How many more apologies will our Governments need to give First Nations people?

Yesterday, the Western Australian Governement pardoned and apologised to the Yamatji family of a baby who was brutally murdered in 2013. After domestic violence left Tamica Mullaley naked and bleeding in a Broome street, police were called and she was arrested.

Police left baby Mullaley’s 10-month-old baby, Charlie, at the crime scene. The man who assaulted Mullaley returned to the scene and kidnapped the child. Police were told several times that he had threatened to kill the baby, but took nine hours to act on the information.

Baby Charlie was tortured, sexually assaulted and murdered.

In 2015, Tamica Mullaley was charged and convicted of two counts of assaulting a public officer and one count of obstructing officers. Her father, Ted Mullaley, was found guilty of obstructing police for trying to stop them from arresting his daughter.

Yamatji Noongar Senator for WA: Dorinda Cox said:

“I went to see the Mullaley family yesterday. When I hugged Tamica and Uncle Ted, it was in that moment I knew the pardon they had just receive was a small comfort for the harrowing experience that has been 9 years in the making after losing Charlie Boy.

“This is only the first step in the long line of many reforms required for their justice and healing.

“It is this case and so many others like it across this country why myself and Senator Lidia Thorpe co-signed the motion for the Senate inquiry into Missing and Murdered First Nations Women and children.

“The inquiry will open for submissions in the first six months of the 47th Federal Parliament so we can pursue justice, healing and peace for our people.”

Gunnai, Gunditjmara and DjabWurrung Senator Lidia Thorpe, the Greens spokesperson for First Nations said:

“A CCC review found that there was “no serious misconduct” by police. The Greens are calling for independent police and prison oversight through the full implimentation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture. “

After such a horrific crime, this family was dragged through the courts and their fight for justice continues to this day. Their calls for an inquest into baby Charlie’s death was rejected by the WA supreme court in 2020.

“The press have spent a week writing about flags, where is the national outrage for this family? Where is the anger for the injustice that First Nations people face everyday? How many more apologies will our governments need to deliver before they change their behaviour?” 

Sexual harassment against women in the FIFO mining industry must end now

“The Greens are shocked, disgusted, and appalled to learn today of the staggering rates of sexual assault, violence and predatory behaviour against women on mining sites across WA today.

“This is the mining sector’s #MeToo moment. The culture of abuse has to stop. The culture of secrecy has to stop.
“The mining sector now has a choice – they can choose to see this culture of violence continue and sweep this issue under the carpet, or they can step up and end this horrific culture of abuse.

“We need this sector to take abuse in all its forms seriously – to invest in prevention education – and for structural change, and urge the sector to implement all 24 recommendations of this review as a matter of urgency.”

Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens spokesperson on Women said:

“This report recognises the vulnerability of women working on FIFO sites and has come about because of their bravery in sharing their stories.  Its recommendations must be implemented. 

“There are many recommendations in this report that Federal parliament should also take note of.  When parliament resumes, we will be pushing for parliament to set the standard for safe and respectful workplaces.

“Every person in every workplace should expect to be safe and respected.”

“Commissioner Jenkins laid out a clear pathway for reform in the Respect@Work report, including a positive duty on employers to make workplaces safe. Labor has promised to implement those recommendations and the Greens will hold them to that pledge.

Fining and punishing striking workers won’t fix NSW’s problems 

The Public Service Association has today slammed the NSW Government’s plan to hit striking workers with draconian fines, with the union emphasising that shooting the messengers won’t fix the state’s many problems.

Minister for Employee Relations Damien Tudehope today announced he would increase the maximum penalties for striking in response to the industrial unrest created by his government.

Public Service Association of NSW General Secretary, Stewart Little, said the government had created the problem by mismanaging public services and grabbing power from the independent Industrial Relations Commission.

“The state government created this situation when they snatched power from the independent Industrial Relations Commission, which has successfully managed industrial issues for decades,” Mr Little said.

“This government has mismanaged and underfunded public services. It has sacked and mistreated frontline workers. It’s spent a decade lighting a hundred separate bin fires across the state and now Damien Tudehope reckons he can bully frontline workers into staying silent about them.

