The Greens are warning water ministers not to put up the white flag on saving the Murray-Darling Basin and the environmental flows needed to secure its future at tomorrow’s Ministerial Council meeting.
Australian Greens Spokesperson for Environment and Water Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:
“Water Ministers must not go to tomorrow’s meeting waving a white flag on saving the Murray-Darling Basin and the environmental flows needed to secure its future.
“Last year’s meeting of water ministers was a dramatic farce and a communique couldn’t even be agreed upon at the time and was later released by the MDBA who should be independent of this process.
“This bad behaviour when it comes to the management of our biggest river system cannot continue.
“The Murray Darling Basin Plan is due to recover a total of 2,075 GL/year of water plus 450 GL/year of efficiency measures by 2024. If the MDB is going to survive then the Plan must be delivered in full and on time.
“For seven years, the Liberal-National Government has let corporate irrigators run amok with water at the expense of from river communities, small family farms and the environment. It’s time to rein them in, for everyone’s sake.
“The Greens will keep pushing for a Royal Commission in the MDB to get to the bottom of the trillions of litres of missing water, theft, corruption, greed and lack of action on climate change that is plaguing the river. We also back a High Court challenge to fight for South Australia’s water and the Murray-Darling Basin if the Federal Government won’t deliver it on time.”
Greens welcome the release of the Media Reform Green Paper
Greens Media and Communications Spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:
“We have seen two positive steps forward on media reform from the Government today; the announcement that there will be further investment in public interest journalism through the establishment of the PING Trust and
the announcement that the Government is intending to introduce Australian content obligations for online video streaming services.
“While these are positive steps forward, we will consult with stakeholders and the community and consider the details of the proposals before coming to a final position on the reforms.”
PING Trust
“The PING Fund has played an important role in supporting public interest journalism and rural and regional news. I’m delighted to see that the Government is proposing an extension of this fund that will be able to support the future of public interest journalism in Australia.
“Funding through the original PING Fund was used to save the AAP from closure earlier this year after the Greens made the protection of AAP a key priority before opening any negotiations with the Government on the News Media Code.
“AAP plays an essential role in the Australian media landscape and I hope to see the long term future of AAP secured through this trust.
Local content obligations for online video streaming services
“There is good news for the Australian screen industry at the end of an extremely tough year. We welcome the introduction of local content quotas for online video streaming services. Not only is the telling of Australian stories on our screens essential in shaping our national identity and reflecting the diversity of our community but local productions create Australian jobs.
“Reform to regulate online streaming services in Australia is well overdue. The Greens have long been calling for the Government to regulate streaming giants like Netflix that are making billions of dollars from Australian subscribers without any obligation to host any Australian content on their screens.
“The Greens already have a motion before the Senate next week calling on the Government to take action and regulate online video streaming services. I call on other Senators to show their support for the Australian screen industry and support this motion.
“The question of the rate of investment obligation on streaming services will be crucial to the success of this policy reform and I urge the Government to look around the world for effective examples to follow. France has recently brought in a quota for 20% of local revenue to be spent on local productions and I hope to see Australia go down a similar path. Sub quotas to ensure that streaming services are commissioning drama, documentary and children’s content will also be an important part of policy discussions.
“There is a lot of detail to be considered in this proposal and we will be working with stakeholders in the industry over the coming months to ensure that we are able to get the best outcomes to tell Australian stories and secure Australian jobs.”
Morrison Govt’s environment-wrecking laws dead in water, Senate Inquiry report shows
The Morrison Government’s new environment-wrecking laws do not have enough support to pass the parliament the Senate Inquiry report into the legislation released this afternoon shows.
The Greens, Labor and crossbench senators Patrick, Lambie and Griff all declared their opposition to the Bill leaving just the Morrison Government and One Nation in support.
Greens Environment Spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:
“The Morrison Government’s environment-wrecking laws are dead in the water.
“The Government shamelessly tried to smooth the path for their big mining and developer mates to get their environment-destroying projects approved even faster while completely ignoring the independent review of environment laws that was underway.
“These laws are nothing more than a rehash of Tony Abbott’s 2014 bill which failed to pass the parliament then and will fail again now.
“The Environment Minister should announce today that the Government will not be pursuing this Bill any further.
“We have a once-in-ten-year opportunity to reform our environment laws to protect our wildlife and our wild places. Any new laws must be informed by a full and proper consideration of the final Samuel Report and include strong national environmental standards and an independent regulator to enforce them.”
Helping Australians return home
The Australian Government continues to work tirelessly to ensure we get as many Australians home by Christmas as possible.
Almost 426,600 Australian citizens and Permanent Residents have travelled into Australia since the Government recommended that people reconsider the need to travel abroad on 13 March 2020.
The process to help re-book passengers travelling to Sydney from San Francisco began last night with the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications working speedily with the airline to facilitate exactly that.
This process was well under way by this morning and contrary to claims made by Labor today, had nothing to do with their Tweets. Because this plane did not take off or arrive, the caps allocated for that flight have rolled over so those passengers will be able quarantine without issue.
What Australians expect as we navigate our nation’s response to this global pandemic is constructive engagement by all politicians – not opportunistic political point-scoring.
Australians will rightfully be disappointed by the Labor Party’s willingness to exploit difficult circumstances being faced by Australians overseas – circumstances the Government has been working to assist with since the start of the pandemic earlier this year.
At the request of State and Territory Governments, to help shore up the integrity of hotel-quarantine systems in those jurisdictions, the National Cabinet implemented flight caps earlier this year. That measure has been necessary and has played a substantial role in Australia’s successful response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
At many meetings of the National Cabinet, the Australian Government has sought to safely increase those cap numbers to help get more Australians home and we continue to partner with all States and Territories to that end. Following Jane Halton’s review and recommendations on quarantine arrangements, the Commonwealth has established the Howard Springs facility to boost quarantine spaces and is looking to double its capacity.
We will keep working to bring as many Australians home by Christmas as possible, building on the successful return of more than 400,000 Australians since March.
Almost 426,600 Australian citizens and Permanent Residents have travelled into Australia since the Government recommended that people reconsider the need to travel abroad on 13 March 2020.
The process to help re-book passengers travelling to Sydney from San Francisco began last night with the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications working speedily with the airline to facilitate exactly that.
This process was well under way by this morning and contrary to claims made by Labor today, had nothing to do with their Tweets. Because this plane did not take off or arrive, the caps allocated for that flight have rolled over so those passengers will be able quarantine without issue.
What Australians expect as we navigate our nation’s response to this global pandemic is constructive engagement by all politicians – not opportunistic political point-scoring.
Australians will rightfully be disappointed by the Labor Party’s willingness to exploit difficult circumstances being faced by Australians overseas – circumstances the Government has been working to assist with since the start of the pandemic earlier this year.
At the request of State and Territory Governments, to help shore up the integrity of hotel-quarantine systems in those jurisdictions, the National Cabinet implemented flight caps earlier this year. That measure has been necessary and has played a substantial role in Australia’s successful response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
At many meetings of the National Cabinet, the Australian Government has sought to safely increase those cap numbers to help get more Australians home and we continue to partner with all States and Territories to that end. Following Jane Halton’s review and recommendations on quarantine arrangements, the Commonwealth has established the Howard Springs facility to boost quarantine spaces and is looking to double its capacity.
We will keep working to bring as many Australians home by Christmas as possible, building on the successful return of more than 400,000 Australians since March.
$4 million for new COVID-19 research
The Morrison Government is supporting six new COVID-19 research projects across four institutions, allowing researchers continue to examine the virus and our response to the pandemic.
More than $4 million will be distributed from the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) through two grant rounds to institutions including Monash University, Deakin University and Macquarie University.
These grants aim to develop high priority digital health infrastructure, improving the speed and features of health system responses during acute crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Each of these projects has the ability to assist and inform government responses to the pandemic and continue our improvements to health outcomes for all Australians.
Three projects will receive funding through the 2020 Rapid Response Digital Health Infrastructure Grant Opportunity, worth approximately $3.5 million.
This includes $1.9 million to support Monash University’s work to create a national data management platform and Learning Health System, alongside real-time monitoring of Australia’s COVID-19 response.
A further three projects will also share in $600,000 through the 2020 Communication Strategies and Approaches during Outbreaks Grant Opportunity, focusing on understanding people’s communication needs, in order to improve community engagement and responsiveness to information and advice about pandemics.
A project through Deakin University will identify communication priorities and effective support for people with an intellectual disability living in high risk specialist disability accommodation during disease outbreaks.
As part of the Morrison Government’s Coronavirus Research response, over $96 million from the MRFF has been invested in COVID-19 research, including vaccine, anti-viral and respiratory medicine research.
Investing in health and medical research is a key priority of our Government’s Long Term National Health Plan. Research continues to play a critical role in ensuring Australia maintains its world-class health system, particularly as the world continues to respond to COVID-19.
The Morrison Government’s MRFF is a $20 billion endowment fund, allowing for long-term investment and support for Australia’s best and brightest researchers. Further information about the MRFF is available at www.health.gov.au/mrff.
| 2020 Rapid Response Digital Health Infrastructure Grant Opportunity | ||
| Administering Institution | Project Title | Funding |
| Sydney Local Health District | Integrating remote monitoring technology into digital health infrastructure | $670,406.00 |
| Monash University | Towards a national data management platform and Learning Health System | $1,922,584.00 |
| Monash University | Real-time modelling of Australia’s COVID-19 response | $810,300.00 |
| 2020 Communication Strategies and Approaches during Outbreaks Grant Opportunity | ||
| Administering Institution | Project Title | Funding |
| Monash University | Effectiveness of tailored COVID-19 message for vulnerable Australians | $315,961.00 |
| Deakin University | Inclusive Health Communication in Specialist Disability Accommodation | $109,047.00 |
| Macquarie University | Harnessing the health communication power of the early childhood sector | $174,992.00 |
Newcastle Art Gallery celebrates the bliss of domestic life
Newcastle Art Gallery is encouraging audiences to view everyday household items in a whole new light with the launch of its exhibition, DOMESTIC BLISS: functional works from the collection.
Drawn exclusively from its nationally significant ceramics collection, the Gallery will display works of art from Australian and international practitioners.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said with so much time spent at home during COVID-19, now was the perfect time to remind people of the beauty and traditions associated with objects usually found in the home.
“Newcastle is fortunate to have such an extensive and diverse art collection to draw on for its self-curated exhibitions,” Cr Nelmes said.
“During the seventies and eighties, the Gallery played a leading role in establishing Newcastle as a centre of national significance in ceramics, and our collection now features more than 900 ceramic works by Australian and international artists.
“Notably, the Gallery has the largest collection of Sodeisha ware in the Southern hemisphere, which was donated to Newcastle in 1981 in recognition of the Gallery’s commitment to Japanese ceramics.
“DOMESTIC BLISS provides an opportunity to showcase a small portion of this wonderful collection, highlighting the beauty of what is normally considered a humble household item.”
Newcastle Art Gallery Director Lauretta Morton said the free exhibition features renowned ceramic artists who adeptly play with the conventions of functional ware, displayed alongside a new generation of contemporary practitioners.
“Domestic and functional wares represent many aspects of life; the flower vase for ceremony and remembrance, the platter shared in celebration, and tea bowls representing culturally diverse tradition and customs,” Ms Morton said.
“DOMESTIC BLISS elevates everyday ceramics as works of art and reveals the artists’ transnational stories of place and identity.
“Honor Freeman creates deceptive works that mimic 1960s Tupperware and Gwyn Hanssen Pigott’s (1935 – 2013) still life takes cues from artists such as Giorgio Morandi and Chinese masters.
“The skill of the Hermannsburg potters transform jars into expansive desert landscapes and a new acquisition to the Newcastle Art Gallery’s collection by Tony Albert marks the problematic 250th anniversary of Captain Cook.”
DOMESTIC BLISS: functional works from the collection will be on display from 28 November 2020 to 31 January 2021.
Australian Government helps light up local footy club
The community of George Town has welcomed improvements at its football club, thanks to the Federal Government’s investment in community sporting infrastructure.
The George Town Football Club received $250,000 through the Community Development Grants (CDG) Program.
It aims to improve local community infrastructure to encourage greater participation in sport and physical activity.
Minister for Sport, Senator Richard Colbeck and Member for Bass Bridget Archer said the George Town Football Club Ground New Lights Project, will allow for wider use for local footy teams and the wider sporting community.
“The investment in the George Town Football Club has allowed it to install new AFL standard lights,” Mrs Archer said.
“This includes towers to house the lights, footings for the towers and an upgrade to the power supply.
“The club is a hub for community sport, fielding teams in all levels and age ranges, and this upgrade has made the George Town oval even more accessible to the local community.
“The grounds are used by Auskick, junior competitions, under 18’s, reserves, senior men’s and women’s squads.”
The George Town project is one of 125 funded under the Australian Government’s CDG program, part of its 2019 election commitments.
Minister Colbeck said hundreds of sporting clubs across Australia had benefited.
“We know how important sport has become in strengthening communities, especially during what has been a challenging year,” Minister Colbeck said.
“This vital funding measure has granted clubs and organisations the opportunity to complete projects like this, ultimately encouraging more Australians to participate in community sport.”
Construction commenced on the George Town Football Club in December 2019, and the new oval lighting will be unveiled on Thursday, 26 November.
“The completion of this project signals an exciting new era for this region as more people take advantage of the upgraded facilities,” Ms Archer said.
$1 million boost for City of Newcastle projects
An active sports hub in Wallsend and the long-awaited upgrade of the local centre at Blackbutt Village in New Lambton, have jointly received a $1 million boost from the NSW Government’s Resources for Regions program.
City of Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes has today welcomed the funding announcement by the NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro of support for community projects that will provide much-needed recreational facilities within the western corridor of Newcastle.
“The funding announced today by NSW Deputy Premier adds to the multi-million-dollar investment that City of Newcastle has previously committed towards realising these fantastic projects for Wallsend and New Lambton,” Cr Nelmes said.
“$500,000 for the Wallsend Active Hub expands on the $1 million already committed to the project by City of Newcastle, while $591,677 for the Blackbutt Village renewal will ensure the timely delivery of a much-needed upgrade at Orchardtown Road, which we have allocated more than $4 million towards.
“The Wallsend Active Hub will be a drawcard for the suburb, attracting families from outside the area to enjoy the multi-purpose space in the same way the hugely popular Stockton Active Hub does.
“A concept plan for the project, which is still in the initial planning stages and will be put forward for community consultation, includes a range of potential facilities such as basketball and multipurpose courts, a bike track, fitness facilities, play equipment and shade structures.”
Cr Nelmes said the upgrade to Blackbutt Village at Orchardtown Road, New Lambton would improve the look and feel of the popular shopping strip while making the space safer and more accessible for pedestrians.
“The revitalisation of Blackbutt Village will improve safety and enhance the look and feel of the area to boost visitation and support local businesses,” Cr Nelmes said.
“Key features include an off-road shared pedestrian and cycle path, new pedestrian crossing and footpath connections to Blackbutt Reserve and Richley Reserve, as well as wider footpaths to improve outdoor dining and promote activation of the centre.
“The project will also involve the renewal of drainage, kerb, gutter, road, footpaths, lighting and street furniture, as well as tree planting and landscaping.
“Following the adoption of the Blackbutt Village Public Domain Plan at the September Council meeting, the project has progressed into the detailed design phase, with construction expected to start next financial year.”
City of Newcastle was among 24 Local Government Areas to share in funding under round seven of the Resources for Regions program, which aims to support mining-impacted communities in regional NSW by providing economic opportunities, improved amenity and positive social outcomes.
Greater Bank celebrations gifts trees to the City of Newcastle
Newcastle has been home for Greater Bank for 75 years and now the city will be the major beneficiary of its anniversary celebrations, receiving more than 20,000 native trees and shrubs to be planted at sites across the area.
Greater Bank announced in August that it was planting 75,000 trees in the areas it calls home across regional NSW to mark 75 years of growing greater together.
Lord Mayor of Newcastle, Cr Nuatali Nelmes, along with Greater Bank Chairman, Wayne Russell, and Chief Executive Officer, Scott Morgan, swapped their corporate attire for gardening gear to launch the Newcastle planting program today at King Edward Park. They were joined by Greater Bank employees and members of the community to plant the first of 4,000 trees earmarked for the site.
Taking place on the iconic park’s sea cliffs and coastal headlands, the planting will enhance a protected and endangered ecological community known as Themeda grassland and also re-establish habitat for local wildlife, including birds, small marsupials, insects and reptiles.
Over the coming weeks and months, the program will also see plantings undertaken at Bull & Tourle Street Reserve, Mayfield West, Heaton Park and Maclure Reserve, Jesmond; a unique and important freshwater wetland in Wallsend; Wallsend Park and Ironbark Creek, Wallsend.
A mix of seedlings and more established plants that are native to the region have been selected to complement the flora already on these sites.
Launching the planting project, Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said City of Newcastle was committed to creating a greener local government area and thanked the Greater Bank for its support.
“Thanks to support from Greater Bank, we’ve been able to significantly add to our bushland, watercourse, street and park tree planting programs to ensure our community continues to benefit from our urban forest,” Cr Nelmes said.
“This partnership is another example of the City’s commitment to becoming an ICLEI City with Nature, recognising and enhancing the value of our natural surrounds, as well as our efforts to be a global local government leader in sustainability.
“The greening of our urban landscape has a positive impact for Newcastle and our community. Enhancing our natural areas, planting in streets and parks create spaces where people can relax and be more active.
“Green spaces are cooler and improve liveability while providing environmental improvements such as air quality, protecting and filtering our water, and also providing natural habitat, food and shelter for native wildlife.”
Greater Bank CEO, Scott Morgan, who said the tree planting projects are symbolic of the role Greater Bank has played in growing together with its communities over the past 75 years.
“As we reach our 75th year of operation, we’re proudly celebrating the role we have played in helping this region we call home,” Mr Morgan said.
“Greater Bank was established in Hamilton in 1945 and we are still headquartered there today. While our operations have grown significantly over the past 75 years, well beyond our traditional boundaries, the Hunter remains the heart of our operations and customer base.
“It’s important for us, that in celebrating the milestone, we give back to a community that has given us so much and in doing so contribute to a cause that is important to our customers.
“The need to protect and nurture the environment was a consistent message delivered by customers across all our areas of operation, which is why we’ve committed to planting 75,000 trees throughout regional NSW.
“The trees will not only provide these communities with an ongoing legacy to mark this milestone, but as they grow, they will provide an enduring symbol of our commitment to social responsibility and sustained support of local communities,” Mr Morgan said.
“We have been working closely with the City of Newcastle to select these sites and they have also provided valuable direction as to the types and species of plants to ensure they complement and support the local habitats,” Mr Morgan said.
Once completed, the project will have a significant impact on local environments. Beyond the flora regeneration of the respective sites across regional NSW, collectively, the 75,000 trees will have the capacity to absorb 1,650,000kgs of carbon dioxide each year. That offsets 97 people per year and emissions from 600 cars.
Man charged over alleged shooting in Scone
A man will face court today charged over an alleged shooting in the Hunter Valley earlier this week.
Just after 4am on Tuesday (24 November 2020), a 43-year-old man presented to Scone Hospital with gunshot wounds to his leg and ankle – he remains in a stable condition in John Hunter Hospital.
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding how the man sustained his injuries.
Following further inquiries, police executed a crime scene warrant at a home on Barton Street, Scone, yesterday (Wednesday 25 November 2020), where they arrested a 51-year-old man.
During the warrant, police located two firearms and a hydroponic setup. Police remain at the scene this morning (Thursday 26 November 2020).
The man was taken to Scone Police Station, where he was charged with eight offences;
- Discharge firearm intend cause grievous bodily harm
- Possess unregistered firearm-not prohibited firearm/pistol (x2)
- Not keep firearm safely-not prohibited firearm/pistol (x2)
- Cultivate prohibited plant commercial quantity-cannabis
- Possess unauthorised firearm (x2)
He was refused bail to appear at Muswellbrook Local Court today (Thursday 26 November 2020).
Police will allege in court the 43-year-old attended the Scone property shortly before 4am on Tuesday (24 November 2020), where he spoke with the older man at the premises.
It will be further alleged the pair became involved in an altercation before the older man shot the younger man.
The younger man left the scene and drove to a nearby premises before attending Scone Hospital for treatment.
Initial investigations suggest the incident was targeted.
Investigations are continuing.