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Explosive detonators, cash seized; man charged – Hunter region

A man has been charged after prohibited drugs and explosive devices were located at a home in the Hunter region yesterday.
Officers attached to the Hunter Valley Police District Proactive Crime Team conducted a Firearms Prohibition Order (FPO) search at a home on Fifth Street, Weston, about 10.30am (Wednesday 1 July 2020).
During the search, police located and seized an amount of methylamphetamine, cannabis, more than $10,000 cash, drug paraphernalia, and explosive detonators.
Police arrested a 36-year-old man at the scene and he was taken to Cessnock Police Station.
He was charged with seven offences including:

Possess prohibited drug (x4)
Possess, supply or make explosive for unlawful purpose
Goods in custody suspected being stolen (x2)

He was refused bail to face Newcastle Local Court today (Thursday 2 July 2020).
Specialist police were called to the station to safely destroy the explosive materials.

Two teenagers charged over alleged aggravated robbery – Newcastle

Two teenagers have been charged following an alleged aggravated robbery in Newcastle yesterday.
About 7.20pm (Wednesday 1 July 2020), a 31-year-old man parked his vehicle near the intersection of Merewether and Hunter Streets, Newcastle, when he was approached by two juveniles.
The pair – a teenage boy and a girl – allegedly threatened the man with a knife, demanding his car keys and phone before attempting to open the vehicle. They were unsuccessful and fled east along Hunter Street.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District attended and commenced inquiries.
A short time later, a 14-year-old boy and 16-year-old girl were arrested after being stopped by officers on Darby Street, Cooks Hill.
During a search, police allegedly located a knife, the man’s car keys and cannabis.
Both were taken to Newcastle Police Station and charged with robbery in company and custody of knife in public place.
The girl was also charged with possess prohibited drug.
Both were refused bail to appear at a children’s court today (Thursday 2 July 2020).

Man charged following siege incident – Newcastle

A man has been charged following a siege at Newcastle earlier today.
About 9.20am (Thursday 2 July 2020), officers from Newcastle City Police District were called to Warkworth Street, Maryland, following reports of a domestic dispute.
Upon arrival, police were confronted by a man, allegedly armed with a knife, while two women and two children also remained inside the home.
A perimeter was established and during negotiations, the man allegedly armed himself with an air pellet gun and fired several rounds at police, with two officers – a sergeant and constable – hit. Both suffered minor injuries and did not require further treatment.
Specialist police units – including Negotiators, Tactical Operations Regional Support and Police Rescue – were deployed a short time later.
Negotiators spoke to the 30-year-old man for a short time before he surrendered to police about 11.15am and was arrested.
He was taken to Newcastle Police Station and charged with common assault (DV), destroy or damage property (DV), discharge firearm with intent to resist arrest, fire firearm manner likely injure persons/property, use unauthorised prohibited firearm, not keep firearm safely-prohibited firearm, armed with intent commit indictable offence, assault police officer in execution of duty cause actual bodily harm, and assault police officer in execution of duty without actual bodily harm.
The man was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court tomorrow (Friday 3 July 2020).

Strike Force Trawler detectives charge man over alleged online grooming – Singleton

Strike Force Trawler detectives have charged a man from the Hunter Valley following an investigation into the alleged online grooming of a child.
In May, detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crime Squad’s Child Exploitation Internet Unit (CEIU) began engaging online with a man from Kurri Kurri.
Police will allege in court that the man believed he was speaking with a 14-year-old girl and engaged in conversations about sexually-explicit acts he wished to perform with the child and sent her explicit material.
About 9.40am (Wednesday 1 July 2020), following extensive inquiries, strike force investigators arrested a 47-year-old man at a caravan park in Singleton.
The man was taken to Singleton Police Station and charged with use carriage service to solicit child abuse material and use carriage service to groom child under 16 years for sex.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today.

Woman charged with drug offences – Raymond Terrace

A woman will face court later this month charged with several drug offences in Raymond Terrace.
About 1am today (Wednesday 1 July 2020), officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District were conducting patrols of Raymond Terrace when they approached a white Toyota Yaris on Cook Street.
Police spoke with occupants of the vehicle, including the front seat passenger – a 25-year-old woman – before conducting a vehicle search.
During the search police allegedly located and seized amphetamines, several prescription medications, drug paraphernalia and mobile phones.
The woman was arrested and taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station.
She has been charged with two counts of possess prohibited drug, three counts of goods in custody and one count of supply prohibited drug.
She was granted strict conditional bail to appear at Raymond Terrace Local Court on Monday 27 July 2020.

