Latest news with #LiamMartin
RNZ News
6 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Criminologist fears electronic tagging of migrants 'going to get huge'
Victoria University criminologist Liam Martin. Photo: Supplied Introducing electronic tags for asylum seekers will open up a Pandora's box of issues, a criminologist says. The government has introduced legislation that would allow the electronic monitoring of migrants and asylum seekers who pose a security risk, or might run away. Liam Martin, who researches electronic monitoring at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University, said by some estimates New Zealand's criminal justice system already had the highest per capita rate in the world, or ran a close second to the US. "We've got about six-and-a-half thousand people on electronic monitoring in New Zealand, which is approaching the number that we have in prison. "In the UK and the US, immigration electronic monitoring is just exploding. It's getting massive in the UK, for example. As far as I can tell it, it operates on a scale that rivals criminal justice now. So what I foresee is thousands of people ending up on electronic monitoring in immigration eventually." Electronic tags - either ankle clamps or digital devices - had been promoted as a technology fix for rising prison populations, but ended up being an add-on, he said. The bill's wording seemed relatively contained, he added, but he predicted it was "going to get huge". "I just think there's a flood of social and political and economic forces that are pushing towards an explosion within immigration. We're intertwined with these things, so when I see things happening in the UK and happening in the US, I'm always thinking, 'so how long till we end up latching onto that?'. "It's a massive expansion of surveillance, another sphere of our lives that is becoming opened up to for-profit surveillance. It's in these niches where new surveillance systems intersect with old patterns of racial inequality that I think that you see the the more severe forms take hold." Martin, who has a multi-year grant from the Royal Society to research electronic monitoring, said the company that supplied electronic monitoring equipment for New Zealand criminal justice, Buddi, was already a major supplier of migrant tracking tech in the UK. The Immigration Amendment Bill is at select committee stage. Photo: RNZ Immigration lawyer Lucy Tothill said when it was first mentioned, electronic monitoring sounded positive as a step away from detention. "But the way that it's being drafted and discussed is quite loose, kind of leaves it open to a wider scope for monitoring asylum seekers. So my opinion on it is that it's hard to take a really strong position without knowing exactly what it will look like, but there are concerns about the privacy, security and human rights involved with monitoring asylum seekers. In particular, seeing the increased criminalisation of migrants and asylum seekers. "It's one thing to require people to report somewhere if you're worried about them absconding, it's quite another thing to know where they are at every minute of the day - that opens up other concerns about data collection and data use and what we do with all of the information about where people are and what they are doing with their day." Her concerns were on the potential numbers of people it could affect, and what grounds would prompt authorities to deem it necessary. Some devices used overseas have facial recognition and fingerprint scanning technology that require migrants to check in several times a day. A spokesperson for immigration minister Erica Stanford said it was an operational matter for Immigration New Zealand (INZ). She previously told RNZ that rough estimates were five asylum seekers and 130 migrants a year would be subject to electronic monitoring as an alternative to detention. "There will always be a number [of people] that we have a slight more concern about about being a flight risk or other things, and so then there is this intermediary option." INZ's border and funding immigration policy manager Stacey O'Dowd, said safeguards included judicial oversight and regular review. "It responds to a recommendation by Victoria Casey KC in her review in the detention of asylum seekers. Such conditions could only be imposed by a judge, who must be satisfied that the conditions are reasonable, proportionate, and the least restrictive option available. "Electronic monitoring conditions would last for three months and require an additional application to the judge for any extension of the initial term. A higher legal threshold is proposed for individuals claiming refugee or protected person status. This recognises the vulnerability of individuals seeking international protection." Implementation details would be worked through once the bill was passed, but would be tightly scoped and carefully controlled, she said. "The bill does not propose the use of facial recognition, fingerprint detection, or real-time tracking in relation to electronic monitoring. Monitoring would not involve constant surveillance; instead, alerts would only be triggered if someone crosses a boundary they are not permitted to leave." Corrections said it did not have information on other countries' rates of electronic monitoring. Its director of community operations David Grigg said there were 6276 monitored wearers, 1845 of whom were on bail, a slight increase from March last year when there were 6037 people wearing trackers, including 1786 on bail. The Immigration Amendment Bill is at select committee stage and public submissions close on 28 July. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Daily Record
