City of Newcastle has reinforced its support for creative industries decimated by the impacts of COVID-19, collaborating with the Independent Creative Alliance Newcastle (ICAN) on key advocacy work.
The City will prepare a submission, on behalf of local arts and cultural sector workers, to an Australian Parliamentary Inquiry into creative and cultural industries and institutions. The Inquiry will examine the social and economic benefits of the creative arts and how to recognise, measure and grow opportunities, as well as the impacts of COVID-19 and how to best ensure cohesive policy between all levels of government.
With a thriving arts and cultural scene and more artists per capita than any other city in Australia, Newcastle’s makers, traders, creators, artists, designers and producers contribute to a billion-dollar industry in the Hunter Region alone – the significance of which is not lost on the City of Newcastle’s COVID-19 City Taskforce.
The Taskforce, comprising of 17 leading organisations and employers including ICAN, recognises the importance of the city’s vibrant creative and cultural industries and believes more needs to be done to create new and ongoing opportunities in the Greater Newcastle area, and that addressing inconsistencies in State and Federal Government funding is critical to the sector’s recovery.
Chair, Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the City had worked closely with ICAN to develop The Newcastle Response – Arts Sector, which posed a number of policy asks to the State and Federal Governments.
“Targeted support measures are needed to ensure the sustainability of creative industries, such as the establishment of a cultural infrastructure fund that Gateway Cities like Newcastle, Wollongong and Geelong can access, therefore reducing funding inequity, and government partnership on local arts and culture infrastructure projects like the Newcastle Art Gallery expansion,” the Lord Mayor said.
“City of Newcastle’s Parliamentary Inquiry submission will note these recommendations formed in close consultation with ICAN, which has seen first-hand the devastating impacts to our arts and cultural community.”
Councillor Carol Duncan said the diversity of creative talent in Newcastle was celebrated and revered.
“The makers and creators contribute so heavily to the fabric of our city and improve social outcomes, the value of which will only grow as we chart a path to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic,” Cr Duncan said.
ICAN Interim Chair Annette Hubber said now more than ever, creatives needed our support.
“The city’s arts and recreation businesses, of which there are more per 10,000 people than anywhere else in NSW, breathe life into our city and unify the community through storytelling,” Ms Hubber said.
“The impacts of COVID-19 restrictions have been devastating, which is why support from all levels of government is so vital to the industry’s recovery and beyond.”
Council holds first meeting in new chamber
City of Newcastle will mark a milestone with the first ‘Ordinary Council Meeting’ held at the new chambers at the City Administration Centre.
The meeting will be the first held at a location outside of City Hall and due to COVID safe precautions, will utilise a hybrid format, with Councillors having the option to attend the chamber in person or log in to the meeting remotely via video conferencing.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the Ordinary Council Meeting is a milestone in the relocation of its City Administration Building to Newcastle West.
“Our new City Administration Centre makes the best use of every piece of space and utilises the modern design to enable staff to meet the growing demands of our ever evolving city.
“The Digital Library, co-located with our Customer Service Centre on level one, has been designed to be easily packed away to allow the space to double as the Council Chamber when meetings occur twice each month.
“The chamber was designed to enable it to be moved into storage so the space can be used by the library and community when meetings are not taking place.
“The new modern chamber is also equipped with technology that allows for an adapted meeting format to take place to accommodate COVID-19 restrictions. This technology is not available in the preserved heritage chambers at City Hall.”
Remote participants will be visible and audible to the Chamber participants on two large ceiling mounted screens and speaker system installed in the chamber.
Everyone will be able to tune in to the livestream on City of Newcastle’s website from 6pm as the COVIDSafe plan unfortunately does not allow the community to physically attend the meeting at this time.
While the change of meeting location ushers in a new era for City of Newcastle, its historic 90–year-old City Hall will continue to be used by the community.
City Hall’s historic Council Chamber will be opened to the public, community groups and still used for Council committee meetings.
