Police are appealing for public assistance to help locate a missing boy from Newcastle.
Maxwell Carr, aged 10, was last seen about 8am today (Sunday 3 February 2019), leaving a rear carpark of an apartment block, on King Street, Newcastle.
Officers from Newcastle Police District were notified and commenced inquiries to locate him.
Police hold serious concerns for Maxwell’s welfare due to his age and medical condition.
Maxwell is described as being of Caucasian appearance, approximately 145cm tall, of large build, and with brown short hair.
He was last seen wearing a grey t-shirt, black shorts, socks, with no shoes.
Anyone who has information about Maxwell’s whereabouts is urged to contact police immediately.
Month: February 2019
Teenage boy drowns at Bar Beach – Newcastle
A teenage boy has drowned at Bar Beach in Newcastle today.
About 3:30pm (Sunday 3 February 2019), emergency services were called to Bar Beach, Newcastle after reports of a distressed swimmer in the water.
A 16-year-old boy was pulled from the water unconscious by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service.
He was brought back to the beach; however, he could not be revived.
Officers from Newcastle Police District attended and are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.
Senate inquiry into the APVMA marred by donations from vested interests to Labor and Liberal parties, say Greens
The report of the Senate inquiry into the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has been marred by the revelations that vested interests including RoundUp patent holder Bayer and industry body CropLife have collectively donated $139,000 to the Labor, Liberal and National parties in the 2017-18 financial year, say the Australian Greens.
“Exactly a year ago Bayer made a $22,000 donation to the Labor party and today, the Labor-controlled committee for the APVMA inquiry report states they have confidence in the APVMA’s review of glyphosate,” said Senator Janet Rice, Australian Greens agriculture spokesperson.
“The report calls the APVMA’s review of glyphosate ‘robust’, even though the agency decided not to conduct a formal reconsideration of the chemical despite the APVMA’s CEO agreeing that glyphosate is a probable carcinogen.”
“The ad-hoc nature of our current regime for chemical review, as demonstrated by the approach of the APVMA to community concerns about glyphosate, is clearly not up to the task of keeping our community and environment safe.”
“It’s also clear from the donations data released today that the independence of this Senate inquiry and indeed the APVMA is under a cloud.”
“We need donations reform right now, to ensure that big business can’t continue to shape outcomes at the expense of the best interests of the Australian people.”
“The Greens are calling on the Coalition government to immediately order an independent, transparent and science-based inquiry into glyphosate to give Australians certainty about its safety, and call on Bayer to release all internal science. We are also calling on the government to immediately introduce legislation to reinstate the APVMA re-approvaland re-registration scheme that was repealed in 2014.”
In the 2017-18 financial year, Bayer donated $40,600 to Labor and $42,540 to the Coalition, with CropLife donating $34,271 to Labor and $22,300 to the Coalition. Information can be found here.
The committee’s final report, including the Greens dissenting report, can be found here.
Police charge man over Tanilba Bay assault
A man will appear in court tomorrow after being charged with assaulting another man at a club near Port Stephens last week.
About 9.30pm on Friday 25 January 2019, an 18-year-old man was involved in a scuffle with another man at licensed premises at Tanilba Bay.
The group was removed from the club by staff and escorted to the car park; however, the teenaged man continued to act aggressively and was spoken to by 55-year-old man.
The teenager has allegedly attacked the older man and punching him in the face. The older man was knocked to the ground, striking his head on a brick pillar and losing consciousness.
The injured man was attended to by other patrons then taken to John Hunter Hospital in a serious but stable condition.
The teenager fled from the club prior to the arrival of officers from Port Stephens/Hunter Police District.
The injured man required treatment for head and facial injuries, and has had a metal plate inserted into a badly-broken leg.
Earlier today (Friday 1 February 2019), the 18-year-old man attended Raymond Terrace Police Station where he was arrested and charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm.
The man was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Bail Court tomorrow (Saturday 2 February 2019).
Child critical after being hit by car at Cessnock
A child has been critically injured after being hit by a car at Cessnock tonight.
An eight-year-old boy sustained severe head injuries when he was struck by a sedan on Allandale Road, Cessnock, about 8pm (Friday 1 February 2019).
Family members rendered assistance until paramedics arrived and took the child to John Hunter Hospital; he’s reported to be in a critical condition.
The driver of the sedan, a 55-year-old man, has been taken to Cessnock Hospital for mandatory testing.
Allandale Road will be closed for some hours while Crime Scene officers examine the location.
Police from Hunter Valley Police District are speaking with witnesses.
PRESCHOOL DOORS OPEN FOR FIRST YEAR OF SUBSIDISED THREE-YEAR-OLDS
Hundreds of community preschools across NSW are opening their doors to the first year of subsidised three year olds this week, thanks to an historic investment from the NSW Government to ensure every child has access to two years of early childhood education in preparation for primary school.
