With over 30 events and activities across the city, City of Newcastle’s Count Us In Newcastle festival, is a celebration of Newcastle’s inclusiveness and accessibility.
The month-long festival, delivered in partnership with local businesses and community groups, highlights the city’s disability inclusive community. A suite of curated events and activities in the festival program include a Goal Ball day facilitated by former Australian Paralympians, immersive art and dance experiences, as well as activations focused on education and awareness exploring topics such as discrimination in the workplace.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said Count Us In is all about highlighting and celebrating the benefits of disability inclusion for the whole community.
“City of Newcastle prides itself on helping to make our city a more liveable and inclusive community for all people who live, visit and work here, by increasing social inclusion and community connections,” said Cr Nelmes.
“Count Us In is just one way we’re striving towards creating a more inclusive and equitable society. We want to be known as a disability confident city.
“The festival effectively and respectfully links people with disabilities to the broader community and breaks down the barriers to inclusion.”
A not-to-be-missed event will be the Stand Up Speak Up community mural painting event at 194 Maitland Road Islington, to be held on 13 and 14 March and delivered by Community Disability Alliance Hunter.
Community Disability Alliance Hunter executive director Andrew Vodic says the mural will empower those in our community living with a disability and create community conversation.
“The mural symbolises our experiences as people living with a disability in our community promoting inclusion,” Mr Vodic said.
“Pop by on 14 March to learn more about the meaning behind the mural and join in a community conversation around disability inclusion.”
Diversity is reflected in the broad range of activities on offer in the festival program, which have been curated to establish Newcastle as an inclusive community for people living with a disability, their families, carers and friends.
Newcastle Councillor Matthew Byrne and Chair of City of Newcastle’s Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee, said the festival is for everyone and encouraged Novocastrians to come and join in the many events and activities on offer throughout March.
“The broader community is encouraged to join in the festival, as inclusion is everyone’s business and the entire community benefits when we celebrate all our abilities,” Cr Byrne said.
“Thank you to all our partners and members of the community who were part of the previous program and we look forward to delivering another exciting festival program throughout the entire month of March.”
Count Us in Newcastle will be held from 4 to 31 March 2021. For a full program of events and activities, visit City of Newcastle’s website.
CHANGES IN COVID-19 RESIDENTIAL TENANCY SUPPORT
With the NSW economy on a path to recovery, the NSW Government has announced new plans to help the residential tenancy market transition back to pre COVID-19 conditions.
In April 2020, the NSW Government introduced temporary measures to support landlords and tenants adversely impacted by the pandemic, stabilise the housing market and limit unnecessary social movement.
Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation, Kevin Anderson, said the NSW Government will now make changes to these measures to allow the rental market to adjust to new circumstances and the current economic climate.
“NSW responded quickly to the challenges of COVID-19, providing support and assistance to tenants and landlords across the state. The measures we introduced kept a roof over people’s heads during an incredibly uncertain time,” Mr Anderson said.
In February 2021, Fair Trading reported an 85 per cent drop in requests for assistance and complaints relating to COVID-19 rent negotiations, compared to June last year.
“With the economy rebounding and the unemployment rate stabilising, the time is right to transition back to normal tenancy laws,” Mr Anderson said.
“That’s why I will introduce legislation in the next fortnight to start a six-month transition from 27 March, when the eviction moratorium and requirement for tenants and landlords to renegotiate rental payments will expire.
“We want to ensure tenants with COVID-induced rental arrears are protected from being evicted at the end of the month. So for six months from 27 March, tenants and landlords will be assisted to enter a repayment plan for any COVID-induced arrears and tenants can only be evicted if they fail to meet the terms of that plan.
“Our number one priority has always been to keep people safe and in accommodation, and introducing a transition process instead of bringing this support to an abrupt halt is by far the most fair way to ensure this happens.”
These protections are especially important in regional NSW, where rental markets are tightening and alternative housing isn’t always readily available.
“We are creating a stronger and safer regional NSW and these protections will go a long way to ensuring tenants aren’t left in the lurch due to things outside of their control,” Mr Anderson said.
From 27 March;
- Current COVID-19 residential tenancy measures will be repealed;
- The NSW Government will introduce amendments to legislation to prevent tenants from being automatically evicted due to COVID-19 induced rental arrears;
- Landlords and tenants will be supported to draw up rental repayment plans that enable landlords to recoup COVID-induced arrears, while keeping tenants in their properties; and
- OVID-19 impacted tenants will be protected from being blacklisted on tenancy databases for arrears.