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
The 10 best free mobile games as a surprising entry takes the top spot
For those looking for a new game to play on their phone, here are the top 10 handpicked free mobile games. When people first talk about playing video games, the majority of us may first associate this with an expensive PC or console along with the latest highly-anticipated game to hit the market, with Grand Theft Auto and Call of Duty amongst the most mentioned. While for the avid gamers this may be the best way to submerge themselves into the action, there is a whole other realm of gaming that is enjoyed by a wider range of the population. With most people owning a smartphone or tablet, it wouldn't be a surprise if there was at least one mobile game stored onto every device. With many of these mobile games available for a much more affordable price, smartphone users also have a variety of games to choose from that are completely free. Whether you enjoy puzzle games, first-person shooters or role playing games, there is something available for everyone. Some games are standalone titles, whereas others are spin-offs of other well known games - allowing more people to get involved in the gaming world. For those wanting a new game to download to their smartphone, here are ten of the best free mobile games available on Android and iOS, handpicked by Daily Express editor Liam Martin. Top 10 free mobile games 10. Fallout Shelter Taking the tenth stop on the list is the spin-off game of the hugely popular Fallout series created by Bethesda. For those unfamiliar with the PC game, players freely roam around a post-nuclear wasteland. They will encounter a range of enemies and mysteries to solve, as well as delving into post-nuclear power struggles. The mobile edition was launched in 2015 and allows gamers to explore a slightly smaller world. In this game, players build their own vault and try to protect survivors inside. Along with some microtransactions, this game centers around defending the vault and repopulating the world. In order to upgrade and customise the characters, players need to send people out to take part in missions. 9. Fortnite Originally this game was designed to be a co-operative survival game, but it became widely popular all over the world for its battle royale gameplay. Dropping 100 players onto an island, everyone battles against each other to be the last player standing. Now how new players download the mobile game slightly differs between iOS and Android. For those wanting to compete using an iPad or an iPhone, you need to download the Epic Games app to play the game. However, Android users can instead download the Fortnite game app directly to their device. 8. Woodoku Stepping to the world of puzzle games, Woodoku combines the elements of Tetris and Sudoku to create its own addictive game. All players need to do is place a variety of different shapes onto the grid. However, the added difficulty comes through being given three pieces that you need to somehow fit into the remaining spaces on the board. Points are given by filling in a square or a row. Filling a row can be the best angle of attack as players will be able to clear blocks from the board to make more space for the next set of blocks. The game ends when you run out of space and cannot fit any new blocks into the grid. 7. Genshin Impact For those who are fans of the Legend of Zelda games, this may be the best game for you. With added elements of fast-paced combat and team battles, this game will have you immersed in a whole new world. Featuring a large world for players to explore, gamers will come across handy resources and treasures, as well as dangers such as dungeons and monsters. It should be noted that this game does include a lot of microtransactions to help players move along. However, for those who want to avoid these, players will need to spend extra time grinding away at each level. 6. Pokemon Go Adding an element of exercise to your gameplay, this augmented-reality game has players leaving their homes and going for a wonder as they literally try to 'catch 'em all'. As players walk around their home town or a new city, they will be able to see Pokemon characters right in front of them through their phone screens. The goal is to capture them in your poke ball so you can use them in battle later on. Combining elements of the old Gameboy pokemon games with the fun of augmented reality, this game became widely popular across the globe. 5. Marvel Snap For those who are fans of the Marvel universe, this game will allow you to bring all of your favourite characters together. In this game players are given a deck of 12 cards which each represent either a superhero or supervillain from the franchise. In order to defeat other human players, you need to place cards at different locations from across the Marvel Universe. While the game is simple to play, there isn't much room for expansion apart from adding new characters. 