The City is developing programs which promote access to the chamber and civic spaces, including information and education about the City’s civic history and the City Hall building.
BRAND NEW EDUCATION CAMPUS COMING SOON TO MURWILLUMBAH
Families in northern NSW are set to benefit from a brand new integrated education campus in Murwillumbah, the first of its kind for regional NSW, under a plan unveiled today by Deputy Premier John Barilaro and Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell.
Mr Barilaro said this multi-million-dollar investment demonstrates the NSW Government’s commitment to world-class education in regional communities.
“No matter where you live in this state, we are providing quality educational facilities to ensure our students get the best start in life,” Mr Barilaro said.
“Quality educational facilities, like the brand new campus coming soon to Murwillumbah, ensure families who live in regional and rural areas can remain there and children don’t have to move to metropolitan areas to receive a first-rate education.”
Ms Mitchell said she was delighted to announce that the NSW Government will develop an innovative new Kindergarten to Year 12 education campus for Murwillumbah.
“This incredible project will provide the community with an architecturally designed and built-for-purpose primary and secondary school conveniently located on one campus,” Ms Mitchell said.
The new Murwillumbah Education Campus will bring together students from Murwillumbah Public School, Murwillumbah East Public School, Murwillumbah High School and Wollumbin High School at the Murwillumbah High School site, which will be completely redeveloped.
The Deputy Premier and Ms Mitchell were today joined by Member for Tweed Geoff Provest and Duty MLC for the North Coast Ben Franklin at Murwillumbah High School.
“The new education campus will provide Murwillumbah with the modern, multi-purpose education infrastructure it deserves,” Mr Provest said.
Duty MLC for North Coast Ben Franklin said North Coast students will benefit from access to contemporary facilities that support the delivery of high quality educational opportunities and experiences.
“By ensuring a seamless journey for students from Kindergarten to Year 12, this education campus will set a new standard for future public school infrastructure in rural and country areas,” Mr Franklin said.
Plans for the campus also include partnering with the local community to potentially offer joint-use facilities, as well building ties with industry to offer high school students enhanced vocational training and support improved pathways to employment.
The new campus will also benefit the wider community with possible joint use of sporting, creative and health and wellbeing facilities.
“The new Murwillumbah Education Campus will truly be at the heart of the community, and I look forward to seeing it take shape over the next few years,” Ms Mitchell said.
The project’s next steps include planning and design. Community engagement will be ongoing throughout the duration of the project.
The NSW Government is investing $6.7 billion over four years to deliver more than 190 new and upgraded schools to support communities across NSW. This is the largest investment in public education infrastructure in the history of NSW.
TOP UP FOR REGIONAL SCHOOL PROJECTS
Hundreds of building projects will commence at schools across regional NSW with the announcement of the Regional Renewal Program.
The new $120 million stimulus program, part of the State’s COVID-19 Recovery Plan, will provide a government co-contribution of between 50 per cent to 80 per cent for regional school capital improvement projects including covered outdoor learning areas, science facilities, toilet blocks, administration buildings and canteens.
The NSW Government will partner with school communities to identify projects at each school, providing work for local businesses.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said the program will target local contractors and suppliers to ensure that the impact of this stimulus is felt through the regions.
“Our students in the bush deserve access to the best quality facilities and I know school communities across regional NSW have been working hard to raise funds for these additional projects. The Regional Renewal Program will see the NSW Government top-up the funds for these projects to be delivered,” Mr Barilaro said.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the program will accelerate projects nominated by school communities and help create local jobs.
“The funding will directly benefit local communities, boost businesses and create and support hundreds of jobs across regional NSW,” Mr Perrottet said.
Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said the Government is committed to making sure local communities have access to modern facilities to support learning outcomes.
“Our regional schools have plenty of projects that they have been fundraising for, and I’m excited that this program will give them the additional funding to see projects realised,” Ms Mitchell said.
Eligible schools will be contacted by the Department of Education about the program.
