Latest news with #volunteerarmy
The Guardian
26-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Morning Mail: Call for disaster ‘volunteer army', car hits Liverpool parade, rock art fears over gas plan
Morning everyone. Our exclusive top story hears from veterans on the frontline of disaster relief calling for federal funding to set up a 10,000 volunteer army to help the recovery from extreme weather events such as last week's NSW floods. Overseas, a car has ploughed into crowds celebrating Liverpool's Premier League win. Plus, the incident between a president and his wife that has all France talking – but Emmanuel Macron says everyone needs to just calm down. High politics | Adelaide's first skyscraper – planned to be 38 storeys and 160m high – will be a 'phallic' construction overshadowing the birthplace of women's suffrage, critics say. Exclusive | A veteran-led organisation on the frontline of disaster recovery wants federal government support to help establish a 10,000-strong volunteer army. Exclusive | Most Australian women are not aware that intrauterine devices are the most effective form of contraception, with experts saying this nationwide 'failure in public education' has contributed to low uptake. Bali accused | An Australian man accused of trying to smuggle drugs into Bali faces 'the death penalty or life in jail' if found guilty, police on the Indonesian tourist island said yesterday after parading him in a prison jumpsuit. Exclusive | One of the architects of the Indigenous voice to parliament, Megan Davis, says Aboriginal Australians increasingly feel the government is not listening to their views on laws and policy design in the wake of the referendum defeat. Liverpool arrest | A man has been detained after a car collided with pedestrians in Liverpool city centre after Liverpool FC's Premier League victory parade. The home secretary, Yvette Cooper, has called the incident 'shocking and horrendous' Follow developments live. Gloves off | Germany will remove range restrictions on weapons delivered to Ukraine – to enable it to defend itself against Russia. It came after Moscow launched its third consecutive night of drone strikes against Ukraine, killing at least six people, and Donald Trump complained that Vladimir Putin has 'gone crazy'. 'Speak out' | A former president of Harvard University has urged people to 'speak out' to defend 'foundational threats' to American values from the Trump administration. In his speech to mark Memorial Day, Trump took credit for the US hosting the 2026 football World Cup (alongside Canada and Mexico) and the 2028 Summer Olympics – and said 'I have everything'. Follow developments live. Gaza strike | An Israeli strike on a school housing displaced people in Gaza killed at least 33 people on Monday, coming after the head of a US-backed private humanitarian organisation distributing aid resigned, saying the operation could not fulfil its mission in a way that adhered to 'humanitarian principles'. Macron moment | Emmanuel Macron has denied he and his wife, Brigitte, had an altercation after a video appeared to show her pushing him in the face as they prepared to get off a plane in Vietnam. Will Labor take its chance to act on climate? Nour Haydar speaks to Adam Morton about why there will never be a better chance for Labor to deliver on climate. Sorry your browser does not support audio - but you can download here and listen $ One of the first big decisions that the new environment minister needs to make is whether Woodside can extend the life of the North West Shelf LNG plant in Western Australia. There are concerns about damage to rock art – a report on the issue downplays the risk but our environment editor Adam Morton says evidence buried deep in the document shows that local pollution is now about four times worse than in the 1960s and 1970s. A new exhibition co-presented by the Art Gallery of South Australia and the Art Gallery of NSW celebrates the work and lives of 50 pioneering Australian women who from the late 19th century 'traded the antipodes for Bohemian melting pots in Bloomsbury and Chelsea, or Paris's left bank' to develop their art. Walter Marsh finds out more. Sign up to Morning Mail Our Australian morning briefing breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Rugby league | New South Wales appear to be favourites going into Game One of this year's State of Origin series in Brisbane tomorrow night. Tennis | There were major upsets for two of the top American seeds at the French Open overnight, as Taylor Fritz and Emma Navarro crashed out in the first round. Women's football | Arsenal's three Matildas were among the players celebrating with fans as they paraded the Women's Champions League in north London. The Sydney Morning Herald claims the Minns government is under pressure to step in and buy back the Northern Beaches hospital after Healthscope went bust, while the Mercury says there are also concerns in Tasmania about the future of Hobart Private. The Telegraph enjoys what it calls the 'Origin spy drama' and says the Blues are using drones to find out who filmed their training session. A huge dust storm blanketed parts of Victoria and NSW as it travelled east from South Australia, the Age reports. Gold Coast | Forum on overcoming Indigenous family violence. Health | ABS releases data on serum levels of Pfas for under-12s. Sydney | First case management conference for Bob Brown Foundation legal action against federal environment law changes. If you would like to receive this Morning Mail update to your email inbox every weekday, sign up here, or finish your day with our Afternoon Update newsletter. You can follow the latest in US politics by signing up for This Week in Trumpland. And finally, here are the Guardian's crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow. Quick crossword Cryptic crossword
