Latest news with #Devonport
SBS Australia
2 days ago
- SBS Australia
'Keith's legacy will continue': Tasmania Police honour slain officer
'Keith's legacy will continue': Tasmania Police honour slain officer Published 27 June 2025, 9:43 am Tasmanian Police Constable Keith Smith has been farewelled in a service in the state's north, more than a week after he was fatally shot while on duty. Hundreds attended the funeral service in Devonport, lining the streets for a procession in tribute to the officer who gave 25 years in service to the public.
ABC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Tasmanian Constable Keith Anthony Smith is being farewelled with a police funeral in Devonport
Tasmanian Constable Keith Anthony Smith is being farewelled by family, friends and colleagues with a police funeral today in Devonport. The 57-year-old officer was shot dead on June 16 during a "routine" job to serve a warrant to the owner of a rural property in North Motton, in the state's north-west. At the request of Contable Smith's family, the funeral is open only to friends, family and invited guests and police. A live stream of the service is available. Constable Smith, who served for 25 years with Tasmania Police, will be given a guard of honour and procession through the streets of Devonport after the service. Tasmanian Police Commissioner Donna Adams will deliver an address at the funeral and a eulogy will be given by Inspector Andrew Hanson and Sergeant Joshua Hayes. Commissioner Adams has described Constable Smith's death as a "traumatic and tragic event" that has left the community shocked. "Keith served with unwavering dedication and integrity, and his legacy will not be forgotten," Commissioner Adams said last week. Despite being in the midst of a state election campaign, Tasmanian politicians have paused all campaigning for the day out of respect for Constable Smith. Constable Smith was shot and killed on Monday 16 June, while attending a North Motton property with another police officer and two civilians. They were there to deliver a court-ordered repossession notice of the property. Constable Smith was allegedly shot with a rifle, "sometime between" leaving his car and making his way to the front of a house, according to Commissioner Adams. Police have charged 46-year-old Leigh Geoffrey Sushames with murder, attempted murder and aggravated assault after the fatal shooting of Constable Smith. Mr Sushames will next appear in the Launceston Magistrates Court on July 7.
ABC News
3 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
Spirit of Tasmania V officially handed over to ferry operator TT-Line
The second of the two new Spirit of Tasmania ships has been handed over to TT-Line by Finnish ship-building company Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC). Spirit of Tasmania V was officially accepted by one of the Tasmanian ferry operator's directors, retired Rear Admiral Steve Gilmore, on Wednesday evening. TT-Line chief executive Chris Carbone said it marked "a significant milestone in our journey". A TT-Line spokesperson did not say when Spirit V was expected to set sail for Tasmania, or whether any further works or sea trials needed to be completed before it did. On Sunday, Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the other new ferry, Spirit of Tasmania IV, would arrive in Australia from Scotland in August. It follows a lengthy infrastructure debacle, when it emerged last year that TT-Line had failed to build a berth for the vessels in Devonport on time. It is not expected to be completed until at least October 2026. Spirit of Tasmania IV was then moved to a port in Scotland while the Liberal state government explored options to lease it out. It was expected to leave for Australia in May, but an issue was detected with its liquid natural gas system. RMC has since managed to modify the system, and the ship has been undertaking sea trials. Late last week, Mr Rockliff said Spirit IV's journey back to Australia would take about 10 weeks. The ship will head to Hobart where it will receive final fit-outs. TT-Line said as of late April, storing the vessel in Scotland had cost the Tasmanian government $4.3 million, including fuel, crew and port costs. The Spirit of Tasmania saga was one of three reasons listed on Labor's successful no-confidence motion against Mr Rockliff, which has led to the calling of a state election. During the election campaign, Labor has drawn attention to the many issues with the project and promised that both ships would be home before Christmas. On Sunday, Labor leader Dean Winter also said he would make sure the new ferries could refuel with locally produced LNG at their home port. "Refuelling with LNG is good for the environment, it's better for Devonport, it's better for passengers," he said.
Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Times
Babcock International profits jump in ‘new era of defence'
Babcock International is fired up for what its chief executive called 'a new era for defence' as the military contractor upgraded its expected earnings for the coming years against already soaring profits. Babcock shares, which have already enjoyed a stratospheric performance in 2025, rose to 11-year highs, up 13 per cent, or 137p better, at £11.70. The £5.8 billion FTSE 100 group has become the UK's second largest defence contractor after BAE Systems, running the naval dockyard in Devonport and maintaining the nuclear submarine fleets, building warships at Rosyth in Scotland, and plugged into multiple support programmes across the armed forces. Its recovery after operational failings and questionable accounting before the Covid-19 pandemic follows the arrival as chief executive of the former Cobham boss David Lockwood, whose five-year rebuild at Babcock has coincided with the UK's biggest commitment to rearmament in decades. The company is also one of Britain's civil nuclear contractors, on site at Hinkley Point for instance, putting it at the centre of the country's investments in low-emission electricity. 'This is a new era for defence,' Lockwood said. 'There is increasing recognition of the need to invest in defence capability and energy security, both to safeguard populations and to drive economic growth. A complex and rapidly changing global context for defence has highlighted the increasing relevance of our specialist capabilities. 'A growing set of opportunities before us … has enabled us to upgrade our medium-term guidance, increase our dividend by 30 per cent and launch a £200 million share buyback programme for the first time in the company's history.' He said the 12 months to the end of March had been a 'pivotal year' for the new Babcock. Revenues were up 11 per cent at £4.8 billion. Operating profits rose 51 per cent to £363 million. Ignoring one-offs, profit margins hit 7.5 per cent, up from 5.4 per cent. • Tempus: Should you invest in Babcock right now? Net cash inflows of £153 million reduced net debt to £373 million and enabled in increase in the dividend from 5p to 6.5p There is much more to come, Lockwood said, for a business that employs more than 23,000 people. He expects average annual revenues to grow by mid-single-digit percentage points. Its medium-term target of an 8 per cent profit margin will be hit this year, and that target is now replaced by a goal of 9 per cent, taking it further away from the 5 per cent profit margins at best of conventional government outsourcing contractors. The projected cash inflows have prompted the decision to start buying back shares, a programme used by companies to underpin the rating of their stock price. Shares in Babcock, alongside its military-facing peers on the stock market, have enjoyed a stellar rise. When defence stocks began to take off after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the response of Babcock shares was muted, with investors uncertain of its turnaround progress. The past six months have been a different story — the shares have more than doubled since the turn of the year.
The Sun
17-06-2025
- The Sun
Former submarine commander facing court martial over drug-fuelled sex assault claims
A FORMER submarine commander is facing court martial over claims of a drug-fuelled sex assault on a subordinate. Lt Cdr John Cursiter was charged with possessing illegal drugs, sexual assault and false imprisonment. The ex-deputy commander of nuke-armed HMS Vanguard could face up to five years' jail. We revealed in 2022 he was marched off base at HMNB Devonport after a complaint was lodged. The officer, of Balloch, west Dunbartonshire, previously told The Sun in 2011 his hubby ended their marriage as his job led to long separations. The Royal Navy said: 'We're closely monitoring the legal proceedings.' It is the latest in a string of scandals to rock the Navy. They include 21 sailors sacked for 'intolerable' sexual abuse, mostly while on submarines. The Sun revealed that the former First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Ben Key was suspended over an alleged affair in May. And a former submarine captain was sacked for making a sex-tape while in command of nuclear weapons. 1