$7.4 MILLION INVESTMENT TO PROGRESS NSW CLOSING THE GAP COMMITMENT
The NSW Government has announced funding of $7.4 million as a first step to begin State-based actions to support the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Don Harwin confirmed this new investment at the 400th meeting of the NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC), held at Broken Hill.
“This investment demonstrates the NSW Government’s commitment to achieving a critical priority under the Closing the Gap National Agreement – strengthening the capacity of Aboriginal Community Controlled organisations,” Mr Harwin said.
“It is the NSW contribution to a national joint funding pool targeting capacity and expansion of the Aboriginal Community Controlled organisations in the key sectors of early childhood, housing, disability and health.”
The National Agreement on Closing the Gap sets out a new way of working through partnership between Aboriginal peaks and organisations, including NSWALC, and Government. The Agreement commits parties to jointly develop a jurisdictional plan by July 2021 that will set out how NSW will meet new targets and reform goals.
“This investment represents NSW Government commitment to a new way of doing business under Closing the Gap, working with Aboriginal organisations in partnership with sharing decision making, authority and leadership” Mr Harwin said.
Drugs and cash seized; two charged near Newcastle
Two men have been charged after drugs and cash were seized in the state’s Hunter region.
About 10.30am yesterday (Tuesday 27 October 2020), officers attached to the Northern Region Enforcement Squad (RES) and Northern High-Visibility Team attended a home on Woodford Street in Minmi as part of ongoing inquiries.
Upon arrival, officers observed a 39-year-old man seated in a vehicle nearby, before he fled on foot.
A short foot pursuit ensued before the man was arrested.
Officers conducted a subsequent search of the man’s backpack and located an amount of methylamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, cash, buprenorphine and prescription medication.
A short time later, investigators located and arrested a 30-year-old man wanted on an outstanding warrant inside the Woodford Street home.
Both men were taken to Waratah Police Station, where the younger man was charged with an outstanding arrest warrant for a driving offence and 46 other unrelated drugs offences.
He was refused bail and appeared at Newcastle Local Court yesterday (Tuesday 27 October 2020), where he was formally bail refused to reappear at the same court on Wednesday 9 December 2020.
The older man was charged with three counts of supply prohibited drug, three counts of possess prohibited drug and one count of goods in custody.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Wednesday 28 October 2020).
Australia Post investigation should review enormous executive salaries and bonuses
Greens Spokesperson for Communications Senator Sarah Hanson Young responded to the Morrison Government’s terms of reference for an investigation into Australia Post:
“This investigation is supposed to establish whether this publicly-owned essential service is acting in the best interests of its shareholder – the Australian taxpayer – and yet the enormous pay packets and bonuses pocketed by executives don’t get a mention in the terms of reference.
“No one working in the public service should be taking home multi-million-dollar salaries and paid bonuses.
“It’s not just the Cartier watches that are the problem, it’s Australia Post becoming a quasi-private, quasi-public organisation that is now out of step with community expectations.
“It’s time to wind back the clock and ensure Australia’s postal service is a truly public organisation acting in the best interests of taxpayers, not millionaire executives.
“The Greens will re-introduce our bill to cap executive salaries and end performance-based pay at Australia Post and across the public service.
“Time’s up for those seeking a luxury lifestyle on the public purse whether its executives at Australia Post or ASIC, and the Parliament needs to do its job and rein them in.”
Greens Statement On Kashmir
The Australian Greens stand with the Kashmiri community on 27 October as they commemorate Black Day. Kashmir is a disputed territory and it is now over a year since the Indian Government revoked its special status and further eroded Kashmiris’ right to self-determination.
Kashmir remains in lockdown and access to high speed internet is still blocked by the Indian Government. The Indian Government must restore basic human rights in Kashmir, including freedom of speech. The Indian Government must withdraw its troops, end the restrictions placed on political leaders, end arbitrary detentions and disappearances, and allow humanitarian organisations full access to resume their work. The decision to forcefully reduce the autonomy of Kashmiris must be revoked immediately and the campaign to systemically silence and oppress Kashmiris must end.
