Latest news with #Allan
The Age
13 hours ago
- Business
- The Age
Melbourne's transport divide: The Allan government's priorities are off track
In August 2018, three months out from the state election, then premier Daniel Andrews stepped out of the locomotive of Victorian government and changed the points on transport policy. Until then, his voting and taxpaying passengers had been heading towards destinations known as Metro 2, creating a new underground line between Newport and Clifton Hill via Fishermans Bend, and the Western Rail Plan, which would have seen train lines to Melton and Wyndham electrified to meet growing passenger demand and ultimately improved connections between Melbourne and the regional centres of Ballarat and Geelong. But that August a number of unscheduled stops were added to the route. Ministers, bureaucrats and key government agencies were all blindsided by 'the biggest public transport project in history', at first known as Operation Halo but now familiar to us as the Suburban Rail Loop. Originally costed at 'up to $50 billion', that has now become the estimate just for construction of the first two stages, connecting Cheltenham to Box Hill. That the eastern part of the loop was given priority – and, indeed, that the belated business case presented for it only considered that section of the mammoth project – both raised doubts about whether we would ever reach our earlier destinations. Those doubts were compounded when the government reneged on its commitments to build new lines to the city's west. This week our reporters' freedom of information requests unearthed a letter Paul Younis – this state's most senior transport bureaucrat – wrote to his Commonwealth counterpart a year ago. In it, he refers to a report warning of a transport crisis in Melbourne's northern and western suburbs if their rail systems are not comprehensively overhauled. Loading We can't show you that report because neither the Allan government nor the Albanese government will divulge it. But we have been covering the facts on which its conclusions are built for years. The west is the fastest-growing part of our capital, with estimates suggesting its population will reach 1.47 million people by 2046. In his letter, Younis wrote that 'more than twice the population of Canberra is forecast to move into [Melbourne's north and west] in the next 15 years'. Even as Australia's peak infrastructure body casts doubt on whether the SRL East can really be delivered to the projected time frame and cost, and calls on the Allan government to develop 'exit strategies', the rest of the city is left watching the screen and wondering if their service will ever arrive. The inhabitants of the north and west cannot continue to be so poorly connected to the rest of our city if our economy is to prosper. As opposition public transport spokesman Matthew Guy has said: 'The Suburban Rail Loop is a nice to have, but electrifying to Wallan, Melton and Wyndham Vale is a must-have.'
Toronto Sun
a day ago
- Toronto Sun
Judge acquits man in killing of ex-Helix guitarist at London park
Daniel Fawcett was fatally stabbed on Nov. 6, 2022, in Gibbons Park. He played for several bands in his decades-long career. (Photo: Facebook) Craig Allan's explanation about what he knew about the death of London musician Daniel Fawcett 'did not make sense.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account But, the judge said, the key Crown witness, 'is an accomplished liar.' In the final analysis, Superior Court Justice Patricia Moore didn't believe either Allan, 50, or the associate who was with him in the early morning hours of Nov. 6, 2022, when Fawcett was stabbed to death in Gibbons Park. 'In the end, when I consider the evidence presented in totality, I am left with a reasonable doubt and must therefore find Mr. Allan not guilty to the offence of second-degree murder,' she said in her decision to acquit him. 'I appreciate this is not the result that any family or friends of Mr. Fawcett may have hoped for, but it is the result that the law demands.' Craig Allan. Allan sat quietly in the prisoner's box during the decision. When Moore told him he was free to go, he turned and hugged his parents and defence lawyers. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Allan went on trial in March in the death of Fawcett, 52, a talented guitarist who had played for the Canadian rock band Helix. His body was found by a jogger in the north London park hours after he had been stabbed twice – once in the back and once in the heart. The case offered a glimpse into London's drug culture and showed how vital technology – such as security footage and text messages – has become to police investigations. While the police identified two people involved in the homicide and pieced together most of their movements after Fawcett was stabbed, the trial came down to who wielded the knife. And that depended on whether Moore could rely on the testimony of the associate – an admitted drug addict and dealer, whose identity is protected by court order – or on the lengthy police statement given by Allan after his arrest in Woodbridge, where he gave 'an ever-evolving story.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Allan's evidence, at the end of his police statement, is basically that he was not present at the time of the stabbing and knew nothing about it, except after the fact, and that it was (the associate), who was the stabber,' Moore said. In the statement, Allan initially claimed he wasn't even in London at the time. That changed once he was presented with security videos from different locations that showed he was with the associate. 