Latest news with #lifeline
ABC News
6 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
'What choice do we have?': SA Premier grapples with mounting demands for taxpayer bailouts
Who deserves a lifeline? That's the awkward question Premier Peter Malinauskas has been fielding during an eventful first week back from annual leave. In the government's view, the Whyalla steelworks and its more than 1,000 employees certainly fall into the deserving category. On Wednesday, the Premier announced the state government would stump up another $137.5 million to keep the steelworks running through its government-enforced administration process. That's on top of $192 million the government had already allocated to keep the steelworks afloat, bringing the total state contribution to $329.5 million. The Commonwealth has pledged an equal amount. Wednesday's extra funding, while lower than expected, is still a hefty chunk for a state government that's flagged it has limited capacity to fund major projects due to rising debt levels. And the steelworks are not the only ones in need of help. The Port Pirie lead smelter, which employs about 900 people on the Spencer Gulf, is losing tens of millions of dollars a month, according to owner Nyrstar Australia. The company, which also owns a zinc smelter in Hobart, is negotiating with the state and federal governments over a support package that could be worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Then, on Thursday, it was revealed SA's largest disability employment provider, Bedford Industries, was on the brink of administration — raising fears for the future of 1,400 people with disability. In both situations, the SA Premier has indicated the state government is ready to help with public money if need be. But does this set a precedent for every business or industry that is struggling? Asked this on Wednesday, the Premier said: "Well, what choice do we have?" "I think we have to be balanced and careful in the approach that we take and deliberate in our considerations," he said. "But I don't think there's anybody seriously suggesting that we should allow Port Pirie or Whyalla or our farmers or for people operating our coastline [affected by the algal bloom] just to be left to rack and ruin — that's not my view. "Governments have always played a role. Whenever there's been a crisis or a challenge, people turn to government, and that's a responsibility you have to be willing to take on." On Friday, after the Bedford situation came to light, Mr Malinauskas said: 'It's not my DNA just to sit back and watch a group of vulnerable people potentially be left in a situation where they're more vulnerable than they are already". James Hancock, deputy director of the University of Adelaide's SA Centre for Economic Studies, said the situations with Whyalla, Port Pirie and Bedford had left the government "between a rock and a hard place". He said government intervention to save a business meant "you then potentially have a queue of other businesses approaching you for support when they're in difficulty". "The state budget can afford to do it for an extended period, but the real issue is if you're doing this for an extended period, what are you doing for other sectors that come under pressure?" he said. "If it's not just Whyalla [and] you sort of end up with five, 10 sectors that need a lot of help on an ongoing basis, then that actually starts to become a really large budget burden. "There's a tension there and there's no easy answer." South Australia is not short of examples of what happens when a long-standing industry collapses and there is no white knight to save it. The death of the car manufacturing industry left its mark on Adelaide following the closure of Mitsubishi in 2008 and Holden in 2017. Meanwhile, the end of coal mining in Leigh Creek in 2015 saw that town's population shrink from 2,000 residents to just 100. Mr Hancock said the stakes were particularly high for regional cities that were reliant on a major employer. "Holden was located in the Adelaide metropolitan area … and people that were displaced from Holden in many instances were able to get employment elsewhere," he said. "If you think about the house values of those workers, there was no sort of real impact of any significance. "If you compare that with Whyalla, and if you had a situation where half the town was out of work and having to leave a job, it becomes almost impossible for people to sell housing. "The human consequences of a Whyalla closure would really be very large." That's the case Port Pirie Mayor Leon Stephens is now making amid the troubles associated with the Nyrstar plant. Mr Stephens, who is also a Liberal Party candidate at the 2026 state election, said the closure of the Port Pirie smelter would cause economic "devastation". "My perception of what a government should be doing, it should be looking after all sectors of community," he said. "When you've got … a major employer in a city and that person is struggling and it looks like it will bring the city to its knees, I think there's definitely a catalyst [for intervention]." The Premier was asked on Wednesday where he drew the line on whether to give an industry a bailout. He said it depended on "whether or not there's a future" for the industry in question. "While it is true that there's creative disruption in the marketplace all the time and we see businesses that's better years are past, the question is what are the years in front of us," he said. "Unless you can see a future, then maybe you have to say, 'look, something hit the fence and that's life'. "But for steelmaking … we know this country needs steel, for critical minerals [like at Port Pirie], the demand is going up not down. "So, there are futures there that are worthy of contemplation."
