National meeting called to address AI child abuse
The National Children's Commissioner will meet fellow experts in Canberra on Thursday for the roundtable discussions.
'We are seeing AI generate entirely new types of child abuse material. This is a turning point,' international expert Jon Rouse said.
Figures from the US-based National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children show AI use has massively increased among predators.
The centre reports a 1325 per cent increase in child sexual exploitation material reports involving generative AI, up from 4700 in 2023 to more than 67,000 in 2024.
While based in the US, the centre works closely with law enforcement around the world.
The meeting in Canberra has been called to discuss responses to AI-generated child sexual abuse material, deepfakes, automated grooming and childlike AI personas.
'This roundtable represents a pivotal moment for child protection in Australia,' International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children Australia chief executive Colm Gannon said.
'AI is being weaponised to harm children, and Australia must act swiftly to prevent these technologies from outpacing our systems of protection.'
Australian of the Year Grace Tame will lend her expertise to the roundtable, as will representatives from the eSafety Commissioner, child protection organisation Bravehearts, and Childlight Australia.
'If we act now, Australia can set a global benchmark for ethical AI and child protection,' Mr Gannon said.
Originally published as 'Act now': National meeting to combat AI child abuse
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News.com.au
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- News.com.au
US migrant raids spark boom for private detention providers
Donald Trump's promise to carry out the largest deportation operation in US history has appalled some Americans. But others are cashing in on the boom in demand for private detention centers. Migrants captured by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents need to be temporarily housed in places like the facility being readied in California City, prior to deportation. "When you talk to the majority of residents here, they have a favorable perspective on it," said Marquette Hawkins, mayor of the hardscrabble settlement of 15,000 people, 100 miles (160 kilometres) north of Los Angeles. "They look at the economic impact, right?" California City is to be home to a sprawling detention center that will be operated by CoreCivic, one of the largest companies in the private detention sector. The company, which declined AFP requests for an interview, says the facility would generate around 500 jobs, and funnel $2 million in tax revenue to the city. "Many of our residents have already been hired out there to work in that facility," Hawkins told AFP. "Any revenue source that is going to assist the town in rebuilding itself, rebranding itself, is going to be seen as a plus," he said. - Boom - Trump's ramped-up immigration arrests, like those that provoked protests in Los Angeles, saw a record 60,000 people in detention in June, according to ICE figures. Those same figures show the vast majority have no conviction, despite the president's election campaign promises to go after hardened criminals. More than 80 percent of detainees are in facilities run by the private sector, according to the TRAC project at Syracuse University. And with Washington's directive to triple the number of daily arrests -- and $45 billion earmarked for new detention centers -- the sector is looking at an unprecedented boom. "Never in our 42-year company history have we had so much activity and demand for our services as we are seeing right now," Damon Hininger, executive director of CoreCivic, said in a May call with investors. When Trump took office in January, some 107 centers were operating. The number now hovers around 200. For Democratic politicians, this proliferation is intentional. "Private prison companies are profiting from human suffering, and Republicans are allowing them to get away with it," Congresswoman Norma Torres told reporters outside a detention center in the southern California city of Adelanto. At the start of the year, there were three people detained there; there are now hundreds, each one of them attracting a daily stipend of taxpayer cash for the operator. Torres was refused permission to visit the facility, run by the privately owned GEO Group, because she had not given seven days' notice, she said. "Denying members of Congress access to private detention facilities like Adelanto isn't just disrespectful, it is dangerous, it is illegal, and it is a desperate attempt to hide the abuse happening behind these walls," she said. "We've heard the horrifying stories of detainees being violently arrested, denied basic medical care, isolated for days, and left injured without treatment," she added. Kristen Hunsberger, a staff attorney at the Law Center for Immigrant Advocates, said one client complained of having to wait "six or seven hours to get clean water." It is "not sanitary and certainly not... in compliance with just basic human rights." Hunsberger, who spends hours on the road going from one center to another to locate her clients, says many have been denied access to legal counsel, a constitutional right in the United States. Both GEO and ICE have denied allegations of mistreatment at the detention centers. "Claims there is overcrowding or subprime conditions in ICE facilities are categorically FALSE," said Tricia McLaughlin, the assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security. "All detainees are provided with proper meals, medical treatment and have opportunities to communicate with their family members and lawyers." - 'Strategy' - But some relatives of detainees tell a different story. Alejandra Morales, an American citizen, said her undocumented husband was detained incommunicado for five days in Los Angeles before being transferred to Adelanto. In the Los Angeles facility, "they don't even let them brush their teeth, they don't let them bathe, nothing. They have them all sleeping on the floor, in a cell, all together," she said. Hunsberger said that for detainees and their relatives, the treatment appears to be deliberate. "They're starting to feel that this is a strategy to wear people down, to have them in these inhumane conditions, and then pressure them to sign something where they could then agree to being deported," she said. pr/hg/ksb