Man charged over alleged online child procurement – Lake Macquarie

A Lake Macquarie man will appear in court today charged by Strike Force Trawler detectives following an investigation into the alleged online grooming and procuring of a child.
Last month, detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crime Squad’s Child Exploitation Internet Unit (CEIU) began engaging online with a man from Morriset.
Police will allege in court that the man believed he was speaking with a 14-year-old girl and engaged in conversations about sexually-explicit acts he wished the child to perform and sent explicit material.
It will also be alleged that the man arranged to meet the girl in person.
Following extensive investigations, strike force detectives arrested a 40-year-old man at a business in Mannering Park about 2.30pm yesterday (Tuesday 30 June 2020).
Investigators seized the man’s phone before he was taken to Wyong Police Station and charged with
use carriage service to procure child under 16 years for sexual activity.
He was refused bail to appear at Wyong Local Court today (Wednesday 1 July 2020).
Strike Force Trawler is an ongoing investigation by the CEIU into the sexual abuse and exploitation of children facilitated through the internet and related telecommunications devices.
Regular covert online investigations are conducted by the CEIU; and police in NSW work closely with their law-enforcement colleagues interstate and overseas.
The Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad is comprised of detectives who are specially trained to investigate matters against children and adults, including sexual assault, serious physical abuse, and extreme cases of neglect.
Anyone with concerns about suspected child abuse or exploitation should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.
Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. People should not report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter pages.

CCTV released after boat stolen near Port Stephens

Police have released CCTV footage as inquiries continue into the stealing of boat near Port Stephens earlier this month.
Just before 11am on Thursday 18 June 2020, a white Trailcraft vessel was stolen from outside a home on Bagnalls Beach Road, Corlette.
Officers from the Marine Area Command were notified and commenced an investigation.
As part of their inquiries, officers have released CCTV of a white vehicle travelling on Salamander Way, Corlette, in an appeal to locate the driver.
Investigators believe the male driver could assist with their inquiries.
The vehicle has been described as a white Nissan Navara utility 2010-2012 model, with a black bull bar, and black and yellow NSW numberplates.
Boat owners are also advised to ensure their vessels are properly secured to reduce the risk of theft. Other safety tips include:

Security devices installed on boats should be resistant to water, salt and humidity.
Install locks on your vessels. Marine dealers carry special exterior hatch locks. When fastened with a quality padlock, one of these improves security.
To enhance window security, locksmiths carry a variety of special, small locks and fasteners, which can be used to increase the security of other types of windows. For sliding windows, place a length of doweling in the track to prevent the window from being forced open.
If your boat is kept in the water, use a marina with full time security and/or good lighting.
If you are leaving your boat for long periods of time, ensure that someone else is able to check your boat on a regular basis.

Greens welcome last minute Community TV licence extension

The Greens have welcomed the last minute extension to the free-to-air broadcast licences for Community TV stations Channel 44 in Adelaide and Channel 31 in Melbourne.
Greens Spokesperson for Communications Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:
“Waiting until the night before Community TV switches off forever to grant an extension to their broadcast licences was a cruel move by the Morrison Government, however this last minute reprieve is welcome.
“Greens Leader and Member for Melbourne Adam Bandt and I have been working with the stations in our home cities of Adelaide and Melbourne to lobby the Minister for Communications for months now.
“CTV jobs and volunteer positions were on the line. The Minister continues to claim switching to a YouTube channel is the answer, knowing full well as the portfolio holder for communications that many CTV viewers don’t even have internet access or digital literacy.
“Every year for six years now CTV has had to fight to use the spectrum despite there being no plans to use it for any other purpose and there being no cost to the government for extending the licences.
“Given the significant concessions the Federal Government has offered to commercial broadcasters, including spectrum fee relief and a suspension of the local content rules, it was only fair that community, not-for-profit broadcasters at least given an extension of their licence.
“CTV is an invaluable service for multicultural communities, journalists, screen and media practitioners and students as well as many volunteers. It would’ve been a terrible loss, especially in this midst of a global pandemic.”

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.