School trips to Canberra may have been cancelled due to COVID-19, but you can still get a taste of one of the capital’s most popular experiences when Questacon’s Colour exhibition opens at Newcastle Museum today.
Launched just in time for the start of the school holidays, this special touring exhibition developed by Questacon – the National Science and Technology Centre explores the science of colour and perception through more than 20 different interactive experiences.
Set up in a COVID Safe space in the Supernova Gallery, Colour allows visitors to discover how light influences colour and why we all see colour differently, using everything from coloured bubbles and iridescent insects to spectacular fluorescent rocks and colour illusions.
Questacon partnered with the Australian National Insect Collection and Geoscience Australia for this exhibition, which runs from 25 September 2020 to 31 January 2021.
Newcastle Museum will also launch a second new exhibition on 25 September, showcasing the work of Newcastle photographer Luke Kellett. isolation: Portraits of Newcastle during COVID-19 includes around 25 large format photographs taken in the wake of the first COVID-19 Public Health Order closures announced in March 2020.
Newcastle Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen said Colour and isolation: Portraits of Newcastle during COVID-19 represented the amazing calibre of touring and self-curated exhibitions being offered throughout the year by the Museum.
“We’re excited to showcase the Colour exhibition to the Museum’s audience in Newcastle and the Hunter, offering a taste of the science-based fun that both Questacon and our Museum are so well known for,” Cr Clausen said.
“We’re also proud to play a role in recording history for future generations through the pictures and stories of Novocastrians during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our Museum continues to raise its profile nationally by presenting world class exhibitions to our community and I encourage everyone to come along and take a look for themselves.”
Newcastle Museum Director Julie Baird said as part of isolation: Portraits of Newcastle during COVID-19, Luke wanted to document how the city felt and looked without the usual crowds and to explore togetherness during isolation. Luke photographed different types of households in isolation and recorded his subject’s thoughts, fears and hopes for the future via written responses to questions.
“Through this amazing exhibition visitors can see how other people experienced isolation, and experience how in 100 years’ time Newcastle will remember this momentous period of time,” Ms Baird said.
Tickets for Colour can be purchased through the Newcastle Museum’s website and cost $10 for adult, $5 for children aged three and over and $7 for concession card holders, while a family pass (two adults and two children) is $25. Entry into isolation: Portraits of Newcastle during COVID-19 is free.
Visitors should bring a mobile phone to enter the museum using a QR code and interact with both exhibitions.
CALLING ON INDUSTRY TO PARTNER WITH TAFE NSW
Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee today launched an Expression of Interest process for industry and universities to partner with TAFE NSW in the design and delivery of its Digital Technology Centre of Excellence at Meadowbank.
The NSW Government is investing $154 million to transform TAFE NSW Meadowbank into the first digital technology-focused campus – and university and industry partnerships will play a key role in aligning the Centre of Excellence to current and future skills needs.
Mr Lee said the TAFE NSW Centres of Excellence are game-changers for education and training in NSW.
“We are very excited to work with partners in this new way. I encourage organisations and universities to think about the skills their workforce of the future will need to compete on a global scale,” he said.
“As the signature training hub for future technologies and digitalisation at TAFE NSW, the new Centre of Excellence will help to address the rapidly growing and evolving digital economy and break down sectoral divides between vocational education, higher education and industry.
“This latest announcement at Meadowbank shows TAFE NSW is leading the way when it comes to partnering with industry to meet the skills needs of the economy and ensure the people of NSW are job-ready.”
Centres of Excellence will establish an innovative training environment that can support collaborative learning models, including the co-design and co-delivery of skills training with TAFE, industry and universities, and provide practical, relevant training for students in modern, purpose-built facilities and simulated workplace environments.
The Digital Technology Centre of Excellence will design and deliver training in future technologies and digitalisation including artificial intelligence, big data, gaming, cloud computing, cyber security, and programming. The Expression of Interest process commenced today and will continue to 26 October.
GREATER CAPACITY AT THEATRES, CINEMAS AND CORPORATE EVENTS
Entertainment facilities including theatres, cinemas and concert halls across NSW will be able to increase their capacity to 50 per cent and corporate events at function centres will be able to welcome up to 300 attendees from next week.
The Premier’s Major Events Taskforce has agreed theatre, cinema and concert goers can return to entertainment venues in greater numbers and that corporate events at function centres can increase attendance, provided venues have COVID-Safe plans and adhere to public health requirements.
Minister for the Arts Don Harwin said this is a major step forward to recovery for the performing arts sector, with entertainment facilities now able to sell tickets for seated events at 50 per cent of capacity, to a maximum of 1,000 tickets.
“For workers across the full spectrum of the performing arts – from box office staff to ushers, from technicians and roadies to the artists – this change means more jobs,” Mr Harwin said.
“For audiences, it means we can soon enjoy the experiences we have all missed so much during the pandemic.
