Police are appealing for information as they continue to investigate the suspicious death of a Hunter Valley man just over a year ago.
About 8pm on Saturday 1 December 2018, emergency services were called to a rural property in
Denman, following reports of a concern for welfare.
On arrival, officers from Hunter Valley Police District found a 71-year-old man had died. He was later formally identified as Douglas Thrift.
A post-mortem examination revealed Mr Thrift had a fatal concentration of the highly-toxic strychnine in his system. Strychnine is a restricted substance.
Detectives from Hunter Valley Police District established Strike Force Farview to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death.
Hunter Valley Police District Crime Manager, Detective Inspector Matthew Zimmer, said detectives would leave no stone unturned in this investigation.
“From all accounts, Douglas Thrift was a loving father, grandfather and husband, who really enjoyed playing sports – especially rugby union, cricket and golf – and was happiest working on his farm,” Det Insp Zimmer said.
“Strike Force Farview investigators are trying to piece together how a fatal amount of this substance came to be in his system.
“Our detectives are keen to speak with those who saw or spoke with Mr Thrift in the days leading up to his death in early December 2018.
“We’re also interested in speaking to any farmers, or other members of the public, who have found strychnine missing from their properties.”
Author: admin
Environment restoration rorts to be referred to Auditor General
The Greens will refer the Environment Restoration Fund and the Communities Environment Program to the Auditor General for investigation, after The Saturday Paper reported today the $100m grants were used by the Coalition for pork-barrelling.
Greens Environment Spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said the Government’s use of the funding looks and stinks like ‘sports rorts’.
“A $100m grants program for environment restoration projects has reportedly been restricted to 25 preselected projects, most of them in key seats for the Coalition,” she said.
“Much like with sports rorts there’s been no transparency, no criteria to meet and surprise funding for grantees who didn’t even apply for a grant.
“If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck – or in this case, a rort.
“This is why I’m referring the Environment Restoration Fund and the Communities Environment program to the Auditor General for investigation.
“We need the same scrutiny from the Auditor General on this program, as he gave to the billions of taxpayer dollars handed out under the Community Sport Infrastructure grants program, exposing the rorting and bringing down a Government Minister.
“We need to hold this government accountable for their rorting of taxpayer money to keep themselves in power, but we also need to stand up for our environment which also bears the brunt of the Coalition’s incompetency.
“More money is desperately needed for environmental restoration but it needs to be going to projects that need it the most, not where the LNP is trying to hold seats at election time.”
Holden Cuts Demand Manufacturing Renaissance, Green New Deal: Greens
Australian Greens Industry Spokesperson, Senator Mehreen Faruqi, has reacted to news that General Motors will axe the Holden brand and 600 workers with it.
Senator Faruqi said:
“This should be a wakeup call to the Morrison Government. We need to urgently deliver a coherent, forward-looking clean and green industry policy, where value-adding in manufacturing takes centre stage. Hundreds of workers are set to lose their jobs within weeks.
“Workers deserve decent jobs and a just transition from old industries to the work of the future. Without well-planned support and investment from Government workers will continue to be left high and dry by corporations.
“We must foster a manufacturing renaissance in Australia with big investment from the government in green and renewable industries of the future.
“Now is the time to ensure Australia is on the path to be a renewables powerhouse, that we have a just transition from polluting fossil fuels to long term, sustainable and life-making work. A resurgence of Australian industry and manufacturing is fundamental to this new future.
“As we face the twin crises of climate emergency and economic inequality, a Green New Deal can transform our society and build a more just future for all.”
Response to Federal Court dismissal of ABC case – Govt must rule out charging journalists
Greens Spokesperson for Media and Chair of the Senate Inquiry into Press Freedoms Senator Sarah Hanson-Young responded to the Federal Court’s dismissal of the ABC’s legal challenge against the validity of police warrants used to raid its Ultimo headquarters last year:
“Today’s court ruling over the ABC raids shows our press freedom laws are broken. We need proper protection for whistleblowers and journalists so the public know what’s really happening in our names and with our taxes. We have a right to know what the Government is up to.
“The Government should come out today and rule out charging the ABC journalists, and the News Corp journalists involved in other raids. The Attorney-General should stop playing games and tell the public what’s going on and explain why they are spending taxpayers money chasing whistleblowers who simply tell the truth.
