A driver has died after a single-vehicle crash in the state’s Hunter region today.
About 2.20am (Sunday 5 July 2020), emergency services were called to Wine Country Drive, North Rothbury, following reports a car had caught fire after leaving the road and hitting a tree.
The driver and sole occupant died at the scene, however they have not been formally identified.
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District along with Fire and Rescue NSW attended scene and commenced investigations.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
Winter sport returns across the city
Winter sports return today after City of Newcastle staff worked with sporting associations, clubs and neighbouring councils to support the resumption of competition and ensure a safe and consistent approach.
Around 140 sportsgrounds are hosting players in adherence to each sporting association’s COVID-19 safety plan.
Maryland Fletcher FC come back to two vastly improved fields at Kurraka Reserve, thanks to new turf and a $160,000 irrigation and drainage upgrade delivered by the City with the help of a $100,000 Federal sporting grant.
Regeneration of the two playing surfaces also included relevelling, top dressing and over sowing with ryegrass.
Federal member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon with Maryland Fletcher FC President Dave Carter and City of Newcastle Councillor Matthew Byrne on Kurraka Reserve’s new playing surface.
“We are delighted to welcome all sports back from this weekend and especially happy for the young Maryland-Fletcher players returning to a picture-perfect playing surface,” City of Newcastle Councillor Matthew Byrne said.
“The new drainage system will prevent Kurraka becoming waterlogged in winter while the irrigation system will dramatically improve the turf quality and playability for both soccer and cricket year-round.
“The past summer’s drought and water restrictions, which turned many sporting grounds into dust bowls around the country, underline the importance of efficient irrigation systems.
“Better grounds encourage greater participation while minimising labour and maintenance costs, and the City’s parks and recreation staff do a fantastic job maintaining and upgrading fields.”
Maryland Fletcher FC President Dave Carter said the club’s youngsters were eager to play on the newly improved fields.
“The result of the upgrade is a vastly improved and sustainable playing surface that’s going to save us hundreds of volunteer hours and ongoing maintenance costs every year,” Carter said.
“It’s been a great example of what can be achieved with cross-government and local community cooperation. We’re grateful for Council for managing the installation and the support of our Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon MP in obtaining a Federal grant.”
Where sporting activities involve more than 20 participants, organisers must have a COVID-19 Safety Plan. The City will continue to liaise with clubs to ensure they meet requirements.
Greens announce new climate targets as modelling shows higher 2030 targets needed to meet Paris goals
Greens Leader Adam Bandt has released new analysis showing that because pollution has increased so much since the Liberals repealed the carbon price, Australia’s emissions reduction targets would now need to be at least a 48% cut on 2005 levels by 2030 to be consistent with the Paris Agreement aim of keeping global warming well below 2 degrees. So much of the carbon budget has been spent that future governments will need to tighten their carbon belts even further, not relax targets as has been mooted. To limit global warming to the Paris goal of 1.5 degrees, the analysis finds that Australia’s target would have to be a 75% reduction on 2005 levels by 2030.
–See briefing paper for full details in attachment below–
Mr Bandt also announced that the Greens – who agree with Paciifc Island countries that the world should aim to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees – have adjusted their climate targets to reflect this new analysis, announcing a new policy of 75% cut on 2005 levels by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2035. The endorsement of the new position by the Australian Greens Party Room yesterday comes ahead of the Eden Monaro by-election, where the Greens are urging voters to send a message to the government about the climate crisis.
“Since the Liberals repealed the carbon price, pollution has gone up and Scott Morrison is blowing our chance of meeting the Paris Agreement goals,” Greens Leader, Adam Bandt said.
“The science is clear. The Liberals have spent so much of Australia’s carbon budget that we need to do even more over the next decade, not less.
“The Paris Agreement says we should limit global warming to well below 2 degrees while also fighting to limit heating to 1.5 degrees, which is what our Pacific Island neighbours want.
“The Liberals have us on track for over 3 degrees of global warming, and by walking away from a stronger 2030 target, Labor looks like giving up on the Paris Agreement as well.
“Going to the next election with anything less than a 48% cut by 2030 means abandoning the Paris Agreement.
“The only pathway for climate action is to turf the government out, put Greens into balance of power and implement a Green New Deal.”
“The science shows that to stop runaway global warming, Australia needs to cut our pollution by three quarters over the next decade and then get to zero five years after that. It is challenging, but with a Green New Deal we can do it.
“The climate doesn’t care about politics. Liberal and Labor can’t claim to be implementing the Paris Agreement without lifting their 2030 targets significantly.
