Latest news with #Catley
Sydney Morning Herald
05-06-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Police don't know how many shops are selling illegal tobacco
NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley has warned that law enforcement officers cannot be expected to regulate the ballooning tobacco black market and conceded it was not clear how many tobacconist retailers would sign up to a new licensing scheme designed to combat the problem. After Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers on Wednesday ruled out scaling back the tax on tobacco – which has rocketed from 26 cents per cigarette in 2010 to $1.37 in September 2024 – the debate has shifted to who should take on greater responsibility for tackling the explosion of illicit products. Catley on Thursday downplayed the idea that police should take over from NSW Health to enforce compliance, despite Premier Chris Minns earlier this week raising the prospect of handing officers a greater role in tackling black market tobacco. 'Police aren't regulators, and there's no question about that. They are not regulators. The police are out there catching crooks, and that's what we want them to do,' Catley said. Earlier this week, Minns ignited a conversation over whether the federal government's 'massive' excise on tobacco should be reduced as a means of combatting the explosion of illegal tobacco and vapes across Australia, with the lucrative trade providing a rich vein of revenue for criminal organisations. Loading But with NSW Health and the existing regulatory framework failing to stem the number of shops selling illicit tobacco, Catley said the introduction of a licensing scheme from July 1 would give the government a better understanding of 'how many shops are turning up' and 'where they are'. Police thought there might be about 6000 to 8000 tobacco retailers, but that was 'anecdotal', Catley said. Oversight of the current retail identification number (RIN) required to sell tobacco products was poor, senior government sources said, with little punishment for failing to register under the scheme. On Thursday, the store manager of an EzyMart near Martin Place in Sydney's CBD told the Herald he was aware of the new licensing scheme, saying: 'Of course, all the shops have to be signed up.'
The Age
05-06-2025
- Business
- The Age
Police don't know how many shops are selling illegal tobacco
NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley has warned that law enforcement officers cannot be expected to regulate the ballooning tobacco black market and conceded it was not clear how many tobacconist retailers would sign up to a new licensing scheme designed to combat the problem. After Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers on Wednesday ruled out scaling back the tax on tobacco – which has rocketed from 26 cents per cigarette in 2010 to $1.37 in September 2024 – the debate has shifted to who should take on greater responsibility for tackling the explosion of illicit products. Catley on Thursday downplayed the idea that police should take over from NSW Health to enforce compliance, despite Premier Chris Minns earlier this week raising the prospect of handing officers a greater role in tackling black market tobacco. 'Police aren't regulators, and there's no question about that. They are not regulators. The police are out there catching crooks, and that's what we want them to do,' Catley said. Earlier this week, Minns ignited a conversation over whether the federal government's 'massive' excise on tobacco should be reduced as a means of combatting the explosion of illegal tobacco and vapes across Australia, with the lucrative trade providing a rich vein of revenue for criminal organisations. Loading But with NSW Health and the existing regulatory framework failing to stem the number of shops selling illicit tobacco, Catley said the introduction of a licensing scheme from July 1 would give the government a better understanding of 'how many shops are turning up' and 'where they are'. Police thought there might be about 6000 to 8000 tobacco retailers, but that was 'anecdotal', Catley said. Oversight of the current retail identification number (RIN) required to sell tobacco products was poor, senior government sources said, with little punishment for failing to register under the scheme. On Thursday, the store manager of an EzyMart near Martin Place in Sydney's CBD told the Herald he was aware of the new licensing scheme, saying: 'Of course, all the shops have to be signed up.'
The Age
05-06-2025
- Politics
- The Age
‘A sexist man': Catley slams Speakman after he calls her ‘hysterical'
NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley has labelled Opposition Leader Mark Speakman a 'sexist man' after he described her as 'hysterical' on the same day he slammed a Victorian Liberal elder for claiming women in the party were 'sufficiently assertive'. In question time on Thursday, Catley seized on the comments made by Speakman at a press conference a day earlier, in which he described her has being 'out of her depth' and giving 'hysterical' answers in parliament. 'Yesterday the leader of the opposition got up after question time and called me hysterical, not once, but twice,' Catley said. 'If a man came in here with a strong view about you deliberately bagging the cops and trying to deliberately confuse the public about who is responsible for cracking down on illicit tobacco, would you have used that language? No. It's a sexist word used by a sexist man.' The remarks were part of Speakman's opening statement at a press conference after Wednesday's question time, as the debate over who should take responsibility for a ballooning tobacco black market continued. 'I asked a very simple question in question time whether a task force was going to be expanded to cover illegal tobacco,' Speakman said at the press conference. 'I got no answer from the police minister, but instead a hysterical response. This minister is clearly out of her depth, you ask a simple question, you just get a hysterical, screaming answer that never engages.' Later that day, the opposition leader took aim at former Victorian treasurer Alan Stockdale for his controversial claim that reverse quotas for men could be needed in the Liberal Party.