4. Candy Crush Saga Coming in at fourth place is one of the biggest and most popular mobile games ever created - Candy Crush Saga. This widely addictive game sees players simply matching tiles to meet a target. This sweet treat game sets players the goal of destroying candies such as jellybeans, jellies and marshmallows by matching them together to create handy combos. As usual bigger combos mean bigger points, but players need to be selective as they are only allowed a certain number of moves. While players can help themselves out by buying extra lives and power ups if they really want to, this game will quickly become your new or renewed obsession with its sound effects, bright colours and vibrations. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. 3. Data Wing This popular game has been awarded near perfect reviews on both iOS and Android due to its simple premise and graphics. Simply put, this is a racing game that requires players to race others to take data from one location to another as quickly as they can. However, players will need to be wary of obstacles that may try and block their way. With satisfying power ups, such as a wall-boosting mechanic, this game will become more addictive the longer you choose to play. The added bonus is that this game has zero microtransactions or pop ups. 2. Rocket League Sideswipe Console game players have frequently enjoyed this game as it involves cars playing football in giant boxed-in areas. Fans of the original game will be happy to note that there are no differences between the console and mobile versions, meaning players can continue to enjoy the game while out and about. This game earns second place on the list as it can bring out a player's competitive edge as they aim to make an explosive goal or complete a last-minute save. Players can also customise their vehicle to fit their liking and find a variety of new ways to play. 1. Vampire Survivors Taking the top spot is the former game of the year - Vampire Survivors. Completely different from the rest of the free mobile games on the list, this game is involves becoming a bullet-hell type survivor as you battle enemy hordes. However, what makes this game different is that there aren't any attack commands in the game. Instead, players need to manually move around the map and avoid monsters while the game attacks them on your behalf. With an in-game currency to make upgrades and get new characters, players will be provided a variety of new power ups and attacks when they reach a new level.
News.com.au
09-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘We let him down': Blues players defend Laurie Daley as Origin legend declares he's still the man to coach NSW next year
A defiant Laurie Daley says he should 'definitely' remain NSW coach in 2026 and has received support from his players who say they are the ones to blame after the Blues coughed up a 1-0 series lead to hand the shield back to Queensland. Daley led the team from 2013-17 and returned this year after Michael Maguire guided the team to Origin glory 12 months ago with an epic win at Suncorp Stadium in game three. The Blues were expected to build on that success under Daley who finally got the chance to coach a team that wasn't stacked with future Immortals. The series started perfectly with a win in Brisbane, but things didn't go to plan after that with NSW blown away in the first half in each of the final two matches to lose the series despite being short-priced favourites to retain the shield. Daley has now lost all four deciders as Blues coach, with his decision to not select Terrell May or Keaon Koloamatangi sure to come under the microscope after they were well beaten through the middle. 'Most definitely,' he replied after the game when asked if he should remain NSW coach. 'I think what we've been building (gives me the confidence that we can win). While I was disappointed with the result, I think the players had a really good campaign but we just didn't nail the moments so we have to be better at that.' Blues enforcer Liam Martin was adamant that Daley wasn't at fault for what went down at Accor Stadium and said the players had to cop the blame. 'We let him down,' he said. '(Isaah Yeo) addressed it before and said we were so disappointed as a playing group because 'Loz' and everyone involved deserved so much more from us. 'They left no stone unturned in their preparation and what they gave us during the week. They did everything they needed to do, but we just didn't perform out there. 'If there's any criticism, criticise us as the playing group, not Loz. He couldn't have done much more.' Star halfback Nathan Cleary was also quick to defend Daley, with questions to be asked about their attack which didn't seem to have other options after the Maroons rattled them early. 'He wasn't the reason that we lost tonight. It was us as players,' he said. 'He committed a lot to the preparation and I thought the preparation was really good.' Meanwhile, Martin expects to be fine for Penrith's game against the Eels on Sunday despite hurting his hand in the first half when he was tackled by Kurt Capewell. 'It's come good. There was a bit of carry on but it's feeling all right now,' he said, with the edge forward requiring assistance from the team's medical staff. 'I had contact straight on it and it didn't feel good for a few minutes, but as the game went on, it got better.'