The Advertiser
4 hours ago
- The Advertiser
'Just a little lie': the costly Jeremy Bath rumour Allan Robinson started
IT was the fib that sparked a bitter feud between councillors, a formal investigation, and set back City of Newcastle chief executive Jeremy Bath's employment by six months. Nine years on, in a colourful eulogy about former lord mayor and development titan Jeff McCloy, former councillor Allan 'Robbo' Robinson confessed: he made it up. Mr Bath's recruitment was thrown into turmoil in December 2016 when then Cr Robinson claimed a mystery man in Belmont told him Mr Bath had the job, two days before interviews. At Mr McCloy's packed City Hall funeral, Mr Robinson told an enraptured crowd he "made up some shit story" that was "just a little lie". "Jeremy Bath was coming on, and the whispers were, you know, 'He's not up for it, he's not up for it, he's not doing this, he's not doing this'," Mr Robinson said. "So I made up some shit story, just a little lie, it didn't hurt anyone. "I just made up this story, and it held Jeremy up for I think eight weeks I kept him out of a wage." Mr Robinson went on to say Mr McCloy approached him to ask what he'd heard. "I said 'Oh nothing, I've made it up'," Mr Robinson said. "Jeff went berserk at me for lying, I thought, 'f***, you're not me [sic] dad.'" In 2016, Mr Robinson said a man had approached him in Belmont and revealed a former Hunter-based executive had been given the job two days before interviews were due to take place. At the time, Mr Robinson said he did not know the mystery man's name, where he lived, and did not probe where the information had come from. The lie led to Cr Andrea Rufo, who died in November 2024 following a battle with acute myeloid leukemia, resigning from his position on the CEO recruitment panel. Councillors walked out of a confidential vote on the election of a new interim CEO, and the NSW Office of Local Government later launched an investigation. It found nothing "improper or unethical" in the recruitment process. Mr Robinson told the Newcastle Herald he did not remember the particulars of the conversation, that a bloke from Belmont did tell him something, but he "might have added fuel to it" to put a stop to Mr Bath's recruitment until an investigation could be held. "I know with what I'd said I made up the best part of it to stop it and start an investigation, and then the investigation started," he said. Despite the fall-out, Mr Robinson said he does not "have any regrets". "They had to look into it ... and did I tell a white lie to stop it? I must have," he said. "I'm telling you now it's a better thing for the district for the fact what I done [sic] to Jeremy." Mr Robinson admitted he told Mr Bath at the time he "might have had something to do with it" and the pair have been "mates ever since". "I think he called me a name, my grandkids say f***, they don't say that one, right?" he said. "Let the people know how lucky they are to have Jeremy Bath at the helm. "He gives his guts to that joint, yeah, he gets a fortune for it, but he's worth every f****** cent he gets." Mr Bath was offered the role in March 2017. Several weeks before he started at City of Newcastle, Mr Bath said he called Mr Robinson about the "old man in Belmont" and the impact of the lie. "It was probably a more colourful conversation than I care to repeat now, but I made clear that I was willing to move forward on the condition that there were no more made-up stories about me," he said. Mr Bath said the story, the resulting council walk-out and Mr Rufo's resignation damaged his reputation and saw him start on the back foot with staff, councillors and the community. "Fortunately, several months before he passed away, Andrea called me to tell me that he no longer believed the story, and that he regretted believing it at the time. It was a lovely moment between us," Mr Bath said. "They say mud sticks, and it probably has to some degree. The 'old man in Belmont' reference still comes up every now and then, but I learnt a long time ago most people judge me based on how the city is performing rather than what other people tell them about me." Mr Bath said he did not speak publicly about Mr Robinson's admission at the time because he knew it was a lie. "The timeline of his story was based on a supposed conversation that took place before I'd even spoken with the recruiter about the job," he said. "I told Robbo when we spoke for the first time that I was willing to move forward. That meant putting it behind us." Four years on from Mr Robinson's tenure, Mr Bath said he still answers his calls. "In terms of going forward, it's nice to have the story put to bed and the truth known," he said. 