“From the Afghan Files to the Sports Rorts, it’s clear the Morrison Government is more worried about their own embarrassment than they are about our security.
“Journalism is not a crime. And speaking up when the Government is engaged in covering up wrongdoing should not make whistleblowers criminals.
“If the law won’t protect journalists then we must have legislated safeguards to guarantee the freedom of the press and whistleblower protections. These protections must be independent of the government.”
Newcastle leads the State in business confidence
The Newcastle and Lake Macquarie region has recorded the highest level of business confidence of any region in the state according to NSW Business Chamber’s quarterly snapshot of business conditions.
“The level of local business confidence in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie is trending upwards and has improved significantly since the September quarter,” Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
“While Newcastle experienced a steady quarter, the Chamber recorded weakened confidence across the state, and the broader Hunter region due to ongoing drought and bushfires. Diminished household demand has weighed heavily on sentiment in both regional and metro areas.
“It’s wonderful our business community has fared well, but we do also recognise the underlying challenges that must be addressed in the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie economy.
“These challenges include high levels of youth unemployment, increasing operating costs and concerns about the future profitability of businesses.”
City of Newcastle is developing a new Economic Development Strategy which will consider these challenges and propose new programs and initiatives to make our economy more resilient and competitive. Stakeholder and community input will soon to be sought for the development of the strategy.
“Newcastle has strategic economic advantages that create opportunities for our continued transformation and ongoing growth,” Cr Nelmes said.
“While the recent Business Chamber results bode well for our local economy in the year to come, we stand in support of regions across the state and Australia which have been devastatingly impacted by drought and bushfires resulting in significant decreases in economic activity and consumer confidence.”
The latest Business Chamber survey was sent to all business chambers canvassing 20,000 members across all regions of NSW and various business sizes. Respondents were asked to rate their performance across a range of indicators including profits, sales, capital spending and employment levels.
Respondents were also asked to rate the performance of the NSW economy and had an opportunity to comment on any other factors affecting the performance of their business.
COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER FOR BUSHFIRE STATE MEMORIAL
Premier Gladys Berejiklian and NSW RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons are encouraging members of the public to attend this Sunday’s NSW State Memorial for the recent bushfires.
Ms Berejiklian said the Memorial will recognise the lives lost and the sacrifices made, and show support for those directly impacted by the fires.
“This Memorial will allow the community to come together to reflect on the bushfire season, recognise the incredible efforts of all our volunteers and emergency services personnel and remember our fallen heroes, as we begin the rebuilding process,” Ms Berejiklian said.
Delta Goodrem will perform “Let It Rain”, which she penned after watching the devastation from the bushfires across Australia. All proceeds of the song are going to aid the bushfire crisis & relief efforts.
“I am honoured to be asked to perform at the State Memorial. “Let It Rain” is a message of gratitude to all the fire fighters, volunteers and everyone affected by the bushfires,” Ms Goodrem said.
The Sydney Children’s Choir and Aboriginal cultural group, Koomurri will also perform.
The State Memorial will pay tribute to the three NSW RFS firefighters, the three American firefighting aircrew, and community members who lost their lives in NSW as a result of the recent bushfires.
It will also recognise the valued contribution of firefighters from all Australian states and territories, as well as the United States, Canada and New Zealand.
“This memorial will give everyone an opportunity to reflect on one of the most devastating bushfire seasons this state has seen,” Commissioner Fitzsimmons said.
“It is a chance to reflect on the impact on the community, the lives lost and recognise the resilience of the many towns and villages that are now starting the recovery process.”
The State Memorial is open to all members of the public and will take place on Sunday, 23 February, at Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Olympic Park starting at 11.30am.
Travel on public transport services to and from Olympic Park will be free for emergency services personnel in uniform as well as accompanying family members or friends. For more information visit the Memorial website.
REGIONAL SENIORS TO GET MOVING WITH TRAVEL CARD
More than 100,000 rural and regional seniors have successfully signed up for the NSW Government’s new $250 Regional Seniors Travel Card since applications opened on 29 January.
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said eligible seniors would soon receive their cards, easing the burden of travel costs and injecting more than $25 million into regional economies.
