Defence can confirm that HMAS Adelaide has experienced a power outage. Back-up power has been activated to restore essential systems. The situation is being closely monitored and the safety of the ship and the embarked personnel remains our highest priority.
Following a number of incorrect reports today regarding HMAS Adelaide, Defence can confirm the following:
1. Essential functions such as refrigeration and sanitation systems are up and running;
2. Food supplies have not been adversely affected as a result of the power outage;
3. HMAS Adelaide is not under tow, nor has it been under tow while in or near Tonga; and
4. Air conditioning is operational in most areas of the ship.
The power outage has not affected Australia’s ability to support requests from the Government of Tonga to assist their recovery efforts.
Civilian specialists are on route to conduct an assessment of the affected systems.
Author: admin
Second man charged over alleged armed hold-up of Hunter hotel – Robbery and Serious Crime Squad
A second man’s been charged as investigations continue into the armed robbery of a hotel in the state’s Hunter region earlier this month.
About 12.20am on Tuesday 25 January 2022, two masked men – one armed with a handgun and the other with a meat clever – entered a licensed premises on Main Road at Cardiff and threatened two employees, a man and woman aged 52 and 25, before taking a cash register and fleeing.
Police were told they left in a blue Ford Falcon sedan, last seen heading east on Main Street.
Although shaken, the employees were not injured and contacted police.
Initial inquiries were conducted by officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District, before the matter was referred to detectives from the State Crime Command’s Robbery and Serious Crime Squad under Strike Force Hawksview.
So far, strike force detectives have charged a 32-year-old man for his alleged role in the incident. He remains before the courts.
Following further inquiries, Tactical Operations Unit (TOU) officers – assisted by local police and the Tactical Operations Regional Support Unit (TORS) – arrested a 33-year-old man at a Mayfield property just after 6.30pm yesterday (Sunday 30 January 2022).
A short time later investigators executed a search warrant at that address, as well as at a second home on Woodstock Street.
During those searches, police seized electronic items and clothing for forensic analysis.
The man was taken to Newcastle Police Station and charged with seven offences, including two counts of robbery while armed with dangerous weapon, two counts of possess unauthorised pistol, two counts of acquire firearm – subject to prohibition order, and reckless grievous bodily harm.
It will be alleged in court he was one of two men responsible for the robbery of a hotel in Cardiff last week.
It’s further alleged he was additionally involved in the armed robbery of licenced premises on Fullerton Street at Stockton just before 10pm on Tuesday 28 December 2021.
During this incident, a 35-year-old man – who was an employee of the hotel – was allegedly knocked unconscious with a firearm, while two colleagues were threatened with the weapon then ordered to hand over cash, before the man fled.
The employee was taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment to significant facial injuries including a broken jaw and numerous damaged teeth, and is receiving ongoing treatment.
Inquiries to locate two other men involved in that incident continue.
The Mayfield man was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Monday 31 January 2022).
Putting Australian Medical Manufacturers at the Front of the Queue
Critical medical supplies should be made in Australia – and the Australian Government should be buying Australian-made medical supplies.
A Labor Government will increase Australia’s sovereign manufacturing capacity in medical essentials, like testing equipment, masks, PPE and ventilators.
We will achieve this in two ways:
- We will give first priority to Australian made medical technology for Government purchases in consumables and equipment.
- We will instruct the $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund to make medical technology a top priority and work with the Future Made in Australia Office to develop a national investment plan for health care essentials, which will identify what needs to be made in Australia and how to make that happen.
The fact that we are three years into the pandemic and still face shortages on critical needs like Rapid Antigen Tests is an indictment of a government that has failed Australians.
At every stage of this pandemic, experts warned Mr Morrison of what was on the horizon, and every time he failed to listen and failed to act.
Mr Morrison makes the same mistakes over and over, but he is too arrogant to learn from them – and it’s Australians who wear the consequences.
His insistence on letting the market decide means Australians are forced to count on overseas producers and unreliable supply chains for basic medical equipment – and are still facing shortages as a result.
We need to re-build our medical and pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity in this country – but the government that drove out car manufacturing will never be a government that delivers on domestic medical supply manufacturing.
Labor’s approach will give homegrown industry the certainty to invest and grow, meaning more jobs, more exports, better health and greater self-reliance.
Australia has innovative businesses and some of the world’s best scientists. When government backs them and gives our workforce a chance to shine, we know they’ll deliver.
If we don’t invest in making things here, we will always rely on others in a crisis.
