China’s reported plan to indefinitely block Australian coal exports has exposed the Morrison Government’s longstanding neglect of coal-dependent communities, according to Federal Member for Newcastle, Sharon Claydon.
Ms Claydon said that the Newcastle-Hunter region would be among the worst-affected regions if the trade ban is confirmed.
“The vast majority of Australia’s coal leaves our shores from the Port of Newcastle, and China takes 20 per cent of our exports,” Ms Claydon said.
“If this trade ban proceeds, it will be a significant hit to our economy – costing local jobs and hurting the families that rely on the sector for their livelihoods.”
Ms Claydon said the Morrison Government spent years actively obstructing the creation of new markets and jobs in regional Australia, making the ban more damaging than it otherwise would be.
“We’ve been left highly vulnerable because the Morrison Government has aggressively blocked efforts to reduce our overreliance on coal, while it sabotaged any moves to a low-carbon future,” Ms Claydon said
“Newcastle has been left high and dry by a government that has no plan for the future – no plan to drive a low-carbon economy, no plan for jobs and no plan to protect communities like ours from these inevitable global shocks.”
Ms Claydon said it was ‘deeply disappointing’ that the situation had got to this point.
“This has been foreshadowed for months now, with coal ships lined up off the coast of China unable to offload since October,” Ms Claydon said.
“The fact the Morrison Government has allowed Australia’s relationship with China to deteriorate so dramatically is unacceptable.”
Ms Claydon also called on the Morrison Government to ‘get serious about diversifying our regional economy’.
“Newcastle has the potential to be a clean energy superpower, but the Morrison Government’s war on renewables, coupled with its failure to invest in new industries, has scared investors and put local jobs at risk.
“The Government needs to pull its head out of the sand and get serious about preparing our region for the future.
“It could start by pulling out all the stops to make the Port of Newcastle’s $1.8 billion Multipurpose Deepwater Terminal a reality.”
Author: admin
Man dies in truck crash – Hunter Valley
A man has died in a single-vehicle truck crash in the Hunter region today.
Just before 11am (Tuesday 15 December 2020), officers attached to the Hunter Valley Police District, along with other emergency services, responded to reports of a single-vehicle truck crash on the Golden Highway, about 10km north-west of Jerrys Plains.
The prime mover, with attached trailer, was travelling east along the Golden Highway, near Edderton Road, when it left the road and crashed heavily into an embankment.
The driver and sole occupant of the truck, a 56-year-old man, died at the scene.
A crime scene was established, and police have commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
Seven men charged by NSW JCTT over alleged roles in firearm and drug supply
The NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) has charged seven men after seizing eight firearms, more than 11kg of cocaine and $2 million cash as part of an investigation into the supply of firearms and cocaine across Sydney.
In mid-2019, the NSW JCTT – comprising the Australian Federal Police (AFP), NSW Police Force (NSWPF), the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, and the NSW Crime Commission – commenced an investigation under Operation Veerle after receiving information relating to unlawful access to firearms.
As part of inquiries, the NSW JCTT uncovered an alleged criminal network involved in the illicit supply of cocaine and firearms.
Since May 2020, NSW JCTT investigators have seized six firearms, including a shortened Norinco SKS, a Chinese-manufactured SKS, a .45 calibre Norinco 1911, a shortened Mini-14, a shortened 12-gauge pump-action shotgun, and a COLT 1908 self-loading pistol; various calibres of ammunition, a military-grade smoke grenade, and about 1kg of cocaine.
Following extensive investigations, Operation Veerle investigators, with the assistance of the Tactical Operations Unit, arrested two men at Bass Hill about 11.30am yesterday (Tuesday 15 December 2020).
During a search of the men and their vehicles, investigators seized 200g of cocaine, $24,400 cash and mobile phones.
Both men – aged 30 and 36 – were taken to Bankstown Police Station.
The 36-year-old Bexley man was charged with unlawfully sell firearms three times or more within 12 months, large commercial drug supply, and supply prohibited weapon.
The 30-year-old Bass Hill man was charged with supply prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis, five counts of supply prohibited drug, three counts of knowingly deal with proceeds of crime, possess/attempt to possess prescribed restricted substance, owner/occupier knowingly allow use as drug premises, and participate criminal group contribute criminal activity.
Both men were refused bail to appear at Bankstown Local Court today (Wednesday 16 December 2020).
Shortly after the arrests, NSW JCTT investigators executed 10 search warrants at homes across Sydney and a further search warrant at a rural property in the Southern Tablelands.