'Robbo' was not eligible to stand for council in the 2024 elections because he was banned from holding civic office for two years, for misconduct the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal deemed "grossly homophobic" and "discriminatory". The tribunal found Mr Robinson had made a series of abusive comments towards fellow councillors between 2019 and 2020. IT was the fib that sparked a bitter feud between councillors, a formal investigation, and set back City of Newcastle chief executive Jeremy Bath's employment by six months. Nine years on, in a colourful eulogy about former lord mayor and development titan Jeff McCloy, former councillor Allan 'Robbo' Robinson confessed: he made it up. Mr Bath's recruitment was thrown into turmoil in December 2016 when then Cr Robinson claimed a mystery man in Belmont told him Mr Bath had the job, two days before interviews. At Mr McCloy's packed City Hall funeral, Mr Robinson told an enraptured crowd he "made up some shit story" that was "just a little lie". "Jeremy Bath was coming on, and the whispers were, you know, 'He's not up for it, he's not up for it, he's not doing this, he's not doing this'," Mr Robinson said. "So I made up some shit story, just a little lie, it didn't hurt anyone. "I just made up this story, and it held Jeremy up for I think eight weeks I kept him out of a wage." Mr Robinson went on to say Mr McCloy approached him to ask what he'd heard. "I said 'Oh nothing, I've made it up'," Mr Robinson said. "Jeff went berserk at me for lying, I thought, 'f***, you're not me [sic] dad.'" In 2016, Mr Robinson said a man had approached him in Belmont and revealed a former Hunter-based executive had been given the job two days before interviews were due to take place. At the time, Mr Robinson said he did not know the mystery man's name, where he lived, and did not probe where the information had come from. The lie led to Cr Andrea Rufo, who died in November 2024 following a battle with acute myeloid leukemia, resigning from his position on the CEO recruitment panel. Councillors walked out of a confidential vote on the election of a new interim CEO, and the NSW Office of Local Government later launched an investigation. It found nothing "improper or unethical" in the recruitment process. Mr Robinson told the Newcastle Herald he did not remember the particulars of the conversation, that a bloke from Belmont did tell him something, but he "might have added fuel to it" to put a stop to Mr Bath's recruitment until an investigation could be held. "I know with what I'd said I made up the best part of it to stop it and start an investigation, and then the investigation started," he said. Despite the fall-out, Mr Robinson said he does not "have any regrets". "They had to look into it ... and did I tell a white lie to stop it? I must have," he said. "I'm telling you now it's a better thing for the district for the fact what I done [sic] to Jeremy." Mr Robinson admitted he told Mr Bath at the time he "might have had something to do with it" and the pair have been "mates ever since". "I think he called me a name, my grandkids say f***, they don't say that one, right?" he said. "Let the people know how lucky they are to have Jeremy Bath at the helm. "He gives his guts to that joint, yeah, he gets a fortune for it, but he's worth every f****** cent he gets." Mr Bath was offered the role in March 2017. Several weeks before he started at City of Newcastle, Mr Bath said he called Mr Robinson about the "old man in Belmont" and the impact of the lie. "It was probably a more colourful conversation than I care to repeat now, but I made clear that I was willing to move forward on the condition that there were no more made-up stories about me," he said. Mr Bath said the story, the resulting council walk-out and Mr Rufo's resignation damaged his reputation and saw him start on the back foot with staff, councillors and the community. "Fortunately, several months before he passed away, Andrea called me to tell me that he no longer believed the story, and that he regretted believing it at the time. It was a lovely moment between us," Mr Bath said. "They say mud sticks, and it probably has to some degree. The 'old man in Belmont' reference still comes up every now and then, but I learnt a long time ago most people judge me based on how the city is performing rather than what other people tell them about me." Mr Bath said he did not speak publicly about Mr Robinson's admission at the time because he knew it was a lie. "The timeline of his story was based on a supposed conversation that took place before I'd even spoken with the recruiter about the job," he said. "I told Robbo when we spoke for the first time that I was willing to move forward. That meant putting it behind us." Four years on from Mr Robinson's tenure, Mr Bath said he still answers his calls. "In terms of going forward, it's nice to have the story put to bed and the truth known," he said. 'Robbo' was not eligible to stand for council in the 2024 elections because he was banned from holding civic office for two years, for misconduct the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal deemed "grossly homophobic" and "discriminatory". The tribunal found Mr Robinson had made a series of abusive comments towards fellow councillors between 2019 and 2020. IT was the fib that sparked a bitter feud between councillors, a formal investigation, and set back City of Newcastle chief executive Jeremy Bath's employment by six months. Nine years on, in a colourful eulogy about former lord mayor and development titan Jeff McCloy, former councillor Allan 'Robbo' Robinson confessed: he made it up. Mr Bath's recruitment was thrown into turmoil in December 2016 when then Cr Robinson claimed a mystery man in Belmont told him Mr Bath had the job, two days before interviews. At Mr McCloy's packed City Hall funeral, Mr Robinson told an enraptured crowd he "made up some shit story" that was "just a little lie". "Jeremy Bath was coming on, and the whispers were, you know, 'He's not up for it, he's not up for it, he's not doing this, he's not doing this'," Mr Robinson said. "So I made up some shit story, just a little lie, it didn't hurt anyone. "I just made up this story, and it held Jeremy up for I think eight weeks I kept him out of a wage." Mr Robinson went on to say Mr McCloy approached him to ask what he'd heard. "I said 'Oh nothing, I've made it up'," Mr Robinson said. "Jeff went berserk at me for lying, I thought, 'f***, you're not me [sic] dad.'" In 2016, Mr Robinson said a man had approached him in Belmont and revealed a former Hunter-based executive had been given the job two days before