The Greens have been and will continue to urge the Australian Government to call on the Indian Government to respect the human rights of the people in Kashmir and their right to self-determination. The human rights crisis in Kashmir should not be ignored.
Steps to Victoria’s reopening
The Commonwealth Government welcomes the announcement by the Victorian Premier to ease restrictions from 11.59pm on Tuesday.
Victorians have worked hard and sacrificed a lot to get to this point. We thank them for their patience and perseverance.
Today’s announcement is a reflection of the dedication and effort of Victorians – taking the next step to reopen Victorian society and the state’s economy.
After a long winter, there is light at the end of the tunnel for Victorians.
As we said yesterday – Victorians have made great progress in reducing the rate of COVID-19 infections from the second wave outbreak in Victoria.
The new National Framework to reopen by Christmas is a clear and transparent, three step national plan which provides the Australian community and businesses with a way forward where Australians can live and work in a COVID Normal Australia, ensuring that we maintain strong health protections and minimise job losses and mental health impacts.
Under the new ‘National Framework’ released last week, Victoria is now moving towards Step 1 – an important step on the pathway to COVID Normal.
Australia has been a world leader in fighting the virus to save lives and to save livelihoods and with today’s announcement, we look forward to Victoria continuing to make progress on the path to reopening and joining the rest of the country at Steps 2 and 3 in the national plan.
It will be important for the Victorian Government to provide even more clarity to Victorians in the coming days and where restrictions do not have a health basis that they are removed quickly.
We congratulate Victorians – this was the announcement that they were expecting and one they have worked hard to achieve.
It is important for Victoria to safely open and stay safely open.
The Prime Minister and Premiers Berejiklian, Marshall and Andrews will continue to take advice regarding hard border restrictions.
The Commonwealth Government will continue to support Victoria through this crisis.
New round of Commonwealth VET scholarships open for young Australians
Young Australians who live in 10 selected regions experiencing high youth unemployment can now apply for a Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualifications scholarship.
Round 3 of the Commonwealth Scholarships Program for Young Australians is open in select regions, offering up to $5,000 a year to undertake an approved course of study.
Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, said the scholarships offered a life-changing opportunity to study a VET qualification and complete an internship.
“We know that our youth have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19,” Minister Cash said.
“The Morrison Government is committed to ensuring young Australians can upskill and reskill to secure a job.”
Assistant Minister for Vocational Education, Training and Apprenticeships, the Hon Steve Irons MP, said these scholarships are about improving skills to connect young people in areas of high youth unemployment to training pathways and real jobs.
“We want to support young Australians to enter the vocational education and training sector which will help to create strong pathways to jobs in areas of skills needs and real outcomes,” Assistant Minister Irons said.
“Scholarship winners will receive industry-based workplace learning and gain qualifications in growth industries.”
The Commonwealth Scholarships Program for Young Australians is part of the Australian Government’s $585 million Delivering Skills for Today and Tomorrow package.
It will award around 400 young Australians from 10 regional locations with high youth unemployment up to $5,000 a year to study a qualification and an additional $3,000 to complete an internship.
Applications are sought from people who are not in full-time work, who are aged 15 to 24 years or people who have left the Australian Defence Force in the past two years.
Scholarships will target occupations identified in projected growth industries and occupations identified as in-demand in 10 regional locations:
| State | Region |
| New South Wales | Grafton |
| Gosford | |
| Northern Territory | Alice Springs |
| Queensland | Maryborough |
| Townsville | |
| South Australia | Port Pirie |
| Tasmania | Burnie |
| Victoria | Shepparton |
| Western Australia | Wanneroo |
| Armadale |
For more information and eligibility requirements please visit: https://www.employment.gov.au/commonwealth-scholarships-program-young-australians