The Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme cap will increase by 1,750 to 12,850, providing much-needed labour for the horticulture and viticulture industries in New Zealand, say Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni and Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway.
“New Zealand’s RSE scheme is a ground-breaking initiative introduced by the previous Labour Government in 2007, helping meet labour shortages in some of New Zealand’s most important industries while providing economic support to our Pacific neighbours,” says Iain Lees-Galloway.
“The horticulture and viticulture industries have experienced significant growth in recent years. Industry reports say that since 2015, apple and kiwifruit orchards have increased in value by around 70 per cent each, and the 2018 wine vintage was 2.6 percent larger than the previous year.
“However this growth has been accompanied by prominent labour shortages across industries and regions, notably in the past year. This is expected to continue, with growers forecasting 2600 more workers are needed to help support the industry.”
Minister of Social Development Carmel Sepuloni says that while it’s important the industry is able to access RSE workers in peak season it’s equally important they keep their commitment to employing New Zealanders.
“There are some horticulture employers like Turners & Growers (T&G) in Hawkes Bay that’ve hired thousands of New Zealanders and MSD clients over the years. Through its industry partnership with MSD, T&G is able to offer flexible work hours and pastoral care for clients. The model is a hit with workers and business is booming for the Hawkes Bay grower.
“The Ministry will continue to grow industry partnerships with Horticulture businesses that’re committed to providing training and jobs for New Zealanders and grow a more skilled domestic workforce,” Carmel Sepuloni said.
Iain Lees-Galloway recently issued four challenges to RSE Employers at their annual conference:
“One: Make the industry more attractive to New Zealand workers, by providing better wages and conditions;
“Two: Build more accommodation for workers to alleviate local accommodation pressures;
“Three: Take greater responsibility for supply chains and labour contractors to help stamp out migrant exploitation; and
“Four: transform the horticulture and viticulture industries from low cost industries to industries based on quality, productivity, and high value products.
“The commitments from employers and industry will be supported by ongoing monitoring and compliance activity undertaken by Immigration New Zealand and the Labour Inspectorate.
“The Government will be conducting a comprehensive review of the RSE scheme in 2019 to ensure it delivers improvements while remaining consistent with the original intent of the scheme,” says Iain Lees-Galloway.
The Recognised Seasonal Employer
The Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme was announced in October 2006 and came into effect in April 2007.
The policy allows the horticulture and viticulture industries to recruit workers from overseas for seasonal work when there are not enough New Zealand workers.
RSE workers are mostly from Pacific nations, benefitting from income and training opportunities offered by the scheme. It is expected that the participating Pacific Island countries will welcome the increased cap.
There is an administrative limit or cap on the number of RSE places that can be taken up in any one year.
The number of available places varies each year depending on the forecast of New Zealanders available and industry demand.
The 2018 RSE Monitoring Survey shows that since 2007, 95 per cent of RSE employers surveyed have expanded their area under cultivation
According to the Ministry for Primary Industries, the industry generated $5.15bn in export revenue in 2017, with exports forecast to reach $5.5bn in 2018.
More information on the RSE scheme can be found here.
The Supreme Court has found Filipo ‘Amanaki Lelei Tu’ifua guilty of raping a woman after she had passed out.
Summarising the case, Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said it had been proven beyond reasonable doubt that Tu’ifua “had sexual intercourse with the woman knowing that she was in a state of insensibility.”
The sexual assault occurred following a drinking session which began on November 11 last year.
The victim had been with a group of people she knew and after a night of consuming alcohol she was taken to a hut by the accused.
Eventually she passed out.
When she did not return home her mother went looking for her. She found the hut and saw the accused having sex with her daughter.
The mother called out to the accused who eventually came out of the room. She tried to revive her daughter, but she remained unconscious and did not wake up until the Monday night.
The next day she and her daughter went to the police and lodged a complaint of rape.
“There is no doubt that at all times the victim was rendered insensible by reason of intoxication and that the accused must have been aware of this,” the judge said.
“I am therefore satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the accused was engaged in sexual activity with the victim while she was insensible.”
He said he found the victim’s mother to be a credible and truthful witness.
“Nothing leads me to doubt her evidence that she saw the accused have intercourse with her daughter.”