The Guardian
26-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Veteran-led disaster recovery group calls on Albanese for help to build army of 10,000 volunteers
The veteran-led organisation on the frontline of disaster recovery wants federal government support to help establish a 10,000-strong volunteer army. Disaster Relief Australia (DRA) is pushing for a new funding deal to secure its future and grow its force, as it positions itself as an alternative to the Australian defence force in the aftermath of major floods, fires and cyclones. The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, on Monday said the organisation did 'amazing work' and the government would 'work with them constructively' – but stopped short of guaranteeing new funding. The not-for-profit DRA, which draws on veterans' skills and experience, is being increasingly utilised to support other volunteers preparing for and recovering from natural disasters. A crew of 100 volunteers is set to join 70 ADF personnel this week to assist with the cleanup operation from the floods on the New South Wales mid-north coast – helping clear debris, reopen roads and conduct welfare checks on residents in the flood zone. But its long-term funding is up in the air, with a three-year, $38.3m federal grant to substantially bolster its ranks due to expire in mid-2026. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email On 6 January, the organisation wrote to Albanese and then opposition leader Peter Dutton, seeking pre-election commitments to fund a new 'national veteran volunteer program (NVVP)' after the old deal ran out. The four-year, $87.5m plan would allow DRA to grow its numbers to 10,000, up from more than 5,500, according to the letter seen by Guardian Australia. Among the organisation's major selling points was its ability to ease the burden on the ADF, which was heavily relied upon during the black summer bushfires and stretched further during the Covid-19 pandemic. The 2023 defence strategic review found the ADF must be the 'force of last resort' to ensure the military could focus on its primary purpose of defending the country. In their letter, DRA said it was the only organisation outside the ADF with a proven capacity to perform in the preparation, relief and recovery phases of a disaster. 'Australia is increasingly challenged by more frequent and severe disasters, which are placing immense pressure on emergency services and often necessitating the use of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) for disaster relief and recovery,' the letter read. 'As climate change intensifies these crises, the reduction per capita in the number of volunteers and emergency services personnel continues and the geo-political situation becomes more uncertain, a strategic shift is needed to build a more disaster resilient nation and reduce the demand on the ADF by investing significantly in dedicated disaster preparedness, relief and recovery capabilities.' The organisation secured a $64.5m funding commitment from the Coalition during the election campaign – but no new pledge from Labor. After Labor's election win, the chief executive of DRA, David Smith, wrote to Albanese and his new minister for emergency management, Kristy McBain, to reiterate the request. 'While support for the … proposal was not the subject of a government announcement during the election, we remain confident of your government's ongoing support for DRA,' Smith wrote. 'Nevertheless, given the expiration of our current grant in March 2026, and the required lead time for operational planning and workforce management, we would like to confirm the government's commitment to fund the NVVP as soon as possible.' The original $38m in funding for DRA was one of Labor's 2022 election commitments. Asked on Monday if the government was considering DRA's recent proposal, Albanese praised the organisation but did not commit to new funding. 'We are strong supporters of Disaster Relief Australia,' the prime minister said. 'They do amazing work, and they are made up, of course, of a lot of former members of the defence force personnel. And just a big shout out to them. We'll continue to work with them constructively.' The defence minister, Richard Marles, said coordination between levels of government and the role of first responders such as the SES was helping to ease the burden on the ADF. 'I think we are getting our policies better as we're moving forward, but when there is a moment when there is a crisis, and that call is made for Defence, Defence will always come,' Marles said. Albanese said the ADF's presence also provided a morale boost to communities. 'From my experience, the presence of ADF personnel on the ground brings enormous confidence to communities that are really doing it tough. It's a sign of how seriously we as a nation are taking what is a catastrophic event,' he said.