While this is about shoring up our long-term self-reliance, we also call on the Morrison-Joyce Government to act now to help Australian companies access the resources they need to gain approvals for Australian made tests.
It just doesn’t make sense that our manufacturers are exporting tests that have been approved in the United States, while we struggle to secure imports for ourselves.
Covid business support package
Businesses, workers and the performing arts across NSW are all set to benefit from a major financial support package of more than $1 billion to help those that have been hardest hit by the Omicron wave.
The package includes financial support for small business to buy rapid antigen tests (RATs) to help keep their workers safe and a new Small Business Support Program to assist businesses to help keep their workers employed.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said while case numbers are now declining, the NSW Government is determined to support those businesses that have been most affected during this wave of the pandemic.
“As part of the package, we are introducing the Small Business Support Program to help support businesses that experienced the worst effects of the Omicron wave,” Mr Perrottet said.
“We are also providing support to business to help reimburse the cost of rapid antigen tests for their workers, extending the Commercial Landlord Hardship Grant and delivering additional funding for the performing arts sector.
“This targeted package provides support for businesses who experienced cashflow issues and the immediate economic impacts of the Omicron outbreak.
“NSW is tracking better than expected and confidence is returning. And as we did with earlier recoveries, we will come through this recent challenge stronger than ever.
“We’ve got the backs of businesses, as we have throughout this entire pandemic.”
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the support package would provide a statewide response to the Omicron wave of the pandemic, targeting those businesses that need it the most.
“Our regions have felt the impacts of Omicron, and it’s critical we give them a helping hand to recover and get local economies humming again,” Mr Toole said.
“This package shows that the NSW Government continues to have the back of residents and businesses in the bush with practical measures to ensure they keep their workers safe and businesses open.”
Treasurer Matt Kean said we know some businesses in NSW have faced challenges and it is vital we get them the support they need to stay afloat and keep their workers in jobs.
“As we continue to protect the health and safety of our community, we have to ensure our economy is resilient and our businesses are supported so they bounce back from this most recent phase of the pandemic,” Mr Kean said.
“The Small Business Support Program helps those businesses with annual turnover of between $75,000 and $50 million with a decline in turnover of at least 40 per cent by providing a payment covering up to 20 per cent of their weekly payroll.
“By ensuring businesses keep their doors open and their employees paid, we are confident our economy will bounce back strongly as it did last year.”
Small Business Minister Eleni Petinos said the program was important to ensure small businesses have the resources and cash flow they need to survive this outbreak and bounce back.
“We know that the over 800,000 small businesses in NSW are the lifeblood of local communities and that many of these businesses experienced challenges due to the Omicron wave of the pandemic,” Ms Petinos said.
“This package will help relieve some of the costs of small business including keeping workers safe, assist with cash flow and support small businesses to continue trading.”
The Small Business Support Program provides eligible businesses a lump sum payment of 20 per cent of weekly payroll with a minimum payment of $500 per week and a maximum payment of $5,000 per week.
In addition, the existing Small Business Fees, Charges and RAT Rebate will be increased by 50% from the current $2,000 limit to $3,000 and employing businesses will be able to use the rebate to obtain RATs. This will support worker availability by helping reduce costs to small businesses and enabling healthy staff who have been exposed to COVID-19, but test negative, to return to work.
For more information please visit nsw.gov.au.
Jobs program reaps rewards for NSW Veterans
A program helping veterans secure jobs in the NSW public sector has exceeded its employment target, and is 12 months ahead of schedule.
Minister for Veterans David Elliott said over 1,200 veterans have transitioned into civilian roles since 2018, thanks to the success of the Veterans Employment Program.
“When this terrific program was extended in 2018, a target was set to help 1,000 veterans secure public sector jobs in NSW by 2023,” Mr Elliott said.
“I’m delighted that we continue to exceed the original employment target and provide job opportunities for ex-service men and women that are looking for a new career path.
“This program is instrumental in helping our veterans enjoy a smoother transition from military service to civilian life, and means we retain the skills, knowledge and experience of our outstanding former service personnel.”
Developed by the NSW Office for Veterans Affairs, the program assists managers and veterans in understanding how defence force skills and experience align with roles within the NSW Government.
Former Army Captain Angie Holst, who served in the army from 2007 to 2016, said it can be difficult for transitioning members to articulate their Defence skills and experiences into language that the public sector understands.
“The Veteran’s Employment Program conducts workshops that provide information about applying for government roles, and advice on tailoring a resume to make it applicable to government positions. This is a valuable part of the Program that assists veterans,” Ms Holst said.