The Age
05-07-2025
- Sport
- The Age
‘He's the softest tough guy ever': The other side of Blues hard man Liam Martin
There is the Liam Martin who tries to smash Cameron Munster at every opportunity. Then there is the Liam Martin who loves sitting down to read a book, or watch endless reruns of the Lord Of The Rings trilogy (the character Aragorn is his personal favourite). There is the Liam Martin who gets in the face of Tino Fa'asuamaleaui after he dropped the ball in Perth. Then there is the Liam Martin who helps raise funds for motor neurone disease after losing his uncle in 2022, and his association with the family of AFL great Neale Daniher, who has lived with MND for more than a decade. Almost every story about Martin and State of Origin is about how tough he is and what an on-field grub he is – the bloke who relishes the chance to antagonise and bash Queenslanders. In fairness, he does a fantastic job of it. Teammates have even given him the nickname 'Wild Dog'. Even when he's not trying, Martin irons out Maroons, as evidenced by the giant lump above Reuben Cotter's left eye at Optus Stadium. Just this week, there was more than one story about Martin trying to put the Queenslanders off their game in next Wednesday's Origin decider at Accor Stadium. But, as the old story goes, there is a lot more to Liam Martin. Ask around enough and you start to get a proper sense of what he is really like. Nathan Cleary best sums it up when he says of the Penrith, NSW and Kangaroos back-rower: 'He's the softest tough guy ever. On the field, he's a beast. But he wouldn't hurt anyone away from the field.' Fullback Dylan Edwards says: 'Away from training, when he's at home with his lovely fiancée [Chelsea], he's a real sweetheart. He's very smart, kind and caring. 'He's also good for a 'finjury', or a fake injury. He once thought he had torn his pec, but it turns out he lifted too much weight in the gym [and was just sore].' NSW coach Laurie Daley, who hails from Junee, a short drive south of Martin's home town of Temora in the NSW Riverina, is full of praise for Martin's work ethic. 'Marto is just a good fella, as you would expect from a country boy,' Daley says. 'He's as tough as nails, loves his teammates, loves his team, loves his state, and would do anything for anyone. 'He's a wonderful young man. 'If he's chasing a kick, he goes flat out. If he's coming out of the line, he's going flat out. If he's carrying the ball, it's always flat out. 'Everything is always maximum effort – that's what he does. He doesn't pace his way through the game. He's got one gear. Even when he drinks, he's only got the one gear.' The sweetest story we unearthed about Martin took place at the start of this year when he sent his mother, Maxine, a kookaburra ornament. Martin's older brother, Jarred, took his own life in 2014. Maxine spotted a kookaburra in an unlikely place not long after Jarred's death, and was convinced it was her late son's way of communicating with her. Martin thought of Jarred and Maxine when he saw the kookaburra ornament, and mailed it to his mum, just to let her know he was thinking of them both. 'When my brother passed away, about a month later, mum found a photo of a kookaburra Jarred had drawn. She reckons ever since then a kookaburra has hung around home, or wherever she goes,' Martin says. 'The kookaburra is my brother. She's got so many pictures and mugs with kookaburras. I saw this ornament pop up, so I sent it to her, without telling her who it had come from.' The Martin Family Cup, an annual game between Temora High and West Wyalong High, where Martin went to school, started last year. The concept was based on the two schools and towns where Martin grew up, with the key message to the students being 'resilience and respect'. Martin, now 28, possesses both traits in spades. 'I didn't play for West Wyalong, but my brother did. I went to West Wyalong High, but played all my footy in Temora,' Martin says. 'When people say I'm from Temora, my mates in West Wyalong want to know why they never get a mention. 'I love where I grew up. I'll be getting back there in August. There's a trivia night that will help raise funds for MND. I lost my uncle a few years ago. Mum found out about the news when she landed in England. 