NSW is the first state in Australia to subsidise all three-year-olds in community preschools, under an investment of almost $200 million, which is only possible due to the strong economic management of the NSW Liberals & Nationals.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian visited Doonside Kindergarten today to welcome the new starters, and said she looked forward to seeing the impact this will have on both children and families.
“Not only does this investment mean better educational opportunities for children right across the State, it also means that on average, families will save $825 on preschool fees this year alone,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“I am proud that as a Government – because of our strong economic management – we can do more to ease cost of living pressures for parents and improve educational outcomes for our children.”
Minister for Early Childhood Education Sarah Mitchell said access to two years of preschool education provides benefits to both children and the community.
“We know that two years of quality early childhood education leads to better performance throughout primary and high school, as well as better university and TAFE attendance, and better outcomes post-tertiary education,” Ms Mitchell said.
Since the Start Strong program was introduced in 2016, which subsidised funding for one year of preschool to begin with, attendance figures have overwhelmingly improved and daily fees have dropped.
“Participation rates have increased by more than 40 per cent for children enrolled for 600 hours, and average daily fees decreased by 25 per cent,” Ms Berejiklian said.
For more information on Start Strong, visit the Department of Education website.
MILLIONS FOR HEALTHY HAROLD TO CONTINUE TO HELP KIDS MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES
More than a million NSW primary school children will be armed with the knowledge to lead healthy and happy lives, under a record funding boost to Life Education NSW.
The record $2 million funding delivered by the NSW Liberals & Nationals guarantees the not-for-profit organisation, which turns 40 this year, will continue to educate the next generation of young students with practical lessons delivered by the nation’s hardest working giraffe, Healthy Harold.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said Healthy Harold and the Life Education experience has become a rite of passage in many primary schools and this funding would allow them to modernise their program by providing students access to cutting-edge augmented reality and 3D systems.
“Life Education is as important now as it has ever been. With boundless entertainment options in the digital age it is essential that important life lessons for children are delivered in an engaging and captivating way,” Ms Berejiklian said.
The new funding will assist with teaching young primary school students about issues including sun safety, road safety, and healthy eating.
For older students in Year 6, it will help them begin to tackle the complex issues they will face in high school, such as cyber safety and the dangers of drugs, alcohol and tobacco.
“It is so important that there is a platform like Life Education that reaches students on their level and helps educate them about the choices they will face,” Ms Berejiklian said.
Education Minister Rob Stokes said Life Education was a priceless asset to teachers delivering important lessons on sometimes sensitive issues.
“Life Education consults with local schools to ensure they cover the topics that may impact that particular school community. The fact that this service is run in conjunction with schools means the lessons have a greater chance of really reaching students,” he said.
Life Education NSW CEO Kellie Sloane said the funding would mean any school across the State that wants a visit will receive one, particularly benefitting regional areas.
“In NSW, sign-ups for our program are at a decade high,” Ms Sloane said.
“As demand from schools for our help increases, this funding is critical to help us reach more children, no matter how remote.”
The funding, over four years, is in addition to nearly $19 million committed by the NSW Liberals & Nationals to Life Education since 2011.
Senate inquiry into the APVMA marred by donations from vested interests to Labor and Liberal parties, say Greens
The report of the Senate inquiry into the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has been marred by the revelations that vested interests including RoundUp patent holder Bayer and industry body CropLife have collectively donated $139,000 to the Labor, Liberal and National parties in the 2017-18 financial year, say the Australian Greens.
“Exactly a year ago Bayer made a $22,000 donation to the Labor party and today, the Labor-controlled committee for the APVMA inquiry report states they have confidence in the APVMA’s review of glyphosate,” said Senator Janet Rice, Australian Greens agriculture spokesperson.
“The report calls the APVMA’s review of glyphosate ‘robust’, even though the agency decided not to conduct a formal reconsideration of the chemical despite the APVMA’s CEO agreeing that glyphosate is a probable carcinogen.”
“The ad-hoc nature of our current regime for chemical review, as demonstrated by the approach of the APVMA to community concerns about glyphosate, is clearly not up to the task of keeping our community and environment safe.”
“It’s also clear from the donations data released today that the independence of this Senate inquiry and indeed the APVMA is under a cloud.”
“We need donations reform right now, to ensure that big business can’t continue to shape outcomes at the expense of the best interests of the Australian people.”
“The Greens are calling on the Coalition government to immediately order an independent, transparent and science-based inquiry into glyphosate to give Australians certainty about its safety, and call on Bayer to release all internal science. We are also calling on the government to immediately introduce legislation to reinstate the APVMA re-approvaland re-registration scheme that was repealed in 2014.”
In the 2017-18 financial year, Bayer donated $40,600 to Labor and $42,540 to the Coalition, with CropLife donating $34,271 to Labor and $22,300 to the Coalition. Information can be found here.
The committee’s final report, including the Greens dissenting report, can be found here.
