Latest news with #lawandorder
ABC News
11 hours ago
- Business
- ABC News
SA Treasurer Stephen Mullighan's curious law and order budget
When journalists filter into a budget lock-up, the first thing they do (perhaps apart from making sure they have a caffeinated beverage) is pick up a stack of budget papers. For a rookie reporter it can be an intimidating tower, but this year there was no mistaking the message the South Australian government was trying to send. On the front cover of the pile of paper were the faces of two smiling police officers, leaning on a park bench, talking to a small child. The same image was projected onto screens around the room. The government made sure everyone knew — this was a law and order budget. The curious part of that was in the same breath, the Premier and Treasurer acknowledged South Australia did not have a law and order problem. "South Australia is a safe state to live in. Our youth crime rates are of the lowest in the country," Premier Peter Malinauskas said in his opening address. Treasurer Stephen Mullighan had a similar message. "Overall crime levels continue to decrease. The monthly statistics that South Australian Police publish show that total crime numbers continue to decline," he said. The key to this budget, they say, is keeping it that way. "What South Australian police are telling us is in order to combat crime or deter crime, the job is getting much harder or more time intensive, and they simply need more police out on the beat," Mr Mullighan told reporters. "We don't have crime or law and order issues getting out of control as we've seen in some parts of the country in recent years. This package makes sure that won't eventuate here in South Australia any time in the future." After winning the 2022 election, Labor's first budget was all about health — unsurprising given its election slogan was that it would "fix the ramping crisis." There was money for more beds, more health workers and more ambulances. But more than three years later and ramping is still high. Ambulances spent 3,700 hours waiting outside emergency departments in April, a decrease on the month before but still much higher than the worst month under the previous government. The government now points to other issues causing hospital blockages — a lack of aged care beds and a crisis in primary care — two areas that are Commonwealth responsibilities. It begs the question, will this year's law and order budget be doing something similar — will putting more cops on the beat be like putting more ambulances on the road? Yes, you might get a quicker, more efficient response to an emergency — but would that even be needed if there had, instead, been early intervention? The government's promise is it will spend $172 million increasing the state's police force to 5,000 by the end of the decade. But the Treasurer said there was also money for crime prevention, particularly via the Attorney-General's department. "The continuation of the crime prevention programs, the justice rehabilitation fund and so on to try and stop crime," Mr Mullighan said. There are also plans to expand a program that sees mental health professionals attend jobs with police, and funding to implement recommendations from the state's domestic violence royal commission. But following the budget, Michael White from the SA Network of Drug and Alcohol Services said there was no funding for the increasing number of people accessing treatment for addiction, despite the fact that intoxication was a major factor in crimes like family violence and public order offences. "We call on the state government to redress the imbalance between policing, justice and the court system and the needs of people for health services that address their alcohol and other drug addiction and dependence," he said. "And to fund early intervention, prevention and treatment services." While he said South Australia was a safe place to live, the Premier acknowledged not everyone in the state might feel that way. "While it is true to say that in parts of our state law and order isn't top of mind, it does matter to people in communities where they feel the rough and tumble of crime more," Mr Malinauskas said. "Many of us around the cabinet table and within the government represent lower socio-economic communities where we do see a greater disproportionate demand on police resources and we hear it from our constituents." But people in those low socio-economic areas, and elsewhere, might want to know if, on top of law and order spending, there was something on the table that would relieve the ongoing pressure on household budgets. The Treasurer pointed out interest rates and inflation were down, and he talked up South Australia's economy as having gone from "laggard to leader". He said that meant, although there was still some pain, the pressures being felt by families were beginning to ease. There were some measures for cost of living in this budget, but it was far from a focus. Most are continuations of existing programs like the subsidy for school materials. There was one new concession some families could take advantage of — school children can get a bus ticket that will give them a month's worth of rides for $10. Another important piece of context on this "law and order budget" — is this will be the last budget Stephen Mullighan will hand down before South Australians go to the polls in March 2026. In the last cabinet reshuffle, Mr Mullighan took on the police portfolio for the first time and said the funding boost was something the Police Commissioner had been calling for. Crime has certainly been an issue the opposition has been attacking the government on for some time — claiming youth crime has "sky-rocketed", that bail breaches have hit record highs and tougher laws for things like knife crime were needed. And on top of the additional funding for police, the government has passed laws to crack down on knife crime, drug offenders, child sex offenders, domestic violence offences like strangulation and on people who boast about their crimes on social media. All moves that could cut off opposition tactics months before the campaign officially starts.