“Public sector workers have a deep sense of public duty and they don’t strike lightly. They’ll only take industrial action when a government has mismanaged things to the point of crisis.

“If Damien Tudehope reckons he can shoot the messenger he’s mistaken.

“New South Wales is already one of only a few democracies on earth where workers get fined for exercising the human right to strike. The fact this government thinks it’s now appropriate to tighten the screws on workers speaks volumes.”

SSI sponsors Newcastle ‘Unity in Diversity’ festival for Refugee Week 

Refugee support agency Settlement Services International is proudly sponsoring the STARTTS partnered Newcastle ‘Unity in Diversity’ festival to mark Refugee Week on Saturday, June 25, 2022, at Foreshore Park.

Unity in Diversity is a full-day public program of activities, including multicultural food stalls, entertainment, and family-friendly activities. 

SSI Humanitarian Settlement Program Regional Coordinator for Newcastle and the Hunter Helen Larkin said that the festival gave people from refugee backgrounds an important platform to showcase their heritage in all its richness.

“The Unity in Diversity festival is a chance to experience firsthand the unique culture and artistry found in new communities and celebrates the contributions refugees make to their new homes,” she said.

Ms Larkin said that SSI is supporting recently arrived Ukrainian refugees to participate at the event through food stalls and entertainment. 

“SSI is proud to sponsor the festival for the second year in a row, and is excited to support our newly arrived Ukrainian refugees share their skills and talents with the Newcastle community.”

Ukrainian refugees Yurii and Inna Chuchenko have recently settled in Fern Bay and will have a raw dessert food stall at the festival. 

“We are excited to get involved in the celebrations marking this important cause, and also, connecting with the Newcastle community,” he said. 

Mr Chuchenko said he was eager to raise awareness about the benefits of refugee resettlement in regional Australia with the Ukrainian community.

“As newly arrived refugees in Fern Bay, we’ve had such a positive experience so far and want to share our insights with other Ukrainians across Australia.

“This is why we started the CH2 Project to provide a fluid, secure and efficient pathway for Ukrainian Nationals to a life in Regional NSW.

“Our first project is to build this pathway to the regional cities and townships within the Upper Hunter, Liverpool Plains and New England areas.”

Other Ukrainian refugees that SSI and STARTTS supports will feature at the festival including Zumba dancer and instructor Anna Kuskova.

For more info, visit: www.newcastlelive.com.au/events/newcastle-unity-in-diversity-festival/

Appeal for man wanted on six outstanding warrants – Hunter Valley 

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a man wanted on six outstanding warrants.

Luke Atkinson, aged 35, is wanted by virtue of multiple outstanding warrants for drug, property, weapon, stealing, assault, traffic, and fraud offences.

Luke is described as being of Caucasian appearance, 175cm to 180cm tall, of medium build, with a shaved head and unshaven facial hair.

He is known to frequent the Hunter Valley area, as well as Sutherland and surrounding suburbs.

The public is urged not to approach Luke and police would like anyone who has information on his whereabouts to contact Muswellbrook Police Station 6542 6999 or Crime Stoppers.

Three charged and firearms seized after pursuit involving PolAir – Hunter Valley 

Three people have been charged and two firearms seized following a pursuit and ongoing investigations into alleged firearm thefts in the Hunter region.

Earlier this month, officers from Hunter Valley Police District commenced investigations into alleged thefts of firearms from rural properties in the Upper Hunter Valley area.

Following ongoing inquiries, PolAir 7 commenced following a Landcruiser about 5pm on Tuesday (21 June 2022), which was seen driving through Muswellbrook and Scone, after receiving reports it had allegedly been previously used in a number of thefts.

The vehicle was tracked to the carpark of a fast-food restaurant on Kelly Street, Scone, when officers from Hunter Valley Police District attempted to stop the vehicle.

The Landcruiser allegedly rammed a police vehicle before driving from the scene.