'Given Allan's ever-evolving story to the police each time he was confronted with evidence that undermined what he was telling the police, I am simply unable to find him at all credible,' Moore said. But rejecting Allan's statement didn't necessarily mean he was guilty, the judge said. Although the Crown pieced together the movements of Allan and the associate from video, there was no footage near the park showing what happened during or immediately after the stabbing. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The one piece of evidence tying Allan and the associate together at the crime scene was a cigarette butt found 52 to 60 metres from the park trail that had two people's DNA on it which were close matches to them. The Crown argued 'the only logical explanation' was Allan was waiting in the trees for the associate and Fawcett to arrive. 'While I find that the conclusion the Crown seeks me to draw is a plausible one, I cannot find it is the only possible explanation in the circumstances,' Moore said, adding it was strong circumstantial evidence of Allan's involvement but 'not conclusive.' The judge turned to the evidence of the associate who testified they had a conflict with Fawcett. The associate claimed Fawcett had assaulted them, stolen from them and pestered them for drugs. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The associate routinely sold drugs to Fawcett and maintained a lengthy and sometimes testy text message relationship with him. They sometimes stayed at Fawcett's apartment. The plan hatched with Allan was to lure Fawcett to the park to beat him up. The witness and Allan went to a parking lot just outside of the park, then split up, with Allan hiding in the park. A security camera caught the two of them arriving, separating and the witness leading Fawcett down a path. A memorial for Dan Fawcett at Gibbons Park, where the musician was stabbed on Nov. 6, 2022. (Derek Ruttan/The London Free Press) The witness testified they walked ahead as Allan jumped out and stabbed Fawcett. Allan caught up to them and they discarded the knife the next day as they left town in a stolen car. But Moore pointed out the witness had 79 criminal convictions, and many of the offences listed were crimes of dishonesty and violence. There also were threats made to Fawcett in text conversations. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. And there were many contradictions in their testimony. Moore said the associate did have a motive to lie. 'It is simple. (They do not) wish to be labelled a killer.' The judge called the associate 'an accomplished liar' and said 'it would be unsafe to rely on their evidence where it is uncorroborated.' 'I'm also mindful that (the associate) had the motive, means and opportunity to stab Fawcett,' she said. 'While I find that based on their testimony and other evidence presented that they are likely not the person who stabbed Fawcett, I cannot be sure,' Moore added. 'It is not enough for me to believe that Allan is probably or likely guilty. Proof of probable or likely guilt is not proof beyond a reasonable doubt.' Outside of court, Allan's lawyer Carolynn Conron said 'justice was served' for her client. London defence lawyer Carolynn Conron was photographed on June 26, 2025. (Jane Sims/The London Free Press) 'I know these cases are always difficult, particularly where there are two potential versions of events that can both be true, but I think the judge did the right thing in this case.' Allan was in custody until the verdict. 'I think he is relieved and he's happy to be going home with his parents,' she said. jsims@ Toronto Raptors Celebrity Canada Canada Toronto & GTA
The Age
2 days ago
- Business
- The Age
Fast-growing councils seek urgent fix to unsustainable transport woes
The mayor of one of Victoria's fastest growing councils is urging state and federal governments to rethink their transport priorities, saying the current situation for suburban residents is not sustainable. The Age on Thursday revealed the Allan government had commissioned and created an ambitious blueprint that canvassed a range of measures to urgently prevent 'crush' conditions in the city's fastest growing suburbs. It included electrifying western rail lines and extending the Upfield line, but was also the origin of the state and federal governments' $4 billion revamp of Sunshine Station and surrounding rail network. Details of the report, known as the North West Strategic Assessment, were welcomed by councils across the northern and western suburbs, but sparked fresh calls for immediate work to take the pressure off areas serviced by V/Line trains. Mitchell Shire Mayor John Dougall said they had long called for electrifying the rail line to Wallan, one of the options canvassed in the report, and the construction of a station at Beveridge, where 1.2 per cent of residents travel to work by public transport and the population will double by 2030. 'Our residents deserve access to reliable, frequent public transport now – not in 10 or 15 years,' he said. 'The state and federal governments must act on the advice of their own experts and invest in infrastructure where growth is happening.' Wyndham City Mayor Mia Shaw said the council already had 324,000 residents and by 2040 would have 500,000.
