Author: admin

Almost three and a half thousand Novocastrians have signed a petition against the planned closure of Newcastle Centrelink offices.
Federal Member for Newcastle, Sharon Claydon, who established the petition, spoke on behalf of signatories in a speech about Centrelink in the House of Representatives.
Ms Claydon said the Morrison Government plans to close both the Newcastle CBD and Mayfield Centrelink offices.
“Not content with capping staff and slashing resources, the Morrison government recently turned its attention to shutting down Centrelink’s physical presence in communities—the very offices that people go to when they need help,” Ms Claydon said.
“The first I heard was when the minister wrote to me to tell me that the government will be closing the Mayfield and King Street Centrelink offices to replace them with a single office in a yet to be determined location. He talked coldly of ‘consolidation’ – which of course we all know is Liberal code for cuts, cuts and more cuts.”
Ms Claydon said she was overwhelmed by the response to her campaign against the closures.
“It has been quite incredible, actually. I have received dozens and dozens of calls, letters and emails of solidarity. People wrote to me about how much they relied on Centrelink’s frontline services. They shared their personal stories about what those offices meant to them and their families, and they sent me copies of the letters that they had sent to the minister urging him to axe this stupid plan.
“If I was heartened by the letters of support, I was completely overwhelmed by the support for my community petition. Today, I’d like to formally record in the Australian parliament that 3,458 Novocastrians signed this petition which called on the government to axe this terrible plan and leave Newcastle’s Centrelink offices alone,” Ms Claydon told the House.
Ms Claydon said she had recently learned that the Newcastle closure was part of a bigger plan.
“Initially, we thought it was just the one office. Then we learned of another and another and another. It quickly became clear that they weren’t isolated decisions. No, they were part of a devious, coordinated plan to shrink Centrelink’s frontline footprint by stealth.
“Of course, the Morrison government wasn’t honest with the public about these plans, which will leave jobseekers—needy and vulnerable Australians—out in the cold.”
Ms Claydon thanked everyone who had participated in the Newcastle campaign against shutting down local Centrelnk offices.
“I’d like to sincerely thank each and every person who took the time to write, to call, to email or to drop in to my office to register their dissent,” Ms Claydon said.
“On this matter, there can be no doubt: Newcastle loudly, proudly and unequivocally said ‘no’ to these closures.”
Ms Claydon said Centrelink has always been there for Australians when they have been at their lowest ebb.
“When people face bereavement or disability they look to Centrelink for support. When they take on caring duties or get sick they rely on Centrelink to get them through.
“Indeed, it’s Centrelink that millions of Australians have turned to in recent months as COVID-19 restrictions threatened or destroyed an unthinkable number of jobs and businesses.”
Sharon’s complete speech on the Services Australia Governance Amendment Bill 2020 is available here.

A man has been charged with sexual offences alleged to have occurred near the Newcastle baths earlier today.

About 3.00pm on Sunday 11 October 2020, officers from Newcastle City Police District attended the Newcastle Baths on Shortland Esplanade, following reports a man at the beach a man had allegedly exposed himself towards a group of boys in the changeroom area of the baths.

The man left the baths a short time later and security at the baths notified police.

Officers from Newcastle City Police District commenced an investigation and arrested a 22-year-old man.

The man was taken to Newcastle Police Station and charged with two counts of intentionally do sexual act with child between 10 and 16, carry out sexual act with another without consent and wilful and obscene exposure.

The man has been refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court tomorrow (Monday 12 October 2020).

A man will appear in court today charged after crashing an unregistered car into a house in the Hunter region last night.
About 9.20pm (Saturday 10 October 2020), officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District were patrolling in the Raymond Terrace area, following reports of a suspicious vehicle.
Police observed a silver Holden Commodore travelling on Links Road; however, it drove away in the opposite direction.
A short time later, the Holden was located crashed into a home on Scott Close, Raymond Terrace.
The crash caused extensive damage to the front concrete veranda of the home, estimated to be valued at more than $40,000.
The driver, a 23-year-old man, was arrested and taken to John Hunter Hospital for mandatory testing.
He was later taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station and charged with drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous, never licensed person drive vehicle on road and use unregistered registrable class A motor vehicle on road.
The man was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Bail Court today (Sunday 11 October 2020).
Inquiries are continuing.

Police are appealing for information to locate the occupants of a stolen vehicle, that was located crashed through a fence in the state’s Hunter region today.
About 1.30am (Saturday 10 October 2020), officers from Hunter Valley Police District were called to Bridge Street, Branxton, after reports of suspicious activity.
Upon arrival, police observed an unknown man standing next to a Holden utility, and subsequent checks revealed the vehicle had been reported stolen from a house at Singleton earlier in the evening.
As police approached the vehicle, it drove off along Russell Street and down Railway Street.
When the vehicle failed to stop, a pursuit was initiated, however, it was terminated due to safety concerns.
A short time later, police located the utility abandoned and on its side in a paddock near Standen and Corinda drives, after having hit a fence.
A search of the surrounding area was conducted, but the occupants of the vehicle could not be located.
A crime scene was established, with a number of items seized from the vehicle that will undergo forensic examination.
An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident is underway and investigators are appealing for anyone who may have seen the vehicle, or who may have information, to contact Singleton Police Station on (02) 6578 7499 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.