PolAir continued to follow the vehicle to Swinging Ridges Road, Willow Tree, when one of the occupants of the vehicle climbed onto the rear tray of the Landcruiser and allegedly discharged several rounds from a firearm.

The Landcruiser continued to a station on Merriwa Road, Little Jacks Creek, where it entered bushland and the three occupants left the vehicle before fleeing into nearby bushland.

With the assistance of PolAir, officers located and arrested a man and two women in nearby bushland about 2.30am.

Police searched the area and located two firearms, which were seized for forensic examination. Subsequent checks revealed the vehicle had been stolen from the Southern Highlands earlier this month.

The trio were taken to Muswellbrook Police Station, where the man – aged 26 – was charged with fire firearm in or near public place, possess loaded firearm public place, possess ammunition without holding licence/permit/authority and be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner.

He appeared before Muswellbrook Local Court yesterday (Wednesday 22 June 2022) and was formally refused bail to reappear before the same court on Tuesday 19 July 2022.

A 27-year-old woman was charged with be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner. She was granted conditional bail to appear before Muswellbrook Local Court on Tuesday 19 July 2022.

A second woman – aged 23 – was charged with take and drive conveyance without consent of owner, use offensive weapon in company to prevent detention, drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous, drive motor vehicle during disqualification period, aggravated break and enter dwelling in company steal and dishonestly obtain property by deception.

She was refused bail to appear before Muswellbrook Local Court today (Thursday 23 June 2022).

Investigations continue.

Uni wage theft investigation a welcome sign

Australian Greens Deputy Leader and Education spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has welcomed the Fair Work Ombudsman’s priority investigation of wage theft and casualisation at universities, following revelations of underpayments at dozens of campuses.

Senator Faruqi said:

“Wage theft is widespread in our universities and it is clearly linked to casualisation and job insecurity, which has been allowed to run rampant.

“I’m glad to see Fair Work take this seriously following years of complaints by university staff and unions, as well as the shocking evidence provided to multiple Senate inquiries.

“Since 2020, I have referred many universities to give evidence to the Senate, compelling senior university management to front up and be accountable for systemic underpayments they had presided over.

“I’m hoping in the new parliament we can take decisive action. Piece rates must be abolished immediately, and universities must introduce publicly available targets for increasing permanent employment and reducing casualisation. The federal government has a clear role to play in making sure this happens.

“More broadly, we need a big injection of public funding for our universities, and to overhaul university governance. The corporate university has been built to serve management, not staff and students. Universities must be reimagined on principles of democracy and equity.”

Scarborough court bid highlights need for climate trigger

The Federal Court bid by the Australian Conservation Foundation to stop Woodside Energy’s Scarborough gas project until its impact on the Great Barrier Reef is assessed, highlights the need for a climate trigger to assess the impact of polluting projects, the Greens say.

Greens Environment Spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

“We must stop making climate change worse and that means we stop making pollution worse. Yet environmental approvals don’t even consider the impact of a polluting mine or development on the climate. 

“Our environment laws are broken and any suggestion by mining companies and their political mouthpieces that a project can stack up environmentally ignores this fact. 

“It’s time to fix these broken laws with the insertion of a ‘climate trigger’ that assesses the climate impacts of a mine, development or land clearing proposal. 

“It shouldn’t take a not-for-profit environmental organisation taking a gas giant to court to get a proper assessment of the environmental damage a polluting project could cause. 

“The deeply precarious status of the Great Barrier Reef, and many of our other World Heritage sites and iconic natural places, as well as our wildlife, is well documented. Doing more to provide proper protection is a no-brainer. 

“The heritage values of the Reef are already under strong scrutiny globally. It’s clear climate change is smashing the Reef, and a new big polluting project like Woodside’s is only going to make that worse.

“All new fossil fuel projects, onshore or offshore, should be assessed under the EPBC Act that properly examines the consequences on our climate and environment.

“Better yet, the Albanese Government should rule out any new coal and gas projects and focus on accelerating the transition to clean, green renewable energy.”

Windfall tax on gas profiteering as easy as PRRT

The Greens Leader Adam Bandt says a windfall tax on gas corporations profiteering from the current crisis could be imposed simply by closing loopholes in the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax (PRRT) in the government’s first budget in October.