STV News
3 days ago
- Politics
- STV News
Scottish Government accused of shutting door on rewilding and beaver restoration
The Scottish Government has been criticised for cancelling a meeting about beaver restoration and failing to schedule a replacement, with activists warning that the 'door is shutting' on biodiversity. A meeting with the Scottish Rewilding Alliance, a coalition of more than 20 organisations, and former Minister for Climate Action Dr Alasdair Allan MSP, was scheduled for Wednesday but was cancelled without being rescheduled. It was expected to discuss concerns over 'stalled progress' on the recovery of beaver populations and the need for 'courageous' leadership by ministers and government agency, NatureScot, however Dr Allan left government earlier this month. The coalition warned that biodiversity risked being 'marginalised' ahead of the Holyrood elections in 2026, despite high profile support for a bid for Scotland to become a 'rewilding nation' including from actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Brian Cox. In December 2024, Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS), in partnership with rewilding charity Trees for Life, submitted a licence application to NatureScot to release a family of beavers on its land in Glen Affric in the Highlands, after two years of extensive consultations. PA Media The release had been proposed for Glen Affric (Alamy/PA). Beavers create wetlands, soak up carbon dioxide, purify water and reduce flooding, and can bring in tourism, and polls showed 80% of people think the Scottish Government should support rewilding, according to the charities. In April, NatureScot delayed a decision on granting a licence for a community-backed proposal to reintroduce beavers, citing concern, despite previously describing engagement as exemplary and the proposal as in line with policy. Surveys showed that two-thirds of people surveyed support the beaver reintroduction, during two years of research, according to the coalition. But a Freedom of Information request revealed it was perceived by a NatureScot official as 'novel and contentious' and was referred to ministers, with a decision was delayed after lobbying, the charities claimed. It was said to have prompted an intervention by local MSP and deputy first minister Kate Forbes, who is said to have raised the case with Mairi Gougeon MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, according to a Freedom of Information request from investigative journalism publication the Ferret. The coalition said it was concerned that NatureScot 'is being hobbled by political game-playing ahead of an election year', and appeasing others, including from National Farmers Union Scotland. Steve Micklewright, chief executive of Trees for Life, said: 'Beavers have been present in the catchment for 15 years with no issues. 'The Glen Affric community is overwhelmingly in favour of an official reintroduction, and NatureScot officials described the public engagement as exemplary and 'above and beyond'. 'NatureScot also tells us that it fully endorses the environmental case for beaver restoration in Glen Affric. So what is going on? 'This is bigger than a single family of beavers finding a new home on a national nature reserve. 'Why does the government keep marginalising efforts to restore biodiversity to satisfy vested interests? Can NatureScot show leadership and vision on large-scale nature recovery in the face of anti-nature lobbying?' Karen Blackport, the Scottish Rewilding Alliance's co-convenor and chief executive of Bright Green Nature, said: 'The Scottish Government's approach on beavers is a symptom of a bigger problem. It's failing to take its biodiversity commitments seriously, and there are worrying questions around consistency, fairness and transparency in decision-making. 'Scotland has no need to languish as one of the world's most nature-depleted countries – but we are lagging on nature recovery where we should be leading.' Kevin Cumming, Rewilding Britain's rewilding director and deputy convenor of the Scottish Rewilding Alliance, said: 'Rewilding offers hope for tackling the nature and climate emergencies, and a wealth of social and economic benefits for communities from jobs to health. 'Large-scale nature recovery should be prioritised not marginalised. 'If the Government is truly committed to protecting 30% of Scotland for nature by 2030 then it needs to stop shutting the door in the face of rewilding organisations.' NatureScot director of green economy Robbie Kernahan said: 'NatureScot is committed to expanding the beaver population across Scotland for the benefit of biodiversity, in line with Scotland's Beaver Strategy. 'A huge amount of work has been taking place to ensure this, and a lot of progress has been made, with the population of beavers in Scotland expanding and their range increasing accordingly.' A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: 'Dr Alasdair Allan has left his position as minister for climate action. Obviously, as a result he is not in a position to take forward government meetings and time for a rescheduled meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action Gillian Martin has been offered. 'The Scottish Government is committed to the reintroduction of beaver populations where appropriate and our groundbreaking Nature Restoration Fund has supported hundreds of projects helping species, woodlands, rivers and seas. We are working with rural communities to ensure where species reintroductions are being considered land managers are carefully consulted.' 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The National