“It’s a win for jobs, it’s a win for our theatres and it’s a win for communities across NSW.”
The changes mean a boost to box office revenues for the hundreds of theatres, cinemas and concert halls across the state. For some it means reopening their doors.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said getting more people into entertainment venues and function centres was key to re-starting the NSW visitor economy.
“Function centres will now be able to host up to whichever is the lesser of 300 people or one person per four square metres for a corporate event. It’s vitally important for the business community to get back on its feet by being able to collaborate and share ideas in person once again”. The limit of 300 people is an increase from the current limit of 150 for corporate events,” Mr Ayres said.
“This will help people get back to work and back to doing more of the things they love to do in NSW as our COVID-19 recovery plan continues to take shape.”
The NSW Government has supported the arts and cultural sector throughout the pandemic with support packages such as the $6.34 million support for arts, screen and cultural organisations as well as the $50 million Rescue and Restart package.
Concerns held for man missing from Waratah
Police are appealing for assistance to locate a man missing from Newcastle.
Shane Burns, aged 41, was last seen at a hospital in Waratah on 30 August 2020.
Police were notified when family members couldn’t locate or contact him.
Concerns are held for his welfare and officers from Newcastle City Police District are appealing for public assistance to locate him.
Shane is described as being of Aboriginal / Torres Strait Islander appearance, approximately 183cm tall, with a thin build.
Anyone who sees him, or believes they know his whereabouts, is urged to contact police.
Teen arrested after serious crash – Lake Macquarie
A teenage driver remains in custody following a serious crash that left 10 people injured, one critically, at Lake Macquarie overnight.
Just before 1.10am (Saturday 26 September 2020), officers from Lake Macquarie Police District were patrolling the Edgeworth area, when they saw a Holden Commodore, leave a service station on Main Road.
Due to the manner of driving, police conducted a U-turn with the intention of stopping the vehicle.
The Holden continued to travel along Main Road and proceeded through a red traffic control light at the intersection of Garth Street, colliding with a Toyota HiAce passenger van, being operated as a taxi.
Ten people were treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics for various injuries and taken to John Hunter Hospital.
The taxi driver, a 46-year-old man, and two female passengers, aged 42 and 24, suffered serious injuries. The younger woman remains in a critical condition and the driver in a serious but stable condition.
Three further taxi passengers – men, aged 28, 35, and 47 – suffered minor injuries.
Three passengers in the Holden – two girls, aged 14, and a 17-year-old boy – suffered serious injuries. The Holden driver and a fourth passenger, both aged 17, suffered minor injuries.
The Holden driver was arrested and subjected to a roadside breath test, returning a positive result.
He was taken to hospital, under police guard, where he underwent mandatory testing.
The teen has since been conveyed to Toronto Police Station, where he remains in custody.
Woman charged after driving off cliff; injuring woman – Bar Beach
A woman has been charged after allegedly driving her car off a cliff and striking a woman on a beach at Newcastle yesterday.
About 10.15am (Thursday 24 September 2020), emergency services were called to Bar Beach after reports a Volkswagen Golf had driven over a cliff and landed on the beach.
A 40-year-old woman was struck by the car, while her 18-month-old child narrowly avoided being hit.
The woman was taken to John Hunter Hospital with serious injuries.
The driver, a 46-year-old woman, was also taken to hospital suffering multiple fractures. She remains in a serious condition.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District attended and commenced an investigation.
Following inquiries, the woman was placed under arrest while in hospital today (Friday 25 September 2020).
The Wallsend woman was charged with drive manner dangerous cause grievous bodily harm and a bedside hearing was conducted today where she was refused bail. She is due to re-appear in Newcastle Local Court on 1 October 2020.
Insolvency Reforms To Support Small Businesses Recovery
The Morrison Government will undertake the most significant reforms to Australia’s insolvency framework in 30 years as part of our economic recovery plan to keep businesses in business and Australians in jobs.
The reforms, which draw on key features from Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the United States, will help more small businesses restructure and survive the economic impact of COVID-19. As the economy continues to recover, it will be critical that distressed businesses have the necessary flexibility to either restructure or to wind down their operations in an orderly manner.
Key elements of the reforms include:
- The introduction of a new debt restructuring process for incorporated businesses with liabilities of less than $1 million, drawing on some key features of the Chapter 11 bankruptcy model in the United States.
- Moving from a rigid one-size-fits-all “creditor in possession” model to a more flexible “debtor in possession” model which will allow eligible small businesses to restructure their existing debts while remaining in control of their business.
- A rapid twenty business day period for the development of a restructuring plan by a small business restructuring practitioner, followed by fifteen business days for creditors to vote on the plan.
- A new, simplified liquidation pathway for small businesses to allow faster and lower cost liquidation.