interviews were due to take place. At the time, Mr Robinson said he did not know the mystery man's name, where he lived, and did not probe where the information had come from. The lie led to Cr Andrea Rufo, who died in November 2024 following a battle with acute myeloid leukemia, resigning from his position on the CEO recruitment panel. Councillors walked out of a confidential vote on the election of a new interim CEO, and the NSW Office of Local Government later launched an investigation. It found nothing "improper or unethical" in the recruitment process. Mr Robinson told the Newcastle Herald he did not remember the particulars of the conversation, that a bloke from Belmont did tell him something, but he "might have added fuel to it" to put a stop to Mr Bath's recruitment until an investigation could be held. "I know with what I'd said I made up the best part of it to stop it and start an investigation, and then the investigation started," he said. Despite the fall-out, Mr Robinson said he does not "have any regrets". "They had to look into it ... and did I tell a white lie to stop it? I must have," he said. "I'm telling you now it's a better thing for the district for the fact what I done [sic] to Jeremy." Mr Robinson admitted he told Mr Bath at the time he "might have had something to do with it" and the pair have been "mates ever since". "I think he called me a name, my grandkids say f***, they don't say that one, right?" he said. "Let the people know how lucky they are to have Jeremy Bath at the helm. "He gives his guts to that joint, yeah, he gets a fortune for it, but he's worth every f****** cent he gets." Mr Bath was offered the role in March 2017. Several weeks before he started at City of Newcastle, Mr Bath said he called Mr Robinson about the "old man in Belmont" and the impact of the lie. "It was probably a more colourful conversation than I care to repeat now, but I made clear that I was willing to move forward on the condition that there were no more made-up stories about me," he said. Mr Bath said the story, the resulting council walk-out and Mr Rufo's resignation damaged his reputation and saw him start on the back foot with staff, councillors and the community. "Fortunately, several months before he passed away, Andrea called me to tell me that he no longer believed the story, and that he regretted believing it at the time. It was a lovely moment between us," Mr Bath said. "They say mud sticks, and it probably has to some degree. The 'old man in Belmont' reference still comes up every now and then, but I learnt a long time ago most people judge me based on how the city is performing rather than what other people tell them about me." Mr Bath said he did not speak publicly about Mr Robinson's admission at the time because he knew it was a lie. "The timeline of his story was based on a supposed conversation that took place before I'd even spoken with the recruiter about the job," he said. "I told Robbo when we spoke for the first time that I was willing to move forward. That meant putting it behind us." Four years on from Mr Robinson's tenure, Mr Bath said he still answers his calls. "In terms of going forward, it's nice to have the story put to bed and the truth known," he said. 'Robbo' was not eligible to stand for council in the 2024 elections because he was banned from holding civic office for two years, for misconduct the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal deemed "grossly homophobic" and "discriminatory". The tribunal found Mr Robinson had made a series of abusive comments towards fellow councillors between 2019 and 2020. IT was the fib that sparked a bitter feud between councillors, a formal investigation, and set back City of Newcastle chief executive Jeremy Bath's employment by six months. Nine years on, in a colourful eulogy about former lord mayor and development titan Jeff McCloy, former councillor Allan 'Robbo' Robinson confessed: he made it up. Mr Bath's recruitment was thrown into turmoil in December 2016 when then Cr Robinson claimed a mystery man in Belmont told him Mr Bath had the job, two days before interviews. At Mr McCloy's packed City Hall funeral, Mr Robinson told an enraptured crowd he "made up some shit story" that was "just a little lie". "Jeremy Bath was coming on, and the whispers were, you know, 'He's not up for it, he's not up for it, he's not doing this, he's not doing this'," Mr Robinson said. "So I made up some shit story, just a little lie, it didn't hurt anyone. "I just made up this story, and it held Jeremy up for I think eight weeks I kept him out of a wage." Mr Robinson went on to say Mr McCloy approached him to ask what he'd heard. "I said 'Oh nothing, I've made it up'," Mr Robinson said. "Jeff went berserk at me for lying, I thought, 'f***, you're not me [sic] dad.'" In 2016, Mr Robinson said a man had approached him in Belmont and revealed a former Hunter-based executive had been given the job two days before interviews were due to take place. At the time, Mr Robinson said he did not know the mystery man's name, where he lived, and did not probe where the information had come from. The lie led to Cr Andrea Rufo, who died in November 2024 following a battle with acute myeloid leukemia, resigning from his position on the CEO recruitment panel. Councillors walked out of a confidential vote on the election of a new interim CEO, and the NSW Office of Local Government later launched an investigation. It found nothing "improper or unethical" in the recruitment process. Mr Robinson told the Newcastle Herald he did not remember the particulars of the conversation, that a bloke from Belmont did tell him something, but he "might have added fuel to it" to put a stop to Mr Bath's recruitment until an investigation could be held. "I know with what I'd said I made up the best part of it to stop it and start an investigation, and then the investigation started," he said. Despite the fall-out, Mr Robinson said he