To find out more about the transitional residential tenancy measures, visit Fair Trading.
Suspicious fire at vacant building – Kurri Kurri
Police are investigating after a suspicious fire at a building in Kurri Kurri overnight.
About 8.15pm (Wednesday 3 March 2021), emergency services were called to an abandoned building on Lang Street, Kurri Kurri, following reports the structure was well alight.
Crews from Fire and Rescue New South Wales attended and extinguished the blaze about two hours later.
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District attended and established a crime scene, which has been held overnight.
An investigation has been launched into the circumstances surrounding the cause of the fire.
Anyone with information or who may have seen or heard anything in the near vicinity between 7.30pm and 8.30pm last night is urged to come forward.
Anti-Chinese Racism A National Concern
Australian Greens Anti-racism spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has expressed her serious concerns about a Lowy Institute survey which found that 1 in 5 surveyed Chinese-Australians have been threatened or attacked during the past 12 months.
Senator Faruqi said:
“There’s no doubt ‘Covid racism’ is at play here. But we should not disregard the impact of political rhetoric and the consequences of heated debate over Australia-China relations.
“When Government MPs see nothing wrong with interrogating Chinese-Australians about their allegiances in Senate committee hearings, you can be sure there are deep-seated problems with our political debate.
“It’s completely unacceptable that thousands of Chinese-Australians are being subjected to threats or attacks.
“We need the government to commit to anti-racism, not just through policy and funded programs, but also through stamping out racist rhetoric among its own MPs,” she said.
Aged Care work must start today
The Greens say that the Aged Care system is fundamentally broken and there needs to be a sense of urgency in fixing it.
“The Royal Commissioners set out a five year process and the work needs to start today”, Senator Rachel Siewert said.
“This reform needs to be underpinned by a new aged care act based on a human rights approach.
“For too long, aged care has been put in the too hard basket. The Royal Commission Report clearly shows that years of tinkering around the edges has fundamentally failed older Australians.
“The funding that the Government announced yesterday is not close to enough. We have to see more in the budget.
“There is no point being sorry and distressed by what has occurred if we don’t see concrete plans for substantive reform and the commitment to adequately fund them.
“The Government must act on the most serious breaches of human rights against older Australians and an essential part of that is to move swiftly to reduce and eliminate the use of restraints in aged care.
“The use of physical or chemical restraints for control, punishment, retaliation or as a measure of convenience must be prohibited. Medicines should only ever be used for therapeutic purposes and with the free and informed consent of the person receiving them or their nominee.
“Older Australians will not be properly cared for and protected until the workforce is adequately paid and trained and the number of hours of care are increased.
“Aged Care workers can no longer be seen as collateral damage in this failed system.
“For too long those doing some of the most important work in our community have been overworked and underpaid. We must value the work that they do.”
Defence support the vaccine rollout in aged care
Over 14,000 Defence personnel, through Operation COVID-19 ASSIST, have already supported the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including contact tracing, emergency clinical support, border control measures, swab testing, and support to hotel quarantine.
As part of the continued expansion of the phase 1A COVID-19 vaccine rollout, the Australian Defence Force will provide supplementary support to the rollout of vaccines to Australians in aged care.
As we move into the next phase of the aged care vaccine rollout and continue the expansion of teams, additional nurses, pharmacists and providers are being added, with ADF vaccination teams supplementing these efforts.
The teams are expected to start next week and will build on the planning, logistics, and operations support Defence personnel are already providing to the Department of Health’s COVID-19 Vaccination Taskforce.
Defence’s support to the vaccine rollout will focus on vaccinating senior Australians in locations not readily accessible by other medical providers.
This is another important role the ADF is playing in protecting Australians against COVID, as they have throughout the pandemic.
4 MILLION CITIZENS USING SERVICE NSW APP
The State Government’s Service NSW app has been downloaded more than four million times, approximately 75 per cent of NSW’s adult population.
The app has been used by patrons across the State for more than 117 million COVID Safe check-ins.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the technology has been a game changer for businesses and customers during the pandemic, while keeping the community safe.