- Complementary measures to ensure the insolvency sector can respond effectively both in the short and long term to increased demand and to meet the needs of small business.
The reforms will cover around 76 per cent of businesses subject to insolvencies today, 98 per cent of whom who have less than 20 employees.
Together, these measures will reposition our insolvency system to reduce costs for small businesses, reduce the time they spend during the insolvency process, ensure greater economic dynamism, and ultimately help more small businesses get to the other side of the crisis.
On 22 March 2020, the Government announced temporary regulatory measures to help financially distressed businesses get to the other side of COVID-19. On 7 September 2020 the Government announced a further extension of this relief to 31 December 2020. The new processes will be available for small businesses from 1 January 2021.
Further information on the measures can be found on the Treasury website.
SCHOOL, SPORT AND MUSIC RESTRICTIONS RELAXED
More families can attend community sports, music ensembles and school camps can proceed, and a modest increase dancing at weddings is allowed under new COVID-19 safety rules.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard and Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said the latest easing of restrictions around school and community life is due to lower case numbers.
“While we are by no means out of the woods, low case numbers give health authorities the confidence to allow mums and dads back onto the sideline,” Mr Hazzard said.
“NSW Health has also given the green light for up to 20 people in the official Wedding Party to take to the dance floor, where previously only the happy couple were permitted.”
Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said the updated health advice comes as NSW schools prepare for a two-week break before returning for the final term of 2020.
“Everyone is committed to providing a safe environment for children, students and staff and these changes will ensure COVID-safe celebrations can happen,” she said.
“Schools have done an incredible job, and it’s exciting to see things returning closer to normal. However, we need to stay vigilant.”
Changes to Term 4 school guidelines include:
- Community Languages Schools Program will recommence face to face learning;
- Interschool activities can recommence on September 26 where there is a COVID-19 Safety Plan in place;
- Playing wind instruments, singing and chanting is permitted with strict restrictions;
- Year 6 formals and graduations are permitted;
- High school formals are permitted from 12 November to limit any HSC disruption; and
- Kindergarten orientation, Year 7 transition, excursions and camps can resume with strict guidelines.
Musical ensembles can also resume, as long as players keep a 1.5 metre distance from one another, or three metres for players of non-reeded woodwind instruments.
Acting Minister for Sport Geoff Lee said the changes to community sport will be a welcome relief for parents.
“From this weekend, more than one parent may now attend community sporting activities if physical distancing of at least 1.5 metres can be maintained between people that are not from the same household,” Mr Lee said.
“We know the last few months has been hard on families who want to see their kids score a try or kick a goal on the weekend.
“I would like to thank all the parents and volunteers in community sport for their commitment to following the guidelines to help keep our community safe.”
Accommodation facilities and overnight event organisers should develop and implement a COVID-19 Safety Plan. All carpooling should continue to be avoided.
There is no restriction on school holiday travel within NSW for people who live within the State however, anyone who is unwell should defer travel plans and get tested.
Updated school guidelines are available here and the full health advice is here.
Three injured after car drives off cliff – Newcastle
Two women and a child have been injured after a car drove off a cliff and crashed onto a beach in Newcastle today.
About 10.25am (Thursday 24 September 2020), emergency services were called to Bar Beach in Newcastle, following reports that a car had gone off a cliff.
Police have been told the white Volkswagen Golf drove off the cliff from the top car park and landed on the sand.
A 40-year-old woman and her infant child, who were on the beach, were struck by the car. The woman sustained possible leg fractures and was taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment. The child suffered minor scratches.
The driver of the Volkswagen, a 32-year-old woman, was treated at the scene for minor injuries before being taken to the same hospital where she will also undergo mandatory testing.
Officers attached to Newcastle City Police District attended and have commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Police are investigating reports there was a male passenger in the Volkswagen.
Anyone who witnessed the incident, or has dashcam footage, is urged to come forward.
The car park has been cleared and members of the public are being advised to avoid the area.
A retrieval operation is underway to remove the vehicle from the beach.
NBN Upgrade
The Government’s NBN announcement is a small step in the right direction, but there are still significant issues that need to be addressed, the Greens say.
“This is an effective admission of guilt by the Liberals- that fibre to the premises should have been done years ago,” Greens NBN spokesperson Nick McKim said.
“It is encouraging that many more Australians will have access to faster broadband, but the plan announced today does not cover enough homes and businesses.”
“But this plan does not cover the exorbitant cost of broadband in Australia.”
“As we have seen this year in particular, the internet is an essential service, and cost is one of the biggest barriers preventing access.”
“Minister Fletcher also needs to address the NBN’s horrible record of mistreating contractors.”
“It is critical that all people employed on this project are treated as employees and paid all their relevant entitlements.”
“Finally, the NBN should scrap its plans to lay off 800 workers while paying bonuses to its senior executives. This is a terrible decision that simply should not happen during a recession.”