The operation was also assisted by the State Crime Command’s Criminal Groups Squad, the Public Order and Riot Squad, South West Metropolitan Operations Support Group, the Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit, and officers from various Police Area Commands and Police Districts.
During the searches, police seized about $2 million cash, more than 10kg of cocaine, a Winchester lever-action rifle, a Franchi Spas 12-gauge shotgun, ammunition, a number of vehicles, jet skis, cannabis, mobile phones, and electronic devices.
A further five men – aged 31, 35, 36, 39 and 46 – were arrested during the operation and taken to local police stations.
The 36-year-old Yagoona man was charged with two counts of supply unregistered firearm-prohibited firearm, possess unauthorised prohibited firearm, and possess unregistered firearm-prohibited firearm.
The 39-year-old Picnic Point man was charged with supply prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis, supply prohibited drug, possess prohibited drug, and knowingly deal with proceeds of crime.
Both men were also refused bail to appear at Bankstown Local Court today.
The 35-year-old Kingsgrove man was charged with supply prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis.
The 46-year-old Punchbowl man was charged with supply prohibited firearm to person unauthorised to possess it.
The men were refused bail to appear at Burwood Local Court today.
The 31-year-old Blakehurst man was charged with four counts of supply prohibited drug (indictable quantity).
He was granted strict conditional bail and is due to appear at Burwood Local Court on Monday 11 January 2021.
The NSW JCTT can confirm there is no impending threat to the community related to Operation Veerle, which is an ongoing investigation.
Anyone with information about extremist activity or possible threats to the community should come forward, no matter how small or insignificant you may think the information may be. The National Security Hotline is 1800 123 400.
Alleged drug network dismantled – Lake Macquarie
Police have dismantled an alleged drug-supply network operating in Lake Macquarie.
In May 2020, detectives from Lake Macquarie Police District established Strike Force Loxton to investigate the supply of prohibited drugs, mainly methylamphetamine, in Morisset and other areas on the western side of Lake Macquarie.
So far during the investigation, 11 people have been charged with various drug and firearm offences and remain before the courts.
Following further extensive inquiries, about 8am yesterday (Tuesday 15 December 2020), strike force detectives – with the assistance of Northern Region Operational Support Group and Strike Force Raptor North – executed five search warrants and two firearm prohibition order warrant in Morisset, Wyee, Kingfisher Shores and Dora Creek.
During the warrants, police seized methylamphetamine, cocaine, cannabis, about $100,000 cash, replica firearms and knives.
A 39-year-old Dora Creek man was arrested at commercial premises in Dora Creek.
He was taken to Toronto Police Station and charged with supply prohibited drug on an ongoing basis, deal with the proceeds of crime, and possess prohibited weapon. He was refused bail to appear at Toronto Local Court today (Wednesday 16 December 2020).
A 36-year-old man was arrested at a Kingfisher Shores property. He was taken to Toronto Police Station and charged with supply and posses prohibited drug, and possess restricted substance.
A 39-year-old woman was arrested at a Wyee property. She was taken to Toronto Police Station and charged with supply and possess prohibited drug and possess prohibited weapon.
A 48-year-old man was also arrested at a Wyee property. He was taken to Toronto Police Station and charged with possess prohibited weapon and breach weapons prohibition order.
All three were granted conditional bail to appear at Toronto Local Court on Tuesday 19 January 2021.
Investigations are ongoing.
Man charged over infant death – Hamilton South
A man has been charged with murder over the death of a three-month old infant in Newcastle earlier this year.
Emergency services were called to a unit on Fowler Street at Hamilton South about 10.40am on Tuesday 4 August 2020, after a three-month old girl was found unresponsive.
The infant was taken to John Hunter Hospital where she was declared deceased.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District established Strike Force Giffen to investigate the circumstances surrounding the infant’s death.
Following extensive inquiries, detectives attended a Maitland property about 11.30am today (Wednesday 16 December 2020) and arrested a 24-year-old man.
He was taken to Maitland Police Station and charged with murder and sexual intercourse with child under age of 10 years.
He was refused bail to appear at Maitland Local Court tomorrow (Thursday 17 December 2020).
Alarm Bells On Housing Stress Must Spur Action
Australian Greens Housing spokesperson and Senator for NSW, Senator Mehreen Faruqi, has responded to a report by Equity Economics projecting a national 24 per cent rise in housing stress and 9 per cent rise in homelessness next year. NSW will be particularly hard hit with housing stress to rise by 42 per cent and homelessness by 19 per cent.