does not "have any regrets". "They had to look into it ... and did I tell a white lie to stop it? I must have," he said. "I'm telling you now it's a better thing for the district for the fact what I done [sic] to Jeremy." Mr Robinson admitted he told Mr Bath at the time he "might have had something to do with it" and the pair have been "mates ever since". "I think he called me a name, my grandkids say f***, they don't say that one, right?" he said. "Let the people know how lucky they are to have Jeremy Bath at the helm. "He gives his guts to that joint, yeah, he gets a fortune for it, but he's worth every f****** cent he gets." Mr Bath was offered the role in March 2017. Several weeks before he started at City of Newcastle, Mr Bath said he called Mr Robinson about the "old man in Belmont" and the impact of the lie. "It was probably a more colourful conversation than I care to repeat now, but I made clear that I was willing to move forward on the condition that there were no more made-up stories about me," he said. Mr Bath said the story, the resulting council walk-out and Mr Rufo's resignation damaged his reputation and saw him start on the back foot with staff, councillors and the community. "Fortunately, several months before he passed away, Andrea called me to tell me that he no longer believed the story, and that he regretted believing it at the time. It was a lovely moment between us," Mr Bath said. "They say mud sticks, and it probably has to some degree. The 'old man in Belmont' reference still comes up every now and then, but I learnt a long time ago most people judge me based on how the city is performing rather than what other people tell them about me." Mr Bath said he did not speak publicly about Mr Robinson's admission at the time because he knew it was a lie. "The timeline of his story was based on a supposed conversation that took place before I'd even spoken with the recruiter about the job," he said. "I told Robbo when we spoke for the first time that I was willing to move forward. That meant putting it behind us." Four years on from Mr Robinson's tenure, Mr Bath said he still answers his calls. "In terms of going forward, it's nice to have the story put to bed and the truth known," he said. 'Robbo' was not eligible to stand for council in the 2024 elections because he was banned from holding civic office for two years, for misconduct the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal deemed "grossly homophobic" and "discriminatory". The tribunal found Mr Robinson had made a series of abusive comments towards fellow councillors between 2019 and 2020.
The Advertiser
4 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Australian-developed electric Mini Moke now available
Australians can now buy a street-legal, all-electric Mini Moke, courtesy of Melbourne-based electric vehicle (EV) conversion company Jaunt Motors, but you'll have to pay handsomely for it. Jaunt's electric Moke conversion, which is now available for customer commission ahead of delivery in 2026, is priced from $140,000 – excluding the cost of the donor vehicle. The EV converter is also offering its new Moke EV conversion platform to independent workshops around Australia, including installation training and instruction, with trade prices starting at $90,000. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. Separately, Moke International is offering an electric Moke for the equivalent of about $69,500 including taxes, delivery and first registration fees in the UK, and has received approval to sell 1500 Mokes in the EU under that market's ultra-low volume vehicle regulations, as well as approval to sell 325 cars in the US this year. The company hopes it can make a similar case for ultra-low volume imports to Australia, where a significant proportion of customers are also expected to be high-end resorts that want to offer customers Moke EVs for complimentary use, short-term rental or as shuttle vehicles. However, Moke International's EV is yet to be confirmed for Australia while Jaunt says every component installed in its electric Moke is CAD designed and engineered to meet Australian Design Rules and local conditions, meaning its vehicles can be registered in every state and territory – a process it will complete before the car is delivered to you. Better known for creating battery-electric versions of the original Land Rover Defender as well as classic Mini Coopers and Porsche 911s, Jaunt also says it plans to extend its conversion platforms to other classic models such as the original Range Rover and Volkswagen Kombi, "making iconic vehicles more accessible, sustainable and engineered in a world moving toward zero-emissions". Based in Scoresby, Victoria, Jaunt specialises in converting classic and specialty vehicles to electric power with a focus on safety, compliance and craftsmanship, and says its engineered electric platforms and conversions "preserve the charm of iconic cars while making them safer, cleaner and better to drive". Jaunt's Moke EV is powered by a single front-mounted electric motor producing 72kW of power and 175Nm of torque, fed by a 19kWh battery pack that's mounted under the tub and takes between just two and three hours to recharge thanks to a 400-volt electrical architecture. Those numbers aren't big in a world of high-performance EVs, but Jaunt says its Moke can accelerate from 0-100km/h in just seven seconds – "even uphill" – in sport mode, while a regenerative braking system turns the motor into a generator to assist the mechanical brakes. Jaunt's electric upgrade retains the original Moke's low kerb weight, allowing it to be a four-seater without exceeding GVM, as well as its compact dimensions and nimble dynamics. However, it isn't being pitched as a high-performance EV, but one that's "ready for exactly what it was originally designed for: short, joyful, open-air drives". That said, a polished stainless steel-bodied version Jaunt built from the