The PRRT was designed to tax super-profits, but gas corporations figured out how to avoid paying it by building up a backlog of tax credits to the tune of a jaw-dropping $282 billion. This means that gas companies have to burn through $282 billion in profits until they start paying tax.

If we stop the use of these credits, Australia could reap major revenues which are currently going offshore during this global energy crisis. The Greens have been pursuing a fix to the PRRT that would generate $59 billion in revenue over the next 4 years.

Adam Bandt MP said:

“On paper Australia already has a windfall tax, but it is broken and being exploited. A simple legislative fix could ensure we raise the billions we need to help people and businesses suffering from the gas crisis.”

“Gas export operations in Australia are 95.7% overseas-owned. We’re giving our resources away for next to nothing, even as these big corporations put pressure on the country and drive inflation.

“The PRRT is the key. If we fix the PRRT, we could make big gas corporations pay their fair share and use that revenue to help struggling households and businesses. 

“The government’s first Budget should fix the PRRT and put an end to the free ride of big gas corporations paying zero tax and zero royalties.

“The Greens are proposing a windfall tax on fossil fuel corporations, with the money used to support households and businesses dealing with skyrocketing energy bills, including by helping them switch from gas to electric, install batteries and make their premises more energy efficient.”

$2.9 billion to support mental health and wellbeing

The NSW Government will deliver a record $2.9 billion investment into mental health services and support for people across the State as part of the 2022-23 NSW Budget.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said a significant amount of the funding would be spent on mental health initiatives to support the social and emotional wellbeing of New South Wales residents.

“No matter what challenges we face as a State, we will continue to support the mental health needs of the people of New South Wales now and well into the future,” Mr Perrottet said.

“This Budget will see us deliver universal aftercare for anyone in this State who attempts suicide, while investing for the first time in expanding the Headspace network across New South Wales.”

Minister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor said the funding would improve vital services and ensure mental health support was more readily available for those who needed it.

“Mental health issues often appear after a crisis, and given what we have gone through as a community over the past couple of years, this support is more important than ever,” Mrs Taylor said.

“We are committed to investing in services across the spectrum of mental health, from acute services to wellbeing supports, to ensure the right service is available at the right time for individuals, families and communities across the State.”

Treasurer Matt Kean said the $2.9 billion announced today included the $130 million COVID-19 mental health recovery package announced in October 2021 and the $25 million flood recovery package, announced this year.

“We know that COVID-19 and some of the worst natural disasters we’ve ever seen have taken an enormous toll over the past few years, and we’re committed to providing all the support we can to those who need it,” Mr Kean said.

Key highlights of the 2022-23 Mental Health Budget include:
 

  • $143.4 million across four years for Towards Zero Suicides, to fund suicide prevention initiatives. This continues the $87 million investment in 2019-20 to 2021-22
  • $60.7 million over four years for Aftercare to support people who have attempted suicide or experienced suicidal crisis. This is on top of $9 million previously invested in a trial of Aftercare from 2019-20 to 2021-22
  • $46.5 million over four years to substantially expand and enhance Headspace services, ensuring it can reach more young people across the State. This is on top of the $27.0 million previously invested in the service since July 2021
  • $26.4 million over four years to establish Head to Health hubs that will see multidisciplinary teams operating a no-wrong-door approach to support for adults experiencing mental health challenges
  • $17.9 million over four years for new child health and wellbeing community-based hubs for children to strengthen support for parents, improve intervention early in life and increase access to multidisciplinary care and Statewide Community Court Liaison Service for children aged up to 12 and their families
  • $5.2 million over four years for non-government organisations to help new and expecting parents access mental health support and counselling
  • $28.5 million over four years for Lifeline to boost crisis counselling services. This funding builds on $25.5 million already invested in supporting the vital service since 2018-19

The NSW Government’s investment in Aftercare, Headspace, Head to Health and the child and adolescent hubs will be jointly funded with the Commonwealth Government, bringing the total investment to $383 million.