The main points
The Supreme Court has found Filipo ‘Amanaki Lelei Tu’ifua guilty of raping a woman while she was drunk and asleep.
Summarising the case, Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said it had been proven beyond reasonable doubt that Tu’ifuaa “had sexual intercourse with the woman knowing that she was in a state of insensibility.”
This year’s Tongan law week will focus on the law and cyber space.
Acting Attorney General ‘Aminiasi Kefu said young people and children needed to become more aware of the risks in cyberspace.
He said they needed to learn to protect themselves themselves from these risks by themselves and with adult help.
Hon. Kefu said cyberspace and the use of computers and mobile devices offered challenges as well as benefits and people needed to know the law.
Law week will run from November 4-9 and will begin with a church service this Sunday at the Centenary Church of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga in Nuku’alofa.
Law Week will involve daily radio talkback shows from Radio FM 90 of Radioa Tonga at 5pm to 6.30pm from Monday, November 5 to Friday, November 9.
Minister for Information and CommunicationsPoasi Tei will launch an open day for Government Primary School students from the Eastern and Western Districts of Tongatapu.
The students will be presented with information from the Attorney General’s Office, Tonga Police, Tonga Communications Corporation, Digicel, CERT Tonga and other organisations which support the safe use of cyberspace.
This will also include special activities and competitions for the students.
Radio FM 90 of Radioa Tonga will broadcast daily radio talkback shows from at 5pm to 6.30pm during law week.
This is the 11thyear the Attorney General’s Office has delivered Law Week.
Law week is part of the celebrations of the granting of the Constitution by King George Tupou I on November4, 1875.
The main points
This year’s law week will focus on the law and cyber space.
Acting Attorney General ‘Aminiasi Kefu said young people and children needed to become more aware of the risks in cyberspace.
UNDP studies on non communicable diseases in the Pacific should be put to some practical use according to a senior Tongan official.
Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Commerce, Consumer, Innovation, Trade and Labour, Edgar Cocker, said it was time the studies stopped gathering dust.
Cocker said the studies conducted by the UNDP and various international institutions seemed to be consultancy driven.
“I want these studies to stop collecting dust,” Cocker said.
“We need to set up a national and regional programme that has clear mandates and responsibilities.”
He said the Fiji-based Secretariat of the Pacific Community should take responsibility for the project.
The Pacific has some of the highest NCD rates with cardiovascular and chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes and cancers accounting for more than 80 percent of deaths.
Earlier this year Tonga’s Minister of Health, Dr Saia Piukala, was appointed to an independent global commission on non-communicable diseases.
Dr Piukala said Tonga had taken some positive steps to reduce the burden of NCDs, but much more needed to be done.
Statistics also showed that approximately one in five Tongans has diabetes.
Tonga’s own Sustainable Development Goals call for a one-third reduction in NCDs by 2030.
Almost every Tongan adult is at medium or high risk of developing a non-communicable disease.
The kingdom is one of the most at-risk populations in the world, with diabetes and heart disease a serious threat.
Many young Tongans are overweight, levels of smoking continue to be high and a majority of young people have tried alcohol by age 14.
The main points
UNDP studies on non communicable diseases in the Pacific should be put to some practical use according to a senior Tongan official.
Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Commerce, Consumer, Innovation, Trade and Labour, Edgar Cocker, said it was time the studies stopped gathering dust.
The fees stemmed from court cases in 2014 and 2015 in which Niu acted for the PSA.
‘Amanaki told us in an interview in June the PSA had planned to ask Dr Harrison to include Niu’s and PSA’s costs when he negotiated his legal fees with the defendants. The defendants paid Dr Harrison in 2016.
‘Amanaki claimed Niu submitted his invoice late in 2017, by which time the defendants had paid Dr Harrison’s fees, which did not include Niu and PSA’s costs.
Kaniva news understands ‘Amanaki continued to argue with Dr Harrison over the issue, which caused him to pull out.
Appeal
Dr Harrison will still represent Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva in an upcoming appeal case lodged by Tongasat.
It is understood he will also represent former Kele’a newspaper editor Māteni Tapueluelu and former Kele’a publisher Lautala Tapueluelu and two staff from Kele’a newspaper in a related matter.
As Kaniva news reported recently, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva and the Public Service Association (PSA) which had fought a five year battle against Tongasat over what it claimed were illegal payments of TP$90 million to the company.