ground up and featuring LED lighting and CNC-machined badges is claimed to be lighter than the original Moke, while offering a better torque-to-weight ratio than a Tesla Model 3 Performance. In addition to the EV conversion and a 7.8:1 single gear ratio to suit larger 13-inch wheels, the retail version supplied directly to customers comes with upgraded brake, steering and suspension systems, plus ADR-compliant seats with seatbelts mounted to a new roll bar system covered by a custom canvas top. Based around a new BMH front sub-frame, the EV system bolts to existing mounting points under the bonnet and comprises the battery, electric motor and inverter, plus driveshafts, a motor cooling system, bi-directional charger and a completely new integrated 12-volt electrical system. It also comes with a new centre dash panel complete with modern digital gauges and controls, an electric parking brake, pop-up charge port and all of the necessary body block-out panels. Braking, steering and suspension systems can be further customised to meet customer needs, and additional custom parts are also available. Jaunt Motors CEO and co-founder Dave Budge says all of this gives the humble old Moke the ability to perform like a brand-new vehicle despite being originally built more than half a century ago. "Classic cars are charming," he said. "They've got stories, they've got soul. But they're also unreliable and are getting harder to maintain. What we're doing isn't about reinventing the car. It's about keeping what was great and fixing everything that wasn't. "This isn't just a loose collection of parts. It's a complete platform we've engineered, built and tested to ADR compliance and the latest EV safety standards. "Now we're making it available to others who care about doing conversions correctly. It allows restorers and auto specialists to deliver fully roadworthy electric Mokes that are safe, legal and will last another 50 years." MORE: Meet the Melbourne startup turning old Land Rovers into electric vehicles Content originally sourced from: Australians can now buy a street-legal, all-electric Mini Moke, courtesy of Melbourne-based electric vehicle (EV) conversion company Jaunt Motors, but you'll have to pay handsomely for it. Jaunt's electric Moke conversion, which is now available for customer commission ahead of delivery in 2026, is priced from $140,000 – excluding the cost of the donor vehicle. The EV converter is also offering its new Moke EV conversion platform to independent workshops around Australia, including installation training and instruction, with trade prices starting at $90,000. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. Separately, Moke International is offering an electric Moke for the equivalent of about $69,500 including taxes, delivery and first registration fees in the UK, and has received approval to sell 1500 Mokes in the EU under that market's ultra-low volume vehicle regulations, as well as approval to sell 325 cars in the US this year. The company hopes it can make a similar case for ultra-low volume imports to Australia, where a significant proportion of customers are also expected to be high-end resorts that want to offer customers Moke EVs for complimentary use, short-term rental or as shuttle vehicles. However, Moke International's EV is yet to be confirmed for Australia while Jaunt says every component installed in its electric Moke is CAD designed and engineered to meet Australian Design Rules and local conditions, meaning its vehicles can be registered in every state and territory – a process it will complete before the car is delivered to you. Better known for creating battery-electric versions of the original Land Rover Defender as well as classic Mini Coopers and Porsche 911s, Jaunt also says it plans to extend its conversion platforms to other classic models such as the original Range Rover and Volkswagen Kombi, "making iconic vehicles more accessible, sustainable and engineered in a world moving toward zero-emissions". Based in Scoresby, Victoria, Jaunt specialises in converting classic and specialty vehicles to electric power with a focus on safety, compliance and craftsmanship, and says its engineered electric platforms and conversions "preserve the charm of iconic cars while making them safer, cleaner and better to drive". Jaunt's Moke EV is powered by a single front-mounted electric motor producing 72kW of power and 175Nm of torque, fed by a 19kWh battery pack that's mounted under the tub and takes between just two and three hours to recharge thanks to a 400-volt electrical architecture. Those numbers aren't big in a world of high-performance EVs, but Jaunt says its Moke can accelerate from 0-100km/h in just seven seconds – "even uphill" – in sport mode, while a regenerative braking system turns the motor into a generator to assist the mechanical brakes. Jaunt's electric upgrade retains the original Moke's low kerb weight, allowing it to be a four-seater without exceeding GVM, as well as its compact dimensions and nimble dynamics. However, it isn't being pitched as a high-performance EV, but one that's "ready for exactly what it was originally designed for: short, joyful, open-air drives". That said, a polished stainless steel-bodied version Jaunt built from the ground up and featuring LED lighting and CNC-machined badges is claimed to be lighter than the original Moke, while offering a better torque-to-weight ratio than a Tesla Model 3 Performance. In addition to the EV conversion and a 7.8:1 single gear ratio to suit larger 13-inch wheels, the retail version supplied directly to customers comes with upgraded brake, steering and suspension systems, plus ADR-compliant seats with seatbelts mounted to a new roll bar system covered by a custom canvas top. Based around a new BMH front sub-frame, the EV system bolts to existing mounting points under the bonnet and comprises the battery, electric motor and inverter, plus driveshafts, a motor