“As ClimateWorks has shown, we can cut pollution by 75% by 2030 with available technology. It just needs an Australian government to show some leadership to make it happen,” Bandt said.
–See briefing paper for full details in attachment below–
Mr Bandt also announced that the Greens – who agree with Paciifc Island countries that the world should aim to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees – have adjusted their climate targets to reflect this new analysis, announcing a new policy of 75% cut on 2005 levels by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2035. The endorsement of the new position by the Australian Greens Party Room yesterday comes ahead of the Eden Monaro by-election, where the Greens are urging voters to send a message to the government about the climate crisis.
“Since the Liberals repealed the carbon price, pollution has gone up and Scott Morrison is blowing our chance of meeting the Paris Agreement goals,” Greens Leader, Adam Bandt said.
“The science is clear. The Liberals have spent so much of Australia’s carbon budget that we need to do even more over the next decade, not less.
“The Paris Agreement says we should limit global warming to well below 2 degrees while also fighting to limit heating to 1.5 degrees, which is what our Pacific Island neighbours want.
“The Liberals have us on track for over 3 degrees of global warming, and by walking away from a stronger 2030 target, Labor looks like giving up on the Paris Agreement as well.
“Going to the next election with anything less than a 48% cut by 2030 means abandoning the Paris Agreement.
“The only pathway for climate action is to turf the government out, put Greens into balance of power and implement a Green New Deal.”
“The science shows that to stop runaway global warming, Australia needs to cut our pollution by three quarters over the next decade and then get to zero five years after that. It is challenging, but with a Green New Deal we can do it.
“The climate doesn’t care about politics. Liberal and Labor can’t claim to be implementing the Paris Agreement without lifting their 2030 targets significantly.
“As ClimateWorks has shown, we can cut pollution by 75% by 2030 with available technology. It just needs an Australian government to show some leadership to make it happen,” Bandt said.
Newcastle back in business and ready to host events
Newcastle is ready to accommodate an influx of new event bookings as the City reopens the doors for functions at its key venues.
Function rooms located within City Hall and the Fort Scratchley Function Centre are now available for hire, with COVIDSafe plans in place to ensure the safety of attendees.
The guidelines will be determined by the one person per four square metre rule and allow seated functions and events only.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the reopening of venues was a positive step as the city recovers from COVID-19 restrictions.
“The City of Newcastle has a well earnt reputation for delivering first-class events, from small scale local functions all the way though to international events.
“While business tourism, family celebrations and community events had to be put on hold in recent months in the interests of public health and safety, we can now welcome people back into our wonderful function spaces within City Hall and Fort Scratchley.
“Allowing bookings for functions and events at these venues will also have a positive flow-on effect for local businesses such as caterers, accommodation providers, event organisers and florists, who rely heavily on the events industry to survive, while traders in surrounding precincts such as Darby Street will also benefit from increased visitation to the city.
“The past week has seen the phones running hot from people wanting to book the City’s venues.”
A comprehensive COVID-19 Safety Plan has been developed for all City of Newcastle venues to protect the health of the community and staff, including enhanced hygiene measures and distancing measures.
Pop-up cycleway for Honeysuckle Drive
hotel quarantine operations in NSW
The NSW Police Force-led multi-agency operation to facilitate the mandatory quarantining of returned travellers to NSW is ongoing.
The NSW Minister for Health Brad Hazzard issued the Public Health (COVID-19 Air Transportation Quarantine) Order 2020 under section 7 of the Public Health Act 2010, which directs any person arriving by aircraft into NSW from a country other than Australia must go directly to a quarantine facility.
Since the order commenced on Sunday 29 March 2020, 32,036 people have entered into mandatory quarantine in NSW. There have been no breaches of the quarantine order.
In an average 24-hour period, there are about 500 NSW Police officers rostered to maintain overall responsibility of 22 hotel footprints. They are supported by a further 150 ADF personnel.
The operation is also assisted by private security contractors.
All travellers are assessed by NSW Health on arrival at Sydney International Airport and those displaying symptoms of COVID-19 are escorted to a hotel managed by NSW Health, while the remainder are escorted to hotels managed by the NSW Police Force.
As at 8am today (Friday 3 July 2020), there are 4972 people in quarantine across 18 Sydney hotels being managed by the NSW Police Force.
There are a further 493 people in four hotels being managed by NSW Health.
Any person who becomes symptomatic while in a police-managed quarantine hotel is transferred to a NSW Health-managed hotel.
The professional management of this process has dramatically reduced the risk of COVID-19 spread within hotels, including to staff and other guests, and to-date has ensured no transmission has occurred.