ABC News
a day ago
- Business
- ABC News
SA Budget 2025: Here are the winners and losers
South Australian Treasurer Stephen Mullighan has unveiled the 2025-26 state budget. The budget, the last before the March 2026 state election, has a strong focus on law and order and provisions for major infrastructure projects. The state government says it's continuing its focus on the key policy areas of housing and cost of living, but with far fewer new initiatives than previous years. Here are the winners and losers. The $1 billion Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass is not fully funded yet, with the state government only putting $125 million on the table for the project. The $1 billion Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass is not fully funded yet, with the state government only putting $125 million on the table for the project. The federal government had already agreed to fund half the project, but the state government argues the Commonwealth should increase its share to 80 per cent. The federal government had already agreed to fund half the project, but the state government argues the Commonwealth should increase its share to 80 per cent. An already announced $125 million will be spent to remove the Curtis Road level crossing in the northern suburbs, with $125 million also coming from the federal government. An already announced $125 million will be spent to remove the Curtis Road level crossing in the northern suburbs, with $125 million also coming from the federal government. The state and federal government are also splitting the $80 million bill for an upgrade of Main South Road between Myponga and Yankalilla. The state and federal government are also splitting the $80 million bill for an upgrade of Main South Road between Myponga and Yankalilla. A further $9.6 million will be spent on new security officers on public transport. A further $9.6 million will be spent on new security officers on public transport. But the majority of the budget's new transport funding is focused on road projects, rather than public transport. But the majority of the budget's new transport funding is focused on road projects, rather than public transport. There is, however, $12.5 million to transition the trial of the Mount Barker On-Demand Keoride buses into a permanent Adelaide Metro service. Housing and home ownership have been the centrepiece of previous Labor budgets, but it was more 'business as usual' this year. Housing and home ownership have been the centrepiece of previous Labor budgets, but it was more 'business as usual' this year. The government will spend $405.3 million to help deliver its existing housing projects Playford Alive East, Southwark Grounds (the former Thebarton Brewery site) and Onkaparinga Heights (formerly Hackham). The government will spend $405.3 million to help deliver its existing housing projects Playford Alive East, Southwark Grounds (the former Thebarton Brewery site) and Onkaparinga Heights (formerly Hackham). The government expects to recoup much of this money through its land agency, Renewal SA. The government expects to recoup much of this money through its land agency, Renewal SA. A further $135.1 million will be spent on social housing projects supporting the federal government's Housing Australia Future Fund. A further $135.1 million will be spent on social housing projects supporting the federal government's Housing Australia Future Fund. But there is no new stamp duty relief after the government previously axed the tax for first-home buyers on new builds. A further $1.9 billion will be poured into the health system over the next five years, but $1.7 billion of that is just to address increasing demand, which is why it's in the loser category. A further $1.9 billion will be poured into the health system over the next five years, but $1.7 billion of that is just to address increasing demand, which is why it's in the loser category. It follows successive state budgets where higher than expected demand on health services has required billions in extra funding. It follows successive state budgets where higher than expected demand on health services has required billions in extra funding. Demand on public health services is estimated to grow by more than 4.5 per cent in 2024-25, according to the budget papers. Demand on public health services is estimated to grow by more than 4.5 per cent in 2024-25, according to the budget papers. The budget for the new Women's and Children's Hospital project remains $3.2 billion, despite speculation about a blowout. The budget for the new Women's and Children's Hospital project remains $3.2 billion, despite speculation about a blowout. But sustaining the existing Women's and Children's is still costing the budget, with $8 million to go towards replacing aluminium composite panels and upgrading fire protection systems within the North Adelaide hospital. But sustaining the existing Women's and Children's is still costing the budget, with $8 million to go towards replacing aluminium composite panels and upgrading fire protection systems within the North Adelaide hospital. An already announced $13.9 million over five years will go towards expanding the mental health co-responder