Senator Faruqi said:
“The alarm bells are well and truly ringing on housing stress and homelessness.
“We need the federal government to declare this a crisis and to look at all policy options to avoid this looming disaster.
“A huge national investment in social housing in the coming years will be required to ensure everyone has a roof over their head. Housing is a human right.
“In the short term, homelessness services will need to be properly funded and there is no way we can let the Jobseeker payment go back to the pre-Covid rate.
“The Covid-19 response has shown us that homelessness is not inevitable. Governments can choose to either tackle or ignore it. It’s our responsibility to make sure everyone has a roof over their head,” she said.
More time for remote clinics to upgrade imaging equipment
The Australian Government has extended the capital sensitivity exemption for medical imaging equipment in rural and regional Australia until 1 May 2022.
This extra time for remote practices to replace older medical imaging equipment will ensure that patients in remote areas can continue to receive Medicare benefits for diagnostic imaging.
On 1 May 2020, Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) items and rules related to diagnostic imaging services were amended in line with the recommendations of the MBS Review Taskforce and the Medical Service Advisory Committee.
The changes ensure that diagnostic imaging services provided under Medicare are up to date and reflect best clinical practice.
As COVID-19 has impacted on these practices, the extra 12 month’ exemption will allow them more time to accrue finance and arrange new equipment, while ensuring that modernisation does occur.
The Australian Government is committed to ensuring that all Australians can access to safe, quality Medicare funded diagnostic imaging services, wherever they live.
Energy and emissions reduction deal with Tasmania
The Morrison and Gutwein governments have signed a State Energy and Emissions Reduction Deal that will create thousands of jobs and deliver secure, reliable and affordable power to the state and the broader National Electricity Market (NEM).
Under the agreement, the governments will work closely to deliver Battery of the Nation and Marinus Link projects to better connect Tasmania with mainland Australia and the NEM, while improving energy security, keeping prices low and reducing emissions.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said delivering the Marinus Link and Battery of the Nation projects are a key part of the Federal Government’s JobMaker Plan to ensure affordable and reliable energy in the east coast energy grid.
“These two projects will maintain downward pressure on electricity prices, so households can keep more of what they earn,” Prime Minister Morrison said.
“They will also develop the backbone of a reliable, lower emissions National Electricity Market for the next decade and beyond.
“These projects will create 2,800 jobs which will be crucial as Tasmania continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said this deal with Tasmania demonstrates the Morrison Government’s commitment to ensuring households and businesses in every corner of the country can access affordable and reliable power.
“Projects like Marinus Link and Battery of the Nation can help deliver a more reliable energy system, reducing the risk of blackouts and electricity price volatility.
“Marinus Link will provide the additional interconnection needed to export the electricity generated by the Battery of the Nation projects to the mainland. In doing so, it will unlock a pipeline of new renewable energy investment, including pumped hydro energy storage.
“Energy projects like this also represent a massive economic opportunity for Australia as we recover from the COVID-19 recession.”
Premier Peter Gutwein said the MOU between the State and Federal Governments will underpin our plans to rebuild a stronger Tasmania.
“The MOU will help to further unlock Tasmania’s renewable energy potential, with thousands of jobs and over $7 billion in economic activity set to flow as a result,” the Premier said.
“Having already achieved 100 per cent self-sufficiency in renewables, Tasmania is already punching above its weight in generating low cost, reliable, clean energy for the nation, and this will help us achieve our target to double our renewable generation to 200 per cent of our current needs by 2040.”
Tasmanian Minister for Energy Guy Barnett said it confirms Tasmania’s reputation as a global leader in renewable energy.
“The anticipated increased energy interconnection between mainland Australia and Tasmania will also improve energy security and help put downward pressure on power prices, while enhancing our growing reputation for renewable energy production.”
The Commonwealth and Tasmanian governments have previously provided a combined $95 million to advance these projects.
Key components of the Tasmanian State Energy and Emissions Reduction Deal include:
Under the agreement, the governments will work closely to deliver Battery of the Nation and Marinus Link projects to better connect Tasmania with mainland Australia and the NEM, while improving energy security, keeping prices low and reducing emissions.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said delivering the Marinus Link and Battery of the Nation projects are a key part of the Federal Government’s JobMaker Plan to ensure affordable and reliable energy in the east coast energy grid.
“These two projects will maintain downward pressure on electricity prices, so households can keep more of what they earn,” Prime Minister Morrison said.