cooling system, bi-directional charger and a completely new integrated 12-volt electrical system. It also comes with a new centre dash panel complete with modern digital gauges and controls, an electric parking brake, pop-up charge port and all of the necessary body block-out panels. Braking, steering and suspension systems can be further customised to meet customer needs, and additional custom parts are also available. Jaunt Motors CEO and co-founder Dave Budge says all of this gives the humble old Moke the ability to perform like a brand-new vehicle despite being originally built more than half a century ago. "Classic cars are charming," he said. "They've got stories, they've got soul. But they're also unreliable and are getting harder to maintain. What we're doing isn't about reinventing the car. It's about keeping what was great and fixing everything that wasn't. "This isn't just a loose collection of parts. It's a complete platform we've engineered, built and tested to ADR compliance and the latest EV safety standards. "Now we're making it available to others who care about doing conversions correctly. It allows restorers and auto specialists to deliver fully roadworthy electric Mokes that are safe, legal and will last another 50 years." MORE: Meet the Melbourne startup turning old Land Rovers into electric vehicles Content originally sourced from: Australians can now buy a street-legal, all-electric Mini Moke, courtesy of Melbourne-based electric vehicle (EV) conversion company Jaunt Motors, but you'll have to pay handsomely for it. Jaunt's electric Moke conversion, which is now available for customer commission ahead of delivery in 2026, is priced from $140,000 – excluding the cost of the donor vehicle. The EV converter is also offering its new Moke EV conversion platform to independent workshops around Australia, including installation training and instruction, with trade prices starting at $90,000. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. Separately, Moke International is offering an electric Moke for the equivalent of about $69,500 including taxes, delivery and first registration fees in the UK, and has received approval to sell 1500 Mokes in the EU under that market's ultra-low volume vehicle regulations, as well as approval to sell 325 cars in the US this year. The company hopes it can make a similar case for ultra-low volume imports to Australia, where a significant proportion of customers are also expected to be high-end resorts that want to offer customers Moke EVs for complimentary use, short-term rental or as shuttle vehicles. However, Moke International's EV is yet to be confirmed for Australia while Jaunt says every component installed in its electric Moke is CAD designed and engineered to meet Australian Design Rules and local conditions, meaning its vehicles can be registered in every state and territory – a process it will complete before the car is delivered to you. Better known for creating battery-electric versions of the original Land Rover Defender as well as classic Mini Coopers and Porsche 911s, Jaunt also says it plans to extend its conversion platforms to other classic models such as the original Range Rover and Volkswagen Kombi, "making iconic vehicles more accessible, sustainable and engineered in a world moving toward zero-emissions". Based in Scoresby, Victoria, Jaunt specialises in converting classic and specialty vehicles to electric power with a focus on safety, compliance and craftsmanship, and says its engineered electric platforms and conversions "preserve the charm of iconic cars while making them safer, cleaner and better to drive". Jaunt's Moke EV is powered by a single front-mounted electric motor producing 72kW of power and 175Nm of torque, fed by a 19kWh battery pack that's mounted under the tub and takes between just two and three hours to recharge thanks to a 400-volt electrical architecture. Those numbers aren't big in a world of high-performance EVs, but Jaunt says its Moke can accelerate from 0-100km/h in just seven seconds – "even uphill" – in sport mode, while a regenerative braking system turns the motor into a generator to assist the mechanical brakes. Jaunt's electric upgrade retains the original Moke's low kerb weight, allowing it to be a four-seater without exceeding GVM, as well as its compact dimensions and nimble dynamics. However, it isn't being pitched as a high-performance EV, but one that's "ready for exactly what it was originally designed for: short, joyful, open-air drives". That said, a polished stainless steel-bodied version Jaunt built from the ground up and featuring LED lighting and CNC-machined badges is claimed to be lighter than the original Moke, while offering a better torque-to-weight ratio than a Tesla Model 3 Performance. In addition to the EV conversion and a 7.8:1 single gear ratio to suit larger 13-inch wheels, the retail version supplied directly to customers comes with upgraded brake, steering and suspension systems, plus ADR-compliant seats with seatbelts mounted to a new roll bar system covered by a custom canvas top. Based around a new BMH front sub-frame, the EV system bolts to existing mounting points under the bonnet and comprises the battery, electric motor and inverter, plus driveshafts, a motor cooling system, bi-directional charger and a completely new integrated 12-volt electrical system. It also comes with a new centre dash panel complete with modern digital gauges and controls, an electric parking brake, pop-up charge port and all of the necessary body block-out panels. Braking, steering and suspension systems can be further customised to meet customer needs, and additional custom parts are also available. Jaunt Motors CEO and co-founder Dave Budge says all of this gives the humble old Moke the ability to perform like a brand-new vehicle despite being originally built more than half a century ago. "Classic cars are charming," he said. "They've got stories, they've got