BBC News
7 days ago
- BBC News
Thief destroys Middlesbrough school's van for autistic boy
A £50,000 minibus described as a "lifeline" for an autistic boy has been destroyed in a "heartless" attack, a charity North East Autism Society (NEAS) said its Mackenzie Thorpe Centre school in South Bank, Middlesbrough, had been targeted by a thief at 21:10 BST on 19 of a Ford Tourneo van had been stripped during the break-in, with the bonnet, parts of the engine and tyres stolen. Artist Mackenzie Thorpe, who the school is named after, said the van was used for a 12-year-old-boy with complex needs, and to see the centre targeted was "a betrayal of everything we stand for". He said: "This centre was built with love, to give vulnerable young people in our community the care, support, and education they deserve."Lives of children and their families have literally been transformed here."The Mackenzie Thorpe Centre provides specialist education and care for autistic and neurodivergent children and adults across the region. Engineers estimated the nine-seater van would either have to be written off or cost about £15,000 to repair, NEAS McEwan, interim principal of the school, said: "We are devastated. This vehicle was not just a means of transport, it was a lifeline for one of our community learners."She told BBC Radio Tees the van gave the boy access to education and helped him engage with the world in a way that met his individual needs, such as going on outings to local attractions, and activities including swimming and horse said she was "utterly shocked" when she saw the vehicle."The fact that this person had come through the fence and had been in our environment that we love and take pride cause harm in that way and disrupt our service is really disheartening," she said. Triple break-in The male suspect was caught on CCTV on 19 July at 21:10 cutting through a metal playground fence to enter the school, the charity said. Once inside, he can be seen breaking into the van and releasing the bonnet. He trigged an alarm, but disabled it before suspect was captured again on CCTV at 21:30, spending an hour stripping the front of the van. He then returned on 21 July at 22:10, the charity said, breaking through the repaired section of the fence to remove all four tyres from the is described as white, aged about 18 and wearing a camouflage coat and grey jogging Police has urged anyone with information to contact the force. Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
The Independent
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Second safe haven built by The Independent for women fleeing domestic abuse now complete
The second safe haven built by The Independent ' s Brick by Brick campaign for women fleeing domestic abuse has been completed, providing a 'lifeline' for families in need. The purpose-built safe house is now ready for its first family to move in, weeks after the keys for the first home were handed over. The new houses, built by Persimmon Homes, were funded by The Independent 's hugely successful campaign, launched in partnership with leading domestic abuse charity Refuge last September. When the initial target of £300,000 was reached after just a month of fundraising, The Independent decided to build a second house as more than £585,000 was raised by our generous readers. The campaign was backed by politicians, royalty and celebrities, including the Queen, Sir Keir Starmer, Dame Helen Mirren, Dame Joanna Lumley, Olivia Colman, Victoria Derbyshire, Andi Oliver, David Morrissey and Sir Patrick Stewart. The Independent 's editor-in-chief, Geordie Greig, said: 'It is brilliant news that The Independent's Brick by Brick campaign now has a second house funded and built for women desperately in need of sanctuary. 'I feel enormous gratitude to our donors and our charity partner, Refuge. 'This house is a lifeline for abused women. To build a permanent sanctuary makes all of us at The Independent feel great pride and joy that this safe house is available forever, offering rescue and respite to women whose lives are at risk.' The identical homes are built in a secret location to protect survivors and look exactly the same as those surrounding them, to ensure their occupants don't feel isolated. They are both finished with a living room, open-plan kitchen, dining room, a garden and two double-sized bedrooms with built-in cupboard storage space. After the 10,946 bricks were laid, an all-female team of decorators added the finishing touches to the properties with bright colours to make the house a true home for those seeking refuge. Crucially, the semi-detached homes also include a number of safety features, including CCTV, a fireproof letter box and enhanced locking mechanisms on windows and doors. The Brick by Brick campaign was launched in September 2024 in response to the nationwide domestic abuse crisis. Thousands of women across the UK face danger in their own homes, but a woman is turned away from a refuge every two hours due to a lack of space. The Independent heard testimony from a range of survivors, including women who were beaten and had lost children, friends and jobs. The project would not have been possible without the generous donations from readers and other backers including the The Julia Rausing Trust and Nationwide. Prominent figures publicly supported the campaign, including the Queen, who also made a donation and described such safe spaces as 'vital in providing a lifeline to those at their lowest ebb'. Praising the campaign on the completion of the second home, the prime minister said: "Congratulations to the Independent for its work on this wonderful project. 'When I first backed Brick by Brick, I said I wanted the campaign to go on and get bigger and bigger – and now it is. 'No one should be forced to choose between staying in danger or facing the streets. A second Brick by Brick safe home means more women and children can escape abuse and rebuild their lives with dignity and security. 'My government has a commitment to halve violence against women and girls and we will need to pull every lever across society to make this happen, which is why I am so proud of campaigns like this that show what we can achieve when we stand together." Actor Olivia Colman, a Refuge ambassador who supported the campaign, said: "Together, we supported Refuge and The Independent's Brick by Brick appeal, as every woman and child deserves to live safely, free from the horrors of domestic abuse. We haven't just built two houses, we have created homes that will save lives. Thank you." She was joined by fellow Refuge ambassador, Sir Patrick Stewart, who said the campaign sent a 'powerful message' that we as a society 'will not tolerate domestic abuse'. 'We must continue to join forces to support the millions of women and children who are subjected to domestic abuse every day,' he said. Survivors, including those with older children, will be free to bring pets with them, something that many refuges are unable to accommodate. Refuge staff will provide emotional support and legal advice to the families, and will help women with safety preparations, budgeting, debt planning, benefits applications and finding nurseries and schools. Gemma Sherrington, CEO of Refuge said: 'With the first of these houses already occupied, this week we welcomed a survivor to the second – a powerful reminder of the life-changing impact the Brick by Brick campaign has had. 'These two houses – which offer safety and freedom to women who would otherwise not be able to access traditional refuges – are already saving lives. 'As a result of the incredible support shown for this campaign, countless women and their children will now have somewhere safe to call home, where they can begin to rebuild their lives free from fear.' Anthony Vigor, chair of the trustees for the Persimmon Charitable Foundation, said: 'We are delighted to be handing over the keys to the first Refuge home built by Persimmon. It has been a real privilege to be involved with this project and the life-changing benefits it will deliver. Everyone has a right to feel safe, and we are pleased that this home will shortly become a much-needed sanctuary for a family surviving domestic abuse.' It's not too late to support Refuge and to help more survivors find their freedom. Donations will be spent on Refuge's lifesaving work housing survivors of domestic abuse.