“This is the first time we are rolling out a program like this. This card puts $250 in the pocket of regional seniors, which can mean an extra few trips to visit grandkids living in other parts of the state, the ease of staying connected locally or the ability to volunteer in local community groups,” Mr Toole said.
Mr Toole said thousands of rural and regional seniors were applying for the card each day, with the eligibility requirements widened to include pension-aged veterans collecting a Service Pension or recipients of a War Widow Pension through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
“We’ve heard the feedback from the community, which is why we are now including more seniors in the program. Veterans who are now eligible will be able to apply in the coming months, once we have made the necessary updates to our application system,” Mr Toole said.
Mr Toole said the rollout of the card followed a pilot in Coffs Harbour, where about 80 seniors have been trialling the pre-loaded Visa card.
“Our Coffs Harbour pilot provided valuable feedback and we responded by adding more information to the website and making minor changes to the application form,” Mr Toole said.
“These seniors also told us how easy the card is to use, with participants predominately purchasing fuel, followed by taxi rides, but can also be used to purchase pre-booked TrainLink services.”
Eligible seniors have until 30 November to apply for a card in 2020 and 12 months to use their card from activation. Seniors can apply online at service.nsw.gov.au, in person at a Service NSW Service Centre or over the phone on 13 77 88.
Teens nabbed for break and enter in proactive Lake Macquarie operation
Two teens have been charged after an alleged break and enter at a school in the Lake Macquarie region early today.
Officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District have been investigating a number of property offences in the Belmont area, including an increase in break and enters.
Police have been proactively responding to this increase with the Lake Macquarie Target Action Group performing Precision Policing in the area.
At 1.30am (Monday 17 February 2020), police stopped two young males walking along the Pacific Highway in Belmont.
Upon searching the two teens, aged 13 and 14, officers allegedly located 11 tablet computers, chargers, a computer modem, food and cleaning materials, as well as house breaking implements and face coverings.
A knife was also seized from one teen before they were taken to Belmont Police Station.
Following inquiries, police were told that a security system was activated at 1am at a school nearby, with entry forced into a computer room.
The 14-year-old was charged with aggravated break, enter and steal in company, possess house breaking implements and custody of a knife in public place.
The 13-year-old was charged with aggravated break, enter and steal in company and possess house breaking implements.
Both were refused bail to appear at a children’s court today (Monday 17 February 2020).
Pedestrian dies after being hit by car – Hunter Region
A woman has died after being hit by a vehicle in the Hunter Region last night.
Just before 11pm, a 47-year-old woman was walking across Main Road in Heddon Greta, near Kurri Kurri, when she was hit by a car travelling south.
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District attended and found the woman with serious head injuries.
She was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics on scene, but later died.
The female driver, aged 27, stopped to render assistance. She was conveyed to Maitland Hospital for mandatory blood and urine testing.
Investigations continue
Four teens charged following investigation into break-ins – Maitland
Four teens have been charged following an investigation into a number of break-ins in the Maitland area.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District commenced an investigation after a number of business at a Rutherford shopping centre and a Maitland motel were broken into during January and early February.
About 10.30am today (Friday 14 February 2020), police attended the shopping centre after a 13-year-old boy was detained by security. Officers arrested the teen and he was taken to Maitland Police Station.
Following inquiries, investigators arrested two girls, aged 14, at a Rutherford home about 11am. Both were taken to Maitland Police Station.
About 1.40pm, a 13-year-old boy, accompanied by his mother, attended Maitland Police Station where he was arrested.
One boy was charged with two counts of enter inclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse, enter vehicle or boat without consent of owner/occupier, larceny, two counts of aggravated break and enter dwelling in company – steal, common assault, and an outstanding warrant was executed.
The other was charged with two counts of aggravated break and enter dwelling in company – steal, enter inclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse, and breach of bail.
Both were refused bail to appear at a children’s court tomorrow (Saturday 15 February 2020.
One girl was charged with six counts of enter inclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse, Enter vehicle or boat without consent of owner/occupier, and larceny.
She appeared at a children’s court today and was formally refused bail to appear on Friday 28 February 2020.
The other was charged with two counts of enter inclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse, enter vehicle or boat without consent of owner/occupier, larceny, and dishonestly obtain property by deception.
She was granted conditional bail to appear at a children’s court on Friday 27 March 2020.