3 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Scottish Government accused of shutting door on rewilding projects
A meeting with the Scottish Rewilding Alliance, a coalition of more than 20 organisations, and former Minister for Climate Action Dr Alasdair Allan MSP, was scheduled for Wednesday but was cancelled without being rescheduled. THE Scottish Government has been criticised for cancelling a meeting about beaver restoration and failing to schedule a replacement, with activists warning that the 'door is shutting' on biodiversity. It was expected to discuss concerns over 'stalled progress' on the recovery of beaver populations and the need for 'courageous' leadership by ministers and government agency, NatureScot, however Dr Allan left government earlier this month. The coalition warned that biodiversity risked being 'marginalised' ahead of the Holyrood elections in 2026, despite high profile support for a bid for Scotland to become a 'rewilding nation' including from actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Brian Cox. READ MORE: Palestine Action activist rejects Home Secretary's Glasgow protest claim In December 2024, Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS), in partnership with rewilding charity Trees for Life, submitted a licence application to NatureScot to release a family of beavers on its land in Glen Affric in the Highlands, after two years of extensive consultations. Beavers create wetlands, soak up carbon dioxide, purify water and reduce flooding, and can bring in tourism, and polls showed 80% of people think the Scottish Government should support rewilding, according to the charities. In April, NatureScot delayed a decision on granting a licence for a community-backed proposal to reintroduce beavers, citing concern, despite previously describing engagement as exemplary and the proposal as in line with policy. Surveys showed that two-thirds of people surveyed support the beaver reintroduction, during two years of research, according to the coalition. But a Freedom of Information request revealed it was perceived by a NatureScot official as 'novel and contentious' and was referred to ministers, with a decision was delayed after lobbying, the charities claimed. It was said to have prompted an intervention by local MSP and deputy first minister Kate Forbes, who is said to have raised the case with Mairi Gougeon MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, according to a Freedom of Information request from investigative journalism publication the Ferret. The coalition said it was concerned that NatureScot 'is being hobbled by political game-playing ahead of an election year', and appeasing others, including from National Farmers Union Scotland. Steve Micklewright, chief executive of Trees for Life, said: 'Beavers have been present in the catchment for 15 years with no issues. 'The Glen Affric community is overwhelmingly in favour of an official reintroduction, and NatureScot officials described the public engagement as exemplary and 'above and beyond'. 'NatureScot also tells us that it fully endorses the environmental case for beaver restoration in Glen Affric. So what is going on? 'This is bigger than a single family of beavers finding a new home on a national nature reserve. 'Why does the government keep marginalising efforts to restore biodiversity to satisfy vested interests? Can NatureScot show leadership and vision on large-scale nature recovery in the face of anti-nature lobbying?' Karen Blackport, the Scottish Rewilding Alliance's co-convenor and chief executive of Bright Green Nature, said: 'The Scottish Government's approach on beavers is a symptom of a bigger problem. It's failing to take its biodiversity commitments seriously, and there are worrying questions around consistency, fairness and transparency in decision-making. 'Scotland has no need to languish as one of the world's most nature-depleted countries – but we are lagging on nature recovery where we should be leading.' Kevin Cumming, Rewilding Britain's rewilding director and deputy convenor of the Scottish Rewilding Alliance, said: 'Rewilding offers hope for tackling the nature and climate emergencies, and a wealth of social and economic benefits for communities from jobs to health. 'Large-scale nature recovery should be prioritised not marginalised. 'If the Government is truly committed to protecting 30% of Scotland for nature by 2030 then it needs to stop shutting the door in the face of rewilding organisations.' NatureScot director of green economy Robbie Kernahan said: 'NatureScot is committed to expanding the beaver population across Scotland for the benefit of biodiversity, in line with Scotland's Beaver Strategy. 'A huge amount of work has been taking place to ensure this, and a lot of progress has been made, with the population of beavers in Scotland expanding and their range increasing accordingly.'