Sydney Morning Herald
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘A sexist man': Catley slams Speakman after he calls her ‘hysterical'
NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley has labelled Opposition Leader Mark Speakman a 'sexist man' after he described her as 'hysterical' on the same day he slammed a Victorian Liberal elder for claiming women in the party were 'sufficiently assertive'. In question time on Thursday, Catley seized on the comments made by Speakman at a press conference a day earlier, in which he described her has being 'out of her depth' and giving 'hysterical' answers in parliament. 'Yesterday the leader of the opposition got up after question time and called me hysterical, not once, but twice,' Catley said. 'If a man came in here with a strong view about you deliberately bagging the cops and trying to deliberately confuse the public about who is responsible for cracking down on illicit tobacco, would you have used that language? No. It's a sexist word used by a sexist man.' The remarks were part of Speakman's opening statement at a press conference after Wednesday's question time, as the debate over who should take responsibility for a ballooning tobacco black market continued. 'I asked a very simple question in question time whether a task force was going to be expanded to cover illegal tobacco,' Speakman said at the press conference. 'I got no answer from the police minister, but instead a hysterical response. This minister is clearly out of her depth, you ask a simple question, you just get a hysterical, screaming answer that never engages.' Later that day, the opposition leader took aim at former Victorian treasurer Alan Stockdale for his controversial claim that reverse quotas for men could be needed in the Liberal Party.
The Age
03-06-2025
- General
- The Age
‘I'm astonished … I pinch myself': Sermanni signs off as a winner with the Matildas
Latest posts Pinned post from 9.48pm on Jun 2, 2025 MATCH REPORT: Sayer comeback double seals Matildas win over Argentina By AAP Amy Sayer scored a double in her first Matildas start in 549 days to send off coach Tom Sermanni in winning style against Argentina. Making a long-awaited return to the starting line-up from a devastating ACL injury, the 23-year-old struck twice in the first half to secure a 4-1 win in front of a record 25,125 crowd at GIO Stadium in Canberra on Monday night. The Matildas dominated possession and scoring opportunities, as the midfield pairing of Kyra Cooney-Cross and Clare Wheeler outclassed their South American opponents. But some nervy moments at the back between Steph Catley and Natasha Prior gave the tourists a sniff, with the dangerous Kishi Nunez a persistent threat. Regardless, their sixth-straight victory on home soil is a happy parting gift to interim coach Sermanni in his final game in charge of the national side before being replaced by former Lyon boss Joe Montemurro, who was at the game. Australia were buoyed by the return of captain Catley and Arsenal teammates Caitlin Foord and Cooney-Cross to the starting XI. The trio were rested for Friday's 2-0 win over Argentina following their Women's Champions League triumph. Sayer opened the scoring in the 14th minute, popping up at the far post to ram home a deflected volley into the far corner after a searching Kahli Johnson cross evaded a sea of players. Argentina struggled to play through the Matildas' high press and failed to exert any real pressure when the home side had the ball. But a seemingly innocuous through-ball left Prior all at sea and after misjudging an interception left the door open for Nunez to steal in behind unchecked. The diminutive No.9 settled herself, opened herself up and with her right foot curled the ball past a diving Teagan Micah inside the far post, ending a streak of four clean sheets for the Matildas at home. But the home side wouldn't lay down their lead for long. Foord menaced the visitors all night, constantly harrying the Argentinian defenders in possession and threatening to win the ball high up field. After nicking the ball near the halfway line, the 30-year-old drove into the Argentinian half before releasing Sayer in behind a retreating opposition defence. From an unfriendly angle, Sayer picked out the far corner past the outstretched gloves of goalkeeper Solana Pereyra. As the Argentinians tired in the second half, the chances came thick and fast for the Matildas. Sayer nearly sealed a hat-trick in the 54th after being sent through by Catley but sprayed her shot from the right high and wide. Holly McNamara nearly scored her first Matildas goal in the 57th minute but the prolific Melbourne City forward's volley from eight yards out was smartly stopped by a well-positioned Pereyra. Hometown hero Michelle Heyman, subbed on for Sayer, nearly sent the Canberra crowd into raptures in the 66th minute but was denied by Pereyra with two smart back-to-back saves. She almost scored again when sent one-on-one with the goalkeeper six minutes later but Pereyra poked the ball away from Heyman's feet, only for it to be turned in by Emily van Egmond. Heyman finally got her goal in the 83rd minute after Foord again pressured the Argentinian defence into a mistake on the edge of their box, with the veteran squeezing the ball in off a defender from a tight angle. Debutant Isabel Gomez also managed to get a run late on but failed to make much of an impression with her limited time. An early concern for Montemurro will be the fitness of youngster Kahli Johnson, who limped from the field late in the first half. 9.41pm on Jun 2, 2025 Tom Sermanni speaks: 'I'm just astonished … I pinch myself' When Tom Sermanni first coached the Matildas, nobody cared. That sounds harsh but it's true. There was nowhere near the current interest levels in the team or the women's game more broadly - and nights like tonight, when 25,000 people came to watch a friendly against an unfashionable opponent on a cold Monday night in Canberra, still blow him away. Sermanni has just spoken after his final match in charge of the Australian women's national team, on the Paramount+ coverage, and was asked for his favourite moment from his third stint in the job. I'm probably repeating myself to be honest, but I don't think there's one particular moment in time. The moment is almost every time I've walked out to a game that we've played here in Australia, and I stand and I just look at the crowd and I'm just astonished. And that is a real memorable moment. I sort of pinch myself and think, I can't believe I'm actually back here and here now, and this is where the Matildas are. He was also asked: what's next? And the answer… not much, by the sounds of it, and rightfully so. I'm an unemployed pensioner! So if anybody's [looking for] maybe a lollipop man at the school crossings or something like that, I don't know. I always do a little bit out at my Western Sydney Wanderers club, so I hopefully continue to do that [as head of women's football], and then I'll just see what comes along. If nothing comes along, I'll put my feet up and relax. He deserves it. 9.23pm on Jun 2, 2025 FULL-TIME: Matildas 4-1 Argentina Yep, that's it. The Matildas didn't allow their opponents a single shot in a dominant second half. Great win.