program, which pairs mental health clinicians with a police officer to respond to triple zero call-outs. A further $85.1 million will have to be spent over four years to support out-of-home care services for vulnerable children in South Australia. A further $85.1 million will have to be spent over four years to support out-of-home care services for vulnerable children in South Australia. The budget papers state that the Department for Child Protection is "continuing its review and implementation of service optimisation to ensure that services are being delivered effectively and efficiently". The budget papers state that the Department for Child Protection is "continuing its review and implementation of service optimisation to ensure that services are being delivered effectively and efficiently". The department will also receive $2 million to increase staffing of the Child Abuse Report Line. The state and federal government announced a joint $2.4 billion rescue package in February for the Whyalla steelworks. The state and federal government announced a joint $2.4 billion rescue package in February for the Whyalla steelworks. The state government's contribution to that package is $650 million, with $384 million set aside to fund the steelworks' operations during administration. The state government's contribution to that package is $650 million, with $384 million set aside to fund the steelworks' operations during administration. But the rescue package funding has required the state government to defer its hydrogen jobs plan. But the rescue package funding has required the state government to defer its hydrogen jobs plan. The government will also have to spend $3.8 million next financial year to oversee the sale of the hydrogen turbines that were originally earmarked for the hydrogen project. The government expects to recoup the money and more via the sale. The government will also have to spend $3.8 million next financial year to oversee the sale of the hydrogen turbines that were originally earmarked for the hydrogen project. The government expects to recoup the money and more via the sale. An already announced $73.4 million has been made available to support drought affected farmers. An already announced $73.4 million has been made available to support drought affected farmers. Small and medium sized businesses will also be eligible for grants ranging from $2,500 to $75,000 to invest in equipment that improves their energy efficiency, as part of a $20 million program. The state government says its total law and order package is worth $395.1 million. The state government says its total law and order package is worth $395.1 million. This includes $172 million over six years to add another 243 sworn police officers by 2028-29 and a further 83 by 2030-31. This includes $172 million over six years to add another 243 sworn police officers by 2028-29 and a further 83 by 2030-31. The government says it wants to grow the state's police force to 5,000 sworn officers by 2030-31. The government says it wants to grow the state's police force to 5,000 sworn officers by 2030-31. The state government will also spend $6.8 million over four years to fund new firearms for SA Police, with the same amount to be spent on new high-tech security scanners at prisons. The state government will also spend $6.8 million over four years to fund new firearms for SA Police, with the same amount to be spent on new high-tech security scanners at prisons. The Department of Correctional Services will also get $72.4 million to add another 116 prison beds. The Department of Correctional Services will also get $72.4 million to add another 116 prison beds. Consumer and Business Services will receive $10 million to crack down on illicit tobacco, vapes and rogue tradies. Consumer and Business Services will receive $10 million to crack down on illicit tobacco, vapes and rogue tradies. There's also a boost for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, which will get $9.4 million over four years to establish a junior solicitor team and develop new data models. Due to spending on the Whyalla steelworks and drought relief, this financial year's surplus has been whittled down to $18 million after it was forecast at $201 million in December 2024. Due to spending on the Whyalla steelworks and drought relief, this financial year's surplus has been whittled down to $18 million after it was forecast at $201 million in December 2024. Next financial year's surplus has also been revised down from $449 million to $179 million. Next financial year's surplus has also been revised down from $449 million to $179 million. Net debt is projected to grow to $48.5 billion by 2028-29 as the new Women's and Children's Hospital and Torrens to Darlington projects come onto the books. Net debt is projected to grow to $48.5 billion by 2028-29 as the new Women's and Children's Hospital and Torrens to Darlington projects come onto the books. The government says it's comfortable with the debt figures because net debt as a percentage of revenue will only be 129.5 per cent by June 30, 2028 and the state has a AA+ credit rating. The government says it's comfortable with the debt figures because net debt as a percentage