The lawyer for the plaintiffs was Dr Harrison.
‘Amanaki said on Facebook last week that Dr Harrison no longer represented her and the Public Service Association:
“Over a minor dispute between Dr. Harrison and the PSA in the last three weeks in the process to recover our costs & disbursement for CV64 (after Tongasat withdrew its charges against PSA & Kele’a staff in 2016), Dr. Harrison informed us last Tuesday that he will no longer represent PSA in CV49 (a legal proceeding against PSA by Tu’ivakano & Clive Edwards).
“As CV49 was called again in the Supreme Court last Friday, the PSA advised the Supreme Court of the termination of all the services by Dr. Harrison in all our legal proceedings (CV48, CV49 & CV64).
“The PSA is grateful and appreciate Dr. Harrison’s services since 2014 until last Friday.”
Tongasat lodged an appeal with the Court of Appeal last Wednesday (October 16) on the Supreme Court’s decision.
‘Amanaki said she as Secretary General of PSA would represent PSA in court, but a lawyer may be appointed.
The appeal on the Supreme Court’s decision may be heard in the first half of 2019.
Public funding
Meanwhile, Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva has told Kaniva news he will find out what happened to the tens of thousands of pa’anga raised by the public in 2014 to help pay for the legal fees of the cases involving him and the PSA against Tongasat.
He said the fundraising was led by the People’s Committee (Komiti ‘A e Kakai) and PSA and the money was deposited into a Trust bank account.
Kaniva news has asked ‘Amanaki for an update on the funds, but she told us to contact the Committee chairman.
The main points
New Zealand barrister Dr Rodney Harrison QC will no longer represent the PSA and its head Mele ‘Amanaki in its legal battle with Tongasat.
Dr Harrison withdrew his services over what ‘Amanaki has described as “a minor dispute”.
Kaniva news has learned the dispute arose after ‘Amanaki questioned Dr Harrison over lawyer Laki Niu’s legal fees.
The former Minister who took two vehicles and a refrigerator unlawfully from the Ministry of Revenue and Customs was MP Tēvita Lavemaau, the Auditor General’s English version of the report said.
The report, which has been seen by Kaniva news, said the Auditor found that two vehicles, registration MORC01 and MORC2 were taken by Lavemaau when he was moved to the Ministry of Finance and became the Minister.
The report said Lavemaau also took a stainless steel refrigerator.
The Auditor General then recommended that “these assets should be relocated to the Ministry’s compound immediately” and be kept there at all times.
However the Auditor General did not identify the Minister personally in the Tongan version of the report.
It just referred to him as the former Minister of Revenue.
In the Tongan version the Auditor General also recommended that Ministers must obtain permission through a letter from the government’s Asset Committee before they took ministry assets.
As Kaniva news reported recently, Kakalu ‘O Tonga newspaper alleged that it was former Minister of Revenue and Customs Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa who took the assets.
Hon. Tu’i’onetoa denied the allegation and demanded a front-page retraction. The paper apologised in this week’s edition.
The paper retracted the allegation on its front-page and apologised to the Minister, his family and those who were affected by its false news.
Hon. Tu’i’onetoa told the House this week the paper’s fake news had caused a great deal of damage to his reputation after it was shared on social media.
He asked the Speaker to allow the Auditor General to declare in the House the name of the former Minister to whom he was referring.
The Speaker agreed and told Hon. Tu’i’onetoa he has told the clerk to process his request.
The main points
The former Minister who took two vehicles and a refrigerator unlawfully from the Ministry of Revenue and Customs was former MP Tevita Lavemaau, the Auditor General’s English version of the report said.
The report said Lavemaau also took a stainless steel refrigerator.
A claim on Facebook that government has approved a new TP$50 tax on each bag incoming travellers bring through Fua’amotu airport is not true, the Minister of Revenue and Customs has said.
Hon. Mateni Tapueluelu told Parliament on Monday he had been contacted by concerned members of the public about the claims.
He said any new taxes had to be approved by Parliament.
It was not clear who created the post, but it was quickly picked up and shared by anti-government supporters on Facebook, with some of them adding that the tax was imposed by the ‘PTOA Party government.’