Leading Aircraftman Todd Robinson, who served for 15 years in the Royal Australian Air Force, has also benefitted from the program.
“Without the VEP program, I would not have the toolkit to apply for NSW Government roles. I had more confidence with the skills and capabilities that I had gained and the program set me up for success in my applications for roles within Justice.”
The program began in 2016 and recently won a Prime Minister’s Veterans’ Employment Award. For more on the program visit Veterans Employment Program.
HSU welcomes Albo’s aged care declaration
Anthony Albanese’s promise to support the Health Services Union Fair Work Commission case for a 25 per cent wage increase for aged care would provide a massive boost to the workforce, support attraction and retention of staff and improve quality of care.
HSU National President, Gerard Hayes said:
“The great unresolved crisis in aged care is wages. Until the Commonwealth Government commits to pay aged care workers a decent wage this crisis will only get worse.
“Today we see a clear difference emerge between the major parties. Mr Albanese’s declaration of support for the HSU case to lift aged care wages is hugely significant.
“In the short term it will lift the spirits of aged care workers. But in the longer term we need to lift wages to allow more workers to stay in the industry and stem the short staffing crisis.
“We’re into our third year of this pandemic and an exhausted aged care workforce who can earn more stacking shelves in a supermarket are barely holding on.
“Scott Morrison and Richard Colbeck have been warned that staff shortages are at catastrophic levels but it seems the cricket takes precedence.”
Labor: $150 Million Creating Jobs and Unlocking the Potential of Melbourne’s North
A Labor Government will invest $150 million to build the Camerons Lane Interchange at Beveridge, helping create thousands of jobs and unlocking the potential of Melbourne’s North.
Under Labor’s plan, the full diamond interchange with the Hume Highway will transform Melbourne’s North – with the potential for more than 30,000 homes and up to 20,000 jobs across the region, according to estimates from the Mitchell Shire Council.
During construction alone, this project will create up to 2,000 direct and indirect jobs and support significant growth in housing, health and education opportunities right across Beveridge and surrounds.
For too long, the Morrison-Joyce Government has neglected Melbourne’s North – failing to deliver a single commitment for the people of McEwen despite multiple promises over nine years.
Of the $150 million committed by Labor, we will reserve $10 million to commence the detailed planning work for this project before construction gets underway- planning ahead to ensure we’re building a better future.
Anthony Albanese, Leader of the Australian Labor Party said:
“This interchange is essential to the future of this region: without it, future economic and residential growth at Beveridge will be left at a standstill and the future of the region will be held back.
When complete, this project will help locals across Melbourne’s North spend less time on the road and more time at home, as well as opening the door to the job opportunities of the future.
This is all part of Labor’s plan to deliver a better life to working families across Australia and ensuring we can have a future made in Australia.
The Camerons Lane Interchange will create local jobs, create homes and create new opportunities in the region supporting significant growth, and greater opportunities for local health and education.
Labor is committed to supporting the future of this region, to provide key opportunities to those areas which have been impacted by COVID-19 and this $150 million investment is a part of that commitment.”
Catherine King, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development said:
“Labor’s infrastructure investments are about creating jobs and allowing locals to spend more time at home and less on the road.
“This investment will help unlock the next generation of jobs across Melbourne’s North, creating a better life for locals.”
Rob Mitchell, Member for McEwen said:
“Today’s announcement removes the roadblock for the development of jobs, education and community development in our region.
Delivering this vital project will unlock jobs and housing opportunities in our region for the following decades. This interchange is the key piece needed to open a new chapter of development and prosperity for Melbourne’s North.
Labor is committed to investing in projects that support communities through the recovery from the impacts of COVID-19 and provide substantial economic, social and environmental benefits in the long term.”
New Medical Interns Coming To Royal North Shore
Liberal candidate for Willoughby, Tim James, welcomed the 44 new medical interns coming to the Royal North Shore Hospital.
With a large cohort of new medical interns joining the NSW Health system this year, Mr James said the Royal North Shore hospital is getting interns at a critical time to boost the local health workforce.
“As the son of a Royal North Shore Nurse, I really appreciate the amazing job that our health workers do. We owe them all a great debt of gratitude – particularly for the way that they have been keeping our community safe during this pandemic.
Interns are medical graduates who have completed their medical degree and are required to complete a supervised year of practice in order to become independent practitioners.