“They will also develop the backbone of a reliable, lower emissions National Electricity Market for the next decade and beyond.
“These projects will create 2,800 jobs which will be crucial as Tasmania continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said this deal with Tasmania demonstrates the Morrison Government’s commitment to ensuring households and businesses in every corner of the country can access affordable and reliable power.
“Projects like Marinus Link and Battery of the Nation can help deliver a more reliable energy system, reducing the risk of blackouts and electricity price volatility.
“Marinus Link will provide the additional interconnection needed to export the electricity generated by the Battery of the Nation projects to the mainland. In doing so, it will unlock a pipeline of new renewable energy investment, including pumped hydro energy storage.
“Energy projects like this also represent a massive economic opportunity for Australia as we recover from the COVID-19 recession.”
Premier Peter Gutwein said the MOU between the State and Federal Governments will underpin our plans to rebuild a stronger Tasmania.
“The MOU will help to further unlock Tasmania’s renewable energy potential, with thousands of jobs and over $7 billion in economic activity set to flow as a result,” the Premier said.
“Having already achieved 100 per cent self-sufficiency in renewables, Tasmania is already punching above its weight in generating low cost, reliable, clean energy for the nation, and this will help us achieve our target to double our renewable generation to 200 per cent of our current needs by 2040.”
Tasmanian Minister for Energy Guy Barnett said it confirms Tasmania’s reputation as a global leader in renewable energy.
“The anticipated increased energy interconnection between mainland Australia and Tasmania will also improve energy security and help put downward pressure on power prices, while enhancing our growing reputation for renewable energy production.”
The Commonwealth and Tasmanian governments have previously provided a combined $95 million to advance these projects.
Key components of the Tasmanian State Energy and Emissions Reduction Deal include:
- The Morrison Government will contribute a further $93.9 million as part of the agreement for the Marinus link project;
- The creation of a joint special purpose corporate vehicle (62.5 per cent shares to Commonwealth & 37.5 per cent shares to Tasmania) that will progress the Marinus Link transmission through to a Final Investment Decision; and
- The agreement as part of the Morrison Government’s Underwriting New Generation Investments (UNGI) program to a scoping and development process for underwriting the first Battery of the Nation pumped hydro site at Tarraleah that will provide additional dispatchable electricity and energy storage to the mainland.
Battery of the Nation and Marinus Link go hand in hand. Marinus Link will enable the export of an additional 1,500 megawatts of capacity to the mainland.
The Tarraleah redevelopment is a $650 million project that could see early works commence in 2021 and is expected to create 100 new ongoing jobs and 250 jobs during peak construction.
The governments expect to announce more emissions reduction projects as part of the deal in 2021.
The economic benefits of Marinus Link for Tasmania and Victoria are estimated at $2.9 billion.
The Government is working with state and territory governments to establish agreements that accelerate cooperation on energy and emissions reduction projects.
These agreements will help deliver affordable and reliable energy to consumers, while reducing emissions and creating jobs.
In addition to Marinus Link, the Morrison Government is progressing Project EnergyConnect, VNI West, HumeLink and the QNI Interconnector upgrade. This means we are accelerating all major priority transmission projects, creating thousands of new jobs, putting downward pressure on prices and shoring up the future of the grid.
$300 million for the improvement of health for all Australians
The Morrison Government is investing $300 million in ground-breaking health and medical research projects across Australia aimed at delivering better treatments, diagnosis and care.
Today’s announcement includes $260 million for 283 research projects through the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Ideas Grants scheme.
Associate Professor Tu’uhevaha Kaitu’u-Lino will receive $1.1 million to help improve pregnancy outcomes for women by developing a screening test to identify women at risk of preeclampsia.
Associate Professor Tu’uhevaha Kaitu’u-Lino, and her research team, will use large collections of human blood samples to screen for novel proteins within pregnant women’s blood. They will then use artificial intelligence to select the best biomarkers and combine them with clinical information to develop a multi-marker blood test to predict women at risk.
Preeclampsia is a serious complication of pregnancy for which there is currently no cure and no way to accurately predict women at risk. The aim of this research is for all women to take home a healthy baby and to address the rate of still births.
The funding announced today will support thousands of researchers to pursue their goals over the next 3-5 years.
Ideas Grants support a broad range of research from discovery science through to clinical research, health services and public health research. This year’s Ideas Grants include 45 grants focused on cancer research, 68 grants on infectious diseases and 13 grants on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.
In its second year, the Ideas Grants scheme sees equal funded rates for female and male chief investigators and one-quarter of awarded grants led by an early to mid-career researcher.