of revenue will only be 129.5 per cent by June 30, 2028 and the state has a AA+ credit rating. State taxation revenues in 2024-25 has been revised up $167 million since December, with a further windfall of $796 million expected from 2025-26 to 2027-28. State taxation revenues in 2024-25 has been revised up $167 million since December, with a further windfall of $796 million expected from 2025-26 to 2027-28. South Australia's GST grant revenue has also been revised up by $189 million this financial year. This year's cost of living package is worth $118.3 million, down from the $266 million announced at last year's state budget. This year's cost of living package is worth $118.3 million, down from the $266 million announced at last year's state budget. The headline new initiative is a cut to the price of a 28-day student metroCARD from $28.6 to $10. The headline new initiative is a cut to the price of a 28-day student metroCARD from $28.6 to $10. A $200 reduction in the schools and materials services charge will also continue in 2025-26. A $200 reduction in the schools and materials services charge will also continue in 2025-26. The Emergency Services Levy will increase by around 4.2 per cent, or around $6.70 a year, for a median valued metropolitan home. The state government had already announced it will allocate $70 million for a new primary and preschool in Adelaide's northern suburbs plus $40 million for infrastructure upgrades at schools across SA. The state government had already announced it will allocate $70 million for a new primary and preschool in Adelaide's northern suburbs plus $40 million for infrastructure upgrades at schools across SA. Also already announced was a $171 million expansion of the low-interest loan scheme for non-government schools and not-for-profit early childhood education and care providers to help them build new schools or upgrade existing facilities. Also already announced was a $171 million expansion of the low-interest loan scheme for non-government schools and not-for-profit early childhood education and care providers to help them build new schools or upgrade existing facilities. Tauondi Aboriginal Community College will receive $10.9 million over five years for remediation and refurbishment works. Tauondi Aboriginal Community College will receive $10.9 million over five years for remediation and refurbishment works. A further $3 million will be spent to continue an out of school hour kindy care trial. Treasurer Stephen Mullighan said this year's budget continues the government's 'significant commitment' to road safety in a bid to lower the road toll and combat 'road trauma'. Treasurer Stephen Mullighan said this year's budget continues the government's 'significant commitment' to road safety in a bid to lower the road toll and combat 'road trauma'. There will also be more road safety cameras across South Australia, with $46.8 million to go towards new mobile phone detection, red light and point-to-point cameras. There will also be more road safety cameras across South Australia, with $46.8 million to go towards new mobile phone detection, red light and point-to-point cameras. A further $20 million will go towards road safety maintenance over the next two years. A further $20 million will go towards road safety maintenance over the next two years. There will also be $4.5 million for new road safety campaigns over the next three years. After the emergence of a damaging algal bloom off South Australia's coast, $44 million will be spent over four years to purchase a replacement coastal research vessel. After the emergence of a damaging algal bloom off South Australia's coast, $44 million will be spent over four years to purchase a replacement coastal research vessel. A total of $45 million will be allocated to continue emergency fruit fly response in 2025-26. A total of $45 million will be allocated to continue emergency fruit fly response in 2025-26. The budget also includes $8.3 million to prepare for the COP31 climate change conference if Adelaide wins the right to host the event in November 2026. The budget also includes $8.3 million to prepare for the COP31 climate change conference if Adelaide wins the right to host the event in November 2026. A further $7.6 million has been made available to support the volunteer wildlife and rehabilitation sector, including $1.4 million for the Adelaide Koala and Wildlife Centre. Credits: Illustration: Emma Machan Posted 17m ago 17 minutes ago Thu 5 Jun 2025 at 5:30am
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lawrence O'Donnell Reveals Exact Moment Trump Suffered 'Worldwide Humiliation'
MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell predicted on Wednesday that stocks would rally big on Thursday after a federal trade court blocked President Donald Trump's plan to impose massive tariffs. On Thursday, he said, 'the world will reset itself around the restoration of law and order in international trade and the crushing of the Trump tariffs and resultant personal worldwide humiliation of Donald Trump.' He called Trump's plan 'completely illegal' and 'constitutionally insane.' O'Donnell said the court went even further than the plaintiffs had asked, granting a 'summary judgment' against Trump. 'Donald Trump's attempts to kill the Constitution this time have failed,' O'Donnell declared after the unanimous ruling against Trump, later adding that none of the judges ― not even the one appointed by Trump ― accepted 'a single word' of his justification for the tariffs. Trump is appealing the decision. See more of O'Donnell's analysis below:
The Sun
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
The Government's soft-touch jail reforms — coupled with budget cuts — will lead to a dangerous crimewave
Fail on jail PRISON works — and don't just take it from us. Listen to MI5, the National Crime Agency and the Met Police, who are united in believing that the Government's soft-touch jail reforms — coupled with budget cuts — will lead to a dangerous crimewave. 1 People would have more sympathy for the cops' claims of underfunding if they weren't blowing millions on diversity or going mob-handed to arrest people for social media messages. Taxpayers might also ask how much worse it can possibly get, given police no longer bother to arrest most shoplifters and burglars. Nevertheless, chief constables DO have legitimate concerns about what the impact of early release will be. The Left endlessly complains about a lack of rehabilitation inside jail, but it at least gives forces and the public a break from serial offenders. You can't burgle a house when you're behind bars. So here's an idea to help Labour get tough on law and order: Stop blowing £4billion a year on asylum hotels — and instead use the cash to build some prisons and put more coppers back on the beat where they belong. Paedos WANT to be castrated to banish sick 'desires', reform tsar says - as crackdown rolled out in 20 UK jails Water torture It is a catastrophic failure for ministers to admit that mass immigration means the country will run out of clean drinking water in just ten years. There is no doubt that the toxic greed of management in the water companies is partly responsible. Ridiculous planning rules also mean the UK hasn't built a new reservoir for over three decades. But massive population increases in our cities have driven the whole system to breaking point. One argument from pro-immigration lobbyists is that the pressure placed on our public services is over-stated. That idea has now been well and truly blown out of the water. Bad medicine All it has actually done is embolden the Marxist medics at the BMA to demand ANOTHER 29 per cent. What next? 50 per cent? The point of these 'resident doctors' is that they're actually resident in hospitals to help sick and dying patients. Not to spend weeks on picket lines causing another NHS crisis with their wildly unrealistic pay demands.
Telegraph
28-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Money alone will not fix our failing police
Police chiefs have told the Government that if they are to meet pledges to cut crime they need more money and more officers. Their appeal comes ahead of the Chancellor's spending review due to be published next month and with law and order expected to take a financial hit since it is not a 'protected' area. Sir Mark Rowley, commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, praised Labour's 'sensible ambition' to halve knife crime and violence against women and girls, as well as boost neighbourhood policing. But this required cash, not least because the population had risen so much (though no one seemed prepared to join the dots with large scale immigration as the cause). The problem the police have when making such demands is that the public no longer feels they make the right choices with the resources they have. Burglaries are rarely, if ever, investigated; mobile phone thefts are ignored; shoplifters strip stores with impunity; and officers are only occasionally seen walking the beat, almost always in pairs. Police chiefs maintain that they direct scarce resources where they are most needed and yet this is impossible to square with stories of half a dozen officers being sent to arrest someone for sending an injudicious tweet to a school website. Stories like these make it hard to take seriously the argument that police numbers are too low. Policing is as much about choices as money. More bobbies on the beat has been a recurring policy ambition for decades yet never seems to happen. Labour has promised to recruit 2,500 police neighbourhood officers and nearly 400 PCSOs over the next 12 months, as part of the target to hit 13,000 by 2029. The police say this is not enough. But it might be if they deploy their officers more effectively and make different decisions about what is important to the public. The Government must play its part by finally stripping away much of the red tape that often keeps officers stuck in police stations inputting data and removing self-defeating targets. The release of career criminals back into the community because there are too few prison places also needs to stop, even if it means temporary overcrowding while new jails are built. Police chiefs say they also want structural reform which invariably means fewer but bigger forces. If they go down that road they will become even more remote from the public they serve than they are already.