Donations data shows our democracy is for sale
The political donations data released today revealing massive corporate donations to the major parties shows our democracy is for sale and donations reform is desperately needed, Greens democracy spokesperson Senator Larissa Waters said.
“Today’s data again shows the major parties are owned by the mining, gambling, alcohol, property and banking industries,” Senator Waters said.
“Just in the last financial year the major political parties have taken more than a million dollars from the fossil fuel industry, almost two million from the gambling and alcohol industry, and tens of millions from the big banks.
“Millions of dollars of corporate donations have flowed from infamous companies like Adani ($50k), Santos ($182k), Woodside ($237k), and Tabcorp ($218k), and industry associations like the AHA ($1.09m).
“It’s no wonder we still have lax corporate taxation laws, tax subsidies for fossil fuel companies and no plan to transition to clean energy, no limits on predatory gambling, and alcohol advertising dominating our sports events.
“Millions from the big mining and gas companies is why we don’t have action on climate change despite having have just had the hottest month on record in Australia, flooding in Far North Queensland right now, and catastrophic bushfires in Tasmania.
“In the last six years there’s been more than $100 million in corporate donations to the big parties, and today’s data further increases that.
“Today’s data is just the tip of the iceberg with the millions of dollars donated since July 2018 remaining secret for 12 more months – well after the next federal election.
“The lack of transparency perpetuates a system where politicians represent their corporate donors, instead of representing the community and improving people’s lives.
“To add insult to injury, a third of all corporations didn’t pay tax last year – yet many could afford to donate generously to political parties.
“Our democracy is broken. We need to get the influence of big money out and start restoring integrity into our parliament.”
The Greens today announced their plan to clean up politics which includes:
- banning political donations from mining, property development, tobacco, alcohol, gambling, banking, defence and pharmaceutical industries;
- putting a cap on all other donations of $1000 a year;
- until those bans and caps are in place, making sure every donation over $1000 is listed publicly and disclosed in close to real-time;
- banning donations splitting and all donations from foreign entities;
- stopping all MPs from accepting lobbying jobs for five years after they retire, where a conflict of interest may arise;
- requiring politicians to tell the public when and why they meet with lobbyists;
- establishing a strong, independent federal anti-corruption commission to investigate politicians and governments; and
- protecting the rights of citizens and community groups to speak out, ensuring all of us are represented and able to participate in our democracy.
Link to full policy: https://greens.org.au/sites/default/files/2018-12/Greens%202019%20Policy%20Platform%20-%20Restoring%20Integrity%20to%20Politics.pdf
Dirty Donations Campaign: https://greens.org.au/campaigns/dirty-donations
Greens launch policy to clean up politics
The Greens are today launching their policy to clean up politics and end the corrupting influence of big money on our democracy, so we can create a future for all of us.
Ahead of the Australian Electoral Commission 17/18 donations data release later this morning, Greens spokesperson for democracy Larissa Waters said:
“In the last six years the Liberals and Labor have taken more than $100 million in political donations from big corporations like mining and gambling companies, the big banks and wealthy property developers. We’ll learn today how much that has increased in the last year.
“The return on investment is donors get one-on-one access to government ministers, and decisions that protect their corporate profits. Then some of those pollies get cushy lobbyist jobs when they retire.
“It’s no wonder that 85% of Australians believe most politicians are corrupt.
“The major parties make decisions that prioritise the profits of their big donors. The rest of us are left with cuts to health, education and social services, rising costs of housing and energy bills, and a growing gap between rich and poor.”
The Greens’ plan would break the stranglehold corporations have on our democracy and restore integrity to politics, by:
- banning political donations from mining, property development, tobacco, alcohol, gambling, banking, defence and pharmaceutical industries;
- putting a cap on all other donations of $1000 a year;
- until those bans and caps are in place, making sure every donation over $1000 is listed publicly and disclosed in close to real-time;
- banning donations splitting and all donations from foreign entities;
- stopping all MPs from accepting lobbying jobs for five years after they retire, where a conflict of interest may arise;
- requiring politicians to tell the public when and why they meet with lobbyists;
- establishing a strong, independent federal anti-corruption commission to investigate politicians and governments; and
- protecting the rights of citizens and community groups to speak out, ensuring all of us are represented and able to participate in our democracy.
“Until we get transparency into the system and big money out of politics, we won’t get the decisions that improve people’s everyday lives,” Senator Waters said.
“Unlike the major parties, the Greens refuse to take donations from big corporations and lobbyists who want to influence our decisions. We can’t be bought and we won’t sell out.
“We’ll be campaigning strongly on this policy as the election approaches, and will keep working in parliament before and after the election to deliver reforms.
“People want their democracy back, and they deserve it. Money shouldn’t buy access or outcomes. Our democracy is not for sale.”
Link to full policy: https://greens.org.au/sites/default/files/2018-12/Greens%202019%20Policy%20Platform%20-%20Restoring%20Integrity%20to%20Politics.pdf
Dirty Donations Campaign: https://greens.org.au/campaigns/dirty-donations