“I want to thank the people of NSW for downloading the Service NSW app more than four million times, accounting for around half the State’s population, which continues to keep our community safe from COVID-19,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“We are using technology to enhance the user experience and prioritise public safety, and these figures show that citizens have embraced our digital solutions.
“The app has not only provided an easy solution for businesses and customers for checking in, it importantly assists NSW Health and the contact tracing team in the event of an outbreak.”
Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said more than 80,000 businesses are actively using the check-in feature, with 94 per cent giving it the thumbs up.
“We want the customer to be at the centre of everything we do, which is why we are constantly bolstering the app in response to feedback,” Mr Dominello said.
“We have recently updated the app to enable customers to save the details of their dependents and soon the check-out will be easier for customers, with a new reminder notification around the corner.
“You can also use the app to download a Digital Driver Licence, renew registrations and find out the latest COVID advice.”
Further information on Service NSW is available at www.service.nsw.gov.au
NEW NSW LIBERAL PARTY CODE OF CONDUCT
The NSW Liberal Party Executive has unanimously adopted a new Code of Conduct that will govern the behaviour of members, and will help create a positive environment for Members and volunteers.
For some time, the NSW Liberal Party has been developing a new Code of Conduct that reflects our commitment to high standards of behaviour.
The NSW Liberal Party President, the Hon Philip Ruddock AO, said that a lot of work had gone into the development of the new Code.
“This Code compliments the work done at a national level by former State and Federal President, Chris McDiven AO, and former Federal Director, Brian Loughnane AO, by implementing a robust framework governing behaviour and a complaints resolution process to ensure that behaviour that falls short of the standards set out in the Code is dealt with appropriately.”
“There is no doubt that harassment and assault are completely unacceptable in any circumstances. Everyone is entitled to feel safe and no-one should have to be subjected to inappropriate behaviour of any kind,” said Mr Ruddock.
“The new Code reflects a common sense approach in the way members should interact. It is a direct result of detailed input and contribution of many – the State Director, Chris Stone, and his team, the Party’s Audit & Governance Committee, the State Executive, and the Code of Conduct sub-committee,” said Female Vice-President and Chair of the Code of Conduct sub-committee, Mary-Lou Jarvis.
As part of the reforms, the Party will be establishing an autonomous Conduct Review Committee to ensure that complaints can be dealt with promptly and confidentially, while providing procedural fairness for all involved.
Police operation concluded – Kotara
Two people have been arrested and another remains outstanding following a police operation in Kotara this morning.
About 3.50am today (Wednesday 3 March 2021), officers from Newcastle City Police District were called to a home on Park Avenue, Kotara, following reports a 24-year-old woman had been held against her will.
Police have been told two women – aged 24 and 30 – and two men – aged 29 and 36 – were inside the home before the younger woman managed to escape and contact police.
The two men and woman then threatened an 88-year-old male resident, who was asleep at the time.
A perimeter was established, and specialist units were deployed to assist in the operation – including police negotiators and the dog unit.
The 88-year-old man was able to leave the home and was taken into police care about 5.50am; he was uninjured.
A 36-year-old man fled the home on foot a short time later, before he was arrested near Howell Street.
He was taken to Waratah Police Station.
A 30-year-old woman was also arrested at the property a short time later.
She was taken to Newcastle Police Station.
Both the man and woman are assisting police with their inquiries.
A 29-year-old man escaped the home and remains outstanding; officers attached to Newcastle City PD, Northern Region Operational Support Group (Op Utah) and other police resources are conducting extensive inquiries to locate the man.
An investigation into the circumstances leading up to and during the incident is now underway, including allegations the younger woman had been held against her will in the days prior to today’s incident.
Appeal following teen assault – Hunter Valley
Police are appealing for public assistance after a teenage girl was allegedly assaulted and inappropriately touched in the Hunter Valley last month.
About 9:40pm on Monday (15 February 2021), a 16-year-old girl was walking along Macauley Street in Denman, with an infant in a pram, when she was approached from behind by three people – believed to be a woman and two men – near the intersection of Hunter Street.
Police have been told the teen was pulled to the ground by her hair and kicked several times before a male touched her inappropriately.
The teen managed to free herself, fleeing the scene with the infant before being assisted by a resident.
Emergency services were contacted, and the teenage girl was taken to Muswellbrook Hospital for treatment to cuts and bruises; the infant was uninjured.
Detectives from Hunter Valley Police District have commenced an investigation into the incident.