'It's such a cruel disease. Neale Daniher does a great job raising awareness about MND. I've never met Neale, but I'm close with some of his family, who were from near West Wyalong. His nephew Harvey is my age, and still one of my best mates.' Martin's fiancée Chelsea is from Temora, but the pair didn't know each other because her family was involved in Aussie rules – not rugby league – and they met by chance at a party in Wollongong. They are expecting their first child in October, which has since prompted Martin to make the early call and pull out of the Kangaroos' Ashes tour of England. Settling down off the field has also changed Martin. 'We've been together going on seven years; I like to think I'm a romantic,' Martin says. 'Mum talks about buying flowers, but Chelsea is very laid-back, and doesn't even like flowers. 'I do like doing things for her, including cooking meals. I make an authentic carbonara sauce. 'She'll tell me I carry on like an idiot sometimes when she watches me on the field. I agree with her. But she also knows it's just footy. Half the time I don't think she's paying attention. 'As for having that softer side, I think I do, especially when it comes to friends and family. I'm a country boy at heart.' Martin is smarter than the average NRL forward – he scored 89.95 on his higher school certificate – but, like all country boys, he loves a beer. He was one of only two Blues players to give it a nudge at a bonding session when they entered camp before Origin I. When Canterbury coach and former Panthers assistant Cameron Ciraldo held his 40th birthday party earlier this year, Martin was close to best on ground. Loading Martin was the only Blues player brave enough to march into the famous Victory Hotel in downtown Brisbane at 3am after the Blues' loss in Origin II in 2023, and rather than be heckled by souped-up Maroons fans, he posed for endless photos with the same locals who had jeered him hours earlier at Suncorp Stadium. There is the Liam Martin who is happy to infuriate Queensland – or any opposition – then there is the Liam Martin who would not hurt anyone. To quote Nathan Cleary one more time: 'He's the softest tough guy ever.'
Sydney Morning Herald
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘He's the softest tough guy ever': The other side of Blues hard man Liam Martin
There is the Liam Martin who tries to smash Cameron Munster at every opportunity. Then there is the Liam Martin who loves sitting down to read a book, or watch endless reruns of the Lord Of The Rings trilogy (the character Aragorn is his personal favourite). There is the Liam Martin who gets in the face of Tino Fa'asuamaleaui after he dropped the ball in Perth. Then there is the Liam Martin who helps raise funds for motor neurone disease after losing his uncle in 2022, and his association with the family of AFL great Neale Daniher, who has lived with MND for more than a decade. Almost every story about Martin and State of Origin is about how tough he is and what an on-field grub he is – the bloke who relishes the chance to antagonise and bash Queenslanders. In fairness, he does a fantastic job of it. Teammates have even given him the nickname 'Wild Dog'. Even when he's not trying, Martin irons out Maroons, as evidenced by the giant lump above Reuben Cotter's left eye at Optus Stadium. Just this week, there was more than one story about Martin trying to put the Queenslanders off their game in next Wednesday's Origin decider at Accor Stadium. But, as the old story goes, there is a lot more to Liam Martin. Ask around enough and you start to get a proper sense of what he is really like. Nathan Cleary best sums it up when he says of the Penrith, NSW and Kangaroos back-rower: 'He's the softest tough guy ever. On the field, he's a beast. But he wouldn't hurt anyone away from the field.' Fullback Dylan Edwards says: 'Away from training, when he's at home with his lovely fiancée [Chelsea], he's a real sweetheart. He's very smart, kind and caring. 'He's also good for a 'finjury', or a fake injury. He once thought he had torn his pec, but it turns out he lifted too much weight in the gym [and was just sore].' NSW coach Laurie Daley, who hails from Junee, a short drive south of Martin's home town of Temora in the NSW Riverina, is full of praise for Martin's work ethic. 