It sparked an uproar on social media, with many calling for a boycott on travelling to Tonga.
In Tongan the message read:
“Ongoongo fakamamahi ke teuteu ki ai e kau folau mei muli ki Tonga: Kuo ongona mai kuo kamata totongi e tax $50 ki he piece kotoa pe ‘a e kau folau atu mei muli ‘i Mala’e Vakapuna Fua’amotu. Kapau ko ha’o ki’i kula kiki ‘e 1 mo ha’o katoleta ‘e 3 ko e taki pa’anga 50 ia ki he taha, ‘a ia ko e $200 fakakatoa te ke totongi. ‘Oku ‘ikai kau heni ho’o kato to’oto’o. Ko e ha nai e taumu’a ‘o e fu’u tanaki pa’anga fakaofo, fakamalohi, fakavalevale, mo fakatupu tamate ko eni ‘oku fai ‘e he Pule’anga Tonga ki he kau folau atu mei muli?
This translate into English as:
“Sad news for those who are travelling to Tonga. It has been told a tax charge of $50 would be charged on each baggage at the Fua’amotu airport. If you were carrying one cooler box and three luggage they would receive a $50 pa’anga charge each, so that makes $200 altogether for you to pay. This does not include your carry on luggage. What is the purpose of this unexpected, forceful, imprudent and homicidal money collection created by the Tonga government.”
This is not the first time fake news on Facebook attacking the government has reached Parliament.
As Kaniva news reported recently, anti-government elements caused an outcry on social media after they twisted a report by Auditor General which reported that Tonga had lost TP$74 million in the financial year 2016 – 2017. According to Minister of Finance this was caused by the fluctuation of foreign and Tongan exchange rates.
However, the anti-government supporters twisted the report and claimed the loss occurred after government abused its financial responsibilities.
The main points
A claim on Facebook that government has approved a new tax fees of TP$50 on each bag incoming travellers bring through Fua’amotu airport is not true, the Minister of Revenue and Customs has said.
The report was quickly picked up and shared by anti-government supporters on Facebook with some of them adding that the tax was imposed by the “PTOA Party government.”
The free National Bowel Screening Programme launched in July for the first time in Counties Manukau, and the Counties Manukau Bowel Screening team are bringing the programme to the South Auckland community on Saturday 17 November, 10am-12pm, Mangere Town Centre.
Guest speakers include Fepulea’i Margie Apa (Chief Executive Officer, Counties Manukau Health), Hon. Aupito Tofae Su’a William Sio, and Counties Manukau Health Programme clinical lead Dr Alasdair Patrick.
There will also be cultural performances from local Pacific and Kapa Haka groups to entertain the whole family.
The programme will save lives by finding bowel cancer early when it can often be successfully treated.
Invitations are sent to eligible participants aged 60-74 years old. Around the time of their birthday, each will receive an invitation letter, home testing kit and consent form through the mail.
Come talk to the team to learn more about the programme and how you can register to receive a kit.
For more information, visit www.timetoscreen.nz or talk to your family doctor.
The free bowel screening programme is being rolled out nationally and is already available to people living in the Waitemata DHB area. Auckland DHB is expected to start bowel screening in 2019/2020.
Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva has condemned Parliament’s Standing Committee on Privileges for rejecting the government’s formal response to a controversial petition by PSA Head Mele ‘Amanaki.
Speaking exclusively to Kaniva news, Hon. Pohiva said it was totally unfair for Parliament to allow the petition to be released publicly without giving them a chance to respond at the same time.
The petition was submitted to Parliament and aired in public in June and Parliament still had not allowed the response from government’s accused to be released.
As Kaniva news reported earlier, the petition was organised by ‘Amanaki after she was dumped by the Prime Minister’s PTOA Party in the last snap election.
The petition alleged some cabinet members, including the Prime Minister, had breached the constitution.
Other allegations in the petition included embezzlement, breaching the government’s procurement laws and failure to complete ministerial annual reports.
Ministers’ responses
Hon. Pohiva said his response to the petition was submitted to the Privilege Committee, but had been returned twice with recommendations from the committee to edit his reply.
He said the Speaker should have treated their responses with the same spirit he used to treat the Petition.
“He allowed the petition to be aired without scrutinising it and leaving it to the people to make their own decision.