“I believe that the interns have won a lottery as far as their placement goes, as they will be learning from some of the best doctors in the world at one of our state’s finest medical facilities,” Mr James said. “One of my key priorities, if elected, will be supporting and enhancing the Royal North Shore Hospital’s status as a teaching hospital.”
In the largest ever health workforce boost in the state, the NSW Government has invested a record $2.8 billion to recruit an additional 1,060 doctors, 5,000 nurses, 880 allied health staff and 1,360 hospital support staff over a four year period.
The new doctors who commenced orientation this week will be entering a training program with networked hospitals throughout the state, providing formal and on the job training.
They receive two-year contracts to rotate between metropolitan, regional and rural hospitals to ensure the diversity of their experience. They also join different units in each hospital, including surgery and emergency medicine.
More information on the recruitment of Junior Medical Officers can be found here:
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/jmo/Pages/default.aspx
Greens: You can't save the Reef while making the climate crisis worse
Queensland Senator Larissa Waters said:
“A belated cash splash on the Great Barrier Reef is a joke from a government that has turbo charged the climate crisis imperilling the Reef by giving billions to fossil fuels and backing new coal and gas.
“Climate policy is the most important factor in saving the Reef and the government’s policy is crap.
“Under Scott Morrison’s leadership, Australia played a spoiler role at the climate summit in Glasgow, holding the entire world back from achieving the emissions reduction we need to slow global heating.
“This is a pathetic attempt to shore up Queensland regional seats but if this is to save tourism it’s too late. Cairns tourism operators needed JobKeeper for much longer.
“Everyone in Queensland knows Scott Morrison has been wrecking the reef for years. This cash splash is a distraction from his myriad failures on the climate crisis.
“We need to phase out coal by 2030, and the only chance we have at that is by kicking out this appalling government and putting the Greens in balance of power.”
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson for Environment and Water said:
“No matter how hard Scott Morrison wants to spin this, he can’t save the Reef while making climate change worse.
“Pollution from coal, oil and gas needs to be cut if the Reef is to have any chance of survival.
“Our environment is in crisis and the Great Barrier Reef is at top of the list of casualties. We need genuine action not just lip service. Spending $1 billion of the reef over the next decade, while handing out over $220 million to open new gas wells in the Beetaloo Basin makes no sense!”
Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, Greens spokesperson for Healthy Oceans said:
“The science is simple: burning fossil fuels leads directly to warming oceans which are destroying coral reefs and other marine ecosystems.
“Giving a billion dollars to ‘save the reef’ while approving new coal mines and gas projects that are killing the reef is simply a sick joke.
“The Reef is on life support and Sussan Ley is offering a cup of herbal tea. She is doing nothing to address the root cause of the sickness and expects Australians and the international community to fall for this tragic deception.”
A dose of good health for Durack
The Federal Government has today invested more than $5 million to boost training opportunities in rural and remote Western Australia for up-and-coming nurses and allied health professionals.
Federal Regional Health Minister, Dr David Gillespie and Federal Member for Durack, The Hon. Melissa Price MP said the $5 million investment will boost student training in allied health and aged care careers and provide increased access to care for rural and remote patients in WA.
“I continue to work hard every day to improve access to high quality regional education. Opportunities like this Morrison Government investment is another great example and outcome for health care and aged care training and employment in Durack, through the Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training (RHMT) program,” Ms Price said.
“This announcement for Carnarvon, Roebourne and the surrounding remote Aboriginal communities of Cheeditha and Mingullatharndo will greatly benefit those areas directly, but it will also provide more health workers right across rural and remote WA. The recent opening of Carnarvon’s new aged care facility Gnullingoo Mia, will provide the ideal environment for students to learn on the job,” she said.
Federal Regional Health Minister, Dr David Gillespie said research shows that health and medicine students who train in the regions are more likely to stay and practice there once qualified.
“As a former regional doctor, I know this is true, which is why the Coalition Government is investing heavily in increasing rural training opportunities to further boost our regional and rural workforce,” Dr Gillespie said.
Ms Price said the funding includes:
• A grant of close to $2.2 million to create the Roebourne Remote Health and Social Care Training Hub to increase allied health, social care and nursing student training opportunities in Roebourne and the surrounding Aboriginal communities of Cheeditha and Mingullatharndo; and
• A grant of nearly $3 million to establish the Western Australian Centre for Rural Health Aged Care Training Program in Carnarvon.
Partnering with the WA Country Health Service, and the University of Western Australia will develop placement programs for nursing and a broad range of allied health disciplines with the overall aim of addressing workforce issues and gaps in services.