Our Government is also investing close to $6.9 million in the early careers of outstanding health and medical researchers through 64 postgraduate scholarships announced today.
The success of the medical and health research sector depends on the contribution and dedication of researchers at all phases of their careers. These two schemes combined demonstrate investment across the spectrum.
The health and medical research sector in Australia has come to the fore in 2020 and has provided exceptional support for our national response to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as delivering on Australia’s ongoing research excellence.
These grants announced today will support our health and medical research workforce and will lead to advances in many areas of health research and medicine so that Australians of all ages have improved health.
In total, the Government directly invested a record $1.28 billion in health and medical research in 2019-20, which represented 13.6 per cent of Morrison Government investment in Australian research.
Our Government will invest a record $6.6 billion in health and medical research between 2020-21 and 2023-24.
A full list of grant recipients is available on NHMRC’s website: www.nhmrc.gov.au.
Today’s announcement includes $260 million for 283 research projects through the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Ideas Grants scheme.
Associate Professor Tu’uhevaha Kaitu’u-Lino will receive $1.1 million to help improve pregnancy outcomes for women by developing a screening test to identify women at risk of preeclampsia.
Associate Professor Tu’uhevaha Kaitu’u-Lino, and her research team, will use large collections of human blood samples to screen for novel proteins within pregnant women’s blood. They will then use artificial intelligence to select the best biomarkers and combine them with clinical information to develop a multi-marker blood test to predict women at risk.
Preeclampsia is a serious complication of pregnancy for which there is currently no cure and no way to accurately predict women at risk. The aim of this research is for all women to take home a healthy baby and to address the rate of still births.
The funding announced today will support thousands of researchers to pursue their goals over the next 3-5 years.
Ideas Grants support a broad range of research from discovery science through to clinical research, health services and public health research. This year’s Ideas Grants include 45 grants focused on cancer research, 68 grants on infectious diseases and 13 grants on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.
In its second year, the Ideas Grants scheme sees equal funded rates for female and male chief investigators and one-quarter of awarded grants led by an early to mid-career researcher.
Our Government is also investing close to $6.9 million in the early careers of outstanding health and medical researchers through 64 postgraduate scholarships announced today.
The success of the medical and health research sector depends on the contribution and dedication of researchers at all phases of their careers. These two schemes combined demonstrate investment across the spectrum.
The health and medical research sector in Australia has come to the fore in 2020 and has provided exceptional support for our national response to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as delivering on Australia’s ongoing research excellence.
These grants announced today will support our health and medical research workforce and will lead to advances in many areas of health research and medicine so that Australians of all ages have improved health.
In total, the Government directly invested a record $1.28 billion in health and medical research in 2019-20, which represented 13.6 per cent of Morrison Government investment in Australian research.
Our Government will invest a record $6.6 billion in health and medical research between 2020-21 and 2023-24.
A full list of grant recipients is available on NHMRC’s website: www.nhmrc.gov.au.
Helping small businesses reduce their power bills
Small businesses across Australia are getting support from the Morrison Government to cut energy costs, putting more money back in the pockets of business owners as we recover from COVID-19.
Through the Government’s Energy Efficient Communities Program, 336 small businesses have been awarded grants of up to $20,000 to lower their energy bills by upgrading to more energy efficient equipment, carrying out energy audits or installing energy monitoring equipment.
Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said the Government was focused on bringing down the cost of energy for small businesses.
“Small businesses have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Government is focused on helping them through this difficult period, and beyond,” Minister Taylor said.
“Energy bills are a significant overhead for many small businesses. These grants will help small businesses all around Australia pay less on their energy bills, helping them keep their doors open, expand their business and employ more Australians.”
Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business Michaelia Cash said helping small businesses lower their energy costs is critical for them to prosper, grow and create more jobs.
“Small businesses are the lifeblood of our local communities and the backbone of the Australian economy. Employing over 6 million Australians, our 3.5 million small businesses contribute over $418 billion to our national economy,” Minister Cash said.
“As we recover from the impacts of COVID-19, small businesses will play a key role in the Government’s plan for a stronger economy”.
“Lowering energy bills for our small businesses through the Energy Efficient Communities Program will help alleviate financial pressure and deliver the conditions they need to succeed.”
The Energy Efficient Communities Program was announced as part of the Government’s $3.5 billion Climate Solutions Package to deliver on Australia’s 2030 climate commitments.
The full list of successful applicants for the small business grants is available on business.gov.au.