soul. But they're also unreliable and are getting harder to maintain. What we're doing isn't about reinventing the car. It's about keeping what was great and fixing everything that wasn't. "This isn't just a loose collection of parts. It's a complete platform we've engineered, built and tested to ADR compliance and the latest EV safety standards. "Now we're making it available to others who care about doing conversions correctly. It allows restorers and auto specialists to deliver fully roadworthy electric Mokes that are safe, legal and will last another 50 years." MORE: Meet the Melbourne startup turning old Land Rovers into electric vehicles Content originally sourced from: Australians can now buy a street-legal, all-electric Mini Moke, courtesy of Melbourne-based electric vehicle (EV) conversion company Jaunt Motors, but you'll have to pay handsomely for it. Jaunt's electric Moke conversion, which is now available for customer commission ahead of delivery in 2026, is priced from $140,000 – excluding the cost of the donor vehicle. The EV converter is also offering its new Moke EV conversion platform to independent workshops around Australia, including installation training and instruction, with trade prices starting at $90,000. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. Separately, Moke International is offering an electric Moke for the equivalent of about $69,500 including taxes, delivery and first registration fees in the UK, and has received approval to sell 1500 Mokes in the EU under that market's ultra-low volume vehicle regulations, as well as approval to sell 325 cars in the US this year. The company hopes it can make a similar case for ultra-low volume imports to Australia, where a significant proportion of customers are also expected to be high-end resorts that want to offer customers Moke EVs for complimentary use, short-term rental or as shuttle vehicles. However, Moke International's EV is yet to be confirmed for Australia while Jaunt says every component installed in its electric Moke is CAD designed and engineered to meet Australian Design Rules and local conditions, meaning its vehicles can be registered in every state and territory – a process it will complete before the car is delivered to you. Better known for creating battery-electric versions of the original Land Rover Defender as well as classic Mini Coopers and Porsche 911s, Jaunt also says it plans to extend its conversion platforms to other classic models such as the original Range Rover and Volkswagen Kombi, "making iconic vehicles more accessible, sustainable and engineered in a world moving toward zero-emissions". Based in Scoresby, Victoria, Jaunt specialises in converting classic and specialty vehicles to electric power with a focus on safety, compliance and craftsmanship, and says its engineered electric platforms and conversions "preserve the charm of iconic cars while making them safer, cleaner and better to drive". Jaunt's Moke EV is powered by a single front-mounted electric motor producing 72kW of power and 175Nm of torque, fed by a 19kWh battery pack that's mounted under the tub and takes between just two and three hours to recharge thanks to a 400-volt electrical architecture. Those numbers aren't big in a world of high-performance EVs, but Jaunt says its Moke can accelerate from 0-100km/h in just seven seconds – "even uphill" – in sport mode, while a regenerative braking system turns the motor into a generator to assist the mechanical brakes. Jaunt's electric upgrade retains the original Moke's low kerb weight, allowing it to be a four-seater without exceeding GVM, as well as its compact dimensions and nimble dynamics. However, it isn't being pitched as a high-performance EV, but one that's "ready for exactly what it was originally designed for: short, joyful, open-air drives". That said, a polished stainless steel-bodied version Jaunt built from the ground up and featuring LED lighting and CNC-machined badges is claimed to be lighter than the original Moke, while offering a better torque-to-weight ratio than a Tesla Model 3 Performance. In addition to the EV conversion and a 7.8:1 single gear ratio to suit larger 13-inch wheels, the retail version supplied directly to customers comes with upgraded brake, steering and suspension systems, plus ADR-compliant seats with seatbelts mounted to a new roll bar system covered by a custom canvas top. Based around a new BMH front sub-frame, the EV system bolts to existing mounting points under the bonnet and comprises the battery, electric motor and inverter, plus driveshafts, a motor cooling system, bi-directional charger and a completely new integrated 12-volt electrical system. It also comes with a new centre dash panel complete with modern digital gauges and controls, an electric parking brake, pop-up charge port and all of the necessary body block-out panels. Braking, steering and suspension systems can be further customised to meet customer needs, and additional custom parts are also available. Jaunt Motors CEO and co-founder Dave Budge says all of this gives the humble old Moke the ability to perform like a brand-new vehicle despite being originally built more than half a century ago. "Classic cars are charming," he said. "They've got stories, they've got soul. But they're also unreliable and are getting harder to maintain. What we're doing isn't about reinventing the car. It's about keeping what was great and fixing everything that wasn't. "This isn't just a loose collection of parts. It's a complete platform we've engineered, built and tested to ADR compliance and the latest EV safety standards. "Now we're making it available to others who care about doing conversions correctly. It allows restorers and auto specialists to deliver fully roadworthy electric Mokes that are safe, legal and will last another 50 years." MORE: Meet the Melbourne startup turning old Land Rovers into electric vehicles Content originally sourced from:
