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Police plunge into icy water for charity – Newcastle

Senior police will plunge into icy ocean water in Newcastle today to raise money for a good cause.

The Polar Plunge sees participants enter the water at 19 locations across Australia between Saturday 19 July 2025 to Saturday 30 August 2025, with eight of these taking place at various locations across NSW.

Law Enforcement Torch Run is a charity made of up of NSW Police Force and other law enforcement agencies, and it coordinates events – including the Polar Plunge – to raise money for the athletes of Special Olympics Australia.

One of the plunges will be held at Merewether Ocean Baths this morning (Sunday 24 August 2025). The event starts with a brief torch run and opening ceremony at 10am, following by the plunge at 10.15am.

Participants from the NSW Police Force, emergency services, community and justice agencies, Special Olympics Clubs, individuals, and corporate partners will take the plunge.

Northern Region Commander, Assistant Commissioner David Waddell APM, will be jumping into the cold water at Merewether for the important cause.

“For over 20 years we’ve supported the Law Enforcement Torch Run NSW to raise awareness of the great work done by Special Olympics Australia,” Assistant Commissioner Waddell said.

“We are proud to be taking the plunge and to show our support for Special Olympics Australia who bring sport, joy and inclusion to people with intellectual disability and autism.”

Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism, the Hon Yasmin Catley MP, will also be taking the plunge.

“There’s no better example of the Australian spirit than a day like today, with the community coming together for the Polar Plunge,” Minister Catley said.

“The NSW Government is proud to support our police, whose selflessness is at the heart of everything they do – qualities that shine through in their support for Special Olympics Australia.

“A big thank you to everyone who made this event possible and brought it to Newcastle – and best of luck to all the participants taking the plunge!”

Man arrested after pursuit in Muswellbrook

A man remains in police custody after a pursuit in the state’s Hunter Valley region.

About 2.20am today (Sunday 24 August 2025), officers attached to Traffic and Highway Patrol Command were patrolling the New England Highway, near Muswellbrook, when they attempted to stop a Holden Commodore, allegedly being driven in a dangerous manner.

When it failed to stop as directed a pursuit was initiated.

The pursuit continued along the New England Highway towards Whittingham, where road spikes were successfully deployed; however, the pursuit was then terminated due to a safety concern.

A short time later, police located the vehicle on Hunter Expressway, near Loxton and another pursuit was initiated; however, it was terminated due to a safety concern.

About 2.50am, police sighted the vehicle on Main Road, Cliftleigh, after it had crashed into a car travelling in the opposite direction.

When officers attempted to speak to both drivers; the driver of the Holden – a 34-year-old man – left the scene.

Following inquiries, the man was arrested nearby after police seized a syringe from him.

He was taken to John Hunter Hospital in a serious condition under police guard.

The other driver – a 38-year-old woman – was treated at the scene by paramedics for minor injuries.

A crime scene has been established and police commenced an investigation into the incident.

Two men charged over alleged home invasion – Newcastle

Two men have been charged following an investigation into an alleged home invasion in Newcastle last week.

About 12.40am on Thursday 14 August 2025, police were called to a unit on McNaughton Avenue, Wallsend, following reports of an aggravated break and enter.

At the scene, officers attached to Newcastle City Police District were told two males entered the unit and allegedly threatened a 21-year-old woman with a knife before assaulting her.

A crime scene was established.

The woman was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to the John Hunter Hospital for the treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Police commenced inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Following inquiries, about 12.45pm yesterday (Thursday 21 August 2025), a 25-year-old man was arrested at Campbelltown Railway Station, with the assistance of officers attached to Police Transport Command.

He was taken to Campbelltown Police Station, where he was charged with aggravated break and enter commit serious indictable offence, assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company of other(s), demand property by force in company with intent to steal and destroy etc property in company use fire.

He was refused bail to appear before Campbelltown Local Court today (Friday 22 August 2025).

About 3.40pm yesterday, a second 25-year-old man was arrested at a unit on Henry Kendall Street, West Gosford, with the assistance of officers attached to Public Order and Riot Squad.

He was taken to Gosford Police Station, where he was charged with aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence-armed, assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company of other(s), demand property by force in company with intent to steal, destroy etc property in company use fire, choke etc person intend to commit etc indictable offence and use prohibited weapon contrary to prohibition order.

He was refused bail to appear before Bail Division Court 6 today.

Man issued infringement notice following crash – Hunter Valley

A man has been issued with an infringement notice following a crash at Mount View in the Hunter Valley last month.

About 10.30am on Wednesday 30 July 2025, emergency services were called to Mount View Road following reports of a single-vehicle crash.

At the scene, officers located a Toyota HiAce that had rolled approximately 40 metres down an embankment.

The occupants included the driver – a 73-year-old man – and five passengers, all men aged 52, 54, and three aged 57.

All occupants were transported to the John Hunter Hospital for further assessment and treatment.

A crime scene was established by Hunter Valley Police, with the matter under investigation by the Crash Investigation Unit.

Following inquiries, the 73-year-old driver was issued with an infringement notice for negligent driving.

Man charged over alleged assault – Newcastle

A man has been charged over the alleged assault of another man outside a café in Newcastle earlier this month.

Officers attached to Newcastle City Police District commenced an investigation on Tuesday 12 August 2025, following reports an 80-year-old man was assaulted outside a café on Maitland Road, Mayfield, about 2.45pm on Sunday 10 August 2025.

The 80-year-old man was uninjured.

Following inquiries, on Tuesday 19 August 2025, a 39-year-old man was issued a Field Court Attendance Notice for common assault.

He is due to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 2 October 2025.

Travel to Malaysia and Philippines

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles will travel to Malaysia and the Philippines this week – further strengthening our already close defence ties. 

In Malaysia, the Deputy Prime Minister will take part in the 5th Malaysia-Australia High Level Committee on Defence Cooperation with Malaysia’s Minister of Defence, Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin.

Australia and Malaysia are longstanding partners and friends. Our shared military history, including through the Five Power Defence Arrangements, underscores our commitment to a peaceful and stable region.

In the Philippines, the Deputy Prime Minister will build on our cooperation and mutual trust through the 2nd Australia-Philippines Defence Ministers’ Meeting with Philippine Secretary of National Defense, Hon Gilberto Teodoro Jr. 

During his visit, the Deputy Prime Minister will also visit Australian personnel taking part in Exercise Alon 25, Australia’s largest overseas joint training activity this year.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles:

“Malaysia is one of Australia’s closest partners, and I look forward to meeting with Minister Khaled to discuss our ongoing commitment to regional peace and security.

“Australia and Malaysia share a longstanding defence partnership, built upon a comprehensive program of exchanges, training and exercises. 

“I look forward to meeting Secretary Teodoro in Manila to discuss ways to deepen Australia-Philippines defence cooperation; by building capacity and strengthening interoperability.

“Our cooperation through Exercise Alon reflects a shared commitment to working together to maintain a peaceful, secure and prosperous region where sovereignty is respected.”

Autistic Australians Used as Political Football in Minister’s Shameful Announcement

At his National Press Club address, Minister Mark Butler announced changes to NDIS eligibility for children he described as having “mild to moderate autism” and developmental delay.

This announcement has been met with outrage from the autistic community and disability advocates, who warn that the move is discriminatory, dangerous, and based on political spin rather than evidence.

Senator Jordon Steele-John, Greens spokesperson for Disability Inclusion and the NDIS: 

“Autistic Australians are being used as a political football, and that is simply unacceptable.

“Autism is lifelong. There is no growing out of it. The Minister’s suggestion otherwise denies reality and risks stripping people of the supports they need to thrive.

“Autistic Australians deserve support from our government. They do not deserve further stigmatisation and the rug to be pulled out from under them by a politician on the national stage because this government is trying to balance its bottom line.

“This announcement is discriminatory, and it will drive poorer outcomes and increase risks of harm. Autistic people are already experiencing poorer mental health, and they are already three to four times more likely to die by suicide. 

“Politicians are making up definitions. Terms like “mild” and “moderate” autism have no clinical basis. They are political inventions, misleading the public and showing deep ignorance.

“This announcement was not co-designed, and there’s no lived experience at its heart. It’s political theatre at the expense of our community. 

“The so-called replacement programs are flawed. The government is pointing to programs such as Inklings and Thriving Kids. Inklings is designed for babies aged 6 – 18 months, and already, we have raised serious concerns about transparency and practice. Thriving Kids is a last-minute curveball without evidence to back it. A few medical appointments cannot replace lifelong disability supports. 

“The autistic community has already endured decades of exclusion, harmful therapies, and being misunderstood. This announcement is deeply shameful. People are scared, and once again, neurodivergent Australians are being left behind. They deserve real support from their government—not stigma, spin, and cuts dressed up as reform.”

Melbourne Uni must apologise for privacy law breach, end crackdown on Palestine protestors

Greens Deputy Leader and Higher Education Spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has strongly condemned the University of Melbourne following findings by the Victorian Privacy and Data Protection deputy commissioner that the university unlawfully surveilled students and staff during a pro-Palestine protest by using Wi-Fi location data. The deputy commissioner found that because “the collection and use of the data involved the surveillance of students and staff, and surveillance by its nature is antithetical to human rights, the breach was serious”.

The University of Melbourne has maintained that its use of Wi-Fi location data was reasonable “given the overriding need to keep our community safe”.

Lines attributable to Senator Faruqi, Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens and spokesperson for Higher Education:

“The University of Melbourne has doubled down on unlawful surveillance and failed to apologise for its serious breach of privacy.

“Universities should nurture critical thought, dissent and protest. Surveillance is the tool of authoritarian states, not places of learning.

“Using Wi-Fi tracking, CCTV footage and email monitoring against students and staff is a profound betrayal of trust. A university that spies on its students has lost its moral compass.

“Universities should defend free expression, not police it. When a university treats protest as a crime, it betrays its own purpose.

“The University of Melbourne’s claim that the surveillance was justified to ensure community safety is a harmful narrative designed to smear protestors. The real threat to safety is Israel’s genocide in Gaza — and yet the University continues to maintain links with weapons companies fuelling that genocide.”

“Instead of doubling down on this punitive response—one which has already harmed students and staff—the University must offer an unconditional public apology, reverse all disciplinary actions against pro-Palestine protestors, end ties to weapons companies and immediately commit to transparent policy reform that respects privacy, academic freedom, and the right to protest.”

New strategy to boost support for specialist workers

The Minns Labor Government is continuing work to build a safer New South Wales for victim-survivors of domestic and family violence by strengthening the workforce and sector that provides them with crucial support.

The work our domestic and family violence specialist workers do is incredibly challenging, so it’s vital that they feel supported at work through better training, supervision and career opportunities, to avoid burnout.

A strong and robust workforce will be able to continue to provide the best care and support to victim-survivors.

Launching today, “Strengthening the NSW Domestic and Family Violence Sector: Workforce Development Strategy 2025-2035” lays the foundation for long-term reform of the NSW domestic and family violence sector, to support the recruitment and retention of highly skilled workers who help victim-survivors stay safe, heal and recover.

It includes actions such as prioritising workplace safety, health and wellbeing, improving workforce recruitment and renewal, driving workforce diversity, boosting collaboration and supporting skill and capability development.

Backed by $2.5 million in the 2025/26 Budget, this will allow us to begin critical work to make sure workers have access to high-quality supervision, recognise the value of lived experience in the workforce, and investigate models for student recruitment into the sector.

The Strategy was developed in consultation with over 100 organisations in the domestic and family violence sector, including Domestic Violence NSW, Women’s Legal Services, No to Violence, Aboriginal Women’s Advisory Network, and many others.

It is underpinned by significant research and evidence, including an extensive survey of the domestic and family violence specialist workforce.

This is part of the government’s wider effort to secure the future of our domestic and family frontline services, which includes moving to 5-year contracts for most services in the domestic and family violence sector, giving them funding certainty to attract and retain workers.

The specialist domestic and family violence workforce is a vital part of the work the Minns Government is doing to help victim-survivors escape violence and rebuild their lives. They are the frontline workers who provide supports including through the Staying Home Leaving Violence program, Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service, Safety Action Meetings and other casework.

The Strategy will help build the sustainability, capacity and capability of the sector, so workers can better support victim survivors, and enhance responses for people using violence.

This is in addition to funding to expand critical support services such as Staying Home Leaving Violence, strengthening our laws to protect victim-survivors and rolling out New South Wales’s first dedicated primary prevention strategy to stop the violence before it starts.

To learn more about the Workforce Strategy, go to: https://dcjnsw.info/DFV_WorkforceStrategy

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said:

“Eliminating domestic and family violence is a priority for the NSW Government, and we need to do everything we can to support the workforce that is committed to achieving this goal.

“This is long-term work that has been neglected and that the sector has been crying out for.

“Domestic and family violence specialist frontline workers who provide vital support for victim-survivors of abusive relationships are passionate about their work, have deep empathy for the people they work with, and are committed to ending domestic and family violence.

“That is why we must support them. This Strategy is the first step, setting out a 10-year roadmap for us to create a stronger, more robust workforce that feels supported and can attract new people to it.

“A strong and connected workforce will continue to respond to and create safety for families escaping violence.”

NSW Women’s Safety Commissioner Dr Hannah Tonkin said:

“Improving responses to domestic and family violence requires a specialist workforce that is well equipped, connected and supported to do this critical work. The specialist sector in NSW has incredible expertise and commitment, but many workers are overstretched and burdened by stress, burnout and vicarious trauma.

“This new workforce strategy has the potential to offer meaningful support to these vital frontline workers and better protect their health and welfare, while also improving their training and career opportunities and increasing pathways into the sector.

“I’m pleased to see the announcement of the workforce strategy and look forward to seeing it implemented across the state.”

Acting CEO Domestic Violence NSW Carolyn Hodge said:

“The specialist domestic and family violence workforce delivers complex, life-saving support to victim-survivors across NSW every day.

“This Strategy is an important opportunity to strengthen and expand this essential workforce, delivering better outcomes for people, families, and communities.

“In implementing this Strategy, we’ll be looking to ensure it’s backed by the sustained funding and resourcing needed to meet its objectives and ultimately enhance NSW’s response to ending domestic and family violence.”

The Adira Centre Casework Lead Dilini De Silva said:

“Domestic, family and sexual violence practitioners drive positive safety outcomes but need to be supported with the same dignity and recognition they offer victim-survivors.

“The new Strategy provides critical opportunities to build, enable and sustain a domestic, family and sexual violence workforce that reflects the diversity of the NSW community and is supported with the skills, knowledge and resources to provide culturally responsive care to improve equity of access and outcomes for all.”

Liberty Domestic and Family Violence Specialist Services People and Culture Manager Brooke Maggs said:

“This is a positive step to strengthen the domestic and family violence workforce and ensure long-term sustainability.

“The strategy creates a clear roadmap for building and investing in a workforce that is recognised for their expertise and better supported to respond to increasing demand for services.”

Support:

If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, call the Police on Triple Zero / 000.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic and family violence, call the NSW Domestic Violence Line on 1800 65 64 63 for free counselling and referrals, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

For confidential advice, support, and referrals, contact 1800 RESPECT or 13 YARN.

Snowy Valleys Council given support to hold referendum on de-amalgamation

Residents in Snowy Valleys will have a say about the future of their local government area, with the Minister for Local Government today giving his support for the Council to start preparing for a referendum to vote on a potential de-amalgamation.

On Tuesday 19 August the Minister received a report from the NSW Local Government Boundaries Commission which examined the Council’s de-amalgamation proposal, including the Council’s implementation plan and financial sustainability plan.

The Boundaries Commission has recommended the Council’s proposal be supported. The Minister has accepted this recommendation and will now consult with the NSW Electoral Commissioner to allow Council to hold a constitutional referendum and let residents vote on whether they want to demerge.

The Minister met with Snowy Valleys Council Mayor Cr Julia Ham, the Member for Wagga Wagga Dr Joe McGirr MP and the Member for Albury Justin Clancy MP, to release the report and discuss the next step in the demerger process.

Snowy Valleys Council has been following the demerger pathway made possible by legislation introduced and passed by the Minns Labor Government last year.

The Council was required to develop a business case for de-amalgamation which was referred to the Boundaries Commission.

The Commission asked Council for more detail on the implementation of the proposal to outline financial impacts (including increases to rates), long term strategic plans, and the capacity of the new councils to deliver services.

Council’s implementation plan was presented to the Commission, which also held public hearings before finalising its recommendations in a report to the Minister.

With the green light to proceed to the next step in the process, Snowy Valleys Council can now go ahead and commence planning for a referendum. This includes public exhibition of the business case and implementation plan.

The Minister made it clear during the meeting today with the Council that as part of this referendum residents must be made aware they will be facing rate increases and other costs to support the demerged councils, so they can make an informed decision.

The Boundaries Commission report details rates in a restored Tumut Shire would increase by almost 15% over seven years and between 45-65% in Tumbarumba over the same period. In addition, there would be a range of increases to various fees and charges including water and sewer, leases and licenses, commercial fees and drainage.

The majority of the whole council area must support this vote for the demerger to proceed.

Under the Local Government Act 1993 the Boundaries Commission report was required to be released publicly within 48 hours of the Minister receiving it.

Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig said:

“The communities of Snowy Valleys weren’t given a choice when the Liberal-National Government forced the amalgamation of Tumut and Tumbarumba councils.

“It has proven to be another local government disaster inflicted upon regional NSW communities.

“The impact the amalgamation continues to have on the Council, councillors and staff was made clear by the Boundaries Commission.

“Prior to coming to government, Labor made a commitment to the people of Snowy Valleys that we would support the Council in holding a referendum to vote on a possible demerger.

“I know it’s been a long road to get here, but the work the Council has done putting together a business case has been necessary to ensure demerging would be a viable option.

“If there is majority support in the referendum and residents are prepared to accept the financial costs, then the Council can progress with the transition work required to demerge.

“If the referendum is rejected, the community and the Council must respect that outcome and get on with it.

“The important thing is the communities of Snowy Valleys are given the choice to make this decision for themselves – not have it made for them by the state government which has no mandate to interfere with local democracy.”  

The Boundaries Commission report is available on the Office of Local Government website.