“Why didn’t he do the same thing to our response?”
The system has created all these problems, he said.
Hon. Pohiva said he understood the other Cabinet ministers who had been accused in the petition had had their responses rejected and returned for editing by the Committee.
As Kaniva news reported recently, some cabinet ministers who were accused in the petition expressed their dissatisfaction about the situation to the news media, including Kaniva news.
The Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Sēmisi Sika, echoed their concerns.
He described the petition as lies from the beginning to the end.
The Ministers of Education, Finance and Labour and Commerce have also denied the allegations that they breached the constitution to the news media.
Parliament unfair
Hon. Pohiva said the Parliament would not be fair unless the system was changed to allow Members of Parliament to appoint the Speaker.
Constitutionally, the Speaker was appointed by the king, but he has to be a member of the nobility.
He said it was dangerous that not only the Speaker and his deputy were nobles, but that they were unaccountable to the majority of the House, which was dominated by people’s MPs.
He said the Auditor General was also under the control of the Speaker.
This meant the Speaker had the power to tell the Auditor General which Ministry or Minister he wanted audited, the Prime Minister said.
“This combination is so dangerous,” Hon. Pohiva said.
“The system allows them to manipulate whatever they want.”
The main points
Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva has condemned Parliament’s Privilege Committee for rejecting the government’s formal response to a controversial petition by PSA Head Mele ‘Amanaki.
Speaking exclusively to Kaniva news, Hon. Pohiva said it was totally unfair for Parliament to allow the petition to be released publicly without giving them a chance to respond at the same time.
The petition was submitted to Parliament and aired in public in June and Parliament still had not allowed the response from government’s accused to be released.
By James Massola, Karuni Rompies, Amilia Rosa & Jenny Noyes, Sydney Morning Herald
Indonesian authorities have predicted there will be no survivors after a passenger plane carrying 189 people, operated by Indonesian budget carrier Lion Air, crashed into the ocean on Monday.
The Boeing 737 MAX 8, flying from the capital, Jakarta, to Pangkal Pinang in Bangka Belitung province, took off about 6.20am Jakarta time (12.20pm NZ Time) but lost contact with air traffic control at 6.33am.
At a press conference on Monday afternoon, Basarnas (Indonesian’s search and rescue agency) director of rescue operations Bambang Suryo Aji said “my prediction is nobody saved. All dead”.
A Lion Air jet flying from Jakarta to Pangkalpinang in Bangka Belitung province has crashed into the ocean, according to Indonesia’s search and rescue agency Basarnas.
“We found human body parts … we have brought them to the police hospital in Jakarta.”
Bambang added it was likely that the bodies of at least some of the passengers were still trapped, dead, in the fuselage of the plane and underwater. It was likely, he added, that many passengers had died when the plane hit the water, rather than from drowning.
Debris from the tail section of the aircraft had been found not far from where authorities believed the plane was believed to have crashed, Bambang said, and a remotely operated underwater vehicle was on its way to the crash site to locate the main section of the plane, which was still under water.
BASARNAS SEARCH AND RESCUE
A search and rescue team at the crash site of Lion Air flight JT610 collect the remains of the plane and personal effects of the passengers
Tanjung Karawang, where the plane is believed to have gone down, is about 34 nautical miles north-west of Jakarta.
Basarnas initially reported 189 people were on board, but a statement from Lion Air said there were 188 people, including 181 passengers; 124 men, 54 women, one child and two babies. A spokesperson for Lion later confirmed that 189 is the correct figure.
A spokesman for the Indonesian Finance Ministry said 20 of its employees were on the plane.
AL JAZEERA
Boeing 737 with 189 people aboard goes down into the Java Sea shortly after take-off; unclear if there are survivors.
The Australian government announced on Monday night that it had banned all government officials and contractors from flying with Lion until the findings of the crash investigation were clear.
Basarnas has sent out boats and helicopters to search for the plane and has found wreckage and lifejackets. About 150 rescuers, including 40 divers from Basarnas and the Marines, have been sent to the scene.
Basarnas’ deputy head of operations Nigroho Budi Wiryanto had indicated at a second press conference on Monday afternoon that it was unlikely any survivors would be found.
HADI SUTRISNO/AP
A relative of passengers prays as she and others wait for news.