'Marto is just a good fella, as you would expect from a country boy,' Daley says. 'He's as tough as nails, loves his teammates, loves his team, loves his state, and would do anything for anyone. 'He's a wonderful young man. 'If he's chasing a kick, he goes flat out. If he's coming out of the line, he's going flat out. If he's carrying the ball, it's always flat out. 'Everything is always maximum effort – that's what he does. He doesn't pace his way through the game. He's got one gear. Even when he drinks, he's only got the one gear.' The sweetest story we unearthed about Martin took place at the start of this year when he sent his mother, Maxine, a kookaburra ornament. Martin's older brother, Jarred, took his own life in 2014. Maxine spotted a kookaburra in an unlikely place not long after Jarred's death, and was convinced it was her late son's way of communicating with her. Martin thought of Jarred and Maxine when he saw the kookaburra ornament, and mailed it to his mum, just to let her know he was thinking of them both. 'When my brother passed away, about a month later, mum found a photo of a kookaburra Jarred had drawn. She reckons ever since then a kookaburra has hung around home, or wherever she goes,' Martin says. 'The kookaburra is my brother. She's got so many pictures and mugs with kookaburras. I saw this ornament pop up, so I sent it to her, without telling her who it had come from.' The Martin Family Cup, an annual game between Temora High and West Wyalong High, where Martin went to school, started last year. The concept was based on the two schools and towns where Martin grew up, with the key message to the students being 'resilience and respect'. Martin, now 28, possesses both traits in spades. 'I didn't play for West Wyalong, but my brother did. I went to West Wyalong High, but played all my footy in Temora,' Martin says. 'When people say I'm from Temora, my mates in West Wyalong want to know why they never get a mention. 'I love where I grew up. I'll be getting back there in August. There's a trivia night that will help raise funds for MND. I lost my uncle a few years ago. Mum found out about the news when she landed in England. 'It's such a cruel disease. Neale Daniher does a great job raising awareness about MND. I've never met Neale, but I'm close with some of his family, who were from near West Wyalong. His nephew Harvey is my age, and still one of my best mates.' Martin's fiancée Chelsea is from Temora, but the pair didn't know each other because her family was involved in Aussie rules – not rugby league – and they met by chance at a party in Wollongong. They are expecting their first child in October, which has since prompted Martin to make the early call and pull out of the Kangaroos' Ashes tour of England. Settling down off the field has also changed Martin. 'We've been together going on seven years; I like to think I'm a romantic,' Martin says. 'Mum talks about buying flowers, but Chelsea is very laid-back, and doesn't even like flowers. 'I do like doing things for her, including cooking meals. I make an authentic carbonara sauce. 'She'll tell me I carry on like an idiot sometimes when she watches me on the field. I agree with her. But she also knows it's just footy. Half the time I don't think she's paying attention. 'As for having that softer side, I think I do, especially when it comes to friends and family. I'm a country boy at heart.' Martin is smarter than the average NRL forward – he scored 89.95 on his higher school certificate – but, like all country boys, he loves a beer. He was one of only two Blues players to give it a nudge at a bonding session when they entered camp before Origin I. When Canterbury coach and former Panthers assistant Cameron Ciraldo held his 40th birthday party earlier this year, Martin was close to best on ground. Loading Martin was the only Blues player brave enough to march into the famous Victory Hotel in downtown Brisbane at 3am after the Blues' loss in Origin II in 2023, and rather than be heckled by souped-up Maroons fans, he posed for endless photos with the same locals who had jeered him hours earlier at Suncorp Stadium. There is the Liam Martin who is happy to infuriate Queensland – or any opposition – then there is the Liam Martin who would not hurt anyone. To quote Nathan Cleary one more time: 'He's the softest tough guy ever.'
