist), and past finalists Emma Buswell, Liam Fleming, Alfred Lowe, Gian Manik, Tom Polo and James Tylor. Ball's work will be acquired by the gallery; past winners of the prize, which has run since 2017, are Vincent Namatjira, Sarah Contos, Kate Bohunnis and Ida Sophia. Fragar won the Ramsay's inaugural People's Choice prize in 2017. Ball is only the second Ramsay Art Prize winner to be based outside of South Australia; they live in Sydney, where they were born, but were raised in Perth. The Ramsay Art Prize exhibition runs May 31-August 31 at the Art Gallery of South Australia.
ABC News
3 hours ago
- General
- ABC News
SA Police make new claims about Royston Park arrest incident
South Australian police allege a man who became unresponsive while being arrested on Thursday morning 'violently resisted' officers, as an investigation continues into the actions taken during the incident. Police attempted to arrest a 42-year-old Modbury North man on Payneham Road about 2:45am on Thursday, after saying they witnessed an "altercation" occurring between a man and a woman. Police said the man "became unresponsive" as they attempted to arrest him. He was taken to hospital where his condition has not yet been disclosed by SA Police or SA Health. Police are investigating the incident and the actions of officers at the scene. In an updated statement released on Thursday afternoon, provided to the ABC today, police alleged the man "was assaulting a female" when they intervened. "While being restrained the man violently resisted police," SA Police alleged. "After being restrained he became unresponsive and police administered first aid until SAAS (SA Ambulance Service) arrived." SA Police said its investigation into the matter will examine "all evidence", including the body-worn video of the officers involved. "The investigation and assessment of all evidence will determine the appropriateness of the actions taken by the officers," the statement said. Police said earlier on Thursday that no-one was shot and no taser was used. The incident prompted the closure of Payneham Road between Lambert Road and Lower Portrush Road on Thursday morning. The roads have since reopened.
The Guardian
7 hours ago
- Health
- The Guardian
Australia news live: Sarah Hanson-Young says North West Shelf decision ‘beggars belief'; states rated on vape action
Update: Date: 2025-05-29T20:30:34.000Z Title: Welcome Content: Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I'm Martin Farrer with the best stories of the morning and then it will be Nick Visser to take you towards the weekend. South Australia and Queensland are leading the nation when it comes to tackling tobacco and vapes, while the Northern Territory and Western Australia are falling behind, according to a scorecard assessing the different jurisdictions. More coming up. After this week's decision to extend the life of Woodside's North West Shelf LNG facility in the Burrup Peninsula in Western Australia, local activists will be out in force in Perth today. The campaign group Disrupt Burrup Hub will today gather outside the Western Australian district court against the decision and as three of their number are sentenced for a protest against Woodside. Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young has decried the decision by the environment minister, Murray Watt, saying it 'beggars belief' in the age of climate change. More coming up.
ABC News
7 hours ago
- Health
- ABC News
Hopes high after ocean temperatures off SA coast drop amid algal bloom outbreak
Ocean temperatures off South Australia's coast have dropped following storms this week, sparking hopes the toxic algal bloom will soon end. Offshore buoys looked after by Flinders University, which measure sea surface temperature, show it has dipped below 16 degrees Celsius at Robe for the first time in about two months. Ocean temperatures have also dropped near Adelaide and Victor Harbor. A buoy at West Beach recorded sea surface temperatures of 15.38C yesterday after reaching 16.56C on Sunday. A buoy at Victor Harbor saw a drop from 17.28C on Sunday to 16.56 yesterday. It follows a marine heatwave which saw ocean temperatures 2.5C warmer than usual, which led to an algal bloom outbreak spanning thousands of kilometres. Flinders University coastal studies professor Patrick Hesp said the drop was a glimmer of good news amid the bad weather which saw thousands without power, jetties damaged and coastal erosion. "We've seen quite significant erosion, but perhaps one of the positive effects is that there would be a significant amount of mixing because of those big waves," Professor Hesp said. In March, surfers reported sore eyes, coughing and blurry vision after visiting beaches west of Victor Harbor and since then marine life has been found dead along the eastern Yorke Peninsula, the Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island. The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and the Department of Primary Industries and Regions South Australia (PIRSA) identified the cause of the irritation and deaths as Karenia mikimotoi, a toxic microalgal bloom. PIRSA said water testing results to check whether the bloom had dissipated would be available early next week. Marine biologist and UTS researcher Shauna Murray, who helped authorities identify the bloom in March, said storms could be a circuit breaker. "Normally with strong weather conditions you would expect to see dissipation and things are being pushed out," she said. However, she said it was difficult to predict what would happen with this bloom because of its size. "It's complicated because it's a large bloom over a very big area," she said. "It's hard to know to what extent it's now seeding itself and it's continuing to grow, and to what extent it's just being dispersed into certain areas." Faith Coleman, an ecologist who has been testing water samples, said the weather would have flushed out waters — but the extent was not yet clear. "It may have happened totally or it may have happened partially," she said. "If it's only happened partially we may end up with bloom occurring, if we have sunny days after this, in places that [it hadn't]." Wild weather was experienced throughout South Australia earlier in the week with waves up to 5.6 metres recorded by a buoy off Robe on Monday night, along with similar heights north of Kangaroo Island and slightly smaller swell offshore of Victor Harbor. The strongest wind gust was 126 kilometres per hour, recorded at Neptune Island. Roanna Horbelt, who runs Research and Discovery Coastal Tours, Kangaroo Island, took TAFE students out on the sea off Emu Bay on Wednesday. After previously reporting dead fish and stingrays in the area, Ms Horbelt said the group was "very pleasantly surprised". "There's still particles in the water for sure, but I mean hardly any foam at all and the amount of birdlife and other life that we're seeing around there are looking a lot happier." The group saw a large pod of dolphins, along with hundreds of birds and seals. Dolphins that had previously disappeared in cloudy water just 1.5 metres deep were now clearly visible. "Yesterday, they seemed to be very joyful and back to normal and followed our boat for almost 20 minutes just riding the bow along the coastline, so we had about 80 of them doing that, so that was pretty special," Ms Horbelt said. "Everything seemed almost back to normal, fingers-crossed." Citizen scientist and aquatic instructor Lochie Cameron is one of the organisers of a forum on the effects of the algal bloom that is being held in Marion Bay, on the Yorke Peninsula, on Sunday. He believed the algal bloom would have a long-lasting impact. "I feel a bit grim about it," he said. "I think we're looking at a couple of decades-long recovery for these areas. "A lot of the species that have been impacted are long-lived species that take quite a long time to mature, so, yeah, I do hold quite a large concern for our sea dragons and boarfish and other benthic species as well."