“We are waiting for the miracles from God Almighty,” he said.
The depth of the water where the plane is believed to have crash landed is 30 to 35 metres. Search and rescue workers have still not found the black box or the main body of the plane.
However, rescuers have turned up ID cards, BPJS (government insurance) cards, driving licenses and other personal effects.
Serpihan pesawat Lion Air JT 610 yang jatuh di perairan Karawang. Beberapa kapal tug boad membantu menangani evakuasi. Video diambil petugas tug boad yang ada di perairan Karawang.
The weather at the time of the crash was clear, and Lion Air said the plane’s pilot, Captain Bhavye Suneja, had more than 6000 flying hours of experience. His co-pilot Harvino had more than 5000 hours of flying experience.
The Boeing plane was new, having been manufactured in 2018 and operated by Lion Air since August 15. It had clocked up just 800 hours of flying time.
It’s believed the emergency locator transmitter (ELT) on the plane was inactive.
BASARNAS SEARCH AND RESCUE
A rescuer holds the sodden wallet of one of the passengers on the doomed plane.
Basarnas chief Muhammad Syaugi said early on Monday, soon after the crash was reported, that Indonesia had checked with Australian authorities to see if any signal from the ELT had been intercepted, but it had not.
In a statement, Boeing said it is “deeply saddened by the loss of Flight JT 610”.
“We express our concern for those on board, and extend heartfelt sympathies to their families and loved ones. Boeing stands ready to provide technical assistance to the accident investigation.”
BASARNAS SEARCH AND RESCUE
Personal effects are passed from one boat to another after the plane crash. A total of 17 boats are on site in the Java Sea assisting with the rescue.
Families of passengers on the plane flocked to the airport at Pangkal Pinang, where the plane was supposed to land. Distraught friends and relatives prayed and hugged each other as they waited for news.
At the National Search and Rescue Agency headquarters in Jakarta, family members turned up, hoping desperately for news.
Feni, who uses a single name, said her soon to be married sister was on the flight, planning to meet relatives in Pangkal Pinang.
We’re following reports that contact has been lost with Lion Air flight #JT610 shortly after takeoff from Jakarta.
“We are here to find any information about my younger sister, her fiance, her in-law to be and a friend of them,” Feni said.
“We don’t have any information,” she said, as her father wiped tears from reddened eyes. “No one provided us with any information that we need. We’re confused. We hope that our family is still alive.”
It’s not known if any Australians were on board the flight. A spokesman for the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said “the Australian embassy in Jakarta is making urgent inquiries with local authorities to determine if any Australians were affected”.
SUTOPO_PN/TWITTER
Chief of Indonesia’s disaster agency, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, tweeted images of some of the wreckage and belongings that had been found by rescuers after Lion Air flight JT610 crashed.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the New Zealand embassy in Jakarta was monitoring the situation closely.
“The New Zealand Embassy in Jakarta is in contact with local authorities to determine whether any New Zealanders are affected. The embassy has had no requests for consular assistance to date.”
There are currently 321 New Zealanders registered on SafeTravel as being in Indonesia. New Zealanders requiring consular assistance could call the New Zealand Embassy in Jakarta on (+ 62 21) 2995 5800.
FLIGHTRADAR24
A Lion Air passenger plane has gone missing after taking off from Jakarta, say Indonesian officials. Pictured is its final route before it disappeared from radar.
POOR SAFETY RECORD
Lion Air, which flies to 126 destinations in Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and China, is the second largest low-cost carrier in south-east Asia (after Malaysia’s AirAsia), and is growing fast.
The low-cost carrier had a poor safety record for many years. It was banned by the EU from flying over European airspace along with other Indonesian airlines in 2007, and the ban was only lifted in 2016.
AP
Relatives of passengers comfort each other as they wait for news on the plane crash.
The following year, a similar crash saw a Lion plane land short of the Bali runway, injuring 46 people, four seriously. That crash was blamed on pilot error.
Lion pilots have tested positive to methamphetamine on a number of occasions since 2011, leading to concern of a culture of drug use among Indonesian pilots. The most recent case was in December 2017 when a senior pilot was arrested for crystal meth possession after a hotel room raid, and tested positive for the drug a day before he was due to fly.
This latest crash is likely to undo any trust the airline had gained in recent times.