Further, the cooperation of the hospitality industry – particularly staff members within the hotels – throughout the operation has been exceptional.
Man in hospital following stabbing – Muswellbrook
A man is in a stable condition after a domestic-related stabbing in Muswellbrook overnight.
About 12.30am (Friday 3 July 2020), a 22-year-old man and a 17-year-old girl were at a home on Wollombi Road, Muswellbrook, when a 48-year-old man and a teenage boy attended the home.
Police have been told the 48-year-old man became aggressive towards the 22-year-old man before there was a struggle between the pair and the older man was stabbed in the shoulder and abdomen.
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District attended a short time later and established a crime scene, which will be examined by specialist forensic police.
The older man was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital, where he remains in a stable condition.
The younger man suffered minor injuries and was taken to Muswellbrook Hospital for treatment.
He has since been released and taken to Muswellbrook Police Station where he was charged with contravene prohibition/restriction in AVO and breach of bail.
He was refused bail to appear at Muswellbrook Local Court today (Friday 3 July 2020).
Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident are continuing.
Arts industry loses four times as many jobs as construction, receives a third of the support
ABS stats released today show the arts and recreation industry has lost four times as many payroll jobs as the construction industry but has received a third of the support, highlighting just how inadequate the Morrison Government’s arts and entertainment industry package is, the Greens say.
Greens Spokesperson for the Arts Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:
“The construction industry is receiving a package worth three times as much as the arts and entertainment industry despite only losing 5.3 per cent of payroll jobs compared to 24% per cent.
“These figures show how badly wrong the government has its priorities. If they are intent of saving jobs lost due to COVID19, these numbers need to be turned around, urgently.
“The government’s HomeBuilder scheme is uncapped, showing the Prime Minister is happy to give unlimited funds to an industry that is relatively unscathed in comparison to arts and entertainment.
“The Government should uncap the arts and entertainment grants package immediately. The arts and entertainment industry needs a proper commitment and real support from the Morrison Government.
“The Morrison Government is kidding itself if it thinks it has done its job when it comes to helping the arts and entertainment industry recover. The $250million arts and entertainment package announced last week should only be considered a down payment to an industry that has been amongst the hardest hit.
“The Senate Committee Inquiry into Covid19 has heard directly from the sector today that many artists and organisations will continue to miss out. The Government’s arts package has failed to deliver the support needed and the Prime Minister’s show last week is getting poor reviews.”
Governments Continue To Fail Public Schools
Australian Greens spokesperson for Education, Senator Mehreen Faruqi, has said analysis released today shows once again that federal and state governments have monumentally failed to adequately fund public schools.
Data published in The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age has shown that, over the last decade, public funding has continued to flow heavily to private schools.
Senator Faruqi said:
“Well-funded public education should be the backbone of our education system, but public schools are getting a raw deal.
“For years, private schools have been the beneficiaries of state and federal public funding programs that have systematically neglected public schools. While 99% of private schools are funded above the national standard, 99% of public schools have absolutely no pathway to the level of funding they need over the next decade.
“With the Commonwealth’s $1.2 billion so-called ‘Choice and Affordability’ fund for private schools due to start dishing out cash in July, it’s way past time for a complete rethink of school funding across the country.
“The sad reality is that over the last decade, both Labor and Liberal governments have never wasted an opportunity to hand out public funds to private schools and entrench educational inequality,” she said.
Greens call on Morrison Government to take action over Hong Kong National Security Law
The Australian Greens condemn in the strongest possible terms the Chinese Government’s decision to override Hong Kong’s legislature and pass draconian national security laws aimed at repressing the people of Hong Kong.
The Greens also called on the Morrison Government to, at an absolute minimum and as a first step, grant permanent protection for all Hong Kongers who currently reside in Australia.
Leader of the Greens, Adam Bandt, said: “Today marks 23 years since Hong Kong was returned to China under the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ principle that guaranteed that Hong Kong’s way of life would remain protected for 50 years.”
“The Chinese Government’s passage of the so-called national security law makes a mockery of the principle of ‘One Country, Two Systems’. It is clearly designed to intimidate and suppress the people of Hong Kong who are legitimately calling for freedom and democracy.
“This is a weapon of repression that represents a threat to human rights and to all those in Hong Kong who have chosen to protest in the last year.”
“On behalf of the Greens, I offer solidarity to protesters in Hong Kong who are no doubt fearful of what this new law means for them. The Australian Greens once again call on the Morrison Government to take concrete diplomatic actions to support Hong Kongers standing up for democracy,” Bandt said.